Raven has SUCCESS in a TT at last!

[RoadRaven]

Yes, yes, I know...
TTs are about yourself...
They are a race of truth with nowhere to hide, and it is about your personal best...

Having said that - it is sweeeeet when you do a faster time than others who typically thrash you in a road race...

And this is what I have done AT LAST!!!

Last Saturday was a club TT.
25km unfortunately - I train for 20km TTs as that is what most of our club TTs are.

It was a fab day, sunny, but some cloud cover - a bit of an unhelpful breeze which lifted to a light head wind - but not the gale force westerlies that have been here...

I started 7th... I was not happy, but we were started by grade (the first six were the grade below me - our club is graded on ability, not on age) and then by place on the points table... and I was the lowest on the table of those who turned up (only 10 of my grade turned up - there are about 25-30 registered in my grade though I think).

So... with 30 seconds between riders, and a minute between grades I had a bit of chasing to do - and alot of people chasing me (79 riders registered... a good turn out for a club TT - although road races we usually have 130ish)

So, I settle in to a rythym and just maintain. Focus on the discomfort, watch my heart rate. My goal is to catch all of G grade before the turn around and let no F graders (my grade) catch me. I also want an average of 32kph, which will be a long way my PB. I am not sure if this is achievable over 25kms, but I will aim for it anyway.

I wont bore you with details of my headspace and the pain in my legs... but I caught 5 G graders before the turn around, and caught the 6th about 1km after the turn around. That felt very good.
Now I was in slight panic mode - I knew I had some strong men behind me, I would be gutted if any of them physically caught and passed me...

I rode out in front all the way home... and crossed the finish line doing 45kph(it was slightly downhill) and gasping and wheezing with no-one catching me, the next rider in was nearly two mins behind me.

Final result!?
I had an average of 31.72kph... .3km below what I wanted - but I was well satisfied (particularly when I heard A graders talking about how slow the course was in places due to the head breeze/wind). I could have done better, my legs weren't sore enough, but I was trying to pace myself for 25km as I used to 20km, and that judgement is difficult in a TT.

And I came second in my grade! Yay me! This is the first time I have been placed in my grade since I moved into it! I have improved so much and the people in my grade that I was faster than are strong cyclists...

I feel at last I am making progress again - I kind've plateau-ed over winter and was feeling disillusioned - roll on summer TT series, I am so ready to race!

[Eden]

Way to go Raven! Keep up the great race reports. Us northern hemisphere folks need some encouragement to keep up the winter slogging. (actually I can't complain too much, its cold outside today, but lovely and sunny)

[spokewench]

Yay Road Raven - Perseverence wins out! You're doing great

[light_sabe_r]

Congratulations! Just rewards for all your hard work! Keep it up!

[HillSlugger]

Congrats! Great race report. Wishing you many more great finishes.

[SadieKate]

Congratulations! That's terrific. TTs are so tough because it's such a mind and pain game.

[BikeMomma]

Yay, Raven! What a way to start the season!

~BikeMomma

[smilingcat]

Congratulation Raven,

Sounds like lot of fun.

big cheers,
Smilingcat

[margo49]

Good on you!

[RoadRaven]

I meant to say the official distance was 25km, but bike comps on the day registered 25.4, 25.5 and 25.6

So we have worked averages out on 25.5km

Another very cool thing about my time on the day is that I would not only have been placed in the grade above me (E), but I would have been 8th in the grade above that (D)

The time trial series has just come out, and we have Thursday night TTs every week from 6th Dec and 28 Feb
Yahoo!

And a 5 up TT on 22 Dec... a nice bit of fun

[Tuckervill]

Boy that's exciting!! Congratulations!

Karen

[RoadRaven]

Eden, spokewench, saber, MD, Sadie, BM, cat and Margo... I just realised my haste to get off the PC last night (teenage son wanted internet) I didn't say thank you for noticing, reading and responding to my excitement.
And now you too, Tuckervill...

It means alot to me... some of my colleagues at work asked how I went and I said (grinning and trying not to bounce on the spot) I got second!!!

I got smiles and "thats nice/good" comments and that was it.

But I know you gals understand what it means, and when you say congratulations there is a whole lot of knowing and understanding about what achieving a goal on a bike means... whether its a time (like this) a distance or a habit (like commuting).

So heartfelt thanks - this is the biggest thing for me so far (on a bike) this year...

[Tuckervill]

RR, it's posts like yours that suck me in!!!!! I have never competed in an individual sport--I played softball and volleyball in high school. When I read about women like me who do such wonderful things with their lives--women with kids and jobs and past experiences that could have sent them another way altogether--I get so inspired.

I have been changing my direction for the past 5 years or so (really about 14, but that's a long story). I may never, ever compete on a bicycle, except against myself. Just hearing about you doing it makes me think that maybe I could, even if I never do. It's a wonderful thing to think of myself that way. It expands my horizons and enlightens my thinking. Thanks for sharing.

Karen

[Eden]

I have been changing my direction for the past 5 years or so (really about 14, but that's a long story). I may never, ever compete on a bicycle, except against myself. Just hearing about you doing it makes me think that maybe I could, even if I never do. It's a wonderful thing to think of myself that way. It expands my horizons and enlightens my thinking. Thanks for sharing.

Karen

Some of the myths about being on a cyling team or even just racing, (at least in this area) are that you have to be young and you have to be fast. Our team has a lot of people that may never win a race, but they still come out, have a good time and are part of the team. As far as age goes, a lot women don't even find this sport until they are in their 30's or older. (our average age last year was 37 - our oldest member 57 - and one of our older members, in her 50's is also one of our very fast and very competitive ones). This year we even have a mother and daughter both on the team. If you change your thinking away from its about winning races, to its about challenging and improving myself you can have a great time and a lot of good companionship doing it.

[RoadRaven]

Eden has explained well... It is about personal goals, and racing may be part of that - but in order to compete, you don't have to think you have to win the gold...

Thats one reason why I like TimeTrials... its all about me (except for the other weekend when I did better times than my grade-mates and came second )

When and if you are ready, you'll have a go at this... in the meantime, Tuckervill, keep enjoy bikes the way you already do... and thanks for reading my post and for your kind words... I was pretty chuffed with my placing/time (and still am - can you tell? )