10 Mile Individual TT at Frome

On Sunday 21st February, both me and Dad rode our first ever individual time trial at the Frome and District Wheelers Open 10 mile TT.

Once at the event, it was a case of signing at race HQ, and then for Dad, one of the first riders set off, time to head to the start line. I was one of the last to set off, so once Dad was underway I was left in the van to prepare myself and my kit, and then to start warming up. As I had enough time, I was able to get a good warm up in and make sure I was hydrated before heading across to the start line, ready to go.

I set off well, and I was able to get up to speed and then settle in to the effort, and I was able to crack along at a good speed, and at a steady cadence. Going down the “ski slope” (local name for part of the bypass) I picked up lots of speed, and I carried this through into the next long straight maintaining the free speed I had gained.
As I had thought, there was a bit of a tailwind on the way out, this helped keep the speed up, but I was conscious that I had to do the return leg into a headwind, so I was a little conservative in my efforts.

On the return leg I started to empty the tank, and kept mentally telling myself how far I had to go, and saying that “it wasn’t much further!”. This allowed me to push harder and keep the speed up. I was passed by a rider, and this also helped as it gave me something to ‘chase’, a carrot to a donkey!

Where I had saved some energy, I was able to get over the hardest bit of the course at a good rate, and then was able to pick it up in the final dash for the line. I probably picked it up too hard too soon, as coming up to the line I started to slow a little, but I kept pushing and was able to get over the line before my speed dropped too much.

I ended up doing a 23:25, which for a first time I was very pleased with, and Dad also did very well, riding a 25:45, which he was delighted with.

After a cool down and handing our numbers back in, it was time to return home, and then to prepare for next weeks team time trial – the Severn RC 25 mile 2 Up that I am riding with fellow BCDS Academy member Charlie. A report on that to follow…