Last week I missed a TT because a super early start and 3 hour journey to ride in the rain seemed less fun than dropping by to support and photograph Maddie doing the BUCS 25! This week I had another TT planned on a course I’ve generally enjoyed riding - tough but I’ve generally had a good result so I was keen to ride. On the morning the weather wasn’t great, with some drizzle and forecast winds that meant a headwind back. I considered not going and might have skipped it if I hadn’t already done that the week before. On the way there the wind and rain were getting stronger, and I was very tempted not to ride – even on my final ‘warmup’ on the road before the start the wind was very strong and I was seriously questioning whether it was safe. Stupidly I hadn’t taken my shallower front wheel with me.

In the end I did start, and the wind was certainly strong and gusty on the first section, before you turn south for the main section out to the turn at slightly over halfway. This section had a strong tailwind and so I was holding back on the power, concentrating on keeping the bike upright and very conscious of the fact that the ride back was going to be awful. Which indeed it was! After the turn there were a few sections which felt like the hardest thing I’ve ever done on the bike, with strong and gusty cross/headwinds, increasing rain and a much poorer road surface in places than I remember it being. Visibility was reduced due to the rain, my visor starting to steam up - I was just trying to keep the bike upright and make it back. And I almost did! I had a couple of nervous moments where I just missed a pothole, almost hit the kerb and managed to carry on riding. With less than a mile to go, disaster struck! After avoiding countless potholes I was blown into one and hit it hard, immediately realising I had punctured as the bike went all over the place. I managed to stay upright, worked out it was the rear that had punctured (it had felt like both initially) and managed to ride on a little way (my rear wheel is a tub), before deciding it was pointless and stopping by the photographer’s car, almost in sight of the finish. He very kindly let me sit in his car while I waited for a lift back – sitting there my arms were aching more than my legs, which is the story of my ride really. Such a frustrating experience!

Tim Phillips

Kings Lynn CC TT B25/33, 1 Apr 2023

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