Yep, definitely seemed a decent day for it. Light wind and lowish air pressure.
Saw the Jens Voigt pics on Facebook, awesome!
Saw the Jens Voigt pics on Facebook, awesome!
Race reports
- Thread starter One More Solo
- Start date
Scary the way things get around so quickly nowadays!
Last TT of the year for me today. Was a technical but flowing course down in the new forest with a nice summit finish 
Hadn't really raced in 3 weeks, but not done a great deal of forced training, just riding some miles and enjoying the weather, so wasn't sure how my legs would be.
http://www.sotonia.co.uk/legloosenertt/ is the sheet covering the event which was really well organised and something a bit different.
Course started out and was rolling and snaking its way. Absolutely beautiful, was putting out better power than I had been at the end of august, and felt comfy in my new position. Settled into a rhythm but pushing on the drags and slightly easier on the downs. Unfortunately got passed by my minute man just after 10 miles in, but used this as a spur, and although he caught me on an uphill I nailed it back past him within 20 seconds on the next downhill section, which was lucky as the course took a left turn and into a technical set of sweeps, which I opened up a bit of a gap on him. He eventually passed me back after a couple more mins, but I kept him in view, losing a little on the drags, but making up on the descents, until I got to the final climb, that had a seperate timing section and prize for a) quickest up it b) best looking rider on it as deemed by the photographer.
I ground up it in my big ring and caught up on the steepest section to the minute man, but eventually finished 1:02 behind him, which I was very happy about. Always difficult on courses like that when people pass but you have different strengths.
https://www.strava.com/activities/716382906
Hadn't really raced in 3 weeks, but not done a great deal of forced training, just riding some miles and enjoying the weather, so wasn't sure how my legs would be.http://www.sotonia.co.uk/legloosenertt/ is the sheet covering the event which was really well organised and something a bit different.
Course started out and was rolling and snaking its way. Absolutely beautiful, was putting out better power than I had been at the end of august, and felt comfy in my new position. Settled into a rhythm but pushing on the drags and slightly easier on the downs. Unfortunately got passed by my minute man just after 10 miles in, but used this as a spur, and although he caught me on an uphill I nailed it back past him within 20 seconds on the next downhill section, which was lucky as the course took a left turn and into a technical set of sweeps, which I opened up a bit of a gap on him. He eventually passed me back after a couple more mins, but I kept him in view, losing a little on the drags, but making up on the descents, until I got to the final climb, that had a seperate timing section and prize for a) quickest up it b) best looking rider on it as deemed by the photographer.
I ground up it in my big ring and caught up on the steepest section to the minute man, but eventually finished 1:02 behind him, which I was very happy about. Always difficult on courses like that when people pass but you have different strengths.
https://www.strava.com/activities/716382906
Man of Honour
Saw your results on FB, OMS - great work 
Ah cheers. The club events might be less of a focus next year but it was nice to win them this year. Went out last night to celebrate the last event of the year and still feeling the hangover now!
Went out last night to celebrate the last event of the year and still feeling the hangover now!Course for this Sunday. I'm looking forward to it................
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/11394354
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/11394354
Looks interesting, bit different from the norm.
Soldato
Our mate finished 53rd overall!
Wow, my friend came 82nd in age group.
Said he went through a dark time on the bike, the heat just sapped his power from him, 10th out the water but then he was struggling getting power down.
Once on the run he just relaxed and enjoyed the experience and stopped worrying about the time and didn't push it too much. In all the photos he has a smile on his face!
And done for the year. Didn't get on too well today, couldn't get my brake sorted properly yesterday, and gears just slightly out. Got round and enjoyed myself, challenging course that's for sure! Will post a write up when I get some energy back!
No TTs in winter? Too dark in evenings when the clocks change or something?
You'll get a few weekend opens but generally yes summer only. And no timekeepers want to sit around in the cold and rain.
Last year's local Christmas 10 mile TT is the only time I've ever got on the podium so I'd say they're probably the most important events on the calendar.
Last year's local Christmas 10 mile TT is the only time I've ever got on the podium so I'd say they're probably the most important events on the calendar.
Always good getting your top 3 and then first win
Right so a bit of a summary of my year.
Targets for 2016
Portsdown Time Trial League (local sporting series)
Sub 21:30 10 Mile (P881)
Sub 56:30 25 Mile (A3 Course)
Beat my PR for 50 Miles – 1:59:30
Tour of Cambridgeshire
280W FTP
Over winter I didn’t really do much turbo work as it was fairly mild down this way, so plodded out some long steady miles, enjoying myself with mates mostly, but my form was good when I went to Majorca at the end of February.
So I started the year slowly, targeting the Tour of Cambridge as my big weekend (4/6/16). My first TT of the year wasn’t until 20th March. Results were finishing around about where I was the year before, maybe a bit below.
Over the winter I had planned to upgrade the TT bike but couldn’t justify it, however when the opportunity came up to buy the Felt I went for it. Results immediately improved, and I got a good position settled on the bike, setting PBs all over the show for similar or less power as I got used to it.
Come the Tour of Cambridge I was happy with my position and had been going well, the event was great, riding on closed roads, and not worrying about traffic, and eventually finished 116th overall, and being the last qualifier in my age group for the worlds. (I didn’t go) I was very happy with the result and enjoyed the day.
The next TT on from the ToC was a great ride on my favourite course in the local area, which favours bravery due to the descending on it and also some good quick climbing ability. This was my highlight of the year as it was my first ever win, and reduced my PB for the course from 1:00:00 to 57:55. This was the last ride before my new skinsuit turned up.
Throughout the year my 10 mile and 25 mile times dropped and I eventually got to a 21:02 and a 54:45. Not pushing anywhere near as strong power as I believe I can if I really spend some time in the position on the bike. I also gradually improved my form in the local leagues, regularly top 10 positions and beating people I hadn’t generally beaten on both sporting and flat courses.
I also smashed my PB for 50 by recording a 1:53:25, which really surprised me.
Unfortunately my FTP was nowhere near 280W, finishing with a best for the hour at about 255W(267W NP), so I have this to work on over the winter, where I will definitely be doing more turbo work, as well as a lot more work on my core.
I finished 2nd Senior in the local sporting course, and with the addition of another sporting league in the area, I will be targeting this for next year, as it has some cracking courses, that suit my lighter weight and confidence on the bike.
Next year the bike will be equipped with Di2 and my new Zipp Disc, which I expect to see some improvements, along with trying to get more aero, although I’m generally quite narrow I think I can get slightly lower. I will also be looking at some new saddles as although I’ve been running a Fizik for 3 years, I’ve never 100% got on with it.
Overall I have enjoyed my year, and the new bike got me inspired and really back into TTs, as I was losing my way a bit, will be looking forward to next year, but know that I definitely need to get some hard sessions in over the winter to achieve that.
Highlight of the year – My first Win!
Lowlight – 10 mile TT in August – heat killed me that day, and I just had a bad ride when I was hoping to PB.
Targets for 2017
Portsdown Time Trial League (2nd Senior) and South DC sporting league. (Top 6 overall)
Sub 20:00 10 mile
Sub 53:00 25 Mile
Sub 1:50:30 50 Mile
Sub 3:58:00 100 Mile (All on A3 courses)
285W FTP
Would like more.
Probably my favourite photo of me from this year.
Targets for 2016
Portsdown Time Trial League (local sporting series)
Sub 21:30 10 Mile (P881)
Sub 56:30 25 Mile (A3 Course)
Beat my PR for 50 Miles – 1:59:30
Tour of Cambridgeshire
280W FTP
Over winter I didn’t really do much turbo work as it was fairly mild down this way, so plodded out some long steady miles, enjoying myself with mates mostly, but my form was good when I went to Majorca at the end of February.
So I started the year slowly, targeting the Tour of Cambridge as my big weekend (4/6/16). My first TT of the year wasn’t until 20th March. Results were finishing around about where I was the year before, maybe a bit below.
Over the winter I had planned to upgrade the TT bike but couldn’t justify it, however when the opportunity came up to buy the Felt I went for it. Results immediately improved, and I got a good position settled on the bike, setting PBs all over the show for similar or less power as I got used to it.
Come the Tour of Cambridge I was happy with my position and had been going well, the event was great, riding on closed roads, and not worrying about traffic, and eventually finished 116th overall, and being the last qualifier in my age group for the worlds. (I didn’t go) I was very happy with the result and enjoyed the day.
The next TT on from the ToC was a great ride on my favourite course in the local area, which favours bravery due to the descending on it and also some good quick climbing ability. This was my highlight of the year as it was my first ever win, and reduced my PB for the course from 1:00:00 to 57:55. This was the last ride before my new skinsuit turned up.
Throughout the year my 10 mile and 25 mile times dropped and I eventually got to a 21:02 and a 54:45. Not pushing anywhere near as strong power as I believe I can if I really spend some time in the position on the bike. I also gradually improved my form in the local leagues, regularly top 10 positions and beating people I hadn’t generally beaten on both sporting and flat courses.
I also smashed my PB for 50 by recording a 1:53:25, which really surprised me.
Unfortunately my FTP was nowhere near 280W, finishing with a best for the hour at about 255W(267W NP), so I have this to work on over the winter, where I will definitely be doing more turbo work, as well as a lot more work on my core.
I finished 2nd Senior in the local sporting course, and with the addition of another sporting league in the area, I will be targeting this for next year, as it has some cracking courses, that suit my lighter weight and confidence on the bike.
Next year the bike will be equipped with Di2 and my new Zipp Disc, which I expect to see some improvements, along with trying to get more aero, although I’m generally quite narrow I think I can get slightly lower. I will also be looking at some new saddles as although I’ve been running a Fizik for 3 years, I’ve never 100% got on with it.
Overall I have enjoyed my year, and the new bike got me inspired and really back into TTs, as I was losing my way a bit, will be looking forward to next year, but know that I definitely need to get some hard sessions in over the winter to achieve that.
Highlight of the year – My first Win!
Lowlight – 10 mile TT in August – heat killed me that day, and I just had a bad ride when I was hoping to PB.
Targets for 2017
Portsdown Time Trial League (2nd Senior) and South DC sporting league. (Top 6 overall)
Sub 20:00 10 mile
Sub 53:00 25 Mile
Sub 1:50:30 50 Mile
Sub 3:58:00 100 Mile (All on A3 courses)
285W FTP
Would like more.Probably my favourite photo of me from this year.
After a third in last weeks TT I lined up to road race today feeling OK. I've not raced in ages and got spat out the back of the bunch on Friday morning after blowing up rolling turns. My FTP and fitness is OK but my kick has just dropped away to nothing as I've not had a road race for 2-3 months!
Low A grade numbers due to injuries and people away, but you can only race what you e got! A lazy start to the race as it was cold and everyone just rolled turns to keep warm. A few attacks came and went but nothing was sticking, windy which made it tough as nobody wants to be out on their own.
I made one attack a few km before the base of the cat 4 climb, I just wanted some distance incase people kicked on the steep sections and I couldn't follow. I got a gap and it stuck! One guy got over to me and sat on me a fair bit going up the hill, I wasn't sure if he was playing me or tired but he did a few turns and looked working hard. I knew though that he just has natural talent and rips it at higher speeds! We turned around and had maybe 15 seconds gap and continued to press on. The chasers had blown apart on the climb so there was only a few guys rolling to chase us down.
We just rolled and rolled, my bike started skipping between the 12&13 tooth which was offputting, I have to swap cassettes between race and training wheels and didn't give it a check in the stand.
With 5 to go the other guy said if we get to the end together I'll give you the win as I'd been doing more then my share. Spurred me on a little bit & we stayed away to the end, shake of hands and I got my only A grade win! Split the $ between us. He's ex pro so it wouldn't mean anything to him but made my day.
Low A grade numbers due to injuries and people away, but you can only race what you e got! A lazy start to the race as it was cold and everyone just rolled turns to keep warm. A few attacks came and went but nothing was sticking, windy which made it tough as nobody wants to be out on their own.
I made one attack a few km before the base of the cat 4 climb, I just wanted some distance incase people kicked on the steep sections and I couldn't follow. I got a gap and it stuck! One guy got over to me and sat on me a fair bit going up the hill, I wasn't sure if he was playing me or tired but he did a few turns and looked working hard. I knew though that he just has natural talent and rips it at higher speeds! We turned around and had maybe 15 seconds gap and continued to press on. The chasers had blown apart on the climb so there was only a few guys rolling to chase us down.
We just rolled and rolled, my bike started skipping between the 12&13 tooth which was offputting, I have to swap cassettes between race and training wheels and didn't give it a check in the stand.
With 5 to go the other guy said if we get to the end together I'll give you the win as I'd been doing more then my share. Spurred me on a little bit & we stayed away to the end, shake of hands and I got my only A grade win! Split the $ between us. He's ex pro so it wouldn't mean anything to him but made my day.
Soldato
Congrats on the win and what great sportsmanship from the other guy.
Gents, I won't bore you with my CX stories (I'm too knackered to write up a report tbh) But what bags do people use for their race day kit? Currently using an old football holdall, but want something a bit more purposebuilt and with a number of separate compartments for helmet, shoes etc.
Soldato