Again starting with the basics;
2012 2013 Diff.
Bike: 7:14:52 6:04:14 -1:09:38
So now armed with new insights into the bike course I left T1 with a great deal of confidence. Not only did I felt confident about my swim I also rocketed out of the changing tent 8 minutes faster than last year. In short I did not forget anything in my transition bag this year.
The course was the same as last year but (see previous post) my approach was different. In spite of the difference the strategy on the first part of the course was the same. The first 10 miles was a flat and mostly straight road that ran along the Ohio river. The over all course was a modified out and back so this also constituted the last 10 miles as well. The modification was a 30 mile loop that you rode twice.
As for my overall ride my strategy seemed to work well (as the time differential showed). Last year I coasted down every hill. As part of my "attack" strategy this years plan was to maintain my cadence and HR on the down hill portions of the race. The more perfect tactic would have been to maintain the same power on the entire course. I have yet to invest in a power meter for my bike. Just a little too cost prohibitive at this time (a story for another time).
By maintaining cadence and HR I can do a fairly decant job of cycling with a consistent effort (A power meter does an excellent job at this). Last year I did not pedal at all down the hills so my cadence was 0 (if I had a power meter it would have also been 0). Also last year on the down hills my HR would drop well below my "Training Pace".
This years strategy worked like a champ! As the time for 2013 indicates. The 1 hour plus improvement was attainable because I was in better physical condition and I was simply able to approach the bike with a different strategy. There is really not much else to say. About the only trouble I experienced was around mile 90 as I approached the last few climbs. I felt my legs cramping up a bit as I began to push into the climbs. Easy enough, I just dialed back the "Attack" mentality and took it a little easier on the last climbs. In a couple spots I got up out of the saddle to change my position on the bike. These, along with self massage on the down hills helped me avoid my severe problems on the bike.
The best part of the bike was on the first part of the 30 mile loop. Due to a number of factors I found my self having to ride through large groups of riders. Also there seemed to be more people riding in the middle of the road rather than keeping to the right. So it was difficult at times trying to keep attacking the course. I really did not want to get into yelling at people ahead of me. I still am more of a "participator" than a competitor. So I worked with it as best as I could.
I then heard the distinctive sound to bike gears shifting down and then a person yelling, "LEFT LEFT". The polite interpretation of this yell is used by riders to indicate ones desire to pass on the left. The impolite version (especially at high volumes), "Get the hell out of my way!!!!!" Ha Ha. I could see about 3 dense packs of riders ahead of me. So I thought I would use this guy to help me through the packs.
I would let him yell and have riders move to the right and I would follow his line through these packs. I waited on the right until he passed me. I was on the right so he did not need to yell at me. As he passed me he yelled at the riders in the pack ahead of us so I knew this was the guy to follow. As he passed I immediately locked onto his rear wheel.
There are very specific rules regarding drafting in WTC events. As the person being passed I have 20 seconds to drop back 4 bike lengths from the person who passed me. This gives me 20 of free speed ( see a later post regarding all the techniques associated with this). This tactic worked great! I used this rider to escort me through the packs of riders ahead of me. Once we hit some open areas he took off and he was much faster than me on the open parts of the course. So I waited for another rider that was much closer to my speed to draft off of for most of the rest of the race .
Best part of the story. At one point the course was so congested that I was able to pull up beside the rider I was following through the packs. To my utter amazement his bike number had only 2 digits. 2 digits means "PRO TRIATHLETE" I was shocked to find out that I was keeping up with one of the best in the world. This is also why he was able to quickly pull away from me when we hit the open area of the course. Obviously I was able to stay with him due to the congestion on the course. Also the only reason we were at the same place on the course together is that he was on his second loop and I was on my first.
Any way thanks to Pro Triathlete # 12 Andrew Hodges!!!
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