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@J0nathan
I did it in 5:21 last year with a start time of 06:45:00, which included two toilet breaks and without riding in any organised groups at all. My preparation then was hour sessions on the road circuit at Lea Valley velopark at 20mph average on my own for an hour one or two times a week, plus quite lot of hill climbing in preparation for a trip to the Alps last August.
This year I'm faster on the road circuit (21.5mph on my own in wind). Starting at 6am I'm going to really try and ride on some wheels where I can and hope for good weather to bring me in under the 5 I'm hoping for. I don't think I can avoid needing at least one toilet break. Maybe I need to think a bit about when/where to do that in order to minimise the time it takes.
One thing I'm not looking forward to is some of the descents. Last year I saw some very shaky top-tube descending into blind bends. This year I wonder if we'll see anyone 'Froom'ing'?
Last year my gearing was 50/34 on an 11-25. I've had the 11-28 on there since I returned to riding after breaking my finger in September. I think the narrower ratio and flat course went well together but undecided if my lack of any hill climbing this year will see me wanting > 25t on some of the hills.
And then I found a fiver.