The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Team Velo Grande / Wholesome Fitness and Nutrition Maine Time Trial Championship (Race 9 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Team Velo Grande / Wholesome Fitness and Nutrition Maine Time Trial Championship (Race 9 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

Team Velo Grande / Wholesome Fitness and Nutrition Maine Time Trial Championship is race number nine of the Maine Time Trial Series. The race is held in Topsham, Maine. The course is a 20 mile out an back course that features long straight sections, rolling terrain and 800 feet of elevation gain. It is the final race of the Maine Time Trial Series and the Maine Time Trial Championship. It is also Frame and Wheel’s last time trial before the USA Cycling National Championships in Bend, Oregon.  Frame and Wheel is riding the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne. The bike is running very well. Conditions are calm and dry and temperatures are in the seventies. About 40 riders start the race. Frame and Wheel sets off at 9:15:00 and gets up to speed. The first climb occurs at mile two, but it is short and seems to go by very quickly. Frame and Wheel has riders in view and concentrates on closing the gaps. The road rolls on through the shadows and the sun. Frame and Wheel is able to push a big gear in many sections and maintains thirty miles per hour or more. The climbing starts again at mile six. Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort. A long descent to the turnaround provides some needed recovery. Frame and Wheel is inbound and painfully aware that there is still ten miles to go. Frame and Wheel concentrates on reading the terrain of the road, knowing gear selection and maintaining an aerodynamic position. The final two miles seem to go on forever. Drool is present. Finally, the line is in view. Frame and Wheel is out of the saddle and pushing hard to gain additional speed. The finish is fast. Frame and Wheel clears the line with a time of 42:39.5. This is fast enough to win the day, the Maine Time Trial Series and the Maine State Time trial Championship. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result and with the stuffed animals and the chocolate lobsters. It is a best effort and hopefully good enough to be competitive at a national level. Frame and Wheel congratulates all the riders at the event on their times and their commitment to the series and the discipline, and thanks the organizers for arranging and promoting a very fine event.

Fred Thomas with Austro Daimler tt Carbon and Mooses

Mark Carron, Fred Thomas, Doug Chaisson