Spoke to someone this week who recommended me to try keep in as much energy as possible, which I really meant to have a go at. Then from the gun I changed my mind
and decided to try and chase as many attacks as possible, just to try and get into that elusive break, even if it meant I’d be spat out after only one lap.The first 20min didn’t seem all that hard, there were lulls in the pace at times. The Easterly wind was uncommon for Hillingdon, and hit you hard in the face on the two sections, after the first hairpin, and before the final climb. There was an early crash on the back straight, had to ride in the grass to avoid a fallen rider.
It certainly felt much harder than last week being in the first front dozen for most of the race and constantly responding to attacks, even if I didn’t actually make it to the front more than 3-4 times. I had to go right into the red a handful of times, and the more it went the more it felt that if I got in a break, I probably wouldn’t last for too long. I made sure I followed wheels and moves of the likes of C. Moores, Phil or Adam.
At some point I think we lapped a big group of 20 that had become detached from the back. After a big attack, Moores, Meadows and Angus Macalister a NP who had been making awesome solo attacks beforehand (I'm not sure he didn't actually break away on his own), attacked again on the climb, and the rest of us could only watch them disappear. Eventually came to a big bunch sprint, started a bit too far backwards, ended up about 12th-14th, a few places behind Adam. Another great workout and awesome fun.
No power data, but lap times and average HR:
Lap - Time Average Speed - Average Heart Rate
1 - 00:02:40 - 34.4 kph - 121 bpm
2 - 00:02:08 - 43.0 kph - 146 bpm
3 - 00:02:13 - 41.9 kph - 160 bpm
4 - 00:02:25 - 38.4 kph - 157 bpm
5 - 00:02:14 - 40.8 kph - 165 bpm
6 - 00:02:18 - 40.3 kph - 158 bpm
7 - 00:02:14 - 41.3 kph - 166 bpm
8 - 00:02:27 - 37.5 kph - 156 bpm
9 - 00:02:19 - 39.9 kph - 159 bpm
10 - 00:02:18 - 40.0 kph - 167 bpm
11 - 00:02:22 - 39.0 kph - 163 bpm
12 - 00:02:20 - 39.4 kph - 164 bpm
13 - 00:02:26 - 37.5 kph - 161 bpm
14 - 00:02:23 - 38.3 kph - 154 bpm
15 - 00:02:21 - 38.7 kph - 161 bpm
16 - 00:02:10 - 42.3 kph - 172 bpm
17 - 00:02:17 - 40.3 kph - 167 bpm
18 - 00:02:12 - 41.7 kph - 168 bpm
19 - 00:02:17 - 40.3 kph - 167 bpm
20 - 00:02:15 - 40.6 kph - 163 bpm
21 - 00:02:16 - 40.3 kph - 169 bpm
22 - 00:02:19 - 39.4 kph - 165 bpm
23 - 00:02:21 - 39.7 kph - 159 bpm
24 - 00:02:13 - 41.4 kph - 163 bpm
25 - 00:02:29 - 37.3 kph - 159 bpm
26 - 00:02:28 - 37.4 kph - 151 bpm
27 - 00:02:19 - 39.7 kph - 156 bpm
28 - 00:02:22 - 38.6 kph - 164 bpm
29 - 00:02:22 - 38.9 kph - 159 bpm
30 - 00:02:25 - 38.0 kph - 157 bpm
31 - 00:02:25 - 38.1 kph - 154 bpm
32 - 00:02:10 - 42.5 kph - 159 bpm
33 - 00:00:12 - 38.2 kph - 171 bpm
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/1968300
Photos by Lucy Collins – no Keith, that is not a perma-grin, just a wide open mouth constantly gasping for air!!
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Race winner
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