I hastily threw some old pedals on my old Pugeot road bike and went out to ride a TT tonight after spotting ‘cycle race in progress’ signs out near the M-CCC circuit after showing Mal around Woodsie’s Gem Shop and Kings Billabong.

Whilst driving around the circuit I saw an M-CCC club trailer and eventually found and spoke to the guy driving. He said get there for 5..30pm for a 6pm 16k TT.

Unfortunately, my brother has my bike and seems to have taken my helmet but I found Dad’s and adjusted it to fit. I fitted some ancient clip + strap pedals I probably had on the track bike and put on the trusty skate shoes that are so renowned for fast time trialling.

In the end I got lost, arrived too late to sign on and then found out you can’t race TTs now unless you are a Cycling Australia member. I haven’t held a CA licence for 5 years and wasn’t going to push for an expensive day licence (if they still offer those) and late sign-on just to do a windy 16k (10mi) TT. Bummer.

It would have been funny racing in my sneakers with no speedo, power meter, no funny hat, no skinsuit, no training, not having ridden the bike for 5 years, a gut full of chicken schnitzel burger and milkshake from Woodsies (chunder power) etc. 🙂

Instead, we drove up the road and cheered the riders on.. I know from experience that being yelled at can help motivate a little extra something from knackered legs and so Mal and I are claiming the large number of PBs set as being due to us yelling out encouragement. 😉

It’s a bit of a shame I won’t be able to race without a CA licence but perhaps I can fit in a M-CCC club run now I’ve found some pedals?