Plomesgate CC Open 10

Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 26 minutes 01 seconds
Average speed: 23.062 mph

16th out of 35
 Fastest ride of the year, and not too displeased with this - only 33 seconds off my fastest time on this course (I rode the B10/9 several times in 2008, recording a 25:28, 25:40 and 25:29).

I have also 'blooded' the Cervelo - about 2 minutes before I started, somebody noticed my hand was bleeding. At the end of the race, my hand looked like this:



Anyway, I am starting to get used to the Cervelo, and have lowered the bars a little to try and improve my position. I think the main problem is still my inability to pace myself properly - I'm not pushing hard enough at the start of these races... will have a chance to improve matters in my next race, a 25 miler.

Shotley - Harkstead - Brantham - Cattawade - Flatford loop - Bentley - Tattingstone - Freston Xroads - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 31.11 miles
Time: 1 hour 43 minutes 10 seconds
Average speed: 18.0 mph
Maximum speed: 39 mph
Odometer (at end): 5137.2 miles

Have loads to do, including the over-elaborate US visa application procedure, but could not resist a spin round the country lanes on a lovely day (I also let Audrey out on the lawn for the first time this year).

The miles are really starting to pile up now. Around 150 miles since last Friday; around 1150 miles this year.

Shotley Peninsula loop via Flatford

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Shotley - Snape - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 62.65 miles
Time: 3 hours 23 minutes 40 seconds
Average speed: 18.4 mph
Maximum speed: 33 mph
Odometer (at end): 5067.0 miles

Not a bad day for cycling - dry, not cold - a bit gusty, but nothing too awful. My climbing ability is improving a bit, so hills are not such a miserable experience now.

I began the ride by stopping off at Woolverstone Marina where, by chance, Erica, Marenco, Wilbur (the whippet) and two of their friends had walked to from the Butt and Oyster in Chelmondiston. Apparently the friends had offered to drive Erica + Co. to the countryside, and in a twist of fate, the friends had cut out a walk based around the Shotley Peninsula.

Shotley to Snape Maltings

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Shotley - Harwich - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 50.87 miles
Time: 2 hours 53 minutes 49 seconds
Average speed: 17.5 mph
Maximum speed: 39 mph
Odometer (at end): 4919.4 miles


This was punishment for shoddy riding in the time trial on Saturday: the route I take to Harwich is rolling and quite hard going, plus a stiff breeze from the east today made half the ride quite difficult.

Highlights: friendly dogs on the country lanes near Harkstead; the sunshine during the first 30 or so miles; hitting 39mph (fastest I've been on two wheels for a while)...

Shotley to Harwich

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visting Velia (and parents)

Headed to London today, on the classic weekend rail replacement route from Ipswich, in order to see Lidia, John and Velia before they move to Paris. Of course, Velia provided the sanest company of all, and the most spectacular hat.

West Suffolk Wheelers sporting 21

Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 21 miles
Time: 57 minutes 48 seconds
Average speed: 21.799 mph

Result: 19th out of 43



Second time trial of the year, and my lack of fitness and lack of familiarity with the new bike was exposed here. I've done a 55 and a 53 on this course before, on my Trek (click the 21 mile label below for details of those glorious days).



On the plus side, I cycled around 65 miles in total on the Cervelo today, which is all good training - I'm now up to 150ish miles in total on the new bike. I reckon it will take a few more hard lessons like this to get me up to any kind of decent speed though. Plus, maybe I should start drinking coffee again...

CC Breckland 10

Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 26 minutes 55 seconds
Average speed: 22.291mph

15th out of 38 (check out my new alter-ego)

Oh dear.