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No, I didn't fulfill my potential on the day at all: I felt too good by the end of it; I under performed because I was too concerned about crashing or developing hypothermia . In hindsight, I just have just gone for it. I would have been better off doing that, in fact.
I'm well used to the vagaries of the weather, but this was something else, the sort of day you don't expect at the time of year. Rather than testing my endurance, it simply tested my ability to put up with the cold and the wet, like an autumnal hike across Dartmoor might do. I didn't sign up expecting that, but that's just my bad luck.
The_Kindness_of_Trees-
I see your point - I suspect I could physically have ridden faster than I did, but was being cautious because I didn't want to end up in a crash. I have a friend who did crash and broke her bike, so I'm okay with the compromise I made. And everyone else out there had to make their own risk judgements in the abnormal conditions. Mental attitude to unpleasant weather is just as much a part of a cyclist's form as their physical condition - look at Wiggins picking his way down wet descents when he's spooked and what that does to his times. In my opinion of course. Anyway, sorry my first reply was a bit snarky, but your post did sound a bit like the rain only happened to you. No hard feelings.
h2o
You did fulfill your potential on the day. Just in the weather conditions that there were. It can't be sunny all the time.