There are two things in life which create problems or stress. 1. Procrastination 2. Bad Decisions. Yesterday we saw an example of procrastination causing problems. Kevin Barton never got around to upgrading to 10 speed, and couldn't find a wheel when he flatted at the start of the stage, forcing him out of the Gila. Today we saw an example of a bad decision, when despite Lance and Wes advising against a deep dish front wheel I used one in the TT.
The day started nicely - got to sleep in til 9am, breakfast, nap, then TT start at 1:20. Very cold today - high during the TT was about 50. I rode around the parking lot going thru my gears, didn't really think much of the rain and I was ready to go. Long Sleeved skin suit, Defeet gloves and shoe covers. TT helmet. Comfortable. Felt TT bike working great, HED Tri-Spoke front and rear wheels chosen for speed.
Start was good. Tried not to go too hard for first couple of miles (first 4.5 miles uphill.) After 1/2 mile breathing way too hard, took it back a notch and let my breath catch up to my body. Goal HR for first 2 miles was 165, 160 seemed to work better. Interestingly I never got my HR over 170 for the whole 16 miles - avg HR was 162, last year I averaged 173. I'm a little fitter this year, but I think yesterday was so hard that my body was a little more tired.
After 2 miles, breathing sorted out and I pushed a little harder, heart rate could only go to 168ish comfortably, breathing seemed to be the real limiter today. Over the Summit of the first climb - screaming downhill. On the aerobars after a half mile a big gust caught me and I realized how much of a "disc" the front tri-spoke acts like. Put my hands on the cowhorns and near the bottom started high speed front wheel wobble. I am amazed I didn't crash. Mentally all you can picture is the wobble increasing until it gets out of control and you wreck. Slowed with the back break, got it under control and it happened two more times, more mildly before the bottom of the descent.
Needless to say my TT was "over" at that point. I can't remember the last time I was scared. That scared me. I have no idea why I didn't crash. Out to the turn around and back of the rollers, afraid anytime I'd get over 30mph. Even on a small descent into the steep final 1.5 mile climb I felt unsteady and grabbed brake. I did a nice steady effort up the climb. But was very worried about the descent. The wind was a cross wind over the right shoulder on the way out, over the left shoulder on the way in, but it seemed like a head wind in both directions, so I was worried about its effect on the front wheel during the 4.5 mile descent to the finish.
I coasted 3+ miles in the last 4.5 miles. Never felt comfortable pedaling, nervous any time a gust caught me. I passed two riders and even that was terrifying. Anyways, time not to bad 47:11, lost a minute or two because of bad decision to use a disc-like front wheel. Finished 40/60, maybe should have been 30th. Foxy felt tired out there, put about 45 seconds into me. I'm interested in talking with George tomorrow - he was running 4 spoke Spinergys, I wonder how that front wheel felt.
I had a low profile rim EDGE wheel at the start line, should have made the decision to put it on. Cost me a couple of minutes and cheated me of measuring where I truly stand. Most importantly my bad decision might have resulted in serious injury, crashing at 50 miles per hour. I won't make that mistake again.
On a positive note - I've been watching the daily stages of the Tour de Romandie on Cycling.tv. Yesterday after our super windy road race stage, while watching stage 2 of Romandie the British announcer related that he had heard that the "Bayard road stage at the Tour of the Gila (pronounced with hard "G")" was "exceptionally windy." We're on the international cycling map! Oh, yeah and the Belgian though it was really windy too, which says something.
Another positive note - great meal tonight at Foxy's motorhome - spaghetti and meatsauce! Tracy's Killer Brownies. Foxy's mom spoils us on the road - she takes care of us every year at Ft. Davis. And I'm having the best time at the Gila, in my 8 trips here, because Turk came with me for the first time!
Pictures don't want to upload tonight, for some reason. I'll try again in the am - only have a few from today.
Tomorrow is the crit. I have been pulled the last 2 years, hopefully not this year!
Not sure if this is the last blog post or not - our Blogging service - Blogger.com says it is shutting down as of May 1, which is now. Stay tuned (or not!)