TT today

So I saw the forecast and I saw rain. Original plans were for me to hang out with the girls today and then head out to the Bikeworks TT, weather permitting.

Oddly the weather folks were bang on with their forecasting. They were saying it would rain, and it did. In the afternoon. Game changing was the trio of strep infected girls I picked up from the airport yesterday. My wife called in sick (or it was suggested by the director that maybe an extra day home to let the antibiotics work some more would be good). I wasn't scheduled to be in today so we had a great morning together.

Then well my brain hatched a rare decent plan. Finish the last bits of the frankenbike and hit the TT course on the way in and get a few much needed things done today instead of trying to cram them into the afternoon.

TT bike is finished. Standard 53/39 for a change (which wasn't standard when they were purchased, most everyone was still staunchly 53/42 in 1991) - a change from my either 40t or 50t that had been on the TT bike or the 46 on the CX bikes. The stubby cranks on the blue opened up the option to use the Mavic cranks again (also 177.5). I slapped the bar cons that had been used on the Croll into the ends of the bolt on aero ran some new cables and boom - 8sp 7402 rear der shifting between each of the 8 cogs wicked solidly.
With the potential of rain I declined to test the Reynolds carbon braking surface for the commute part of today's riding and put some Ultremo DDs on the Zipp 101s. The Dura-Ace 7400 calipers (yes, circa 1984 6sp D-A brakes that go with my 6sp D-A downtube shifters i have for the bike) have some rim friendly Scott-Mathauser pads on there and they worked great.

Now because I hadn't had lunch and was headed to tweak a few scopes and then hit the bike shop I had lunch and some dry socks and the tubes and what not in the backpack. And the TT is just out of the way enough that it is easier to ride there and do it than try and drop the bag off somewhere.

So now while I was on the newly put together TT bike (and amazingly getting this together meant I have 4 700c bikes to chose from) with faster tires and taller gears, the backpack took a bit of the aero advantage away.

Not to mention there was a decent wind blowing today, coming out of the NE to ENE, somewhat variable from 10-20mph. Pretty much a headwind on Tremont (the long leg of the course). Last week the wind was light but if it was blowing it was a few mph as a tailwind on Tremont.

Headwind, Backpack going against CX bike and durano plus tires. Wheels were the same, helmet same. Position different gearing different...

Result? I only managed to record a 21:40. There were two spots where I mentally lapsed (no one timing me who cares this hurts oh shit i'm slowing down damn it jackass fucking pedal), and i was pretty lazy with the starting the stopwatch and getting going. Over all though a minute slower into a solid headwind wearing a backpack, I'll take the workout. I pegged the HR, managing to average it right at 92% of max. Which is either the bottom of Zone 5 if you use a 5 zone tool or the very top of Zone 5 in a 6 zone setup. But really? who fucking cares. Well actually I do. I was missing that specific stuff last year. The time is slow, but I'm pretty happy to have managed to pound out a solid 20 min effort at that intensity two weeks in a row. Will it pay off? Too early to tell if life will get in the way, or the weather or what.

I did manage 2 hours on the bike just riding there and doing it and heading back. It felt so luxurious but also really pretty awesome. The ride out I worked hard, not insane but right at that 75% HR zone so I would be good and warmed up, and also because that's how I rode out to the last TT. Weather was cooler today. Heck it was almost cold riding in the rain.

Bike was great. Worked flawlessly. Even for really old shit. It looks like an abomination, I really should see about getting the crown replaced on the original fork, maybe Zanc or the guys at Circle A can work some magic to replace it, it would be nice to have that bike 'complete' again. Not sure if that crown lug/cast is around or if there is something similar enough to use. Anyway, that's what I was thinking about trying to pedal back into the office to eat lunch.

Putting it mildly there has been very little that has made my legs hurt like these TTs have. Granted I could probably get my ass kicked on the Tuesday Night smackdown, but there's a weird theory bouncing around the collective crap in my brain that is seeming to suggest that a 20 min effort at those HR levels sustained is going to do more, esp if I add in the 30-30-30 or some 20/20s or other max intensity intervals in the week. I've also come to the conclusion that my commute is good for recovery rides but way too short to be effective at kicking my own ass. At least with a 46x12 on the commuter/cx bikes. Some how that TT course kills me. In a good way.

If I can swing the timing I might actually try and get one in before the real timed one, but I said that already. However the way i've felt at the end, not sure i can put two decent times back to back yet. Maybe in a couple weeks.

Still haven't managed to get the passat running yet. It is driveable but based on the condition of the ribbed belt i've got between 5 and ? minutes of driving before it shredds itself and the water pump and alternator stop turning - which would not be good. I'm good with changing the headgasket on that car, I just would prefer not to do it again. A salvage yard in town has a pile of AC compressors listed for short money, just have to find the window to get the old one out and then grab one with a good pulley and clutch and get it in there. Managing as a 1 car family again for a bit.

Damnit. getting in the bad habit of being up too late. And it is officially too late.

damn words... leading me astray...

honestly i feel pretty crappy about not heading up to boston yesterday, should have tried to make it work somehow...

brain
turning
off

fingers
oops
there

finally
feel
finished

heddwch
g