The end of another racing year

The National Closed Circuit Championships at Thruxton in October marked the end of racing for another year. A snorkel, flippers and a wetsuit would have been more appropriate attire than a skinsuit and slick tyres! Having driven down to Hampshire in what could best be described as biblical conditions it was little suprise to see the car park mostly under water. If it had been any other event to finish the season off I'd probably have called it a day by this point but this was the last chance to try and make the podium at a National Championship event.

By the time we'd unloaded the bike and registered both of us looked like we'd been through the spin cycle. Thankfully I'd packed plenty of clothes as just setting up left us wondering if this was actually a triathlon by stealth and swimming to the registration desk was the first competitor sift. With trainers and socks already soaked it was then the turn of the garages come warm up area to undergo a deluge - thankfully enough people were on hand to rescue the kit before it went floating across the track. It had crossed my mind more than once at this point to abort mission and divert to the nearest coffee shop, however not only had I worked too hard to keep my fitness up when most of my more sensible friends had finished racing several weeks previously but I don't like unfinished business. 

Car heater on overdrive drying the socks!

The rain eventually stopped and the sun even tried to come out; things were definitely looking up! The course was only waterlogged in a few places so still plenty of scope to seek out those racing lines. Eventually it was my turn to take to the start line... give it was the last race of the year there'd certainly be plenty of time to recover! The circuit rode better than it had previously done but perhaps I was ready for the block headwind up the drag on the back straight this time. I overtook a few people but it's really hard to gauge where you are in relation to anyone else and you can't see the entire track. I knew the power numbers I had to keep in mind to prevent blowing up and stuck to them, there wasn't anything left for a sprint finish so it must have been somewhere near! 

Trying out the tri spoke at Castle Combe 

All I could do now was wait and wait and wait... Due to an apparent mix up with the timing chips the results were partially published, leaving me to think I'd done enough to secure a bronze medal, until realisation dawned that there were loads of times missing! I was eventually given 5th - a significant improvement on the 11th of last year and although not the result I'd have liked it was the best I could do on the day. In some ways the result was disappointing but in others it was a relief to get to the end of a long season; eight months of racing was starting to take its toll and the thought of a week of no training was looking very appealing! 

Thanks to Harry Walker of Revolver Wheels for not only his ongoing support but the loan of one of only two tri spoke wheels that are hot off the press this year. Although the conditions weren't right for the tri spoke at Thruxton I've no doubt it'll come into its own next year!