I have managed to make it into the Elite Race for Blenheim in a weeks time and as a result I have needed to convert the bike so that it is ready to ride in a bunch. This has meant the removal of the tri-bars and the aero bars. I purchased some Shimano 105 STI levers and a 3T aluminum bar and converted the bike ready for the race on Sunday.
Went for my SFT Analysis session yesterday. Very interesting to see yourself swimming and I never realised just how many mistakes I was making. These included:
1. Fingers not held together 2. Stroke pushing out before catch phase 3. Pull not coming under body, elbow needs to be more raised to pull hand down centre line of body.
Suggested that I try more catch up and doggy paddle drills to correct main areas of concern and to also concentrate on keeping fingers together.
Returned to Hampton on May Day for another go at the second in the series of the Thames Turbo events - determined this time to improve my time, especially the swim and the run sections. Upon arrival, things were not looking too good, it had been raining when I left the house and it had not let up an hour after registration and racking - was quite glad for the bags I had brought for my shoes though.
Finally got underway after a long wait and managed a swim time which was about 13s quicker than the last one so was pretty pleased with that. No one managed to catch me either - although this could have been more to do with who was actually behind me. T1 went quite well, managing to record a swim and T1 time of 7:57.
The bike started off well reaching speeds just below 50kph on the way out to the 1st roundabout. However, after turning round it became clear that the next 13k or so was going to be a struggle. I remembered that it was a slight incline pretty much all the way to the second turn point and the wind was now straight in my face. I really had to push on this section, just to keep the speed in the 35kph range as the headwind really started to sap the strength from the legs. The turning point provided welcome relief though and I was soon back up to the speeds that I wanted. Managed to keep the speed above 40kph pretty much all the way back but I knew that the average was going to have been hampered by the effort in the wind.
Took as much time as I could in the non-compete zone and managed to get down a fair bit of drink and a gel to give me some energy for the run. T2 went as expected and I was quickly back out on the run. I had decided to push from the start and try and simply get over the "legs of jelly" pain because I thought it was possible. This time I found that I was very quickly able to set into a sub 4 minute pace. Still think I could push a bit harder on this section but still finally got home with a time of 19:10 on my watch and 20:30 on the offical, plus T2 clock.
Final time for the day's efforts was 1:02:54 which placed me in 5th - way above what I had expected and hoped for. My ambition was to hit the top 10 after the last 13th place. Since this I have entered the 3rd in the series now which takes place the week after Blenheim.
Competed in my first triathlon on the Bank holiday Monday (17th April). After a dreaful swim where my stroke was poor and speed was also nothing to write home about (finished 30th), I managed to pull back a large number of places on the bike to record the 7th fastest time. The run was pretty painful to start with as this was pretty much the first time I had done the switch from bike to run. Still, managed to finish 13th overall which I was pretty chuffed with in the end, especially as it was my first one and that I knew I had a fair bit left in the tank. The swim and run time can definitely improve and the bike time should come down - I was very unlucky with the compulsory stops at traffic lights, having to stop 3 times in total.
Had the fixed service at Brixton cycles and got some new bits and pieces put on. Now have the Profile Airwing handlebars and the DiaCompe Goldfinger. Got rid of the back brake and upped the gearing to 87" as well. Also made use of a spare Campy Vento wheel on the front.
