Time Trial doubling the fun
The Saltair TT is a great way to ruin a perfectly fine Thursday evening. Besides being so hot outside that I nearly passed out trying to pump up the tubular on my disc last night, there were these little bugs that try to fly up your nose. I began to conceptualize how I could carry a water bottle between the extensions on the TT bike and do the Floyd water soak. I got my gear together while shooting it with the Claw. Have I mentioned he has a super sweet ride for the TT. I think the bike makes him at least 15 seconds faster just because he has it in his head that it is such a fast bike. Go Claw!
The warmup is the worst part about preparing for a TT. I didn’t really want to turn it up too much because I had sweat pouring off of me going easy. I went out on the course and found I could go about 34 or 35 with the cross-tailwind that was blowing. That means it’s going to be painful coming back. I finished up the warmup and strategically pulled up to the sign in right behind the Claw. He has been riding faster and faster each time out there, so I thought he would be very good to follow. I got in a few more efforts and then pulled up to the line.
Since I was the 5th starter of the night I decided to start my clock when the first rider took off. That way my pain-soaked brain would be able to keep track of the time with some simple subtraction. I made sure the speed was in the main display of the Polar and Gary told me to go fast. Right around the corner I had rolled it up to 34. It’s a lot of fun to go that fast and the legs felt good. The turn-around came quickly and as I tried to power out I realized going 34 to 35 was not a good idea. I had closed about 15 seconds to the Claw on the way out and by the finish I had only closed 2 more seconds. The Claw, as usual, set a great time.
Once I crossed the finish line I went through the 5 to 7 minutes of severe nausea and then I grabbed a drink. I rode down to see if the times were being figured yet and the last few racers came in. Pimp had already changed clothes and rode down to check on times. Gary walked back over to the start line and I told him Pimp wanted to go again. Gary said he’s not going again, but you are right after K-Lao, J-Lao’s dad. I said no way and Gary said get ready. This is my first attempt at the back to back. Why not!
I got myself rolling and found that I felt much better this time. I was surprised the further I got on the course at how I was feeling and realizing that my speed wasn’t that much slower. At the turnaround I bogged down a little, but then my speed was a good 2 mph faster the rest of the way in (note on speed measurement: my road bike computer is set for kph, thanks to trying to keep up with the cool factor of J-Lao. The TT setup however, is on mph standard time because I have done so many stinking Saltair TT’s using mph that I would freak out otherwise). To my amazement, I went nearly 8 seconds faster on the second attempt. K-Lao and N8-T were the other two yahoos participating in the double fun. OUCH! Two visits to the pain cave within 40 minutes is not the best way to make an enjoyable Thursday night, at least not until you’re finished and have caught your breath and you revel in the bliss of less pain.
On to the latest TOFU preparation: I think I lost another 3 pounds just last night in the heat and I’m trying to figure out how long the TOFU TT is going to be. I seem to crack big-time whenever there is a TT in a stage race that is not the opening stage. Apparently Party Jack is attempting to negotiate an experienced team-car driver/mechanic to drive in the caravan for us. I also practiced stuffing 8 water bottles in my jersey the other day.
Tip of the week: do not drink a bottle of fruit juice just prior to a time trial. If you think Red Bull gives you a stomach ache…