With 2 days of standing up for 9 hours at a clip (don’t ask!) and a bachelor party in between the racing this weekend was… not my best. Sat I felt tired, just not being able to go “all out”. Sunday I was more rested but tight. Which probably didn’t change the results much. I did however learn quite a bit this weekend which is a main goal of these early races.
I learned in the TT Sat. that while I will not be able to push the same wattage on flat road on my TT bike It shouldn’t be much less. 15 watts max. That is also assuming that the course doesn’t force a lot of zeros. Sharp turns, etc, which there were plenty of Sat. don’t have the results but between the lack of power in the legs and the 32 spokes on the rear wheel I would say I was not in the top 20%...
Sunday was a crit in Denver. 3 roundabouts and a 100 degree turn had me loosing 1 or more bike lengths every time I leaned the bike over. And if the course its self didn’t illuminate this weakness Tyler Hamilton, Henk Vogues, Chris Baldwin, and the other fantastic US pro’s that were there certainly did. The break got clear in about 5’. 5 more minutes later Tyler bridged up with out getting out of the saddle. I managed to stay with the “main group” which was halved in about 15’. the remaining of us fought hard to get clear from each other. I was lucky to have a man in the move and sat on. After getting caught behind a crash and having my rear wheel come loose we were pulled, as the lead break was going to lap us, and I watched the 12 or so remaining rider’s battle for he win.
Things learned this weekend:
1. Even if you’re sitting down at a bachelor party it still makes you tired!
2. TT wattage will be less than my hill climb wattage but not by much.
3. Tyler is an unbelievable bike handler! pros who ride the track where having a hard time holding his wheel through the turns. The rumors about his “handling skills” are false.
4. I need a new skewer for my power tap wheel.
5. Despite not feeling great on Sunday I think I still performed pretty well. Putting out 45 spikes at or over 700 watts in 30’ will make anyone’s legs feel heavy. (Which is what I did in the first 30’ of the race.)
6. Getting your act together and performing well is much better than writing about all your excuses why you didn’t race well!!
7. See number 6
8. Rear number 6 over and over until it sinks in.
