When is doing a Bong and a half legal?

Oh, it's not what you think....yeah as kids we'd drive past the sign for Bong Recreation Area and always snicker. But it wasn't until I started doing the time trials around this Wisconsin state park that I discovered it was named for Maj. Richard Bong a WWII veteran aviator.

There are three time trials during the summer that follow the roads surrounding this state park. The first one was in May and called the Single Bong. The one coming up June 8th is called Bong and a half. Then in August the Double Bong. Yep I'm giggling just typing this.

The Bong and a half race is a 30k time trial and as the name indicates you go one and half times around the state park. The course is fairly flat with a few rises but nothing major. There are right hand turns which is good because the course is not closed to traffic.

I have a love hate relationship with time trials. I really enjoy getting out there and hauling butt for 18-25 miles at a clip without any drafting from another rider. (It's different if it is a team competition...2 person or 4 person). The hate comes in when you have to drive an hour or two to get to the race and you only ride 18-25 miles. It seems like a waste, but deep down I know it is great training.

I'll be racing in the Masters age group category. They do have Cat 1-4, but I don't qualify. That's fine with me. I'm not out there for the bling...heck I got my Horsey 100 Century Pin already. I'm out to go as hard as I can and hope to average a good speed. I'm hoping I can do 18-19 mph avg over the 30k course. At least that's my target goal.

So on June 8th I'll do a Bong and a half and it's all legal. And I will inhale...actually I'll be gasping for air on the course leaving it all out there. You want to cross that finish line with nothing left in the tank...or you weren't 'going hard enough. Wish me luck.

Enjoy the ride.
Sheri

Time Trials - Great way to train for your next triathlon

I got into racing time trials several years ago by a woman in my cycling club. I really didn't know what was involved, but quickly figured out that it was a great way to train for a triathlon or aquabike race. A TT as it's called provides you with a safe way to go full out for 18-40K which simulates what you'd have to do in a Tri.

The basics of a TT are this:
- Takes place on a road as either an out and back or large circle course.
- Sometimes the course is closed to traffic, other times you share the road. But the sponsors have people at the corners and intersections to make it safe.
- Racers go out every 30 to 60 seconds to spread you out safetly over the course
- You can NOT draft (unless you are a team in a 2 person or 4 person TT)
- When you pass you cannot hang in the persons draft in a while. You need to go around the left and pass.
- Unlike road races and crits, you cannot touch another rider. I liked this rule as I have no desire to be bumped while on a bike going 20+ mph.
- Most common are individual, 2-person and 4-person TT. I've done both individual and 2 person TTs. There is a huge mental factor on the 2 person as you have to be so alert and in sync with your partner at all times. When you are going at high speeds only inches from your partner's rear wheel, you can't let your mind drift for fear of crashing. I found the 2 person TT exhausting both mentally and physically. I wont even consider a 4 person TT.
- In the winter months they hold TT indoors on trainers. The person who goes the farthest during the specified period of time wins.
- Competitors are broken up by age group, sex and masters categories. So you are not competing against someone 20 years younger.

The only draw back to TT is that they are usually held somewhere far out in the country away from high traffic areas. So my normal commute is 1-2 hours to get to the race. And then you are only racing 18-40K. Many people will purchase two slots. The first is a "warm-up" ride. The second they go full out.

So if you are looking for a great way to simulate race day in a safe and controlled environment, I can highly recommend a Time Trial.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri