VTTA '10' 3rd May 2026

On the fast F11/10. I decided to ride the P5 with a new disc wheel, but with unchanged ride position. I'd tried to install the 3T Aduro high rise fitting (recently bought via eBay), but was thwarted by a stuck bolt on the base bar which needed to be loosened to remove the low mount. The bolts are horrible countersunk M5 bolts which take 3mm Allen keys - not enough if the bolt is corroded in due to sweat. And one of the four bolts rounded off.

Once again, I found myself struggling to get the power out and to stay in a proper aero position. My neck really didn't want me to ride that low.

Anyway, it was reasonably OK to the first turn, a double roundabout underpass, somewhat enlivened by a club mate who was marshalling there donging a cowbell and shouting encouragement! This bucked me up a bit and the zoomed round and emerged on a slip road back on the A41 dual carriageway.

I think I look far better than I felt!

Once down the gift hill, I was finding it a bit of a struggle to the second turn with a bit of a head wind and general discomfort. I was caught for a minute just as I entered the turn. Once round the turn, and with only a couple of miles to go, I dug in as best I could, reaching the finish line in 23m19s.

That was my best '10' time so far this season. But this was on a very fast course in reasonable conditions and I'd hoped to go sub-23 minutes. Still, I'm hoping this takes things a bit further as I try to reclaim some of my form from last year.

After I returned home, I began the lengthy task of drilling out the stuck bolt that I needed remove in order to fit the newly acquired high mount to try and make the P5 a bit more comfortable. More on that in my next report.