wasn’t as windy as 2012 and there wasn’t the rain either.Still there were bits where I struggled to ride in the crosswinds.
The majority is rideable, the first two hills are not. The third one is nearly all rideable if you are very good or have a low enough gear. Still having 3h of racing in your legs means even the 4h people were walking up it.
My learnings are that:
1.5L of water is enough for 4h
pipe lagging does help
Get in a group on the road and work together and you’ll gain places (I worked with a handful and we maintained 20-25mph)
Fight your way to and up the first hill. Getting held up costs you time and places as the front stretches out and moves on faster.
If you are racing consider only what gets you to the finish faster.
Put effort in on the hard bits
No glory in riding when carrying is faster
No glory in riding when you face plant,puncture or break something
If you nail it down the hills you may gain a minute or so – it takes longer to mend a puncture.
Get back on whenever you can as pedalling is easier than carrying.
Brilliant, ridiculous event.