13\05\17 - ECCA Open 50 (E2/50c)

2:08:57 was neither brilliant nor poor but I learned a lot from this and confirmed much more.  After about 35 miles the pain in my shoulders and (left) shoulder to elbow was more than this kid found easy to bear.  The number of seating positions on a TT bike is limited and being stuck in one posture does cause grief.  If I'd trained for this it wouldn't have been a problem but I'm only doing this as a break from the slower endurance stuff. 
With winds at 12-15mph from the SW I knew that the first four miles would be tough but then I'd get blown up to Newmarket and beyond.  Riding along the A14 dual carriageway at 30mph I felt reasonably safe as I was almost "traffic".  Got to Red House where it started to get difficult, especially as nobody was looking forward to the return down the A11.  And the speed came tumbling down.  The last 5.5 miles was again wind assisted but my shoulders wouldn't let me take advantage of it.
I'd not done a 50 since a really slow effort three years ago and was pleased to record a time comparable to 2010 & 2012.  Rode back to the HQ with a guy who was lamenting that he was getting too old for all of this.  He's 53.................!  67/80 PW.