Rolf Devinci

My official time for the 40K Provincial time trial was 67.58 which roughly translates into 35.5kph. That`s right around where I expected to be for my first ITT. One lesson learned was the advantage of zooming in your aero position. My aerobars were not the adjustable type so I resorted to cutting them down but never did achieve a good setup. Heading into the 2007 season I intend to replace them with appropriate bars and, hopefully, outfit myself with a skinsuit and aero ITT helmet. In the perfect world a specific time trialing bike would be nice but unlikely. Never say never tho.....lol.(wink) With the cancelling of the Wentworth road race the 2006 schedule has come to an end. It was a good year for me with some strong riding in both the Provincial road race, Halifax crit and Provincial ITT.I ended up placed mid pack in the Master B Cat in the overall BNS point series.

We raced the 40K time trial in the Annapolis valley and it was pushing 30C by start time. A headwind/crosswind arose just to make the rolling hill course more challenging. I left the start gate and absolutely suffered like a dog for the first 15K. My heartrate was in the middle/high 170`s yet my speed was only in the low 30kph. At a couple points along the road when the wind shifted to a headwind I dropped to 28kph. I felt like I was cycling in mud. I knew if I could hold on until the 20K turnaround I`d be OK. I`m a notorious slow starter and knew that I would get stronger as the time trial went onwards. We left the gate in one minute intervals and at the 15K point I was passed by Eric, a teammate, and it was just what I needed. You cannot draft in time trials so I positioned myself about 5 bike lengths behind him and used him as a rabbit. I adopted his cadence and got into a groove, hydrated and got my heart rate down. We passed through the turnaround and I finally got my legs and...

Well.....less than a week away from the Provincial Individual Time Trial held in Centreville. I`m feeling good, the legs are strong after a summer of cycling and the club`s ITT series of three 30K time trials in August was excellent training. I improved my times as the series progressed and ended up doing the 30K rolling hill course in 50:26. That said the Master B category has some powerful riders, including at least three clubmates that should place high in the standings. Alas.....it`s all about you, the bike and the course. The Provincial ITT is 40 K so, as much as I feel good after the club series, I need to be cognitive that the additional 10K will make a big difference. Training and competing with a heart rate monitor was helpful. In the last club ITT I managed to set a personal best while finishing with a heart rate at or below my lactate theshold. That will be the aim on September 17th as well. Geo