Farnham 2up

[Ian A4size]

Well it should have been a 4up...... I'll let tell the tale.....coz I never really took part- but I did start the "double cake" order

[Phil H]

Hey - I was at the cakes well before you.

[Andrew G]

Well it was good fun .

Ian had contacted Rob, Phil and I to see if we were interested in doing the Farnham 4 up, why not TTTs are good fun. We were a bit of a mixed bag of size and speed with no more than a 20 minute post race spin together to try and work out what we'd do. Who cares, this would be a nice fun event.

At HQ Phil informed us he'd broken a rib body boarding on holiday and breathing was a bit painful, he hoped it would be okay and Rob said we needed three to finish so if it hurt too much Phil could always save his health and drop off.

All lined up at the start and off we go . We all rotated through for the first couple of rotations but on the longish drag before the Chicken pub we cooked Ian and Phil a bit, oops . Lesson learnt ease up more on the drags. Rob and I then 2up-ed to the first turn while Ian and Phil had a breather with Ian coming through at the turn, Phil then came through and on the start of the return leg we rotated again to the first of the drags where Rob and I started 2up-ing again but easing up on the drags to keep us close together.

The faster return leg was nice and wind assisted and we got through the second turn without having to stop for traffic. Back on to the out leg and the wind had really picked up and was a pretty strong headwind. I'm not sure where but Phil fell off or sat up and Rob and I 2up-ed in to the wind with Ian sitting on tight doing his best Schleck impression . We kept it pretty even without pushing on too much and eased on the drags so we stayed together, it was nice to get to the first turn again and turn out of the wind.

We carried on 2up-ing to the finish with Ian coming through a couple of times when he could to the finish. We got there in 1.00.07 so now you've done it Ian there's your target for a solo . Your last couple of pulls near the end were strong enough, just knock it back a touch from those efforts and hold that level of effort. Drop some of the 10s you've been doing and do more 25s and I reckon under the hour next year .

[Ian A4size]

I "gurned" for addiscombe all the way round

What seemed like a good idea a few months ago- turned into probably one of the hardest rides I have had this year, my "come back" year.

Right from the off finbar and rainman set a hot pace that left the "man of crust" and myself lacking in hill climbing abilities, Phil was popping nurofen and paracetamol like M+M's before the start- I've had a boggled rib before- and you just can't breathe and move comfortably at all.
Even before we got to the first turn Phil and I were missing turns- I've got a bit of a cough - OK I was just $hite-, and Robert soon worked it out that they would do all the running and Phil and I would be Cadel and Andy,
The toilet seat around my neck was fairly uncomfortable for all of the climbs - but I was able to do a little on the flats and downhills -just to give the others a break.

The ribs finally got the better of Phil after about 15 miles of torture, so then there were 3..... good Genesis album that.

"COME ON IAN- PUSH!" said matron - posh has never heard those words, I'm sure.

About now I'm really dying, everythings a col, I'm just hanging in, Andrew and Robert are just driving me on to the finish- I freewheel for a few seconds and drop a few precious beats that lets me take a small turn on the front- it seems they are easing up all the time- is this the J4F ride?

I give a big dig for about a minute- downhill of course- just to give them a break, the Bull pub looms in the distance, Andrew screams at me "KEEP PUSHING IAN- I am now a member of Radio $hat!

The finish line takes forever to come- everything hurts- double.

The end....... big grin,..... I've not done a thing for ages......bet you two are fooked......

Top cake and coffee x2 -plus the M25 was OK.

Seriously tough ride for me- I've not done too many 25's this year- but in my defence I am learning my "craft" about pacing and effort.

thanks to the guys who did the towing me around bit, there is a huge difference between under and just over the hour.

Recovery "Hen" is much needed.

[Lucyap]

Great write up
Well done guys

[Andrew G]

.

Not bad at all Ian, like you say still learning and hopefully today will help. The more races the more you learn. When I started testing a few years ago my old man said it would take a couple of years to learn what to do and he was right.

I know you don't like them but I find the early season sporting TTs good to help get the race head on for the season and the tough courses help learn how to race the drags and the like better. I don't worry about my time, they are purely training races.

[Snoop Doug]

sounds like fun....kinda. When I was tt ing the coach always said to me, don't kill yourself going uphills, you do that going down. Skool boy error from the more experienced riders today perhaps

[Andrew G]

We just went a bit too fast for the others early Snoop.

Re drags and hills, you spend more time going up them than down and lose more time proportionately on the up. Better to push harder up and a bit less down and ride a flatter more even pace.

[Phil H]

On the maths, Mr. Green is right. On the other hand, not killing yourself early into a 25 is also a good strategy.

I lost touch on the long upwind drag. Thought I could claw my way back for the descent of the Col du Hen & Chicken but realized I was putting myself so far in the red (I think - HRM strap hurt so didn't wear it) to get ground back that I wouldn't have been able to stay on much longer. Still, 23:55 for the first 10 miles ...

[Steve B]

I enjoyed reading that, nice one guys . Just glad I didn't have to ride it.

Steve

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Phil the Pie"]not killing yourself early into a 25 is also a good strategy...

[quote="Snoop Doug"][quote="Phil the Pie"]not killing yourself early into a 25 is also a good strategy...

[carl f]

Top story guys ,sounds like you had a blast anyway.
I'm with the school of going hard up hill and into the wind and easing off downhill/tailwind. Read Adam Tophams TT book recently he suggests this and he's pretty handy......