roadcx.net

Back-to-back weekends over in Lebanon (Tennessee). This weekend is the Tennessee state road race (Cat 3 = 60 miles) plus an omnium that adds a 10 mile TT and a 50 minute criterium. The road course is a new course, but all the reports that I have seen is that it is fairly hilly 15 mile loop.

The plan (for Andrea and I) is to leave out of Memphis this morning (took the day off work) and drive out to Nashville to pre-ride the course this afternoon. It will be good to get a look at the hills and the landmarks even before we do the first lap. It might be possible that something will go on the first lap and stay away taking the race.

Tuesday, I went out and did the usual pre-race ride at Bikes Plus. This ride is a slower pace ride overall, but always features some long lead-out type sprints. The bike-handling of some of the group members is less than the best, so I tend to like to do the lead-out or attack. Most of the time, I don’t even really contest the sprint because I have led the group out at 30 mph+ for a while by the time we come to the final yards. Near the end of the ride, I decided to jump early on Winchester Road (west-bound) as we rode towards the Nike factory. I did a hard effort to separate and drilled it up the long gradients. The group was chasing and by the time we got to the last pitch they were getting to the point they were 100 feet back. In the end, only Aaron Parker jumped out and around me before the turn. He came by me like I was standing still. At least I confirmed (to myself) that I am ready for this weekend.

One thing I did notice this week is that my legs were still feeling bad on my TT bike. On Wednesday, I went out for my usual 23-24 mile loop (Cordova out through Country Woods, Fletcher Trace, Davies to Kingsridge, Canada to Monroe, Chambers-Chapel to Sumac, Airline/Reed-Hooker, Four Winds, Windcliff, Latting to Pisgah, new neighborhood to Far Rd, Macon, etc…) This loop is up and down after Canada road and allows some fast and some good long grades. By the time I got to Four Winds, I stopped in the heat (it was probably about 100F) and raised my seat about 1/2″. What a difference that made. I think the issue is that I tend to ride on the nose of my saddle which means my effective seat height is lower than if I rode in the middle of the saddle. This field adjustment gave my legs the needed extension. I will see if this helps on Saturday (10 mile TT). I wish I would have picked this up last Saturday for the State TT, my legs felt really stuffed up…the issue might have been ridding without full leg extension.