"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Pace Bend reports?

Short story: hilly road race, M35+. 12 guys off the front, I got 3rd in the bunch sprint for 15th.

I looked for RacerX, and only found an endless supply of his teammates :D Sounds like he had a mechanical at the start?

Long story:
I had a good race in the M35+. I burned a couple matches reeling in breaks for a teammate. He wasn't able to get into the right one, and a break of 7 and a chase of 5 got away without him. So I went into sprinter conservation mode for the last 12 miles -- pushing my way into the top 10 and maintaining, doing as little work as possible.

Final climb up the big hill, I stayed in the top 10 and a guy attacked, looking strong. I don't know who anyone is, so I didn't know if this guy could pull it off. Anyway, I was on his wheel. Once we got around the last corner, descending to the finish, I could tell I was on the wrong wheel, but sitting in 2nd place.

"When the f*ck is someone coming around?!?" Ugh. Nobody. Fine. So, I gapped this guy about a bike length, then sprinted into his draft, and came around -- since we were running out of real estate. Of course a couple guys were waiting on my wheel. Two of them came around, and just got a bike length on me before the finish.

15th place :o The race was REALLY fun, and I felt great -- some of those guys are incredibly strong (you frigging Cat 2s know who you are). Just crazy. Once those winning breaks were off, there was just no way I would have been able to hang with them. I had no problems working in the pack at this pace, so that's encouraging.

At this point, I am still a crit rider, not a hilly road racer :D That FTP bump this year did help a lot though.

Anyway, 44 miles @ 24.3mph. Peak 5s power was only 1310W in the final sprint, but that was still stronger than most. That final sprint also contained my peak 10s (1182W), 20s (856w), and 30s (688w). I did hit 1500W going after one of those breaks (a really bright match), but that was just to create a gap to torture the guy who decided to follow me.

Every break I chased down, I did it with a 3-bike gap. So, not an attack, but I wasn't helping anyone either.



Pace Bend:
Duration: 1:47:21
Work: 1451 kJ
TSS: 146.4 (intensity factor 0.905)
Norm Power: 304
VI: 1.35
Pw:HR: 8.73%
Pa:HR: 0.66%
Distance: 43.49 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1500 225 watts
Heart Rate: 60 185 159 bpm
Cadence: 31 141 96 rpm
Speed: 5.9 41.3 24.3 mph
Pace 1:27 10:10 2:28 min/mi

Lap 1:
Duration: 14:41
Work: 231 kJ
TSS: 21.8 (intensity factor 0.944)
Norm Power: 317
VI: 1.21
Pw:HR: 19.31%
Pa:HR: -2.52%
Distance: 6.255 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1362 263 watts
Heart Rate: 60 181 162 bpm
Cadence: 31 141 99 rpm
Speed: 5.9 41.1 25.6 mph

Lap 2:
Duration: 15:11
Work: 233 kJ
TSS: 26.9 (intensity factor 1.03)
Norm Power: 346
VI: 1.35
Pw:HR: 21.37%
Pa:HR: -13.21%
Distance: 6.211 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1500 256 watts
Heart Rate: 140 182 166 bpm
Cadence: 54 141 98 rpm
Speed: 15.9 37.7 24.6 mph

Lap 3:
Duration: 15:21
Work: 200 kJ
TSS: 20.5 (intensity factor 0.895)
Norm Power: 301
VI: 1.38
Pw:HR: -4.29%
Pa:HR: -8.23%
Distance: 6.215 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 876 217 watts
Heart Rate: 130 173 156 bpm
Cadence: 40 141 97 rpm
Speed: 15.7 39.1 24.3 mph

Lap 4:
Duration: 15:42
Work: 178 kJ
TSS: 17.8 (intensity factor 0.824)
Norm Power: 277
VI: 1.46
Pw:HR: 11.42%
Pa:HR: -4.32%
Distance: 6.214 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 890 189 watts
Heart Rate: 89 176 150 bpm
Cadence: 51 141 93 rpm
Speed: 15.2 41.3 23.7 mph

Lap 5:
Duration: 15:30
Work: 191 kJ
TSS: 16.8 (intensity factor 0.806)
Norm Power: 271
VI: 1.32
Pw:HR: 6.97%
Pa:HR: -0.34%
Distance: 6.215 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 982 206 watts
Heart Rate: 136 173 154 bpm
Cadence: 47 141 96 rpm
Speed: 14.3 40 24.1 mph

Lap 6:
Duration: 15:59
Work: 191 kJ
TSS: 18.1 (intensity factor 0.825)
Norm Power: 277
VI: 1.39
Pw:HR: 10.83%
Pa:HR: -3.8%
Distance: 6.214 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1079 199 watts
Heart Rate: 127 180 155 bpm
Cadence: 49 141 91 rpm
Speed: 14 40.3 23.3 mph

Lap 7:
Duration: 15:03
Work: 227 kJ
TSS: 24.4 (intensity factor 0.986)
Norm Power: 331
VI: 1.32
Pw:HR: -19.56%
Pa:HR: -4.64%
Distance: 6.219 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1380 252 watts
Heart Rate: 148 185 167 bpm
Cadence: 44 141 95 rpm
Speed: 16.7 40.3 24.8 mph

I had a nice 13 mile TT after my front dérailleur took a dump and did a chain wrap as we were taking off. Ended up having to dismount to get things fixed.

I managed to close the 2 minutes I spotted everybody to right around 2:10 after my second lap. I bagged it after deciding that if I had to veer/scream/veer/brake/yell one more time through the staging area at 35 MPH I'd probably be killed. Sat in the sun and watched the race, we had two guys in the winning break but one of them flatted, I think we ended up 4th. Too bad, course suited me pretty well.

Fun race at Walburg on Saturday, team took the win and I got a podium (we also took 5th and 7th, the guys rode great) so the drive wasn't a complete waste.

Ack, nice chase though. That start finish area was scary enough with a lead moto! Really fast through there.

Impressive that you were closing the gap. 25.6mph on the first lap and 24.6mph on the second lap.

Congrats on Walburg podium too. I'm wondering if I'll have to wait until the crits to get a chance at climbing on one...

Lago? I'm planning to race Sunday.

Impressive that you were closing the gap. 25.6mph on the first lap and 24.6mph on the second lap.

Not really. Check that math on the gap :)

I'm passing on Lago and doing a support 1/2/3 race here Saturday for the local high school event. I need a break from the truck and would like to spend a weekend at home. We'll have some good guys at Lago though. I'm doing Fayetteville, either the 35 or 45 depending on what our guys are going to pick.

You'll get to the podium, it's just a matter of time and circumstances, especially if you can get the team thing going. A 1500w sprint won't be denied.

Of course if ya had some aero wheels and a nice stiff frame, you'd get there sooner and more often :lol:

Not really. Check that math on the gap :)

Ah, I misread it as you closed the first 2 minutes of the gap, but had 2:10 remaining ;) Holding us is still tough.


Of course if ya had some aero wheels and a nice stiff frame, you'd get there sooner and more often :lol:

:lol: Hey, if I was a more frequent or bigger spender, I'd be flying a CAAD9 and some Zipps. You go to battle with the army you have, not the army you want ;)

I just got back. 12 hour day.

Basically, my race went fairly well. I was riding strong all day. I was sitting 4th wheel going into that 'little' kicker of hill a right before you turn to go into the sprint. I lost about 40 spots on the dang hill (I'd held my ground fine on other laps -- just not the last one, wasn't strong enough), and ended up 48th/80.

Ended up driving lead car for the 3's in the afternoon, just like at Lago. Looooots of afternoon carnage. Like, all races were stopped for a bit to clear up the carnage.

Looooots of afternoon carnage. Like, all races were stopped for a bit to clear up the carnage.

I caught the tail end of the spectator getting hit. Eeeesh.

Were you there for the afternoon races?

After some much needed "coaching" from my coach and mentor "Waterrockets" (also my brother-in-law), I had a pretty decent day at Pace Bend. Finished either 1 or 2 in the 4/5 35+ race. I say 1 or 2 in that I destroyed the sprint and thought I won. I was listed as #1 at the prize pickup with Pure Austin and they handed me the shiny 1st place medal :). Apparently there may have been one rider off the front, so I think I got 2.

Anyway, had an awesome day of racing. Beautiful weather and well organized race. Saw some BF members (Ravenmore, UT_Dude).

Steve

What a great weekend for cycling! I worked turn six at Walburg on Saturday and raced the Cat 5 group on Sunday. If you raced Walburg I was probably the guy yelling "HARD RIGHT TURN!!!" at you. Great weather both days. I ended up finishing 7th in Sunday's race. It was a pretty fast course - especially on the straight. My computer showed a 22mph average and a max of 40.1. I'm looking forward to next weekend!

-s

Rock on Steve - that's awesome. ;)

'rockets - c'mon, that course isn't hilly. :) Not by our standards anyway. Wish I could've raced with you guys - none the less good to see ya.

What a great weekend for cycling! I worked turn six at Walburg on Saturday and raced the Cat 5 group on Sunday. If you raced Walburg I was probably the guy yelling "HARD RIGHT TURN!!!" at you. Great weather both days. I ended up finishing 7th in Sunday's race. It was a pretty fast course - especially on the straight. My computer showed a 22mph average and a max of 40.1. I'm looking forward to next weekend!

-s

Jason - that you? ;)

Walburg was nutz - did the 35+ - seemed like everytime I looked down at my computer we were doing 27 - 30 mph. WTF - was this a crit and I didn't know?

Rock on Steve - that's awesome. ;)

'rockets - c'mon, that course isn't hilly. :) Not by our standards anyway. Wish I could've raced with you guys - none the less good to see ya.

Pace bend hilly...you flat landers....hilly...that's hoot....I have a 1/2 mile climb of 9.5% just to get to my house....god I miss Austin...

Planned on going to Pace Bend today, but at the last second had some family in town. From reading here and the TxBra site, sounds like it was a pretty sketchy day of racing, glad I did not go!

I am with EDR, Pace Bend is not hilly. ..

Hey guys, I'm a sprinter! I didn't say it was a climbing race ;)

Anyway, 850W = 20mph = hill!

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6719/ahillmk0.png

Downhill sprint? Bah! Why couldn't we have the sprint on the hill before the finish? That would have been great.

Downhill sprint? Bah! Why couldn't we have the sprint on the hill before the finish? That would have been great.

Why would anybody want to crash uphill?

Walburg was nutz - did the 35+ - seemed like everytime I looked down at my computer we were doing 27 - 30 mph. WTF - was this a crit and I didn't know?

Hey Rav you are back to racing! Thats great, are unattached or are you on team this year.?

For anyone that saw the cat5 race, I was in it. In the final sprint, I was in second place and made a move around the guy in front of me with maybe 150m to go, and as I was passing him, I dropped it into my 12. I know this was a mistake, and I through the chain on the frame in the rear going 37/38 mph. For those of you that have done that, you know the feeling. It through me forward and I hit my chest on the stem... this lifted my back wheel a significant amount and I ran right into the side of the guy to the left of me. It scared me sh^tless. Somehow I managed to stay up, and rolled through the finish with some odd placement.

Anyway, I hope ya'll did well.

I was working the final corner for the masters until the end, so I probably saw all of ya'll out there yesterday.

You on Brain and Spine?


What a great weekend for cycling! I worked turn six at Walburg on Saturday and raced the Cat 5 group on Sunday. If you raced Walburg I was probably the guy yelling "HARD RIGHT TURN!!!" at you. Great weather both days. I ended up finishing 7th in Sunday's race. It was a pretty fast course - especially on the straight. My computer showed a 22mph average and a max of 40.1. I'm looking forward to next weekend!

-s

Hey Rav you are back to racing! Thats great, are unattached or are you on team this year.?

Yep - I hope to race as much as possible this year. I'm in pretty awful shape at the moment but hope to work my way up to placing better as the season goes on. I have a lot of base miles but haven't done any intensity training and it showed. A few of the "Cat 5 road races" (aka the Buck's Tues Nighter) and I'll be in better shape. I also plan on doing the driveway crits on Thursdays. Currently I'm unattached but I've got a lot of friends on Brain and Spine and might end up there. Southwest Cycles might also let me on their team.

My buddy Jason was working turn 6 at Walburg - that's why I thought spessx might be him.