Lincoln Wheelers 75'' Restricted Gear Time Trial

This past Tuesday gone, I had another opportunity to ride a time trial with Lincoln Wheelers and ride the same 7.7 mile course that I rode my first time trial on back on Boxing Day.
On that occasion I rode 21.41 or thereabouts, but did have the use of all of my gears. This ride was a little different as I was restricted to only being able to use one gear, which was about the halfway through my top set of gears.
.....and boy was it hard !
I managed to scream my way around the course and totally fry my legs in a time of 20.17 - a PB from Boxing Day so happy with that, but this short sharp stuff really hurts my legs and Thursdays long run was painful.
That being said I do enjoy time trialling so will return for some more later in the year !

David Lloyd Lincoln Triathlon

Today saw me start my fourth season of triathlon with a very short trip to the David Lloyd Health Club at Burton Waters near Lincoln for my very first attempt at my local triathlon.

This event is normally held in July which has meant that I have been unable in previous years to enter it, but alas no excuses this year, and I duly rocked up to registration very early, to make sure that I got the unfamiliar lay out well scouted !

After catching up with friends from Lincoln Tri, I was all set to go, and made my way to poolside for my 9.02 start time - this was my race :

Swim 9.00

This year I've been spending Wednesday evenings at the club sessions in an attempt to finally nail the swim discipline. My swim is very much a work in progress at the moment, but I thought I could maybe sneak under the nine minute mark today - that was until two things happened !! First, I went off like a train for the first two lengths with no technique or breathing, and then as I had completed my 16 lengths, managed to get my footing all wrong on the wet floor and went sprawling ! Apart from the fall, and the first two lengths though, I was pleased with the rest of the swim and delighted to be bang on 9 minutes.

T1 - 1.48

I'm not quite sure what I was doing or thinking in T1, but managed to take an age in T1 putting on socks and kit that I possibly did not need ! As the weather warms, I will be looking to improve on this big time.

Bike - 43.36

My cycling speed has come on leaps and bounds since I've been riding with Lincoln Wheelers and my recent time trial results have looked promising. Todays bike course was 14.78 miles with a bugger of a hill thrown in at Burton, which I had made sure to practice a couple of times recently. Today, I had no problems with it as I attacked it from the off ! I knew that when I got to the top, bar a couple of mild undulations, then the rest of the course was flat. I managed to hold a good pace all the way around, and then benefitted from a good backwind on the A57 to get back into transition with an avarage speed of 20.4mph.

T2 - 1.03 - Bit disappointed to be over the minute, but this will improve when I learn the 'elastic band' trick !

Run 21.58

My PB for 5km stands at 22.25 from Conkers Parkrun in February, and I wanted to be around that time today on what I thought was going to be a slightly short course, however I ran very well and had a 6.56 first mile pace. I kept going with a 7.07 second mile as I slotted myself nicely onto the shoulder of another competitor - we then traded positions in a fast final mile on a true 5k course for an unofficial distance PB of 21.58 - delighted, obviously.

My best triathlon performance to date, and beat my goals into the bargain - a really good day ! 

MK Codebreaker Sportive 100km

It was this past Bank Holiday Monday (9/4) that I made the two hour trip down to Milton Keynes for Race Timing Systems 100 kilometre Sportive around Milton Keynes.

I did this event last year in preparation for my Ironman, and really enjoyed it. I remember it being a decent sunny day in parts and very busy - I also managed to average above 16mph and recorded a time of 3.51.39 and it was that time that I was aiming to beat as I arrived at the Tattenhoe Sports Pavillion H.Q.

The weather was cold and wet, and as I pulled up I could see that there were a lot of entrants that had made the decision to stay in bed - this meant that I was one of just 68 that actually turned up to complete the event.

Once I had registered and collected my free gillet, I was set on my way 9.07. Within the first mile, I was grateful that I had decided to wear my waterproof jacket because the rain was really heavy. I also noticed just how quiet it was as there was nobody overtaking me as there had been last year and I also felt that I was riding faster. The first 10km came and went, and before I knew it I turned right, and into the hardest climb of the day - Great Brickhill ! Now, last year, I struggled up this multi layered climb, but to be honest, this year, it was a lot kinder and the recent Grimpeur ride has really helped with my climbing.

Newton Blossomville marked about halfway on the course and as I rode through there I reflected on just how well I thought I had ridden the first half of the loop in what were apalling conditions - however, I soon turned into a headwind, and the second half of the course became a painful slog as the cold bit through my legs and the rain never stopped. I didn't let up with the effort though and all the way round beleived that I could sneak under last years time.

It was not to be though as firstly 3.51 came and went, and then the 4 hr time flashed by. One last push later though, and I was over the line in 4.01.39 - exactly 10 mins slower than last year.

In all then, I rode better but one the day the condions had me. I plan to return next year for another bite !

Lincoln Wheelers 5m Time Trial

Lincoln Wheelers run a March/April series of 5 mile time trials and following my appearance at the 8 miler held on Boxing Day, I rocked up to the first time trial of the three race series last Tuesday for another go.

Once I had registered in the car park of the pub in Auborn, pinned my number to the back of my Tri suit, and then ridden out couple of miles to the start at Bassingham, I was ready to go !

I was number 26, so it was 6.56 by the time I got going !

The course is very fast and it didn't seem very long at all before I was teetering around the dusty first turn and heading away from Carlton Le Moorland - in fact I was riding really well and didn't seem to have a problem holding 25mph for the first time in my life. When the legs felt tired, I dropped a gear and then pushed it back up when I felt good. I also caught the person who started a minute in front of me by the time I made the last turn of the course onto Brant Road.

From there, it was a 2 mile smashfest and I gave it everything I had until I passed the finish line in a time of 12.48 ! Good enough for 8th Wheeler on the night, and I left with a huge smile on my face !