Mt. Agamenticus TT - 8-11-08
2008 Mount Agamenticus Time Trial (Smuttynose Brewing Company)
South Berwick to York, ME
Bill Chiarchiaro, Men 45-54 5th/21, 13th or 14th/71 overall, 0:24:05
Scott Thomas, Men 35-44 15th/15, 62nd/71 overall, 0:30:36
Conditions
Foggy in the early morning, mid 60s, turning sunny, lower 70s.
Course Description
The Mt. Agamenticus TT is short, about 7.3 miles, but with very varied terrain. The first 3.5 miles are on flat, paved roads. A section of rollers leads into a 1.4-mile stretch of dirt road that’s very rolling, with short but steep climbs. The condition of the dirt road varies according to the previous months’ weather, but it includes loose sand, gravel, and rocks; ruts; washboard; and exposed ledge. The dirt uphills are steep enough that you have to balance lifting your front wheel vs. spinning your rear. Flat tires are common. Pavement reappears about 100 yards before the climb to the top of Mt. Agamenticus. The climb is about 0.7 miles, with two switchbacks, averaging 10% with sections up to 14%. No TT bikes or aero bars are allowed. Mountain bikes are allowed, but most people use road bikes.
Bill Chiarchiaro
This was my fourth year doing Mt. A., and I turned my best time yet, 42 seconds better than in 2006. Having a new bike this year that’s 8 lbs lighter perhaps helped! No start ramp was used this year, but there was a holder.
As Scott alludes, pacing is tricky in this short TT that goes from flat road to very steep hill. Unlike previous years, I made a point of starting a little easier, ramping up over the first few minutes. And, I was using a power meter this year. I tried to keep my power at or a little above my functional threshold on the paved road, going somewhat higher on the dirt, and then not holding back on the mountain.
I passed one rider in the first couple of miles and then another early on the dirt. After that, I got a feeling that someone was behind me, and I took a look. There was the guy who had started one slot after me. It seemed he was just about to pass me, but we hit an uphill and he dropped back. That was a clue, combined with the fact that he was bigger than me. I started pushing harder on the uphills. I’d drop him, but he would close in on the downhills. So, I raised my speed on the downhills too. The dirt road was in the best condition I’d seen, and I was confident that I could handle my bike in the loose stuff and ruts on the downhills and in the turns. I wanted to start the climb of Agamenticus ahead of the other guy, figuring that he wouldn’t be able to catch me after that.
I did pull away from him on the climb, gasping my way through the switchbacks. I kept focusing on how it’s a short climb, and this year there were 200- and 100-meter-to-go signs. Those helped the motivation. After the finish line, it felt so good to lie flat on my back on the ground for a couple of minutes! It’s a fun event, and I’m looking forward to sub-24-minutes next year.
Scott Thomas
Does anyone remember what the sun feels like? Just as I pulled off the line the sun burned through the fog and pumped up the temperature. As this was my first time trial I went a little too hard on the flat sections. By the time the terrain started rolling I picked up some unwelcome company from two NorEast Cycling Club lads (they did have British accents). I lost contact with them for a short time, but as the road dropped down and changed to dirt I was able to regain contact. We hit the dirt around 20 mph and we tried to find the best line and avoid the washboard sections. This was no place for your best wheel set. I backed off the wheel I was following as he took a bad line and became a bit squirrely. I was able to make it through the dirt without flatting or crashing, but by the time I hit the real climb I had the nursery rhyme ‘Pop! Goes the weasel’ running through my head. With about 200 meters to go there was some welcome words of encouragement from spectators.
Bottom line: Finished, had fun and the dirt made me excited about the upcoming cross season!er.