Posts Tagged ‘Specialized Shiv TT’
Caveman 3rd at South African Time Trial Champs
51:46 for 40km. 46.6km/h, 423W. Age 40. All photo credits: Liezel Stoltz unless stated.
Hats off to Louis Meintjes, current U23 World Road Race Silver medalist who actually rode a few seconds faster than me to smash U23 Nationals. Keep an eye on the little climber…
Its a huge honour to stand on the podium next to South Africas’ cycling superstar Daryl Impey from Orica GreenEdge.
Daryl wore the Tour de France’s yellow jersey for 2 days last year and was the 1st South African ever to don the coveted jersey. His team also took 2nd at the Team Time Trail (TTT) World Champs last year and he finished 7th in the Tour Down Under last week.
On the 2nd step there is MTN Qhubeka’s TT strongman Jay Thomson. This is Jays’ 4th consecutive 2nd place at SA TT Champs!
Technical stuff: Pacing, riding to power, warm up etc
Click here for Training Peaks power file: http://tpks.ws/rBP
Course: 5 laps of 8.2km on a flat course with slight wind and 1 U turn and 2 other tricky corners. Hot and humid.
Caveman Lap times:
10.20
10.21
10.23
10.21
10.21
Warm up felt awesome, power was good, legs came round nicely after some much much needed massages earlier in the week. Click here for SA TT Champs Warm Up power file
1st 2.5 laps (of 5) felt awesome and went by real quick – holding 430W was no problem and I was sure it was sustainable. HR was good and low still. Into the windy stretch up the back of lap 3 I overcooked it just slightly,
Racing for Burry Stander
TotalSports Challenge Terra Firma: 50km road cycle (Caveman), 14km road run (Princess Hotstuff), 25km MTB (Caveman), 9km beach run (Princess Hotstuff)
My coach Ian Rodger wanted me to ride steady TT pace “so we can look at the watts and see how we measure up with last year (at this race)” I said, actually Liezel and I are doing this race for Burry, and instead of towing everyone from Gordons Bay to Kleinmond, I want to arrive at the hand over alone- like Burry did 3 years ago. Ian thought about it, and said, “ok, you haven’t trained for that kind of riding, but hit them hard on the rolling technical section through Gordons Bay, see who’s with you, and then attack them when you’re into the wind” He finished off with: “Kick them in the nuts till no one is left standing”
Still raw from Burry’s funeral, I rode to Gordons Bay filled with emotion. Angry Battery 9 soundtrack seemingly the only suitable companion.
Althoug it was wind-still in Stellenbosch, it was howling in Gordons Bay, so I went with a training wheel in front. I rode my UCI legal SHIV TT bike, and warmed like I would for a big TT race, and got to the start simmering and ready to kick crotches. But on the start line the mood was very somber- Songo Fipaza and a number of the Songo kids were at the start line in memory of Burry. Songo made a stirring speech celebrating Burry’s extraordinary life before Songo and the kids slowly led us through the neutral zone of Gordons Bay. Obviously I had to go to plan B and attack the guys on the open road to Rooiels- a much harder task.
Caveman’s South African Time Trial Champs 2012
Caveman finishes 6th at South African Time Trial Champs
Time: 51.18. 38 Seconds behind the winner, Reinardt Janse van Resnburg. But only 4 seconds behind Darren Lill, who a year ago won and beat me by a minute, and 18″ behind SA cycling legend Robbie Hunter.
Speed: 46.77 km/h (28.5 mph)
Position: 6th Elite man
Normalized power 411W. Average 397W. What IS normalized power? Because of the serious rolling hills in the course. I had a 55×11 gearing but still spun out at 72km/h(45mi/h)- so I tucked and saved the powa for the climbs on thee way back.
I was happy with my ride- considering the TT was only 4 days after XTERRA Grabouw – from which I had some seriously sore quads for 3 days.
For the geeks, here is the power file:
http://www.trainingpeaks.com/sw/KVEQMHS27LBP3YZHZRKLMQVOLA
As you can see on the graph, (Click on the image above of follow link below to Training Peaks power file) the course in Nelspruit was very hilly. Big rollers, losing altitude on the way out and climbing the nasties on the way back. The course had a whopping 347m in elevation gain over 40km or 38.49- depending how you feel about GPS measuring distance and speed over hilly terrain…
One Caveman, one week, 3 races, 3 discilpines. Actually 5
A pic from 10 days ago, checking out SA TT course in Nelspruit aboard below mentioned “funny, uncomfortable road bicycle with dangerous wheels.” In fact, its my Specialized S works SHIV TT – UCI legal and all. Finally quite comfortable and able to deliver decent Watts.
Since January- 7 weeks, 4 races, 4 wins.
Time to really turn the screws: 1 week, 3 races, 3 disciplines. (technically 5)
Race 1, Feb 26: Sunday: XTERRA Grabouw. 1st. See previous blog
Monday: Fly to Jozie, drive 4hrs to parents farm near Lydenburg. Ride TT bike on trainer to flush junk out of legs. Visit folks and take this mundane pic of sunset from stoep:
Aca Joe West Coast Warm Water Weekend 2012
Liezel and I got engaged on one of the (smaller) house boats in the bay. How can you blame me?! Such a romantic place. OK for triathlons too.
Click for more…
