15 Mile Time Trial Course Found

Eschewing the snow and freezing temps of my AZ mountain home in Prescott I drove about 80 miles south, losing about 4,000 feet in elevation.  Dry and not as cold (in the mid-40's). 

 

A road that is almost without any traffic, no stop signs or lights, no intersections, excellent road surface.  It is a 30 mile out and back route.  Descending about 33 feet per mile on the out leg and ascending about 33 feet on the back leg. 

 

I'll be using this road / route as a reference point in my training (on flatlands).  Below are the figures for yesterday's transit (I wasn't `trying' to get good numbers, just assessing the course for practical utility).

 

I'm actually pretty excited about this.  Even though it is a round trip 160 mile commute it represents the first outdoor performance course that is not diluted by the effect of hills.  Training in hill country may be interesting but the descents tend to negate the benefits of constant intensity.  Grinding up a hill and then sliding, coasting down hill give the rider a `break' that real competition often does not offer. 

 

15 Mile TT Course

 

SOUTH	01/08/16
TIME	0:51:36
AVG SPD	17.4
MAX SPD	24.5
ELEV GAIN	13
ELEV LOSS	541
MAX HR	139
AVG HR	93
MOVING PACE	0:03:29
NORTH	01/08/16
TIME	1:22:57
AVG SPD	10.9
MAX SPD	20.6
ELEV GAIN	558
ELEV LOSS	20
MAX HR	129
AVG HR	119.4
MOVING PACE	0:05:32