Graham Weigh 853 and TT adventures

If you happen to ever be passing through Dorset, I'd be happy to lend you my zipp 808 and rear disc for a season 😄

Haha, it’s an unlikely geological coincidence that I’ll be down there but you never know.
I don’t think I can afford it before the Bramley CC on the 23rd, but I was looking at one of those wheel covers for the rear (they’re made to order and they’re only about £60). Paired with a reasonable (cheap second hand) front wheel and that should be pretty decent aero wheelset.
@umop3pisdn has very kindly offered me some shoe covers too.
£5 on some Veet and my aero game is sorted ;)

Bramley wheelers CC 25

As usual, the report starts way before the race. I was pretty psyched about my 1st TT two weeks previous. The following week I felt decent on the bike on my commute, the whisper of a return to some kind of form was starting to appear and my [over]confidence was growing. I met a mate from the fell running club and did a steady 8 miles on the trails one evening after also commuting 11 miles each way to work on the fixed. You know the feeling - you put some miles in, you get some results, and you feel like you’re a lot more durable than you really are. So obviously I felt absolutely wrecked by the weekend. I got up early to get 60 fixed gear miles in, but I just sat there on the sofa, the time ticking away, unable to unglue myself from my seat. 630am. I’m already shortening the route. 7am. More shortening. I just can’t will myself into action. I can’t remember when I actually set off, but the route had been cut in half. I tried to get up the East Chevin climb by Otley and failed miserably. No beans. No power. No Engine. Stopped, walked, tried again. Like a sack of shit on a bike. So I just called it quits and went home, a grand total of 18 miles.
And then after all that, I had a week of professional exams, including a two day practical. General stress. Resting heart rate right up. Mood low and feeling shite. Flogged myself to get onto the bike on Thursday morning and commuted slower than I have in months. It wasn’t looking good for Sunday. Things did look up by the time I rode home and some life had started to return to my legs. Even PBd one of the climbs.
A mixed bag. Not feeling great but at least improving.
Weather forecast initially was for 15mph winds, which dropped to 10mph the night before. The course is faster than my previous TT according to those I’d spoken to. Good road surface. Fewer climbs. Some even dared to suggest I might go under the hour.
Upsidedown had kindly hooked me up with some shoe covers. I had a hilarious episode Veeting my legs while also trying not to cauterise any sensitive equipment in the process (once sub 60 had been mentioned, I was willing to try anything to squeeze any extra seconds off my time). But I wasn’t exactly following a Team Sky race protocol, as when the opportunity presented itself to have two pints with my brother, I happily obliged.
After the first TT, there wasn’t much to prep the night before. Kit and a change of clothes in a bag. Pump tyres up (and try and ignore that they’d deflated themselves over the last 2 weeks).
Race day was the standard fare. Up at 620. Take too long to have a shit. Get stressed. Rush around. Hoover up coffee and cereal. Chuck everything in the car hastily. Worry that I’m short of time. I am short on time. Arrive. Get changed. It’s 8.11 and my start time is 8.28. The start is 2 miles away and I am definitely not warmed up. Cycle to the start. Hit a small pothole and my right extension flips down at a 20 degree angle. Pull it back into place. Rush around near the start trying to get warm. It’s all too late so I roll to the start line, whip out my multi tool, fix my extensions and wait my go.
Count down and we’re off (I did remember to set my garmin going before the 10 second countdown this time at least).
I set off well but it didn’t quite feel like there was too much of a tailwind. Definitely rolling faster than the previous effort though. Average speed flirting with 25mph. Maybe the hour is on? A serious looking rider flies past me. I try not to take it too personally. But speeds are good and the course feels fast.
Can’t tell if I should be pushing harder. Can’t tell if my legs feel good or not. It’s wet and greasy on the road and the first turn comes around. It’s a roundabout followed by an anti-clockwise feeder back onto the main road. I’m too cautious to corner aggressively in these road conditions. Kick for hell out of the roundabout - with a photographer there to capture the moment - and then angrily churn my way round the feeder. I’ve taken a few places, and the headwind doesn’t seem to be there. Feels more like the crosswind of the first half. Average speed is 14.75. The hour seems doable for sure. So I try and put a decent leg in, head in position, mouth agape and drooling away (also captured by a photographer). The second turn goes without incident, just have to try and keep it together now to prepare for giving it hell on the final leg. The final turn goes very similarly to the first - tentative cornering and trying to kick out to compensate.
As I rejoin the road, the headwind is definitely present now. My average is floating just below 15 mph, so I just try and go hell for leather. Hints of cramp, breathing much heavier, legs threatening to fade. I pass the half constructed petrol station which means it’s two miles to go. Making weird noises and practically vibrating, I feel like I give all that I could for the last 2 miles. Crossing the finish line with a raspy shout of “28”.
1:00:45. Not today. But technically a 4 minute PB.
A gentle roll back to the village hall, to be greeted by a table of cakes, sandwiches and cups of tea.
Lots of chatting and eating later, I slink off home. On the road before 11. Pretty decent outing considering it’s not even lunch time yet!
So sub 60 will have to be a project for 2024 it seems.

Only real adjustments were shoe covers, shaved legs, and moving my extensions forward. Thumbs up for all (except the shaving thing, that’s a faff, even if they are so smooooth now).

Awesome write up and massive respect for the performance! How do you find racing on open roads? I drove down the A90 (main dual carriageway from Aberdeen south) when one was on, looked like an awesome course to TT on but instantly thought "fuck that" with road traffic!

Ahhh so close. Congrats man. Been enjoying the write ups. Makes me wanna give it a go some day

It wasn’t too bad tbh, but I kind of just rode like you’d assume the drivers were looking for you and there were enough riders out that the cars seemed to be moving over happily enough. Can’t really look over your shoulder to check though.
And when you’re giving it the beans, there’s not much brain power left for thinking about other things!

Fair play and good to know. Your realistic write ups have got me looking for local time trials!

They’re great fun, and it’s very laid back. Everyone is really friendly and it’s really easy to just go and have a go. I have very limited experience but I’d thoroughly recommend them. The main problem is that it’s the end of the season!

Aero needs work!

4 Attachments

East Chevin fixed gear is brutal. Did once & vowed to never again!

Nice work on the TT, enjoying your writeups! Love a Graham Weigh too.

I think picking off the climbs round here on the fixed gear is going to be my silly little challenge for the winter.

Cow & Calf, Langbar & Black Hill are fun fixed.

Doesn’t look terrible! I’ve certainly seen worse.
Have you tried hands up more, rotate the tt bars up? Might work- cuts down the air scoop effect between your hands and head in theory