LOL, bear with me and feel the pain of a time trial race in baking hot sun .

I am compiling the photos and I will post the update later on today.

Thanks for the interest .

First lap and already dedicated to the max, with a heart rate of over 190 bpm.



It was scorching out on the track. My Polar (ooh, the irony!) HRM recorded ambiental
air temperature of 37 degree C! For that reason, the race was shortened from seven
laps to six. In such conditions, I couldn't really push big gears, so my speed was down
a bit, compared to the training rides. Lucikly, the conditions were the same for everyone .



With a hairpin curve in each lap, which brings the average speed down by a considerable
amount and breaks the pedaling rhythm, I completed the 19 km course in just over 27
minutes, with an avg speed of around 42 km/h and max speed of 49 km/h, avg HR of
193 bpm and max HR of 198 bpm.



That was enough for a Gold medal in Elite Category. Additionally, I was also the fastest
competitor in general classification, therefore an absolute National Time Trial Champion!



So there you have it - three years full of various misfortune waiting for the opportunity,
eight months of hard training and a dream come true!




Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3

Very well done. At least the long hard work was definitely worth it.

How was the bike? Do you feel like you owe the ride to it?

And most importantly do you get a special jersey for being Time trial National champion?

Congratulations

_________________
Slam your stem.

Job well done. I can't wait to get my Plasma 2 into my first race. Scott's just look fast sitting there.

_________________
-For my next trick I will set myself on fire!
-This board and the world in general would be a much nicer place if everyone could just take themselves a little less seriously.
-Sticky Fingers John Rockefeller
-First one over the cliff wins!

In a time trial race, every second counts and can mean a difference between winning and loosing.

Of course, stiffness of the bike and aero position help, not to mention the feeling of completeness
(being physically and mentally prepared and with a bike that lets you ride to the full potential),
BUT if you ain't got it in your legs...

One thing is certain though - I can totally justify the cost of building the bike for this single event,
that made me give my best and win the title and a dream!

Here's a video of my TT Championship winning run, albeit 14 months late!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaRO9G4DmSA


As mentioned in my Kovjanic Custom story - following all my achievements in 2011,
I was nominated for the best athlete of Republic of Srpska. Here's a photo from
the video shoot, featuring my Scott Plasma:



21/Dec/2011 - I'm being awarded with a trophy for 7th place by Olympic gold
medalist from 1984 Olympics - Zlatan Arnautovic (volleyball goalkeeper).
It was an honour and a moment of great joy.



The ceremony was aired live on national television, with me pointing my
finger at the trophy, hahah.


Full size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=4


Also, here's a video clip from the ceremony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWn_0HAEF_c

(sorry, I couldn't be bothered to subtitle the whole thing)


I will be attempting to defend my championship title tomorrow, so wish me luck!

Good luck!!

_________________
Exp001

Before I post the 2012 National TT Championship report, there are a couple of updates first.


Following my successes in 2011, I created a couple of necklases, using redundant remains
of my KMC chain. The top one for everyday and the bottom one for special occasions .



For 2012, I finally got something that I wanted for a long time - a carbon disc wheel!
It wasn't ZIPP as the stickers suggest though. No idea of the brand, but it had carbon
discs bonded over traditional rim with spokes, similar to HED discs.



Another thing I got (and I've had to get it because of the UCI rules) is a Bell Meteor II
aero/TT helmet. It's a proper crash helmet, unlike my aero fairing that I used until now.



My TT bike with the disc wheel fitted and the revised TT setup (without the skinsuit, obviously).




Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=4

Since I wasn't happy with the "ZIPP" disc wheel, I sold it and bought this new PRO (by Shimano)
tubular disc wheel. 12K carbon, Dura Ace hub and about 1200g in weight. It's fitted with brand
new Vittoria Corsa Evo CX 23mm tubular tyre.



I've also had to get some carbon-specific cork brake pads and a "crack pipe" valve/pump adapter.




22/Aug/2012 - Bosnia & Herzegovina's National TT Championship at Zaluzani race track near Banja Luka.
It was the hottest day of the year, with 38'C in the shade and 42'C out in the sun on the track!



Doing a warm-up on my new Elite SuperCrono turbo-trainer. The term "warm-up" shouldn't be taken
lightly with the ambiental temperature this high!


Rolling to the start ramp, with my new disc wheel, new aero helmet and new team skinsuit .
Beautiful 12K carbon sheen . Proudly wearing number 1 and starting from the last spot,
as I was still the reigning national TT champion, though unsure if I will able to defend
the title, as I was not in the best shape this season.



Up on the ramp, during the starting procedure. Aaand... off we go!



I was feeling the side-effects of 42'C on the first lap already. Although I am generally used
to riding in high temperatures, I was really suffering that day.



There is a hair-pin turn in each lap obviously, which is a proper tempo breaker.



And finally, crossing the finish line, feeling completely spent and with a considerably
slower time than last year's. In the end, I didn't manage to defend my last year's title,
but I got silver, which is still not too bad, considering I've had a knee injury that had
prevented my from doing any winter preparations and riding until early Spring.



That's it for 2012, as far as TT-ing goes.


Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=5

Congratulations! Excellent job. Looks like some nice changes on the bike too.

_________________
-For my next trick I will set myself on fire!
-This board and the world in general would be a much nicer place if everyone could just take themselves a little less seriously.
-Sticky Fingers John Rockefeller
-First one over the cliff wins!