Return to Racing
Time Trials
My first race back was a 10 mile TT on the Castle Combe Circuit. I was looking forward to getting back on the TT bike, it was a warm evening and not much wind so likely to be a fast night. I started off well but it wasn’t long before I realised I didn’t feel good and wasn’t comfortable in my position. I finished with a decent time of 19.41 but I wasn’t happy with the ride.
Anyway I had another TT 4 days later so hoped that one would go better. Put the saddle up and hoped that would help
This time I was racing an open event on the P451/10, a draggy course with a climb on the return. This was my first time doing a TT on this course. Unfortunately I was even more uncomfortable this time, the saddle was now too high & my skinsuit was rubbing too, I finished in quite a lot of pain ! Despite all of this I still finished 6th overall, not bad considering. I really liked the course, so definitely want to have another attempt at this one in the future.
The following day I spent some time on the rollers adjusting the bike a few times to try and get a more comfortable position. Lowered the saddle slightly and put a raised stem on.
2 days later back at Castle Combe for another 10 on the circuit.
Pleased to say this TT went better, I had a better fitting skinsuit on and the position felt much better. It was a slower evening than the previous week, but i actually felt the effort was good for the conditions, finished 3rd overall, 19.58.
Circuit Racing
Next up was some E123 circuit races at the Mountbatten Track in Portsmouth
I had so much fun, it was only 2 x 20 minutes but I really enjoy having 2 races, it gives you chance to try something different in each race.
Week 1 🥇 & 6th.
Week 2 🥈 & 🥉
And finally something new - MTB XC
My team has quite a few XC riders and with the ease of restrictions earlier this month they restarted their XC Training over Moors Valley on Tuesday evenings & Bob from the team kindly lent me a bike so I could join in. After just one fun training session with the team I was signing up for the Southern XC races, I was too late to sign up for the first one and there was just over 3 weeks till race 2 of the series, so I didn’t have long but the team were really helpful and offered lots of advice. I was really excited to get on the start line. I knew it would be a fast start and knew I needed to enter the woods section in a good position. I managed to get into the woods in 3rd place on the wheel of 2nd but it wasn’t long before the front two dropped me, I didn’t have the technical skills to keep up. I held on to 3rd place until the 3rd lap and my 3rd time through the woods, I was trying to overtake a rider from a different category and although I said stay left and I went to pass on the right, he also moved over to the right and I came down, I also got passed by 4th place rider at this point. Now in 4th, I had to run up the hill to get back on bike, I couldn’t make up the time I’d lost but held on to my position. I finished 4th and was really happy with that, it was tough but so much fun. I learnt a lot from the race and I can’t wait for the next one in Basingstoke on the 9th May.
