Two weeks ago I did the first Banbury Stars CC Time Trial over at Warmington, but did it on my road bike. Today was my first Time Trial on a TT bike for 9 years.
On Tuesday I drove over to Tysoe and rode the course. The TT bike felt really strange and took some getting used to especially as it was quite gusty. After 45 minutes or so, I was feeling more confident but still reticent on quick sharp bends.
There were 58 riders on the start list, which is just 2 away from their limit, and I was setting off 17th. I hoped to get closer to my previous best time (2011) than I did last week.
At 7.15 I was sat on my bike with two earlier starters waiting to go. Then one, then it was my turn. The starter (not pusher off due to Covid) counted me down and I was off. There was nearly a mile of Tysoe Road then a left onto the A422 Stratford Rd. The Marshall indicated that it was clear so I didn’t have to slow much at the junction.
The pace picked up on the first part of the A422 but slowed as the road began to rise prior to turning left onto Whatcote Road. I had gone off quite hard and was puffing up the rise but was spurred on by the sight of my minute man ahead.
Whatcote Road was largely downhill but with the wind against. I managed to pick my average pace up on this stretch and after about 9 minutes I passed my minute man.
On my test ride on Tuesday, I had managed to miss the correct left turn in Whatcote, but the marshalling was excellent and I was guided the right way. The road now climbed slowly up to Tysoe with a couple of lumps that nearly had me in my small chain ring and took me well over threshold. I passed my second minute man (or woman in this case) after 15 minutes and was feeling okay but beginning to fatigue.
In Tysoe itself there were lots of parked cars but luckily nothing coming the other way, so no real delays. I skirted around the scattered chippings on one corner (coincidence?) and headed for the final push – mouth wide open, gulping air in. The finish arrived and I saw the timekeeper click his watch – and I started the slow ride back to my car.
I clocked 25:47 at an average of 23.4mph which I was fairly pleased with. This put me 27th, so just in the top half. My average power was a bit lower (20 Watts) than two weeks ago, but I think it is fairly normal to have a lower output on a TT bike particularly if you don’t use it much.
My mate Adam, cracked his 30 minute target which I always think is the first real barrier to hit (20 mph average) so well done to him.
I enjoyed the event so I think I’ll carry on with the TTs and try to beat sometime my previous PB from 2011 of 24:21.