Hmm, what is ITT?

J and T raced their first Individual Time Trial today among the beautiful wind-blown fields of Reinland, Schoenweise, and Rosetown.  We prepared by putting some slicks on their bikes, pumping them to the legal limit, and laughing about a race that is flat and straight as a 6000 meter stick, out and back, with no competitors beside them.  The laughing turned into spinning and hard breathing and gasping by turns and by the time they finished, we all had a new understanding of the time trial.  
Tristan laid it all down with utter seriousness, spinning his legs off for the downwind first 3k, then digging deep for the headwind return 3k.  His blotchy facial coloration gave the truth behind his answer to Ramona's question:
R - Are you ok?
T - (staring into the distance) Yeah.
R - Are you tired?
T - (staring more)  No.
We went back to the van but he headed for the playground.  I went there 5 minutes later to find him.  Not on the play structure.  Not under that shady tree with the Huebners.  Oh, there's his bike under that other tree.  Still don't see him.  Finally I got close enough to see that the little green lump in the grass behind his bike was Tristan lying on his back, spread eagle with one knee up, helmet and glasses still on, staring at the sky.  Guess he left a little more out on the course than I thought.  He finally grinned and let me push him back to the van on his bike.
I saw Jaydi midway through her downwind sail, grinning away and spinning like a Singer.  By the time she finished, she was wheezing and feeling awful because we had forgotten her Ventolin (asthma puffer) at home.  After she cooled off for a bit she was fine, but too bad she had to end that way.  She still seemed to enjoy the new experience. 
Some highlights:

Jaydi rocking the leggy socks.  Note the cleats.  Jaydi agreed to clip in for first time in a race.  It was a good time to try it since you don't expect to put a foot down except to finish.

After watching the older riders utilize the "holding guy"...

 

Tristan decides to give it a go.  What a game face.

Out,

and back.  Simple, right?

Out (with flair),

and back!

 

I really loved the scarecrow-like signs that the organizers used along the roads.  I almost expect to see "ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER" scripted under the jersey and helmet cyclist effigy.

Thanks to Ian, Bruce, Dallas and all the hands from Olympia, Back Alley, Altona, Reinland and many others.

Postscript:
I got to finish the day with a mountain biking date with the love of my life.  No, not the baby blue Norco.  My wife!  We went to Morden Lake for a quick lap of the trails there at sundown.  Beautiful.  And nature was nice too.

xoxo
Thanks to Ramona for the pictures above, too.