WildWetandWindy 02_06_12

Wild, wet and windy out West

Two reports from wet weekends:

Firstly, a report from the Rossendale Triathlon.

Sue and I completed this as a tandem team again; 400m swim, 21k hilly bike ride, 5k hilly run.

As the alarm clock went off at 5am on Sunday 3rd June, we were greeted with driving wind and rain, and the temperature guage read just 7 degrees - fine for February, foul for June. We were the only 'tandem team' but had an early start, along with the other relay competitors (teams comprising a swimmer, handing over to a cyclist, handing over to a runner). There's always a bit more fiddling around for us, getting on and off the tandem, and on a day such as this more time taken in transition as Sue had to add extra layers for the cold. Sue had a fine swim, starting steadily but then maintaining her pace where other fast-starters faded, completing the 16 lengths in about 9 minutes. However, by the time we had got kitted up with all the necessary layers of clothing (two long-sleeved jerseys needed) against the cold and wet we were trailling the field.

On the Tandem on a sunny day!

Lumbering on our tandem we did overhaul a few others, Sue screaming at me to slow down more on the wet descents and corners - let's call it 'compromise', all part of the joy of riding a tandem. I had a good 5k run, over-hauling another 4 teams (I was 10th fastest on the day!), so we finished with a very respectable 4th place against the relay teams, 61st overall from 200 competitors, in 1hour 28 minutes, comparing well to our previous outing, in the dry, a few years ago.

Secondly, from the VTTA 50-mile time triaL

On the lumpy, technical and weathered roads of the Jodrell Bank circuit. The morning of Saturday 9th June was also another foul, wet and windy day. Fortunately, the weather eased a little for the afternoon's race although there was still a nagging westerly to contend with, and a couple of heavy showers.

Lapping steadily at around 44-45 minutes, I ended with 2:13:28 in 21st place, pleased to have made an improvement my Mid-Shrops ride earlier this year, moreover pleased to have finished in better condition (possibly aided by having raised my handlebars by about 8cm for this event - flipped the handlebar stem). Event winner was Charles Taylor (South Pennine RC) with a remarkable 1:50:48, some 5 minutes clear of the next fastest rider. Again just 5 riders breaking the 2-hour barrier was evidence of the tough course and conditions.

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