Two Wheel Blogs

Yesterday started with a bang and ended with a blast!

I loaded up and headed back to St. Louis for the last race of the Big Ring TT Series. You may recall I had some pretty good things to say about this series from my last (and first) encounter.

Last night was even better!

I guess everyone will have to wait until next year, but you will not want to miss this again! This race is a great and non-threatening way to test your metal. You simply race against the clock. All your "competitors" are more like friends on a club ride (though they are all business about laying down their personal best time).

I guess that is the appeal of TTs to me. You are competing against yourself, the clock, and the time turned in by whoever else shows up....but mostly you are just trying to do the best you can. What is so cool about this series is almost everyone there seems genuinely interested in how everyone else is doing and how well you did. I did not talk to EVERY rider, but when you ask a rider how they did almost every rider responds with some comparison to their personal best...I do not recall anyone comparing themselves to another rider.

The series finale was a bigger event than I had expected! Sure, I figured it would be a subdued low key event with no pomp and circumstance, but I did not realize that they would calculate series champions (based on points amassed through out the series) and present awards.

This parking lot ceremony was great. It had the same feel as the end of a big club ride where everyone sits around and socializes for a bit. Then they start announcing results and handing out medals and schwag under the frequent applause for the solid efforts that were announced.

This series has something for YOU! It matters not what you ride or how you ride, they have classes for Merckx (plain common-looking road bikes), tandems, and every traditional TT category/class. Next year they are talking of adding a class for recumbent bikes. I think it is a great idea and a great opportunity for more cyclists to try out racing and experience the thrill without some of the stresses of mass-start events.

As for me? I had a great performance last night!. As I told my bro (Mark) I knew at almost every point of the race that I was having a good performance (even though I could not see my computer). I was riding by feel last night, and the feeling was good! After I crossed the line I looked at my computer and noticed the time...it was good, but only when I checked the official time did I see how good it was!

Knowing you beat your PR is a great feeling. Experience it!