Just signed up for my first ever race (10 ITT)
Discussion
And I'm bricking it! Granted its only a club 10, and I'm no where near able to frighten the course title holder. I thought it would be good to do something now the nights are getting lighter and I'm not doing on call for work anymore 
The club have been very welcoming in the contact I've had with them so far and have told me not to worry about being snail slow!
I'll be doing it on my Ribble on 25c's, so nothing special and the course is rated as E2/10, and looking at the profile, I'm guessing the easiest!
Has anyone got any tips? Apart from the obvious of not starting off to quickly and warming up properly.
The club have been very welcoming in the contact I've had with them so far and have told me not to worry about being snail slow!
I'll be doing it on my Ribble on 25c's, so nothing special and the course is rated as E2/10, and looking at the profile, I'm guessing the easiest!
Has anyone got any tips? Apart from the obvious of not starting off to quickly and warming up properly.
Sorry, its not an E2/10, is and S1/10.
As some of the roads are my weekend ride I might incorporate it into my ride this weekend, just to give me a base line, and so I know the course.
This is the course
http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/1611801-cc-ashwell...
As some of the roads are my weekend ride I might incorporate it into my ride this weekend, just to give me a base line, and so I know the course.
This is the course
http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/1611801-cc-ashwell...
I very much doubt I'll be under 30 TBH, if I'm lucky I'll be under 35! In a moment of madness, I've just strava'd the route.
Its not a flat as the club website makes out! I don't climb at all well.
https://www.strava.com/routes/2099191
Still, after a summer I should be a lot lighter (currently 90kgs) and certainly a lot fitter if I'm doing this every week!
Its not a flat as the club website makes out! I don't climb at all well.
https://www.strava.com/routes/2099191
Still, after a summer I should be a lot lighter (currently 90kgs) and certainly a lot fitter if I'm doing this every week!
Put in a recce today as there is 1 road that I'd never ridden before, and the roads I do, I ride in the reverse way so thought it would be a good idea. Thought it would also help me get over my fears of riding in windy conditions and boy was it windy out there!
Rode out to the start point with a good cross wind, with high blustery winds intermitantly blowing, which almost had me in the 8 foot deep ditches a couple of times, before I'd started
Started off on the 10 miles, and was quite happy that I'd got to the 5 mile marker in 15 mins, with cross winds and 2 bits of climbs which weren't that bad to be honest. The wind then became a head wind for the next strech to the next climb, ugg, did I mention I don't like wind
, the top of the climb is about 6.5 / 7 miles in, but not sure of my time to that point.
The last sector is the road I'd never ridden before, and also had the worst headwind I'd experianced, I'd say it was a 20mph avg with nocking on 40 mph gusts! Its mostly arrow straight, so was relentless, at 1 point I was in a single figure speed (wasn't aero, becuase I didn't know the road, and riding on drops kills my neck). The only saving grace is its mostly down hill.
Still, Strava reports a 38 min time for the 10, so I'm happy with that, as the first digit isn't a 4, and I wasn't really going for it as much as I'd like because I was trying to stay upright.
My question for myself now is how much time did I loose due to wind? Hopefully there won't be any in 2 weeks and I'll get under 35 for the first attempt, and I'll find out.
the 30 miles done today, certainly helped with my fear of the wind though
Rode out to the start point with a good cross wind, with high blustery winds intermitantly blowing, which almost had me in the 8 foot deep ditches a couple of times, before I'd started
Started off on the 10 miles, and was quite happy that I'd got to the 5 mile marker in 15 mins, with cross winds and 2 bits of climbs which weren't that bad to be honest. The wind then became a head wind for the next strech to the next climb, ugg, did I mention I don't like wind
, the top of the climb is about 6.5 / 7 miles in, but not sure of my time to that point.The last sector is the road I'd never ridden before, and also had the worst headwind I'd experianced, I'd say it was a 20mph avg with nocking on 40 mph gusts! Its mostly arrow straight, so was relentless, at 1 point I was in a single figure speed (wasn't aero, becuase I didn't know the road, and riding on drops kills my neck). The only saving grace is its mostly down hill.
Still, Strava reports a 38 min time for the 10, so I'm happy with that, as the first digit isn't a 4, and I wasn't really going for it as much as I'd like because I was trying to stay upright.
My question for myself now is how much time did I loose due to wind? Hopefully there won't be any in 2 weeks and I'll get under 35 for the first attempt, and I'll find out.
the 30 miles done today, certainly helped with my fear of the wind though
Well, I've done it! Tonight was race day and for the first time ever I pinned on a race number.
Was hoping for a slightly quicker time, but I predicted a 35 min time an came in at 34:59! I started as no 13, and only had 5 riders pass me which I'm chuffed with, as I did expect to be passed by more riders. Slightly unhappy in that I was 3 mins down at the 1/2 way marker, and wanted to be there in 15 mins apposed to 18. The upside to this is as its my first timed run with the club, it counts as a PB and towards my handicap for 1 of the trophys at the end of the season.
I now hurt, and I'm going to know about it tomorrow.
I can see this getting addictive, much to the bank managers dissaproval.
https://app.strava.com/activities/290673171/segmen...
Was hoping for a slightly quicker time, but I predicted a 35 min time an came in at 34:59! I started as no 13, and only had 5 riders pass me
which I'm chuffed with, as I did expect to be passed by more riders. Slightly unhappy in that I was 3 mins down at the 1/2 way marker, and wanted to be there in 15 mins apposed to 18. The upside to this is as its my first timed run with the club, it counts as a PB and towards my handicap for 1 of the trophys at the end of the season.I now hurt, and I'm going to know about it tomorrow.
I can see this getting addictive, much to the bank managers dissaproval.
https://app.strava.com/activities/290673171/segmen...
Some Gump said:
Then you know where your targets are!
1 - 34.58 or better.
2 - Not last.
The season i did, i was good at nibbling away at (1) but (2) was more hit and miss. It's the "bonus" though - keep beating your PB and all is good
My target for this season is getting to 25 mins, my run time target at present is 29:59. 1 - 34.58 or better.
2 - Not last.
The season i did, i was good at nibbling away at (1) but (2) was more hit and miss. It's the "bonus" though - keep beating your PB and all is good
To help with 2, 1 has to be reduced and I have plans for that
as the ride did highlight a couple of things that need to be addressed.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff