Astwood '10', 22nd July 2009 League Round 6

This event was originally to be run on the new Stagsden course, but was relocated to the nearby Astwood circuit because the start (or maybe finish) point in a layby was rendered inaccssible as the layby has been used to store road-mending materials.  This was a bit disappointing, as I haven't ridden that course before.  Still, of the courses we use in the club league, Astwood's probably my favourite.  The morning was really windy, and quite blustery (in a continuation of the weather patterns of late).

During the day, the wind strengthened alarmingly.  Fortunately it moderated a bit by the time we started the event.  The strong wind had a curiously variable effect out on the course.  I presume this was because it was a rather blustery wind.  Anyway, it proved quite a slog much of the time down to Chicheley, but once round the turn, things were a bit easier.  Indeed the section through the village of North Crawley, which is usually a bit tough to pick up the speed was quite brisk.

I usually refer to the elastic nature of time that one perceives while time trialling.  While you're out on the main part of the course and suffering as you try to keep the pace high, the time seems to creep by.  In contrast, when the finish line comes into sight, all of a sudden time seems to rush by!  And so it was tonight:  I had all sorts of hope that I might squeak in under 24 minutes, but in the end I finished on 24:04.

My perception of effort was all ahoo last night. I rarely raised my HR to its usual race level, with the major exception being the climb up to the finish, when I still had hopes of a long 23.  On the other hand, I've wound up with a sore hamstring - so I suppose I must have made some sort of effort there.  So an easy day tomorrow - maybe I'll just ride to work and back.