Ups, downs and a Pyrénées trip pt1…

Ok, so I’m feeling a bit guilty as it’s been a while since I checked in on the blog. However I’ve not been idle over the last month or so and despite struggling with a niggling glute I’m not going as badly as my circuit racing results would suggest. after getting my 2nd cat retention points early I’ve had the opportunity to try things, finishing near the back doesn’t always tell the whole story… The time trial has been showing my form better and I’m testing some Rotor Q rings to help with my injury and appear to be working well.

Anyway, recently I attended a A3crg 10mile TT on p881 and achieved a time of 21.16 and that took 7th on a very competitive night. Not a bad result but not my best, still it was 40 seconds quicker than the previous week. With all the 10mile time trials I was interested to see how I went in a proper TT. So I entered an open 25 on what’s know as a fast course(p885) down near petersfield. Looking over the start sheet was daunting! all the big local names had entered, but crunching the numbers I could be aiming for a top 10 from the field of 95.. getting ready at the start something just didn’t feel right, my mind just wasn’t in it. thoughts had turned to a trip to the Pyrenees that was just hours away. I went through the motions and dutifully lined up at the appointed time. My Garmin bleeped at me after 5miles saying 10:46, meaning i would be looking at a 55. Too slow. By the 2nd 10 split I was on for a better time having done a 10:13 for the last 5. The 15 spilt was similar, but a long drag was approaching so I slipped in to my smaller front ring (a 48t) to stay on the gear… critical error! I crested the top of the rise and tried to shift up into the 55t. The front mech was unresponsive and I only had myself to blame as i had adusted the stop screws that same day. ‘F@&k, come on! Shift!!!’ After 20seconds or so of messing around my 30 second man came passed and then Harry Bulstrode the rider that placed 2nd that nigh (50:13) flew past with a “come on Ollie” that I’m sure was supposed to be encouragement. At this point I just lost it, toys out the pram, race over! No a very grown up attitude to adopt but reflecting on it will probably give me a bit of grit for next time. Oh well I went home in a massive sulk and packed for the mountains…