Saturday marked the end to the racing season for most of us amateurs around here. Here in Eastern PA there was the option of doing the Rockville Bridge Cyclocross Classic near Harrisburg, or the NJ State Championships just over the border in Phillipsburg. I chose to get a few extra hours of sleep and go to NJ.
Turned out to be a good choice, the course was a ton of fun. One killer run up, two sections of barriers, some tight & twisty off-camber stuff, and plenty of wide open sections perfect for passing. The morning started really cool, but after a good warm up I was ready to go with shorts and the usual long sleeve jersey.
With some 60+ starters in the "C" race, and no call-ups for me this time, I got to the staging area early and was surprised that no one else was there. Just then, the announcer made the call to start staging and the riders swarmed. A bunch of NJ riders got their call-ups, and the rest of us scrambled in to get a spot. I was something like 20-25 back, not too bad.
During the first lap, I was struggling to find a good line through some of the really slick stuff. I tried some routes that didn't work, and crashed a couple of times. I got up to where the top 10 or so seemed to be, and spent a lap or two trading spots with 2-3 other riders who kept passing me when I slid out, and I'd struggle to get by them again. I felt like I wasn't riding at my physical limit, but I was probably trying to ride past my bike-handling limit. The race felt much easier then the Spring Mount race, although I don't have an average HR to compare because my chest strap slid off and I ended up wearing it like a belt. I spent too much time falling down and trying to maneuver the turns to push my legs to their limit.
Coming around to the run-up, I dismounted and shouldered my bike just when someone behind me went down hard. I couldn't tell if I hit him with my bike, or if he just rode head first into the hill. Turns out someone caught it on video.
While I've still got plenty to learn, comparing my barrier technique to my first 2 races is as different as night and day.
I didn't have big expectations for myself, I knew that there would be a large, competitive field, and I decided before even getting up that morning that it would be a purely fun race to enjoy myself. Enjoy myself, I did, and a 6th place was a nice surprise.
After the C race, I was milling around, drinking a hot chocolate to stay warm, and noticed a few snow flakes start to fall. By the time I made the trip back home, the sky had opened up and the snow really started coming down. Some great conditions for the afternoon races, I'm sure.
Now it's time to start looking forward to 2010, thinking about winter training, and picking out the races for next year. Oh man, I can't wait...
Marten
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Spring Mount Cyclocross Race Report
Wow, this race will definitely be a highlight of 2009. The weather was good, the course was tough, and I was buzzing all day off of the endorphins.
The day before the race I went out my first ride with the new team for next year, Lamprey Systems. It was faster that I would have done on the day before a race, but it was a fun ride getting a rotating pace line going for the last few miles.
I showed up about an hour and a half before the start of the race and had a good chance to scope out the course. A sand pit, some muddy sections with 2 small stream crossings, and one set of barriers, it looked a little more technical then my previous 2 races. I started off with a new set of cross tires inflated to the max, and they weren't working well, the going was tough, and traction not so good. After I let some air out, they seemed to work much better.
The day was turning out to be really nice, sunny and much warmer then I expected, I hadn't brought anything less then my insulated long sleeve jersey, so that would have to do. I got to the staging area about 10 minutes before the start, and it was already really full with other C race riders. So I sat in the back and expected to have to do a lot of passing in the first lap. The organizers started making call ups and I was really surprised when he called me up for the first spot. Wow, I totally didn't see that one coming. It must be those fluky state rankings and my points from the Nittany Lion Cross race.
When the whistle blew, I was ready. I think getting called up and having such a great position really charged me up to go out hard and be aggressive in the beginning. I got a good clip in and was off, but no more then 2-3 pedal strokes and I pulled right out! After fumbling around to get back in, I unclipped again before the first turn. Argh, that was frustrating, I went from the front row to 15+ back. I focused on staying smooth and rode hard to get back up to the front. After about 2/3 of a lap I managed to get behind the two leaders and decided that was good spot to try hang. I slipped out on one of the uphill, muddy, off-camber turns and the two guys behind me went by. I got going again and as far as I can tell, stayed in fifth position for the rest of the race.
The course kept getting muddier every lap, and the muddy sections were only getting tougher and slower. I felt like I was working really hard, but getting nowhere. Coming around with 2 laps to go, I started running the mud sections, figuring I could get through faster that way. I got past the lower stream crossing and my right leg seized up like a tree trunk, I was rooted to the spot. I've had cramping before, but never completely locked up, what a strange feeling. I finally got moving again, but I'm sure getting over those barriers was far from graceful.
My average HR for 48 minutes of racing was 179, it felt really tough, but I'm happy with the result. Now I have a spastic twitch in my right tricep, a bruised shoulder, and a black and blue knee.
The next race can't come soon enough.
Marten
The day before the race I went out my first ride with the new team for next year, Lamprey Systems. It was faster that I would have done on the day before a race, but it was a fun ride getting a rotating pace line going for the last few miles.
I showed up about an hour and a half before the start of the race and had a good chance to scope out the course. A sand pit, some muddy sections with 2 small stream crossings, and one set of barriers, it looked a little more technical then my previous 2 races. I started off with a new set of cross tires inflated to the max, and they weren't working well, the going was tough, and traction not so good. After I let some air out, they seemed to work much better.
The day was turning out to be really nice, sunny and much warmer then I expected, I hadn't brought anything less then my insulated long sleeve jersey, so that would have to do. I got to the staging area about 10 minutes before the start, and it was already really full with other C race riders. So I sat in the back and expected to have to do a lot of passing in the first lap. The organizers started making call ups and I was really surprised when he called me up for the first spot. Wow, I totally didn't see that one coming. It must be those fluky state rankings and my points from the Nittany Lion Cross race.
When the whistle blew, I was ready. I think getting called up and having such a great position really charged me up to go out hard and be aggressive in the beginning. I got a good clip in and was off, but no more then 2-3 pedal strokes and I pulled right out! After fumbling around to get back in, I unclipped again before the first turn. Argh, that was frustrating, I went from the front row to 15+ back. I focused on staying smooth and rode hard to get back up to the front. After about 2/3 of a lap I managed to get behind the two leaders and decided that was good spot to try hang. I slipped out on one of the uphill, muddy, off-camber turns and the two guys behind me went by. I got going again and as far as I can tell, stayed in fifth position for the rest of the race.
The course kept getting muddier every lap, and the muddy sections were only getting tougher and slower. I felt like I was working really hard, but getting nowhere. Coming around with 2 laps to go, I started running the mud sections, figuring I could get through faster that way. I got past the lower stream crossing and my right leg seized up like a tree trunk, I was rooted to the spot. I've had cramping before, but never completely locked up, what a strange feeling. I finally got moving again, but I'm sure getting over those barriers was far from graceful.
My average HR for 48 minutes of racing was 179, it felt really tough, but I'm happy with the result. Now I have a spastic twitch in my right tricep, a bruised shoulder, and a black and blue knee.
The next race can't come soon enough.
Marten
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Whirlybird Cross and Bryn Athyn
This time I had a plan, I was going to stage well, go out hard, and then hang on for dear life. Well, I had a great spot on the starting line, but the official decided to do call ups based on last year results. I didn't protest, the official can do that at his discretion, but I really hoped that no top 5 finisher from last year was returning to race the C again.
So no one got called up, and we all mashed up at the start again, but this time I was stuck farther back. I tried to go out fast and get some positions, but without muscling people out of my way. That's an aggressive side of racing that I haven't been able to embrace yet. No problem, 40 minutes is plenty of time to move up. I quickly set my sights on a rider up ahead in white and red. I never got close enough to identify the jersey, but for almost the entire race, I chased from 3-15 seconds back. He was moving up swiftly, and we were both passing people, but I just couldn't close the gap to him. Every time I got close, I would lose a bunch of time at a barrier or by taking a poor line through a set of tight turns.
I definitely pushed myself harder on this race, just check out this awesome photo by Anthony Skorochod.
Some Guy's Racing dude on a mountain bike won it.
Just in case you missed it:
Yeah.
I'll leave the post on that note, I managed to eek out a 10th place finish (that's my fourth 10th place finish this season, still trying to break into the single digits...). I definitely need to practice my barrier skills, I'm particularly slow on the remount.
Time for some instructional videos and practice, much practice.
So no one got called up, and we all mashed up at the start again, but this time I was stuck farther back. I tried to go out fast and get some positions, but without muscling people out of my way. That's an aggressive side of racing that I haven't been able to embrace yet. No problem, 40 minutes is plenty of time to move up. I quickly set my sights on a rider up ahead in white and red. I never got close enough to identify the jersey, but for almost the entire race, I chased from 3-15 seconds back. He was moving up swiftly, and we were both passing people, but I just couldn't close the gap to him. Every time I got close, I would lose a bunch of time at a barrier or by taking a poor line through a set of tight turns.
I definitely pushed myself harder on this race, just check out this awesome photo by Anthony Skorochod.
Some Guy's Racing dude on a mountain bike won it.
Just in case you missed it:
Yeah.
I'll leave the post on that note, I managed to eek out a 10th place finish (that's my fourth 10th place finish this season, still trying to break into the single digits...). I definitely need to practice my barrier skills, I'm particularly slow on the remount.
Time for some instructional videos and practice, much practice.
Nittany Lion Cross
I love cross, it is a premium sport.
For my first race, I had no idea what to expect, but figured I'd be better off going conservatively. I staged somewhere in the middle and was swept along in the mad dash for positions going into the course. The first lap was really crowded as we all got sorted out. I focused on passing people as I could, it was a relatively flat, fast and smooth course with only one set of barriers, and a "run-up" that everyone was riding up without any trouble.
I had no idea where I was in the race, but I was definitely enjoying myself, getting into a rhythm and the 40 minutes flew by. I pushed the last lap a bit more, and sprinted by a few people right at the finish. My friend David was there and saw me shortly after I crossed the line, I was still buzzing from race adrenaline and couldn't help but let out some whoops and yells. I'm normally very reserved, but I was quite pumped up after that race. I also had a bunch of reserve left, I told myself I'd go out harder next time.
I finished 14th, but I know that I was pretty slow with the barriers and left a lot to be desired with my technique. But can't wait until the next race.
Thanks to Brian for the photo.
Watching the B race afterwords was a lesson in smoothness and technique, some of the guys were really fast and great to watch. It was a quite an enjoyable moment, savoring a beer at the velodrome with some friends on a beautiful fall day, watching cyclocross on the one side, a track event at the velodrome, and apparently also a cricket match in the baseball fields.
When's the next cross race?
Ah, life is good...
For my first race, I had no idea what to expect, but figured I'd be better off going conservatively. I staged somewhere in the middle and was swept along in the mad dash for positions going into the course. The first lap was really crowded as we all got sorted out. I focused on passing people as I could, it was a relatively flat, fast and smooth course with only one set of barriers, and a "run-up" that everyone was riding up without any trouble.
I had no idea where I was in the race, but I was definitely enjoying myself, getting into a rhythm and the 40 minutes flew by. I pushed the last lap a bit more, and sprinted by a few people right at the finish. My friend David was there and saw me shortly after I crossed the line, I was still buzzing from race adrenaline and couldn't help but let out some whoops and yells. I'm normally very reserved, but I was quite pumped up after that race. I also had a bunch of reserve left, I told myself I'd go out harder next time.
I finished 14th, but I know that I was pretty slow with the barriers and left a lot to be desired with my technique. But can't wait until the next race.
Thanks to Brian for the photo.
Watching the B race afterwords was a lesson in smoothness and technique, some of the guys were really fast and great to watch. It was a quite an enjoyable moment, savoring a beer at the velodrome with some friends on a beautiful fall day, watching cyclocross on the one side, a track event at the velodrome, and apparently also a cricket match in the baseball fields.
When's the next cross race?
Ah, life is good...
Monday, September 21, 2009
Robeson PA State Road Race
This was my worst finishing result, but perhaps my best race all season. It was also one of the most exciting, difficult, and best learning experiences so far.
Having never done a 60 mile RR before, I wasn't sure what to expect (can you ever be in racing?), but I knew that I would need some nutrition to be able to race for nearly 3 hours. I decided to bring 2 bottles of HEED, 1 bottle of water, a power bar, and 2 gel packs which I could tuck into my jersey pockets and not have to try and deal with the zoo that is the feed zone. It seems like I see more bottles dropped there, then actually passed off.
So the first 30 miles were fairly uneventful, a few riders had gone off the front in small groups, but early in a 60 mile RR no one was really concerned. Quaker City Wheelmen had a good group at the front of the pack for much of the race, no real chase was necessary, because the miles and hills brought these early Cat 4 riders back to the field.
We came around to one of the climbs of the course and maybe it was because I just ate a gel, but I was feeling good and decided to move towards the front. I was moving up the side and saw a Shippensburg rider moving off the front. I started to hesitate, but then figured that I had good momentum and was feeling fine, so I'd move up also and just see what happens. Some other riders were moving up, and by the top of the climb some 5 of us had a good gap. We had 2 Shippensburg riders, a Guy's Racing (eventual winner Calvin), a Quaker City Wheelmen rider, and myself.
So we started going and working together. I had no real experience riding in a break, so it was a good learning experience. I was advised to take shorter pulls, which was a good suggestion because I'm prone to making the inexperienced mistake of doing too much, too soon. So more or less, we settled into a rotation and started flowing pretty smoothly. Our first time check came back at 30 seconds which didn't seem like too much for how we were working.
At one point I was pulling on an up hill a little too enthusiastically and the Guy's Racing rider came up and wanted to go with just the two of us. I definitely didn't have the legs for that, and thought the best move was just to regroup and keep it steady.
The next time check came at 40 seconds, good news, the gap was going the right direction.
More miles, and we get 1:10. Awesome, I think we might have a chance.
Something happened around mile 52, I thought I was doing just fine, but then all of a sudden, my legs weren't listening to my brain anymore. Somebody flipped a switch somewhere and they just shut down. I tried to cling to the back of our break, but we were all starting to splinter apart. I watched The Guys' Racing rider and one of the Shippensburg racers disappear into the distance and I knew I was done.
I figured my best bet was to slide back into the peleton and make a pack finish out of it. Soon I heard the sound of the moto coming up behind me and the pack came flying by like I was standing still. I jumped in and rode for a few more miles with the group, but kept dropping back positions. It wasn't long before I dropped back one place too many and popped off the back.
Then I was really toast, without even the motivation of a pack finish, it was a struggle to the end. Finally I peddled through the finish, dead last, someone give me the Lantern Rouge.
So dead last, but that was awesome. Unless I try things like that, I'm just going to be pack fodder, and I'm no sprinter. I'd rather have made a move, and run out of legs trying, then sit in the pack all day and go along for what amounts to little more then a group ride. This is supposed to be racing, after all.
The best way to learn is by doing. I need to ride smarter, riding in a break isn't easy, and it requires knowing one's limits and abilities. I'll know better next time. It also takes legs, and undoubtedly I need many more miles to be able to sustain that sort of pace. I had never even ridden more then about 50 miles in one go before race day. More food would have helped, one little gel pack isn't going to cut it for 60 miles of racing.
Lessons learned.
Before this race, I had really felt like I was winding down and getting tired of the typical road race scenario: ride in pack, stay in pack, get a middle of pack finish. It was getting old. I was planning on switching to triathlons (still might try some) in order to get some real racing. The upside, besides being a good learning experience (and a ton of fun) is that I'm more motivated then ever to get some real winter training in and come back stronger and fitter next season.
Congratulations to Calvin and Michael for making it.
Having never done a 60 mile RR before, I wasn't sure what to expect (can you ever be in racing?), but I knew that I would need some nutrition to be able to race for nearly 3 hours. I decided to bring 2 bottles of HEED, 1 bottle of water, a power bar, and 2 gel packs which I could tuck into my jersey pockets and not have to try and deal with the zoo that is the feed zone. It seems like I see more bottles dropped there, then actually passed off.
So the first 30 miles were fairly uneventful, a few riders had gone off the front in small groups, but early in a 60 mile RR no one was really concerned. Quaker City Wheelmen had a good group at the front of the pack for much of the race, no real chase was necessary, because the miles and hills brought these early Cat 4 riders back to the field.
We came around to one of the climbs of the course and maybe it was because I just ate a gel, but I was feeling good and decided to move towards the front. I was moving up the side and saw a Shippensburg rider moving off the front. I started to hesitate, but then figured that I had good momentum and was feeling fine, so I'd move up also and just see what happens. Some other riders were moving up, and by the top of the climb some 5 of us had a good gap. We had 2 Shippensburg riders, a Guy's Racing (eventual winner Calvin), a Quaker City Wheelmen rider, and myself.
So we started going and working together. I had no real experience riding in a break, so it was a good learning experience. I was advised to take shorter pulls, which was a good suggestion because I'm prone to making the inexperienced mistake of doing too much, too soon. So more or less, we settled into a rotation and started flowing pretty smoothly. Our first time check came back at 30 seconds which didn't seem like too much for how we were working.
At one point I was pulling on an up hill a little too enthusiastically and the Guy's Racing rider came up and wanted to go with just the two of us. I definitely didn't have the legs for that, and thought the best move was just to regroup and keep it steady.
The next time check came at 40 seconds, good news, the gap was going the right direction.
More miles, and we get 1:10. Awesome, I think we might have a chance.
Something happened around mile 52, I thought I was doing just fine, but then all of a sudden, my legs weren't listening to my brain anymore. Somebody flipped a switch somewhere and they just shut down. I tried to cling to the back of our break, but we were all starting to splinter apart. I watched The Guys' Racing rider and one of the Shippensburg racers disappear into the distance and I knew I was done.
I figured my best bet was to slide back into the peleton and make a pack finish out of it. Soon I heard the sound of the moto coming up behind me and the pack came flying by like I was standing still. I jumped in and rode for a few more miles with the group, but kept dropping back positions. It wasn't long before I dropped back one place too many and popped off the back.
Then I was really toast, without even the motivation of a pack finish, it was a struggle to the end. Finally I peddled through the finish, dead last, someone give me the Lantern Rouge.
So dead last, but that was awesome. Unless I try things like that, I'm just going to be pack fodder, and I'm no sprinter. I'd rather have made a move, and run out of legs trying, then sit in the pack all day and go along for what amounts to little more then a group ride. This is supposed to be racing, after all.
The best way to learn is by doing. I need to ride smarter, riding in a break isn't easy, and it requires knowing one's limits and abilities. I'll know better next time. It also takes legs, and undoubtedly I need many more miles to be able to sustain that sort of pace. I had never even ridden more then about 50 miles in one go before race day. More food would have helped, one little gel pack isn't going to cut it for 60 miles of racing.
Lessons learned.
Before this race, I had really felt like I was winding down and getting tired of the typical road race scenario: ride in pack, stay in pack, get a middle of pack finish. It was getting old. I was planning on switching to triathlons (still might try some) in order to get some real racing. The upside, besides being a good learning experience (and a ton of fun) is that I'm more motivated then ever to get some real winter training in and come back stronger and fitter next season.
Congratulations to Calvin and Michael for making it.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Strasburg Race Report
Positioning, positioning, positioning, I feel like the Strasburg RR was decided in the staging area before the race even began. Just like usual, I staged at the very back, and that is where I was stuck for the entire race. I managed to get a few spots on some of the very short climbs, but then immediately slid back again on the descents. I'm quite a terrible descender, but if the hills are long enough and steep enough, I can usually move up in the field. But this didn't work at Strasburg, there were too many people, we were pretty tightly packed on a narrow course, and the course was quite flat.
Imagine 60+ relatively inexperienced Cat 4s and 5s all thinking that they have a shot at winning trying to get to the front of the field in narrow country roads the last couple of hundred meters. It was a zoo, the yellow line rule went out the window and the pack got quite reckless. I backed off thinking I didn't have a shot anyway, and about then there was a big wreck up ahead in the middle of the field. It looked pretty bad, besides the clashing sounds of bikes wrecking, there was the unmistakable thudding sound of bodies hitting the asphalt. But the sound I won't forget was the shuddering moans of someone apparently in quite a bit of pain. It sounded like the demented wails of damned wraiths from the pits of hell. Ugh, I shudder remembering that....
Plus, besides the wreck there was this tight chicane in the last 200 meters or so, see this photo from a few years past. I backed off and coasted my way in to a safe finish.
In retrospect, I should have saved myself the trip and just done the Lehigh Valley Winery Circuit Race the following day nearby. That sounds like a race not to miss next year.
Imagine 60+ relatively inexperienced Cat 4s and 5s all thinking that they have a shot at winning trying to get to the front of the field in narrow country roads the last couple of hundred meters. It was a zoo, the yellow line rule went out the window and the pack got quite reckless. I backed off thinking I didn't have a shot anyway, and about then there was a big wreck up ahead in the middle of the field. It looked pretty bad, besides the clashing sounds of bikes wrecking, there was the unmistakable thudding sound of bodies hitting the asphalt. But the sound I won't forget was the shuddering moans of someone apparently in quite a bit of pain. It sounded like the demented wails of damned wraiths from the pits of hell. Ugh, I shudder remembering that....
Plus, besides the wreck there was this tight chicane in the last 200 meters or so, see this photo from a few years past. I backed off and coasted my way in to a safe finish.
In retrospect, I should have saved myself the trip and just done the Lehigh Valley Winery Circuit Race the following day nearby. That sounds like a race not to miss next year.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday Night Criteriums
So we have the fortune of having a fantastic weekly criterium series nearby in Trexlertown. I only recently discovered the series in July and joined the early race not knowing what to expect.
What I found is that it is a great place to really learn a lot, such as riding with the group, practice sprinting, and experiment with different racing strategies. Because it isn't a "serious" race, I feel free to attempt moves that I wouldn't necessarily do in an actual race. I'm not talking about risky or dumb stuff, like cutting people off or squishing into tight places, but strategic moves like taking an early flyer, trying to get a break started, how to make steady pulls in moderation, or trying to give leadouts for the sprints. The best way to learn is just to do it. I'm finding my limits, seeing how the pack reacts, and through a slow process, figuring out what does and doesn't work for me.
Of course the pack's reaction is always an uncertainty. I have a tendency to get a little too excited when I get to the front to help keep things moving. Sometimes the pack just lets me roll off the front, other times they'll string out single file and then no one wants to keep the rotation going. For my own good, I've got to learn how to pull in moderation at a steady pace.
Two weeks ago, I was coming up the little "hill" on the backside of the course with my friend David on the front, I had some extra speed and came around him. He quietly mutters "go" under his breath so I start going just to see what will happen. I look back after half a lap and I see that I've got a pretty good gap going. I hope that someone comes along, but after hesitating a bit, no one looks interested, so I decide to make a go for it solo. I get to the bell lap and my gap is holding and I focus on maintaining a sustainable pace. I don't look back until someone comes around me on the final turn into the sprint, the two of us are still safely away, but at some point he bridged up to me. I had no idea how long he was there, but he was going for the sprint and I did my best to contest the sprint points. It was close, but he definitely out kicked me in the end. My friend David did a good job sitting on the front of the field and hampering any chase effort that might started.
I'm not an explosive sprinter type; at 135 lbs, the only time I have an advantage is when the road is going significantly upwards. I do think that I have pretty decent aerobic capacity and quick recovery and I'd like to learn how to get in and stay in breaks as my best chance to place well. Plus I like riding hard for sustained efforts, it suits the runner in me. The best I've managed was a few weeks ago a break of 7 got away on a Thursday night. I think we stayed away for only 6-7 laps, but it was fun. We dropped two riders along the way and ended up with 5 for most of that time, every time a sprint lap came around we'd all go for it, and I always came across 5th, out of the points. But points weren't the point, so to speak, it was fun riding in a break. It is definitely something that one needs to practice, in order to ride smoothly, rotate steadily, and make it work.
Last Thursday a few of us decided to try and make a break happen. It didn't really work, I think our timing wasn't very good. It seems like the best strategy is to just take advantage of the right opportunity, or respond if someone else goes first.
So anyway, the Thursday night criteriums are a lot of fun, and an excellent place to learn. I think I've enjoyed this series more then any single road race or criterium, except perhaps Mt. Nebo.
What I found is that it is a great place to really learn a lot, such as riding with the group, practice sprinting, and experiment with different racing strategies. Because it isn't a "serious" race, I feel free to attempt moves that I wouldn't necessarily do in an actual race. I'm not talking about risky or dumb stuff, like cutting people off or squishing into tight places, but strategic moves like taking an early flyer, trying to get a break started, how to make steady pulls in moderation, or trying to give leadouts for the sprints. The best way to learn is just to do it. I'm finding my limits, seeing how the pack reacts, and through a slow process, figuring out what does and doesn't work for me.
Of course the pack's reaction is always an uncertainty. I have a tendency to get a little too excited when I get to the front to help keep things moving. Sometimes the pack just lets me roll off the front, other times they'll string out single file and then no one wants to keep the rotation going. For my own good, I've got to learn how to pull in moderation at a steady pace.
Two weeks ago, I was coming up the little "hill" on the backside of the course with my friend David on the front, I had some extra speed and came around him. He quietly mutters "go" under his breath so I start going just to see what will happen. I look back after half a lap and I see that I've got a pretty good gap going. I hope that someone comes along, but after hesitating a bit, no one looks interested, so I decide to make a go for it solo. I get to the bell lap and my gap is holding and I focus on maintaining a sustainable pace. I don't look back until someone comes around me on the final turn into the sprint, the two of us are still safely away, but at some point he bridged up to me. I had no idea how long he was there, but he was going for the sprint and I did my best to contest the sprint points. It was close, but he definitely out kicked me in the end. My friend David did a good job sitting on the front of the field and hampering any chase effort that might started.
I'm not an explosive sprinter type; at 135 lbs, the only time I have an advantage is when the road is going significantly upwards. I do think that I have pretty decent aerobic capacity and quick recovery and I'd like to learn how to get in and stay in breaks as my best chance to place well. Plus I like riding hard for sustained efforts, it suits the runner in me. The best I've managed was a few weeks ago a break of 7 got away on a Thursday night. I think we stayed away for only 6-7 laps, but it was fun. We dropped two riders along the way and ended up with 5 for most of that time, every time a sprint lap came around we'd all go for it, and I always came across 5th, out of the points. But points weren't the point, so to speak, it was fun riding in a break. It is definitely something that one needs to practice, in order to ride smoothly, rotate steadily, and make it work.
Last Thursday a few of us decided to try and make a break happen. It didn't really work, I think our timing wasn't very good. It seems like the best strategy is to just take advantage of the right opportunity, or respond if someone else goes first.
So anyway, the Thursday night criteriums are a lot of fun, and an excellent place to learn. I think I've enjoyed this series more then any single road race or criterium, except perhaps Mt. Nebo.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Flint Hill
Today was one of those defining workouts where it is made clear that yes, I am indeed getting faster on a bike after 9 months of training and like the famous quote goes, training doesn't make riding any easier, it just means you go faster for the same effort.
I have the fortune of living on the side of a small mountain, it makes for good views, interesting weather, and great bike riding. On any ride I take from home, I have to do plenty of climbing, either on the way out, coming back, or both. Some of my favorite rides take me up and down the mountain at the beginning and end of my ride, just like my Flint Hill Loop. That is one of my benchmark routes, I like to ride it periodically as if it were a time trial to gauge my fitness. I love climbing, and at 135 lbs it is definitely my cycling strength, I only wish the hills around here were longer, it is difficult to find any climbs more then about a mile long.
So anyway, my best ride so far this summer was somewhere around 70 minutes, but today clocked in under 63 minutes (18.4 average), a sudden improvement. I'll document it here for the sake of future comparison. My average HR was 167, 34 minutes in zone, 8 minutes below, and 21 minutes above. I always try and maintain as high a speed as possible on each of the climbs, out and back.
If I'm doing well, I can sustain over 10 mph for the entire climb. On the way back, I frequently pop near the top of the last climb, it kicks up to a max of 11%.
Today I held between 10.5 and 11 mph for the entire climb up, including the 11% section where my heart rate was hovering around 185-189 bpm. According to a bike power calculator, that was roughly 400 watts for the minute or so it took to cover that section of the mountain.
Not bad, that felt like the absolute maximum that my body could do for 60 seconds without exploding. Man, that was fun.
Really, this ride was what I needed to give my season a good kick of energy for the final weeks of road racing. I had been winding down, feeling like I didn't have much to motivate my training. Now I feel like I can see the fruits of my efforts and I'm ready to give final hurrah to the 2009 racing season.
I have the fortune of living on the side of a small mountain, it makes for good views, interesting weather, and great bike riding. On any ride I take from home, I have to do plenty of climbing, either on the way out, coming back, or both. Some of my favorite rides take me up and down the mountain at the beginning and end of my ride, just like my Flint Hill Loop. That is one of my benchmark routes, I like to ride it periodically as if it were a time trial to gauge my fitness. I love climbing, and at 135 lbs it is definitely my cycling strength, I only wish the hills around here were longer, it is difficult to find any climbs more then about a mile long.
So anyway, my best ride so far this summer was somewhere around 70 minutes, but today clocked in under 63 minutes (18.4 average), a sudden improvement. I'll document it here for the sake of future comparison. My average HR was 167, 34 minutes in zone, 8 minutes below, and 21 minutes above. I always try and maintain as high a speed as possible on each of the climbs, out and back.
If I'm doing well, I can sustain over 10 mph for the entire climb. On the way back, I frequently pop near the top of the last climb, it kicks up to a max of 11%.
Today I held between 10.5 and 11 mph for the entire climb up, including the 11% section where my heart rate was hovering around 185-189 bpm. According to a bike power calculator, that was roughly 400 watts for the minute or so it took to cover that section of the mountain.
Not bad, that felt like the absolute maximum that my body could do for 60 seconds without exploding. Man, that was fun.
Really, this ride was what I needed to give my season a good kick of energy for the final weeks of road racing. I had been winding down, feeling like I didn't have much to motivate my training. Now I feel like I can see the fruits of my efforts and I'm ready to give final hurrah to the 2009 racing season.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
They say it is only a matter of time...
...before every bike racer goes down in an accident. Well my time came at the Cat 4 Deodate Road race.
It couldn't have been much more gentle if I had been gently lowered onto a bed of cotton balls by a stork. I heard some crashing sounds and the riders in front of me are playing the fall down game right in the middle of the road. I'm trying to brake to a stop, steer to the grass, and not roll over the guy in front of me doing a rather elegant tuck and roll maneuver. It all happened in a split second, but I saw it in slow motion. I tumbled down and quickly assessed the situation, blades of grass were sticking out of various orifices (bicycle, mostly), but no one looked hurt. One guy was swearing up a storm, but he was just pissed off. So I grabbed my bike, jumped back on the road, clipped in, and tore off.
I realized my chances of chasing back on solo were slim, so I waited up for another guy. I asked him if he wanted to try and chase back on, and he did, so we went. It was tough, and we got the pack to within 20 seconds and I just couldn't seem to close the final gap. It took hard work, but finally, after about 5 miles, we hooked up. After a brief instant of relief, I had a moment of shock and disappointment when I looked around and the race numbers I saw were all wrong. It looked like the masters 35 45+ race... I was getting ready to charge off the front in search of the Cat 4s, when I realized that they were all up there, apparently we had swept up a bunch of riders from the master's race.
Then it came down to positioning again. It was bell lap and I had 6 miles to recover a bit, and try to move up again. I made it to the front 10 or so, and got pushed off onto the grass. Although I managed to stay up I was in the back of the field again. The final kilometer has two sweeping 90 degree turns, before the last 300 meters. I was trying to move up again and a guy in front of me goes off into the grass and skids to a stop before the corn field so I had to back off. Finally, we're going around the final turn and I'm surprised my legs still feel so good. The last 200 meters and I'm weaving around people, moving up quickly, and passing a bunch of people. I ended up 10th again, not bad for chasing back on after the accident.
The lesson learned is bike racing is like real estate, position, position, position. Although I made it to the front of the pack several times, I quickly slid back again when I'd get stuck behind a slow wheel. Strategically, if I'd been more willing to work on the front, I would have been able to maintain a good position as well as miss out on the wrecks at the back of the pack.
Kudos to Levi for taking the win, it was well deserved. He did a ton of work at the front. Levi is a classy, courteous, and selfless rider. The few times I've raced with him, he's stood out for his willingness to work hard, and help out any other rider who is also willing to put forth the effort. At the Smoketown airport crit Cat 5 race he offered me his wheel to help me take a preme.
It couldn't have been much more gentle if I had been gently lowered onto a bed of cotton balls by a stork. I heard some crashing sounds and the riders in front of me are playing the fall down game right in the middle of the road. I'm trying to brake to a stop, steer to the grass, and not roll over the guy in front of me doing a rather elegant tuck and roll maneuver. It all happened in a split second, but I saw it in slow motion. I tumbled down and quickly assessed the situation, blades of grass were sticking out of various orifices (bicycle, mostly), but no one looked hurt. One guy was swearing up a storm, but he was just pissed off. So I grabbed my bike, jumped back on the road, clipped in, and tore off.
I realized my chances of chasing back on solo were slim, so I waited up for another guy. I asked him if he wanted to try and chase back on, and he did, so we went. It was tough, and we got the pack to within 20 seconds and I just couldn't seem to close the final gap. It took hard work, but finally, after about 5 miles, we hooked up. After a brief instant of relief, I had a moment of shock and disappointment when I looked around and the race numbers I saw were all wrong. It looked like the masters 35 45+ race... I was getting ready to charge off the front in search of the Cat 4s, when I realized that they were all up there, apparently we had swept up a bunch of riders from the master's race.
Then it came down to positioning again. It was bell lap and I had 6 miles to recover a bit, and try to move up again. I made it to the front 10 or so, and got pushed off onto the grass. Although I managed to stay up I was in the back of the field again. The final kilometer has two sweeping 90 degree turns, before the last 300 meters. I was trying to move up again and a guy in front of me goes off into the grass and skids to a stop before the corn field so I had to back off. Finally, we're going around the final turn and I'm surprised my legs still feel so good. The last 200 meters and I'm weaving around people, moving up quickly, and passing a bunch of people. I ended up 10th again, not bad for chasing back on after the accident.
The lesson learned is bike racing is like real estate, position, position, position. Although I made it to the front of the pack several times, I quickly slid back again when I'd get stuck behind a slow wheel. Strategically, if I'd been more willing to work on the front, I would have been able to maintain a good position as well as miss out on the wrecks at the back of the pack.
Kudos to Levi for taking the win, it was well deserved. He did a ton of work at the front. Levi is a classy, courteous, and selfless rider. The few times I've raced with him, he's stood out for his willingness to work hard, and help out any other rider who is also willing to put forth the effort. At the Smoketown airport crit Cat 5 race he offered me his wheel to help me take a preme.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
2009 TDF
Wow, a week after the Tour is over, and the fallout is still coming down around us. That was three weeks of full on racing excitement, drama, disappointments, and displays of desire and determination. (go alliteration)
The hot topic is, of course, the Contador vs Armstrong showdown. I won't repeat what others have said better then I, but everyone seems to have chosen a side. It is a topic to consume group rides for months to come.
It seems to me that Contador was put in a very tough situation, one that never should have happened in the first place. Two riders with ambitions to win the tour can't be expected to gell together well on the same team. This is a story that has only just begun, the best parts will come next July when the two compete again, but as rivals instead of teamates.
Contador, despite being signed on as the team leader, was put in the difficult situation of having to emphasize that point with a statement directly from his legs. Dominating the mountains and winning an individual time trial? Certainly there can't be doubts about his incredible cycling ability.
I think it was unfair to Contador for Armstrong to join up with Astana and expect the team leader to step aside, and achieve team unity. While they were able to maintain a facade on the road, tempers flared afterward and harsh words were exchanged by both. Contador seems to have unleashed the opening rounds, he obviously felt mistreated and psychologically frustrated by his experiences over the past few months.
Although I'm awed with Contador's display of biking power and I think he was mistreated by his own team director and teamates, I still find the idea of Armstrong in yellow again a thrilling prospect. Armstrong seems to have the ability to build up teams around him with a natural leadership style. While it may have resulted in high tensions and split loyalties at Astana, I'm looking forward to seeing him compete on his own team, with his squad, against a Contador fully supported by his own loyal team. That will ultimately make for better bike racing.
Oh man, I can't wait...
But really, that's only a small story in the great novel that was the Tour.
Talk about Team work, Columbia HTC continued to put on displays of team awesomeness. Yes, that is a word, Columbia HTC just invented it. Really, they did it all, splitting the field in Stage 3, beautifully coordinated leadouts by Hincapie, Renshaw, and others for Cavendish, Tony Martin contending for best young rider (until Andy Schleck ran away with it) and duking it out on Ventoux with eventual stage winner Garate. Not to mention Hincapie barely missing out on yellow himself and doing his final leadouts with a fracture. Columbia HTC was a model of teamwork.
I loved watching Heinrich Haussler solo away to his first big win on stage 13. That was intense, the picture speaks for itself.
Plus the mighty solo romp by Thor to sweep up the top sprint points. Dashing through the mountains was the best response to any doubts about how he earned that Green Jersey. And earn it he did.
And more, you gotta love the mighty duo of the Schleck brothers. If I could ever join a pro cycling team of my choosing (ya right), I'd jump on board with Saxo Bank for many reasons. Watching the two brothers work together especially on Ventoux was an impressive display of selflessness. That's the kind of stuff that makes cycling so great.
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