The rain is coming down pretty hard now. Dan just worked some magic on a VCR that was gathering dust under the TV, and we're settling down for a hard earned nap with the 1985 classic American Flyers playing in the background.
Today was a full length dress rehearsal for tomorrow's TTT. It's been a very educational exercise in the mechanics and importance of aerodynamics, and we've had a lot of help in the form of our newest training tool:
After switching to iBike from some other power-measuring tools pretty early on in their development, Lee came through in a big way this year and brokered a great team deal. Our whole TT squad (and most of the rest of the team) are using the iAero. For those still unfamiliar with the system, it uses a pressure sensor on the leading edge of the computer, combined with speed and angle measurements to calculate a very accurate power output. Turns out that there is a bigger difference than I ever realized between perceived effort and actual wattage.
In a road race with a field of 40 riders, drafting is a relatively uncomplicated situation. It's like being asked to chase a big rig down the highway. In a single-file line of four riders, though, it's more like chasing a Scion xA egg car. Factor in a gusting crosswind, and realtime wind readings make it a heck of a lot easier to track down what little draft there is to be had.
Progress was made, and the ride data backs it up. Today's transitions were much smoother than yesterdays, even in windier conditions. Practice is paying off, and we're all relatively calm and confident heading into the real thing. Wish us luck tomorrow. We want to represent the team well.
Win already!
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