Training Log Archive: cedarcreek

First time on a Cincy Red Bike. Started on E Court Street, just north of the library. Rode across the suspension bridge, over to Newport and across the purple people bridge. A little loop up into OTR. I'm not that familiar with downtown Cincinnati, so I made choices as if I was in a car (sorta).

A lot of fun. The bike was pretty nice. Headset was loose and the front brake needed to be adjusted, but it was just a fun ride.

Event: NAOC2014 (North American Champs/Ottawa O-Fest)
 

Blue Streak Time Trial (10 miles) near Dayton, Ohio. I did this TT once before (last year, I hope), except on my mountain bike with slicks. This time I got out my old Cannondale road bike. The skinny tires make a lot more difference than you might guess.

Last time, all my clothes were flapping in the breeze. I wanted to change that. I took the visor off my helmet. I wore straight lycra shorts (which I've been doing all summer). Last night I was deciding what shirt to wear. I went with my new Team USA NoName short sleeve. They actually made it to my measurements. The only problem is that they asked for chest and waist, and didn't take into account my actual shape. But, it's absolutely skin tight, which isn't pretty, but I waited until the last minute to put it on. I was glad I wore it. It felt fast, and c'mon, it looks awesome (except on me).

I got passed by maybe 6 people, which isn't that bad. I'm not 100% sure of my time, but I'm going with my GPS: 33:44 (Watch was about the same---It said different numbers than it downloaded. Go figure.)

My Oregon 600 (this track) recorded 15.952km, not 16.09, which would be expected.

A really fun ride, but seriously, I haven't pushed myself this hard in a long time. The people parked next to me recommended that I not go out too fast. I didn't think that was likely, I told them. The start is into a headwind. I was on the big ring, and I duffed my clip in, but not badly. After about 45 seconds, I was at 30-31km/hr, and I could feel the burn, so I downshifted. A bend into the wind and I downshifted again. 24, ugh, then a bend and 27. First turn, a blast of headwind, 24, then 25. A slog for a couple km, then a downwind turn; upshift, stand for a few seconds and (1) I'm all wobbly, and (2) my legs immediately burned. Most of the long run north was with minimal wind, quartering from the back left. I was seeing 29-31 pretty regularly.

My stretch goal was sub-30 minutes, but I didn't think I'd make it. That would require 20mph or about 32km/hr. My shame number was 40 minutes, or 15mph, ~24km/hr, and I was well above that almost the whole time.

I passed 5.3-something km, the 1/3 point. Then 8.05km, halfway. It was starting to hurt and I had a long way to go. There was a tiny tiny hill where I stood, still wobbly, but this time I felt a little cramping. A short headwind section which I still don't understand, downshift, then back to normal, and after a time I passed Bass Lake and then turned east, away from the treeline.

Holy moly. Tailwind. Upshift. Accel. Upshift. Accel. 35. Can I hold it? 5km to go. 3.1miles. Gotta hold on. Focus on long deep breathing. Cars are out on the highway 100m away. So beautiful. Golden light. Blue sky.

I see a bike a few hundred meters ahead. It's wobbling badly, like a kid is riding or an adult is seriously hurting. Keeps looking back. 4km. I pass, and it's a kid maybe 9 years old. I say, "Keep going!". Then the route turns south, back into the headwind. Not quite 3km---I'm thinking, "About 2 miles". 3km. I'm in between two gears. Up. Down. Up. Down. 2km. I decide I'm gonna pass 1 mile and not speed up until I'm 1km away. I'm right on the line of cramping---it comes and goes. At 1km, I upshift and am a little (tiny) bit surprised---I've got a little left. I don't remember the number, 32 maybe. 100m short and I hear someone really moving, who passes. I finish, but I can't catch my breath. I'm easing back to the car and just keep gasping. A guy in full aero gear passes and says, "I"m glad you were in front of me at the end; I was using you as a target." I said, "Glad to be of help," and we both laughed. But I was still sucking air. It wasn't until I got to my car that I wasn't desperate for air. About 10 minutes later my fingertips stopped tingling. (I don't think it was the bike fit---it was my body using the blood somewhere else.)

Waited on the guy next to me. He had a late start. 23.5mph. Dang.

A really nice race format. Dead flat. Perfect amount of pain for an after work event. It's so easy to just show up, pay $5, and ride. There was *a lot* of carbon. A lot of skinsuits. A lot of teardrop helmets. One fully-faired tricycle, about 24 inches high. If he wasn't about 30mph the whole way, I'd be surprised.

{Edit:}

It was two years ago! Four minutes faster, though. 15.9mph v. 17.8mph. Guess you gotta start somewhere...
http://ar.attackpoint.org/viewlog.jsp/user_671/per...

C • Time trial 3

Well, the watch said, 32:17, but the download says 33:50 (but I started it five seconds early, and stopped the watch after saving the track on my Oregon. I'm going with 33:44. 16.026km.