This would be my third 25 mile time trial, and the first two had ended with mixed success. The first one I surprised everyone including myself, by going round in under 1 hour 15. The second, marking the debut of my Trek Equinox time trial bike, took 1 hour 17 - needless to say I was disappointed. I had no idea what to expect in the third one.
In preparation, I took the TT bike out on Monday and took in the Vag’s club 10 course. My fastest (unofficial) time is 29 minutes and 50 seconds, but officially my P.B. is 31.03. My main issue with the TT bike is the position - getting down on the tri bars for a sustained period of time is extremely difficult to the newcomer, especially one with a stomach in the way! The 10 mile time trial course was as usual a slog, with no real let up throughout. I crossed the line in 31 minutes 22 seconds - some 1 minute 33 seconds slower than my unofficial P.B. Not exactly a good omen.
I rested up until Thursday, and watched the weather out of the tiny Velux windows at work as it shifted from clear skies to grey skies and rain. I had left the bikes at home and would make my choice of bike before the race. I believed I could get a faster time on the Giant or the Burls, but would not ride the Giant if it was raining (it’s a Summer bike thing). In the end, the clouds parted and by the time I was driving home, the skies were blue and sun was shining. The only fly in the ointment was the wind. I plumped for the Trek Equinox, believing that I will only ever get used to the bike by riding and racing on it.
All day I had been joking around with Lucy and Annabel over who would win the race, as Lucy had been my closest rival in recent races. On the night I again poked fun at the girls - but it would turn out to be a foregone conclusion on the night. I wished them both luck, and went off to warm up.
I took a different approach. Instead of belting off like a bat out of hell, I went off steady. I adopted a nice rhythm, got myself into the tuck position, and concentrated on a racing a steady, consistent race. Despite a nasty head wind, up until Belsay, this plan was working. Leaving Belsay, the course gets lumpy - and so did my cadence and rhythm. By the turn, I was seriously down on a P.B. The outwards leg had been hard and slow, and I knew that the Sill girls would have been taking time out of me - but I had no idea just how much.
On the way back I benefitted from taking it easy. Out of the saddle I put the power down, and then got myself into the tuck. On several occasions on the flat I was rolling at 30mph, and despite the crap first leg, I felt good. This wouldn’t last long. By Belsay, I was once again running on empty. Rider after rider breezed past me and I concentrated on getting home. As I crossed the line I looked down at my computer - 1 hour 15 minutes 44. My heart sank. Lucy had suggested she hoped to go under 1 hour 15m and if she had done, I was toast.
As it happened, it was all pretty irrelevant. My clock had started before I’d left the start line, and my actual time was 1 hour 14 minutes 51 - a new P.B. by 4 seconds. But the real shock was to come. Annabel had gone round in a 1.11.02 and Lucy had stomped round in a quite amazing 1.08.47! If I’m honest, I expected them to beat me, just not by so much.
The net result was mixed emotions. On the one hand, I was totally hacked off with my time and getting beat (again). On the other hand, both girls are my friends and I couldn’t be more pleased for them both. I know they both work hard and have high expectations of themselves, and wanting to beat each other helps drive them on. Worryingly enough, they both have far more potential, but then again - so do I… so it’s not over yet!
Well done girls, very impressive.
When you reach your goal weight you will leave us both for dust!! Imagine if I managed to get under 1 hour 15 while carrying Annabel, in terms of weight this is what you have done! You are amazing!
This season is just the begining, after your sterling performance on the club run yesterday you will be under 1-10 soon. Remember its the war you need to win not just the battle on one night! Whats on the menu today?
Craig
James,
I admire you for just getting out and doing it. You have to remind yourself where you were and your expectations when you joined the Vags 6 months(?) ago. It’s a better 25 than I have posted this year.
You have made FANTASTIC progress, keep it up.
Lucy… I think in the next time trial you SHOULD carry Annabel then… not for any particular time keeping reason, just because I think it would be quite amusing! But seriously, thanks.
Craig, thanks for those words. I enjoyed the club run, my next blog will be about it. I’ve noted what I’ve been eating, I’ve been looking for a diary plugin for Wordpress so you can see it in a calendar format, if not, I’ll just post it up as normal.
Alan - thanks as usual. I can see us swapping best times over the next couple of years!