6th Aug 24 – P841r – Results

Wind … is it a good thing or a bad thing?

We certainly had plenty of it yesterday – 20kts from the west (or just south of). The drizzle from the morning cleared in the early afternoon leaving us with a dry, warm but windy evening. P841r, the out and back course was scheduled in and cleared for use. 13 riders signed on and made their way into the wind to the start. It (the wind) didn’t seem too bad on that roll out. Nice steady pace, heart rate in check, surely it’d be easy to just up the pace a smidge?

Off to the start, there was a puddle right on the start line, so we started in the layby. Our pusher offer helpfulling giving us indications of traffic as well as holding us up, thanks Derek! Once up to speed, the wind certainly assisted through to Funtington. Through the village was quick and the next bit went by quite quickly too. The S bend through East Ashling gave a taste of the wind to come as we briefly turned south and wind assist disappeared. Next up are the dippers, you can usually tell how hard you’ve been pushing by how much pace you can hold through there then how easy it is to get back up to speed as we turn onto the straight past Oakwood School. The little dips past West Broyle don’t ever seem so bad for some reason, probably because the 1/2 way turn is within reach and if you’re going to take your minute man, you need to have seen them by now.

The wind around the roundabout was strong, but not as bad as I expected, with my deep section front wheel I was a little nervous that it’d be whipped away, but although not the fastest turning, it was reasonable in that slightly wind exposed section. Then comes the return … Personally I was cooked. I don’t know if I was bouyed up by the wind assisted outleg and pushed too hard, checking my HR data it certainly seems that way. Being cooked made the return hard. Being overtaken certainly didn’t help the moral, despite the verbal encouragement as he breezed past, but then catching my minute man gave a little boost back. That headwind though was energy sapping, not so bad until we hit Funtington for the second time, coming past the Fox and Hounds pub, it hit … hard! Already at the end of energy, speed dropped, moral was gone and it was just a slog until I shouted my number just under a mile later, my slowest mile of the time trial. All the time gained early on was lost in that last 2 miles.

My take away was to leave a little more time for bike prep, the front wheel should’ve been a more cross wind tollerant wheel, if not faster it would’ve given more confidence. Also, not rush about beforehand, unfortunately personal circumstances meant a 20 mile drive to deliver bike kit for someone else in the family to ride a different event. Finally, nudge that HR down on the outward leg, I’d tried several times, had I been successful I may have had a little left for that last 2 miles….

Anyway, enough analysis (they’re not excuses Howard, they’re reasons!) Many thanks to the organisers, time keepers, pusher offer, spotter, sign-on, sign marshal and catering crew. Well done to Howard Bayley who had no excuses or reasons, just a good solid ride on his road bike to take the win. Welcome to Joe Allen and well done on completing his first ever Time Trial.

There are just 2 more tuesday evening Time Trials left in the season, make the most of them!