What a way to start the new year: a time trial up the Crow road. Now, before I get into it, let me list all the excuses I have:
1) I only got to bed at 2
2) It was the first time I'd been on the road bike since about August
3) Everyone knows I suck at climbs
4) Its hard to cycle with a full bladder
5) Contrary to popular belief, warm ups are *not* just for wimps.
6) I rocked up so late to satisfy myself that I was fit to drive before doing so
7) My quads hurt from a run 2 days before
8) My stomach has been a mess since I went out drinking on the Friday before Christmas
Right, now that these facts have been established (100% facts!) on with the rest of it
Well, while most people were abed, nursing their hangovers, a bunch of GTCers took to the roads to prove our mettle. The weather was kind to us, presenting clear skies for us to enjoy with our cycling. In classy style, I turned up late, missing out on the warm up ride from the Kirkhouse arriving instead with just enough time to get my bike out of the car, but not enough to deal with the bladder that was full following my mornings rehydration strategy of 2 pi ts of water, a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice or get the slightest of warm ups.
The King of the Crow is run as a time trial with 30 seconds between each rider; I started fourth, so had a 90 seconds of bladder distracting time to wait before I started, and what a start!!!!!!
* Improvement Point 1: off foot should be clipped in as soon as possible, not 100m up the road *
Anyways. After a brief run in, the climb begins. After bashing through the gears, I reached the biggest one on the back and settled into my slog up the hill. And slow this slog was, regularly dipping beneath 10km/min according to my on board computer.
* Improvement Point 2: get some sessions back focussed on hills - my technique started improving last year before my knee problems, so get back out and improve again *
It wasn't long before the first of those starting behind me passed, and it wasn't all that long before everyone else had passed too, leaving just me and the hill. I wanted to puke, I wanted to pee, my quads burned and I couldn't bend forward properly due to the rock solid bladder restricting my motion. The climb was grim. I flirted with the idea of bailing at the car park, but the torrent of scorn that would be rained down apon me kept me from chickening out. Round past the car park comes the steep bit, then the blessed relief of the shallower incline up to the border signpost, where I allowed myself to start getting up the gears.
* Improvement Point 3: I could've cranked up harder at this point, but wussed out. Don't be a wuss Colm, get up the gears faster *
In a desperate hope to not look as rotten as I actually was, over the border I cranked up the speed as hard as I could. Sadly, my enfeebled quads and dodgy stomach weren't for doing this for long, but it did feel good while it lasted!
Sweeping round the corner just over 30 minutes from my start time, I dropped round the final bend to the rapturous applause (and relief as it meant they weren't going to have to stand around in the cold much longer, or send out the search parties) of the assembled masses, then dissapeared across a field of grasses saturated with ice cold water to reach the tree line & get the relief at last (meaning I alsoanaged to miss the awards!). The lantern rouge was mine!
A kilo lighter, the hop up to the border was far easier and was followed by a relativelt fasr and fun return to the foot of the crow, then post ride banter at the Kirkhouse. Wouldn't've has it any other way!
For all my so called excuses at the start, I don't give a monkeys about my performance. I'm just glad that ,after the post Roth lull & general lack of cycling since, I managed to get up the hill!!!
Happy New Year everyone, hope 2013 is a brilliant year for you all!
