Just three ACCers- I think- today, Lucy AP, Robert rainman and myself.
I got up in plenty of time to have coffee and toast-5.20- and inadvertently swallowed some of 's much famed faff pils, strolling into the village hall at a leisurely pace at around about five past seven I was greeted by Robert who remarked " it's about time"..... no prob I said- got ages yet.... turns out in my head I've still got last tuesdays 10 start time in my head- but actually I'm off in about 25 mins, sign on - cant find number- pen shaking- loos crowded- the air freshener was waving the white flag..........
No chance for a turbo warm up now- I'll have to return it to you, it's getting even less use than when you owned it- new kinky overshoes, wetlook, tight..... might go out in these tonight
I rode up and down a few lanes to the start- it was flippin' cold, I felt $ hite, a rather late night as the outlaws were up- I only had two pints honest, a guiness and a rather flowery bitter- goes with my new overshoes- lovely.
I had no minute man in front of me- I hate that 2 mins is a lot of time to make up.
I had it in my mind today not to start too quick- 800 watts is unsustainable for a great deal of time- wake up finbar- so its a quick dig then sit down and await the switchbacks on the climb to moorhead- not too bad today, raging tailwind thats why- nasty crosswind along to broadfield RAB, the same crosswind along the top of the course- then a nice tailwind up the col de Toll, kept a steady 32/34kmh up there, told you it was windy, round the RAB at the top, ahhh thats better a nice long descent. I usually hit about 55/60kmh down there only not today- I had to graft to get to about 45!
The same thing happened on the descent from the moorhead switchbacks, I felt so lousy and was having to give much more than I wanted to- perhaps if I ride over some gravel I can climb off at the fart hings RAB.
But no! We must be made of sterner stuff, call yerself a TT'er in yer fancy boudoir shoe covers- get your @rse in gear munners.
Problems all solved by the time I hit great daux, I was in a lot of pain back there, headwind, a drag( my shoes) and really terrible road surface -especially as I was looking for a puncture.
Only a crosswind to deal with now and the lenticular properties of the disc I was using.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............(cont P94).
On to the turn and up the north face of the southwater climb, I "hate" this bit- everyweek West Sussex CC move the concrete bridge ( it really is a thing of beauty- think Venice) further away, you just never seem to get any closer it no matter how much you PLF.
The flying finish beckonith-yer right- felt lousy all the way round - might try and get my handicap down next week- a rather stiff breeze on my left hand side wasn't helping my lenticular all that much- everything hurt, quads, hams the whole butchers shop and even the old emperor Gluteus Maximus was chiming in with a critique.
About 200m from the finish I saw the man with the chequered board running away up the hill- or so it seemed- I was then hit by an incredible wind- theres another opening -I literally had the bars ripped from my hands as the wind caught the front wheel- it seemed that the front wheel went 90 degrees- that was a truly trouser filling moment, completely un-expected, over the line and I must admit I was fairly wrecked.
I may need to pack this lark in, I'm nearly 50 now- still not as old as Williams
Bread pudding was superb- even the coffee was ok- a good stretch as I was getting stiff.....
Ahh my time 1.03.19 PB, very pleased.
I'll be back