I sorta knew it wasn't going to be fast conditions but I still dipped my toe in the water to see if going for the record might be on, after a couple of laps I knew it wasn't as my average speed was around 28mph rather than the 29 needed to go for the record. I was still on schedule though to set the second fastest 100 time and a new PB.
I was feeling pretty good going into the last 25 miles and started to increase the pace again. on the final run down to the roundabout I was going really quick with the tailwind sitting at 36-37mph at times. going into the roundabout on the Antrim side was a brutal experience every lap as the strips batter the life out of you.
On that final run in I was totally psyched up to empty myself for the last 10 miles and went into the roundabout a little more aggressive with more speed, when I came off the tri bars to reach for the brakes the bike took a massive jolt and my right hand came off the bars and the bike lurched sideways, I tried to grab the bars and save it but what I didn't realize at the time I had rolled the tub off the rear wheel which ultimately put me on the deck hard at 36mph! That yellow gritty aggregate stuff against my skin brought me to a stop pretty quick so I didn't slide too far. The next sort of thing I remember was being at the side of the road not really being able to see out of my right eye it was all sort of fuzzy. I was feeling my collar bone to see if I had broken it as my shoulder was in a fair bit of pain. I felt the end of the bone and there was a large bump so I knew I had separated the AC joint. I separated my left AC joint before I got into cycling when I used to do a bit of MotoX so I knew what that meant and I was kind of annoyed I had done the right, at that point I think I would have rather have broken the collar bone as it would have been better in the long term.
While all this was going on Paul had got the bike sorted with changed wheels and I had started to be able to see again out of the right eye and I was like right lets see can we do the last 8 miles. I got back on and I remember going down into the tribars and my shoulder joint popping, I wasn't in that much pain at the time to be honest I just had no real use or strength in the right arm.
Going back up the carriageway as things got faster I was absolutely praying no lorries were going to overtake me and was a god send I had Paul behind as that kept the traffic away from me and made them give me room when they overtook, I would have been in the hedge if a larger vehicle came past me close and fast with the side draft as I had little control of the bike.
I got to the finish line and went on to the next hill so I could let gravity slow me down as I couldn't get off the tri bars and onto the bakes at speed. I felt fine at the finish as I never really got to empty myself for that last 10 miles so in terms of how 100 TT's go it was pretty easy for me, the last 10 miles of a 100 when all things go well is much much more painful than coming off the bike and that was clear to see when I made my way back to the start finish there was a number of people lying on the grass in bits!
Getting back all I wanted to know was did I still get the win, which I did. I don't have a Gold Ulster 100 medal and its actually one of my favorite events so I really wanted one, so I was secretly that happy inside I wasn't too bothered I was missing half the skin of my back and my shoulder was wrecked.
I didn't think about this at the time or until the dust had settled but I took a look at my helmet when I got home and it looks like it saved me from a very bad head injury as it was split on the right hand side the same side I had temporary vision issues. I always wondered if those TT helmets would actually save you if push came to shove...
Final mentions:
Big thanks to Paul Caldwell of Caldwell cycles for looking after me on the day and providing support it was definitely a team effort and I wouldn't have finished without him.
Ballymoney CC for again taking the event on and doing a great job! its one of those events that everyone that finishes has such a great sense of achievement and anyone that has done it and finished it feels like a winner.
Sonia my sister who randomly cycled up to see how I got on, Took my mind off the injuries on the drive home as she piloted my pickup very very badly hardly being able to see over the steering wheel!
Championship Results
While all this was going on Paul had got the bike sorted with changed wheels and I had started to be able to see again out of the right eye and I was like right lets see can we do the last 8 miles. I got back on and I remember going down into the tribars and my shoulder joint popping, I wasn't in that much pain at the time to be honest I just had no real use or strength in the right arm.
Going back up the carriageway as things got faster I was absolutely praying no lorries were going to overtake me and was a god send I had Paul behind as that kept the traffic away from me and made them give me room when they overtook, I would have been in the hedge if a larger vehicle came past me close and fast with the side draft as I had little control of the bike.
I got to the finish line and went on to the next hill so I could let gravity slow me down as I couldn't get off the tri bars and onto the bakes at speed. I felt fine at the finish as I never really got to empty myself for that last 10 miles so in terms of how 100 TT's go it was pretty easy for me, the last 10 miles of a 100 when all things go well is much much more painful than coming off the bike and that was clear to see when I made my way back to the start finish there was a number of people lying on the grass in bits!
Getting back all I wanted to know was did I still get the win, which I did. I don't have a Gold Ulster 100 medal and its actually one of my favorite events so I really wanted one, so I was secretly that happy inside I wasn't too bothered I was missing half the skin of my back and my shoulder was wrecked.
I didn't think about this at the time or until the dust had settled but I took a look at my helmet when I got home and it looks like it saved me from a very bad head injury as it was split on the right hand side the same side I had temporary vision issues. I always wondered if those TT helmets would actually save you if push came to shove...
Final mentions:
Big thanks to Paul Caldwell of Caldwell cycles for looking after me on the day and providing support it was definitely a team effort and I wouldn't have finished without him.
Ballymoney CC for again taking the event on and doing a great job! its one of those events that everyone that finishes has such a great sense of achievement and anyone that has done it and finished it feels like a winner.
Sonia my sister who randomly cycled up to see how I got on, Took my mind off the injuries on the drive home as she piloted my pickup very very badly hardly being able to see over the steering wheel!
I really liked that Castelli Skin suit :'(
Championship Results
100 Mile TT Championships
Senior Podium
1 Sean McIntyre (Caldwell Cycles) 3:41:34
2 Andrew Bye (Newry Wheelers) 3:44:11
3 Mervyn Linton (Ballymoney CC) 3:46:01
2 Andrew Bye (Newry Wheelers) 3:44:11
3 Mervyn Linton (Ballymoney CC) 3:46:01
Women’s Champion
1 Jennifer Ashby (Madigan CC) 4:40:50
Masters’ 40
1 Barry Hayes (Island Wheelers) 3:45:15
2 John Rafferty (North Down CC) 4:01:36
3 Brian McBride (Errigal CC) 4:05:53
2 John Rafferty (North Down CC) 4:01:36
3 Brian McBride (Errigal CC) 4:05:53
Masters’ 50
1 Patrick Morning (Four Masters) 4:21:58
2 Peter Dallat (Ballycastle CC) 4:43:10
2 Peter Dallat (Ballycastle CC) 4:43:10
Masters’ 60
1 Sean Hargan (Phoenix CC) 3:52:33
2 Dominic Drum (Bann Wheelers) 4:10:45
3 Carl Fullerton )North Pole CC) 4:57:13
2 Dominic Drum (Bann Wheelers) 4:10:45
3 Carl Fullerton )North Pole CC) 4:57:13
Masters’ 70
Willie John McLaughlin – North Pole CC 4:48:29
Team Prize
Velo Cafe Magasin (Joe Henry, Mark Millar, Mark Hanna)
