The intent in buying that bike was to retire the TAAF R1 from track duty to help preserve it, yet 2013 was actually the worst year I've had on it, having had a lowside in May, then taken out by a car in October. And since I really wasn't finding the confidence on the 07 R1 that I have on the TAAF R1 - despite working on it all season - suffice it to say, the honeymoon was officially over for the TAAF R1. It was time to bring it out to the track again.
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| Back in track duty, over a year later. |
I had my first track outing on this bike again on February 24th, after about 14 months since I turned a wheel on any track on the bike. I was expecting some atrophy as far as pace given the time in between, so my goal was simply to end the day in the sub 2:15's lap time around Thunderhill Raceway, so at least I'd know that I can still do A-pace (generally). I would've been STOKED if I can do sub-2:10's, but it took me all season last year to finally do 2:08's on the 07 R1 - a pace that I was doing on this bike since 2011.
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| 2:08's on the 07 R1, finally, during the last trackday of 2013 |
I spent the first two sessions yesterday getting acclimated on this bike again at track speed. Even though I've been riding it for the street, the two disciplines require a different kind of riding. I was also timing my sessions to get as much free track ahead of me throughout a lap, to keep my lines consistent. It was on the session just before lunch break when I decided to run my lap timer, and I was fortunate enough to string together some laps that had no traffic whatsoever.
And talk about a pleasant surprise...
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| 2:11's. |
Goal achieved!
Sub-2:15's indeed well before noon! Boy was I relieved that the extent of my pace's atrophy on this bike wasn't too excessive. I felt like popping a cold one open for lunch had there been one! So I wondered if I could get to sub-2:10's that day after all. I was getting my groove back on the bike, the conditions were awesome (clear skies, in the 70's, perfect track conditions), and with 34 riders in total for the day (private open day), low chances of dealing with any traffic.
I took my time getting back to the track after lunch, wanting to let everyone else get their post-lunch warm-ups done. It wasn't until almost 2PM that I went back out to get myself back up to speed. When I went back to the pits to rest for the next session, I didn't go out until the track seemed to have less activity, then I turned on my lap timer and went back out.
Unfortunately, while I didn't run across successions of riders during my session, I couldn't do a whole lap without having to get around at least one other rider each lap. I strung together four flying laps before giving up since I couldn't be without a clear lap.
But an even pleasant surprise...
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| 2:09's! |
I LOVE THIS BIKE.
