Tyres. A dry subject, I know, but Brighton was wet, wet, wet and the choice of rubber made all the difference. Ride the best bike with carbon sprints and tubs or switch to the spare machine shod with Scwalbe CX’s, narrower and having more bite? Do the sensible thing or go with the bling?

Lining up on the best bike, the doubts were creeping in, but it was all too late. Douglas Fox went off like a bleedin’ rocket and that was the last I saw of him. A slack opening lap saw four more vets passing me before order was restored and I set about the serious business of reeling them in.

A freezing downpour early in the race changed the complection of the course. Gloop turned to slippery gloop. Corners taken at a fair lick during the warm-up became skid pans, inside leg thrust forward ready for the front end wipe out. A seriously off-camber wiggle through the woods became virtually unridable-Al Tullett was running this bit. Shame it didn’t occur to me until the last lap.

The tubs were not coping with the conditions and the spare bike was calling from the side of the course. Spend all of Monday morning cleaning two bikes, along with the mud-strewn clothing, or plug on regardless, slipping and sliding? S & S it was. Hauled back a few more riders (including Simon Scarsbrook and Phillip Glowinski, who I seem to be battling with every week) and closed up to within spitting distance of second placed vet Paul Hudson before time ran out and it was all over.

Next week, Herne Hill. Which bike to use? What tyres? Answers on a postcard, please.

The ‘cross course at Herne Hill gets better every time you ride it. Lots of twisty singletrack, the slog round the track centre grass and the newly topped-up sandpit combine to make a challenging hour of riding, without being so technical that newcomers are put off racing for life.

A decent field of around 40 riders took the line and there seemed a moments hesitation as the whistle went and we all looked at each other to see who wanted to lead out. Mozzie Matt Seaton took the bull by the horns with Stuart McGhee ( Evans RT ) close behind, followed by Chris Ansell ( Team Corridori ) and a gaggle of assorted riders from the Evans team and the Dulwich Paragon. The ground was reasonably dry considering how much rain had fallen the previous day, but a badly-taken line through a large puddle of mud saw two more Evans riders going past me, a shoulder-barge from Nick Stacey reminding me just how poorly I was riding.

The first time through the sandpit was fun, with the recent addition of two large mounds making it a potential disaster area for anyone not getting it right. Hit it at speed, follow the ruts in the sand, keep pedalling hard and don’t try to steer. Move your upper body for balance and before you know it, you are safely back on terra firma.

The wooden planks in the track centre had been positioned far enough apart to make bunny-hopping a distinct possibility, Evan’s Ben Spurrier taking them perfectly, leaving me trailing as I opted to run.

A pair of VC Londres riders were now keeping me company, Philip Glowinski and John Scripps eventually fading as the second half of the race tested everyone’s stamina. Leading woman rider Rosanna Joseph eased past soon after looking very strong and smooth. It took two laps of desperate riding to claw back onto her wheel and, as she floundered on the short, sharp incline, I took full advantage and left her trailing.

11th place overall. No major traumas or mishaps. Next week’s race is Brighton. Looking forward to it already.