Tune-Up Tuesdays - Easter Edition

Round 2 of my 2015 race schedule saw me off down the M6 and through the country lanes to Siddington Village Hall for the Manchester VTTA 10 miler on the J2/1 course. I nearly didn't make it to the race in time for the start given how long the queues were prior to Knutsford but eventually arrived just 25 minutes before my 2:08 push-off time. This gave me only just enough time to get my number and roll out down the long road past Capesthorne Hall to the start line, where a noticeable headwind was blowing from the west. The push-off guys certainly wondered why I'd brought so much food with me (in other words the cumbersome tools and tubes cans on the back, that'll teach me to save for a Cervelo P3) but at 2:08 it was down to business as I set off third seed in the first group of five riders, which would include the eventual winner Scott Burns.

My first two miles were pretty speedy and for the most part I was well over 25mph even into the wind, but the train station rise was more tiring than usual afetr chasing Tom up the Beacon and Shaley Brow on Easter Sunday. Worse was to some though; I reached the foot of the descent only to find someone loitering in a very old and battered looking car at 10mph which forced me to come to a near standstill. And then, to my amazement, he carried on his merry way! I didn't get any further details on him but after dealing with the worsening road surface over miles 3 and 4, the "no more headwind" roundabout appeared and so too did my minute man, on his Ribble. I moved to the right to pass him thinking I would get the pass done before the turnaround but for reasons only known to him, he indicated right then pulled across having seen me coming! So I turned left to pass his on the outside and we went round the roundabout side-by-side. This must have amused the marshals no end thinking one of the old stagers was about to get CHINOOK'D but if I'd been caught out in that way I'd have stayed on the right. Instead, he returned to the left, just as the aforementioned eventual race winner came up behind the pair of us. I was now clear of him but had certainly been distracted no end. Also, I was wary of getting any more Pastor Maldonado-stylee penalty points as I now had a faster rider ahead of me and I didn't want to attack too much lest I get into more trouble for drafting. By the time he'd vanished into the distance I was pretty fed up but had to get on with cranking up whatever turn of speed I could, so I laboured through the last few miles and even forgot to smile at the lunatics cheering us on at the Egerton Arms, eventually passing the chequerboard in a disappointing 24:09; I think I could have had about 20 seconds back without the hold-ups but even then that would have been around half a minute slower than what I achieved last August. Must go faster next time.........

Now for the results, brought to you by Royles of Wilmslow:

Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24:09, surprisingly only 2:50 down on the winner
Average Speed: 39.98kmh
Pheasants nearly run over: One during my warm-up
Cakes: 2 in the village hall after the race
Extra-Curricular Activities: Scouring Royles' new showroom for triathlon goodies before being stuck in Manchester rush hour traffic jams

REJECT OF THE RACE: Grandad's Garmin
(That's the driver who looked lost just after the train station)

Just a week to go until the Rainford season kicks off for real. Cards on the table time, then..........