Elite competition does not faze Masters cycle champion

Hope you all had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year and looking forward to another year on the bike. I had a great time visiting family and friends in Adelaide and discovered a new ride (for me). I'm not sure of the exact route as I was with locals but we climbed Belair Road and while not steep it was a great power climb. When I returned home I started putting the final touches to my training program for the 2011 Australian Open Road Championships held in Ballarat early January 2011.

I decided to upgrade to an elite competition licence for this event. It was my first race as an elite rider, although I have contested elite races in the past but always as a master's entrant. I had to admit to suffering from nerves and my entry created a bit of interest within my local bunch and with customers who came into the shop. I not only committed to the criterium but also the time trial. I had ridden the time trial course once and hoped to at least ride it once before the event, especially the section locally known as the wall.

As part of my training, and as a bit of a side trip, Fran and I rode the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail on our tandem. The two day ride was 100 plus km's on a fully loaded tandem with a head wind both ways (why does this always happen?). The road surface was in general quite good but some sections suffered from the recent rain and were quite sandy, not at all suited to a tandem with road tyres. Fran gained some impressive gravel rash on both knees. The ride was great fun and something we will do a bit more often; just going for a ride and smelling the roses.

After a very busy day at work I sneaked out early and headed up to race the criterium course just up the road. The weather over the past few months has been cool and wet and it was a bit of a shock to the system racing in quite hot temperatures and a strong head wind. The course was a 30 lap hot dog type circuit, with an uphill start in Sturt Street, downtown Ballarat. There were almost 50 entries in the event and the pace was on from the start. The downhill section has a tail wind which helped to settle my heart rate. This worked well for the first 10 or so laps then I noticed that my heart rate was not recovering much on the downhill and I started to suffer on the acceleration up the climb. It was a nice feeling racing in front of a large crowd again and the local support that I received was very much appreciated. I pulled out after 13 laps, happy with the way I raced and somewhat surprised with amount of congratulations from people in the crowd.

A few days later I raced the 2011 Open Australian Time Trial Championship held at Learmonth, just a little away from Ballarat. The weather was exactly the opposite that of the criterium and we were faced with rain and cooler weather. The new SheSpoke Skin Suit was very wet and dirty by the end of the race.

After having the bike and helmet checked and feeling a bit sorry for the official doing the measuring in the pouring rain, I headed for the nearest shelter to await my starting time. The commentator asked a bit of information about me while I was in the start area, just to inform the spectators of what we had done in the last year or so. I guess it was a bit of a giveaway when he noticed that I had a cheer squad as some friends had come to encourage me along. My coach Madam Lash and my boss from work all starting calling out my name and encouragement. I am not sure who said it but someone yelled as I was heading down the ramp 'give 'em heaps girl'. This also happened at the criterium in Ballarat and I must say it is really nice to hear this as you race past. Thanks heap to all who came and stood around in the rain, it does make a difference.

I also remember my boss saying 'easy on the corners but hit it everywhere else'. Unfortunately this did not sink in until after the first corner. The course travelled down the start ramp, slightly downhill on a service road, then a sharp right and left series of turns to join the main road. Picture this; pouring rain, full-on TT bike with carbon disk rear wheel; carbon deep dish front wheel. Heading for the first turn I grabbed the brake leavers and nothing happened. I pulled harder, but still no response. I started looking for an alternative route but then the brakes decided to start slowing me down. Muted swear words got it all back together and I continued. I tried to avoid as many of the puddles and pot holes as possible and it was nice to have Fran in the follow car. Every now and again she would pass, take some photos and then go back and do the follow car routine. I have always enjoyed having another competitor ahead of me, it acts a bit like the carrot and the donkey, so I was not too disappointed when the girl who started one minute behind me passed as I had a two minute gap between me and the girl who started ahead of me.

I actually passed her again as we headed for 'the wall' where I started to hear the loud speaker. I was very soon passed by one of the girls from the Jayco team and it was pleasing to me to see that she was not that much faster on the first section after the wall, unlike when the road levelled out! I finished in 36th position outright which I was more that happy with and I am looking forward to the next open event.

I am planning to contest the 2011 Oceania Road Time Trial Championships in March. The next time I write I will be more than likely back up at Bright again taking part in the Bright Boot Camp in February. Looks like I may have landed a permanent gig as a support rider!

Talk soon.

Please stay safe on the roads.

Pip