Well, today is "Once round Apley". This is a reasonably hilly course... a tough one for me... its only 26kms but the fastest I have done this ride has been with my partner and I did it in 1hour 28mins... in a race situation I hope to do a PB...


My last two races... on 30th June I did a 25km hilly TT. I did it in 52mins, and was pleased with that. I am not a hill climber (yet, she says hopefully) so I was pleased with the time. I also know where I lost time over the two women I hoped to come close to or beat - those hills. On the flats I would gain seconds, and on the climbs they would stretch away from me again. I am really looking forward to the next FLAT ITT!!!

Last weeks race, again I came in at the end of the bunch over the 20km moderately hilly course. I came close to my PB, and again felt very satisfied - It was the best ride I have done over that course, and the reasoning behind that is there were strong gusts blowing straight off the mountains covered the previous night in snow.

My speedo read 6-7'C (42-44'F I think). Despite warming up at home on the spin bike, and before the race, and putting warming up oil on my thighs and calves, my legs began to stop work about 10km before the finsih. I could have done better for body - I forgot my arm warmers and my windproof vest. I wore shorts, not long legs. I actually raced with a supermarket bag inside my shirt and tied to my crop-top to stop the cold. Badly dressed, bad weather, dropped by the main bunch after about 7kms and I still came close to my PB. It was a good day.

So... Apley here I come... Its a circuitt I know well and the sun is shining today - so far no wind. Think I'll wear my "long legs" today though anyways