Race Report: Ipswich Open Time Trial

Yesterday, my dear readers, was a day to forget. I made a BIG mistake and luck didn't go my way either. Let me tell you the whole boring story.

The race was a 40 km individual time trial on a very tough hilly and windy course. I rode in Elite B and struggled to 9th place in 1:05:21.

I have been waiting on a new time trial frame (a very nice new Giant Composite). It arrived on Thursday and was built up on Friday. I only had a chance to do a measly 10 km on it before the race, which is obviously not enough, and to be honest, quite a stupid thing to do.  I fought with the bike all day (in terms of position) and just couldn't settle. I kept sliding off the front of the seat and by the end had cramping arms due to the new position. I should have raced on my old bike and built the new one up next week. Duh...

Another way to look at it would be that I shouldn't have raced at all. Why? I woke up feeling like shit and I knew I was getting sick. My heart rate was doing funny things in the race, which for me is normally indicative that all is not well. This was another reason I couldn't settle into any kind of decent rhythm.  I was supposed to race the Ipswich Open Road Race today, but have actually pulled out because I am not in 100 % health.

The other exciting thing that happened was that during the race, my SRAM gear changer fell apart in my hand. I managed to get some of the bits back on, and the others, well I just stuffed them into my skinsuit and hoped they wouldn't fall out. This was slightly distracting to say the least.

So there you have it. A shit day all around. I am very disappointed with my time and placing as I feel I have been time trialing strong lately and really thought I had a top 5 finish in me today.

Ah well. Time to recover and get back on the horse...

Race Report: Toowoomba Club Criterium

Well, after 24 attempts, it finally happened; I won a race. It was a combined A and B grade criterium (with 4 A graders and about 12 or so B graders). It was 40 minutes plus 2 laps on the full Glenvale circuit. A grade gave B grade a short head start and we had to reel them in. After we did that I attacked at 10 minutes and Matt Haswwell (good U/18 rider) from Team TLD came across to me. We quickly got about a 20 sec lead. Matt blew up at 20 minutes and I had to go it alone. I rode with all I had and ended up holding on by 1 min 5 sec at the finish. Feels very nice to win a bike race after all these years.

Race Report: Masters 2 (35 - 39 years) State Titles Time Trial

The course was a fairly tough 18 km out and back with some drags and hills. I rode with pretty much all I had, but I know I lost two much time on the hills. I averaged over 41 km/h (which I am happy with) to come 11th in 26 min 13 sec. A top 10 in this event was a goal from the start of the year and I couldn't have gotten much closer. 

Race Report: Toowoomba Club Race T.T.

Today was the Toowoomba Combined Club Time Trial at Wyreema. It was a 20 km course that was slightly undulating with a little tail wind on the way out. I had felt good all week and put in a 29 min 36 sec ride to take second place. The course was actually a tiny bit long on the 20 km (I had about 20.6 km). Combine that with the slopes coming back and I am pretty happy with my time. I actually didn't quite leave enough in the tank for the last 4 km, which was pretty hard. I will remedy that for sure next time I race on that course.

I actually thought today could have been my first win for the year, but Andrew Patten, recently crowned Silver Medalist at the Masters 40-44 World Championships came to race in preparation for the Queensland Titles Time Trial next week. He rode a 27 min 50 sec time to beat me. I believe the race record is held by Toowoomba local Darren Rolfe, who has done about 26 min 30 sec. That...is...fast!