Church Creek Time Trial

So this last Saturday I decided to do my first time trial in about 4 years. It was put on by Team Snow Valley out in Cambridge, Md. The course is a 25 mile loop that takes you through the Blackwater Refuge. Totally flat and very windy.

I had decided that I was going to race on my fixed gear so I had spent the last few days getting the bike ready. Installing the aero bars and putting on a bigger gear. 48x16 instead of the usual 42x16 that I ride.

I got to the race and got to see some old friends that I hadn't seen in a while and look around at some of the other racers bikes. Lots of fancy time trial bikes and guys with aero helmets. There were definitely going to be some fast times out there.

The start of the race was 4 miles from registration, so it was a nice warmup. I was scheduled to go off at 8:43:30. Oddly enough I didn't have any pre race nerves like I usually do. I was totally relaxed. I guess it was because there was no real pressure on me.

When I got to the start I found out my old friend, Arch, was going to be going off 30 sec. before me. He couldn't get his computer to work right so here I was doing a repair for someone a minute before our start. I got it fixed and got ready to go.

The first 2 miles was great. I was flying along at about 26mph and all of a sudden the wind hit me in the face. I knew right then that I wasn't going to do the time that I had hoped for. Riding in the wind with one gear takes a lot out of you. But I plugged along. Going faster when the wind would shift and slowing down when it was in my face.

I ended up getting passed by a few people but I was also able to pass a few that had started ahead of me. In the end I finished up with a time of 1 hour and 5mins. I wasn't last in my class, Men's 35-39. I definitely wasn't first. The results aren't up yet, though, so we'll have to see.

I hustled back to the car, hurried home, showered, and got to the shop by noon. Of course it was a busy day so that was good too.

All in all it was a great day.
Keeping the rubber side down,

Jonathan