Two Tme Trials One Weekend!

Well, I know it has been too long since my last post, and I've promised my loyal followers (all three!) to continue posting. This weekend was my birthday weekend (36th), and I thought it would be fun to schedule two time trials. Saturday morning was the Team time trial with the Fresno Cycling Club, and Sunday was the Fiesta Island time trial down in San Diego. The plan was to run Fresno Saturday morning then make the quick 6.5 hour drive to San Diego, spend the night, then run on Sunday morning, then just zip back to Fresno. Well I guess I'll get right to it!

So, Friday night after work, I switched out my chain, brake pads and wheels to the race stuff while watching a terrible French horror movie with English subtitles! Then I went to bed to get up at six on Saturday for the team time trial. Six o'clock may not seem terribly early, but for a swing shifter that usually gets to bed about two in the morning it is quite a feat! So, Saturday morning, I get up, get loaded up and head out to the meeting point. We were supposed to meet at a location removed from the time trial and ride in to warm up and get in the riding groove before to event started. When everybody else at the meeting point found their teams and rode away, I was standing there with nobody there to ride with me! I got a bit worried and grabbed my phone and noticed I had a voicemail. To make a long story slightly less long, we had a rider drop, and the rest had stayed home because you need all four. I just wish I would have got the word before I left the house! So, one time trial down and no miles on the bike! I guess that's why I like individual time trials better. I need only to depend on myself to show up! So, on to San Diego for the next one!

We made it to San Diego with just enough time for a late dinner and about five hours of sleep before we needed to be up for the time trial. This is a pretty big event that seems to attract some very fast and professional looking riders, so I was looking forward to it. Here is a link. http://www.fiestaisland.com/ I think I can let the pictures take it from here!

Warming up.....hmmm what's that noise??? I guess it doesn't sound that bad!

Some of those professional looking riders! Okay riders behinds (Carolyn took the picture)

Me at the start......

And awaay we goooo!!!!

Group at speed.

Me after lap one of three. Chain was making some noise, but I shifted around a bit, and it got quieter, so I kept motoring. Something else I notice in this picture is my belly! Gross! I've gained about ten pounds since summer, and after this next time trial, I'll start working on that. Hopefully I'll lose the ten pounds again before June.

Here I am coasting in at the end of lap two of three, defeated by a mechanical issue on the bike. The noise kept getting louder at an ominous clunking had started. so I bowed out unfinished. Looks like I was on pace for about 33 minutes for 20k. I was happy with the way my heart rate was going, as I kept it in control at right at 92% of max. what a bummer!

So here is the problem! When I put the chain on I somehow routed the chain on the outside of the derailleur cage. If you look closely the chain portion that is farthest right, should be routed to the left of the tab it is riding on. As I rode it was grinding away at the cage getting louder and louder, nearly destroying a Dura Ace derailleur in the process! What a waste of two time trials! We did like the Fiesta Island time trial for several reasons so we hope to get back, but they all seem to fall on Drill weekends! We'll get back pretty soon I hope! Thursday is the usual Belmont time trial again so I will make that and I will run good! I hope.......

It's a Problem of Motivation

As an aspiring time trialist, I've spend a lot of time and virtual miles on the trainer in the garage. It isn't because it is terribly cold, but the training is terribly specific and most times can't be duplicated on the road. In the begining of my training regime, (October) I had no problem keeping to the schedule. During the winter months when steam would rise from my skin, no problem there either. Now that it is sunny and perfect weather, I can't bring myself to make it into the garage set up the trainer and get moving! Maybe it's because it is so nice out, and I'd rather be out enjoying the weather, then why do I not leave the house? The Ipod has helped for quite some time now, but now it does nothing. I was very motivated until my first time trial of the season, which was the PIRU time trial in southern California. http://www.uncletren.com/ This time trial attracted some very fast people and although I finished 2nd. out of four in my class (35-45 year old regular people without licenses). My "victory" was blunted by the fact that I was a full minute out of first, and only 2 seconds out of 3rd. So it was a middle of the pack run made difficult by watching the categorised racers motoring past me. What made it worse, was the 71 year old that bested my time by more than a couple seconds! So I'm wondering if I've given up so as to not be humiliated at the next time trial? I don't know. I promise to get back onto the trainer and keep it up for the next one which is April 16th. put on by the Fresno Cycling Club. http://www.fresnocycling.com/ Plus the bonus is even if I start my training with fury, I can always blame the couple weeks off I took this month! Yes! I have an excuse! Of course I'm sure it will be windy that day too......head winds really can suck the speed huh! Is that two excuses? All right! Good to go!

On another note, here's a picture from our shopping this weekend. That's a lot of water! I've got to figure out where to put 10 more cases of water while rotating stock to use the other 10 cases of water before these! What is it with bottled water? Well for me it's the taste. I can't stomach Fresno tap water. Also I'm pretty particular about the brands of bottled water I will drink. Odd I know, but I'm sure I'm not the only one! By the way, these pictures are all just snapshots taken with Carolyn's point and shoot and not the awesome D-300 that my best bud got me such a great deal on when Circuit City still was a store!

Speaking of my best bud, I'm really trying to get him riding with me even if it's just low speed riding. Maybe if I call him out publicly he'll get out with me huh?? Well until next time......Ride fast!