Ahhh....racing, I vaguely remember what it feels like. So what do I do, I sign up for a time trial where the pain is very temporary, the Stony Creek Time Trail to be exact. It's part of the Tailwind TT Series.
Stony is a quandry of sorts, with a lot of fast two track that requires gears to go fast throw in some twisty singletrack that requires skillz and timing and then add some good size climbs that require power....all of which is hard to satisfy with a singlespeed. So you pick a gear and plan to suffer, but everyone suffers in a time trial, if they aren't, they're not going fast enough!
My start time is 12:16, I line up to some young buck (20 years younger to be exact) and Gordon counts down from 5 and we are off. I clip in promptly and and off down the slight hill and the young buck is right behind me, he immediately asks if I'm fast, I answer, "I use to be." So with that information he decides to pass me and I hop on his wheel and let him pull me all the way out on the grass against the wind. (I may be slow, but I'm not stupid). We reach the creek crossing and with the days prior pre-ride of the course I am able to go easy before the crossing and then close the gap he has made immediately afterward as I catch him thru the water. We lead out, pass one of the 30 second guys that were in front of us and keep the mini train rolling. We hit the big climb before the singletrack and I am still on his rear wheel like Biscuit all over the latest bike tire offering. We spin together for a little while longer, he asks a few questions like my name and how many races I have under my belt this year, then we catch the other 30 second guy. On a series of smaller climbs we catch and pass a few beginners giving positive reinforcement to each. For now I am content to ride at his pace as I am drafting the whole time. As we enter the Pines singletrack section I hit the gas and go around him as his paced slowed somewhat. I check the heartrate monitor and the HR is at 170, a little high, but managable. I don't know if this cat is fast in the singletrack or not and I'm not waiting to find out, hence my decision to pass. Come to find out, he's fully capable and stays with me the whole way to the point when we pass someone, I tell them two are coming around. We hit the two track and I am still pulling, I slow slightly and he does too, he does not want to pull, but then again, I wouldn't either. I am happy to do more work and lead in to the second singletrack section aptly named The Rollercoaster. I try a little to drop him, but his skillz are one of a seasoned rider so I throttle back a little and keep a good heart rate. It's all about me now and my survival.
We exit he Rollercoaster and he says, "I'll lead for a little while" which I graciously accept. He leads the entire two track section back and I draft as much as possible. A 30 second rider who started behind us catches us just before the first creek crossing on the way back. Again, with my day's prior pre-ride I know exactly what to do. As I dismount and do my cyclo-cross imitation I am promptly behind the young buck again with the 30 second guy behind me, but the young buck faulters and I am forced to stop my smooth transtion from runner with a bike to full on biker. I collect my thoughts, tell the 30 second guy he can go around as I know he is faster then I and they are off...alot more then I would have liked as my mojo was disrupted. But fear not, another creek crossing is coming up and I know for sure I will be able to catch them again! Without worry I am able to do just that and we are all out of the last creek crossing as a tight knit trio, the young buck first, fast 30 second guy second and me happily in third letting them do all the work. We pass a few beginners and turn on the the grassy return. But alas, my little world is about to fall apart as the young buck throws a few more shovels of coal on and starts to pull away. I am sure the fast 30 second guy will follow but he does not and I am at the road crossing unable to pass. As soon as we cross the road the young buck gives it all he has and pulls away. Once we past the bridge I hit the gas and go around him and try to catch the young buck but this effort is futile as he has also saved some for the last sprint and beats me by 3 seconds.
I am happy with my effort, I had a blast actually working with someone during the entire race, tactics can be fun and breaks up the mind-numbing-racing-by-yourself stuff. I finished in 9th place with a 53:21 and only 24 seconds divided 6th place from 9th place! Lots of fun!!!
thanks, Jay Jones
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