[DrWJODonnell]

So the more usual race report. You know, the long involved one that you start reading, but then after a paragraph, you realize how long it is going to be and how unlikely it will be to have anything in it worth reading, so you start to scroll down and skim really really fast so you can see if there might be something that obviously jumps out at you but then you get to the bottom and then you read the last paragraph because you feel that it might summarize or contain something important. Well, that is on today’s agenda, so if you don’t want to read about all of the self aggrandizing, just skip to the bottom. Although, to keep your interest, I will hide a link to a NSFW page (NOT Suitable For Work, and certainly Not Safe For Wee-little-kids-or-anyone-who-is-sensitive-at-all-to-sexual-based-humor. I think that is what NSFW is). Of course, where will that be? Do you have to click on a picture? A link? Maybe I will make it INVISIBLE and you will have to FIND it. Do you know how to find something that is invisible on a webpage? Yeah, that is what I will do. Invisible. Some of you are thinking, “He is pulling my leg. He can’t do that. Not really.”

But am I? Can I not do that? My goal is to be nearly invisible to the wind, but a post? Can I make that invisible to the eye? Oh the suspense. I could go either way and either you search for an invisible link that isn’t there, or you miss out on the invisible link that IS there.

I am so devious.

So, the REAL race report.

As the Raven Flies TT. It’s a new TT here in OR about an hour north of where I live. Supposed to be rolling, and 12 miles long. It is part of a three weekend TT series. Same course, three weekends in a row. At first it was going to be day of Registration only which would be REALLY annoying, but they opened it up to online pre reg the week before. Of course, I was happy and promptly missed the deadline so I had to sign up day of in any case.

Stupid whining bike racer.

Don’t click here. This is not the hidden link. Don't say I didn't warn you.



I had used google earth to do dry runs a few times (mapmyride now has something similar in their program but it goes too fast and not at the right angle for me) so I had an idea what the course would look like and it looked REALLY hilly. Bummer for me.

There are no registered riders lists out here, so I had no clue who would show up, but I really hoped there would be stiff competition.

Apparently, I got my wish.



Drove up and got there nice and early and so drove the course. F&*k! There was a fairly steep, fortunately short climb right at the beginning. Long descent and then rolling into a 90 degree right, a sweeping left and another 90 degree right. Over a 4% hill and then descend into a 90 degree left. Flat for ¼ mile and then to more short sharp rollers. The turnaround was narrow but at least two narrow lanes, not like the one lane turnaround from the TT two weeks ago.

It would be a tough race, and my normal even pacing would fly out the window.

Registered, $15 (all of the races out here seem WICKED CHEAP for what they do) and got my start time at 10:52. Plenty of time to warm up.

Usual warm up, and got to the line. They had the big ol’ OBRA TT start clock (just like used at nationals and UCI events) so there was no question of start times. Riders off at one minute intervals. The guy ahead of me takes off. The official looks at me and asks jokingly if I was going to catch him, insinuating that he is a really fast dude, and that he would not be caught on the day.




I told him that as a matter of fact, I guarantee that I would catch him.


By the turnaround, I had.

Don't click here either. You will be sorry and this is not invisible.


It was a strange TT for me in the fact that I had NEVER had so much variation under/over threshold. I even coasted a few times. The worst part of the TT? The turnaround.

I pride myself on doing fast turnarounds. I believe that TTs can be won/lost in the start and turnaround, and I try to nail both to the best of my ability. So nearing the turnaround I see that I am about to pass a rider. I think that I could sprint, get around to pass and then cut out in front of him (to go wide) slam on my brakes and then power through the turn. But that would be rude. So I decided to just follow him through.

Stupid me.



The dude sits up as soon as I make this decision, hitting his brakes and shifts down. And soft pedals. I slam on my brakes behind him. Then he reashes down. Takes a few swigs from his bottle. Leisurely puts it back in. Then takes his sweet time in the turnaround. I sprint past him as soon as he clears the cone, but in looking at the file, damage was done.

Most of my turnarounds are 11-14 seconds. I try to shoot for 11 every time. This one? 27 seconds. I had BLED time.


From there, headwind on the way back. Climb, sprint, coast, repeat. Pass, shift, always dynamic. Little ring on the last hill then bomb the descent to the finish. Yell out my number (I don’t put it on the side where they want it. It goes on my @$$). A while later look down. 27 minutes. Must have been mid 26? Not great for a 12 mile TT.

Oh well. I tried.
Congratulations, you found the invisible link! It IS NSFW though! At least, text portions are. Still, Funny. .
Go to car, download. 26:22. Should be good enough but of course results for the TTs here? Not until later, online. Go home if you want, but you don’t get to find out if you won or how you placed.

I changed out wheels, and rerode the course in different helmet and wheels. Cool down but wanted to pop the hills a bit and practice lines through the corners. Go back to the car and drive home.

Later I would discover that The OR state TT champ had shown up. A really fast dude by the name of Rob English. A name I remember from killing the CSC time at Manayunk hillclimb a few years back and who Chodroff and I had smoked the following day at the philly amateur TT (the one I hold the course record for when I beat Chodroff by over 30 seconds). Rob has an impressive palmares, and other than one big stage race, had not lost a TT in two years.

Until Sunday. (If you insist on clicking lins that are not invisible, try that one, but definitely NOT THIS ONE)


It was close…he was less than 10 seconds down, and considering the climbing nature of the TT and my turnaround, I was fine with it. A win is a win. 3 in a row and 3 for 4 this season.

It’s a good start.