TriFatboy.com

Wednesday Night Time Trialing

Some folks have Monday night football, others have poker nights, or other random get togethers. For me, for the last several months, this role has been filled by the Wednesday night Time Trial held by the LBS (Local Bike Shop).

A bunch of folks pull up on their bikes into the parking lot of a local store, and the smell of sweat and bike tires fills the air. You take a quick out and back warm-up, get yourself into the out going queue, and chat it up while waiting your turn. Suddenly the timing guy , and everyone left on the start shouting at you “GO GO GO GO”.

Legs pumping, heart racing, pushing down hill, with the wind, in the big gear, and still not catching the wheel in front of you. You start questioning things: Why am I here? What the heck am I doing? Was that lunch or dinner I just Yakked?

Then you downshift to get back up the next roller, spot your minute man and use him as a mark. Crouch lower, hammer harder, clear your mind. 1… 2… 3… 4… 1… 2… 3… 4… over and over again. Upshift as you make the turn around and start back.

Hey! Who forgot to tell me that the way back was UPHILL. Suddenly you hear an 18 wheeler, or perhaps the guy on the disc wheel (that costs more than your car) comes racing past like you’re standing still. Yup, that was lunch, because here comes dinner, or is that the finish line? You roll up and check in, 41min for a 20k time trial. Not bad, but still about average for your season. Wander around some and chat it up while waiting for your body to recover.

As you ride the last 5k home, you are happy you can get back on the bike, you are happy you made some new friends, and you are happy that the season is over till next year.

I’ll still keep training for time trials, but mostly indoors, on the trainer until next summer. Phew.

Popularity: 2% [?]