SK! I'm SO happy to hear that we had about the same experience. My heart rate was right where I thought I should keep it, but I kept thinking that I should (and COULD) go faster/higher, but I was afraid to, so I kept a little something held back. My heart rate was right around 176, right where I knew I could hold it, but I always felt like it could have been much better. Next time -- again -- I'm already talking about next time!

We did all set up trainers. It was a blast to see a parking lot full of folks on trainers. I checked my computer this morning, and I only had 15 minutes on the trainer. Probably on a normal day, that might have sufficed. On a very COLD day, not enough.

The standing start was fun! I'm petrified of falling, but I saw the starter holding much bigger men, so I trusted he wouldn't let me tip. You start out clipped in one one foot. Hold your brakes. The guy stands with his legs clamped around your back wheel, holding the end of your saddle (don't even remember feeling a stranger's hand on my bottom!) When I felt stable, I clipped in the other foot, ready to just roll. It's VERY scary the first time, but I had a sneak practice, with two people standing on my sides in case I started to fall.

I didn't drink during it. In fact (not that it helped...) I took off my waterbottle cages. For 30 minutes, I didn't feel I would need water. If it was hot or a longer distance, I would have thought about it.

I didn't use aerobars - don't know how to use them. Actually, that's funny, because I actually use them on my trainer bike because I have some hand issues. However, I really tried to stay in my drops as much as possible. When I would look at my heart rate, see that it was as high as I thought it should do, I thought to myself, "What else can I do to go faster?" Tuck into the drops, try to make myself smaller. As far as what to wear, that was tough, because it was so cold and rainy. I ended up with multiple layers, but left off the flappier jacket.

They started us every 30 seconds. I was thrilled that I wasn't passed immediately! I even passed one guy! Actually, in retrospect, I'm not even sure he was actually a racer, because it wasn't a closed course.

My time was 33.00.85. I'm kicking myself because it would have been so easy to trim enough time to get it down into the 32 minute range. My turnaround sucked - actually put my foot down to get me around the cone (narrow trail, tight turn, I didn't want to fall!) Skibum's time, even though right before me, was significantly faster. I would have been VERY happy with her time!

I'm sticking to my theory that all the people I could have beat stayed home!