July 7, 2007
1.86 miles of twisty steep roads leading to the star of Roanoke. Some people hate climbing, some endure it while others love it. I fall in the narcissistic category of loving to climb. I love it so much I did the race twice. Seth and I arrived at the registration tent to be greeted by some of my friends of El Torea. I haven't had chance to ride with them this year so it was good to see them. First signed up for the USCF Cat 5 race with a start time of 1:58 and then the Citizens class "tandem." There wasn't really a tandem class so I guess one was created. Start time of 3:18.
After a little warm-up, I head for the start tent. The clock in front counting down until my time to leave. Bob holds out his hand and begins to countdown, 5-4-3-2-1-go. Off I went. The first section is somewhat of a stair step with steep sections then less steep. I wanted to go out hard, besides its only 1.86 miles. Immediately, my heart rate hit 90% and my legs began to hurt. Halfway up, I caught the guy in front but then the guy that started 1 minute behind me is closing in, drats. 500 meters to go and we make the final turn left and am relieved by 200 meters of a flat section. I did all I could to hold the guy off and he took me in the last 100 meters. Finished in a time of 11:41 . My odometer read 1.937, average speed 9.8, feet climbed 744 (my polar is usually low) with an average grade of 7.4%, Heart rate average 186 (208 max) 89% effort.
No time to rest. I screamed downhill, swapped bikes, picked up Seth to do it all over again. This time with an extra 100 gear and personal! This is Team Tandem at the start tent.
and we are off
Seth is a sprinter not a Time Trialist. I guess most kids are. He rides very hard for about 50 meters and then rests. We had a pre-ride team meeting. I explained to him how I needed an easy, consistent pedal for about 20 minutes. Try explaining that to a kid. I think I finally got the strategy across and it worked well. The few times I felt him stop pedaling and I reminded him to continue he responded, "oh yeah, I was looking at the. . ." ADD already at work.
Hey, quit looking at the camera and pedal 
The hardest part was talking. Yeah, have you ever tried to talk to a chatting 6 yr old while riding at 90%? Its hard. And the endless questions about everything around us. I couldn't say, "shut up and pedal harder" because this is supposed to be fun! We had several riders come around us and each time he would say, "daddy, they are catching us, pedal harder." Ah the finish in sight and a final surge up the final 200 meters to the finish 23:15.
Ah, what a day. Gold and Silver. But the biggest reward was doing this with my son and watching him enjoy the event. Encouragement is really important in life, especially to a 6 yr old. You could see the energy return with each cheer and confidence rise with each encouraging word. Thanks to all who cheered for us. Next event, Mill Mountain Mountain Bike TT, hum, I wonder if I could. . . na I better try this one myself.
