Spring rains have been prevalent the last couple of weekends and this past week has been cold and wet for the most part. By mid-week we were getting signs of light at the end of the dark tunnel. Would the bad weather move on in time for the first race of the Two Rivers Spring Time Trial Series on Thursday night? …not quite.
We watched the chat on Facebook about whether the race would happen and the word came down, it’s happening rain or shine. Fingers were crossed all day and when we showed up at the corner of Pinnacle Valley Road and Beck Street about half an hour before the 6:30 race start, the rain had stopped for the most part but the roads were wet and the temperature was in the low 40’s. It was going to be a damp, cold ride.
The time trial series is used by some to prepare for Spring/Summer road racing. Racers start out by themselves in intervals on a 9.2 mile course. Those who raced the series last year will remember starting with a few weeks of a shorter course but it was decided this year to do the full course all year. No drafting, just ride as hard as you can with no one “breaking wind” for you. It’s all about you, the bike and the road.
The race starts on the north side of the railroad tracks that cross Pinnacle Valley Road and heads all the way down to Two Rivers Park going all the way through the park to the loop at the East end, then all the way back up County Farm Road, turning on Pinnacle Valley Road to finish at the Arboretum parking lot in Pinnacle Mountain State Park. The course has one hill right near the end. Really fun on burned out legs.
By the end of the race the sun started peeking out in the west giving hope for what looks like a great Spring weekend in Arkansas.
The race is open for anyone with a USACycling license. Road bikes are recommended but some of the hardcore riders show up with triathlon and special time trial bikes allowing them to get a little more aerodynamic. The races take place every Thursday night through the end of May. You can find more information on scoring on our calendar of events. Come on out and give it a try.
We have a lot of photos from the race on our Facebook Page.
