After the painful intensity of Saturday’s time-trial, the fact that Mike & I had also signed up for a 100 mile sportive the next day didn’t seem like such a big deal.
Saturday’s TT in the grandeur estates of Blenheim Palace
The 20k time trial was a great event and there was also something nice about having participated in a cycling event but still having the best part of the day left to enjoy yourself. We spent Saturday afternoon with our ladies, out and about in the Cotswolds and ensuring not to lose athletic-focus by ‘carb-loading’ with several fine local ales. There was a bit of banter on the assumption that I had stolen a few seconds off Mike, much to both of our surprise. We were unable to find any official results from the TT online so we went into Sunday’s 100 mile event thinking that he needed to recover about 3 seconds on me.
Mike, Tim, Chris & Tom waiting to start …
… and six hours of sitting on a slim, plastic wedge gets underway
The first hill of the day draws a few sharp breaths
We rode the first 30 miles with Tom and Chris who were doing the 60 mile version. At the first feed stop we had a quick bite and then departed with Tim on the 100 mile route via Cheltenham. It was a hilly extra 40 miles and we worked as a team.
A warm day in the Cotswolds
I’d been waiting for it to happen and finally, after nearly 6 hours it did – Mike went for a break for the finishing line. Although, actually it might have been me who started it. All I remember is that the two of us were suddenly taking it in turns bursting to escape and then laughing when we looked behind and saw the other stuck on our tail. It ended with me flying through the grounds of Blenheim Palace thinking I’d done enough to escape, only for Mike to sprint past me with a few metres to go and then thank me for ‘leading him out’.
The end of a good weekend of cycling
We had to wait until Monday evening for the official results to arrive. First was the 100 mile sportive – Mike had snatched the 3 seconds we thought he needed, finishing in a time just shy of 6 hours. Then the 20km TT results came in and I had finished in 33:50 to claim 9th placed novice in the 300-strong event … and 6 seconds ahead of Mike. So after six and a half hours of riding, we were separated by just 3 seconds. Great fun and incredibly close.
Cycling Jerzy 
Great job my friend… Three seconds is three seconds – bringing rights! Make sure and give it to him. Seventh is awesome! Congrats on the TT. Fantastic.
Bragging rights, silly iPhone.
I was wondering what rights my performance would ‘bring’ but that makes more sense!
Being an old(er) dog, it’s tough for me to learn new tricks… I’m used to actually feeling the keys on my Blackberry as I typed – with the iPhones, everything is visual – and the auto complete feature messes me up even worse.
Mark – great photos and great race – congrats! Glad you made time for the ladies – will someone please blog about Tim’s greengage and frangipani tart, with pictures x x
Thanks. Unfortunately the tart didn’t hang around long enough to be photographed. (I hope this comment isn’t read out of context!)