Last Saturday was the national 50 mile Time Trial Championship organised by Warrington Road Club. It is my first 50 mile time trial for 3 years. Roadworks forced a last minute course change, so we were racing on single carriageway circuit. I noticed quite a few of those signs saying ’5 killed in the last 3 years’ e.t.c. – which doesn’t bode well. But, despite getting stuck behind the odd horse box, the course didn’t seem that bad. Though Warrington council could do with filling in a few potholes…
The race started pretty well, I overtook quite a few people, but, in the second half I really slowed down. My first 25 miles was 57.00, but the second 25 miles took 1.07 leaving a time of 2 hrs and 4 minutes, which was pretty slow. One problem was I didn’t know the course and I was looking at my cycle computer watching the miles go past. At one stage I saw 46 on my speedometer and then I saw a sign 5 miles to go. I was pretty tired, but, I thought I just have to hang in for the last 5 miles. But, when I went passed the finish line, I noticed other people weren’t stopping, so I asked someone if I’d finished. They said no I had one more lap to go. For a moment, I felt like finishing anyway, but, then realised it would be pretty lame to not finish a 50 mile time trial because you can’t count 3 laps. It was then that it clicked in – my speedometer was set in Km not miles. I’d done 50k not 50 miles. I felt pretty stupid and I rode really slow round last lap. At one point I got helped up at a roundabout, but, I didn’t mind. Some people who I had overtaken, now overtook me. I think When I’m racing your brain stops functioning – or at least it does with me.
Anyway, I really want to do another 50 mile time trial because I’m sure I can go faster. Sometimes it just happens and you have a bad race. I’m not sure why I slowed down so much. But, just doing 10 mile TT and one 20 mile TT is not good practise.
So that was my experience of riding a 50 mile time trial….
I’m full of admiration for anyone who can do a 57 and not know how far it is. I was there; a pretty hard day,real course, I thought , you will surely go much better
These things happen sometimes, many of us have overtaken buses, not even looked at roundabouts, riden wide in the road, taken absurd turnings or made absurd decisions when doing things like timetrial’s. Maybe its because we are under pressure, underprepared or just not in the right frame of mind.
And all sorts result.
What’s important is that we look back, look at what happened, face it, talk about it and feel silly/deal with it.
Just one of those days!
Well done for entering.
Well done for finnishing.
I just have to hope that the same happens when im racing against you (joke)