[DFreifelder]

Well another hot day meant...this time drink you idiot!!!

The state TT was horrible for me. I thought I was ready but I had so many factors against me that day, that made it almost impossible to win. Some of those factors were the five guys in my catagory that beat me!! Damn them!!! Why???? Well good for them and great ride to all that had a personal best that day. I also had a personal best but that ws from my last recorded time from about 4-5 years ago. That course is bad news for me. Last year I flatted and this year, I was completely dehydrated and lostalmost 30% of my power on the way back. Here was my split...337 on the way out....247 on the way back....not good!!! But I finished. I will notate that I am a REALLY sore loser!! I went right back to the truck threw my bike in and drove away. I didn't want to talk with anyone. I was really pissed. After calming down after about one weeks time. I started to look at the factors of the day. Killington P/1/2 the week before, the heat, not hydrating properly leading up to the event, warming up on the trainer rather than on the rode to stay cool, riding the first 5 minutes at a cadance of 10 revs higher than normal....Too many dumb things that could have easily been fixed. But I learned, and I hope I will win the state TT title some day. Not this year though. So congrats to all the state winners!! You deserve it!!

As for the Upper Freehold TT, I was ready. But nervous that I would have another bad day. Ken L. now had the points lead, and he was chasing me. I felt good, but I thought I did for states too. The heat was bareable this time for me. But I knew it was time to warm up on the street, keep the head and body cool. (I wish I bought that damn cooling vest!!) But riding on the road really helped. I never push hard before an event. I do a few spin-ups and just float around. I just make sure the heart is ready to go. The spin-ups do a nice job of that. I tend to see some riders do some 5 minute threshold effort, and I feel that is taking away from the power you want to put out on the course.

As for the ride itself...I thought the course was one of the best TT's I have done all year. Rollers, turns, fast descents, bridges (which I almost died on!! but loved it!!), hard uphill finish, etc... All the elements of a true TT. The out and back courses are fine, but honestly boring. Doing a loop just rocks!! So thanks so much to the organizers. You guys are super!!

The ride was good, I stayed areo, pushed hard consistantly. Every roller I stayed aero. I did not get out of the saddle except to start and sprint out of all the turns to get back up to speed. But I have no trouble climbing in the TT position. Other riders find more power sitting up or standing. To each there own. The time was good enough for a course record, but I also heard the course changed slightly too. So I will call it a good time, and hope to break it next year.

Next up Fitchburg. I just have to put the finishing touches on the fittness, and see what happens. This is my biggest race of the year. And I hope I trained right. Time will tell.

Peace!!