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Two-Man Time Trial |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Steve Morse
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Wednesday, 16 August 2006 |
Bikeworks Two-Man Time Trial
Swansea, MA
I looked at this as the final time I had to ride my bike really fast, before cross season starts next month. I decided to pair up with Chuck N. for this one. We donned our funny helmets and ridiculous-looking TT bikes and rode the 10 miles out to Swansea, only getting heckled by passing cars a couple of times.
This TT course is a point-to-point, basically straight down the same road with no turns to worry about. It's 8 miles exactly, very fast, and with the exception of 2 minor rollers, very flat.
Chuck and I were on the start list 3rd from last, in a field of about 15 2-man teams. The two teams behind us were comprised of guys that we knew were faster than us, so we were a little worried about getting caught (which is very ego-deflating in a TT). The last team on the list had both the course record holder, and a member of the previous 2-man record-holding team.
Our initial plan was that Chuck would start us out, and do the first mile. Then I would pull for the next 4 miles, then he would do the last 3. During our warm-up, this got revised to just switching off every 2 miles which started to make more sense.
Anyway, we warmed up pretty well and rolled up to the line in time for our start. After a slightly flubbed start, we got all clipped in and up to speed. I took the first pull and settled into a pretty good rythym. I tried to keep the MPH as close to 30 (or more) as much as I could. After the first mile, Chuck decided to revise the plan yet again...we would switch off every mile. Sounded good to me, I was already starting to get bleary-eyed. Time to switch off.
I pulled into the draft behind Chuck and was pretty impressed with how easy it got. I barely had to put any power down at all and I was still rolling along at 29 mph. I have to comment that it is a little un-nerving being in the aero bars with your head down, only 3 inches off somebody's wheel, with effectively no brakes. Talk about putting your trust in someone...disaster could be looming only a split second away.
So, we continued switching off every mile, and that seemed to be the perfect amount time for a good effort and then recovery. Everything went really smooth, and we had no mishaps. Nobody had to slow down to wait, and I think overall we went as hard as we could. I think I was pushing the 56/11 gear for 95% of the course!
We ended up finishing 4th overall, only a few seconds off the guys the 3rd, so not bad. I know if we had nailed the start a little better we would be in the top 3. The guys that won it were those guys that held the previous records...I think they even beat the previous 2-man time by around 10 seconds!
So, all in all, it was a fun end to the summer racing season. I need a break and some beer now before I start my training for Cyclocross.
Steve
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