Nemesis,
if you were the guy on a Cannondale wearing a blue jersey that I passed climbing Mortimer Forest, then my recommendation for you to go faster would be getting a wider range cassette with some lower gears. It may seem counter-intuitive but a lower gear will enable you to climb faster through maintaining a better cadence.
RRTY is a really nice challenge because it makes you get out on your bike, and no matter how reluctant you are, 99 times out of a 100 you enjoy every minute. Often the summer months are the hardest to fit in, due to holidays, family barbecues and test matches.