Clifton CC

I'll kick this off as it gives me an excuse to sit down and let my legs gently complain.

It was the "Weekend of Racing " for me - the Clifton Open 13 on Saturday and the Ilkley Open 25 this morning. The sole, if unspoken, aim being to beat TimR and hence repeat last year's increasingly fortunate-looking triumph and get another slab of Kevin's silverware on the trophy shelf. Given my general dip in va-va-voom this year in comparison with last the prospects didn't look good but, well... ...you fill in the entry forms and then reality kicks in. Four sets of 2x20's on the turbo during the preceding week was my sole preparation - I knew I could hang on to the aerobars, but steer with 'em?

Saturday was one of those wonderful surprise days when the weather turns out better than you could have hoped. Cruel fate (or more precisely Cruel Steve) set me off as TimR's minute man, and despite riding it with as much focus as I possibly could, he was (unbeknown to me) on my wheel by the climb out of Stillington. Some very serious teeth-gritting and pushing on the pedals just saved me from the ultimate embarrassment, but only to the tune of ending up fifty-odd seconds down and about two minutes slower than last year.

This morning was likewise better than expected, albeit expectations were low. Bit of cloud, bit of sun, but a horrid northerly blowing straight down the A168. My warm-up on the turbo in the Boroughbridge carpark was entertaining stuff, I got talked at non-stop by a local kid on an old bike; he'd only got one pedal because he'd apparently said the paralympics "looked easy" so his dad had removed one pedal for a week to give him a chance to see what it was like! I eventually managed to peel myself away and off to the start, where a fella on a MTB was setting off. Come the hour, and off on the first downwind leg - touching 30 and spinning 53/11. As with the previous effort, I really couldn't have done more than I did, and on those neverending upwind sections I was in horrendous pain, but... ...again slower than last year and TimR - pulling out a better time than previously despite the wind - hammered me by more than three minutes.

I'll leave the last word to Paul C, who summed it up beautifully:- "There's nothing enjoyable about a time trial. The start, the middle and the end all hurt". How true. And yet... ...there's always next year.

How about giving us some times Phil, stop killing me with the suspense!

I'd have loved to join you all for the 25, but a wedding called me down to Bromsgrove. There weren't even any convenient events I could find and enter while I was down there - humph. Still, my good news is that I've got a late start for the 'bonkers' 100 next week, so don't have to get out of bed quite so astoundingly early. Still, if any of you jokers take until 11:30pm to finish the Bridges and Beaches on Saturday, you might return to the scout hut to find that the organiser is slightly grumpy!

Talking of which, remember to bring your forms with you when you turn up to next Saturday's rides:

Bridges and Beaches 225km: 8:30am start (NOT 8:00 as previously advertised)
Three Bridges 100 mile: 9:00am start

Here you go Greg http://www.ilkleycyclingclub.org.uk/upl ... ly2012.pdf

Quite what possessed me to sign up for 2 TTs in 1 weekend I don't know. The positives were that both events were well organised by Steve & team (our 13), and Ilkley CC (the 25) and despite weather that would worry Noah on Friday both events were blessed with some good sunshine.

The conversation with Phil was something along the lines of "which part of TimeTrialling is supposed to be enjoyable?" . Most other forms of racing have an element of adrenaline and at least some enjoyment along the way but TimeTrialling has always appeared to me to be 100% pain and suffering from beginning to end. However, in a funny sort of way I did enjoy both events and it was good to see a good spread of Clifton riders across both events. The starter today even commented to me "another Clifton rider? Is this a resurgence of the old Clifton again?" Didn't quite know how to answer that.

but only to the tune of ending up fifty-odd seconds down and about two minutes slower than last year.

Quick catch that man before he ends it all.

Just been perusing last years results and you did 35:57 Phil; so only 40 secs down. Not so bad after all.

And i think Tim has been doing a few longer tts recently which obviously paid dividends.

As for me I was eyeing every lay-by on last leg hoping for burger van. What a nightmare!