Ravin' on... Racin' Goals

[RoadRaven]

Well... I am thrilled and gutted at the same time...

It was a tough day, tough conditions... nasty head and cross winds out and back.

It was a tough day... I started behind my 13 year old son with the goal of doing a better time than him, or close to his time... it was my last chance to "beat" him.

It was a tough day... my partner was too sick to race himself, let alone be my support crew... it would have been good to have him there.

It was a tough day... the marshalls measured .8 of a kilometre too much - significant when you pace yourself in a TT.

However, my head was in a good space. I did a 20kmTT of sorts the previous weekend, I had done a very good time despite outrageous gale-force winds - I knew I was in good racing form.

The outward leg was tough... cross head wind most of the way and my speedo hovered between 29- and 32... I just wanted to keep it up to 32 if I could, I would have a tail wind home... right?

Two men passed me on way out... bugger... and slowly my son opened the gap... no worries, a tail wind behind me on the way back will ensure I made up those vital seconds i was losing...

Wrong, wind shift and cross winds and some head wind on the way back too. I was able to lift my speed to 34-35 at times, but I have no endurance yet to maintain it and the slight undulations became hills which dropped me back to 28-29kph.

I didn't see my son again, but I did manage to up my rythym and catch the two guys who had passed me earlier - a huge mental advantage in a TT.

So I get back, worn out and once off the bike doing the funny walk that only a good buttock and thigh workout - combined with slightly numb girly bits) gives you.

The official results were posted on the web yesterday. My son's time was faster than me by 48seconds... I am wrapped for him.

I did a PB on that course - last time over 20km I managed a 30kph average... this time over 25.8km I managed 31.48 average (in tougher conditions).

However, the woman I beat in the last TT by over 30 seconds, had a better time than me by 1min45secs... so thats where I was gutted. We have both been improving, but she has improved more...

I know, I know, TTs are about you and the clock... but we do tend to peek and compare others times and although she did less than a km faster than me... it gives me a goal.

I am heading into the tough zone of racing now though. To lift one's speed from 32kph to 40kph requires TWICE the power output... realistically, because of my age and gender, I will be lucky to get to 35-36kph... but that must be some 60-70% more effort in terms of increasing my power. Two-three years to do this I guess???

Ah well... gotta have a goal, huh?

[Trekhawk]

Congratulations Raven on a great ride. You are wayyyyyy too hard on yourself. Your training is obviously paying off so you should be proud.

Trekhawk wandering off to dream about riding that fast.