Wow, that was one heck of a race on Sunday. Thanks to you and your club for doing a great job of marshalling in the pouring rain with the added challenge of the charity ride on at the same time.

I was feeling quite good and so was pretty active on the front when the race started to kick off the third time up the long climb as the rain really began to lash down. But I blew up spectacularly (couldn't take the pain any longer?) just after reaching the B road n of Codicote, dropped to the back of the field which then split up. By the time I'd recovered we were in a small group chasing to get back on. We went so hard that the group fell to pieces and once it was clear we weren't going to make it back I packed in towards the end of the fourth lap.

What did the race look like from your perspective (did you say you were at the garden centre in Codicote?). I saw it was down to a leading group of 5 and 15 chasers by the end.

Enjoyed the race despite the weather. Thankfully we had a trailer to shelter under between marshalling so kept fairly dry - more than can be said for you riders.

Weather was atrocious but the effort was impressive. I thought you looked very comfortable each time round. Fewer than half the field finished. Quite a few punctures but I suspect many lost the will!

Still tempted to give one of these events a go but alas I suspect I would be spat out within minutes of the start!!

average speed in the bunch in the 3/4 races I'm doing is about 25mph. can be toughish on the climbs so maybe chose one of the flatter courses for a try-out? I've been riding Crystal Palace and getting spat out every week but each time I get a bit further before it happens!

roadie madness!