Raven has SUCCESS in a TT at last!

[RoadRaven]

Yes, yes, I know...
TTs are about yourself...
They are a race of truth with nowhere to hide, and it is about your personal best...

Having said that - it is sweeeeet when you do a faster time than others who typically thrash you in a road race...

And this is what I have done AT LAST!!!

Last Saturday was a club TT.
25km unfortunately - I train for 20km TTs as that is what most of our club TTs are.

It was a fab day, sunny, but some cloud cover - a bit of an unhelpful breeze which lifted to a light head wind - but not the gale force westerlies that have been here...

I started 7th... I was not happy, but we were started by grade (the first six were the grade below me - our club is graded on ability, not on age) and then by place on the points table... and I was the lowest on the table of those who turned up (only 10 of my grade turned up - there are about 25-30 registered in my grade though I think).

So... with 30 seconds between riders, and a minute between grades I had a bit of chasing to do - and alot of people chasing me (79 riders registered... a good turn out for a club TT - although road races we usually have 130ish)

So, I settle in to a rythym and just maintain. Focus on the discomfort, watch my heart rate. My goal is to catch all of G grade before the turn around and let no F graders (my grade) catch me. I also want an average of 32kph, which will be a long way my PB. I am not sure if this is achievable over 25kms, but I will aim for it anyway.

I wont bore you with details of my headspace and the pain in my legs... but I caught 5 G graders before the turn around, and caught the 6th about 1km after the turn around. That felt very good.
Now I was in slight panic mode - I knew I had some strong men behind me, I would be gutted if any of them physically caught and passed me...

I rode out in front all the way home... and crossed the finish line doing 45kph(it was slightly downhill) and gasping and wheezing with no-one catching me, the next rider in was nearly two mins behind me.

Final result!?
I had an average of 31.72kph... .3km below what I wanted - but I was well satisfied (particularly when I heard A graders talking about how slow the course was in places due to the head breeze/wind). I could have done better, my legs weren't sore enough, but I was trying to pace myself for 25km as I used to 20km, and that judgement is difficult in a TT.

And I came second in my grade! Yay me! This is the first time I have been placed in my grade since I moved into it! I have improved so much and the people in my grade that I was faster than are strong cyclists...

I feel at last I am making progress again - I kind've plateau-ed over winter and was feeling disillusioned - roll on summer TT series, I am so ready to race!