3 Gap Time Trial + Neel's Gap Option

Tri Atlanta put on their annual three gap time trial today. A gap in biking terms is a big hill to cover. In hiking or driving terms it's a gap through mountains. The three gap course covers, you guessed it, three gaps. Woody Gap, Wolfpen Gap and Neels Gap. I've ridden the 35 mile course twice but I've done so counter-clockwise... never clockwise like the time trial.

There were 44 participants. Vanessa was the only other person I knew. We started one rider every 30 seconds. From slowest to fastest. I left 20th not knowing whether I was fast or slow. I caught everybody in front of me but then ended up getting passed by a few folks. I crossed the line in fourth, about a half bike length behind a nice guy from Florida who I traded spots with on the last climb and descent.

I rode hard. Kept the old heart rate above 170 for most of the ride. Let it get closer to 180 a number of times. Really fried the legs. I had never done this on a mountain route so I wanted to see what was possible. I love climbing. The rhythm is hypnotic.

I hate the flats/rolling hills. Need to get a lot better.

I finished in 1hr53min and some seconds. Course record is 1hr41min. The winner today finished in 1hr42min. Fast. Lots of room for me to improve. Many of the folks riding were pure bikers which is great.

After the ride my legs were toast but I wanted to do some more. I went for a Neels Gap option. Long climb of 43 minutes. Went slowly. And by the end my legs were fried. My whole body was exhausted. Racing really takes it out of you. No matter what distance, if you give it your all. So I descended back to the car.

Descending is amazing. I love keeping up with cars. They can't go as fast through the curves and switchbacks. Sometimes I get to pass them or ride alongside them. Really freaks them out. Spent a good ten minutes behind a kid on the back of his father's motorcycle. He kept looking back at me.

On one descent early in the TT I locked the rear brake doing about 35 mph and fishtailed. Not a huge fishtail... only a couple of inches. But it was on a turn and it freaked me out. Took a good hour or so to gain confidence again. My tires are worn flat from so much straight-ahead riding on the Silver Comet trail. They have what looks like a 90 degree angle that's probably a little unstable when rolling into and out of turns. And my tread is completely flat. Probably time to get some new tires.

Max speed of 41.2. Not great. I still don't have my 11 tooth rear gear thanks to the Polar Power kit. This sucks but is a decent tradeoff.

As for power, I averaged 264 on close to a two hour ride. Not bad. Much of the climbing saw me north of 300.

Very good workout. Got about three hard hours of riding. This evening I was as sore as if I had done the standard 112 mile weekend ride. Always good to mix it up and get some variety.

Thanks to Tri Atlanta for putting on the TT. Very good event. I look forward to doing it next year and hope for some improvement.

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