BUILD is very much happening. Last weekend I did the CRW42 + Wells. I was hunting for Primes at Wells, working on my pack positioning and sprint (I’m not much of a sprinter, so this is a good time to work on it). I ended up with a whole slew of top 3’s, but didn’t end up winning any bent-wire-hanger primes or spent-GU-packet primes. Maybe next week.

Tuesday brought a single 60 minute tempo interval on the fixie. It was difficult to keep the intensity up, especially on some of the false flats of Concord. I ended up averaging about three beats below what I would call tempo. Great workout though!

Today, brought the equipment test. Last weekend I debuted the Cervelo for the first time this season. Today, I donned the race wheels for some Weston TT LT Intervals. My race wheels are clincher Zipp 404’s (non-dimple) with Conti GP4000 Black Chillies. I don’t think I’ve used these wheels since Norwell last July. They’ve been sitting in wheel bags for months. Since then, I got a new chain and a drive train tune up.

Testing out your equipment before race day is a must. You never want to try something new stepping to the starting line. Same goes for making adjustments to your bike. Let it be and race it as is. Training is the time to make tweaks and try out new gear.

I popped the Zipps onto the Cervelo. Quickly realizing that there must be some difference in the dishing of the rear wheel from my DT Swiss training wheels. When shifting into the small cog in the rear, the chain got sucked into the space between the seat stay and the cog. I’m not sure why this didn’t happen last season, but as we know bike adjustment is matter of millimeters. A few barrel adjustments and I was good to go. (I still need to see how my training wheel set does with the adjusted derailleur. This may require a trip to my LBS of choice.)

Headed out to the Weston TT loop, which starts in Weston Center. I don’t think there has ever been an actual TT on this loop, but it is great for intervals (Right turn, Right turn, Right turn, Right turn, No Stops) The course is a modified extended Beer Route where you shoot down Concord Rd to Merriam, over the wooden bridge, right on 117, right on Church, over the RR tracks (this is where my interval ended today) and stopping at the Church just past the intersection with Conant.

The workout. 3×12 min sub-LT/LT with 6 min recovery. I didn’t know where 12 min would get me, but after the first attempt I found that the RR tracks on Church was a good spot. I’ve done the full loop before in 15 min at LT.

First interval got under way and my computer promptly stopped recording my speed. I didn’t care too much, since this is a HR workout and speed would only be fun to see. I felt good and tried to work the right parts to keep my speed up. On 117 I steered my bike with elbows, gripping my invisa-bars for the most aero position I could handle. I didn’t get an average HR for this interval, since I forgot to stop the lap on my HRM. Probably 164-166ish (96-97% LTHR). Rode from the RR tracks back into
Weston Center and to the start of the second interval on Concord Rd. Before going, I found that my computer magnet was loose and just needed to be adjusted. Computer working again and more validation as to why you want to test your equipment!!!

Second interval I noticed the wind had picked up. This ended up being a tailwind down Concord and a strong cross-wind on 117. My invisa-bar tuck was very difficult to control in the cross-wind. My bike is already a big sail, adding 58mm rims doesn’t help. Interestingly enough, this interval was faster than the first (I covered about 50 additional meters in 12 min). This time I got the AHR recorded. 166 (97% LTHR)

On the third, I got slowed by a traffic cop overseeing some road crew. The wind had definitely picked up on this one. The cross wind made just keeping my bike on the shoulder difficult. I hunkered down and suffered through it. Telling I was really starting to feel the workout. Pushed the last few minutes, so I’d finish at the RR tracks. Hit 12 min about 5 seconds short of the finish. My AHR was 176 (!) (103% LTHR, oops!).

Warm down ride home. Can’t wait to do this workout again!