First Open 10 of the season for me, as organised by Solihull CC on the K1/11 course. Immediately you see that it's an 11 mile course, which has some advantages, the main being that everyone who is up to a fast time, won't bother. That leaves the rest of us with a chance to avoid being last on the day and stuffed even by your 6 minute man!
So I sign up and collect my number (22). I always seem to get cool numbers, I never had the 13 that you have to pin upside down, or something shabby like 17, or pointless like 19 or 47. I quickly figured out my minute man (the one in front) was too young and too fit for me to catch (you can tell when his waist is the same size as your thigh and his thighs are bigger than yours!). Three, two one and I was off! As usual, I started too enthusiastically, and after a couple of minutes I was still averaging 300 Watt, fuck the negative split, give it all now and then you'll deal with the consequences later, that's always been my path in life. I passed a guy, I've passed him many times in many races, he is remarkable in his consistency and I can only wish to be like him at his venerable age. Then I get passed by a guy on a TT rig, quite chubby... I have a mild bulimia, the one where you have to weigh yourself every morning, so I can't stand being passed by chubby riders... I then noticed he didn't wear a number, although I am sure I saw him at the start... he probably forgot to pin it, which makes me chuckle... all that effort for nothing! I then pass another two elderly gentlemen up the draggy B-road back to Knowle... that's my road, I know every inch of it, as I commuted every day on that stretch from 2015 to 2019... today I better my best time! I finish quite strong at the Knowle canal, somewhat slower than I expected at 31:00, only to realise the course is not 11 miles, but 11.7! Cheated twice by the organiser... not a 10 as advertised, and not even an 11...
oh well, it turns out I am 15th... which is my best result in an Open by quite some margin... and the fact that there were only 24 starters doesn't detract an ounce from it... because I am shit at these races and being outside the bottom third is a win!
