Nanaimo River Rd. Team Time Trial 2009

Sunday noon 14th June. 68k out and home twice. 12 teams 46 riders.

Greater female presence of riders, supporters, officials, and hosts gave added charm, balance, and completeness to the Tripleshot team time trial. Nature goddesses of river, trees, and flowers elicited by the sun and colour of the event protected and boosted the racers as they confronted the biting, sapping hills. The integrated team of Kim and Joe Gard and Rhonda Callender and Chris Paul invested domestic harmony. The all-female Chicks (Vancouver) were vivid resplendent as parrots or tropical fish. Thanks to the little girl in the Tour de France hat.

Masterly surges by Stuart Lynne (Vancouver) propelled Bill Yearwood’s Team of Elderly Helijets to 1st on age standard (and 3rd on actual). Sleek Stephen Baird teamed with aristocratic Emile de Rosnay, world track man Don Gilmore, and powerhouse chunky Chuck Dethridge to establish a formidable gold mark of 1’ 31’ 34” - 44.6 kph - an upper level 1st cat time on such a course. Although 12th and last to start this elite quartet were first on the road by about 29k passing the fancied Derek Tripp ensemble (off #10) just before the first turn.

Most teams found themselves disintegrating on the hills. But the heavier members would recoup, regroup and inflict their greater momentum on their lighter brethren on the downhill stretches.

The team time trial is the most ballet/artistic-like event in the cycle race repertoire. The streamlined machines (sensitive as thoroughbreds), aero helmets, skin suits give the contestants an aspect of mediaeval knights with crossbows or lances and Star Wars warriors. A combination of high tech, athleticism, and coordination. The ttt encourages the sense of comradeship and fraternity. Let’s have more of them.

The (short-handed) Impromptu Team of Mike Lawless, Malcom Faulkner, and Ryan Calbick delivered a meritorious 5th on age standard (6th actual – only seconds away from 4th place!) giving hope to those who find themselves at the last minute without a team.