Race Report - DTCC Time Trial

This was my first ever Time Trial. And also my first ever bike-only race.

I didn't really have it on my plan but one of the organisers posted a message on Facebook at the weekend saying there were spaces available so I figured I would take the opportunity to turn my planned bike ride into just a shorter and faster bike ride. This also gets one of the targets off my list for the year.

I turned up in plenty of time, had some food and got signed in, and checked my bike out. I realised at this point that I had left my orthotics in my triathlon cycling shoes at the weekend rather than the cycling shoes I had taken with me. This was a minor problem, and I decided I would just move the set out of my work shoes. They fit but they are slightly thicker and more canted and even just walking around I could feel the angles weren't quite right. I tried the shoes without them and that was worse, so I put them back in and decided to live with it. (More of that later).

I headed down to the start in time to watch the first few riders leave so that I could get an idea for how it would work. This actually meant standing there for about 25 minutes until my turn came, whilst watching everyone else warm up properly. So my turn came and I rolled up to the line. 

Being clipped in and not moving is a weird feeling. Having to trust the 'pusher-off' to stop you from falling in the traffic is an uncomfortable experience. But saying that he did a fantastic job of keeping me steady despite me feeling like I was going over both ways at the same time. 

And the count came. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Go. And I was off, I pushed about 4 or 5 turns then tucked into TT position and gradually ticked through the gears as I poured on the pace, and then started my garmin (D'oh, should have done that when she said 5!). The first mile is dead straight on a slight downhill so I was going pretty fast. As I was already struggling for breath as I went in to the first turn I wondered if maybe I had gone off too fast but I had to stop thinking about that to start working up the hill. From there for the next 4 miles are a bit of a blank, it was just head down in my TT position trying to keep working as hard as I could. 

At the half way turn there is a gravelly 90 degree and the first of the cyclists from behind managed to catch me as I slowed to make the corner. For the next mile and a half I watched him gradually ease away. At the next turn I had to do an almost dead stop to make the tight left turn. This was the first real sign that I had worked too much too early. Trying to get back up to speed was tough, and there was a gravelly twisty section that I didn't like much. I managed to get back into my tuck and push on but a second full disc rider coasted past me. 

I knew the climb was coming at mile 7 but I didn't have anything left for it. I had to come out of the big ring for the first time and just try and spin my legs to keep moving. About half way up the hill a third full disc speed merchant swooshed past, still in his tuck position on the climb. 

The last half mile is a fast downhill sweep to the finish. I tucked back in and tried to close the gap to the last guy that had passed me. I thought I was making progress as I took the last left hander on a slightly better line as he had to be more cautious with his disc. With about 50m to go I had a massive pulse of cramp in my right calf. (I told you the orthotics would get another mention). The slight angle I had been pushing for the last 25 minutes finally caught up with me as the muscles being worked slightly out of line from my normal position cramped up really badly. I managed to coast over the line but I had to find a soft spot to land and jump off the bike to stretch it and I took the opportunity to have a little spew as well. 

I had to take a couple of minutes before I could get back on the bike and pedal round the loop to the car. 

Garmin / Strava calculate that this was my first ever ride with an over 20mph average (20.9 according to Garmin) and my first ride with an over 200 Watts power average (208W according to Strava). 


They call time trial the race of truth. And the truth is, it fucking hurts!