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Subject: SoCalTTSeries Points-Awards-Prizes & Rose Bowl TOC Stg 7 Festivities

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Posted:3/6/2008 6:56:44 AM

2008 SoCalTTSeries points-leader of USCF-categories win $100.00 cash!
2nd place get $75.00 cash
3rd place get $50.00 cash
4th place get $25.00 cash
and last but not least; 5th place get $15.00 cash

ALL SOCALTTSERIES RACERS WITH POINTS IN EVERY CATEGORY/GROUP FROM FIRST PLACE TO TENTH PLACE GET A 30% OFF MSRP CERTIFICATE FOR A HOT NEW SPECIALIZED S(kunk)-WORKS TRANSITION FACT 9r N'Aero FRAME/FORK OR MODULE (i'd pick the Gerolsteiner color scheme) SPECIAL-ORDERED DIRECTLY VIA R'n'R CYCLERY!

Sorry folks, I had just (or just HAD TO) made that up. But I really think something like this would be an excellent way to help get the So-Cal Time Trialling snowball rolling into something more of an avalanche. Folks' runnin' the TT racing venues within the series can help subsidize potential cash-prize pools. Discount certificates will simply add more fuel to the need-for-speed/anaerobic-threshold-ecstasy fire!

Anywaze. I rode my cycloX bike 8-miles up to the Rose Bowl a couple of Sundays ago for the Tour of California Stage 7 finale/bicycle fair. Herbalife had this awesomely bodacious virtual bike race set-up; a pair of Fuji Team Issues (like the one Dominic Rollin used for his 40km time trial breakaway win in Stage 4) loaded up on a matching pair of what I believe are magneto-type resistance trainers and powertaps connected to a computer/software connected to a big screen LCD for everybody in the crowd to marvel at; and two smaller LCD screens for each rider to monitor opponent/progress.

The race is essentially a 1/4 mile TT (something akin to a velodrome 500m TT), but on a virtual asphalt road. Everybody was racing their friends or partners in pairs. I signed up (the waiver) as the lone wolf that I am, and the Herbalife-Cycle guys had found someone to race me. WTF? A National Champion on mountain bikes?

Fine.

Bring it on! And let me tell you all this, I've never rode on a magneto type trainer before, and I was astonished at how little resistance it seemed to provide; at the countdown, you'll have to throw it up into big-ring/smallest-cog before the start, and SPIN! I dunno what happened right then, but the MTB National Champ sling-shotted out well ahead of me, which looked like a virtual 10 meters/ 30 feet ahead. I was trying to spin smoothly and solidly, but my egg-beater cleated cycling shoes didn't sit to well on those very run-of-the-mill bicyle pedals, and the 53-12/11 or whatever it was felt like an insane 34-23. Probably with about 250m-200m left, amidst the roars and screams from the crowds and Herbalife personnel, I saw that this National Champ was STILL way ahead of me; and that's when I got MAD, and I dropped my head, and I TRIED REALLY REALLY DAMN HARD TO FORCE A SMOOTH, SOLID, AND INTENSE SPIN. Delivery or DEATH!!! I could feel the Fuji beginning to rock a bit out-of-control as I was trying desperately hard to grab-onto (hoods? drops? i was trying to grab something!). I couldn't hear what was being said, but the crowd-screaming was loud!! STOP!! And the 1/4mi TT was over! The National Champ had beaten me by only half a second! I nearly caught up to him, and may have even beat him to the finish if there was a bit more distance!

Herbalife-Cycle computer printout showed me that I had completed the 1/4mi in 25.48 seconds with an average speed of 35.16mph, an average power output of 497 watts, peaking at 647 watts. I not sure how the mechanics/physics of all this works, but I'd think that a trainer with heavier and more dynamic resistance (like the fluid-type which I'm used to), would've allowed me to increase my average power, but peak power would be considerable lower. The magneto trainer seemed to have allowed me to spin over 170rpms in the big-ring/small-cog. I've spun upwards of 180+rpms before on my fluid trainer with 172.5mm cranks, but in an easy gear. Although, the 175mm cranks on my TT-rig has barely allowed me to break 170rpms.

I hurried through the exhibitors fair, checking out what goodies are available to grab...... Team Slipstream-Chipotle had some really yummy guacamole and chips they were handing out, and they weren't just sample-sizes; it was a meal! Team Jelly Belly had their sport beans, some company was handing out cups of apple/fruit granolas with soy milk..... the it started raining..... i rode to see how the race was progressing; Tom Zirbel on a solo breakaway. I had to breakaway too; 8 miles back down away from Pasadena to work!

gtingley
Posts:62

Posted:3/6/2008 3:17:45 PM

I organized exactly this for the 2006 Series http://www.socalttseries.com/Portals/0/2006ttseriesresults.pdf

$1500 cash was handed out.

I think the Series participation level is great, organizers are selling out races and hitting new participation milestones. Fiesta Island TT is sold out for this weekend, again!

Our title sponsor Rock N' Road Cyclery is selling lots of Giro TT helmets and Transition TT bikes.

Those who want to race time trials will, those who want to race road/crits/stage races, will race mass start. I have not had as many chances to race the TTs as I would like, I have raced 11 road events in the past 2 1/2 mos, but I plan to get back into the TT's soon enough.

Many TT's conflict with mass start races (e.g. Fiesta Island & Murrieta CR), so some weeks (like this week) there are lower turnouts for the CAT 1/2/3 racers.

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