Charlie Baker Time Trial

Individual Time Trial
9.75 Miles
Concord, MA
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

I wasn’t sure if this warranted a race report, but I did pin on a number, pay an entry fee, and sign a USCF waiver. NEBC puts on this individual time trial race every Wednesday evening April-September. I clipped on some stubby little aerobars. I left the deep dish carbon fiber wheels at home and used my regular training wheels. I rode the 20 miles to Concord from Boston. It was 90°F, and I had pushed myself hard the previous night at the “Tuesday Night World Championships” ride in Dover. Never-the-less, I wanted to test myself in an individual time trial prior to the upcoming CT Stage Race.

I’m getting good at following wheels, but there would be none of that in this “race of truth”. I had no idea of what I could do. I hoped I could manage 21-22 mph. In reviewing past results, that would put me pretty far behind the speedsters that manage 25, 26, 27 mph.

There were many familiar faces and several BRC teammates. Riders started every 30-seconds beginning at 6:15pm. I was the 33rd rider to start and rode as hard as I could. I pushed and pushed and stayed in the aero position most of the time except on the few hills. I finished in 26:28, which is a 22.1 mph avg. then turned for home for the ride back to Boston before it got dark.

I’ll be back. I think there is room for improvement. Race wheels and fresh legs should yield a few seconds, and perhaps I can dig a little deeper.
-—————————-
http://nebc.us/cbtt/

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

I enjoyed the race so much last week I came back for more. This time I used my deep dish carbon fiber wheels. I felt recovered from riding 228-miles over the Memorial Day weekend, which included the Wells “A” Race (32 miles) at 26.5 mph. The weather for tonight’s CBTT was once again perfect. I dug deep and finished in 25:59, 22.5 mph avg. That’s 29-seconds faster than last week. Progress!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

1 year later I was back and raced the time trial in 24:27 (23.92 mph). That’s a PR by 92-seconds!! Although my common sense takes the result with a grain of salt. Could they have made a timing error?