Syndenham Wheelers Open 25 3rd April

[Phil H]

This is going to sound odd, but I don't know my time or position. They had me down as 1:06:14 but I think there's a minute or two to be added somewhere.

This morning was mostly a tale of inexperience and the importance of not trusting the internet "course profile". On paper, it looked like 9 miles dropping 300ft to the turn, back up the same way, drop 300ft fairly quickly to the next turn and 150ft back up. Actually it's constant small undulations - the sort which seem like a good idea to hammer through on the first leg to the turn. This turned out not to be a good idea as the lactic acid buildup took its toll later on. I noticed when my minute-man passed around 18 minutes in that he was slower than me on the ups and the downs but faster on the flats. Something to bear in mind.

Someone should've said with time trialling that you shouldn't go off too fast.

It it had stopped at 10 miles, I would've smashed my PB. As it was, the undulating rise back to Harrietsham was pretty horrible - with a bit of a headwind to improve matters. Down back through Harrietsham is an interesting descent. There are side roads and traffic lights together with enough of a gradient to make the 50/11 seem very spinny. A motorbike aborted his overtake when he spotted the 40 sign. The last 3 miles after the 2nd turn were pretty nasty - an undulating climb again.

Hadn't done any threshold training, hadn't done any practise on the tri-bars so my shoulders were killing. Alternating to the drops for the uphills and sometimes even the hoods. Even with the arm rests as far apart as they go, the aero position feels nasty after about 20 minutes.

Put it down as a "valuable learning experience". Maybe I'll get it right for the ACC Open 25 ...

[Dominic]

Good ride Phil, you went out and raced that's the main way to get better.

I have only ridden the Harrietsham course once and also did not have a good time. It is a bit of a sneaky course I think (although I did not do your internet research). I drove it first and thought, this doesn't not look too bad. Apart from the howling side wind.

I also had not tried out the position or bike for that matter that I was using and like you really suffered on the way back.

If it is any consoltion I went 3 mins quicker on the next course I rode (G25/45). So keep training, get used to the position you want to race in, ride the Addiscombe 25 like you did this and you will go a lot quicker.

Oh and don't start too fast

[Andrew G]

Golden rules of time trialling Phil, don't start too fast, don't start too fast, don't start too fast .

Sounds a mixed morning but a valuable learning experience, only your second 25 and you'll keep learning the more you do, particularly if you don't know the course.

Well done on starting your season and kicking things off for the year, if a race doesn't go to plan then think of it as a good training session. Everone has days like that now and again.

Might take a while to dial in your position, if you can leave the tri-bars on so you can practice with them and tweak when you're out training.

[Phil H]

I've had the tri bars on for a couple of weeks and the saddle in "TT position". Haven't used in enough though. It's a bit of a PITA because having the saddle up and forward and the bars right down doesn't do my wrists any favours for normal riding. It's quite handy for dropping people on the A23 into Coulsdon though.

I was watching the average speed for the first leg. Fatal. It was getting temptingly close to the magic 25mph - which I should know I'm a long way off for a 25.

[Dominic]

Phil,
By your description I am assuming that you are using the same bike for your every day riding and TTing. If by your description of 'up and forward' you are actually raising your saddle, I would say don't. Find a comfortable position with a normal saddle height and tri-bars to start off with. Not sure what you mean by having your tri-bars as 'wide as possible', be comfortable. That is the most important thing. Get used to the tri-bars and riding on them. I have done 100 mile TTs on mine and not had sore shoulders. I know we only think of it as being 'an hour', but it is a long time if you are not comfy.

If you have a different bike to race on I would say still you don't need your saddle higher but need to ride it more to get used to the position.

[Phil H]

Yes, I am (for now) using the same bike. I move the saddle up and forwards so I can stay low and still breathe easily without constantly kneeing myself in the (rather too large) gut. It does feel as though my elbows are squeezed together by the tri-bars though. I'm not putting real weight on them (well, sometimes when knackered).

With some lighter evenings I should get a chance to practise/train and play with position.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Phil Hawkes"]Someone should've said with time trialling that you shouldn't go off too fast.

[George]

Well done Phill good effort but you should be able to go much faster and sub hour in 25's.
Get more aero on the bike
Lose some weight
Push harder on the pedals
Experience some pain whilst racing
That's all you need

[Andrew G]

In summary George PLF .

The speed should make no difference Snoop, ride with the same principals.

[Marcus]

Great to see you kept this up Phil and doing 25's which i'm sure as has said previous requires not only fitness but concentration.

PLF=??; Phil lard ass fatty? Palestinian liberation front? Phil late finisher? Phil lasagne first? Pooh lentils for breakfast?

[Andrew G]

PLF = pedal like f...

Just checked your startsheet you sent me Phil and unless there's a mix up in the time you clocked a pb by nearly a minute, well done that man .