First TT
 

Wow, just saw results of my first TT race Sunday at Toms Farm. 64th out of 77 pretty disappointed. I finished the 9 mile couse in 23:30 for 23 mph average. Winners 19:08 for 28.4 mph average. Holy smokes. It's not easy being a 50 year old cat 5. I need to add 3 mph for a finish I would be happy with. I guees geting to know the couse will shave some time. I was pretty conservative so that I didnt crack before the finish. Was watching heart rate closely trying to stay between 165 and 170. Got a month to before they run it again but really am just starting base building for next season so dont want to screw that up for off season TT's but is a good motivator for training. Nothing like some brutal humilliation to focus your attention on next season.

What was the elevation gain/loss over the course? Did you ride a dedicate TT bike?

Do you have a dedicated TT bike, aero helmet, aero wheels? Did the faster guys have those things?

Hi,

There's always gotta be a first TT and if you do too well the first time it's hard to noticeably improve. ;)

My long-time racing buddy won the 50+ category. He's been racing for over 20 years though.

Maybe I'll see you Thanksgiving morning.

From a 40 year old, it ain't easy no matter what age. It can be humbling reading the awesome results of many of those on this forum. You just got a first hand lesson on how awesome some of these posters/riders really are. I chopped a minute off between my first and second TT, could have been the wind, more likely I was in better control of my effort the second go round. I wouldn't be surprised if you see the same. The great part of starting out in the back is its easier to move up : ) Congrats on your first.

You may be right but there is a ton of evidence out there that 50 year old guys can still compete. To wit:

- The 2006 North Carolina Bridge-to-Bridge ride was won by a guy in his mid 50s
- In a recent local triathlon, a 55 year old guy had the best bike split time and came in 2nd overall
- Didn't Ned Overend (mid 50s?) win the Mt. Washington climb this year?

--Steve

No.

Ok, I stand corrected. In 2006, Ned Overend came in 2nd in the Mt. Tam climb, 2nd in the Mt. Washington climb, and 2nd in the Mt. Evans climb.

--Steve

Ned came in second, behind Hamilton. He's 51.

Rob Anderson (also 51) won the Mt Diablo hill climb this year.

Most compettitors were on full tt rigs , aero hemet, the works. I was on my #1 road bike ( i.e. only) and had a soft front tire going to flat for last part of race but I dont think equipment had a thing to do with it. It was a bit hillier than I expexted but wasnt a climbing race by any stretch. I know the sound of being passed by someone wth a solid carbon rear wheel is the ugliest sound I have ever heard. That is not going to happen again. I will do much better at Thanksgiving.

I remember my first real TT. I lost concentration watching the squirrels in the woods and sucked big time. The key to a TT is to concentrate on your speed, its too easy to forget your racing the clock.

Wow. To me the hard thing is to go so hard you wanna throw up but not so hard that you actually do throw up.

--Steve

At least not until you're done :D

The lung did win mt. washington

in the non-convicted dopers category

2nd, 2nd, 2nd, what a loser, obviously doesn't have what it takes to win.




:)

One of the best things in cycling: Passing folks in a TT.

One of the worst things in cycling: Getting passed in a TT.

(whoosh whoosh whoosh)

While there are a bunch of 50+ studs out there, bear in mind most of them have been at this a long time, and still work their tails off. Train hard, train smart, you'll be surprised at how strong you'll get.

My first was the Boonsboro in the MABRA (Maryland) this past season 40+ : It was fairly flat, 49 kilometer (30 miles approx) I was the last racer out of the gate. ( or so I thought) .
The rider ahead of me was a H U G E brute of a man and begged me to show mercy. He actually asked for a push as I go by him before leaving the gate.
The road dropped off for the first 1/2 mile then rose back up. As I got the 'go' I saw him at the bottom of the hill ahead and against my directors wishes I decided NOT to do a negative interval. I blasted up to him in the first mile and no, did not push him.
(After the race he commented on how my disk scared the poop out of him as I approched and passed *(right on Vino k) ).
Twenty klicks later, I got passed and it was not him! Talk about deflating my ego.. shortly after got passed again, then AGAIN. All told I was passed by six late entries . After the turn around, it was full into the wind and I vowed to at least bridge up to the last passer which I managed to get within 300 meters of before the line. I placed twentieth, out of thirty-five. Not too shaby for a 49 year old. But what I learned was,
1.Run your own race.
2.Stay focussed
Above all NEVER GIVE UP as I did when the last guy passed me. I resigned myself to just finishing and not putting in a big effort.
Next year will be different.

It is extremely hard starting bike racing once your middle aged. You're stuck with the dillema of racing kids in Cat5, or racing against Cat 2s in the Masters. In TT's it doesn't much matter, just focus on being the best you can be.

For road race, crits, see if you can find a Masters 4/5 race. Some areas with larger fields will have these races set up for older riders who are new to the sport.

As for your pacing issue, my Coach's approach is to break the race up into 3rds. First third, try to ride just a little below the effort you think you can hold for the distance. Second third if you're feeling ok, take you effort up to the effort you intend to hold. Last third, give it all you have left trying to gradually build until your at your absolute max (or at least the absolute of what's left) at the line. In the last third, it will really really suck, but just tell yourself that 1) everyone else is hurting, and 2) its supposed to hurt, it means i'm doing well.

+1