2012 KIC IT Team Relay Triathlon Pt 4

2012 KIC IT Team Relay Triathlon Pt 3 Erskine Hill

The hill on Erskine Road in North Stamford was a real kick in the teeth half way through the ride.

With an 8% grade, it's by far the steepest section of the course.

2012 KIC IT Triathlon: Not your typical triathlete cyclist

I was surprised I didn't see more of these, in fact I only saw two!
This Marin looked awfully like my old Stinson.

And I only saw two mountain bikes, too!

I was, however, the only one with a helmet cam.

Photo credit:  Stamford Advocate

Someone I work with and a CAT1 Masters Cyclist, Stephen Badger, seen above, is Salmoning through traffic, only this traffic isn't cars and he's not riding a fixie.  Still, what's funny about this is that it looks like Bronx River Parkway on a Sunday morning and here comes Stephen barreling through saying "on your left, on your right" probably wishing he could just say "get out of my way because I am coming through!" And of course they would get out of his way.

Photo credit:  Stamford Advocate

I didn't get this guy's name but I believe he was on a corporate relay team for my company, too.

Photo credit:  Stamford Advocate

This is Jamal.  If you have seen my videos we stayed together through most of the ride.  He's a strong rider and caught up to me after a mechanical with his saddle and then blew me away towards the end!

Photo credit:  Stamford Advocate

This is me on a one of a kind bike, my Gravel Grinder.  It's a mountain bike; it looks like a cross bike; it has disc brakes; skinny tires - sort of, 38c; drop bars; and really different geometry.  A mountain bike with dirt drop bars is also called a Monster Cross.  However, it was fun to ride on a race like this and unless I find something to replace it for this type of riding, probably going to keep riding.  Of course, it's the perfect Gravel Grinder and now I have to start getting ready for the Tour de Roxbury!

2012 KIC IT Tream Relay Triathlon Pt 2

2012 KIC IT Team Relay Triathlon Pt 1

2012 KIC IT Triathlon: Corporate Team Relay - Just for the Fun of it!

With an Oh Dark hundred wake up, I met my co-worker,  Stephen Badger at 4:45 am at the Exit 9 commuter lot and we headed down to Stamford, CT.   We were participating in the Corporate Relay event for the KIC IT Triathlon and this was a first for me.

 

The Qball was ready to roll.  Rigged as a geared Cyclocross bike I knew the bike would stand up to the race.  Probably the only steel bike on the course but it has a lot of class.  Probably the only bike that has been a single speed, fixed geared, and geared mountain bike, as well as a Monster Crosser and commuter.

These are my team makes, Bari (l) and Krissy (r).  As you can see, I brought the helmet cam so it will be interesting to see what kind of footage I was able to capture.

Pictured here are more of the corporate racers from my team.  Stephen is on the far right.

It began with the swim.  Bari came running in we transferred the radio tag and then I was off.

The first part of the course was out and back on Shippan Ave.  Stephen passed me and he was flying!

From Shippan Ave, it was up to East Main where I saw one rider down who got hit by a car that pulled out.  He wasn't getting up. Then through the center of town and then out towards the west side of Stamford.  I was catching up and passing a lot of people but most of these people were doing the whole triathlon and there was no comparison.  Their cajones were much bigger than mine.  My team came in 44th out of 49 Corporate Relay Teams, and 25th out of 29 of the Corporate Relay Teams that were mixed, comprised of men and women.  I was ranked 28th for my ride with a time of 1:29:51 and average speed of 16.6, which make me happy!  Just think if I really trained for this and had a lighter bike.  Well, there is always next year and I can't wait.

I have a lot more video to edit so for now I will leave you with these two and try to get out an edited overall version soon.