Every time I do a ten-mile TT, I spend the hours beforehand arguing with myself whether to do it or not. This one was no different…. You haven’t prepared for it, weather doesn’t look good, you’ll be a bit crap, it’s a long way to go etc etc.
But there I was on the start line at Levens in the south Lake District, the fastest local course, nervously sounding out my minute men. Would I catch the one in front, would the guy behind me catch me in the first couple of miles? They were certainly kitted out like champions, all skin suits and pointy hats.
The time trial is called the race of truth for a good reason; there is no hiding place. Its simple. Just ride as hard as you can for the prescribed distance trying to eke out every ounce of energy by the end. Go too hard too early and the last couple of miles will be horrible, go to easy and finish easily … well you should have gone harder and faster.
My minute man goes off and then it’s my turn. The start guy holds my bike and I am counted down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and go. Heart hammering, power way too high for the first minute and then ease it off to near target power. Yes there is head wind which is not great given the course is 5.5 miles out and only 4.5 miles back with the tail wind. But I am doing it, I am racing. First mile down and settling in, feeling comfortable, power is on point and I’m feeling surprisingly good. But for how long? As it turned out a few miles, but not many. Around the three mile mark I could see it ahead, yes there it was, the pain cave waiting for me. Doing a TT is really about measuring effort and accepting that at some point its going to hurt. At the four mile mark, it was beginning to hurt, not badly but the breathing was increasing and the legs were getting uncomfortable, Only a mile (and bit) to the turnaround. Its amazing how we encourage ourselves and trick ourselves in a race like this. And at 4.5 miles I was in the pain cave, at this point its about focus, ignore the discomfort of tired legs burning lungs and keep on going, just a mile to a brief respite at the turnaround roundabout.
12.20 at the turnaround, not my best on this course but good enough. A brief rest as I get off the bars to go round the roundabout shouting thanks to the marshalls. And then its back onto the bars. Only 4.5 miles to go with a tailwind, you can do this. And there about 200yards ahead of me is my minuteman, someone to aim at. Although I am firmly residing in the pain cave, I have something or someone to aim for and concentrate on. And I keep going, the lungs are burning the legs are burning but the power is till good as I reel him in, slowly slowly and then a brief respite of a draft and past him shouting encouragement as I go ahead.
And then, oh joy my two minute man. Again someone to aim at and pass. Again something to take my mind away from my body and how its hurting. And then a a mile to go, time is looking good but its slightly uphill. It feels like a mountain. At the back of the pain cave is the hurt locker, a place that many of us know and try and avoid if we can, and there I go for the next 90 seconds or so; getting every ounce of effort out, completely focused for last minute or so……and finish.
A freewheel after the finish line, unable to talk, just able to stay on my bike, completely used up but satisfied, pleased even. A short 23, my best effort for 6 years.
This was an open event pre-entered via the CTTC website rather than a club event which are sign on the line. They run throughout the summer and although definitely type two fun, they are great training and at local club midweek events you are highly likely to meet and be beaten by the odd Olympian or world Champ.