Southern Crescent Cycling Time Trial - Race Report

The inaugural Southern Crescent Cycling Time Trial is in the books.  What fun!  I woke up at 6am on Saturday morning, drank a smoothie and some coffee, took a shower, got dressed, loaded up my truck, and was on the road by 6:30am.  We met at Epic Bikes to select starting slots and start our warm up ride to the Atlanta Motor Speedway area in Hampton, GA.  The course start/finish and turn-around had been swapped around.  The change was probably good because it put the turn-around, which we had to navigate twice, at the wider and more visible GA20 end of the course on Richard Petty Blvd.  Two 6 mile loops complete the 12 mile course.

The course was not on closed roads so we had to be cognizant of any traffic.  The race started early on a Saturday morning so traffic was probably lighter than usual.

I drew #10 in the starting lineup.  Riders left the start in 1 minute intervals.  My wife Susan and our neighbor Eileen came to watch and take pictures.  They kept David company while all the riders were on the course.

My TT ready 2010 Quintana Roo CD0.1 - all unnecessary equipment has been removed

My TT ready Giro Advantage 2 aero helmet - tape over vent holes

Me at the start of the TT

Race Results

Female
Place	Name	Time	Avg. Speed
1	Kimberly Mayben	38:04	18.49
Male
Place	Name	Time	Avg. Speed
1	Neil Farmer	30:55	22.76
2	Ken Barbret	32:25	21.71
3	Carlos Talbott	32:29	21.67
4	John Nolan	33:05	21.27
5	Steve Church	33:26	21.05
6	Roland Grimm	34:28	20.42
7	Derek Smith	34:59	20.12
8	Marriner Smith	35:23	19.89
9	Terry Shave	35:37	19.76
10	Ben Hart	37:07	18.96
11	Phillip Vowell	37:23	18.83
12	Greg Ferrie	37:44	18.65
13	Alan Hudson	37:51	18.59
14	Neil Coleman	38:17	18.38

Thanks to David Mills for organizing this event and handling all the logistics including, but not limited to, prepping the course, timing, calculating and posting the results.  Thanks to Epic Bikes for always letting the us use the shop as a base of operations and for the free socks.

Southern Crescent Cycling Time Trial

Thanks for reading.

Southern Crescent Cycling Time Trial

On Saturday, August 6th I'll ride my first time trial with the Southern Crescent Cycling club.  The course starts at the west end of GA 20 on Richard Petty Blvd.  This part of Henry County is usually reserved for NASCAR fans and zombies.  NASCAR fans swarm Hampton to attend stock car races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Zombies came to film scenes for the movie Zombieland and still show up occasionally for the series The Walking Dead.  The wide roads and little traffic are great for filming.  The area should be just as well suited for a bike time trial. 

Riders start west of US 19/41 at the exit/entrance ramp to GA 20, go west passed the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Lower Woolsey Road to the turn-around at Limerick Way and back to the starting point.  One loop is 6-miles.  Riders complete 2 loops for the full 12-mile time trial.

Since this is my first TT I've read a few articles that might help my performance.  With this knowledge in mind here's what I plan to do to ensure my best effort.

Sometime before August 6th I will ride the course.  Even though I've ridden these roads before they're not fresh in my mind.  I want to become familiar with any potholes, sand, gravel, intersections, dogs, or other hazards before rather than during the TT.  To get my bike ready I'll remove any excess equipment like bottle cages and tool kits.  I won't have any water or tools on my bike.  If I get thirsty I'll just have to wait.  If I get a flat then I'll just have to walk.  I'll also remove my training wheels and put on my FP60 race wheels.  It would be nice if I had a full disc back wheel and a power meter but, I don't.  To get myself ready I'll eat pasta for dinner the evening before the TT and for breakfast that morning I'll have some fruit, toast, and drink something to get me hydrated.  Right before the TT I'll have some energy gel with caffeine and warm-up with a few 30 second sprints.  That's about it!  I may use my heart rate monitor but I doubt it.  I typically only wear my HRM when I run.  I just don't like the restrictive feeling of the chest strap.

Now, where did I put that unitard?  Oh, there it is!

My Southern Crescent Cycling Louis Garneau short sleeve skin suit

The TT is free to participants however, only club members are eligible for awards.

Thanks for reading.

First Annual Southern Crescent Cycling Time Trial

From the Southern Crescent Cycling facebook page:

Southern Crescent Cycling presents:

Time Trial Day – Saturday, August 6, 2011

Time: 7:00am gather at Epic Bikes, 8:15am Start time
...
Please join Southern Crescent Cycling for our First Annual Time Trial Day.

The Time Trial – the “Race of Truth”, you against the clock – will test you not only physically but mentally. You’ve ridden the “group rides”, you’ve ridden the mountains, now complete the circle of events of a Grand Tour by participating in a Time Trial!

Riders will start at one minute intervals on a 6 mile out-and-back loop and make 2 circuits for a total distance of 12 miles (map available soon). Riders will start on their own without the benefit of a bike holder. You do not need a special time trial bike to participate.

The Time Trial is FREE and open to EVERYONE, however you must be an SCC Premium Member to be eligible for prizes. Riders may elect to have their finishing times unpublished, but will be ineligible for top Male/Female finisher prizes if they choose to do so.

Itinerary:

7:00am Meet at Epic bikes for registration and start time drawing

7:15am Riders depart for 14 mile warmup ride to Woolsey start area (map coming soon) If you don’t want to ride that far for a warm up, you may drive to and park at AMS or Tara Field and warm up from there (DO NOT park at the start area)

8:15am First rider departs

9:45am TT complete, riders depart for ride back to Epic Bikes

10:45am Results announced, prizes awarded

Door prizes and prizes for the top 3 male and female finishers will be awarded* (must be an SCC premium member to be eligible). Prizes are as follows:

1st Place Male and Female* - $50 Gift Certificate to local bike shop
2nd Place Male and Female* - $25 Gift Certificate to local bike shop
3rd Place Male and Female* - $10 Gift Certificate to local bike shop

Door prizes*

$50 Gift Certificate to local bike shop
$25 Gift Certificate to local bike shop
$10 Gift Certificate to local bike shop
Sock Certificates
Water Bottles

* Must be a Premium member of Southern Crescent Cycling to be eligible

For a limited time, Southern Crescent Cycling will offer a Pro-rated membership for 2011 for $15 for the remainder of the year. Join now and you will be eligible for these great prizes as well as other club events for the remainder of the year.