The Magical Hour

Many thanks to Austin Smith for this report. Read on and enjoy……

Let’s rewind to December 2022.
The last 3 years had been very average for me with no target goals or Performance Bests. I’d also spent 2022 using an online training platform to try something different. But it didn’t work and had a negative effect on me.
So, January 2023 I decided to do things differently. I went back to basics and decided to do my own thing by increasing duration and endurance. But I also wanted a target, and that target was going to be to ride my first Open 25TT along with seeing how close I could get to the magical hour. Up until now I’d only ever ridden the WVCC Kibworth-Corby and RFW Inter-club 25s. And so, by March dates had become available on the CTT website. Two were on my radar May 13 and June 3 on the A25/34 course near Newark.

So, at the last Tur Langton TT, I told Simon Ward my plans and how I was aiming to ride the VTTA on June 3rd and that I’d love to go under the hour for 25, but Simon convinced me to ride the Melton Olympic TT this weekend as a course preview and learning experience. Problem was entries closed that night so after tired ride back from the Langton’s to Uppingham I fired up the computer up and entered.

Fast forward to Saturday and I arrived at Farndon Village Hall (near Newark) a complete bag of nerves, but Jon Durnin did a good job of distracting me. With #44 pinned to my suit, tyres pumped and lights on I headed off to the start with a cool temperature greeting the riders.

This was it, five months of training and bought me to this point. Starting near East Stoke riders joined the A46 at Elston before heading southbound to the Stragglethorpe Interchange with a North Easterly tailwind. And boy was it fast, Matt Plews had told me to enjoy the speed of the tarmac and I arrived at Stragglethorpe with an average speed of 27.7mph. I’d never ridden so fast and produced a time of 22:08 for 10miles (new unofficial PB for 10). I was grinning like Cheshire cat. But that soon changed as competitors then faced a tough headwind on the longest leg of the event on the A46 to Farndon. Now was going to be make or break, and the wind was knocking me back, I tried not to let my average speed dropping affect my confidence and I knew if I could get to Farndon roundabout above 25mph I was in with a chance of hitting my target. Turning onto Fosse Road for the finish the road surface returned to something I was more akin with, but I just got my head down and pushed…. I crossed the line in 58m 57s and punched the air in euphoria. I couldn’t believe I’d done it and I never thought I would be able to achieve it on my first attempt.

And finally, I have to say big thank you to Simon Ward, Jon Durnin, Matt Plews and Ed Tarelli for all your comradery, encouragement and enthusiasm. It was much appreciated.

Four WVCC riders took to the start line.
Matt Plews: 56m 52s
Jon Durnin: 57m 28s

Austin Smith: 58m 57s

Simon 63m 57s