Advice needed re Stage TT event

[Wahine]

Well, somehow I got myself into doing a staged TT event this weekend. I've never done any racing on my bike outside of triathlon. So I was hoping that some of you seasoned racers could give me some strategy input.

Here's what the event looks like:

Saturday:
Stage 1 - 25 miles with about 2200 feet of climbing, rolling hills loop. 9 AM
Stage 2 - 8 miles steady climb, one way only, climbs 1880 feet. 3 PM

Sunday:
Stage 3 - 50 miles out and back 1st half is pretty steady uphill so down hill almost the whole way home, total climbing is about 3800 feet. 9 AM

I'm treating this as a training weekend and am planning on sitting right at my anaerobic threshold for both events on Saturday and about 5 to 10 BPM for the Sunday stage. I will be wearing my HRM. I plan on eating the same way I would for triathlons of similar distances.

This is totally new to me so any input is appreciated.

TIA.

[Eden]

I don't think your on bike time will be much different than your tri experiences really - though I don't know if you meter out your TT efforts in anticipation of the run? You won't have to do that, but you are already planning to do it at your LT and that sounds like a good plan for a TT.

A couple things that you might want to think about that may not be normal to TT's - do a warm up before each stage of the event. Do tri'ers warm up? The swim always seems to come first so I'm guessing no. For a TT you want to be good and ready to go as soon as you get on the bike. Warm up on the road or better yet on your trainer - the shorter the race the longer the warm up. Make sure you get your heart rate up too - you want to feel the burn before you are out on the road.

For the all uphill stage, if its fairly steep, you might consider not using your TT bike (do you have another?) or at least take off the TT bars and use your lighest wheels. Unless the gradient is small enough that you'll be moving fast, +15mph I think, the TT gear won't give you any aero advantages and will just be heavier to get up the hill. We have an uphill TT that averages 6% with some sections of 9-10 and almost everyone uses their road bike for it.

As far as eating goes - I'd say, don't try to change anything, do what works for you. Just be sure to get enough food in between the two stages on the first day. Try to relax and put your feet up and enjoy your next race. You'll probably feel tired the next day, just remember that everyone else is in the same boat.

[Wahine]

Thanks Eden!! That's great advice. Especially the bit about taking my TT bars off for the uphill ride. I never would have thought of that. And yup, you guessed it, I don't usually warm-up before a tri, except in the water to get my arms going before the start. Some people do though.

[Tokie]

Stage races are fun! Do try to stay focused on eating and resting in between the stages, get a massage or do self massage on Saturday night and get a good night's rest. It's easy to walk around chatting with people you know and watching other races go off when you really should be off of your legs and resting. And those pre race warmups are key before each race. Have fun! Tokie

[Wahine]

Thanks Tokie. I'm a bit nervous, it's nice to hear someone say it's fun because currently I'm envisioning a lot of pain and a hacked up lung. I'll be sure to bring something that I can lie out on in the back on my XTerra between events.

[RoadRaven]

Wow Wahine, I had never heard of a staged race where all the rides are TTs!
So this is called "Race Across Oregon"? Thank you for posting the link - it looks really interesting. I look forward to getting the map pages open and having a good look at what you will be doing.

And it sounds like they are mostly hills or hilly?!!!

It'll be one tough weekend then... you'll def be walking in a peculiar way by Sunday evening!

I can NOT imagine doing three TTs full bung over 3 days. I am well impressed, and you absolutely must must come back to this thread and tell us about it.

I am on our local cycling club committee now, and our club has many strong time triallers (we picked up a significant number of medals at the nationals last year). I am already thinking about taking this as an event idea to our the next meeting...

As for tomorrow??? (Its Friday afternoon here in EnZed) Well, remember you love the pain and challenge... and when you can't convince yourself about liking the pain anymore... take a line from the movie "The Matrix" and replace one word...

"There is no pain..."