Not much of a report to write, as my ‘race’ was over after one round…
Drizzle and light rain early in the morning, but temperatures rising to around 10 degrees Celsius before I started.
The rain had stopped by then, but the course was obviously still wet.
The start / finish was slightly altered compared to the last years, as was the course itself.
That was now a straight line out on the bicycle track, further out then before, with the turning point close(r) to the bridge.
The return was the same straight, but on the main road.
There were several patches marked with pilons around them, where the tarmac has potholes.
Overall, both the bicycle lane and the road are in bad shape and seem to lack maintenance.
Coupled with the wet surface, I was feeling uncomfortable – the slightest error can spell disaster.
Still, I was doing well, although off the 40 kph mark by 10 to 15 seconds per kilometer…
About halfway on the return, is got my first spray of latex, but whatever punctured the tyre, the hole was plugged.
I had to slow down a bit as I knew that any crack in the tarmac could cause it to open again and I didn’t want to crash.
However, just some 250 meters before the end of the first lap, I could hear another latex sizzle and the tyre was now completely deflating.
End of race…
Luckily, I was close to the start / finish and the tyre didn’t explode so I could come to a normal stop.
There was a horse nail in it, which means it will have to be replaced.
When I dropped my chip off and told what happened, I heard several people saying this was now common on the dyke: people throwing thumbtacks and (horse) nails to thwart the cyclists.
I only knew this was common practice in the south, where the roads during – granfondo – weekends are often swarmed with cyclists and the villagers are fed up with them.
I saw others walking, being less lucky then me, getting a flat further out.
Oh well, I don’t like riding that dyke anyway and I hardly ever do.
(The one north of Almere is fine – great for ITT’s too)
As to this ITT: I think I will quit participating.
My experiences are mixed and – like today – I often do not feel at ease…
I prefer dodging tractors and trucks on the country roads in my backyard 😎
I rode the remaining laps indoors later and concluded that 40 kph is never going to be within my power.
Towards the end of the second lap I accelerated to 40 kph and the power went up to 350 Watts.
No way I can do that for (over) an hour…
