Is three minutes a good improvement on TT?

[RoadRaven]

First of all, YogaBear... listen to what Dianyla says and stop dissing yourself.

OK, so you want to get better and improve... great - thats what most of us here want for ourselves. But please change the way you tell yourself this...

3 minutes is a marvellous improvement... remember, no-one starts racing in the top category/grade... you need to gain experience in the races you like, experience in riding with others, build your strength, your endurance... I have read and heard that to get to a reasonable level in racing you should be building your base for 2-3 years...

As for time improvements... to begin, your improvements will be in minutes, but as you get fitter and stronger, your imrpovements will be measured in a minute, or just seconds...

As you go faster, you have to increase your power output... so improvements become harder and harder... but they are absolutely worth it...

Keep telling us about your rides and races, we wnat to hear and to cheer!

[yogabear]

I hear you guys and thanks so much for helping me to look at myself.

I am usually a very positive person. It's just been a tough road for me with my racing...I want to do well so badly. I rode a bike for 7 years that was too big for me and caused me pain. Then, I battled chronic fatigue syndrome, along with some non-biking related injuries and accidents. So, I guess at least from all of that, I have a killer base to work from due to all of my base miles LOL, along with some mental toughness training there too

Last year, I raced and came in last place in every race I did except for one. I know it takes a while to get strength back and such, but it was so hard for me emotionally. I realized that I've been everyone else's cheerleader and support, but when it comes time for it to be reciprocated, no one I have cared about for so many years has been there to cheer me on...except my Cat 2 racer husband and my message board friends here (thanks and hugs!). I realized I race for me and that's it...I can't care what anyone else does or doesn't do.

I've been a successful athlete in running and mtn. biking, so I have hope, but I am 34 so I can't just get there overnight any more

I keep on keeping on, so I guess that is all that matters. I am just waiting for things to get better for me...It feels like it's taken an eternity to just make a small amount of progress. I've worked so hard and been through so much, I just like to have those glimmers of hope now and then.

Thanks for the support and letting me vent

Bear hugs,
Lisa

[Eden]

Think about it this way. More than likely 90% of women out there don't ever ride a bike, likewise I'd bet 99.9% of women out there haven't even tried to enter a bicycle race, and you are doing it. You have already made quite an achievement.

[CorsairMac]

is 3 mins a good improvement?? HE** YEAH!!! There are ppl that would give their eyeteeth to shave 30 secs off their time! You GO my friend!!! Excellent Time!!!