"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - tradezone training crit race report

I came into todays race still irked over yesterdays race being cancelled and there was a dead dear chilling right by the start/finish line so I knew something wasnt going to be right. I signed up to do two races anyway, the 5 and the 3/4/5.

Being my 5th race I am starting to get over the nerves and that jazz. Finally starting to know what I need for a warm up, etc.

Warming up I felt ok. The weather was warmer then I expected and the roads har dried out pretty good from last nights rain so that made me feel even better. It wasnt as windy as last week but there seemed to be more wind through out the course.

I got into line to go and it was the first time I did things like survey the field. I paid attention to all the first time racers and I eyed the guy that some how snuck off and solod for the win last week (Im still not sure how that happened). Everyone was pointing to him at the startline and I think giving him too much attention. I really think it was a lucky for him to get away. NO ONE knew there was someone off the front last week.

When the race started I was sitting about 10 back. The guy from last week tried to go again but no one was letting that happen again. After only 2 or so laps I already found myself at the back. This sucked. I really had to work to get my way back up. The entire time the guy from last week kept attacking so it made me have to use more effort to get up the group. It seemed like as soon as I would get there the futile attacks would go and everyone would freakout and sprint them down and this would kill me and I would drift to the back.

Halfway in I was getting upset because I just wasnt having a good day. I was having trouble finding a good wheel to stay on and I wasnt constantly working my way up. Instead when I finally got on a wheel it always seemed to be a weak one and the next thing I knew I was some where near the back again.

This time when the primes came I didnt even bother. Not wasting energy there. With 3 laps to go I got my way back up to the front 3rd or so but they had another prime so I chilled out and let people get around me.

Now with 2 laps to go I figure I will just get my way up front and be in good shape again. However getting my way to the front really wore me out. On the last lap on the first corner when people started to push the pace I just struggled to stay on a wheel. When people attacked I told myself to relax and just let them get reeled in. Unfortunately everyone else freaks out so I have to sprint along with them. At the second to last corner there were too many people ahead of me and I couldnt do much about it. I kept hoping to myself that on the last corner people would get bunched together. Unfortunately that didnt happen and as I went around the last corner I must have been in the back half. I got to the outside and sprinted a bit to get me going but I could see down the road everyone strung out and people approaching the line so I just stayed seated and hammered away and still passed a bunch of people. As I got to the line I think I was 9th.

I was pretty dissappointed with this after last week. combined with the lack of racing the day before I felt like I should have been stronger. Unfortunately/fortunately I didnt have much time to dwell on this because the 3/4/5 race was going to start in a few minutes.


I got in line for the next race and positioned myself behind drpete right in the front. I knew his ability and he had a million teammates so I was hoping I could just follow him and try to hang on.

I didnt have many expectations for this race. It was my first time racing twice in one day and the biggest field by far (75). As long as I could hang for a couple laps I would be happy. I told pete I would be done by two laps.

As the race started I stayed in the front. I suprisingly felt pretty good. However as the race progressed I was still in a funk and just didnt have the energy/care to keep advancing so I drifted into the back. After 6 of 20 laps I was off the back and I was done for the day.

Ultimately this made me feel worse. I felt like I should have tried more in this race since I had a bad result in the first race. Oh well.

Overall I realized my fitness right now just isnt that good. My lack of base is showing and I didnt race smart enough to make up for it today.

I think the thing I learned the most today is that I dont seem to really know where am in the pack. Several times in all my races so far there are numerous times that I think I am in pretty good shape and to my shock I find myself near the back.

Good report. It is also good o identify your weaknesses so that you can work on them. Put the time in on bringing them up, and you will do yourself proud. Thanks for the report.

Sorry the B race didn't treat you so well... It was a pretty fast pace, though, because there was a lot of attacking/counterattacking going on up front, with no really viable breaks until the end. That included a couple attempts by yours truly, but the pack just wasn't in the mood to let a break stick. We did manage to get a couple teammates into the break at the end, so all in all it was a good day.

Don't be so hard on yourself, though--9th is a pretty decent place to be, and I wouldn't be discouraged about getting dropped by a bunch of 3's and 4's in your second race that day... You're faster than you think, but you're setting some pretty lofty expectations for yourself.

im mainly discouraged by getting dropped by the 3/4s mainly because I think it was more mental then physical. The 25 minutes I was in the B race the speed was actually pretty similiar, maybe .5 to a mile faster. I am pretty sure if I only raced the B I would finish with the group. Honestly, at this point I probably should race one of those instead of the 5 only but the more experience the better.

You can't be in the medals every race. Top 3 last week (ok, I know it was a 4th) and a top 10 today out of a field of 50(?). That's pretty good for only having 5 races under your belt.

Here's my powertap data from the race. There were some pretty hard accelerations in there. I was hurting, and it was the only race I did today. ;)

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/MyScreenHunter.jpg

didnt i tell you know more pt stats until mine comes in!

But I thought these might make you feel better! D'oh! Backfire! :(

holy moly, that looks like some pain!

holy moly, that looks like some pain!

Now would be a good time to remind everyone that I weigh 91 kg. ;)

im just joshin ya pete.

actually looking at those number it does look like that race was tougher.

Riskus:

Don't worry. I am going to lead you out for the win next week at President's Cup.... So get your sprint legs ready boss.....

the presidents cup is going to be my 3rd race that weekend!

That was a great race, and very fast for this time of year. Last year no one made an effort until Jeff Cup. I fell out after the first prime when the pace got kind of crazy. It's going to be a long year for me.

i forgot to mention the guy that won last week totally blew up on the last lap and must have finished in the back of the field.

I like "doubling up" for crits, especially those that are a longer drive, but 2 races in 1 day can really take it out of you. I dont have 2 races in 1 day in my legs right now, not sure I even have 2 races in 1 weekend in my legs right now. It's just getting to be mid march, long season ahead, so dont sweat it.

Just a thought - you might want to save some arrows for that UMD crit, if last year is any indication, it will be significantly more difficult than the quicksilver or tradezone training series. Last year, the race I did at UMD had about 70 starters, 12 finished, the rest were lapped and pulled. Cat 5 race was very similar, IMO, it's a tough technical course.

Just a thought - you might want to save some arrows for that UMD crit, if last year is any indication, it will be significantly more difficult than the quicksilver or tradezone training series. Last year, the race I did at UMD had about 70 starters, 12 finished, the rest were lapped and pulled. Cat 5 race was very similar, IMO, it's a tough technical course.

I'm in the process of saving some arrows for that one as we speak... Looks like the course would really favor a breakaway in the sense that with the tight turns/chicane the pack will be slowing/accelerating quite a bit in the turns. I didn't race it last year, so I'd be curious to know how the breaks fared last year.

^^ You're right on about the tight turns, chicane, and lots of trainer legs racing. A good break would definitely be successful. Last year the race was more of a split and shell effect rather than an actual breakaway. Although, the guy that won the race I did is a pro mtn biker, he just laid down a pace from the get go that destroyed alot of guys; and the guy who won the cat 5 race is now a cat 2 and recently won a stage at the VOS stage race in Az., he really crushed the cat 5 field from the start. So, given the horsepower driving the pace in those races, it might scew how they played out. I was able to attack a few times on the little climb right before the chicane to win a couple primes, but toward the end of the race, that move wasnt happenning, maybe hold back and try it with a few laps to go;) .

hmmm ok. i think i will take it easy before that race.

Just got it from a teammate--A rare, rare photo of DrPete working his way off the front with a teammate in "The One That Didn't Get Away." Or maybe we're getting caught. I can't remember. ;)

http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/-1600291571/photos3156/4/28/76/62/2/7/702627628405_0_BG.jpg

I'm a bit late joining on on this, but I wasn't on a computer until today. I was up in the DC area over the weekend and DrPete was kind enough to hook me up with information about the races available, so I went out to Tradezone (and Quicksilver, but of course that got cancelled). I met Pete on the start line for the 3/4/5/ race, and I'll freely admit that I used his draft a couple of times during the race. Thanks again, Pete... by the way, are there any pictures from this weekend's racing? I remember there were some posted from last weekend.

Here's the report I just posted on my team's site:

FSC in DC??
Tradezone Racing Series, Upper Marlboro MD:

Sunday was a beautiful day in the DC area, so I (Keith) went out to do some racing while I was up visiting my family. The 5 race was fast and fun. No breaks were allowed to get away from the pack. On the last lap, I happened to be in the right place at the right time, though, and pulled away from the field coming into the final turn. One other rider bridged up and we made a dash for the line; the other guy sat in my draft and pulled around at the last moment for the win, but we stayed clear of the field so I managed a second place for FSC.

Immediately following that race was a combined 3/4/5 race. The pace was a little faster and the field bigger (full at 75). The first half of the race was uneventful, with breaks going away and being pulled back in quickly. At just past halfway, though, a break went away that had several riders from one of the bigger teams in the race, so their teammates began controlling the pack. I figured that was the most likely break to be successful, and I was fortunate enough to be in a position from which I could jump out of the peloton and bridge up to the break before they got too far away. Our lead group was almost reeled in with eight or so miles to go, but we managed to move back away from the main field with some determined work. The break survived to the end and I came across the line fourth.

On another note, congratulations to the FSC/UNC riders who helped place UNC into first in the ACCC for the weekend up at the Philly Phlyer!

Keith

WTG, truckin! I have to admit I was so focused on where my teammates were that I didn't even see you break off.

Not many pics floating around from this week (the wife took last week's and she couldn't make it this time) but I'll let you know if a link shows up somewhere...

Are you all racing this weekend. My inlaws are visiting and I need an excuse to get out of the house.

Not planning to race, just spectate/photograph.

-D

^^^ The University of Maryland crit is this Sunday. The course has 3 90's and a chicane, and last year was a pretty quick race according to MDCatV... It's an "A" race for me so we'll see how it goes... I'll be in the 4's. Didn't have it in me to scrap in the 3/4 just yet...

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=4271

^^^ The University of Maryland crit is this Sunday. The course has 3 90's and a chicane, and last year was a pretty quick race according to MDCatV... It's an "A" race for me so we'll see how it goes... I'll be in the 4's. Didn't have it in me to scrap in the 3/4 just yet...

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=4271

Even better. Later in the day. Easier for me to get to.

-D

i will be at quicksilver and umd

Nice. Wish I could make it, but I'll get our usual Saturday morning race training ride in and then go ride in the NC mountains on Sunday. DrPete, riskus, MDcatV, and anyone I missed: good luck at UMD!

Nice. Wish I could make it, but I'll get our usual Saturday morning race training ride in and then go ride in the NC mountains on Sunday. DrPete, riskus, MDcatV, and anyone I missed: good luck at UMD!

That's truckin for ya... Stays in town just long enough to become a marked man, then leaves. ;)

Congrats again, and let us know when you're in town--I'm sure a ride would ensue. :beer: :beer: :beer:

hey truckin i have two pics of the break with you in it. they are crappy but whatevs

http://criticalthrash.com/images/bike/truckin.JPG

http://criticalthrash.com/images/bike/truckin2.JPG

Riskus, the dead deer is priceless. You rock. Funny--I never thought the gap got that big, but they really managed to open it up.

Riskus, the dead deer is priceless. You rock.

+1

Thanks, riskus! The deer is a great touch :) I had no idea the gap was that size at any point. Wow. I look forward to getting back up there and doing some more racing with you guys.