Ah, As the Raven Flies Time Trial. This TT is not flat, nor is it a hill climb. It is worst. The As the Raven Flies Time Trial is always changing. It goes up and it goes down, but it does not stay the same. You either are suffering up a hill or wanting to coast to catch your breath.
Well, there is some flat. Maybe 100 feet from the starting line to the first hill. I started in my small chain ring knowing that is where I would want to be when I reached the hill. At the base of the hill, I could see my rabbit, the person who started before me, reaching the top of the hill. I reached down deep to work as hard as I could climbing that hill. I stood and stomped on the pedals trying to climb as fast as I could. I wanted to catch and pass that person. Finally, I crested and started down the other side. I coasted for a brief moment trying to recover from my hill climbing effort, but soon I was on the aerobars working hard.
After the first big hill, the route in never flat but rolls up and down. On one slight climb, Joe caught me and slowly passed me, but he did not pull away. When the inclined changed to a slight downhill, I was able to pass him back. But I knew I would never be able to stay in front of Joe, and sure enough he caught me and blew by. I managed to keep him in sight for the rest of the race, but he was always slowly pulling away.
Meanwhile, I was slowly gaining my my rabbit. But Tess is a strong rider and it took me six miles to be within striking (passing) distance. Just before the turn around, I got by her. However, I was still chasing Joe, and he was still within sight, but not very close as all.
Soon, I came the the big hill and worked my way up it. I knew that once I crested it was literally all downhill to the finishing line so I gave it everything I had.
My computer reported 36:17, but I started it before I was released at the starting line and stopped it after crossing the finishing line. I either was very close to my best time of 36:09 or just barely set a personal best.
Ride Statistics
| Distance | 11.6 miels | Elevantion Gain | 734 feet | Average Speed | 19.3 miles per hour |
| Maximum Speed | 37.4 miles per hour |
| Average Heartrate | 156 bpm |
| Average Power | 211 Watts |
| Maximum Power | 788 Watts |
| Z1 | Active Recovery | 1 – 109 W | 3:13 | |
| Z2 | Endurance | 110 – 149 W | 5:29 | |
| Z3 | Tempo | 150 – 179 W | 4:59 | |
| Z4 | Threshold | 180 – 208 W | 5:11 | |
| Z5 | VO2Max | 209 – 238 W | 4:58 | |
| Z6 | Anaerobic | 239 – 298 W | 6:45 | |
| Z7 | Neuromuscular | 299+ W | 5:43 |