Disqualified & 24th
[April 2020: Little embarrassing to read, but these were the reports of angst from my Perth accommodation!!]
Time Trial 1st September 2016
Well, it's "only a f****** bike race" - TT bike has failed a UCI test - so unless I get quick bike surgery tomorrow, I'm out of the TT race - irrespective lopping 15cm off my bars and shoving my seat back will screw up my position and power. It never occurred to me it would be an issue, but as I say "it's only a ........" - see what nice LBS I can find tomorrow.....
Thanks all, I was really dreading an update, I had to "sleep" on it, of sorts
Firstly, there's no anger, there never was - it was more like detached disbelief - feel better today though post ride of course (and I did find Fremantle!)
And definitely once I return to the UK I do intend to reassess, I don't have recompense at all in mind, nothing will replace that lost opportunity to have at least challenged for that rainbow jersey but I feel some visibility of what occurred and accountability should be pursued.
With that in mind I will seriously consider at least an account of what occurred and sent to Brian Cookson (thanks Julian, but also suggested by someone else by direct email) and certainly I think some exposure in CW - perhaps Chris Sidwells or a recommended colleague may be interested?
There are two elements though, one is the way I was so harshly mistreated personally but also generally the experience with amateurs being confronted by the incredibly inflexible TT regs - 90% fail rate says it all, and clearly the regs have a disregard for safety (see my "test ride" blog above post mods) too.
Even if there was not that first UCI approval on race day, the instructions dispatched by email from the UCI were not definitive, there is no mention of modifications just actual measurements I.e. In my case the seat nose - but the same commissionaire was well aware and even advised (on the first UCI check on the Tuesday ) that my TT bars needed shortening by 10cm - implicitly of course the only way is by use of a hacksaw, is this not also modification? Where's the consistency, the irony is that cutting 1/2 cm off the seat nose to adhere to the 5cm rule has no advantage to performance but 10cm off the bars could do.....but as amateurs how are we to know all the finest detail?
There is actually a little more that I could report from the days experience like the barge with all the bikes was delayed to the island, so all the start times were put back one hour
But the best one other snippet - and all this is true even this....when I was putting air in my Zipp disc wheel this guy leant over and said that the gaffer tape I'd used to cover the hole was not UCI compliant, as it needed the manufacturers logo on it - I said, "you taking the piss mate" anyhow, whilst googling for "modifying seat noses" I came across it - he was bloody right
I'll try my best on Sunday of course, going to be toughest man standing without a doubt - and I've got more input for motivation - the thought of the lovely Louise Jones
Better sort some carbs out for the weekend but finally....for completeness, you've seen the accused seat itself - so here's the little blighter that really caused the fuss, the seat tip! :
G'day
Report on Road Race Championship 4th September
130+ blokes catch 150+ women after 25 miles of first flat 40 (Why TF they set us off behind the women, no disrespect, but this was inevitable - Old = slow? )
Freeway goes from 3 lanes to 2 - mega carnage like you've never seen, I'm right behind but upright - big group up front have gone. Too many on the road, scary and edgy.
Roads become narrow can't get through....hit last 25 miles of mega climbs - first though "Zig-Zag climb is 3m wide - I can't get passed, appears like I'm in the women's race - race is over?
At last space - I decide to do a "Froome" - keep power at threshold and plug away, no panic.....catching groups, encouraging chains...
Second big climb a group come into view - I've got a chain going - eventually we catch them, but it took some effort, must be an intermediary group......Its not, it's the lead group - fvck!
Race is on, but I'm blowing out my ar*e like no time trial, and I seem to be the last one hanging on, I need to recover- a few disappear. Groups shrinking......
Last 4 miles back up Zig-zag - starts with a cruel 10%+ dropped immediately, I'm so wasted.....lose 2 mins on lead bunch....less than it felt - Finish.
Can't complain - surprised I even got back into the race, wrong place wrong time - lack of experience
Btw Paul Miller won, Aussie, ex pro - Giro, Tour etc (apparently)
And first GB finisher for what it's worth...
So that's Perth - I won't miss it, and I won't miss the fvckin UCI - onto the priority and Melbourne, and the lovely Becky, not before some deserved R&R with the other tourists
No more mega threads I promise, well, until the next time!
Hope it's been "entertaining"
There was no follow up! Local Sheffield based magazine pre races
Which also includes today's Breckland 50m TT - recording a rather surprisingly speedy 1-48-29 in rather fresh autumnal conditions to tumble Sheffrec's and the Group VTTA records. Although I went to hell and back in the last 5 miles, feeling quite delirious at one point 
