API-METROW 25 (E2/25) Saturday 13th July
Mon 12 Aug 2013
an
Turner, Tony May and Hannah Ormesher made their way up to Suffolk for
the API Metrow 25 held on the A14/A11 dual carriageway. The top of the
course is at Newmarket with the turning point at Fourwentways Services.
With the first rider off at 2pm on what was the hottest day of the year
to date, the going was going to be tough. The course was fast, a tarmac
furnace, slightly rolling but the return leg definitely felt more
uphill – maybe more psychological than due to actual net gain. There
was a 10mph northerly wind which was lightly felt on the way out and
therefore sure to make the return disproportionately harder!
Hannah Ormesher
I was first off for the North Road and enjoyed a fast outward leg, noticing that I was going faster for 10 than I had done in any TT before. The return leg really tested everyone though and was markedly slower for me. I was disappointed to see my average speed tumbling down and my very newly found hopes of breaking the hour with it. The heat was wearing and my aero helmet felt like an oven. Thankfully I managed to maintain some steady enough speed in the last 5 or so miles to nurse my average back to better health and gave it all I had left when the sign post for the Newmarket junction exit appeared – the finish was on the slip road. I passed the line in what I thought was either a late 1:03 or an early 1:04. Back at HQ I was pleased to find I had ridden 1:03:57, taking 6 minutes and 16 seconds off my previous PB.
Tony May was next off under TMG Horizon colours finishing in 55:47.
Ian Turner
My main objective for 2013 was to ride a 25 mile time trial in less than one hour, something that I’d not managed in previous years. I changed my approach to training, listening to wise words and opted for less mileage but more intensity. Steve Sexton very kindly supplied the tt bike (I sold mine last year) on a temporary loan basis. All that remained was to enter one of the mythical ‘fast’ time trial courses. After failing to get an entry into my preferred event (Belper 25), I entered the API Metrow. It is run on the E2/25 course which has a reputation for being fast, perfect. Unfortunately I received the news that I was on the reserve list and didn’t find out that I had a ride until the evening before. Meantime I opted for a contingency plan and entered the Ross on Wye 25(R25/7) the following day.
Having received the news that I had secured a ride in the API, I decided I’d ride both events; the former event to go for my PB and the latter as a learning experience with nothing to lose.
The API was run in very hot conditions with a breeze from the North. When I dropped down onto the A14 shortly after the start, I felt a little intimidated by the 3 lane dual carriageway but then settled into the familiar slog. The return leg was tough, the heat and head wind taking its toll. I crossed the line feeling like I’d not ridden well, it was 5 minutes later that I scrolled through my computer and to my surprise found that I’d done 55:09(still waiting for confirmation of exact time).
Curiously I didn’t feel elated but was left feeling that I could have done better on this event.
Hannah Ormesher
I was first off for the North Road and enjoyed a fast outward leg, noticing that I was going faster for 10 than I had done in any TT before. The return leg really tested everyone though and was markedly slower for me. I was disappointed to see my average speed tumbling down and my very newly found hopes of breaking the hour with it. The heat was wearing and my aero helmet felt like an oven. Thankfully I managed to maintain some steady enough speed in the last 5 or so miles to nurse my average back to better health and gave it all I had left when the sign post for the Newmarket junction exit appeared – the finish was on the slip road. I passed the line in what I thought was either a late 1:03 or an early 1:04. Back at HQ I was pleased to find I had ridden 1:03:57, taking 6 minutes and 16 seconds off my previous PB.
Tony May was next off under TMG Horizon colours finishing in 55:47.
Ian Turner
My main objective for 2013 was to ride a 25 mile time trial in less than one hour, something that I’d not managed in previous years. I changed my approach to training, listening to wise words and opted for less mileage but more intensity. Steve Sexton very kindly supplied the tt bike (I sold mine last year) on a temporary loan basis. All that remained was to enter one of the mythical ‘fast’ time trial courses. After failing to get an entry into my preferred event (Belper 25), I entered the API Metrow. It is run on the E2/25 course which has a reputation for being fast, perfect. Unfortunately I received the news that I was on the reserve list and didn’t find out that I had a ride until the evening before. Meantime I opted for a contingency plan and entered the Ross on Wye 25(R25/7) the following day.
Having received the news that I had secured a ride in the API, I decided I’d ride both events; the former event to go for my PB and the latter as a learning experience with nothing to lose.
The API was run in very hot conditions with a breeze from the North. When I dropped down onto the A14 shortly after the start, I felt a little intimidated by the 3 lane dual carriageway but then settled into the familiar slog. The return leg was tough, the heat and head wind taking its toll. I crossed the line feeling like I’d not ridden well, it was 5 minutes later that I scrolled through my computer and to my surprise found that I’d done 55:09(still waiting for confirmation of exact time).
Curiously I didn’t feel elated but was left feeling that I could have done better on this event.