Post by lisa on Jul 6, 2014 14:43:05 GMT 1
Bernie and I travelled to Woodgreen this morning for the Ulster 50 Mile TT Champs. Bernie was on a bike borrowed from John McGuigan and I was on my brand new, only arrived on Thursday, still needs some tinkering, TT bike. Up until this point, I’ve never even sat on a TT bike. So what do I do? I take her for a 50 mile TT – not my wisest move.
Within 5 miles I knew that the setup still wasn’t quite right. My saddle felt too low, despite being set up at the same height as my road bike. Although I’ve used clip on bars on the road bike, the position was completely new to me and it wasn't comfortable. By 10 miles I wanted to quit. I was starting to ache all over. Mentally, I was having a tough time. Physically, too. I decided to just concentrate on manageable chunks. I was just doing 5 little time trials and 1 was already done. Up and down the carriageway, round and round the roundabouts and I’d finally completed my 5 time trials.
My goal was to go sub 2:20. My final time was 2:20:29. Of course, I’ll always be a little bit disappointed with my time but that’ll do for my first time on the bike. There isn’t a bit of me that doesn’t ache. Bernie cut a couple of minutes off the 50 mile time she did last week, finishing in 2:22.
Only 4 women there today and it was very disappointing that the organisers decided to acknowledge only the men. There was an afterthought presentation to first woman about 5 minutes after the ‘real prizes’ were announced but no mention of Ulster placings. Eileen Burns of Ballymena Road Club was flying, as usual, finishing around 2:11. I was second and Bernie third, so there should be a couple of Ulster medals on the way to Dromara CC!
Within 5 miles I knew that the setup still wasn’t quite right. My saddle felt too low, despite being set up at the same height as my road bike. Although I’ve used clip on bars on the road bike, the position was completely new to me and it wasn't comfortable. By 10 miles I wanted to quit. I was starting to ache all over. Mentally, I was having a tough time. Physically, too. I decided to just concentrate on manageable chunks. I was just doing 5 little time trials and 1 was already done. Up and down the carriageway, round and round the roundabouts and I’d finally completed my 5 time trials.
My goal was to go sub 2:20. My final time was 2:20:29. Of course, I’ll always be a little bit disappointed with my time but that’ll do for my first time on the bike. There isn’t a bit of me that doesn’t ache. Bernie cut a couple of minutes off the 50 mile time she did last week, finishing in 2:22.
Only 4 women there today and it was very disappointing that the organisers decided to acknowledge only the men. There was an afterthought presentation to first woman about 5 minutes after the ‘real prizes’ were announced but no mention of Ulster placings. Eileen Burns of Ballymena Road Club was flying, as usual, finishing around 2:11. I was second and Bernie third, so there should be a couple of Ulster medals on the way to Dromara CC!
