Race Report: Canada Individual Time Trial
 

In preparation for the Berkeley Team Time Trial next Saturday, I participated in a practice individual time trial organized by one of my racing club members with the proceeds going to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. We had over 100 riders raising more than $2,500. In the individual aero time trial men’s category (all ages), I placed 40 out of 48 with a 27:44 (my best time). The winning time was 23:10. The fastest 2 man team was 22:02. Overall taking into account men, women, teams and the Merckx category, I was 65 out of 103 or the top 2/3 of the entire field. There were two men who came in ahead of me at 27:43 – seconds count.

In addition to the men, we had ITT women, juniors and teams. We also include a Merckx (non-aero men and women) category so that riders can compete on their road bikes. BTW, we allow all forms of technology including recumbents and tandems.

I have been training on my TT bike at our cycling gym but this was the first full out effort this year on my TT bike. My training has focused on power building / hill climbing and now we are working on speed as well as the track. It was interesting to see what effect, if any, the track workouts would have on my road racing. At the track, I have been practicing standing starts plus doing a lot more sprinting and shorter intense efforts. I think the track work really helped my start and turnaround.

Since Velodiva had a medical procedure, she did not race but helped out. However, after the TT, Velodiva and I went on a 40 mile ride.

Next week is Berkeley team time trial which Velodiva and I will race on our tandem. The week after that is the Madera Stage race consisting of a crit followed by an ITT on Saturday and a 50 mile road race on Sunday. We are both entering.

Here are some pics.

The 9.7 mile course elevation profile. It is an out an back course with a cone turnaround.

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Sign up table.

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Warming up. I started my warmup (not pictured below) about 45 minutes before my starting time of 7:45 AM.

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Staring line. For this race our starter was Christine Thorburn who raced on the 2008 USA Olympic road team in Beijing. Her specialty is the time trial where she placed 5th in Beijing.

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This is me right after the start. I thought I got a very good start. The temperature at the start was approximately 48 degrees overcast skies with very little wind.

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The finishing climb.

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This is one of my 55+ team mates finishing who did a 25 and change time.

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Here I am at the finish line.

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Thanks for the report Rich. Looking at the profile, now I see why the return half seemed so much harder. I didn't participate this time but I'll catch one later in the series.

Wow, bummed I missed out on that. Sounds like fun.

Just curious, which CAT(s) do you race in?

I also rode the Canada road tt in preparation for the Berkeley TTT next week. I finished 13th out of the womens ITT, not sure of overall placing but probably in the last thirty riders.
This is my first year back racing since 1995 which was when I decided that I had had enough of training for events, but like an idiot I have decided to give racing another go.
Hopefully on Saturday I will just draft off Rumbutter!!!! Don't tell him that that is my plan:)

Hermes or me? I'll be in the 4s or 35+.

I enjoyed this report, and photos. Thanks!

I definitely want to get to a couple of these this year, being so close to home.

I think last year I got a 25:xx in the Merckx category. This year I'll try out the "open class" with the spaceship TT bikes, since I'll put on my clip-on aerobars.

Cat 5, 35+, 45+ or 55+

I love these reports with photos. Really adds to the "like being there" factor for the reader! I hope to try this event one of these Sundays.

Great report and I'll see you at the next one "Proudly 55+!":thumb:

Very cool! Best of luck to all who do the Berkeley race this weekend. Am I right in thinking that TTT = Team Time Trial and ITT = Individual Time Trial?

yes.