So... first TT of the year at last. On the lovely Bletchingly GS/334.
Excuses out of the way first, felt a twinge in my calf last night and hoped it would go by the morning. usual pre-tt nights sleep. up at 3 and 5 so gave up and got up instead. Calf still twinging in the morning though, must have pulled a muscle running in the week but didn't think it would bother my riding.
Minor confusion with Race HQ not being at the normal bletchingly hall despite being marked on the map as such - but I wasn't alone in that error!
Anyway, a wet and cold run. Tricky surface on the descent and bottom corner hope that gets swept for this afternoons race. Calf didn't bother me riding around but it's still annoying me now.
Since it was the first TT this year for me I decided to start off at a 10 pace and see how it went. Strategy seemed to work ok although I was off at #2 so only had one rider to catch. Zipped past just at the first corner off the A25. woo. Then just a solo ride around after that Zzzzzz .. had some trouble keeping my pace up on the return legs, think I need to put some thought/work/effort into that. after lap 1, legs felt really good going past the line the legs and climbed up through bletchingly and back down to outwood again.... zipped past #34 and was on the look out for anyone else. finally on the stretch just past the windmill got taken by #10 and then a couple of others on the last drag back up to the village I didn't spot the numbers.
Was hoping to get close to a 1h. In the end managed a 63:41. So not bad really, a significant improvement on my debut on the course last year anyway with my 1h10 so I guess I should be pleased.
Haven't got full results yet - had to get over to the post office! I'll fill them in when I get them.
-edit-
Full results: [url=http://cyclingtimetrials.janet0102.co.uk/Default.aspx?&ge482__geka=MoeMaZhZdmGPSYuQ8onYwr5VtT1MpzEe2fhLDMJ2raIcqkycJrweT-tOSegOH8lwra0C_7A_jce82x7hGGfT_NTw8C1ZwO2-5AR9ScW7Hkv1qPlOFF6DcMIRwJAVbHBMaDVByUiPbYAM_GgpDyo1w8QYkGXXGc-GPX5IBDKCmns-a_WPDlPg1zTGyZCEmnBz&ge482__gevi=bkosVTEcmXX5ekdECVvBmA&gv484__gvac=2&gv484__gvff0=53738&gv484__gvfl0=0&language=en-GB&tabid=109]CTT Results[/url]
[code]1 Ben Instone Scientific-coaching.com 00:49:37 35
2 Michael Coyle Velo Club Etoile 00:52:08 V46
3 Steve Dennis East Grinstead CC 00:52:19 45
4 Niall Digby Sigmasport 00:54:04 39
5 Kevin Shaw GS Stella 00:56:04 V53
6 Neil Houldey Horsham Cycling 00:56:08 31
7 Nigel Morgan Tooting BC 00:56:36 V43
7 Paul Alderson South Western RC 00:56:36 V40
9 Simon Smythe PCA Ciclos Uno 00:56:50 40
10 Stephen Morgan Tooting BC 00:56:59 V41
11 Daryl May Sheffrec CC 00:58:38 35
12 Geoff Smith Sussex Nomads CC 00:59:04 V58
13 Richard Tully Anerly BC 00:59:13 32
14 Michael Porter 34th Nomads 01:01:10 V42
15 Helen Boatman Team Milton Keynes 01:02:05 W38
[b]16 Ivor Hewitt Addiscombe CC 01:03:41 37[/b]
17 Chris Cowlard VTTA (East Anglia) 01:05:36 V54
18 Edward Boorman East Grinstead CC 01:05:56 V67
19 Colin Hathaway Old Portlians CC 01:06:21 48
20 Stuart Payne Central Sussex CC 01:06:23 V46
21 Peter Cookson Willesden CC 01:06:31 V58
22 Bryn Tully Anerly BC 01:07:35 64
23 Alec Mayes Ashford Wheelers CC 01:09:32 V63
24 David Eccles Redmon CC 01:09:36 V61
25 Stephen Long Lewes Wanderers CC 01:11:07 V44
26 Robin Johnson Brighton Mitre 01:12:34 V60
26 Michael Zuill Crawley Wheelers 01:13:04 V62
27 Gillian Reynolds Willesden CC 01:15:07 W60
1001 David French Weybridge Wheelers dnf
1002 Alan Rowe De Laune CC dnf
1003 William Slack London Dynamo dns
1004 Richard Hallett Sydenham Wheelers dns
1005 Alan Starsmeare East Grinstead CC dns
1006 Simon Thomson Icknield RC dns
1007 Robert Royston Sydenham Wheelers dns
1008 Mark Winton Lewes Wanderers CC dns
1009 Steve Aveley Tooting BC dns
1010 Nic Stagg Spirit Racing Team dns[/code]
Was feeling ok until #10 asked me if I'd had a puncture because of my time. I'll take that as a compliment and that he thought I looked fast.