Here's my write up. You guys tell me what you want to add and I'll make some change and post it to BROL:
Recumbents dominate Texas Time Trials
The TTTT (
www.tt24tt.com) used to be a tough course. Then the race organizer made it worse. Basically it’s a loop course of 26.5 miles with, depending on whose Garmin you read, 1200-1600 feet of climbing. Let’s call it 1400. It felt like more. Especially with the rough chipseal roads and constant climbing. Some big long grades that get bigger the more you ride the loops. Even the indomitable John Schlitter thought it was the toughest he’s ridden, if my exhaustion-soaked brain correctly recalls.
There were at least 162 entries before race day, perhaps more in the hours leading up to the race. We staked out our own lane in the pit and supported each other like family. Wives, friends, and coaches all pulled together to help us turn the pedals, stay on the bike, and prove themselves to be winners and class acts through and through.
Here’s how the recumbents stacked up:
One lap shootout:
- Ray Torrey (Ti-Aero) set recumbent record
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/raycomingin.jpg 6 hour challenge:
- Paul Brown (X-stream prototype) set recumbent record with 3 laps
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/paulandxstreamproto.
jpg 12 Hour Challenge:
Scott Freeman (Ti-Aero) set recumbent record with 6 laps. Sorry Scott – I have no pics!
24 Hour Challenge:
Bents totally dominated. This was a big field and we captured all the top spots in the field. I can’t say enough about the solo riders – it takes GUTS to tackle something like this.
Dennis Johnson (CA1) 378 miles and 1st place overall record by at least a lap.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/bentsandboobs.jpg Steve Petty (Corsa) 346 miles and 2nd place
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/steveisdone.jpg Peggy Petty (Strada) 319 miles and 3rd place overall beating all the male and female DF riders! Believe me you WISH you could ride as fast as this lady!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/bentsandboobs.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/peggyandwilliam.jpg Dave Townes (Giro) don’t know how he ended up, but he rode strong. I had a dickens of a time catching him in the wee hours.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/davet.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/davetownesoncourse.j
pg One more photo: Steve and Peggy congratulating each other – too cute:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/wheresmykiss.jpg 500 mile Tejas 500 SOLO
Actually it’s 504 miles but who’s counting? Certainly not me. 1st place overall was some DF dude from Austria. I dunno how he managed to win given that he only trains on those little speedbumps they call the alps. Here’s how the bents faired:
Bryan Mckinney (Corsa) 30 hours 10 minutes and 2nd overall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/bryanwiltsintheheat.
jpg John Schlitter (CA 2.0) Don’t know his time and 3rd overall. John REALLY stuck it out with stomach issues, hotfoot from the tough roads, and the like. He’s made of pure willpower and it was cool to watch him go go go.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/johnschlitter.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/johnwishinghedneverc
ometotexas.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/?action=view&cur
rent=schlitterreadies.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/yum.jpg Steve Barlow (Corsa) was set to be next, but unfortunately tore his medial meniscus in his knee 310 miles in. Somehow I couldn’t get him to man up and get back on the bike. I guess passing out from the pain and waking up in the middle of the road does that to a guy.
Nelson Ralls (Corsa and Barcroft lowracer) started in the 48 hour slot instead of the 36 and had to ride through the coldest and most humid night I’d ever seen in Texas this time of year. He showed us all what it meant to be tough. Getting on the bike again and again. I have no pics of Nelson – who’s got em?
500 mile Tejas 500 TEAM
4 person:
Ray Torrey rode both his x-stream #1 and his ti-aero in the competiton as a mixed group of 4 with 3 of his DF buddies. They came in at roughly 38 hours with 1 of their guys getting pretty banged up on the first lap.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/?action=view&cur
rent=rayfinishing.jpg 2 person:
This was me on my Carbent and and Kent Polk on the Carbon Aero 2.0. Together we were team Bent Dreams, and dream big we did. Kent was phenomenal, with half of his laps 1 hour 20 minutes or less. I did pretty well myself. Together we not only set the recumbent record of 27 hours 15 minutes, but that set the overall record as well because we beat all the other 2-man teams and the 4 person teams as well. Kent is such a calm guy, but you should have heard him when he crossed the finish line and got the news. I’m pretty sure they heard him all the way back home to San Antonio. I’m so proud to have been his teammate.
Kent:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/CIMG3386.jpg Greg:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/imdone-wherethechamp
agne.jpg No Limit:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/reambentdreamsSHAMES
thecompetition.jpg Winning Congratulations:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/CIMG3393.jpg Team Bent Dreams and crew:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/CIMG3400.jpg Accepting the award:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/bigsmilesandbentdrea
ms.jpg See the rest of the pictures at:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/tttt%202009/?albumview=grid