Club 10 Time Trial

Last night I competed in my first Kingston Wheelers Club 10.  http://www.kingstonwheelers.co.uk/timetrialing.shtml#Club10

The course started at the junction of Spook Hill and the A24 just past North Holmwood. It was a Lumpy 5 miles down to the Clarkes Green Roaundabout just past Capel and then back to North Holmwood.

The weather was warm and clear, a tailwind for the route out and the dreaded headwind for the return.

This was my second ever Time Trial and I was a little more mentally prepared.  I had also borrowed a pair of clip on Aero bars to apparently make me go faster, although fixing these to the bike I didn't use them as they felt somewqhat loose and precarious.

I started from a seted and clipped in position this time, Unlike my start at the Sporting 14 TT in February.  I felt that little bit more confident and I think it actually helped a little.

Alas as I joined the A24 all aspirations of flying down the route in an effortless haze went quickly out the window.  I went too hard and quickly felt my legs radiating that slow burning feeling.  I eased off and tried to focus on finding a rythm and maintaining a comfortable cadence.  All the while chastising myself for, what could only be nervous excitement interfeering with a steady start.

The first rise in the road caught me by surpeise as I hadn't really found a rythm at all and it was swiftly followed by my chasing rider overtaking me, 30seconds down already.

It wasn't until I went through Beare Green that I found a cadence and effort that was at the upper limits of comfortable and something I felt I could maintain for the duration.

I was overtaken by quite a few other riders but was comfortable in my efforts and thouroghly enjoyed the long pedalling sweep around the Capel Rouandabout for the return leg.  This is where the head wind came into play.  A very useful lesson in cycling aerodynamics, the balance of getting as low and lat as possible whilst still being able to turn the pedals comfortably.  It probably would have helped to use the TT bars but they just were not secure enough for me to feel confident on them at the 15 - 30mph that I was fluctuating between.  Despite the headwind the return leg was more comfortable for me as I knew I didn't have to 'save' anything and I was comfortable with my effort and pace.

I raced through the finish line and completed the course in 31:26 an average of 19.1mph, alot better than it felt I assure you.

The Club 10's are held fortnightly with the next one on the 8th May, so I'm looking forawrds to that, I have now ridden the course and have some time to sort out the aero bars.  Perhaps a sub 30m time????

Olympic Route + plus diversions

What a bloody marvellous day for a ride, (tan lines to prove it!).  The original planned group of 5 was chipped down to 3 and our departure plan was somewhat delayed.

Nevertheless a departure to Thames Ditton to pick up Dave and then we were on our way, on the route through WoT and towards the Surrey Hills.  Alas the route is titled Olympic Route + Diversions because even with the benefit of the Garmin I still took a few wrong turns.... My marvellous sense of direction!
The first wrong turn was one junction too soon down the Pyrford Road rather than the B367, very scenic but definitely too narrow for the Olympic Peleton.
Back on the Route and approaching Ripley, riding past the abandoned Newark Priory was great and it would make a great backdrop for the TV Cameras and give the commentators something to talk about.
Through Ripley, West Horsley and East Clandon, we hit the first 'climb' a mere bagatelle for the Pros but Staple lane felt like a long drag.
The A25 into Dorking was refreshing after the effort of Staple Lane, after Dorking there is the the Dorking Cock at the A24 Junction, I'm intrigued to hear what the race commentators will have to say about that.

Up to Box and it was nowhere near to my Box Hill Challenge time but the ice cream and coke at the top was much needed.

Dave & Ed

After Box the Olympic Route doesn't follow a ridiculously narrow lane decorated in horse manure... but ours did, another wrong turn on my part.  Back on the route we rolled through Leatherhead, Oxshott and Esher before heading back towards Hampton Court.  Thanks to Ed for convincing me to cross over the river rather than abandon after the Surrey Hills.  We headed up through Kingston and into Richmond Park before my sense of direction took the lead again, taking us out of the park one gate too soon.  Once over Putney Bridge it was a straight line to Buckingham Palace and the Mall.

A quick photo stop and back to down the Kings Road, over Putney Bridge and then into Richmond Park at the correct gate this time.

Once back in the Park the end was in site and we were able to pick up the pace.
All in all a great ride, I'm happy with the time (5:54:52) and our average pace (15.5mph) but I can't help worry about my efforts on the hills, and trying to maintain the sustained efforts for the Alps.

More detailed Etape Info received.

I had a good ride on Saturday morning, I headed out for Box Hill with the sole attempt of improving on my challenge time.  Which I'm pleased to say I did!  I rode 2 laps of Zig Zag Road, the first at 9:58 and the seconed in a time of 10:22.  Can I do it again this weekend, well who knows?  This weekends ride is going to be very focussed on Hills, Hills and Hills. 
Carrying on from my last post and the height of the passes in relation to the Empire state I have been dwelling on the hills, and information I received from the freindly guys and gals at La Fuga hasn't eased my fears but has certainly foccussed my plans for the next 13 weeks.

The further information I have received is the itenerary for the day, including the all important elimination times.

The ride will start at 7.00 am and all the participants should be through the start line by 8.00 am.  (I expect to be nearer the 8.00am time nearer the back as I have no race pedigree accompanying my application.  The official ride closing time is 3:54pm.  68 miles or thereabouts and 7hrs 54m to complete it....I think I'll use most of those if not all!

The Itinerary divides nicely between the three elimination zones and the finish time.  Assuming an 8.00am start time these are likely to form the pace notes.

 

Section	Distance KM	Cut Time	Avg Kph	Avg Mph
Modane - Valloire	31	10:06	15	9.3
Les Verneys - La Grave	36	12:51	13.1	8.2
Le Chambon - Carrefour	28	13:47	30	18.6
La Garde - Alpe D’Huez	14.5	15:54	6.8	4.2

Back to the bike and resuming my focus in spinning up hills.

A weekend off !!

As the weather has been improving my mileage and time on the bike has been increasing too mostly through my commuting miles.

Rest is equally as important if not more so.  So we took a few days off and courtesy of air miles spent them in New York.  We weren't completely sedentry and spent much of our days walk the streets looking at the sites and of course a spot of shopping. 

Seeing the sites included the inspiring Empire State Building, its observatory on the 86th floor and then up again to the 102nd.  The view all around over Manhattan was breathtaking.  As I went in the lift from the 86th, rather than floor numbers the height above sea level lights up.  I asked the guide how high we were in metres and he responded, "3 - 8 -1 Sir".  My first thought was what have i signed up for the Galibier is still another 2000 or so meters above me!

Now that I'm home this thought has been on my mind and looking in more detail there are some pretty impressive landmarks or should I call them hurdles to ride over before I crest the Galibier.

I think I may tape this graph onto the top tube of the bike, as I hang my head, dragging myself up the climbs I could tick off each 'hurdle'

Well back to New York, it was a brilliant few days and I was surprised to see the number of bikes and cyclinsts in the City that we did.  New Yorkers are as much a fan of the bike as they are the car it seems, so much so I saw this mural and had to snap it.



Home now and most of the Jet lag has worn off, I have resumed my commuting as the weather is so good for it at the moment, long may it last and I'll be attempting to beat my personal best time up Box Hill tomorrow, which currently stands at 10:37...plenty of scope for improvement.