H10/2 30/07/2014

New PB 23:57

A change from the norm tonight. Instead of the usual Maidenhead & District Cycling Club (MDCC) Thursday time trial, I came on Wednesday and raced with Middlesex Road Club (MRC). Same course, and same rules. It's a rather more low key event - I arrived at my usual time of about 7pm, and got assigned number 10 (last week I got No 33) The total competitors present was only 13, and one of those was riding a (very fast admittedly) tricycle.

I had had a good cycle on Tuesday evening, a good warm up cycling over to the start, and was feeling pretty good. That all changed as soon as I hit the first roundabout and turned left, uphill into the wind. The starting adrenalin rush disappeared, my legs started to hurt, and my breathing got laboured. I decided I would probably stop.

Obviously, I didn't stop. I'm used to this feeling and only three or four minutes later it had passed. The wind was against me on the outward leg, so I knew my average speed at the turnaround would be lower than last week's 40km/h. I tried my best to get it as high as possible, and made it to about 39.4km/h. I had a good turn, no cars, and not long after that caught No 9, which is a good feeling. The tail wind wasn't pushing me hard, but I was able to maintain my speed and not let the average drop. It is uphill a lot of the way back and my lowest point was 39.3km/h - up on last week.

Approaching the last couple of kilometres, I knew I had a chance of a PB (personal best) for this course. I pushed and pushed and my average speed finally topped the 40km/h I needed.  I got to another landmark, the pub on the right, which means the downhill is finished and it's a final slight climb up to the stopwatch. The PB was in the bag as long as I kept my speed over 40km/h, and I knew I could do that. But I looked at my time, and suddenly realised my other goal, to beat 24 minutes, was possible.

So rather than a strong and steady 40-42km/h to the line, which is hard enough, I had to try my ultimate. The finish line is always further than you think, there is some kind of odd perspective vortex that shifts it away from you. All that you can do is pedal faster and hope you get there before your legs fall off. Analysing my Strava record (linked below) I can see that going up that last hill I got steadily faster until by the time I hit the line I was going at 46.1km/h. I did it. I beat 24 minutes by a whole three seconds giving me a new record of 23:57, not only for this course, but for 10 mile time trials anywhere. (I did a 24:03 last year on a faster course)

Very pleased.

Results MRC Strava

PS - As my friend Matthew has pointed out, comparing my best time last season with my best tonight, I have improved by approximately 4%. I've made a lot of changes to get here, but it is hard to say which one worked. I am almost sure it is a combination of them all, but also, in the back of my mind, I do still think that it might just be a mental thing.

H10/2 24/07/2014

New Record 24:08

After a couple of weeks off (one due to road works on the course) it was back to the A4 in Maidenhead for another try at H10/2

Experimenting more with my warm up, I cycled over quite early (10 miles) and picked up number 33. It was over one hour until my start, so I went and cycled nearly the whole route. I kept my heart rate medium, but didn't go slow, and was fairly tired when I finished (another 10  miles).

It was a fine evening, sunny, but with a slight breeze (11mph SW). I prefer the wind to be on my back on the return leg of the race, but it felt more against me. I wasn't confident, and resigned myself to a hard ride.

In the first 5 minutes I felt tired, convinced I warmed up for too long. I pushed hard though knowing that I needed a faster outbound leg to compensate for a predicted slower return into the wind, and got some good speed. Annoyingly, No 34 caught me just before the roundabout. I tried not to let this affect my pace and didn't try to chase.

The return was hard, it always is. I was looking at a very good average speed and it never dipped below 39.2km/h. I think the wind had died down. After the last small hill I thought my legs were about to give up, but the slight descent after it allowed me to recover, and I pushed my speed back up 40, 46, 50km/h! My average speed inched towards the magic 40km/h.

Along the final straight I saw Anna waiting - she said something as I went past but I couldn't respond. 39.9km/h - slightly inaccurate as I start the timer 10 seconds before I set off, so I knew I was probably over that. Finished in 24.08 with an actual speed of 40.01km/h, and a new record for me for the course. I even came 11th overall, my best place by far. I still need to beat 24 minutes though...


Results MDCC : Strava

H10/2 03/07/2014

As well as competing in long, mountainous sportives, I'm also working hard at my speed cycling. I do an unofficial TT with Evolution Triathlon club on a Friday evening, but the main target is Thursday night's 10TT with Maidenhead Cycling Club.

The course varies, but the fastest one is on the H10/2 on the A4 between Maidenhead and Twyford, and I'd done it two times this season so far, beating my PB only a couple of weeks ago with 24:47.

I was concerned that after the hard riding in the Alpes at the weekend my legs would be tired, but I also thought that maybe after three days rest they would be stronger. As the weather was perfect, I could think of no excuse for not going, so I got prepared for the race, and set off on my bike to the start. I have been experimenting a little on my warmup, and as it is 10 miles to the start I do that now.

Unfortunately, disaster struck. Rear tire went bang half way there when I hit a pothole. I always give myself a bit of time, but I suddenly realised my race may be over as I had neglected to pack tyre levers. I scrabbled around at the side of the road, looking for strong twigs or something, and found a bit of broken plastic. But it didn't work. I had a brainwave and took out my house keys. It wasn't easy, and I think I scratched the wheel rim a little, but I got a little bit off, and as the tyre was warm and pliant I managed to rip it off with my fingers. I was running out of time, but if I hurried I'd get to the start line in time to sign on.

I raced to Maidenhead and made it, out of breath, and paid my money for number 39. I now had 50 minutes to wait so did my old routine of resting and occasional sprints up and down the side road.

The ride itself is less interesting than my journey there. I now have a Giro Advantage Aero helmet and some Mavic Cosmic Carbone wheels, and I'm getting more confident that they really are making a difference to my speeds. The course is basically 5 miles one way, mostly downhill, then 5 miles back, mostly uphill. I got in position and hardly noticed the westerly 10mph headwind - I was going well, pushing not too hard but maintaining a good speed. I would have been struggling with my previous setup I think.

I hit the roundabout which is the half way turnaround, and started to push harder. And I actually speeded up. I love having a tailwind, and checking my speed I knew I was faster than I could remember doing up these inclines. My Garmin 800 wasn't showing average speed as I had managed to reset the field by accident, so I was unable to really compare previous races or know for sure how I was doing. But I've done the course a lot, and my speeds were definitely good.

At the penultimate roundabout a car pulled out and I lost a few seconds, but powered on down the hill quickly getting my speed back quickly. I was maintaining 45-49km/h until the final small uphill bit to the finish where it fell to 40km/h. I pushed as hard as I could, feeling good still, and finally crossed the line. Unofficially I knew I had a new record.

Very pleased when I found out I had actually taken 28 seconds off my old record. New record is 24:18. What does this say about hill climbing and TT performance? I'm not fully decided.

Links
Strava
Results