My first time trial

[Jiffer]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's so cool! I'm working toward doing my first official time trial. Just did a Tempo ride yesterday, which as you probably know, is sort of like a time trial in that you go time trial speed by yourself. I usually do 20 minute tempo intervals. It's HARD!!!!! Felt a little sick at the end yesterday (I think from being on my period). So kudos to you for pushing yourself and beating everyone to the finish!!!

I wanted to comment on being the carrot for others and how that can push you. I did Heartbreak Hundred last May, which is a century with over 8,000 feet of climbing. I'm not the best climber, which is why I made myself train to do such a ridiculous ride! I climbed a lot to help my climbing. Anyway, this was a timed event with an hour window of when you can leave. My friend always out climbs me and my husband suggested I leave 30 minutes before her in hopes that it would motivate me to ride hard to keep her from passing me. Well, it worked. I spent the whole ride wondering how close she was getting and expecting at any moment to hear her and a guy friend she started with yelling my name behind me. They later told me that they WERE yelling my name, but never finding me! She did beat my over all time by about 10 minutes, but I came in about 15 minutes before her and that was good enough for me! I'm not used to being the carrot. I'm usually the one falling behind trying to catch a group or a friend ... if there's climbing anyway. So it was fun for it to be the other way around. My friend, who did climb it better than me, hated the ride and never wants to do it again!

I'm also reminded of the time I killed a hill interval I often do. I usually do that interval with the same friend I just mentioned, so she's usually my carrot. One day I rode with two women who are newer to cycling, but one of them is an insane fast runner, so I knew she was strong. I let them know at the signal that I was going to do an interval on the next stretch. I wasn't sure if the fast runner gal was going to try to do it with me or not, but as the experienced cyclist, I certainly wanted to stay ahead of her if I could. I ended up beating my previous best time by a LOT!!! I couldn't believe it! I think I used to think having a carrot was great to make me push myself, but I'm starting to realize I can sometimes do even better BEING the carrot. Especially if my ego is at stake! Hmmmmmm!

[Bike Chick]

Jiffer, what a great story and good for you for not getting caught on the century! Man, that sounds like a brutal ride and I know what you mean by pushing yourself and waiting to hear your name being called. It's incentive to not quit and keep pushing. A friend of mine who has raced time trials will be there next Tuesday night. She has been so encouraging but is also super strong and very fast--she beats most of the men. I will be her carrot and that will really push me. Like you said, when your ego is at stake, you can really push yourself a lot further than you thought you could. It's a real confidence boost as well.

Good luck on your first official time trial and be sure to let us know how it goes.

[Jiffer]

Thanks Bike Chick. I just remembered one other experience being the carrot. I did a few road races last year, all of which I stayed with the peloton until the climbing began (hence switching to time trials this year!). Anyway, on one of the races, one gal dropped off right before the climb ... so I was ahead of ONE person (the goal was always to not come in last!) ... and then I passed a gal puking on the side of the road on the climb. Bummer for her! I think she pushed herself too hard to stay with the group. Now I'm ahead of TWO persons! And then I passed one other rider on the climb, who was actually riding. THREE!!!

However, I knew that third rider could eventually pass me if I wasn't careful. After the climb, I descended pretty quickly as I typically do. That's my strength. And most of the rest of the ride was flat or rolling with one long low grade stretch.

I was basically by myself for most of this. I kept looking behind me to see if she was there and never saw her. It was really hard knowing how hard I had to really push myself. This was not a time trial. Whether I come in two minutes faster or slower doesn't make a difference, as long as I don't let her pass me. And I had no idea how hard she was riding. I just knew I never saw her when I looked and felt reasonably comfortable that she was never going to pass me.

I did finally start to get passed by some guys who were in another category (obviously ... since they're guys!). This confused the issue, cause now when I turned to see if she was there, it was harder to tell, cause now there were other riders. And, to be honest, she had a masculine look to her to add to the confusion.

All I know, is I had about a mile to go on the 31 mile course and ... boom! She passed me! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was SO bummed. I got on her wheel and we rode the last mile together, switching who was pulling. When we got near the finish line I felt like a slug. My competitor says to me, "You wanna sprint it out?" I'm thinking, "Um. No?!" I thought it was interesting that she actually asked that. All I know is she stood to sprint and I stood to sprint but she FAR out sprinted me. Bummer. (Previous race I came in the end with a gal whom I sprinted with and it was much closer. Could hardly tell who crossed the line first ... which, sadly, was her.)

Anyway, after the race the gal who out sprinted me said I was her carrot. She was intentionally trying to catch me during the whole race. So in that situation, I think she kind of had the benefit of trying to catch the carrot. For me, I tried to ride hard, but I'm pretty sure I could have ridden harder had I known she "actually" was going to catch me. So, the lesson in that is ... always assume they can catch you if you don't ride your hardest!

At least I still beat those two other riders.