Two Hounslow & District Wheelers members had successful rides in the Veteran Time Trial Association 100-mile championship on the A419 near Cricklade last Sunday, writes Chris Lovibond.

Rob Gilmour, 58, won the 50-59 age category and finished fifth overall in four hours five minutes 49 seconds, although he missed out on his ambition of a sub- four hour ride.

“Perhaps I should have tried harder in the early stages,” he said.

“My third 25 was slower than the last 25, so maybe I had too much left at the finish”.

Paul Holdsworth also had a good day finishing in 3.48.39, the second fastest actual time in the championship.

The best came from Mick St. Leger (VC St Raphael) who clocked 3.45.11.

Unfortunately for the Hounslow man the championship is decided on age standard, so his apparent second place went unrewarded.

However, Holdsworth’s main interest is the British Best All Rounder competition and this ride was an improvement of four minutes 17 seconds on his previous 100 this year, so Sunday’s performance should consolidate his position in the top twelve of the competition.

A rising westerly wind did not help the riders.

Veterans’ Standard: an explanation.

In cycling time trials a rider is classed as a veteran on reaching his fortieth birthday. For every year of a competitor’s age from forty onwards, for each of the usual distances, there is a ‘standard time’ laid down by the national body, the VTTA. A rider’s actual time in a time trial is compared to the standard time, and by subtraction or, less commonly, addition the vets plus (or minus) is arrived at. Example: at 40 years of age the standard man’s time for 25 miles is 1 hour 6 minutes, so a 40 year old finishing a 25 in exactly 1 hour will have a veterans’ plus of 6 minutes. For further information google the VTTA website.

There is nothing very scientific about this system, and the standards themselves were laid down long ago so they now seem slow. However since the method is accepted by the riders it gives, in practice, an excellent method by which those whose youth is long behind them can compete as athletes.