"Lets ride a time trial in Wales on a super fast course!" Well the idea sounded fine, but at 4:00 in the morning when the alarm went off and the wind and rain could be heard battering the house as the remains of huricane Katia did her thing, a little doubt could have crept into my head. The drive to Wales was quiet, largely due to Damo catching up on his sleep. As we joined the dual carriageway at the top of the hill near to where the course starts, the rain was torrential and the road resembled a river, we drive the course and headed off to the HQ, with rain abating thankfully.
The event was hugely oversubscribed and as a result, even with an overflow event, places were allocated based on PB's. The cut off for getting a ride was around 57:44. My PB at the time was a few seconds slower so I was allocated the honour of 3rd reserve, however with 240 riders I had been told in advance that sufficient riders had already dropped out and I was in with the fast boys. Damo was in the overflow event and off around 10:30, I was off at 12:08 and Paul a little later.
Unfortunately for Damian, towards the end of the 15mile largely downhill leg into a fierce blustery wind, a horrendous downpour struck, back at HQ, It had me leaving my warm up for the shelter of the car whilst the carpark turned into a lake.
I confess that my ride was drier, although I would argue the wind was getting up all day. The outward 15 miles was purgatory to say the least, going downhill had never felt so bad. By the turn, my average speed was only 24.7mph and it was going to be uphill for the next 10 miles! I needn't have worried, the tailwind was wonderfull and I was happy to keep the speed wavering either side of 30mph all the way to the finish for a new PB.
Hats off to Mr Hutch, Bottrill and co. at the sharp end of the results, for although their times were slower than normal for this course, they are still beyond my comprehension.
I have included the times of a couple of other local riders who braved the drive and conditions for interest and to put the rides into perspective.
