‘Don’t forget your real-life power-ups!’
Having been limited to Zwift racing for the last few months, I’d near enough forgotten how to prepare for a real-life race. Riding a road frame hooked up to a direct drive trainer at the back and gradient simulator at the front with no wheels wasn’t going to get me very far in an actual TT!
First I had to clean the bike, meticulously clean and lube the chain, fit the 58-tooth ring, find, fit and charge the rear light, put my rollers in the car, fit carbon brake pads, deep-section and disc wheels, and tape over all the little holes here and there. Marginal aero gains don’t get you far on the turbo, but could wipe off a handful of seconds at the club 10 – basically the real-life version of an aero boost power-up, or is that when a tractor passes you close by?
Next it was on to what I’d be wearing. Can’t get away with shorts, vest, socks and cap anymore! It was time to grab the pointy helmet, super-aero skinsuit, pins for the number, overshoes that go up so high I look like I’m off to footy training, gloves that make my hands webbed and TT shoes (yes, I even have specific TT footwear). Oops, nearly forgot the pump and disc valve adaptor – I wouldn’t have got very far on 20psi. Oh, and I like to bring my own pen to sign on…
Fortunately nutrition is pretty similar to my Zwifting routine: caffeine hit beforehand paired with popping a gel and carb rinsing just beforehand. However, I do need to pack some food for afterwards rather than just walking to the kitchen and raiding the fridge. All sorted… except leg shaving, forgot about that. Aero stubble, maybe?
“The higher the intensity of the race effort, the more important the warm-up”
12hrs later… How did it go?
It went alright, thanks. Power was down a lot, owing to not riding the TT bike enough lately, but I won by over two minutes and got a course PB.