Weekly TT Update

[SheFly]

For the past couple of weeks, DH and I haven't participated in the TT here - the weather has been cold and windy - not really conducive to good TT performances.

Last night, despite the threat of thunderstorms and an earlier rain shower, we headed over for another shot at the tandem TT, hoping not to have any near death experiences like we did last time .

Since our regular volunteers are off to the Masters National Championships in Kentucky, we helped out with a few other club members to get racers registered before the start. That's actually a fun job because you get to see everyone! Fits right into my social butterfly personality .

We started in 15th place, and quickly got up to speed and into a rhythm. The traffic didn't interfere tonight, and the weather wasn't TOO bad (although there was a head wind on the way out). We ended up passing about 6 other racers (set off at 30 second intervals) on the course.

The whole ride last night hurt - I had a really hard time breathing. About half way through, I really felt like I was going to throw up - that's when you know you're putting in an all out effort !

We finished with a time of 21:24 (just under 27 mph) - only 41 seconds off of our best time last season, and this was only our second try this year!

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Good girl... not being able to breath... wanting to throw up...

And you caned your last time!!!

Way to go SheFly!!! 41 seconds is significantly impressive!

I take it you were on your tandem!!! You guys rock

[Crankin]

I know that speeds on tandems are different, but an average of 27 mph rocks!

I feel like I'm going to throw up on Monument Street, too, sometimes on that little roller... won't tell you what the speed is, but I when it gets above a certain point there and I'm trying to stay behind my husband, there is something about that spot that induces the nausea that doesn't happen elsewhere.

[SheFly]

Well, it seems as though last week's training camp has paid off for me. In last night's TT, I managed to set a PR by 36 seconds - breaking below the 24 minute mark with a time of 23:56! That translates to an average speed of approx. 24.5 mph - woohoo!

DH had a good night as well, tying his PR time of 22:09. He started 1 minute behind me last night, and my goal was to be to Carlisle center before he managed to pass me. I got to Carlisle and still hadn't seen him, or the person who started 30 seconds behind me. I looked at my average speed there, and saw that it was 25.5 mph - faster than I have ever ridden the front part of the course! I thought that my readings must be off...

DH finally passed me as we turned onto River Rd and onto the "hilly" part of the course. Later both he and my 30 second person told me they were surprised at how long it took them to catch me - goal achieved! Once I got to the top of Punkatasset hill, I looked at my time and knew that I was on target for a PR, and HOPED that I could break the 24 minute mark. I put on the gas the whole rest of the way to achieve that goal as well (my overall goal for the TT for the season).

BTW - I think this puts me in select company - only 3-4 other women have broken the 24 minute barrier!

All in all, a very successful night! Now we need to work on that tandem record .

[Crankin]

Congrats on that super time! Your training camp sounds grueling, but it did pay off. I clicked on your blog and was amazed to see all of your pictures of all of my familiar riding places! You are right; we take this beautiful area for granted and at times I even get bored with some of my local routes. But then I go ride somewhere else and I always come back and say how jaded we are.

I took my first road bike ride with a group (a very small group) to that spot at the top of Prospect Hill Rd. by the Fruitlands. This was only 7 miles from my old house, but I managed to drop my chain twice and fall over at the base of Madigan Rd. because I freaked out when i started climbing up the hill and I didn't shift. But after a lot of crying and some not so gentle encouragement from my husband, I made it up. Looking at your picture reminded me of how that was only 5 years ago!

[RoadRaven]

What was the distance, SheFly? This is still the 10mile course?

You rock, girl. You truly do. Just under 40kph... something I will never achieve now...

I have mentioned our road surfaces before - NZ roads are notoriously slow because mostly they are covered in a coarse chip.

What kind of surface do your roads (or more specifically does THIS TT course) have? Just that will help me relate your effort to what I know/see over here.

Wow... another 36 secs... on a less than ideal night... can you go any faster???

[SheFly]

Thanks Robin and Raven! I am still kind of shocked at my last week's performance on the course...

Raven - yes, this is the same 9.75 mile course. We use this same course each week, which is good for setting PRs and maintaining consistency. The other thing that using the same course allows is for me to know every inch of the pavement, and what the best line is through some of the rougher sections. Most of the roads are in good shape, with smooth pavement. There are sections, however, that are badly pot-holed and cracked (we get frost heaves here in New England that impact the pavement). At times, you need to take the entire lane (not closed to traffic) to get around these sections.

After three full seasons of racing the same course, I now could ride it with my eyes closed, but I won't try that just yet .

I have to adjust my gaol now - I am only 15 seconds slower than the 3rd fastest woman. We also have to go out and retry our tandem TT record this year, so I HOPE I can go faster .

SheFly

p.s.
I found out that I was the 4th fastest woman to ride the course, behind an Ironman Hawaii winner, a Cat 1 Elite road racer and a highly ranke Cat 2 road racer - some pretty select company for a lowly Cat 4!

[SheFly]

Current TT Course Tandem Record: 20:41.0
Our current tandem best time: 20:43.2
This week's result: 20:52.9

It's amazing what 12 seconds means. Now we have to go out and do this again...

Oh - and we had ANOTHER near death experience this week. As we approached the finish line, there were two cars stopped. This is in the final uphill sprint, at which point we were moving at about 27 mph! After committing to go around the cars on the left, the first car decided to turn left . I let out a scream, DH somehow went left of the second car and right of the first, and we crossed the line intact. All of the timers, however, were very nervous, and were also yelling and gesticulating wildly. A scary moment for everyone.

Hopefully the pursuit of the tandem TT record won't be the end of us .

SheFly