So I was trying to count how many rides (not even races–times just riding my bike) I have done since May this summer (the last time I was as gung-ho as I had been for years), and I think the number was 18. Needless to say, I didn’t expect much from kitting up for the Fall Fling Road Race today.
On the way there, I was asking aloud exactly why I was doing this (maybe just to test out the new PowerTap?) when my teammate Luke responded, “I think I’m just racing out of habit.” Without any goals or anything at this point in the year, I think the only reason anyone was there is because they were cyclists and cyclists race bikes. Okay.
So the power numbers above confirm 1) My PowerTap works, 2) I did not make the breakaway, and 3) Pretty low power + much higher normalized power = Lots of coasting! Yes, the field mostly shut down as of Lap #3 (of 6), but it was fun anyway. Plus, I got closer to the elusive 1000-Watt mark in a sprint so that’s cool.
Actually, what was quite encouraging was when I was trying to bridge to the break of three with a couple other dudes, and I clocked 342W normalized for those five minutes. I was stoked to record that for the first time in a race back in March! Of course, even with some of the power there, what I learned was recovery time was not! I pretty much blew up, died, and rode the rest of the race at the back of the field–a sure sign I’m out of form–but at least I know something’s there.
Mid-October or early November starts the real training…
Tags: Fall Fling, Luke Seemann, PowerTap, Road Race
