If it’s Sunday, it must be Prees, at least that is the way it feels. After the Parker series 25 last week it is back again to the Raven Café for MSW’s 50.Being an Open event, I knew that my start time was going to be 7:57, so the alarm did not have to be set TOO early!!
A very foggy / misty morning did mean that the start was, wisely, delayed by 1/ 2 hour and as I set off the 3 mile ride to the start, thoughts and doubts about my first 50TT kept going through my mind: Will I be able to pace it right? How long before it will become uncomfortable?
I knew the first part of the course to Tern Hill from the 25 courses, but entered unknown territory when I turned left towards Market Drayton and the first turn. With a good road surface, I had found a good rhythm, which I as able to keep to the Epsley roundabout where we turned left, down to Shawbirch, using part of the course which will be used for the 4up TTT in August.
I would like to say how smooth and fast the road surface was…. I would like to but I would be lying!, you needed a cyclo cross bike on some sections!! Looking at the faces and ‘attitude’ of the riders coming back to meet me, I knew I was in for a hard slog on the return leg, and I was not proved wrong, and it seemed to go on for ever.
Back to Epsley roundabout with just over 10 miles to go on roads familiar from the 25’s, which when you know of the little ‘kicks’ and drags to come might not be such a good thing!
Well, after 2 hours, 5 min and 21 seconds, I had the answers to the questions…. The pace was OK, but as always, when I look back I think I should have gone harder and faster! 35 miles was the start of the ‘wiggling’!!
23rd Overall, and first in the ‘C’ seeded riders, not too bad for my first 50!
Full results can be found Here:
Well done Med, 50’s are never easy, but looks like you turned a a great performance there.
Two 1hr 2min 25’s back to back is good going!!
With you loving Prees so much, you could always enter the National 24hr event on those same roads 😉