Turned up to last nights mid week series only to find it’d been shortened to only 6.5miles due to roadworks 😕 Unfortunately of those 6.5miles, 5 of them was going to be in a stiff headwind 🙁 wasn’t a big turnout either (35) probably due to it being half term. With it being so short I just thought I’d go balls out from the start and see how long I could hang on for when the wind helped a little near the end. Did the course in 14:31 with an average of 26.87mph. Coming first much to my surprise (although some of the big names were absent I hasten to add) very happy 😀

Yes I know it’s a pretty poor position 😳

I wouldn’t worry mrblobby, a lot can change in a couple of months. I was going like absolute shite just after Christmas, but in the last couple of months I’m finally getting back up to where I was last summer. I think a bit of Vitamin D does a power of good.

Not to mention worrying is just more stress for your body to deal with. I prefer the ‘by the grace of God’ approach and just take it as it comes. No expectations, no disappointment 🙂

Get yourself a blood test if you suspect GF. I had it for the best part of 2 years whilst at uni completely knocked me out, I just fell asleep everywhere.

Fingers crossed it isn’t.

Free time and TT’s are not coinciding for me so far this season. Putting a decent amount of time in on the turbo super early in the morning so looking forward to when the stars do align. I’d hope for a good sub 25min 10.

It may make you sound a bit needy (and, yes, the NHS is skint) but if you don’t improve soon you could ask the GP for a test to confirm GF – I think a monospot costs about £2.50 or something. That might at least help you decide whether starting to train again is sensible

Congrats. 🙂 Great time. What course?

Don’t fret it. She’ll take it off you if she’s good enough.

I remember I once won the biggest improvement prize when I did my first ever flat 25. I was racing regularly on the road at the time, but the only 25 I’d ever done before was the North Road Hardriders – in a storm. I took nearly 12 minutes off my PB. 😆 Felt a bit of a sham, but hey. Don’t think I’ll ever do that again though.

I had a lovely race last night. I have been doing a lot of my races on smaller local roads and have really been enjoying it. Anyone who gets a bit put off by all the fast DC stuff and lots of travelling might be pleasantly surprised by some of the courses available.

https://www.strava.com/activities/604193057

Aero chin

That made an appearance at 7.8miles in and stayed with me, like a little loyal puppy until the end 😳

Since this pick I’ve moved the elbow pads in slightly which seemed to help. Here’s a (poor) pick of how my clip-ons are sett up :

Looking at it your right, might move that last spacer above the stem and flip it as well. Thanks Matts. I’ve only did a couple of TT’s last year and six this year so I’ve still got a lot to learn.

You could also look at getting some clip-ons that put the extensions under the bars (like the Profile V2+) so the pads can sit right on top of the bars. That would get you a smidge lower without having the hassle of swapping the stem all the time.

I use a BBB HighSix adjustable stem when I set the bike up for a TT. That gets me about 4cm lower than my regular stem. But it’s a bit of a faff.

Another thing that can give you a bit of ‘free’ speed on a road frame is an aero bottle. If you can mount it right down in the v of the BB it helps smooth out the blocky tubes. I did a bit of Chung testing and it seemed to give [me] a slight reduction in cda. (Specialized S-Works Aero Bottle)

I rode up there only to find it was cancelled 🙁

Thrashed around at threshold for an hour there and back instead, which will probably leave just enough fatigue to cock up tomorrow’s F11 pb attempt, without any meaning gain from intervals!

Then a difficult 25 on the F13/25 sunday, which going under the hour looks like an achievement!

Yeah I got there about 7.15 I think.

Not looking ideal for tomorrow, NW wind forecast, which I’ve found the slowest by 40 – 60s in the past. I seem to go best on a SW or W wind, followed by E. S is best but never ridden with one.

With NW you get a long headwind stretch which negates the momentum from the hill, but you don’t get much of a boost from the 2nd turn as its sheltered. Other than the last mile, which is always nice.

I’m feeling so positive…!

Change of scenery and course for the evening TT series I do on a Tuesday night. Normally it’s a pan flat course but once a year they hold one event on a slightly longer, hilly course near to where I live.

It’s not massively hilly (around 850ft) but lumpy enough for the lightweight guys to have an advantage on the ups. It’s also quite technical which, along with the damp conditions, was hoping to play into my hands a bit being an mtb’er. Anyway I came in 4th on the night against some very strong opposition so very happy with my lot. Don’t think I could’ve done anymore, 330w for 40mins was right on the limit for me !

Did my last FTP test at the beginning of April, managed 357w over the twenty minutes giving me an FTP of 339w with a w/kg of 4.35 (weighed 78kg at the time) I’m thinking it may of gone up slightly since then although to counteract that I’ve put on a few kgs (82kgs atm) 😳

Well done on the weight loss, got down to 76 myself just before the Fred whitton but after the event I struggled to keep at that, I like my food to much 😆 By the time the hill climb season is upon us you’ll be flying Id imagine.

Well done on your placement, especially after your time off racing.