V.C.Norwich Open 25 Mile TT

It was about time for me to take the start of my first 25 mile TT. I had selected a race on the 8th August 2021, as it coincided nicely with the last day of my family holiday back in Norfolk, and also allowed me time to build up my 10 Mile racing experience a little (10 races undertaken at or above 10 Mile distance up until early August).

10s are a max effort throughout. On the rivet… 25s leave little to chance.

Quote from my mate Jim.

This is what my mate Jim had said about the shorter distance TTs, and knowing very well the efforts required for a 10, left me pondering how on earth I would be able to hold almost the same effort for 2.5x longer duration.

Reconnaissance

No real need for a recon of the B25/8 course. I had driven it so many times when I worked in Hethel, that even the 3 distinct phases of differing road surface were still familiar to me. The unknown for me was riding this piece of dual carriageway on a bike… the rise and fall of the road, even though slight, would be noticeable on the bike. I was a little nervy of the dual carriageway element and was keen to get this one done to chalk up the experience.

On the Day

I was awake early (too early really) and I ate the soaked oats I had prepared the night before, taken with a banana this was a nice breakfast. I got my things together and threw the bike on the roof of the car before heading off on a nice slow drive out to the HQ. I took my time and just tried to visualise what was to come.

Signing On

Arriving at the HQ a few riders were already there and I wasted no time in picking up my number. I got chatting to a female rider (#37) who offered encouragement for me on my first 25, her preferred TT distance. Coming out of the HQ more riders were arriving and I spotted Alice Lethbridge getting ready… Alice is the current record holder for the female 100 Mile TT and the 12hr TT. Quality in the field…

I got my number pinned on and then readied myself for a nice long warm up.

Warm Up

This was taken up and down the road between Larling and East Harling, a bit of position checking, standing start practice, higher power efforts and leg spinning. Of course a couple of loo stops were taken and a gel was consumed 20 mins before my start time.

I didn’t really need to check the weather to know what it was like… it was seriously windy. We would have a very strong tail wind out and a hooligan headwind on the way back in, so pace wise I’d need to leave something for the second half.

As I emerged from the side of the road after my final loo stop, I saw the back of one of my old mates just passing the start line. I was too ‘in the zone’ to flag him down and have a catch up, plus time would not have allowed… I was 3 mins away from my off time.

TT

30…15…10…5.. start Garmin. Go!

Pedal clip in was good and I was soon turning left onto the curving slip road to join the northbound A11. The wind hit me hard on the slip road and sent my power up too high, I kept it high joining the dual carriageway and then tried to ease off a little. Once on the dual carriageway I realised that there was quite a bit of room for passing cars and I relaxed a bit more into the effort.

My speed was high and I was enjoying the pace. Number 28 was in my sights and as the first roundabout approached I was almost on him… deciding to pass him convincingly after the roundabout. I was settled into the race by now and was focussing on cadence and power management. I was passed by number 30 and then fairly soon after number 31, who, to add salt to the wound was on a very slick road bike!

The road surfaces were largely ok, but there were 3 distinct sections; smooth, not so bad and slabbed with banding. What I found harder to navigate or to avoid though were the raised cats eyes at the side of the road, these were actually quite an obstacle, and if hit at speed would definitely unsettle the bike.

Shortly before the turnaround on the Browick road roundabouts my Garmin lap timer flashed up a lap summary for half distance… I’d covered it in just over 25 minutes! Navigating the roundabouts went well and as soon as I started south on the A11 the savage headwind was on. It was really very strong and was gusting in the exposed sections. I had to focus on keeping aero and keeping my power as high as possible. I was operating at a slightly lower cadence than usual as that seemed to keep my speed higher, as opposed to shifting down a gear and pedalling at higher speed… this just seemed to lose me speed on this road in these conditions.

Time seemed to go quite quickly on the way back and I kept as consistent as I could, trying my hardest not to fade. The bridge came and I passed the chequer board absolutely all in. Garmin stopped and I knew I had gone under the hour! My target for the ride achieved! I was really pleased with that, especially given the difficulty of the return leg – I’d had to deliver 5 watts more power on the return leg for 9kmh less speed, giving away 7 minutes (than/to the outbound leg) that gives you an indication of the strength of the wind.

Results

All I wanted was to be under the hour. That would represent a huge amount to me, to be able to ride 25 miles at a speed of 25Mph or more seemed incomprehensible for me earlier this year, but I was able to do it, and I feel there could be more in me as I refine my position, technique and kit and develop in the discipline of TT…

Official time was 58:26, and I placed 21st out of 34 riders, 3 of which DNF, and from the start list 17 riders DNS!

The winner had a time of 50:30 and that was the first guy that passed me! The second guy that passed me (on the road bike) finished 4th with a time of 52:20. Alice Lethbridge came in 10th with 54:47. All fantastic times on the day.