Not a very restful Bank Holiday weekend:
Saturday: Kings Lynn CC 10 - 23:13 (fastest 10 since July 2008, 14th place)
Sunday: VC Norwich 25 - 58:33 (fastest 25 since August 2007, my second fastest 25, 18th place)
Monday: VC Barrachi 10 - 23:46 (30 seconds quicker than my Good Friday effort on this course)
Three rides over 25mph, quite pleased :)
Showing posts with label time trialling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time trialling. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Saturday, 15 March 2014
West Suffolk Wheelers sporting 21
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 21 miles
Time: 56 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 22.426 mph
Faster then when I did this in 2011 (a long 57) but slower than 2007 (55) and 2008 (53!). Fastest men did 46s/47s!
A nice day though - sunny, with a little bit of breeze. The hills didn't seem that bad.
More notable were the Keystone Kops antics before the race, including various tyre issues, losing a glove and overshoe, and only getting a 3 mile warm up.
My Zipp 404 rear wheel is playing up, possibly the bearings, so will be riding on my new Ksyrium Equipes (pinched off the new bike) tomorrow.
Distance: 21 miles
Time: 56 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 22.426 mph
Faster then when I did this in 2011 (a long 57) but slower than 2007 (55) and 2008 (53!). Fastest men did 46s/47s!
A nice day though - sunny, with a little bit of breeze. The hills didn't seem that bad.
More notable were the Keystone Kops antics before the race, including various tyre issues, losing a glove and overshoe, and only getting a 3 mile warm up.
My Zipp 404 rear wheel is playing up, possibly the bearings, so will be riding on my new Ksyrium Equipes (pinched off the new bike) tomorrow.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
CC Sudbury Mad March Hilly 21.7
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 21.7 miles
Time: 58 minutes 18 seconds
Average speed: 22.333 mph
35th of 62
Headed out early to Lovejoy country (Lavenham) in glorious spring sunshine. The mad march hilly course is fun but tough - very little 'flat' (unsurprisingly) and always some technical challenge lurking to put me off my stride.
Didn't have much power in my legs (took the new road bike out for a 55 mile spin yesterday - including a recce of this course) and - while I was pleased to average over 21.7mph - I was a little disappointed with my placing overall. Maybe I could've gone a minute faster if I hadn't faffed around for much of the first half. I'm also not very good at climbing on the Cervelo, or going round corners for that matter. I also still need to spend some time tweaking my position on the bike.
Anyway, onwards and upwards! Another hilly challenge next week.
Distance: 21.7 miles
Time: 58 minutes 18 seconds
Average speed: 22.333 mph
35th of 62
Headed out early to Lovejoy country (Lavenham) in glorious spring sunshine. The mad march hilly course is fun but tough - very little 'flat' (unsurprisingly) and always some technical challenge lurking to put me off my stride.
Didn't have much power in my legs (took the new road bike out for a 55 mile spin yesterday - including a recce of this course) and - while I was pleased to average over 21.7mph - I was a little disappointed with my placing overall. Maybe I could've gone a minute faster if I hadn't faffed around for much of the first half. I'm also not very good at climbing on the Cervelo, or going round corners for that matter. I also still need to spend some time tweaking my position on the bike.
Anyway, onwards and upwards! Another hilly challenge next week.
Saturday, 6 July 2013
Norwich ABC 10
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 20 seconds
Average speed: 24.657 mph
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 20 seconds
Average speed: 24.657 mph
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
ICA Round 12 Tannery
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 25 minutes 24 seconds
Average speed: 23.622mph
In 2004 I rode the Tannery circuit and did 30:04 (because I got lost and ended up doing ~11 miles). In 2008 I did the Tannery circuit, when I was in good shape and on my old trusty Trek, and did 25:10. Tonight I did the Tannery circuit on a beautiful evening - warm and still - and did 25:24 on my slightly embarrassing Cervelo. To be fair, I could have probably pushed harder and my enforced rest from cycling (owing to "marking season") seems to be doing me some good.
A lovely moment tonight: I recognised a name on the signing in sheet, and when the young man had finished, went over and revealed that I used to babysit him and his brother (who was also in attendance) when they were 0 and 3 respectively (and hadn't seen them since) and lived out on the Shotley peninsula. Bloody hell, I feel old.
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 25 minutes 24 seconds
Average speed: 23.622mph
In 2004 I rode the Tannery circuit and did 30:04 (because I got lost and ended up doing ~11 miles). In 2008 I did the Tannery circuit, when I was in good shape and on my old trusty Trek, and did 25:10. Tonight I did the Tannery circuit on a beautiful evening - warm and still - and did 25:24 on my slightly embarrassing Cervelo. To be fair, I could have probably pushed harder and my enforced rest from cycling (owing to "marking season") seems to be doing me some good.
A lovely moment tonight: I recognised a name on the signing in sheet, and when the young man had finished, went over and revealed that I used to babysit him and his brother (who was also in attendance) when they were 0 and 3 respectively (and hadn't seen them since) and lived out on the Shotley peninsula. Bloody hell, I feel old.
Saturday, 8 June 2013
Plomesgate CC 25
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 6 minutes 48 seconds
Average speed: 22.455mph
Result: 34th out of 50
Not sure what happened today, just didn't fire and was useless on the hilly bits. Hohum!
Was distracted 15 minutes before my start time by a lost dog roaming the roads in Tunstall Forest. I grabbed him and tried to get someone to take him back to HQ so we could call the RSPCA or something, but nothing doing. I hope he ended up finding a more caring passer-by!
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 6 minutes 48 seconds
Average speed: 22.455mph
Result: 34th out of 50
Not sure what happened today, just didn't fire and was useless on the hilly bits. Hohum!
Was distracted 15 minutes before my start time by a lost dog roaming the roads in Tunstall Forest. I grabbed him and tried to get someone to take him back to HQ so we could call the RSPCA or something, but nothing doing. I hope he ended up finding a more caring passer-by!
Monday, 27 May 2013
Stowmarket & District 10
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 21 seconds
Average speed: 24.640 mph
First dual carriageway TT of the season, on the A14 near Bury St Edmunds.
A pleasant (if chilly) 25 mile cycle ride out to the HQ told me that my legs were not exactly fresh after yesterday, and the first mile of today's race was quite painful. Nonetheless, enjoyed this - the course isn't perhaps the fastest out there (the winner did 20:44), but I reckon I could do a better time than a short 24 if I wasn't so exhausted! Cycled home afterwards, to make it 260 miles over the past four days. I'm not signed up for any open events next weekend, so hopefully when my legs absorb all this punishment, it will lead to better times.
Best bit of today was catching up with Derek and Gill from the Willesden: they are staying in East Anglia and Gill rode in the National 10 on Saturday. She also rode today, with a short 26, winning the ladies' prize. I think that's the first time I've seen any Willesden clubmates for nearly 4-5 years, and it was good to hear about what the club is up to. It was also nice to not be the only Willesden jersey in the HQ for once!
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 21 seconds
Average speed: 24.640 mph
First dual carriageway TT of the season, on the A14 near Bury St Edmunds.
A pleasant (if chilly) 25 mile cycle ride out to the HQ told me that my legs were not exactly fresh after yesterday, and the first mile of today's race was quite painful. Nonetheless, enjoyed this - the course isn't perhaps the fastest out there (the winner did 20:44), but I reckon I could do a better time than a short 24 if I wasn't so exhausted! Cycled home afterwards, to make it 260 miles over the past four days. I'm not signed up for any open events next weekend, so hopefully when my legs absorb all this punishment, it will lead to better times.
Best bit of today was catching up with Derek and Gill from the Willesden: they are staying in East Anglia and Gill rode in the National 10 on Saturday. She also rode today, with a short 26, winning the ladies' prize. I think that's the first time I've seen any Willesden clubmates for nearly 4-5 years, and it was good to hear about what the club is up to. It was also nice to not be the only Willesden jersey in the HQ for once!
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Ipswich BC Open 10
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 26 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 22.915 mph
Position: 17th out of 33
Third time in a row on this course, and by far the best conditions of late.
Hm, two seconds quicker than when I did this event two years ago, and I probably could have snuck in a long 25 if I hadn't been slowed by a juggernaut winding its way around the country lanes.Got a bit frustrated with a slower rider who was holding the lorry (and ergo me) up, and I don't know if this was really justified or not, so feel a bit bad now.
Maureen cycled out with me to watch this one, and took some pictures, on quite a pleasant morning in Suffolk:
26:11 may not sound very quick, but the winning time was 22:59, which shows what hard work this course is!
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 26 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 22.915 mph
Position: 17th out of 33
Third time in a row on this course, and by far the best conditions of late.
Hm, two seconds quicker than when I did this event two years ago, and I probably could have snuck in a long 25 if I hadn't been slowed by a juggernaut winding its way around the country lanes.Got a bit frustrated with a slower rider who was holding the lorry (and ergo me) up, and I don't know if this was really justified or not, so feel a bit bad now.
Maureen cycled out with me to watch this one, and took some pictures, on quite a pleasant morning in Suffolk:
26:11 may not sound very quick, but the winning time was 22:59, which shows what hard work this course is!
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
ICA Round 7 Crowfield
Bike: Condor
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 28 minutes 36 seconds
Average speed: 20.979 mph
Position: 7th out of 12
Hang on... a 10 mile time trial in 28+ minutes? A time trial on the Condor Agio, my trusty commuter/training bike, which has the aerodynamics of a bus compared to the Cervelo?? And I'm pleased?!?
The weather was pretty poor all afternoon, and the forecast was atrocious, so I chose to ride the Condor rather than mess up the Cervelo. I figured if I could average above 20mph, that would be good going, given the bike and the conditions. It was also nice to ride a TT on the Condor - it is nearing 10,000 miles of use since I acquired it in January 2008, and I'd not previously raced it.
Rode out to the start in relatively dry conditions, with a favourable tailwind. Not many starters showed up - maybe twelve? - and, as I overtook two riders, I'm surely guaranteed my first top ten finish of 2013! Moreover, I wasn't far off my time on this course two weeks ago on the Cervelo... (27:39) Remember - this is not a fast course, it has some sharp climbs and nasty descents, and is very 'sporting'. My personal record round here is 25:05 back in the day, so today - given the poor conditions and lack of aero caboodle - must rate as a good ride.
It was fun riding a TT in the old-fashioned drop-handlebar position, althought I went out (into the headwind) too hard, and kept blowing up on the hills. As the rain began to set in, my computer stopped working for a bit, and I picked up a stitch for a couple of miles. One of my legs also started cramping (I'd had the same problem with the same leg swimming last night). I also had one or two hairy moments on the slick surface, but didn't have any real Wiggins moments (earlier this week he described his Giro descending as 'like a girl' - perhaps female riders, when descending chaotically or gingerly, should say that they are descending 'like a Wiggins'). Overall: an epic ride, and I was suitably mud-spattered at the end.
The IBC Open 10 is on this course on Sunday - am hoping for dry conditions so I can try and beat the 25:05...
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 28 minutes 36 seconds
Average speed: 20.979 mph
Position: 7th out of 12
Hang on... a 10 mile time trial in 28+ minutes? A time trial on the Condor Agio, my trusty commuter/training bike, which has the aerodynamics of a bus compared to the Cervelo?? And I'm pleased?!?
The weather was pretty poor all afternoon, and the forecast was atrocious, so I chose to ride the Condor rather than mess up the Cervelo. I figured if I could average above 20mph, that would be good going, given the bike and the conditions. It was also nice to ride a TT on the Condor - it is nearing 10,000 miles of use since I acquired it in January 2008, and I'd not previously raced it.
Rode out to the start in relatively dry conditions, with a favourable tailwind. Not many starters showed up - maybe twelve? - and, as I overtook two riders, I'm surely guaranteed my first top ten finish of 2013! Moreover, I wasn't far off my time on this course two weeks ago on the Cervelo... (27:39) Remember - this is not a fast course, it has some sharp climbs and nasty descents, and is very 'sporting'. My personal record round here is 25:05 back in the day, so today - given the poor conditions and lack of aero caboodle - must rate as a good ride.
It was fun riding a TT in the old-fashioned drop-handlebar position, althought I went out (into the headwind) too hard, and kept blowing up on the hills. As the rain began to set in, my computer stopped working for a bit, and I picked up a stitch for a couple of miles. One of my legs also started cramping (I'd had the same problem with the same leg swimming last night). I also had one or two hairy moments on the slick surface, but didn't have any real Wiggins moments (earlier this week he described his Giro descending as 'like a girl' - perhaps female riders, when descending chaotically or gingerly, should say that they are descending 'like a Wiggins'). Overall: an epic ride, and I was suitably mud-spattered at the end.
The IBC Open 10 is on this course on Sunday - am hoping for dry conditions so I can try and beat the 25:05...
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
ICA Round 6 Crowfield
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 9.7ish miles (course shortened owing to roadworks)
Time: 25 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 22.6ish mph
Position 13th out of 32 (the club detail is wrong)
I think that's five time trials in 10 days - not bad going!
If the course had been the full length, I would have likely gone over a minute quicker than last week. Much nicer conditions, though, sunny and still-ish, and I took a few more 'risks' round the corners. My climbing was OK on most of the hills, but I blew it on one of them. Next week I will aim for a sub-26 for the full 10 miles.
Best bit, though, (beyond catching up with some familiar faces from the Ipswich cycling scene) was a barn owl flying next to - and then in front of - me as I cycled home. That's the second time this year, after an earlier winter encounter with an owl when I was out on a training ride on the Shotley peninsula.
Distance: 9.7ish miles (course shortened owing to roadworks)
Time: 25 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 22.6ish mph
Position 13th out of 32 (the club detail is wrong)
I think that's five time trials in 10 days - not bad going!
If the course had been the full length, I would have likely gone over a minute quicker than last week. Much nicer conditions, though, sunny and still-ish, and I took a few more 'risks' round the corners. My climbing was OK on most of the hills, but I blew it on one of them. Next week I will aim for a sub-26 for the full 10 miles.
Best bit, though, (beyond catching up with some familiar faces from the Ipswich cycling scene) was a barn owl flying next to - and then in front of - me as I cycled home. That's the second time this year, after an earlier winter encounter with an owl when I was out on a training ride on the Shotley peninsula.
Monday, 6 May 2013
VC Baracchi 10
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 24.810 mph
Only 11 seconds off a 25mph average speed... and 42 seconds slower than last time I did this course. On the other hand, I was 19 seconds quicker than on Saturday, on arguably a harder day. The B10/43 is a quite tricky course to gauge - no real flat sections, either gentle uphill drag or downhill. I went for it harder than on Saturday and was hurting quite a lot at the end, but this is a good marker. I'm on the E2/10 next week, so will be looking for a 22 if conditions are right.
Today was a welcome return for my epic 'commutes' to get to races: up at 5am to cycle 35 miles to Wortwell. This did give me a chance to see some pretty bits of Suffolk (Debenham and Eye in particular) as well as various woodland creatures frolicking dangerously close to the road (a fox, a muntjac deer, infinite rabbits). I then cycled back after the race, making it an 80 mile round trip in all.
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 24.810 mph
Only 11 seconds off a 25mph average speed... and 42 seconds slower than last time I did this course. On the other hand, I was 19 seconds quicker than on Saturday, on arguably a harder day. The B10/43 is a quite tricky course to gauge - no real flat sections, either gentle uphill drag or downhill. I went for it harder than on Saturday and was hurting quite a lot at the end, but this is a good marker. I'm on the E2/10 next week, so will be looking for a 22 if conditions are right.
Today was a welcome return for my epic 'commutes' to get to races: up at 5am to cycle 35 miles to Wortwell. This did give me a chance to see some pretty bits of Suffolk (Debenham and Eye in particular) as well as various woodland creatures frolicking dangerously close to the road (a fox, a muntjac deer, infinite rabbits). I then cycled back after the race, making it an 80 mile round trip in all.
Saturday, 4 May 2013
King's Lynn CC 10
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 30 seconds
Average speed: 24.489 mph
Position: 30th out of 63
Picture here - note the condition of the road! The heavens opened about 25 minutes before my start time, but the conditions for the actual race weren't bad.
Interesting ... only 22 seconds off last time I did this course.
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 30 seconds
Average speed: 24.489 mph
Position: 30th out of 63
Picture here - note the condition of the road! The heavens opened about 25 minutes before my start time, but the conditions for the actual race weren't bad.
Interesting ... only 22 seconds off last time I did this course.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
ICA Round 5 Crowfield
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 27 minutes 39 seconds
Average speed: 21.699 mph
Position: 18th out of 42
Great fun - this is not a fast 10 course (best I've done in the past is a 25.05 back in 2008) but it does contain some tough climbs and challenging descents/curves. Not a bad evening, though a bit chilly and a nasty headwind in places. Again, good training - and I'm telling myself that I should at least make significant improvements as the season goes on. I have two 10s this weekend, and am hoping to get down to a 25 on at least one of them...
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 27 minutes 39 seconds
Average speed: 21.699 mph
Position: 18th out of 42
Great fun - this is not a fast 10 course (best I've done in the past is a 25.05 back in 2008) but it does contain some tough climbs and challenging descents/curves. Not a bad evening, though a bit chilly and a nasty headwind in places. Again, good training - and I'm telling myself that I should at least make significant improvements as the season goes on. I have two 10s this weekend, and am hoping to get down to a 25 on at least one of them...
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Colchester Rovers 50
Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 50 miles (50.4 miles)
Time: 2 hours 29 minutes 19 seconds
Average speed: 20.091 mph (20.252mph)
Position 47th out of 55 (!)
Distance: 50 miles (50.4 miles)
Time: 2 hours 29 minutes 19 seconds
Average speed: 20.091 mph (20.252mph)
Position 47th out of 55 (!)
First time trial in nearly two years ... and with very little in the way of training.
I'd entered something like 4-5 events already this year, and missed each one owing either to bad weather or manflu. When the alarm beeped at 5am this morning, I almost went back to sleep. A fifty is perhaps not the best way to ease oneself back into the sport... but my brain told me it was now or never, and within half an hour I was pedalling the sixteen miles to the HQ at Great Bromley. It was bright, but cold and misty out, while absolutely no traffic on the A137 made for a pleasant change (I am now living in Ipswich, which is going to make it a lot easier to get to races - plus it will give me some new ideas for training routes).
I decided to treat this as a hard training ride, and paced myself for 2:30:00, in order to see if I could break 20mph. I probably could have pushed a bit harder, but in all honesty most of this race was about re-learning how to ride (and 'enjoy') a time trial. There was some decent banter at the start: the pusher-off wondering why, as a Willesden rider, my bike lacked all the Audax accoutrements and whether or not I was going to stop off to pick up some Clacton rock.
The course is fairly interesting - at least for the first lap - although today seemed to have a slight headwind in every direction. I was caught and overtaken many times, but didn't mind much as I concentrated on my own pace. I perhaps slacked off a bit towards the end when I realised I wouldn't have to push very hard for the remaining miles to achieve my 2:30:00 goal, but it was all good training, and I was happy with my time even though I was helping to prop up the results table. Overall, what with getting to the race and back, I cycled over 80 miles on the Cervelo today.
I did a 2:16 last time I rode this event (two years ago), so I have a bit of a way to go to regain former fitness, let alone push on. Still, it was nice to ride the event and even better to enjoy the atmosphere of a time trial again, not least the cake at the end!
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