Cotton Classic Time-Trial Series: Race #1

COTTON CLASSIC TIME-TRIAL SERIES

With the Criterium season over we come to the part of the race season that I like the most…that is Time-Trial (TT) season.  In cycling there are many disciplines a rider could involve himself/ herself in: Road race, Crits, Time-Trial, MTB, motor cross, Cyclocross etc…

The Race of Truth

A time-trial is a grueling race, it is called the “Race of Truth” because in this race it is just you and your machine against the road and the elements.  In this type of race there is no place to hide, no drafting, no coasting, no one to blame and no one to thank.  The race of truth is where you put it all on the line for a particular distance.  Most time-trials are on a mostly flat course and can be 20, 30 or 40 kilometers.  Some time-trials are climbing TT’s--these I don’t usually enter because climbing is even more painful and I have yet to really capture the art of climbing.

My New TT Bike From My Family

 The Cotton Classic TT Series is a very flat course, less than 50ft elevation change on the course.  It is the typical out and back type of course and the road was not too bad.  I wanted to do this race because the State championship TT’s will be held on this course so getting a little recon was the main goal.  

My old road bike used for TT's

 I also wanted to test out my new TT bike that my family purchased for me on my birthday.  It is a pretty bike and everyone knows that ”pretty” can go a long way.  The field for this race was somewhat small, however, there were a lot of folks out in the various categories racing.  I felt good at the start of the race.  All of my previous TT’s had been on a road bike and I really looked forward to riding a dedicated bike on the course. 

Race Day

It was cold in the morning

I was glad to see all of the folks that I knew and Jason was out there with his new TT bike ready to get going.  It was cold and wet and I don’t like being cold or wet.  It seems like I had too many races where it was either cold or wet and I had hoped for better weather;  a strange storm had come in and had even caused snow on Mount Lemmon.  However, everyone was racing on the same course and in the same conditions so all was fair.  The wind on this day was tough, it was a head wind on the way out so I adjusted my plan slightly to account for it.

Jason Captured an Exhausted Jimmy Davis, Jr.

I got a good warm up and headed for the start line.  It was strange because there were two start times and since I was not sure which was going to be used I got there early.  As I went off I tried to get into a rhythm and hold my desired numbers which I did pretty well.  On the way out I hit a huge pot hole and I thought for sure I was going to have a flat and perhaps a cracked front wheel but they both held up without a problem.  One thing I realized during this race was that I’m going to have to practice my turn around.  I had a really, really slow turn and even went off the road into the mud.  This was mainly because I did not know how the new bike would perform in a turn and I was not very aggressive getting around the cone.  On the way back I tried to get my power back where it needed to be, of course I thought I was really suffering during the race but I can see that I could have put more out.

I finished the race in 1^st place in the Cat 5 race.  I was pleased but I am really looking forward to getting the professional fit next week so that I can be set up properly.  The entire race I was sliding off the seat and had to reposition myself constantly.  I am also looking forward to my TT skinsuit which will be here soon.  

What's the Data Say?

All in all,  it was a great race for me.  I was at the max of all my current numbers even though I know some of my power numbers are lower than they could be since I'm not test like I should.

Next race on this course I’ll be able to dial in my efforts a little better…can’t wait!