The state team time trial championships were held today in Pinjarra. We entered two Hall Cycling Training teams and two Unicorn Racing teams, which resulted in the biggest women's field to date: seven teams in total. There was strong competition for the three podium positions.
The Hall and Unicorn teams were finalised about two weeks before the event. I was teamed up with Tracie Dawson and Liz Nathan. The three of us had all ridden in the UWCT in Italy in September and we knew each other well. We were reasonably well matched. And we all lived within 5 min of each other, which made it easy for team training sessions.
We did two training sessions together as a team. The first session we tried lots of different methods of rolling paceline, doing very short turns (basically continuously rolling), very long turns (up to 5 min) and moderate turns of 30 sec to 2 min. We decided the last option was the best. We also practiced rolling in both directions, which was really helpful for the event as it was an out-and-back course with a cross wind, so the wind was coming from different directions each way.
Our second training session we focused on working together and riding as a tight bunch. With TT bikes we were a little more nervous riding close to the bike in front. Our training sessions paid off though, as today we were riding as a nice tight unit. That may have had something to do with the fact that we were working on our limit in the wind, looking for every bit of protection we could find!
I was really happy with the way we rode today. We worked well together, communicated, checked in with each other, and enjoyed the experience. On the way out, we started at a sprightly pace of 40kph - with fresh legs and a tail wind! We did fairly even turns on the front on the way out, although I started to shorten my turns as we reached the turnaround point because I was on the limit of what my legs could manage!
Just before the turnaround point there was a stop sign, with marshals controlling traffic. Unfortunately two cars passed us just before the stop sign. Then of course they stopped. Which meant that we had to slow down to almost stationary. It was only about 200m further on to the turnaround, so we did those 200m much slower than if we hadn't been stopped. Then at the hot dog turn / U turn our cornering skills on TT bikes were put to the test and one teammate almost rode into the dirt. It wasn't until after the stop sign on the way back that we regrouped and got back into the rhythm. Our problems on that part of the course would have added at least 30 sec, maybe longer, to our time.
On the way back, we had a cross head wind. Not my preferred conditions! Lucky for me I had two strong teammates who did almost all the work on the front on the way back. At least my short 10 sec turns would have given them a brief respite. And drafting behind two is easier than drafting behind one!
For the last 5km, Liz got on the front and was riding at a strong steady pace, with no sign off pulling off. Tracie and I were clearly not in a state to argue with her. We saw the 1km to go marker, then just before the 500m to go marker Tracie pulled to the front to relieve Liz. By this time, my legs had a chance to recover and I knew we only had the last sprint to go, so I went straight past Tracie and started accelerating. I thought I was accelerating slowly enough to pull the others with me, but I must have had fresher legs than them, because I looked behind and I had gapped them by about 10m. I eased off and kept looking behind until I saw Tracie come up alongside me and we crossed the finish line neck and neck.
Unfortunately in my excitement or delirium post-race I deleted my Garmin ride �� I do know that we averaged around 37.7kph for 29.6km, and our time was 49:34. I'm stoked with that, definitely so much faster in a team than an individual event. Also we probably would have been sub-49 min if not for stopping for cars.
Next weekend there is a 2 person time trial event, so I get another chance to practice my TTT skills! ����
Thanks Tracie and Liz for a fun ride and for being great team mates! And well done Peel District Cycle Club for a great event.
