It was my first tt of the season and it was the SCCU Sporting 21, which I rode last year. A two lap affair with a fast bumpy descent over a couple of miles followed by a much longer drag back for the rest of the lap. I hadn't looked at the weather forecast and didn't realise it was due to be so cold. I therefore sat in the car park at the HQ with my heated car seats on trying to delay the inevitable, but with 10 minutes to go I had to make my way to the start.
The first lap was really horrible and a rider who started 2 minutes behind me caught me after about a third of the lap. Unlike last year I was riding my road bike as I just felt it would give me a more comfortable ride. I just didn't fancy this course on a tt bike. After negotiating the descent we turned back northwards to the start and it was into the eye of a very cold northerly wind while ascending all the time. My speed dropped even further and at the first large hill my minute man went past me like I was standing still.
After that it was a change of mentality and I just thought about riding steadily to the finish and my second lap was actually much better, particularly on the climbs. I think I had warmed up a bit by then although I still couldn't find my feet. I ended up riding almost three minutes faster than last year despite not being on the argon. An improvement of sorts.
I have not done a park run for a couple of weeks. Out of nowhere, on a very gentle run my left Achilles started to get very sore so I have cut right back on the running. At the moment I am just fitting in some training as and when I can which I suppose keeps thing interesting.
Mate it was VERY cold on Sunday morn.... good effort on the time despite the discomfort!
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