May 22, 2004

  • Well,  I figure I should write some notes about this 1st Time Trial I have done in years.

    To start with I don't like TT's cause they suck,  There is pain if
    done correcltly and if you are not going to do it correctly why do
    it.  In listening to what Lance (There is only 1) says about them,
    is that they are a sour pain, unlike climbing which for him is a sweet
    pain.  For me pretty much pain is pain but I would much rather
    climb than do a TT.  So, enough of my whining,

    So, it's  Thursday 6:00 PM.  It's a low key event and it's
    free! so how can  I complain.   One of my
    co-workers (Bob) wants to get into the racing  thing and this is a
    good way to cut his teeth.  That's the good part.  The bad
    part is that some of the boyz at work heard about this and decided to
    wager on who would win and by how much.  Well, no real pressure
    here but  since he has only been riding ~ 1 year I  had
    better win this one. 

    So we make our way to the TT area which is about a 6 mile ride from
    work.  We arrive early and we get to meet Jon Kushner.  Some
    others were there too and we met them also.  Everyone was really
    friendly too!  

    We do some warm-up with Katie (I think) and she is chatting with Bob
    while I lag behind.  I wanted to get a feel for the grade and wind
    etc. and being too close to them would cheat me of th
    feeling....   We return and it's almost go time.  Jon
    gives us the speel and we are ready.

    I am1 minute in front of Bob, a position that I would rather not be in
    since being a warrior,  being set up to be Prey is not
    pleasant.  On the other hand though it will give me great pleasure
    to deny Bob his prize,

    It's my turn now and my HR is at 109 to start with.,  Not too high
    but just enough to keep the engine warm.  3... 2...1 go and I am
    off.  I take my time getting up to speed and I settle into a
    rhytm.  I  am watching the HR moniitor rise and I am careful
    not to exceed the manufactures specs for this body.

    I qucikly reach the low 180s and I figure that's where I should
    be.  The speeds are about 23 - 26 and  I am OK for the 1st
    mile.  I can see my prey,  "Don Haywood" from the FCCC and he
    is waaaay up the road.  There is a tail wind and I am not sure if
    the aero-bars that I just installed this week are making a difference,
    especially since I can't breath as well with them and have not had any
    riding time with them.

    Oh, well I am here now and might as well make the best of it. 
    about 3 miles in I find myself wishing that I would get a mechanical so
    that I could be put out of my misery.  This is real suffering now
    and I realize that I don't miss competition.   Suffer, push
    pull and pedal as I try to maintain some speed.  This TT isn't
    flat, and although the grades are slight, when you are trying to find a
    rhythm this subtle grade changes are annoying.

    As I near the turn around I can see my minute man "Don" and I think I
    am making time on him.  This is good for the sprits as I near the
    turn around..  I notice lots of gravel in the turn area so I am
    cautious and make the turn safely.
    I was happy to drop out of warp for a bit and a chance for the HR to get into the high 170's.

    After the turn I am into a headwind..  I am pleased to have the
    Aerobars as I am sure they are doing what they are supposed to
    now.   I am feeling a bit better and it's probably because I
    am really getting warrmed up.  I see Bob a bit closer than I would
    like, but there is an illusion of one being closer than one really is
    but seeing his smiling face and his speed gave me no comfort, but
    served to make me continue my efforts.

     I can see a rider in the distance and it's one of the women who
    was ahead of me and I make the pass.  Hmmmm, Where is Don?  I
    can see him and I am making ground slowly, but I won't catch him. 
    THis head wind is annoying since I know that I would be flying down
    some of these slight grades without so much work.  I look for
    areas to relax and give the legs a break, while keeping the speed
    up.  I am careful not to go too hard, cause it takes twice as long
    to recover once you have red-lined.

    I can see the finsih so I ignite the rest of the glycogen that's left
    in a push for the finish.  I don't really feel like sprinting, I
    am just glad that is was over.  Now it's time to count down to
    make sure that Bob is more than a minute back and it's fairly close!

    When the results are in, my time was 25.11 for the 10.25 miles. 
    Not to bad!  I am not sure where I placed but I know I wasn't
    1st!   The results will be out by Monday and I will updat
    this blog entry with a link to the results page.

    I wish I could say that a good time was had by all, but Bob crashed at
    the turn around and although he finished strong, he had the battle
    scars to prove it.  Now will I do any more of these, if you ask me
    now I will say no!, but it's like having a baby, when the pain is
    forgotten you'll probably do it again.

    Racer’s Name

    May 20

    Katie Ruggle

    32:40

    Gene Hodge

    28:47

    Sara Colson

    n/a

    Kathleen Strong

    30:42

    Ruth Alexander

    28:39

    Katie Ossa

    29:18

    Greg Somermeyer

    n/a

    Mimi Somermeyer

    29:08

    Vicky Marlett

    n/a

    Bruce Henderson

    n/a

    Don Haywood

    25:41

    Steve Douglass

    25:11

    Robert Gilany

    25:59

    Jenny Powers

    26:49

    Greg Smolk

    25:50

    John Harris

    24:48

    Doug Mason

    25:37

    Mike Thorsrud

    28:44

    Shanon Ryan

    27:16