First post-lockdown time trial - starting 2020 4 seconds faster then where I left off in 2019.

Following weeks of uncertainty over when racing might return, the club time trial series finally kicked off under new Covid-19 rules - advance entries only, a temperature check before sign-on, and bringing your own pen to sign on for a number allocated for the rest of the season. I didn't get off to a great start by picking up my number and forgetting to sign on, having to return a few minutes later on realising.

Car parking was to be distributed anywhere other than the usual car park in Ponteland, and I was one of just two who chose the leisure centre car park instead. It was actually good to have no distractions and I was able to focus on getting ready and setting off for my warm up on time before rolling up to the start line a couple of minutes before my start time at 19:25.

This 10 was my first race in my new skinsuit, a flowsuit from Nopinz, together with full length aero overshoes. With a relatively new aero hat and new handlebar position I was looking for some time gains from aerodynamic improvements as well as hoping for an improved power output from some good training sessions during lockdown. I wasn't too sure what average power I would be able to hold for over 20 minutes but was looking for up to 350 watts on the shorter rises, 300 watts on the longer ones, and a little lower than that on the flat.

With a brisk westerly wind it was a fast start up to Kirkley Hall, and then surprisingly fast on up to Ogle. Turning up the lane towards Belsay was time to focus on holding position and putting as much power down as possible, and I seemed to reach the top of the two rises quicker than expected before easing slightly into the turn where I got a clear run onto the main road.

I couldn't remember who had set off a minute in front of me, but I couldn't see them, and in fact I never got sight of any rider during my race. At some point my mind had wandered and I realised I was acting as a carrot for Adam Wild in the latter stages of the race - I knew he had aspirations to dip under 20 minutes and as he started 4 minutes behind me, if I was to dip under 24 minutes he would be in about the same place at the finish. that thought spurred me on to keep momentum up the rises and push as hard as I could.

With just the final rise to the finish my average speed showed 24.9 mph and I was determined not to miss out on a sub-24 ride. When I looked at my recorded time I was just under 24 minutes, but having used my Wahoo Roam computer for the first time I did not realise that it started the clock when I pressed start rather than sitting on auto-pause until I started moving. This is unfortunate as it also means the average speed displayed is affected by the amount of time from starting the recording before actually starting.

No results board under Covid-19 rules, so a wait for the results to be emailed out. My time was 23:45, 4 seconds better than my best time in 2019, my 4th fastest ever on the club 10 course, and possibly most pleasingly 3rd place out of the 28 starters. I had held Adam off by 18 seconds as he set an incredible new course record of 20:03. My average power was 284 watts (NP 293), a nice improvement of 16 watts over the last club 10 of 2019.

I don't think conditions on the night were fast, so there is more time to come. But it is also unclear how much my improved performance is down to increased fitness and how much to aerodynamic improvements. I guess that ultimately doesn't matter... roll on the next race!