Blackburn ITT - Kew Boulevard 15/06/2008

Its been two years since I'd done this ITT, which is located only a few blocks from home. Just over 10kms, out and back, and all hills, no flat. My new PowerTap was installed on Saturday and I did a 18:19 recon lap at about 85% effort and a nice average power figure to work on. As this TT course is all hills and has a few fast corners I didn't worry about breaking out the Plasma TT bike - the roadie is lighter and quicker to point around corners. The skater helmet came out though as it was a little blustery in the wind.

Not a bad turn out of around 33 riders. I was off @8mins and started my lap counter at '10 seconds to go'. Cool conditions and dry roads, my ride went to plan. Crossing the line, lap counter stopped at 16:38. Minus 10 seconds and there was my time. 16:28. Lets call it an even 16:30. "Official" time of 16:37... #1st place M1/2/3 going to a Blackburn rider with 16:33. I knew the winner so it wasn't personal, but to "win" a TT by a few seconds, only to be told my time was something different? I let them keep their 2nd place prize money for the club, I had a free entry pass being a HCC rider - and didn't want to collect the winnings that were not rightfully mine. Petty for sure, but my own little protest. :) Plus or minus 2-3 seconds I can live with, these TTs are not that accurate, but 7 seconds in error isn't acceptable. I've been in contact with Blackburn and they've apologised for any time discrepancies.

I downloaded and reviewed the power file from the race which I'm happy about at this time of the year. Out and back was only a 1.5% drop in power on the return leg, and a %2 increase in HR - so the pacing strategy was spot on. My recorded lap time confirmed. Grrr. I used up the rest of my energy at the ABOC DISC session that evening by smashing everything that moved.. I think I got 5 laps up in the final 'take a lap' drill.