well what can I say other than that was tough.
the nerves had been building up all week coming up to this event. Drove up Saturday and the amount of food and kit I had with me seemed to be more than I had taken away for a weeks cycling holiday.
did a test run on Saturday this helped clear the nerves. From the test run it was going to be tough day. the way out was with a tailwind and the way back with a tough headwind. The course on the day is 23miles then once 3.30pm or 200miles have been reached you then go onto the finishing course of 14miles.
Saturday evening was spent sorting out my food and drink intake. I had with me
energy gels -surely by now they can make these taste nicer
custard tarts -kept these till last
welsh cakes
Coke - the fizzy kind
Lots of water
Bananas
I'm still trying to think what I could have done different in my preparation for this event. from the start of the year I've done 11 rides over 100miles.
from march I put the TT bars on my commute bike just to get used to being in the position more. Rode a couple of 100miles to get a rough time and what I could set for the 12 hour target. The target was 240miles.
the plan for the day was to split it up into 25 mile sections
1-08-30
1-09-30
1-10-30
1-11-30
First 100ml
4-40-00
1-12-30
1-13-30
1-14-30
1-15-30
Second 100ml
4-56-00
My start time was 7.44am and of course my finish time was 7.44pm. At the start like any TT it was a mixed bag of people ranging from non -aero bikes - no tt bars etc to the really expensive bikes and all the gear. Made my way to the start line and was chatting to one guy and he was going for the course record.
On paper the plan seemed easy, on the actual day my pace was pretty good to the 100mile point then it was just mind games. going to the final roundabout with the headwind was tough. I know every bump on that road now.
the course itself seems flat on the way out but the way back there is a slight climp up. Its dual carriage and the cars use it has a racetrack. even though there's 2 lanes I had a lot of close passes when there was room to move over.
was looking forward to getting to the finishing circuit this then meant it was only 7miles of headwind.
Hit the 150mark the custarf tart picked me up but it was this point was when I was ready to jack it in. it was a big push to get to 200miles another custard tart and pushed on to the end.
Was glad to finish with a total of 219miles. Its completely different riding 100-130miler. to keep the pace up and take in enough food. this made cycling around Majorca seem easy.
Awesome effort for the ones who finished above 280miles. They didn't stop people were at the side of road handing them water and energy gels. How they could do that with just energy gels I don't know.
Today is a rest day feet up and thinking would I do one again.
Yes but not this year. Maybe next time I'll be the one riding with the bling bike and skin suit.
to prepare for the next one I would work more on pacing, staying in the aero position and not stopping for food and water.
Biggest thanks goes to Sarah who had the patience of a saint waiting in the car with my food etc especially at 175miles when I threw a tantrum
Oh and the reason I rode this event and not the welsh 12 hour was that the velothon in Cardiff is on the same day.
some photos from yesterday
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1401591886573709&type=3
