ridethecliche

I figure people always post race reports in the 'Training Status' thread. So why not a thread just for race reports and stats?

Training data and stuff can be posted on the 'Training Status' thread too, but I love reading race reports, and it'd be nice to see them all at once!


I'll start!

ridethecliche

Raced today. Did the Princeton Classic Crit.

Did the 4/5: 10th of 30.
And 3/4 mixed with masters: DNF

First real ride in over a week, and first race of the season. I'll take the 10th.
Got really bad calf cramps at the end of the first race race and decided to start the second but pulled out a few minutes in since my calf was hurting. Now my right knee feels a little funny, but it didn't hurt while riding, and doesn't hurt, so whatever.

No back pain! I was in the drops for most of the race today!

I just couldn't get a draft for some reason. There was a nice little hill on the course and I used that to get ahead of people and just catch up with others, but I felt like I was lagging around on the straightaways. I need to get the draft next time!

I think I would have placed better had I used my 'aero' wheels, but I didn't want to throw them on for the first race of the season. Perhaps I'll use them for tomorrow. I want to contend for the sprint finish.

I decided to crash the ECCC party and race at rutgers tomorrow. Time to rest up, and go out again. I'll make sure everything is right with the new wheels later tonight. I need to take a nap!

Stats:

Crit #1:
SRM #1:
Duration: 29:04 (29:30)
Work: 372 kJ
TSS: 60.3 (intensity factor 1.116)
Norm Power: 279
VI: 1.31

Distance: 9.805 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1010 213 watts
Cadence: 29 174 85 rpm
Speed: 3.7 31.4 20.2 mph

Best 20 min interval:

Duration: 20:00 (20:19)
Work: 275 kJ
TSS: 42.9 (intensity factor 1.134)
Norm Power: 284
VI: 1.24
Pw:HR: -173.08%
Pa:HR: -245.12%
Distance: 6.963 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 887 229 watts
Cadence: 29 174 87 rpm
Speed: 11.4 31.1 20.9 mph

waysidekoi

Attended my first race today at the Branch Brook Park Training Series--Cat 4/5 mix

First two laps went well though I definetly didn't expect the breakneck speeds. Straightaways ranged from 22-30 mph. I hung on with no intention of placing and kept within eyeshot of the leaders.

The course included a 90 degree turn which allowed people to catch up, but once you got out of the turn, speeds ramped up to 25mph. After 4 or 5 laps of this I couldn't dig deep enough to keep up the sprint out of the turn and got my first DNF.

Got my ***** whupped today but that's not enough to keep me away next week

ridethecliche

Good on you for going back! I'll probably hit up that race on the 21st!

substructure

River Falls, Masters 35+

https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...6&postcount=99

If anyone cares:

Masters 35+. I finished 20th even. I think the field was 65+. It was brutal. Each lap the climb took more people and flicked them off the main group. I was on the back a lot just kind of anxious. You know? I just couldn't shake the wreck off my mind. And I didn't want to screw something up on the front. But I hung on as the field dwindled down.

Second to last lap, the climb really shredded the field. On the down side there was a monster gap between a few of us and 20 or so ahead of us. I dropped my head and hammered for what seemed like miles alone to cover the gap. Eventually three guys caught me and we worked together to catch the lead group. We did. I sat in and recovered.

Final lap the group slowed and more guys caught on. I really thought there would be less guys - and not including me. But I'd say there were 30 of us at the end. We got to the climb and me and my Ciocc wiggled through the crowd to pick a few spots. I finished ahead of all my team mates. Six of us I think.

I found out there was a 3 man break that got away and stayed. No biggie.

I feel great. It's so nice to finish a race finally. The only thing is that this bike is not fit for me at all and my left leg really started cramping on the last climb. I need to do something before tomorrow's race. Find out something I can do so I don't cramp again.

irish pat

I did the Branch brook series as well-1/2/3 field. It was fast and fun, I was in or near LT for the whole race, ended up being about 27mph. There was a crash right in front of me, with one to go, but I had flashbacks of previous accidents, so I braked and did a cyclocross dismount onto the kerb at the same time-Thank God no one ran into the back of me, but as I jumped onto the Kerb, another guy narrowly missed me and went don on the first crash-he broke his Zipp rim, the other guy thrashed his Powertap wheel. My CX bike, which I race in early season, for this particular reason, survived unscathed.

I got back on the bike after checking the two riders and tried to bridge the gap to the pack, with only one lap left, I got into VO2 and hammered, but never caught them, but, man, I got a workout and finished.
All in all, "I'm a happy camper!"

botto 

irish pat takes the lead for best race report.

irish pat

Thanks Botto, coming from a "tough nut" like you, that means a lot.

MrCrassic 

Race: Johnson Park Time Trial @ Rutgers University, ECCC Season Opener

This was SO much better than the other time trials I've done before. I paced myself really nicely, and was able to hold a great cadence and not blow up. I didn't have my HRM, but if my RPE is good, I was at LT for 3/4 of the course, and hit my AT at about 1/2 in (which is what I wanted). I really wanted to hit my max towards the last few hundred meters, but I didn't work hard enough. I got caught by a rider that started right before I did, but that was at the very end. I should've fought for the finish, but I was happier about how the entire ride was going. I will definitely catch next time. Haven't found results yet, but I'm sure I beat my time from last year.

Race: Princeton Stadium Classic Criterum @ Princeton, NJ

This wasn't as good, unfortunately. I started in a really bad position (in the back) because I made the line late (big no-no!). Additionally, my chain dropped while shifting to the big ring on the 2nd lap out of 10 (or 15?). I stopped on the side and fixed it, but got pulled on the 5th lap. I dropped a few people afterwards, even on the short rise.

The issue that really hurt me in this race was my initial mentality towards the crit. I didn't want to do it. I saw others doing it (and they were burning matches), which made me really not want to do it. This is a separate issue that I would really like to deal with separately, so I'll make a post about it. I already have a plan to get more acquainted with them though.

I do know that I'm racing a lot more this year. This race was going to determine whether I was going to race more or not, and I think I gained some motivation again.

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ridethecliche

Nice meeting you today Crassic!

jdott

Rocky Mountain Raceway Criterium - West Valley, UT. Rode in the C flight (since I'm a Cat 5). I started, I finished, I did not crash - mission accomplished. Next week I'll try to be more competitive - this week, I wanted to get my feet wet safely. I also learned that base miles outside and intervals on the trainer don't translate well on the track.

Frunkin

MWCCC Depauw RR. Men's A
-48 miles of fun. I was a lot more active in the race this time. I was in a few short lived breaks, and generally had a pretty easy time moving around. We didn't go hard enough so there were 40ish people sprinting for the finish, and it was a little crazy. No results but hopefully top 20.

-5 mile TTT. Sucked. My legs were dead. One guy got dropped right away so I had to actually finish. No idea on results.

Red Rider

Berkeley Bicycle Club Team Time Trial

I rode with a CAT 3 in the Women's 80+ group. The weather was perfect, sun, roads mostly dry, temps in the 50s at the start. We went off at 9:36 and jumped to a fast start. My first TT and first time around the course; no race nerves and finding my legs early on were major plusses. I was close to L/T the entire time but had confidence in my ability to work there over time. Saved enough for the last big climb where I shifted up, pulled ahead of my teammate, and took off. We screamed downhill pedaling as fast as we could so we had speed to help us set up for the next uphill, where the finish awaited. We were accelerating so much that we gained on the team in front of us and had to blow by them as they limped across the finish.

We won't know our placings but my 'mate was pleased with our speed (she's done it before). I was happy to have speed and strength and a big kick at the end.

Second Mouse

Same race, spent most of my time at the back of the group, went off the front for a couple of laps which was fun. Counted eight riders in front of me at the finish, but apparently half of them had been lapped so I got 5th. Good day. No crashes in any of the races, as jdott mentioned, one near miss in the 3/4 group. 40° and clear.

We need a BF armband or haircut or tatoo or something so we can figure out who's who.

timster

I had my first race today (trade zone crit). My goal was to not crash and finish with the pack. After the first couple laps, the jitters were pretty much gone, and I found the pace was actually pretty comfortable. I didn't have any problem staying towards the front of the pack. After the second turn, there was a slight uphill section where the pack seemed to take it somewhat slower than I could have, so I used this section to recover each lap if needed. The pace on the last lap picked up a bit, especially after the last turn. I don't think my sprint is that great, but somehow I managed to stay towards the front of the pack. I'm guessing I finished somewhere around 10th-15th.

Overall, I was extremely happy with how I did for my first race. I can't wait til next week :)

Race:
Distance: 20.27 miles
Time: 00:50:17
Avg: 24.18 mph
Max: 36.39 mph

Fastest Lap (last lap):
Distance 1.34 miles
Time: 00:03:00
Avg: 26.75 mph

substructure

Good show. Are you addicted now?

fauxto nick

I raced the Artic Ave crit in Dominguez Hills CA. It was my 7th CAT 5 race and didn't go so great, I was tired from my crit yesterday. Ended up going way too hard out on the front in the first two laps and sucked wheel off the back of the pack. Once again I ended up coming in probably in the last 10-15 racers. I have to say this was a pretty disappointing weekend of racing, at least I'm 3 races away from getting out of 5.

timster

YES. I can't wait to get out there and race again.

dmb2786

Sat. Race: Cullops Imports Crit.

4/5 field. 150ish degree turn. rough pavement. 3 crashes. clipped a pedal for the first time. stayed upright. pack finish. maybe top 20 out of 50.

Sun. Race: Snowball Crit #2

5/Wm/Jr field. all sweeping turns. still three crashes. one took a guy out on a stretcher. i was behind that one. no escape route. locked up the rear wheel. fishtailed a bit. managed to stay upright. never got back to the pack. disappointing.

MrCrassic 

Likewise!

Turns out that my TT time improved by a minute from last year.

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ZeCanon

Nicely done!

BigSean

Menlo Park Grand Prix,
35+ 3/4 top 25 out of 100.
Cat 4 pack finish another full field 100.

Over all no great finishs today. But after being sick for the past 3 weeks and sacraficing alot of training, Im pretty happy about it. I moved around alot in the 3/4 race and spent a bit too much energy doing so. The 4's race I stayed near the front for most of the race. The last 2 laps the legs were cooked. Strong winds made it a fun but paiful race. I intended this to be a race myself back into shape day and I feel like I did a pretty good job of it. Sure was alot of fun.

Cleave

Hi,

Arctic Avenue Criterium, Dominguez Hills, CA.

Masters 50+: Got caught behind a big crash coming up to 2 to go. Finished OTB with a couple of other guys.

Masters 40+ 1/2/3: Thurlow was drilling it at the front and I was gagging at the back. Got dropped 35 min into a 60 min race. DNF.

cedricbosch

Stage race this weekend, 50+ riders so tons of points to be had. Won one race and came in 3rd in the next, 17 upgrade points for me, more than enough for a cat upgrade. Awesome!

fishmel

Excellent job, great way to upgrade!