So I awoke at 6.38am - bummer I had set my alarm for 7.30am. Maybe it was excitement, or maybe it was nerves ? Only 4 hours to go and I would be having the countdown to start yet another WWCC 5K TT. If I'm honest I really like the time trial, and maybe at my age its the kind of racing that suits me best - just myself & pain against the clock. A quick look out from behind the curtains - BONUS ! clear blue sky & no wind, some would say almost perfect conditions for the test, but a ha I had another trick up my sleeve, my clip-on tri bars (there was a blood-curdling laugh, which faded away into the distance)

INTERLUDE

On arrival at ALV there was the usual hum of excitment and techno weenies chat regards who had spent the most cash last week on wind/time beating kit for their TT bikes. The weather was awesome and the temp on the track was beautiful, though we still had a tree shaded back straight to cool down on if the going got hot :). Out onto the track to warm up, and it wasn't long before I came upon fellow Mamil director Rich Smith (just winding down after his time trial, he was peed off that he hadn't beaten or got close to his PB - I kinda felt for him. Our other business partner Johnnie I was time keeping after his time trial where he produced another brilliantly fast ride - well done John, its all paying off now - winter miles, summer smiles. A couple of laps with Rich where he coached me on the art of public speaking for which I thank him - I will put it to the test at a later date. Soon enough I was at the start line, I had a plan - block mid range, big ring, half a lap out the saddle, onto the tri bars, the following 2 laps winding the gear in, change down, change down, wait for the time keepers lap count down - "1 lap to go Andy !" front of the saddle, still upper body, nice steady pedal stroke, power, power, power .......

-30 seconds on my previous best, thank you that will do nicely.

Since I have been tempted back into the dark art of testing I started to look at it with a more scientific approach, well before it was spend, spend, spend without any research, but now I have found that less cash outlay and more reading can reap the benefits of time - literally !
Read the following quality article regarding 'S' style time trial extenstions.