ECCA 12 Hour Time Trial

[George]

Up to East Anglia for the ECCA 12 hour time trial, Was a rather hot day and I had planned my nutrition to avoid suffering from cramps and dehydration. Had a great schedule planned out by MR PVT and MR GREEN with decreasing average speed during the event, which took into account fatigue and the latter sporting laps.

The first 85 miles are on a good fast stretch of dual carriageway, I used this to ease into the race and not go out too hard like I did last time. First 100 in 4.10.55 so about 4 mins up on schedule which was fine as it was a good morning and I was easily riding within myself. Onto the second Bottisham cirsuit, which I seem to enjoy and the heat was really getting up, I had my second pee, a good indication I was not getting dehydrated by drinking high 5 with Dioralyte replacing the lost salts.
By now I was still on my schedule but it was slowly coming down and a little too quick for my liking.

The transfer down to the 3rd Duxford cirsuit gave me a nice breather on the fast road, this next circuit is a tough little cookie it has plenty of long straight roads slightly into a breeze. The heat was really unbearable at this point so I removed the helmet and suck on a cap and sunglasses. Rice pudding slipped down a treat as Andrew and I had an ingenious way of eating it on the move without using a spoon!!

Top riders were really falling by the wayside and I passed a few fast starters who were cooking big time with cramp and dehydration, but I kept trundling on racing within myself and every 5 mins having a sip of liquid. I had now dropped off my original schedule so switched to my b schedule which was club record of 22mph, this seemed possible but hard as the sun really wore me down, I can honestly say I have never raced in such heat before!!

Onto the finishing circuit with over 200 miles on the clock and about 3 hours left, If i could just keep above 21mph ave I would just about make the record...
The finishing circuit was the hilliest of the lot and really hard to hold the speed high, I tried desperately to keep it fast but the draining effect of the sun was taking its toll. On the final lap I was almost just surviving go the finish and was quite happy when I reached TK number 4 with 40 seconds to go. Ahhhhh finally all the pain and suffering just ended and I got off the bike and sponged myself down.

Final Distance provisional 259ish miles for 5th place.
Thanks once again to Mohammed and Andrew for helping with the feeding, you guys were spot on and I couldn't have done it without you.

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Photo David Jones

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Andrew Green

[Dominic]

Well done George, brutal day for it. It was hot enough sitting in my office at work yesterday let alone riding a bike

[Andrew G]

A truely brilliant ride on a savage day, a 265-270m ride in normal conditions.

Happy to help George, pleased to say he was a good boy and drank all his drink - fresh bottle every lap with the old one coming back empty and lots of rice pud...food of kings.

Had plenty of nice chats with the other helpers, you have a nice camoraderie between you, and it's easy to lend a hand to collect a discarded bottle or catch a helmet (steady Ian!) when they're busy handing up fresh supplies.

Thanks to Lisa of Kingston Phoenix for the loan of a cap to keep the sun off George's neck as that was about the only thing not in the van, one of my floppy sun hats probably wouldn't have worked too well on the bike .

Everyone was really suffering in afternoon after so long under a searing heat. Supporting you can try and grab some shade at the roadside but out on the road there is nowhere to hide. Lots of riders gratefully taking a sponge off me to squeeze over their head, there are sponge stations on the circuits but every one was gratefully received yesterday.