Race reports

I need to get a 25 booked in soon, reckon I could have a good crack at sub 55.

Raced on Sunday, report linked below:

thomaswhatley.wordpress.com

Handicap tomorrow and a crit on Saturday. Should make for a decent weeks training having done almost 80miles already this week.

You'll easily hit sub 55. I want to get to sub 57:30 if I can by the end of the year. Just need to find the right events. Got quite a few opens booked or planned in now, so once I get this weekends stag out of the way should be cycling from here on out! Going to give up the drink for a bit :D
 
47km and 700m scratch race today, twice up a CAT3 finishing at the top second time.

Attacked after 2km and got a gap, nobody came with me unfortunately, I kept going but got caught after 11km. One guy flatted so we lost him.

Had a counter straight away and two guys went, had a couple of hundred then someone else jumped and got across. He must have been sat 5-10m off the back of the group as I was on the back having a break and he came past me doing 5-10kmh more than us so nobody had a chance to counter.

Came to the climb and one of the three leaders popped with the pace and we picked him up with a hard pace being set. Came over the climb second or third wheel having not gone full gas knowing it would be likely we would stay in the group. Took a gel after the steep descent and rolled some turns trying to bring the front two back. By the time we got to the climb second time it was maybe 20 seconds, I didn't think we would catch so missed a couple of turns before the climb.

Second time up the guy who was pace making the first time up the climb was on the front and I stuck with him, had a third guy who seemed to be just hanging on and we lost the rest of our group. There is a small descent, pinch and a false flat halfway up, I got a good slipstream and shot past the two others getting a small gap on the false flat, got into a hard pace and started to catch second place. I was keeping tabs on the guys behind and the one who I thought was going to blow had dropped the other guy and was trying to bridge to me. Just kept riding my pace, 500m from the top it kicks up to 12% and I got caught by the chaser. 3rd slipped from my grasp and I finished +5 seconds to 3rd place :(

Comparing my two times up the climb only 6 seconds between them over 16 minutes which I'm happy with.

Seem to be getting my nutrition right which I am pleased with too, small meal 3 hrs before, then a banana and bar 90 mins before. SIS GO carb drink and one gel every 40 mins.
 
Crit at cyclopark yesterday, finished in a bunch sprint where I came in 5th/6th which was reasonably pleased with, then RP TT this morning. Nice to have an event just 15mins from home, did a c.25:13, organisation was abysmal so no idea how that stacks up against others.
 
Well that was a tough morning, after probably the worst TT I can remember on Thursday, had a 50 this morning on P885, which is a relatively flat but rolling course on the A3. 4.45 alarm, for a 6.47 time off. Unsure what sort of power I could do for 2 hours, so sort of rode on feel! Although at times I dipped lower than I would have liked. Left plenty in the bag for the second half, and last 5 miles went quite strongly to the finish.

Managed to get round in 1:59:30, so was very happy as wanted to get under the two hours, and until about mile 40 I was slightly over this, but this was due to the wind and the course elevation! Glad I done it as it was one of my targets for the year to do a 50, and all good training!

https://www.strava.com/activities/334492961
 
Thomas, I noticed you are now in the starting line up for the July 5th RP TT.

What is the procedure for this thing? I've not had any email information through.

Yeah, managed to get a place thankfully. They'll probably email in the week, along with your start time. Which will be anywhere between 6:00 and 7:00 I think. Basically after you have your time, just sign on about 20 mins before, get your number pinned on etc, which is all up at the finish at pen ponds. Then warm up/make your way to the start line at Robin Hood gate a couple minutes before your time. You'll see a line of people waiting in number order, then when it's your time off you go.
 
Yeah, managed to get a place thankfully. They'll probably email in the week, along with your start time. Which will be anywhere between 6:00 and 7:00 I think. Basically after you have your time, just sign on about 20 mins before, get your number pinned on etc, which is all up at the finish at pen ponds. Then warm up/make your way to the start line at Robin Hood gate a couple minutes before your time. You'll see a line of people waiting in number order, then when it's your time off you go.

Cheers, see you there then!:)
 
Couple of TTs from the last few days:

East Lancs RC 25

Run on the J2/9, a typically rolling Cheshire course with some dodgy surfaces. Paced this really evenly all the way round for a 1:03.10 ish, still waiting on official results. A PB by almost four minutes although the TT bike helped! I'm going to do the same event in September and targeting the hour.

https://www.strava.com/activities/334307250

Tonight was the usual Club 10. I managed sub 25 just barely last week, but a few tweaks to my position and a few more miles in the legs saw me round in 23:50 tonight. Perfect weather for it, but pleased to take a minute off my best. I flagged a bit around mile 7 so I feel like I have a short 23 in my legs. Going sub 23 this year would be great, it's not a quick course by any means.

https://www.strava.com/activities/335736551

Got a new skinsuit on order so that should help too... :)
 
Club 10 tonight. Legs weren't feeling great after a lot of walking over the weekend but wanted a sub 23 so went for it, managed the first lap in just over 11 minutes but blew up on the second.

Still a PB at 23:34 and 4th place in the results so not a bad night.
 
As posted in the other thread, third tt in 5 days tonight. 25 last Thursday, 50 on Sunday and another 22.5 tonight, the two shorter ones are hilly routes. Was 9 watts down on my ride tonight than 2 weeks ago on same course, and 29 seconds slower, but happy with the output considering what I've been doing the last few days. Gonna enjoy some nice easy days and just enjoy the weather for the next week in prep for the local league a week on Sunday!

https://www.strava.com/activities/336385476

Ride there 241W average, normalised of 259W Came 5th out of 33 in the end.

Just comparing my stats from two weeks ago to last night, was ever so slightly higher and smoother across the board, with my left and right balance almost exactly the same.

Had a period last night, where my pedalling efficiency really seemed to click, and I was very smooth and putting out a good steady power output. Just need to work on being able to do this for a longer period, as I couldn't keep it going over the rougher roads, although not exactly the best course for it.
 
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Local 2up 10m TT tonight. Me and mate did it in 22:32. That's now our club record for a 2up although we could have gone faster. I wasn't right on his wheel when I was behind and still had some left in the tank when we crossed the line.

My first 2up so quite happy. Sure the club record will go again this season though, we have some fast TTers.
 
Short scratch race today 36km with one cat 4 climb.

Went in an early break with one of the best club riders. Rolled turns with him well but we didn't get much time, kept going up and down as the bunch weren't working so well.

Up the climb a national road series rider joined us and we had three, thought we had a chance to stay away to the end, but still 15km to go. Ended up being caught with 10km to go, then it was attack after attack. Tried to recover and stay with the group, follow the attacks which I managed and rolled over the line just behind the sprint finish.

Happy that I can do more than just sit in the wheels and I have the fitness to try different stuff.
 
Did my first proper 10 last Sunday at the Richmond Park TT.

Got a new PB of 27:33 which beat my old one by 32 seconds and averaged 226W. I've got nothing to compare it to, but apparently it's hilly for a 10. The five-time winner did it in 23:05 but has gone sub-23 before.:eek:

Both the OcUK Thomases also participated, both easily besting my time, womble doing so on his road bike!:o

https://www.strava.com/activities/339331237

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Yeah I'm surprised at how un-aero I look in the pics. Shame there isn't a side-on shot.

When I checked my position on the turbo it was a lot lower and flatter looking but maybe comparing sitting on the turbo spinning slowly to gunning it for reelz isn't quite the same.

It seems like I want a lower front end but I can't slam it anymore and my saddle height is limited by my short legs.

They are here, you need to request access.

https://plus.google.com/photos/+AdrianBraun/albums/6168138770918537233?authkey=CPqWqfHLjt6ytQE
 
Been toying with the idea of doing a local club 10m TT on the A50 and decided to give it a go last night despite being tired still from my weekend in France.

Figured if nothing else I'd get to know the course and I could come back next week and smash it. Finished with a 21:51! https://www.strava.com/activities/347579229

Really strong ride, Kudos! Looks like a nice course too.

I did a club 10 on Wednesday, despite doing only 5w lower than the previous time out I clocked 53 seconds slower at 23:07. Quite confusing really, especially considering I was using aero wheels this time vs my training wheels last time.

Thinking maybe the dura-ace hubs roll a lot better than my carbon tubs with tufo tyres? That and I don't think I was shrugging my shoulders in quite as much as I was last time.
 
Been toying with the idea of doing a local club 10m TT on the A50 and decided to give it a go last night despite being tired still from my weekend in France.

Figured if nothing else I'd get to know the course and I could come back next week and smash it. Finished with a 21:51! https://www.strava.com/activities/347579229

Cracking ride, I need to find a lovely flat course, even the A3 one is relatively lumpy compared to that.

Lumpy 15 last night, and finished with a 38:22, over 2 minutes quicker than my quickest time previously, although that was a while ago.

Probably going to have next week off TTs, as I've got the week off, and just enjoy myself and go for some nice long rides with some nice cafe stops :D
 
Short handicap race yesterday, one main cat 3 climb and a couple of short ones.

Very windy, being tall I was copping a lot of air and struggling a bit. Coming back the wind got real gusty and I was struggling just to keep myself from crashing.

65mm deep wheels in a 30mph gusty crosswind while doing 70kmh+ was a real handful. Just managed to stick on the back of my bunch then when it flattened out I was able to come through and roll turns again and help out.

6 of us made it to the front and took out the placings, I got another third which was good, big race next week away from town, riding well, just got a couple of extra winter kilos on board.
 
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