2015 Race Results
04-17-15, 05:04 PM
#829
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This is me and bike racing
(Garfunkle and Oates - Loser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw2qEUwFbGM
It's all good. Or mostly good, at any rate.
(Garfunkle and Oates - Loser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw2qEUwFbGM
It's all good. Or mostly good, at any rate.
"Better to be a loser than a spectator."
04-17-15, 06:41 PM
#832
Senior Member
I am really high on racing right now and the last couple of weeks I have experienced positive feelings while racing, that are hard to describe. Those moments are not correlated with "success" in terms of finishing well.
At New Britain on Sunday (the race CDR won), 2nd race of my day, really hard effort at the end of the first race, and a minor cardiac episode between races -- all of which is just to say, in a somewhat physically raw state -- there was a long stretch where I was in the back 1/3 of a big pack on a narrow course and I felt like I sort of disappeared into the peloton, part of a giant organism flowing around the course, no sense of my own legs working, no higher brain thoughts of "close that gap, don't get pinched", etc. Same thing happened in the fairgrounds race, stretches of time while taking a pull that I had a vague sense I was working hard but carving through the s-turn just felt natural and selfless. (During a couple of those moments I noticed I had ridden the guys off my wheel and had to consciously intervene with the flow to dial it back a little bit, although glancing at the PM didn't show anything too crazy.)
I think this is what people mean when they talk about being in the zone. I also think everybody experiences it differently. Driving home from NB I was talking to a teammate about it and he somewhat embarrassedly said that while he was negotiating the field sprint he felt like he was a tie fighter in a star wars movie, weaving through a space battle. I think he was describing the same sort of thing. It's so hard to describe because in one way it's like losing yourself, but at the same time it's like being the purest, rawest you that you can be, with no ego observing and judging your actions. I guess you could even call it spiritual. It's also very addictive; regular everyday life seems pale and washed out compared to those heightened moments.
Again, this has nothing to do with results or success as measured by anyone else. It also doesn't require being stronger or smarter than everyone else. It just requires enough fitness to be able to do what others are doing with enough oxygen left to feed your brain, and enough experience not to be nervous about the moment-to-moment management of your body and your bike.
At New Britain on Sunday (the race CDR won), 2nd race of my day, really hard effort at the end of the first race, and a minor cardiac episode between races -- all of which is just to say, in a somewhat physically raw state -- there was a long stretch where I was in the back 1/3 of a big pack on a narrow course and I felt like I sort of disappeared into the peloton, part of a giant organism flowing around the course, no sense of my own legs working, no higher brain thoughts of "close that gap, don't get pinched", etc. Same thing happened in the fairgrounds race, stretches of time while taking a pull that I had a vague sense I was working hard but carving through the s-turn just felt natural and selfless. (During a couple of those moments I noticed I had ridden the guys off my wheel and had to consciously intervene with the flow to dial it back a little bit, although glancing at the PM didn't show anything too crazy.)
I think this is what people mean when they talk about being in the zone. I also think everybody experiences it differently. Driving home from NB I was talking to a teammate about it and he somewhat embarrassedly said that while he was negotiating the field sprint he felt like he was a tie fighter in a star wars movie, weaving through a space battle. I think he was describing the same sort of thing. It's so hard to describe because in one way it's like losing yourself, but at the same time it's like being the purest, rawest you that you can be, with no ego observing and judging your actions. I guess you could even call it spiritual. It's also very addictive; regular everyday life seems pale and washed out compared to those heightened moments.
Again, this has nothing to do with results or success as measured by anyone else. It also doesn't require being stronger or smarter than everyone else. It just requires enough fitness to be able to do what others are doing with enough oxygen left to feed your brain, and enough experience not to be nervous about the moment-to-moment management of your body and your bike.
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
04-18-15, 08:08 AM
#833
out walking the earth
prospect park -
2 away with a lap 1/2 to go. British TT guy dropped the other guy. Field got confused whether we caught both or not (uh, no lead vehicle?). He stayed away and I won the sprint for second. I did blow by an ex doper in the process, which was nice.
2 away with a lap 1/2 to go. British TT guy dropped the other guy. Field got confused whether we caught both or not (uh, no lead vehicle?). He stayed away and I won the sprint for second. I did blow by an ex doper in the process, which was nice.
Last edited by gsteinb; 04-18-15 at 10:06 AM.
04-18-15, 12:41 PM
#834
Nonsense
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Battenkill. 6th or 7th or something around that, I dunno. There's a whole bunch of tactical BS I could say and break down the final 2k where the real race began but I'll just say this - I've been busting serious ass since like September hoping that the work put in would be looked upon agreeably by the bike furies above, and to finally start seeing it pay off at a race that is no joke is the type of catharsis that is hard to express. I know that I feel like a real bike racer again for the first time in like years, and that this is the type of thing that clears out the ear wax so to speak and lets you get the **** on with snagging more results.
I'm going to go hunt down a tactical burrito, for I am doing the gran fondo tomorrow.
Edit: Apparently, 9th. Insert a Fudgy 'drip drip' here.
I'm going to go hunt down a tactical burrito, for I am doing the gran fondo tomorrow.
Edit: Apparently, 9th. Insert a Fudgy 'drip drip' here.
Last edited by TheKillerPenguin; 04-18-15 at 01:23 PM.
04-18-15, 01:16 PM
#835
Not actually Tmonk
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04-18-15, 02:47 PM
#838
Nonsense
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I'm kicking myself a bit now that I've had time to reflect. There was a final climb about 1k in length at 3k to go, there was a surge as I expected, and I countered it as i intended and wound up solo about a second or so in front of everyone else until I was bridged to, and then we unfortunately hesitated for a second at 400m to go and were caught about then.
I'm still figuring out where I stand with regard to the other dudes at the pointy end and so I didn't really realize that I'm able to climb really fast relative to others, so if I could do it again I would've just gone as hard as I did but from much farther down the climb, instead of in the last 1/3rd of it. My gut says it would've given me the gap necessary to solo in for 5th behind the remnants of a breakaway instead of getting caught essentially within sight of the finish. Lessons for next time.
I'm still figuring out where I stand with regard to the other dudes at the pointy end and so I didn't really realize that I'm able to climb really fast relative to others, so if I could do it again I would've just gone as hard as I did but from much farther down the climb, instead of in the last 1/3rd of it. My gut says it would've given me the gap necessary to solo in for 5th behind the remnants of a breakaway instead of getting caught essentially within sight of the finish. Lessons for next time.
04-18-15, 05:17 PM
#839
Senior Member
Raced around a bit for 20 minutes, caught up behind a crash and had to do some impromptu cyclocross in the grass to avoid getting caught in the crash. Chased and almost caught back up, but everyone ended up being stopped at the start finish..neutralized for 25 minutes while we waited for an ambulance to come get one of the guys that went down. Short laps on the track avoiding the section after the start finish everyone just chatting and riding along. Restarted and 1.5 laps later I couldn't go up the hill again at speed. ****. Ended up catching up to one other guy on the last lap and asked him if he wanted to sprint for not last..he said no since he was pretty much cooked..well coming into the start finish he was on my wheel and I hear him dump his cassette...I won the offthebackistan sprint.
I really need to get comfortable again IN the pack, and stop riding at the edges/back.
I really need to get comfortable again IN the pack, and stop riding at the edges/back.
04-18-15, 05:28 PM
#840
Senior Member
battenkill was...weird. i got dropped really early, which sucked. but i'm not terribly surprised and honestly by the end i was so absolutely destroyed so like...what're you gonna do? beautiful day, one of a kind course, and I'm in one piece, so like...life could be a lot worse.
bike racing...like banging your head against the wall. yet for some reason, i keep coming back.
got to meet teton though and saw gc and tkp
bike racing...like banging your head against the wall. yet for some reason, i keep coming back.
got to meet teton though and saw gc and tkp
04-18-15, 05:30 PM
#841
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Wylde, it's really hard to get going again after a long break like that. It can be hard enough after a free lap. Keep working at it.
Mikey, good on you for hanging in and finishing.
Mikey, good on you for hanging in and finishing.
04-18-15, 05:53 PM
#842
commu*ist spy
very technical cat 4 crit. 8 turns/lap. Held position but some guy in the front crashed out, and took me with him. I took my free lap, bridged with the chase group, moved up trying t9 bridge, and crashed AGAIN at the exact same spot. Apparently some assho was clearing out water from a driveway that bled right into the corner. ****. My elbow got the worst of it. I hope t9 not feel like **** tomorrow and be able to race again.
04-18-15, 08:46 PM
#843
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3rd in p123, 80 mile road race. Podium we were missing 2nd so i stood second just for the picture.
04-19-15, 02:23 PM
#845
Ninny
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Battenkill 45+. Dropped on Stage Road, chased back to the front. Dropped on Juniper Swamp, chased back to the front. Dropped on Joe Beane, there's only so many times you can chase back. 13th of 52.
I had a lot left at the end. Just a case of not enough watts and too many kilograms on the hills. Ended up about where I would have predicted, maybe a little better, so I can't complain. Lovely day too.
The new venue is sooo much better than the old one. Both days the event had the feel of a big, fun, successful fair.
I had a lot left at the end. Just a case of not enough watts and too many kilograms on the hills. Ended up about where I would have predicted, maybe a little better, so I can't complain. Lovely day too.
The new venue is sooo much better than the old one. Both days the event had the feel of a big, fun, successful fair.
04-20-15, 12:00 AM
#846
**** that
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very technical cat 4 crit. 8 turns/lap. Held position but some guy in the front crashed out, and took me with him. I took my free lap, bridged with the chase group, moved up trying t9 bridge, and crashed AGAIN at the exact same spot. Apparently some assho was clearing out water from a driveway that bled right into the corner. ****. My elbow got the worst of it. I hope t9 not feel like **** tomorrow and be able to race again.
that's great.
04-20-15, 12:04 AM
#847
**** that
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Red Kite crits, did the 35+ and the p/1/2. Top 10 in both.
Getting 7th in the 35+ race really stings the ego! @Ygduf warned me about this and was right.
It oddly felt more dangerous than the p/1/2; guys were trying so hard not to crash and/or being scared that they were dangerous. Also, guys would get in breaks then not do anything, like 5 times. Is that a masters thing??
5th in the p1/2 was better, but of course I would've liked to have finished further up! Was told I was moving around too much when surfing leadout trains at the end, but that's what surfing leadout trains is all about!
Getting 7th in the 35+ race really stings the ego! @Ygduf warned me about this and was right.
It oddly felt more dangerous than the p/1/2; guys were trying so hard not to crash and/or being scared that they were dangerous. Also, guys would get in breaks then not do anything, like 5 times. Is that a masters thing??
5th in the p1/2 was better, but of course I would've liked to have finished further up! Was told I was moving around too much when surfing leadout trains at the end, but that's what surfing leadout trains is all about!
04-20-15, 05:14 AM
#848
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Battenkill 45+. Dropped on Stage Road, chased back to the front. Dropped on Juniper Swamp, chased back to the front. Dropped on Joe Beane, there's only so many times you can chase back. 13th of 52.
I had a lot left at the end. Just a case of not enough watts and too many kilograms on the hills. Ended up about where I would have predicted, maybe a little better, so I can't complain. Lovely day too.
The new venue is sooo much better than the old one. Both days the event had the feel of a big, fun, successful fair.
I had a lot left at the end. Just a case of not enough watts and too many kilograms on the hills. Ended up about where I would have predicted, maybe a little better, so I can't complain. Lovely day too.
The new venue is sooo much better than the old one. Both days the event had the feel of a big, fun, successful fair.
Postmortem time! I feel fine about this result but of course spent the night mulling it over.
On Stage Rd, the first climb, I set a 5 minute PR of 5.2 w/kg while getting dropped. Obviously, need more watts or fewer kg. 5-10 lb weight loss from here is realistic/achievable, and 10 fewer lbs would have had me at the front of the race over that climb.
But even as a fatty, I caught back on and was with the front of the race at the bottom of Joe Beane, the last climb. I see that last year I did the climb 30 seconds faster than this year (because the climb was at mile 25 last year vs mile 50 this year). 30 seconds faster would have had me at the front of the race over that climb. That seems like it's about CTL. Current CTL is only about 70, something closer to 85 might have left me with enough in the tank to be able to compete on the climb.
So, those are the lessons. 10 fewer lbs and 15 more points of CTL for next year and I can maybe be at the pointy end. Both are achievable (though not easy of course).
04-20-15, 07:07 AM
#850
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nice work. I was in that race, we were going pretty fast. unfortunately I got my rear wheel into someone's skewer about half way through and had to DNF with a shredded rear wheel. fortunately no skin loss.
