For the first club TT of the season I’m sticking to the road bike…
All last year I raced TT’s on my road bike – I’ve still not got round to building up a proper TT bike so it was time to stick some big rings back on the Scott Addict for a blast round the Ladies Mile club TT course.
To be honest it’s probably a pretty good shout round here anyways and the first proper TT of the season is always a bit of a lottery – some people can’t make it, some haven’t found form yet and some have found too much of it! I’ve been taking it pretty steady since the end of the cross season, enjoying some Belgian beers at the beginning of the classics season.
On the first lap of Ladies Mile I always find it hard to get going, this time I didn’t help myself by missing my alarm clock and getting out of bed 10 minutes before the off, pulling a skinsuit on and tightening my shoe straps on the way up the road to sign-on!
A newbie club member came past me as I was waved off from the start so I attacked straight away up the first climb. We swapped places several times over the next two laps, me gaining on the climb and Tom besting me on the flat bits into the wind. He ended up beating me by nearly a minute – it’s so good to see so many quality riders coming through the club now, which didn’t use to be the case.
Another rider that’s always close to me was Gary, again on the road bike and I think the season long road-bike-cat will be between us three this year. I beat Gary by nearly a minute but I know he’ll turn up to the later races with a bit more form so I have to focus on catching Tom and holding off Gary.
Matt and Rory still managed to best everyone on the TT bikes but I really don’t think it’s got much to do with the bike around Ladies Mile, so again; I’ve got some work to do to close the gap. Having had the best part of six weeks off though I’m feeling pretty good and I’m definitely in base training mode for a few more weeks – it’s good to see so many Southborough riders racing this year, but it’s only the beginning of April, so I’m keeping my powder dry for a while longer on the road/TT bike.
Results;
Matt Kuwertz 30:07
Rory Barrett 30:28
Tom Jones 31:55
Glen Whittington 32:21
Gary Sinclair 33:19
Pip Jenkins 33:56
Photos by Glen Whittington.
Glen rides for the Southborough & District Wheelers. He races mountain bikes, road bikes, TT and ‘cross at local and national level. He receives personal support from Helly Hansen, Scott Sports, The Velo House, and the.æight.bicycle.cømpany. Glen runs The Velo House with Olly, a coffee shop, workshop and bike shop welcoming all cyclists and non-cyclists, based at 5 St.Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9TN – 01892 554 505 – glen@thevelohouse.com. He also contributes to Simpson Mag @eightbikeco #aeightracer