Let’s just forget about that miserable Doughnut Boy TT and keep our eyes peeled forward. That time is to be forgotten, because it doesn’t count. Yes. That train has left the station and will not be coming back to town.
Tonight, though, the Marina Train rolled in for a stop and I got on. No rain, weather a little warmer, gears shifting properly and am in good taper mode for this weekend’s tri. Almost all upside, with the only negative would be the 10 mph headwind for the first half that blew us home on the return trip. Calm is always faster, but I’ll take these conditions any day.
Funny thing is that I was a little disappointed with my time– well, not really, just not THRILLED, but OK with it. I remembered being really happy with my April TT for last year and figured my time this year sounded slower. Not that I remembered exactly, so Sean looked up everyone’s times for last April and sent out this years with the comparison.
So here they are:
Ha! I went faster this April. Yay! Year to year improvement- that’s what I want to see! Sweet! Now, if I can consistently improve over the course of the season, that would be a great improvement over last year’s messy pattern of ups and downs. Yes, let’s go for the linear improvement over time pattern. That’s a fine goal.
So now for the Time Trial Geekoid Sitings for the Evening:
1. The all carbon saddle. I think Mr. “Carbon-Head” Grimmett was salivating with envy.
2. The super-aero water bottle that is almost impossible to get in and out of the cage while riding, which just goes to show that in some circles, pragmatism takes a way far back seat to aerodynamics and general bling-factor.
3. Andy Chan’s styrofoam and spackle treatment to his “now more aero helmet.” In his defense, it isn’t yet finished, but will look “really cool” when painted.
4. My old helmet sporting the new paint job, which goes to show the big difference that can make. (I’m stretching in the pic if you’re wondering).
And that’s all for this show. Later…
Oooh, an aero helmet. I really need to just suck it up and buy one. I know this is silly but part of me wonders if I’m really ready to make that “statement.” Logically I know that aero helmets are cheaper than race wheels yet offer similar (if not better) gains. But still…
Do you wear yours at every tri? Do you ever feel silly or self-conscious?
Oh go for it!!! It’s funny that women are so hesitant to buy a helmet for fear of looking silly (you will because those things are just plain ridiculous looking no matter who you are) but men are more likely to jump all over every aero trend that pops up. Admittedly, when I got my first aero helmet, I went through that mental justification of “am I fast enough to warrant it?” Silly, really.
In the end, who really cares what anyone else thinks? Seriously– I run around in lycra with a pad in the crotch after swimming in neoprene that makes me look like a seal and I’m gonna worry about what’s on my head because I might look silly? At the risk of over-using a metaphor– THAT train has really left the station.
P.S. – yup – every tri and every cycling TT.
what is silly are the guys who show up at mountain centuries w/ their aero helmets on. and yes…research suggests that the gains from the helmet meet or beat those of expensive race wheels.