Blenheim TT (and cyclocross) 4/10

[Ivor]

So, after a patchy few months thought I'd give this one a go.
20k TT over three laps of the Blenheim course. (http://www.bikeblenheimpalace.com/race.php#tt)

Bit of an odd start since it was going to be a full day at blenheim so I had a big breakfast (I'd be seeing that later), got the family all organised (we had four bikes in the car) and off to the palace.

Bikes everywhere!
I'd got a 9.22 start with number 134 on me (30 sec intervals for most) and a huge field in the region of 350 riders. And this was the first outing with the new TT bike and bargain disc wheel! Didn't get a chance to ride around the route, so just put my head down and hammered it.

Worried I might have gone off a bit too quick as I was just screaming past people, both those in front and those on their second and third laps.

The course was well signed, albeit quite narrow and windy in places, a few bumps where they'd covered cattle grids over. and a few "slow down signs" - I stopped pedalling going past those.

after the first lap I reckon I'd got the measure of the course, one short climb and one longer drag, but with enough time to recover after each I decided I wasn't going too hard after all and would manage three laps no problem.

so just tucked down, and went for it. second lap just vanished in no time at all. final lap was gettting a little tough on the last climp and my minute man #136 nipped by. damnint, I'd survived un-passed until now.
Upped the pace a bit but couldn't pull it back before the line.

and finish... and now regretting the big breakfast.... and having a little lie down... and now feeling a bit queasy....

pretty happy with my performance on that one though. and a time of... 35:01. aaargghh. if only I'd pushed that little more on the last climb.

Recovered and went to watch the Hutch going past three times like a bullet. he did it in 26:21!

Results:
http://cyclingtimetrials.janet0102.co.u ... &tabid=109

[carl f]

Well done ivor
I tried entering last min but they closed entries weeks ago apparently
See hutch came 2nd in the world brompton champs as well as winning the TT

[Ivor]

[quote="carl f"]Well done ivor
I tried entering last min but they closed entries weeks ago apparently
See hutch came 2nd in the world brompton champs as well as winning the TT

[Andrew G]

Well done Ivor, I fancied this as a bit of something different but was going to be away when it was on. What was the event like as a whole - day out, course, spectators etc?

[Snoop Doug]

good team effort, bad form deleting the epic cyclox bit tho eh

[Sylv]

what - that?

[quote]Part 2
Next - cyclo-cross.

No! Not me. Hugo was going to have a go! He's just under 8.

The categories were: U10, U12, youth, short, junior, and er, normal I guess.

Anyway, I thought that looked like a good split and should be a pretty good set of ages. It looked pretty well organised with British cycling and Sky banners everywhere and lots of helpers.
and then on signing up, I get my first sense that this is going to be the sort of event I've avoided all my life for this very reason....
In the U10 category they've been asking riders their age... then if asking they're new to cyclo cross and if they said yes, they dropped them into the U10 category. so there were 10 to 13 year olds in the same group with the under 10's.
As they lined up one of the officials was saying it was going to be a two lap race, seemed about right to me for youngsters, it was quite a decent length course.
and off they went. obviously all the big riders were blasting around at the front and some of the youngsters looked a bit nervous and unhappy, Hugo seemed to be going ok, and I shouted as he went by looking like he was having fun.

second lap round and the leader blasts into view, crosses the line and pulls over. but then the official at the line shouts no we're going to do three laps, the kid's a bit confused and his dad who was waiting by the line runs over and tells him to get going and off he goes - repeat that for the next few riders as they come up and stop and get shouted to go around again.

I shout out to Hugo as he comes into few a short while later (the field has really stretched out now) and ask if he's ok, does he want to go around again? he says yes puts his head down and pedals away. cool.

It isn't that much later when the leaders come into view and cross the line to win - as this happens, naturally a lot of the young riders who're stuggling on their second lap pull in also so now there's a whole mix of riders finished on either their third or second lap.

Then Hugo comes into view for his last lap, looking tired and he's slowed a bit, but bless him, as he senses the end he goes for it and puts in a manic sprint to the line.

I wander around to help him, and it's all pretty disorganised at the finish too with everyone milling about, and noone taking numbers back or saying well done.

So all in all:
1. I'm really proud of him, and he seemed pretty up-beat about it all and just enjoyed it, pretty philosophical too!
2. I'm pretty disappointed at the organisation of it being a bit of a showcase event. Some of the younger riders in the event really looked like they didn't enjoy it at all and you just know many of them will have been really put off the idea by the way it was run.

[Ivor]

Ta sylv! was pretty sure I'd saved a draft on the machine at home, but managed to wipe the second half tidying up the layout at work... hopeless.

should have some pics to add when I pull them off the camera.

Cheers.

[Ivor]

[quote="Andrew G"]Well done Ivor, I fancied this as a bit of something different but was going to be away when it was on. What was the event like as a whole - day out, course, spectators etc?