First TT was a lot of fun!!
 

First off, this is an awesome web site! I have been checking out the posts and have been informed and entertained.

Well, I have been racing triathlons for a few years, sprint to Ironman distance (4x) and I really don't like to swim or run. I have never really trained consistently as my approach to the events is generally just "in it to finish." My work schedule has changed recently so I have been able to start riding in some group rides on Tues and Thurs mornings around here. Then on the weekend I usually get out one afternoon. (two kid's and an wife who also competes in Ironman events takes it's toll on the time you get to workout!)

After about 4 weeks of the group rides, I decided to try my first time trial a 10 miler up in West Palm Beach. I figured even though I hadn't been training long, it would be a good test. They do the tts on the same course once a month, so I figured this would be an easy way to gauge improvement.

I got there with plenty of time to warm-up. just rode around the parking lot, but I saw a lot of people with trainers (maybe next time!) I was a bit nervous. Every time I had done a triathlon, I had to save at least a little something for the run afterwards. Not this time! Somebody told me earlier that if I have anything left in my legs at the end, I didn't work hard enough.

I was in line for 6 minutes. As I took my place at the start line. The guy says "30 seconds." then calmly added "and you need to take those headphones off right now". The fact that he had seen me in line for the last few minutes with them on, and waited until then to tell me threw me a little off. Heart rate went up as I'm trying to take the headphones out of my jersey. Relax.. Relax I'm thinking. Plenty of time. Relax.

Get them off as he started the 10 sec. countdown. Boom.. I'm off!! Get up to speed pretty quickly. The wind is completely behind me on the way up to the turnaround. This seems to make 26/27 seem really easy. I knew the way back was going to be straight into the same wind that was helping me.. yuck!

I didn't really have a clue as to how hard to go anyways, add in the wind and I was really messed up. Just kept pedaling. When I crossed the line.. I was shot. Nothing left. Not one more pedal stroke. Completely wasted. What an awesome feeling. Final time: 24:49. Just over 24mph and good enough for 5th in my division, a minute and a half off the winning time. I wore a hrm, but didn't look at it during the race.. good thing.. AVG- 180, MAX 197! (I'm 31 years old)

A friend of mine sent me an OLD road bike of his that he used to race with in '96. I'm going to do my first crit, Cat 5, this weekend. I'm very nervous, but at the same time excited to try something different. Intervals are not something I'm used to, but the group rides are helping me a bunch.

Let you know how it goes! Any more tips on strategy would be appreciated!!

Welcome to the Forums :)

good work on your time trial, did you use areo bars? (it would have helped with the wind) Anyhow that's still a good time for never having done one before (maybe next time you can win :))

I can't really give you too much advice on a crit, except that you might want to stay near the front to avoid any accidents that may occur.... Good Luck :D

Hey Vegas! Thanks for the warm welcome!

Yeah, the bike I rode was my tri bike with aerobars (Softride Rocket TT7) so I can't blame anything on the bike. Just need to focus my training a little differently if I want to do well at the time trials. It's a lot like the bike portion of a triathlon though.. no drafting, just find a speed you can hold over the whole distance and go.

I know things will be very different this weekend at the crit. New bike that I'm not all that comfortable on yet... I really miss the aerobars when I want to settle into a steady pace. But hey.. thats part of the new adventure of bike racing for me. See how it goes.

One more group ride tomorrow morning and then race Sun. (I'll be happy if I can stay with the group..and if not.. get'em next time! But I'm gonna do all I can to stick.

Thanks again.. train safe-
chuck

well one thing I can tell you about this is, take it easy (if you do not do well who cares) it's only your first crit and on a new bike it may be weird to try to race so hard... so I'd just relax and have fun

Hey, Chuck

You racing down in the Rosewood Series?
I've been thinking about heading down there to watch this weekend. I've never been.

One of my friends tried his first race a couple weeks ago and ended up 8th in his age group. Pretty good finish for a first timer.

Good luck with it.

Yup.. Rosewood it is. first time! Is your friend going to go back again? He did really well, hopefully he enjoyed it.

Rode with the Downtown Bicycle group this morning and some of the people from the shop will be racing as well.

Really excited about trying something new.. you should come check things out!

Thanks for the well wishes!

:)

No need to worry, you willl not miss the aerobars. Unlikely there will be a steady pace during the race.

Remember it is all for fun.