"Does that thing have brakes?"

Photo: CyclingCaptured 2012

As many of you know, this race last year was a supreme fail for me. Typical green rider listens to these two other cyclists (who shall remain nameless but you two know who you are) who tell her to go ride around the circle for a few laps and she misses her start time by a minute and a half (and would have won). Yes, yes, yes...first rule of time trialing is not to be late to your start time because apparently the race doesn't start once you leave, it starts on your start time and the extra time from you being late is added on (I'm also explaining this for the few of you reading this blog who aren't cyclists and have already expressed this blog has too much cycling jargon). 

After about seven or more people reminded me this year to be early at the start time, I spent most of the morning having anxiety about being 20 minutes early to the start time. That turned into putting my disk on another 20 minutes too early and riding around the circle in front of the Art Museum. Which then turned into a failed warm up. First off, hats off to all you Philly riders that deal with city traffic and the morons who cross the street in your city and don't look both ways. It's astounding how CHILDREN can cross a street better than their parents. Bravo, Philadelphia pedestrians. Bravo.

Anyways, the cool thing about racing time trials as opposed to what I normally race is that it's the purest sense of testing your overall power and fitness. It's just you against the clock. No blaming some girl who cut you off. No drafting to conserve energy. And no sprinting :(

However, let's be real... it's the Halloween of cycling. Just look at these outfits. If you thought spandex couldn't get any tighter and helmets couldn't get any dorkier...think again.

Long story, short: this TT was very windy, but I broke 20 mins so I was happy with that and ended up in my favorite podium spot of third.
 
Beth:  what bike were you on Sat?  does that thing have brakes?
me:  brakes are for wussies i stopped the bike with my teeth

Up Next: PA Elite State TT

Come out for the PA State Elite Time Trial in Dauphin, PA. All proceeds go directly to IM ABLE and Gearing Up.