Record attempt kit

What I’d keep

■ Time trial bike: despite the weight penalty, it was invaluable to be able to change gear in the aero bars. ■ Road skinsuit: perfect for this kind of event. Speed, with pockets! ■ Aero road helmet: worth sacrificing the aero gains of a TT lid in order to move my head around more easily. ■ Position: I adjusted the TT bike to mirror my road bike, sacrificing aerodynamics for a position my body was more used to. ■ Overshoes: the best bang for your buck, in aero terms.

What I’d change

■ Deeper wheels: I preferred the shallower wheels to save weight and in case of blustery Welsh weather, but a rear disc would arguably have been faster. ■ Bigger chainset: a 54 or 56-tooth big ring was required for the fast, A-road descents. ■ Power meter: training with power and sticking to numbers would have taken out the guesswork, and is highly advisable for a serious record attempt. ■ Emergency energy gel: I forgot I even had it in my pocket.