Date: May 25, 2002
Event: USCF District ITT and TTT Championship :: Sattley, CA
Category: Senior Men Open
Field: 28
Results: 23rd
Total Time: 1:00:57
Distance: 40km

Ouch. That’s the defining word for this event.

I signed up for this event so that I could set a time for later comparison. It has been held in the same location year after year so makes for a perfect event for doing this.

I had never done a time trial before so I asked about, talked with my coach, and gathered what information I could. Everyone said I needed time trial bars. Those bizarre contraptions that poke forward from the handlebars that you see on all the tri-geeks bikes. Well, I borrowed a pair from my teammate Steve and tested them out the day before. A little awkward but manageable.

I headed north that night so I could stay in Auburn and then have a short drive to the race the next morning. I wanted to stay in Auburn, which is only at 1000′, instead of up at altitude. There’s nothing like being a flatlander and trying to exert yourself at altitude. Driving up to altitude the morning of the race reduces the impact since your body still has the low altitude benefit.

Early morning wakeup and then up to Sattley. Which, if you haven’t been there, is in a beautiful portion of the Sierras only 30 miles north of Truckee. The course itself is on a long almost flat road that heads across the valley floor.

My start time was a nice and early 8:04am. And I was first to go in my class. Great, I was the rabbit for all the other racers.

I managed not to get a real warm-up before my start and rolled up to the line still stiff. This start official starting giving me the countdown. 1 minute to go. 30 seconds. 10… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go.

And I was off. I sprinted up to speed and then tucked, arms down and into the TT bars. I was lucky to have another rider that started a minute ahead of me. I could see him off in the distance and I began using him as a rabbit.

As I slowly warmed up I began to spin easier and faster. The rider ahead was ever so slowly getting closer. I knew it was a long distance still to go so I didn’t over do it at this point. But, having that rider ahead and feeling myself move closer was making my push harder.

At one section of the course there is a small right hand bend that rises and passes through a cluster of trees. When the rider ahead of me reached the rise I could tell he had slowed down. I thought to myself that I would try to keep my pace when I got there and make more time.

Upon reaching the rise, I watched my speed and pushed hard to maintain it. As I slowed a little more I started pushing harder. I was now nearing the top of the rise and I began looking for the rider ahead.

I then made my rookie time trial mistake.

Getting excited and ready to crest the hill, I did what I normally do on my bike, I began sprinting. But as I did so I also managed to rise up and off the saddle. With my arms still in the TT bars. My bike wobbled twice and before I knew what happened, slam, I was down and sliding on my belly down the road.

I skidded to a stop about 10 or 15 feet from where I hit. I got up quickly and looked myself over. Knees fine, legs a little sore but ok, um, fingers, uh, ouch. My knuckles on my left hand and couple on my right where starting to sting. Actually, the nerves now exposed on my knuckles where the ones letting out those signals.

Crap!

Ok, grabbed the bike, checked it over. It’s fine. Grabbed the water bottle that skidded down the road. Get back on the the bike and got moving. I chuckled at the thought of crashing by myself.

Then I’m off again. And my rabbit is now much farther away.

Crap.

I’m back in the TT bars. A quick look back and I don’t see anyone behind. The bend and the trees hid my little mishap from the rider behind. Good.

But, I was then feeling a little sore and my fingers ached. And the rider ahead looked farther and farther away. I dug in and started chasing again.

A little before the 20km turn around I was caught by a rider. Then one more at the turn around. I still hadn’t made up time on the rider I was originally chasing. I began using these riders as my rabbits. I became more focused and held on for a long time. But each of them pulled slowly away.

Approaching the finish but still with 5 minutes or so to go, two more riders passed me. Ugh, I felt like a turtle. Hunched over in the TT bars, I even looked like one.

I glanced at my watch. Almost and hour and I doubted I could be under at the finish. I dug in and sprinted to the finish, clocking a time of 1:00:57.

But, I managed to join the elite few (Hey, Tyler Hamilton is a member!) that have crashed in a time trial.

Cheers!