Race #38 Cleves

This was the final Cleves time trial for 2010. Out of the 22 weeks, I rode 17 times. For 10.25 miles, the difference between my fastest and slowest race was 1 minute 19 seconds which is right about 1 mile per hour. Wattage was more variable between 239 and 270. Later, I'll have to figure out averages for both wattage and time and aim for that to be bare minimums for 2011. I think this means lots of 25 minute intervals at at least 255 watts on the trainer over the winter. But I'm ahead of myself...

The race:
The warm up went pretty decent. The temperature was great but dropping fast. By the actual start time, my warm up wore off and I was getting cold. For the first couple of miles it was hard to get up to speed. Half way through I got into my groove but by then my speed was about 23.something. Ended up with my average at 24.0. Finished 8th out of 39 I think.

Next up is the season finale on October 10th in Greenville.

Week 22 24.2 average @ 252 watts = 25:45 (official)
Week 20 24.7 average @ 264 watts = 24:56 (25:01 official)
Week 18 24.4 average @ 264 watts = 25:26 (official)
Week 16 24.4 average @ 259 watts = 25:25 (official)
Week 15 24.0 average @ 239 watts = 26:01 (official)
Week 14 24.4 average @ 262 watts = 25:13 (official)
Weak 13 24.2 average @ 249 watts = 25:53 (official)
Week 12 24.7 average @ 265 watts=24:58 (25:00 official)
Week 11 24.4 average @ 270 watts = 25:13
Week 10 25.0 average @ 259 watts = 24:52
Week 9: 25.0 average @ 259 watts = 24:42 (official)
Week 8: 24.5 average @ 255 watts = 25:10 (powertap) 25:18 (official)
Week 5: 24.7 average @ 257 watts = 25:00 (my time), 25:07 (official)
Week 4: 24.7 average @ 257 watts = 25:13 (official time)
Week 3: 24.4 average @ 271 watts (wrong) = 25:17
Week 2: 24.3 average @ 250 watts = 25:33
Week 1: 24.2 average @ 242 watts = 25:47

Race #37 Cleves

190th race since 2005.

The weather was absolutely perfect and led to a good third of the field getting personal best times. Not my case though but it was my third fastest time this year in 16 attempts. From the get-go on the warm up I did not have that heavy feeling in my legs. My guess is that is heat related since I spend most of the day in air conditioning then when I go outside to race it feels much more hot than if I spent the day outside. I guess.

Earlier in the day, we had a laser therapy sales rep in the office. I had him do a five minute treatment on my right knee (the bad one) just so I could get a subjective opinion on the thing. I had been having some pain there recently so it was cool to check it out. During the warmup and race there was absolutely no pain. That was cool.

Anyway, I felt pretty good on the bike overall and had a decent power output and time. Nothing real exciting to report about the race. I did get passed by someone around the 8 mile mark and after he had a good enough gap to not be drafting, I tried to pace him back to the finish. That helped out my time quite a bit.

Two more weeks of this race then it's over until next year.

Week 20 24.7 average @ 264 watts = 24:56 (25:01 official)
Week 18 24.4 average @ 264 watts = 25:26 (official)
Week 16 24.4 average @ 259 watts = 25:25 (official)
Week 15 24.0 average @ 239 watts = 26:01 (official)
Week 14 24.4 average @ 262 watts = 25:13 (official)
Weak 13 24.2 average @ 249 watts = 25:53 (official)
Week 12 24.7 average @ 265 watts=24:58 (25:00 official)
Week 11 24.4 average @ 270 watts = 25:13
Week 10 25.0 average @ 259 watts = 24:52
Week 9: 25.0 average @ 259 watts = 24:42 (official)
Week 8: 24.5 average @ 255 watts = 25:10 (powertap) 25:18 (official)
Week 5: 24.7 average @ 257 watts = 25:00 (my time), 25:07 (official)
Week 4: 24.7 average @ 257 watts = 25:13 (official time)
Week 3: 24.4 average @ 271 watts (wrong) = 25:17
Week 2: 24.3 average @ 250 watts = 25:33
Week 1: 24.2 average @ 242 watts = 25:47

Race #36 Colavita Centerville Indiana 20k

Sunday was a time trial at a new course for the series. A 20k out and back over mostly flat rural roads. My kind of race course! My start time was 9:07 so per usual I was up and out early with a 1.5 hour drive ahead of me. After too much loitering around I took about 20 minutes to warm up on the trainer then headed to the start house for the pregame meeting and finished warming up around the finish line.

The race started with an immediate left then right turn before settling into things. Legs felt as good as they have all year and my average was 25 at the turn. After turning, I realized there was a slight tail wind going out! It was just enough to hold my speed down by 1 mph. I finished with a 24.5 average good enough for 7th out of 12 in the 40-49 division. A couple of Zipp Factory riders took first and second in our group. They don't usually race in Ohio so we don't see them very often.

As a door prize I won a Spinervals DVD which will certainly get used over the winter.

The long drive home gave me ample opportunity to internally debate what lies ahead.

Number 1 - Due to my back problems, I am not doing any more cyclocross stuff this year. I end up in too much pain the next day to justify the riding. It’s over and above what’s now the ‘normal’ back pain I am having. As opposed to buying any more cycling gear I am going to be spending money to fix my back. It’s going to be a long process, so I guess it’s good that the season is almost over (for me). The back won’t be fixed overnight.

Number 2 – With the long drive and bad results it’s making me really debate doing the series next year. In the four years that the series has been around I think I have missed two races, one when I was in Peru and the other was when I was in Scotland, both acceptable reasons for no showing! Until I get the other health situation straightened out it makes no sense to make the long drives to Celina/St Marys/Portland In., etc. Over the winter, I intend to train very hard, among other things to get myself back to health to a standard acceptable. Before all this crap started, I was approaching 27.5 mph average (even hitting 28.0 once) in my 5 mile training trials and was nearing the 26.0 barrier in actual races. I’ve hit the 25mph twice this year with an even slicker position than ever. Wattage went from high 200’s (I hit 313 average for a short tt) down to the 250-260 mark.

I love the series and the effort that is put out by Roger and Christina (and everyone else), but a four hour round trip drive to ride 24 mph is stupid and depressing.

Number 3 – I’ve racing four more times this year. I’m finishing out the Cleves and Colavita series. Three more races at Cleves and one race in Greenville for the Colavita series. Luckily, my back doesn’t hurt during time trials.

Next up: Tomorrow at Cleves!

#35 Kings CXTT

Last race of the series. Running start again so that meant I had to jump on the bike 9 times (and off of it 8 times). Can't ride through the sand traps yet so I had to jump off and run through them. Plus I had to jump off on the little section in the woods, jump the little log, run the sand and run up the hill. Twice.

My back was completely destroyed after 1.5 laps but kept riding gingerly for the last half lap. I think I need shocks on my cross bike or something. Ouch. My ability to generate power was drastically cut from my back being out.

I placed 8th overall in the series. For some reason last week's score for me wasn't calculated so it has me at 10th overall or something officially but there's no money in it and it was for fun so no big deal.

Next up: Colavita Centerville Indiana Sunday.

Race #34, etc

Last Thursday was the Kings Cross time trial. Lots has happened since.

1. I can't do the kings cross races. I previously committed to something else about 6 months ago and just realized it.
2. I raced the time trial and did okay. 12th out of 17. The woman on the single speed passed me again! She gave me a 'good job' and all I could retort with was some sort of grunt.
3. Rode the MTB Saturday on 6 miles of single track at Mitchell Memorial. Got home and took the cross bike to Kingswood for some solo practice.
4. Wrecked hard within 10 minutes, beating my shoulder and head to the hard ground. No cracked helmet but it gave me a head ache for all of Sunday. Shoulder is still bothering me. Bike is fine.
5. Skipped out on the Cleves time trial last night since I was working in Dayton. As is the new norm, I took my Orbea with me and did some road riding on the old school roads late in the evening. Windy every direction - there's no place like home.
6. Last cross time trial is tomorrow. I should be able to make it.

Race #33 Cleves TT

Unfortunately, the illness still lingers and the unrelated meds are making me sluggish (and incredibly hungry which sucks big time). I was hoping that would not be the case. Anyway, it was another hot Tuesday and I was met with fresh pavement on the finishing climb (as I reversed the course per usual).

During the warm up I kept checking to see if my brakes were rubbing at the top of every little roller. Rats! They weren't, but I checked about 15 times anyway. And checked again after the warm up and checked once more at the start line.

The goal was to try and maintain 25.0 mph. Oops I think I maxed out at 24.9 before settling into 23.9 toward the flat run up to the finish (last 2.5-3 miles). Ended up at 24.4 for the night.

Week 18 24.4 average @ 264 watts = 25:26 (official)
Week 16 24.4 average @ 259 watts = 25:25 (official)
Week 15 24.0 average @ 239 watts = 26:01 (official)
Week 14 24.4 average @ 262 watts = 25:13 (official)
Weak 13 24.2 average @ 249 watts = 25:53 (official)
Week 12 24.7 average @ 265 watts=24:58 (25:00 official)
Week 11 24.4 average @ 270 watts = 25:13
Week 10 25.0 average @ 259 watts = 24:52
Week 9: 25.0 average @ 259 watts = 24:42 (official)
Week 8: 24.5 average @ 255 watts = 25:10 (powertap) 25:18 (official)
Week 5: 24.7 average @ 257 watts = 25:00 (my time), 25:07 (official)
Week 4: 24.7 average @ 257 watts = 25:13 (official time)
Week 3: 24.4 average @ 271 watts (wrong) = 25:17
Week 2: 24.3 average @ 250 watts = 25:33
Week 1: 24.2 average @ 242 watts = 25:47

Next race tomorrow - Kings CXTT.