Two Wheel Blogs

Been dialing in the fit on the TT bike over the last few weeks. In a search for more speed without too much sacrifice of comfort, I've embarked on lowering my frontal position. I think I've finally settled on a new position and will see if it's the sweet spot or a little too aggressive for my aging body.

Went to see Tim Ray, Bike Fitting Guru Extrordinare, yesterday in an attempt to get the TT bike dialed in. Tim is an absolute genius and within the course of 90 minutes, he had me much more comfortable (relatively speaking...it's a TT bike after all), generating 5% more power, and 100% more confident on the bike. I took the bike home and tossed it in the trainer for some additional saddle time. I've got to say it feels spot on. Now, I can focus on getting ready for the TT and just completing the training that's ahead.

Awesome.

Friday, I took the TT rig to Columbia Bottoms to do a TT for a gauge of fitness and to shake down the bike from the recent build-up. The weather was really nice with the exception of the steady NE wind that was coming through the flats at 15-20mph. I had to get in a 30 min TT, so the plan was to start at the beginning of the park and do a down-back-down route. This worked well and produced some stiff crosswinds early on the down route and a great deal of cross and headwinds on the back route.

In consideration of the weather around here coupled with the holiday season and the long hours at work, I am finding very little opportunity to ride outside. Not a bad thing though because while training inside I have discovered something that I would likely never find on the road/trail.

I have been riding the rollers almost exclusively when I train indoors these days. They are stimulating an many ways, but perhaps the thing I like most about rollers has to do with the brutal honesty they offer.

Huh? Yeah! Rollers will show you EXACTLY how good of a rider you are.

A power meter is a great thing, but it only tells you how much power you generate. Want to see the results of a great amount of power but lousy control?

Two totally different items that are somehow related:

Photo number one: An image that I rarely (never) seem to see when I am out riding. While I would not mind encountering this sight once in a while on the roll, I am sure it results in the rider becoming quite sore in certain areas.

Photo number two: An image I captured during the State Time Trial last Sunday. This poor chap on a nice Trek apparently had a seat binder failure resulting in...well... suffering, I am sure.

As you have probably read, Mark and I did some hill climbing yesterday. While I was not in shape to take my share of the pulling, I did feel really good and time permitting, I would have liked to ride a lot longer. Apparently we scored some TSS points, and the way I slept last night it was evident (I slept later this morning than I have in years).

I finally woke up this morning hoping to hear from G-wiz who talked of riding a century today, but the call never came. Probably for the better, because today it is hot and humid outside. Hot and humid should not bother me, but I guess I need some recovery because I just could not get the enthusiasm needed to go outside.