I start this off by full acknowledgement that I am a tit. I managed to book my hotel for this due to myself using the postcode in the race brief - then realising that this was the race organisers postcode....TIT.
Anyhow - as many will know I have been struggling as late - mostly a combination between having to study and other issues - mostly my old friend moving on. So I knew I wasn't going to be setting the heather on fire. I arrived at the event (eventually) after finding my way through the witchcraft and spells. I was struggling for time and managed no breakfast other than 500ml of H5 and a gel. Quality. I then left my car to ride to the race start having absolutely no idea where it was and managed to get lost. How did this happen, well ordinarily I would tag behind someone who was riding to the start but when I left there was no-one....so I ended up lost and when I got to the start 6mins late..so 6 mins penalty on my time.
The start/weather was rain & wind. The first 15 miles was basically cycle hard into a headwind and I do not mind admitting this but I struggled...badly. I as using the disc and had turned off the HR alarm on the garmin. I hate distractions but I've found myself looking at my garmin constantly...need to get out that habit. The first 15 miles other than being cack weather was torture. I got caught after 15miles but the next 10 were delightful - full blown tailwind and sitting at 27-30mph. Awesome. Managed to pull my Ave spd back up and thought if only I could get more of this. However this was not to be and turn around point and back into the wind....it was killing me as was my back.
I haven’t spent too much time on the TT and its been a while and I mean a while since my back hurt on a TT, however it was simply agony…not really sure why on that one. So it was basically trying to rock the pelvis on the TT – kinda looked like I was trying to hump my bike…..
Got to about circa 30miles and then came across a bicycle crash, looked like 3 riders and the police/ ambulance were already there…had to hope they were safe and ok. From the first loop there was some segments I struggled on and again these fecking segments cost me massively. The same three segments were the reason I didn’t get sub 2hr 15mins…I need to understand why – they were massively into the wind but other riders were fine….
The rest of the ride from 40 miles were basically head down and churn, the tail wind which I had enjoyed was now a crosswind, which I didn’t mind as much….50 miles in 2hrs 20mins but official time 2hrs 26 due to my penalty.
What I took from this:
I have a confidence problem
My legs don’t work
I have problems grinding out big gears on the hills
When I could get it to work - the speed concept is stunning. Just stunning.
Now I have more exams coming up, this one less onerous than the last so I’m really going to try and get some good quality training under my belt as I am bitterly gutted.