OP
OP
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I'm not sure where I placed, the big bloke from the club won it with an incredible 6:06 and somebody else in the club was 2nd 6:14 
There was quite a big turn out but at a guess I'd be just lower than halfway, of the 10 riders in my club though, I was a lowly 7th out 10. I was first but that was only for 56seconds and I was the 1st off! I shaved a few seconds off with having a TT start (somebody holding my bike so I was clipped in from the start; I'm too use to SPD's clipping in with the ball of the foot rather than the spd'sl where I need to toe in first) and I might have saved a few seconds with ditching my small saddle bag (with Topeak multitool and p repair kit) but I think indeed it was a mixture of better pacing and adrenalin. I quite liked how the bloke who won it listened carefully to my advice on gearing which other folk agreed with, in summary start off in the 39t chainring, recover and change up to the 53t in the middle, and drop if need be to the 39t for the steep finish; I did however end with if you are strong enough however (which I'm not), the best way would be to power up in the 53t, judging by the 6:06 I think he took my latter advice 
There was quite a big turn out but at a guess I'd be just lower than halfway, of the 10 riders in my club though, I was a lowly 7th out 10. I was first but that was only for 56seconds and I was the 1st off! I shaved a few seconds off with having a TT start (somebody holding my bike so I was clipped in from the start; I'm too use to SPD's clipping in with the ball of the foot rather than the spd'sl where I need to toe in first) and I might have saved a few seconds with ditching my small saddle bag (with Topeak multitool and p repair kit) but I think indeed it was a mixture of better pacing and adrenalin. I quite liked how the bloke who won it listened carefully to my advice on gearing which other folk agreed with, in summary start off in the 39t chainring, recover and change up to the 53t in the middle, and drop if need be to the 39t for the steep finish; I did however end with if you are strong enough however (which I'm not), the best way would be to power up in the 53t, judging by the 6:06 I think he took my latter advice 
I set of 15th this time though which helped me; halfway up I was surprised to pass the big girl who set of 4 places before me, I then spotted my minute man and started to reel him in, I almost gave up however when he pulled away on a flatter bit but then I noticed that he wasn't as smooth up the next steeper part and with renewed energy I sprinted past him on the line (if you can call 10.4mph a sprint).
