Damp? That's Absurd!

Well three words describe my feelings about time trials: horrible, horrible and horrible. The course may well be slightly in my favour if I was trained up for time trials, so went all out from the line as I always do, rode conservatively up the hill, then blitzed it down the drag and after last turn. Needless to say in the last few kilometres I was dying: the curse of the non-tt specialist. I don't understand the concept of sitting at a constant wattage and cadence for 20 minutes when you can draft behind people and sprint, which seems so much more fun. Let's face it, Mark Cavendish can't time trial for his life, and I am the same.

I don't care though, as today I did do a 23 minute without being warmed up or trained up for the event, and was on a standard road bike that is falling apart. This was the least of my worries however, as when waiting on the start line for my number to be called, the heaven's decided to open. And open they did, with some flair I must say. Torrential downpour started, with a dash of hail stones thrown in for good measure. With the marvellous road surfaces of West Lindsey district council, the road collected the majority of this water in large pools, meaning I was constantly weaving around the road to keep on the slightly safer part, even if it meant riding like a Frenchman (on the other side of the road).

I shall not be riding my new bike in the wet and dirt I assure you, and I shall bring a bag to time trials in future so that I can carry overshoes if neccessary, and I might even race in my wonderful race cape rather than let Joe drive away with it as the rain started. Lesson learned, be over-prepared for time trials or else!