Riding with the brakes on slows you down

Last weeks Saighton ten was another lesson in time trialling. I had a few problems with the bike before I left. The rear brake is integrated into the frame and sits underneath, just behind the down tube. I was struggling to stop the brake catching on it. I would think I had fixed it than a couple of goes on the brake and it would catch again. 

I drove down anyway and set the bike up again, once again i thought it was ok. i rode the warm up and knew with the speeds I was doing something was still wrong. I got back to the start line and with the help of a couple of the palefish crew thought I had finally fixed it. Despite maintaining my usual heart rate I was passed by two people starting after me. While its not the best indication of performance it stings a bit when you find out they were both slower than my time last week by about a minute. I ended up being just over three minutes slower than last week. At the finish line I picked the bike up, span the back wheel and watched it stop after quarter of a turn. No wonder I was slow. I put it down to resistance training and dropped the bike in the shop. The bad news is there is a problem and its gone back to the manufacturer. So I'm back to road bikes for now. I didn't do a great deal of riding through the week with gales making riding dangerous though I have managed a few hard interval sessions 

As I'm writing this its five hours to tonight's ten and its still 50mph gusts so I'm trying to motivate myself  ready to try again......

Second Effort-getting a bit faster

So after last weeks 27-51 I had beaten my target of a sub 30 minute by 2 mins 9 seconds giving me the right to ride my TT bike on the next event. The first problem was that I actually haven't ridden it that many times and they take a bit of getting used to. There is a lot of weight on the arms and looking up uses different neck muscles. So on the Tuesday I took it out for some interval training. Just two lots of 4 by 2 minutes in zone four in the middle of a 2 hour ride on the Tuesday settled me into position, started getting me used to the gear changes and building the neck strength.  Wednesday was different again. I was out for 2 1/2 hours on a hot day. I was doing sprints so 6 to 15 second sprints with up to 45 seconds of recovery many many times. My last sprint went past cheshire oak cycles and I was starting to struggle with the heat and effort. I didn't have a bottle (or cage) on the TT bike, stupid mistake. Cheshire Oak cycles gave me a can of energy drink so in return I ordered my cage and bottle, not that they expected me to. They also checked my bike ready for Thursday. 

So I was feeling prepared and ready for the Thursday night ride, secretly hoping to get into the 26 something. 

Of course the gods conspired against me. I woke Thursday to heavy rain and howling gales. I spotted a tweet from a local semi-pro who returned home after 20 miles due to the conditions and began to decide (maybe) not to ride. Later in the day though I thought I would drive down just for a look. That in turn became a ride. The bike set up I once again did a 7 mile 18.1mph warm up getting to the line as number 9 with 5 minutes to spare (perfect). Both number 8 and 10 either side of me were on TT bikes with aero helmets (I haven't earned the right to wear mine yet) and looked pretty handy. I tried telling number ten it would be rude to pass me in the first four miles but he looked to have little sympathy.  

My turn came and I set off in the rain and in to a strong head wind. I dropped down the descent and just a few hundred yards from the first corner got a big cheer from a group just watching, not bad in this weather. As I hit the first corner I was slightly delayed by four cars passing (safety first). I then noticed number 8 not far ahead. I love a carrot but I was a little embarrassed to catch them before the three mile point. I passed them muttering that I would blow soon and pushed on determined not to give number ten the same satisfaction. The ride was hard with the cold, rain and wind buffeting me about. I felt wobbly on the bike at times but not uncomfortable. The wind pushed me uphill back to the start and I tried going wide on corner one to maintain my speed. At the last minute I spotted a pile of mud and slammed on. To be honest I need more practice on the narrow bars so it didn't matter. I pushed on with lungs burning on the final uphill before pushing as hard as I could on the downhill. 27.21 for the 10.1 miles. I was slightly dissapointed at first not getting into the 26 minutes but riding back with number 10 he told me he was 90 seconds slower than last week and I beat him by 1-40. So hopefully with better weather next week I can get into the 26 mins and drop that even more on a fast course.  I need to get into a club and race a few other courses perhaps even try a 25- just for the pain of it,

Those interested in trying it feel free to get in touch or turn up on a Thursday night in Saighton just outside Chester. The first rider sets off at 7 so try and get there about 6 to warm up and settle down. It's £3-50 to ride and is a good, though technical and slightly slow course. There are all sorts of levels there so don't worry about your ability. 

1st one done

After working hard through the winter it was important for me to get a benchmark of where I am up to in my quest for a 25 minute 10 mile time trial. I had opted for the Saighton 10 just outside Chester. It's described as a technically difficult course of 1&1/2 loops, dropping down from the start to a left hand turn the course runs flat for a couple of miles. It's then a left turn and uphill fo a while. Past the car park again where your fellow velo-nuts cheer you on before you ride back through the start for another lap of the first three miles.

This was my first time trial in over thirty years and just one week off my 50th birthday so, to be honest, I was nervous. I felt I hadn't ridden the TT bike enough so I opted to race on the Cannondale super six. Still a fast bike but no TT machine. I always said I would allow myself 'treats' when I managed certain times. My goal for today was simply under 30 minutes. Late last year I was managing 30 to 31 minutes on the road.

So with a 7pm start I had plenty of time through the day to get ready. I checked the bike over and put it in the car. Clothes selected to be as similar to a skin suit as possible without subjecting the world to me in a skin suit. Recovery drink ready, and an energy drink for sipping in the hour up to he event. I ate well through the day with my last meal three hours before apart from fruit and an energy bar. All a little over the top but it stopped me wondering what I was up to.

I got to the course at 6, an hour early. I met the organisers, signed in number 9, paying my £3-50 and set the bike up. As people gathered it was clear there were riders of all abilities and a friendly bunch they were. I decided for my warm up I would ride around the 7 mile loop. (I had already driven round a week earlier to see what it was like). As I got to the bottom of the hill I checked the actual time (I know) and realised I was pushing my luck getting back to the start in time for the off. Classic rookie mistake. I ended up averaging 18mph for the warm up, not much for some but a bit quick for me. I had a quick gel and made the start with three minutes to spare.

My heart rate rocketed at the start (possibly through panic at making the start) then settled to my functional threshold where I held it for the rest of the ride. After charging down the hill and sweeping left I got into my preferred cadence along the flat. At about the four mile point the course goes under a low railway bridge. As I approached I could see the beginnings of a traffic jam. Slowing down I weaved through the cars to a tractor with a JCB on a trailer stuck under the bridge. I squeezed through. The last rider to do so. The organisers rightly cancelled the event. I was told by all the Marshall's as I rode round it was cancelled but I was on my way and even if the time keepers had gone home I could time it on my garmin.

So on I went, through the riders packing up with some still shouting my name and cheering me on it encouraged me up the hill.

The downhill strip was welcome and the section after the left turn went on for ever as I tried a final surge. The keepers gave me almost the same time as my garmin (I pushed the button after crossing) and with everything considered I was delighted with my time of 27.51 an average speed of 21.8mph and a maximum of 29.1. It was then just a gentle ride back to the start and not under th bridge.

So I have learnt a few lessons, I can ride my TT bike next time, I'm told this is a slow course and I should try some straight out and backs. Not slowing for corners will keep my speed up but all in all I may need to reconsider my 25minute target.