First time trial of the year

I always dread doing my first bike time trial of the year, as they are usually slow affairs with your legs getting a sharp reminder that you have been neglecting the hard yards in your training. I usually put them off until as late as I can blaming all manner of things for my inability to get out on the time trial bike. Weather, Poor light, too busy at work, Kate said she would leave me if I don't stay home and cook her dinner, clean the house, mow the lawns ... 

Some how, it was different this year. I actually managed a 10 mile TT in 24.00 mins, which, although gutting, since I came painfully close to ducking under 24 mins, is a PB by over half a minute, and is a fair bit more than a minute faster than my first TT last year. 

What was different from last year ? I guess the heavy mileage of the IM training is giving me good time trial strength anyway, but it typically leaves my legs feeling pretty heavy during my off weeks, and I did put in longer sessions last year as well, although not quite in the same league as this year. 

On surprising item of note is the new aero helmet. It is amazing how much of a difference changing your helmet can make. I reckon (and this is purely anecdotal), switching from my road helmet to an aero helmet could have been accountable for some or even all of the difference between my previous PB and my new one, which would be 30 secs or so ! I am obviously stronger than last year, but earlier in the year, when I was not as well prepared, I also had a surprising bike split at the Eton Super Sprints, managing just under 31 mins for the 20km bike split. 

It is not like I a box for helmet before either. My road helmet is a pretty decent giro road racing helmet, but the new Bell aero helmet really seems to be the business. As modeled below by the legendary Mr Cancellara ....