A Terrible State

Well the State Titles were a waste of time. Nothing learned, nothing gained, nothing of interest to report.

Clocked exactly the same time as last year in the ITT after riding nice neat lines and riding at a near perfect cadence on 48/14x20mm. My time of 56+ was over four seconds off the target time. Winner's time was an unratified world mark of 48.5

Didn't even qualify for the ride-offs in the 200m fly. Pushed a 50/14x20mm but still didn't hook up with the track. 12.7 is about the same as what I ride at home on shallow banked hotmix.

This year I rode the 3000m pursuit just to set a mark. Having never done one before it was just a matter of beating 4 minutes to be happy. Pulled a 3:56 riding on a borrowed Teschner with 48/14x23mm and 165mm cranks. Caught with a lap to go, but it didn't matter. I had a mark and with plenty left on the track there's scope for good improvements. No ride off for me though.

By the time the pointscore came around I was just fed up with the whole damned thing. The dodgy quad was just getting in the way and it's never fun competing with an unwanted handicap. The plan was to mark two riders and go for a lap on the field when the other riders eased off after the second sprint. They eased up plenty after the first sprint and spread. I just rolled through the enormous gap and opened up a handy 70m lead. Another guy bridged and slowed. The move was stymied and we got swept up just as the main bunch was winding up for the second sprint. The pace was too much for my tired legs and that was my race over.

The only positive to come out of the championships is that I might be able to slip under the radar at the Worlds later in the year. The National Titles in a few weeks time were now out of the question. My leg needed rest, and plenty of it.