Despite the incessant rain fall yesterday, almost to the point where I nearly had to hit the speed dial button to my main man Noah informing him to bring his magic ark back out to play, Reading’s Prospect Park had drained far better than expected leaving a fast course under tyre. Predominantly open fields interspersed with short technical sections and a near vertical climb to bring on the burn. 100% rideable, just the way I like it.

The flag dropped, as cranks started to turn in anger, and I slotted into the top 10 as the frenetic pace and obligatory cajoling for position went on until the first bottleneck and singletrack. I was happy with the start (the first time this season) comfortably moving up to 4th place and sat with a leading trio as we started the second lap. Hmm, now I’m not one to believe in voodoo magic, miracles or Santa Claus (ok maybe S.C. just a little) but there’s definitely some mysterious déjàvu hugging me at the moment. Lap two, 4th place, off camber easy right on slick field and my ride practically ended there and then as the front wheel washed out and left me aquaplaning Valentino Rossi super bike style off course and into the red & white tape. B@LL*X! Sorry campers, but it’s the only way to explain it. Now the only consolation was that it was an awesome crash, one that would have only been bettered had there been a couple of hefty haybayles to bust into at full tilt, spreading the debris and carnage even further. Actually, my 100% rideable statement now stands corrected. Make that 99% rideable, 1% slideable. It took some time to get going again, chain off and gears all over the shop, it wasn’t until the hardest climb on the course I noticed that it wasn’t possible to get any further up the block than the 17 sprocket which further hindered momentum. Straight into the pits for a bike change and it was back to race proper albeit in around 15th with a sizeable time deficit in place.

So here we are for the second round of Dugast Vs Stan's head to head testing. Last week was a close run battle, this week my mind was made up pretty quick. Ok, I admit, I like finding the limits of componentry & my own physical ability. I mean, who rides 535km in one foul swoop over the Alps just for fun..........nobody right? Erm, actually, I’m not going to answer that. Anyway, running less than two bar of pressure in the Typhoons still proved too much as I went to ground. Stan’s Raven tyres took over from then on and with no other near thrills to report on they now lead the way 2:0 in the season long battle. I’m more and more surprised with every ride at how much traction they provide for such a slick tread pattern.

By mid distance the rhythm and strength was starting to return but it was too late to make any serious challenges for a decent result overall, finishing 8th by the end. You really can’t afford to give time away and expect to be anywhere near the front in this game, as I’m reminded time and time again.

With the race over it was now my time, and in a funny way the time I enjoy most. Heading out into the unknown on new roads as I find my way home. Over recent weeks I’ve had the feeling that a kid named Merlot is becoming a best friend, I’m glad to say that in a dangerously efficient late night mapmyride.com GPS blitz last night my Garmin 705 is going to take some serious nights out on the red stuff (work in progress) to dislodge it from the number one spot. Flawless 50 mile route through single width lanes nearly all the way to my door. Out there and doing it, a feeling that can’t be described.

As the final rays of sunlight peacefully drifted off on the horizon for an early bedtime mug of Horlicks and the start of British Winter Time a cheeky-boy smile took to my face with 1.2 Giga-lumens of pure unadulterated MaXx Daddy/Joystick Seoul LED technology burning up the road ahead. You know you own the night when on coming traffic is flashing you in rage to turn your “full beams down”.

Well, let me tell you Mr Driver, I’ve got a little something to say about that. If you’re still getting a severe case blinking white spot, whilst trying to watch the footy highlights on Match of the Day, then I apologies. It's probable that you'll have this gesture scorched to your retinas for life. The thing is, unfortunately for me, I wasn’t waving it around to tell you that I had come 1st today...