Time Trial

[RoadRaven]

Pssst.... SheFly.... how'd it go?

[SheFly]

Sorry for being so late with the response. The TT last week was cancelled due to road construction. DH and I thought it was too minor to cancel, but they did.

So tonight was the race of truth. Honestly, I was stressed about the whole thing. DH had even gone so far as to put stickers on the disk wheel, proclaiming 20:45 - our target time. The course record for a tandem before tonight was 20:59:9, and our PR was 21:08 - 9 seconds to beat it, but DH wanted a comfortable margin.

When we got to the event tonight, a number of regulars kept asking us if this was the night. Talk about adding to my stress level! A friend asked me how I was feeling, and I said that given that I wasn't even riding yet and my HR was over 130 bpm, I should be fine . Even at the start, as we were prepping for takeoff, one of the volunteers kept repeating "This is the night."

The past two weeks, we have had issues at the start getting clipped into our pedals. Tonight's start was stellar, and we quickly ramped up to speed. I made the mistake of having my HRM so that I could see it, and started to panic somewhat when my HR was over 180 so early in the race... I ended the 9.75 mile loop with a 180 average, and a max of 186 - trust me when I tell you that we were working hard...

Thankfully, the race was fairly uneventful for us, despite the effort we were both expending. I usually can't see anything on the back of the tandem when we are doing the TT, but on the final climb of the circuit, I could tell that we were pretty far out in the lane, and looked up to see us passing a rider who was passing a rider (two abreast), with a car coming in the opposite direction . I decided at that point to put my head back down so I couldn't see anything.

We crossed the line ecstatic - we finished in 20:42! This is a new course record for tandems at our TT event, and faster than we had ever thought we could go. The other tandem (previous record holders) didn't have a stellar night, and we handily beat their time. Only two more weeks left of the series - I am headed back on my single bike next week to see if I can eat into my 24:32 PR time....

Raven - this one was for you!

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Woohoo Shefly - thats awesome - I can imagine you both dissecting the race for weeks to come...
Isn't it fabulous when it all comes togther!!!?

Thanks to your great story, I have decided I'd love to TT on a tandem with my partner - have to be on the long-term goals...

I have my TT on Saturday, its a different course than the one I thought it was, and 25km not 18km, but I'll be thinking of you and imagining you two behind me... that'll make me keep my pace up!!!

So impressed... well dome seems inadequate... but WELL DONE!!!

TINO KINO PAI!!!!

[SheFly]

Thanks, Raven! We definitely spent last night dissecting, and celebrating. I forgot to mention that we are now within 30 seconds of the OVERALL course record, so that, apparently is next year's goal - always good to have goals.

I'm glad that you are inspired to try a TT on the tandem! Last night was fun, since with both teams at the event, it was really like a "showdown" from the old west....

Good luck on Saturday! I'll be thinking of you, and wishing you a tailwind the entire way. Let me know how it goes!

SheFly