Little Mountain TT 2013

Pross

NapoleonD wrote:

Anyone riding this year who's first attempt was last year is big favourite to win the 'most improved' prize. Reward for braving the elements last year!

Yeah, that was my thought at the end of last season. If only I'd kept the training going

On the plus side, I've just done a short ride taking in a few steep climbs and at least I'm capable of getting up them albeit slowly. Might be a different matter with 30 race miles in my legs.

markos1963

Weather forecast isn't looking too good, again!

Pross

Better than last year though, at least the winds will be relatively light. It may or may not stay dry for most of the race depending on which forecast site you believe and the temperature is up from 3 - 5 last year to 4 - 6 this year so positively balmy!

GBY73

Forecast on the Met Office web site this morning is looking OK for tomorrow, but chilly for early starters though.

Pross

Really well organised event again, thanks to all at Beacon RC. Unfortunately my embarrassingly inept performance has left me wondering if I should just give up racing. I think of the riders who rode last year I was the only one who's time got worse (by about 2.5 minutes), most others improved by at least 10 - 15 minutes, even the fast guys. Felt OK for about 10 miles but started feeling leggy on that stretch through Little Witley. Managed to make it up Ankerdine but only because I was going to slowly to unclip when my thighs started cramping on the second ramp. The worst I've been on a bike possibly ever! Well done to Markos who smashed last year's time by about 30 minutes, not quite enough to take the best improved prize though as someone knocked a ridiculous 43 minutes off their best!!! Didn't get a chance to meet NapD who registered as a DNF, hope it was due to lack of form or a mechanical and not another crash?

napoleond

Cracking organisation and perfect conditions.

I'd been cramping the night before on my pre race leg opener workout, should have known then.

Had a mechanical after 10 mins, my indexing had miraculously gone out overnight then carried on, was feeling strong but after about 10 miles I started cramping. It got worse and worse to the point where I could barely tap the pedals.

As the descents are so enjpyable and I'd spent a freaking fortune on fuel getting there I foolishly carried on but as soon as ankerdine started I had to press hard and my legs seized. It was f*cking agony. Collapsed over st the side if the road trying to find a comfortable position whilst my leg muscles pulsated and clamped on.
Never had this sort of cramp before.
Finally got picked up by the broom wagon.

I've now realised that the cramp is highly likely to have been brought on by a recent (last couple of days) change in my asthma meds.

My quest for sub 2hrs on road bike will continue next year.

Well done to Markos for winning the most improved, it was a good bet after the conditions last year!

Pross

Think I saw you at the start coming in at about 8.30 as I was heading off for a warm up. Was hoping to catch up with you after for a chat. The cramping seems to be a common theme, my quads had a twinge just before Stanford and then went on Ankerdine. I very rarely cramp and when I do it's usually my calf muscles. I wonder if it's anything to do with the temperature finally picking up a bit? In my case it also didn't help that I took on next to no fluids. That said I was struggling before any sign of cramp, the road around Little Witley just seemed dead and I was struggling to manage 15mph on the flat along that section. I think only two people were slower than me, seriously thinking about giving up racing

danlikesbikes

Pross wrote:

Think I saw you at the start coming in at about 8.30 as I was heading off for a warm up. Was hoping to catch up with you after for a chat. The cramping seems to be a common theme, my quads had a twinge just before Stanford and then went on Ankerdine. I very rarely cramp and when I do it's usually my calf muscles. I wonder if it's anything to do with the temperature finally picking up a bit? In my case it also didn't help that I took on next to no fluids. That said I was struggling before any sign of cramp, the road around Little Witley just seemed dead and I was struggling to manage 15mph on the flat along that section. I think only two people were slower than me, seriously thinking about giving up racing

Chin up mate you seem a little down. Perhaps get a beer in, relax a little & sleep on it hopefully then you can look for the positives in your ride.

napoleond

This wasn't exercise induced cramp, I've had that but this was the whole of my legs/hips. Cramping is linked to bronchodilators and two days ago my dose doubled!

As for racing, you are racing against yourself in these events.... You only lose if you give up.

VamP

I can only echo what others said about the organisation - they've been putting this event on since 1948 and it shows. Excellent course, I was a bit scared how I would cope with pacing, but there's a lot of recovery time on the descents so it didn't seem as critical as I thought it might be.

I passed you on the first timed hill Pross, you looked deep inside a cave of pain but determined to press on - I think ultimately that's what it is about - push yourself beyond the edge and then keep going. Well done for completing mate.

NapD - bad luck mate. It sucks when our bodies play tricks on us, but it happens to us all.

I posted a 2:01:50 on a roadbike, had no mechanicals and really enjoyed it - which is a sure fire sign I wasn't trying hard enough.

And yes, Tejvan did come past inside the first 10 miles.

markos1963

Superb race today. I really enjoyed it and much of that comes down to the organisers, racers and helpers. Every one is up for it on the day and it shows.

Totally shocked to knock 30 minutes off my PB, I didn't feel that fast on the first loop as I was fretting after getting a puncture 5 minutes before the start and I was having trouble keeping breakfast in its right place. Second loop wasn't helped with a car edging me into the gutter whilst climbing Stamford Bank, luckily I was so slow at that point I didn't do much damage to myself or the bike.

I was gobsmacked to get the PB prize as I was sure I had been beaten by somebody else and I had only stayed to watch the prize giving out of interest.

Will be back next year for definite, hopefully a bit lighter and bit faster and a lot greyer(I'll be 50 then!)

Pross

markos1963 wrote:

Superb race today. I really enjoyed it and much of that comes down to the organisers, racers and helpers. Every one is up for it on the day and it shows.

Totally shocked to knock 30 minutes off my PB, I didn't feel that fast on the first loop as I was fretting after getting a puncture 5 minutes before the start and I was having trouble keeping breakfast in its right place. Second loop wasn't helped with a car edging me into the gutter whilst climbing Stamford Bank, luckily I was so slow at that point I didn't do much damage to myself or the bike.

I was gobsmacked to get the PB prize as I was sure I had been beaten by somebody else and I had only stayed to watch the prize giving out of interest.

Will be back next year for definite, hopefully a bit lighter and bit faster and a lot greyer(I'll be 50 then!)

Sorry I missed your presentation. What happened with the guy who knocked 43 minutes off? VamP, what number were you? I think you gave me a shout that I was in fit state to acknowledge! A couple of people went past me on Stanford, I found that climb so much harder than last year and hadn't realised with the tailwind up there last year how much it dragged on after the timed section. To be more positive, if I do ride again next year that improvers prize is there for the taking as everyone who did last year have already reaped the benefit

markos1963

Pross I think his PB was more than a year old or something like that because there was another guy in front of me as well and he didn't get a prize either.

VamP

Pross wrote:

Sorry I missed your presentation. What happened with the guy who knocked 43 minutes off? VamP, what number were you? I think you gave me a shout that I was in fit state to acknowledge! A couple of people went past me on Stanford, I found that climb so much harder than last year and hadn't realised with the tailwind up there last year how much it dragged on after the timed section. To be more positive, if I do ride again next year that improvers prize is there for the taking as everyone who did last year have already reaped the benefit

I was no. 67. I might have grunted something along the lines of keep going, but definitely wasn't in shape for shouting

Having reviewed my power file, I have to correct my assertion of not trying hard enough - 96% of FTP AP for the whole two hours!

Lots of photographers along the course - anyone know where they might be posting their pics?

Pross

They sent a photo with the results last year. Less photographers last year but someone on here had taken the one which is my avatar. It's worth asking on Beacon's club forum. The one guy is very professional and took the picture Ruth posted near the start of this thread.

lc1981

Pross wrote:

They sent a photo with the results last year. Less photographers last year but someone on here had taken the one which is my avatar. It's worth asking on Beacon's club forum. The one guy is very professional and took the picture Ruth posted near the start of this thread.

Ed was taking part this year rather than taking photos, but links to some of the photos that were taken (more to come) are here.

3Pears

Pross, I took your photo last year but I was busy else where this weekend !! No fun watching and taking photos if there's no river to ride up Ankerdine and gale force winds

Slacey

To echo all the other comments, it was a fab day and extremely well organised. I got 02:11 on my first attempt, so something to aim for next year. I wasn't completely knackered at the end so I can definitely go a little harder next time too. Good to meet NapD at the start, but a shame about the issues, I honestly expected to be passed

GBY73

Great race, very well organised with plenty of marshalls. I'd forgotten how many other hills and drags there were in addition to the two timed climbs.

Pross

3Pears wrote:

Pross, I took your photo last year but I was busy else where this weekend !! No fun watching and taking photos if there's no river to ride up Ankerdine and gale force winds

I thought was you that gave me it. If you'd been there this year you'd have got me gurning in a way that even Voeckler would be proud of. My average speed up there on Strava was 4.8mph!

bonk man

Great day out... well organised even though they gave me a 0 number when I am actually a deadleg.. got me mixed up with some one very much quicker than I am :-)

The first section I found hellish really.... nearly packed at Little Whitley ... Enjoyed the hilly bits more even though I am not that fit at the moment.
Severe cramp towards the end...

Hats off to Tom Payton who rode the hilly bits on 2 gears .... both involving the 11 cog due to a snapped gear cable!

Definitely do it again... try and be better trained next time though.

markos1963

bonk man wrote:

Great day out... well organised even though they gave me a 0 number when I am actually a deadleg.. got me mixed up with some one very much quicker than I am :-)

The first section I found hellish really.... nearly packed at Little Whitley ... Enjoyed the hilly bits more even though I am not that fit at the moment.
Severe cramp towards the end...

Hats off to Tom Payton who rode the hilly bits on 2 gears .... both involving the 11 cog due to a snapped gear cable!

Definitely do it again... try and be better trained next time though.

You weren't No20 were you? I was more shocked to beat a 0 than to get a PB prize!

bonk man

yeah that was me struggling with 20 on my back with no training over the winter and only 2 club time trials in me legs :-)
Pleased not to be last ....
Hope to be closer to 2hrs next year..

Pross

How the heck did he get up those hills on an 11???! I barely made it on 39 x 27.