Time trials

My first time trial post surgery took place last night on Timber road. I posted the slowest time of the night, 38:05, for an average of 15.7 mph.

There was a pretty persistent east wind, forecasted to be 10-15 mph, that meant that we were going to be blown out the first 5 miles, and have to fight our way back.

I started 5th in the lineup, and started strong. I averaged about 20-22 mph, and finished the first leg (5 miles) in 14 minutes. During the first leg, my heartrate stuck at about 175. I'll come back to this later, as this was higher than unusual.

The way back was bad. That persistent east wind felt like riding into a wall. I had a mental goal to maintain 12 mph the entire way back, and I was able to maintain (for me) a decent speed for most of the way back. Again, my heart rate stuck at about 170 the entire way, but it dropped to 160 at about the 7 mile point. Once I hit 7 miles, I had to pull every trick in the book to keep my legs going (powering with one leg for 10 pedals, forcing myself to give it everything for a tenth of a mile, then relaxing for the next tenth, etc.)

As I hit the 8 mile point, I vowed to break the 40 minute mark, which gave me a bit added motivation.

At the 9 mile point, Joe Parlett, who I now believe had been close behind me for most of the way back pulled up beside me and started pacing me. As I pulled over the finish line at 15 mph, I noticed my heart rate had climbed above 180 again.

I was thoroughly worn out after the time trial, and had to struggle up the Winery hill and slowly rode the last 2-3 miles to my car.

Miles 0-5 (HRM was about 172-186)
Mile 6 (HRM was about 175)
Mile 7 (HRM was about 160-165)
Mile 8 (HRM was about 155)
Mile 9 (HRM was about 175-180)

Now onto my heart rate. My calculated max heart rate is 192, which means that I was averaging 91% of my MHR for nearly the entire time trial. This is the highest average heart rate I had ever encountered at a time trial.

I was initially concerned, but after some research, it looks as if the anaerobic threshold will occur between 85 and 90% of your max heart rate, and heart rates during a competitive time trial will push the average above your AT.

So, maybe I'm not a freak after all.