I was off to the Bentley course this afternoon for a 25 on the course I set my PB on last year. What a nice day, warm and sunny and just a gentle breeze.
I was off number 16 and 15 was a DNS so no fast fella in front of me. I set off and tried to get in to a rhythm and keep the speed up, although my legs didn't feel overly good today so I was having to concentrate more on the effort than on those lovely days when your legs just feel zippy.
This course is a bit of a gentle roller, pretty flat but with a number of little drags, but you can hold your speed up and over them a lot easier than on some courses. On the way to the first turn I noticed that in a couple of places their was a bit of a headwind, not a lot but where the course is tree lined it was channeling the breeze. Like I say nothing to really write home about though just a bit of a breeze in your face.
Around the turn and then I caught my 2 minute man at about 6 miles and another 4 miles later I caught my 3 minute woman. Around the second turn and back towards the start. Just as I was about to pass the start number 50 got his push off just in front of me. I thought he could be handy as although he'd pull away from me he may help me to keep the speed up. It didn't really work, he was one of these guys who pedals a huge gear and was rolling along at a low cadence but really shifting and dissappeared off in to the distance. He finished with a 52.45!
Around the turn again and I caught sight of a few more carrots and soon reeled in and passed number 9 and then 12. I had my computer on average speed so I could focus on keeping it up (ooh matron). The breeze had picked up a bit but still wasn't a real issue just something I noticed as I pushed on for the finish.
In the last couple of miles I had another carrot up the road and drove on for the finish. I hammered it up a rise passing number 8 and round the bend to the finish, oh bugger it's not there is it it's a bit further and round the next bend. Gurn on and keep driving and cross the line, phew.
I thought i'd done what I wanted and back at the HQ it was confirmed...the hour was beaten .
59.47[img]http://www.clochette.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/woot_jump.gif[/img]
Wooo-hoooo as I believe the saying goes.
I settled down with a very good cup of tea and some smashing fruit cake and waited for Steve who'd also been riding. A nice chat and then in the car to get home and stick my feet up before tomorrow morning's SCCU 25, It may be more of a fast ride than a race though after this afternoon's efforts we shall see what the little pins are like.
ACC:
Andrew Green 59.47
Steve Davies 1.00.40
It was a full field and I left well before the last riders were in so have no idea who won but there was a 51 on the board as best when I went. However I suspect the womens winner had finished as Julia Shaw (best women's time trialist in the country and multi National champion and record holder) had done 56.18. She is awesome.
[Edit: The 51 on the board was second by 2 seconds from the winner who was Steve Walkling 51.19 and Julia did win the women's event]