by Norman King...

aka Alf Tuppers Training Regime

So for a few years I have listened to the best Time Triallers in our club on the best way to prepare and complete a good TT. Well I think I have found the perfect solution which I may repeat in future events. This is based on the legendary Alf Tupper who I studied in my teens from the Beano (I think).

So Aero gains bought myself a pair of SNCC aerosocks, by the way they fit lovely, but with hairy legs I may have lost the advantage they were meant to give. Most importantly, go to the football match at Bournemouth the day before, sit in traffic for 4 hours, have 2 pints and a pork pie. Have a coffee and steak pie at half time, the pie must be crusty and boiling hot. Then drive home in two and a half hours and eat a late meal. Get to bed at 10pm, then wake at midnight, 2am and 4am as you're getting up at 4.30am. Have toast and jam and cycle to the start at 5.30am. Perfect preparation so far. The day was warm, windless and slightly overcast, no idea on air pressure but at my lowest weight for a year I felt prepared.

The race sorry event

This was the BRCC 25 mile TT on the F1B/25 course starting at Tempsford and in aid of the Sue Ryder Hospice at Moggerhanger. I started no 6 and went slowly till I joined the A1. Once on the A1 got going at about 20mph. Maintained that for a number of miles. Was overtaken by a few riders before the turn but not many and overtook one myself (hurrah). Was feeling good but conscious of the pace and around the 10 mile point where the A1 goes up after Biggleswade my speed slipped away. So turn, powered up the slip road and then fought over the next climb at the 14 mile point. Then I knew the last 11 miles and with the benign conditions I could average over 20mph again. And so I did, Jim came past me, he spoke and I grunted back. Realising at the Sandy RAB with 2 miles to go I was on for a PB, but it would be tight, so I really put the hammer down (yeah OK it's all relative) and got to 21/23mph and as I finished saw it was sub 1:17, PB, now to check the official results. Good ride, back here again next Sun.

Postscript PB was 2 secs, plenty of scope for Sunday, hoping for some late coaching from Sam!