Team Time Trail

I had my first real attempt at a team time trail today. It was, shall we say, a rather interesting affair. The team consisted of myself, Dave M, Geoff B, and late call in Matt G. We were not really all that organised and did not meet until an hour before out start time. Anyway we decided that Dave would be number one, me 2nd, Geoff 3rd and Matt 4th. Turns would be for until 85% max then pull off and signal with the old elbow flick.

After a good warm up we were off! Dave was really good and did not go off to hard - he is an ex pro and once did a TTT for the GB team a 100Km event where they averaged over 50km/h ! - and started the way he intended to continue with big turns...

To start with, I was managing about 30sec turns and was holding close to the speed Dave set.

The course is a two lap out and back total 40km. At the end of the first 10Km I discovered that my turning was very bad and ended up 10m back not a great start! (Turns out this did not improve!)

The wind was not too bad more of a cross headwind on the way out, coming back we were able to manage a few km/h more.

At the half way and the second turn around I again struggled and got left behind a bit. Dave had to wait...

See the gap after the turn (Dave, then me)...

And now Matt on the front and Dave looking back waiting for me. Doh! Not very PRO at all...

I was now starting to feel quite second hand and thoughts were beginning to enter my mind about calling quits. These thoughts soon ended as Geoff was not holding his turns and was coming through straight after me. He was soon gone - Geoff is a very good sprinter and a really strong rider and can often fake a good ride. But with only two or three rides in the last month is just not enough!. Matt also had plans to only do one lap, those had come to and end too!

I was entering new ground now. As a longer distance triathlon guy I am quite used to riding at about 40Km/h for 90Km, but to be holding 45-50Km/h even though only for a short time was starting to take its toll. My turns started to get shorter... Dave's were not.

With 10Km to go. I again lost 10m but got back on quick and started to feel a bit better. I started to take longer turns and was able to hold closer to Dave's speed. He was still really strong and was not ramp-ing up the speed to fast allows Matt and I to stay in contact. This final section went very quick and we passed a couple of teams - always a good buzz to moral.

With 5Km to go we were really going and I was more confident of be able to hold on so the turns were getting better and a little longer. Even Matt's turns were good. We were holding around 48-50Km/h. I did a good turn for about 1km at over 50 with 2km to go... and then Dave finished for us at 51. Very impressive. I came up beside Dave at the line to try and bring Matt further up in the hope of gaining a second (they only time to the nearest second).

Results 40Km TTT: 2nd. (beaten by Morrinsville - 53m 31s)
Time: 53m49s
Ave speed: ~ 45Km/h
Ave HR (me) : 161 bpm
Max Hr : 171 bpm

Not bad for second TTT ever!