LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

Well after the disaster that was my first reliabilty trial in Suffolk in February (where it was a struggle to even finish Embarassed

) I completed my second today and was well pleased.

Went for a 3h 30m slot (you decide before you set off) which I got with a 3h 16m - pleased because although the weather was brilliant sunshine all the way round, there was a 16mph north easterly wind which for whatever quirk of the course was only actually a 'tail' for about 8 miles. The remainder was either a vicious cross wind or full on headwind!

Stats from my new toy - which I am so pleased with, not only because the plotted route meant I didn't make a single wrong turn or need a map once, but also because of the info available to me afterwards!

Stats are here

Feeling a lot more comfortable for the next FNRttC as well as a couple of 100's I have coming up Wink

BigSteev · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 282 Location: London

Andy, what's the /4 mean? I see the 50 is miles.

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

50 (miles) in 4 (hours)

Its a generaisation and their way of signifying it a reliability trial but in fact each entrant decides what their target is so, for example, for me it was 50/3.5.

I believe it stems from the days when cycling kit was less reliable and thus prone to break downs or punctures etc. The target you set, includes all such breakdowns and stops.

Obviously for a shortish distance (like this) you aim to stop in the saddle for the duration so its a little easier to pace yourslef, I think its harder when you have to have drink/food stops and thus have to factor that in.

ed! · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:23 am Subject: Re: Suffolk CTC 50/4

Well done Andy!