Yippee the cycling season has begun
When I decided to do this I set myself the target of going round in 50 mins and trying to scrape into the top 20. When I received my start sheet and saw that Christian Yates was 4th last year with 50mins, I thought it was time to revise my estimation. Ableit the event today was on a mile shorter course after I drove it yesterday I thought that if I could get within 10 mins of the winner I would be happy. To be honest after driving it I was dreading it.
Due to problems with some parts for my TT bike, I was riding my road bike with Profile clip ons. Kindly on test from Mr Munnery. I was looking forward to using them as when I was warming up they felt comfy and fast, always a good sign. The start is on the A25 and after the the 1 in 8 just after the start I felt like I was hammering along.
Left turn into the country lanes, I think to myself, why is my right arm moving up and down. Piffle or some such expletive came from my mouth, my right clip on has come loose. Within a mile the spacer had come out from the bracket and my right clip on was pointing down at the floor. So it was down on the drops for the rest of the ride.
What a fantastic course, up and down and twisty through lovely scenery. The course eventually comes out onto the A29 and part of my cunning plan was to give it some along there. What a feckin horrible road surface, really rough and slow. Then it was onto the A24 and up to Holmwood (end of the 10 course), which was into a bit of headwind but I felt quite good and the finish. The first TT I have ever ridden where there are distance markers from 5 miles in. This really is a good indication of how well the event was organised. Superb!!
Back to HQ get changed. My time 48.48 Well pleased. Winners time about a 43 I think. Top 20 - I don't think so. I think it was quite a fast day all round.
Roll on the East Surrey hardriders. Must get these bloody tri-bars sorted out though