Road Bike Racing - LA Circuit Race Roll call

Who's in?

I wanna do it but I unfortuantely have something else that day I can't get out of...

In

Already in.

Probably, will see.
Is there a place to go for a ride after?
What is the course like?

Probably, will see.
Is there a place to go for a ride after?
What is the course like?

Flat, 180 degree turns, head wind on the finish straight.

Flat, 180 degree turns, head wind on the finish straight.

So are both directions are closed, or is the race is jut on one side of the street?

Closed road. 2 lanes, bike lane, and shoulder in both directions. Check out the pics from last year: LA Circuit Race (http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=h7m9oru.82v0zqi6&Uy=egn725&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1)

Closed road. 2 lanes, bike lane, and shoulder in both directions. Check out the pics from last year: LA Circuit Race (http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=h7m9oru.82v0zqi6&Uy=egn725&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1)

Ah, kool thanks.

I'm signed up for Cat 4.

In for the 5's.

Maybe.

Do you get a free latte or smoothie for entering???

If you do, then change my maybe to a yes.

Do you get a free latte or smoothie for entering???

Man you southerners are fuuuuunnnnneeeee!

Im in

I am thinking about it.

Do you get a free latte or smoothie for entering???

Man, just imagine what we'd get at La Primavera! With a name like that, I'd better be seeing more than my breakfast at the finish.

Have fun all you SoCal racers...

LAX Cat 3 report- First 3's race.

Good fun race today. There was a strong tailwind, maybe 15-20mph, on the Eastbound (finish line) side of the course. As a result the field would fly down the home straight at 33-38 mph every lap. Once you hit the turnaround you hit a brick wall and the pace would bog down to about 20mph.

The race was very aggressive from the gun and attacks went constantly for the whole day. There was an attack after basically every turnaround, on both the headwind and tailwind sides. My only goal for the race was to be as aggressive as possible and try to make something happen. The problem is, nothing would stick. I bridged to a couple of breakaways, but each was caught within 1/2 a lap.

I'm not much of a sprinter, so I tried my hand at a last lap kamikaze move. A Bannings rider managed to get off the front solo with one to go and VRC-NowMS brought their train to the front and started drilling it pretty hard on the tailwind side. Once we hit the headwind the break was caught and we slowed a bit. VRC were looking a little nervous waiting for something to go from the left side. I managed to sneak up the gutter on the right side and launched hard up a small rise. A guy from Davis Bike Club bridged up and we drilled it pretty hard, but we were caught about 200 yards from the turnaround. At that point I was cooked, sat up and cruised the last .75 mile to the finish. No point sprinting for 20th.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with the race. It was a C priority race, so all I wanted to do was be aggressive, get a good workout, and maybe get lucky. Even though I came into the race fatigued I still felt pretty strong. my fitness is definitely getting better because I was feeling stronger the longer the race went on.

Next week: UC Santa Cruz RR (Pain) and Hill Climb

Race:
Duration: 1:14:09
Work: 950 kJ
TSS: 116.8 (intensity factor 0.972)
Norm Power: 277
VI: 1.3
Distance: 30.683 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1012 214 watts
Heart Rate: 92 182 159 bpm
Cadence: 29 141 91 rpm
Speed: 8.6 40 24.8 mph

Cat 4 report:

This really is a great race, I had a ton of fun today. We had two guys that we were going to work for and I feel like our team did an excellent job of both reading and controlling the race. This race, due to the really strong head wind on the north side, really comes down to the final corner and where you are exiting it. We had good position and got our guys a fifth and a ninth, I was part of the lead out train an finished 14th.

From a personal stand point I felt like I rode really strong, and more importantly I rode really smart. I never felt like I was in trouble and made sure I was either first or damn near it through the turns so I had a nice safe line. On the windy side I don't think I was putting out more than 200w at any given time, while there were some guys out there just burning themselves up on the front. Anyway I had great time and the team had a great race. Next up San Dimas....that's gonna hurt.

Cat 5b Report

My second race so far and I noticed an improvement. I've taken the advice I read on here about cornering and it helped!!! In this race I felt as strong as I've ever been.. I lined up at the start nervous and thinking I was going to be dropped after the first lap. The wind was really strong and I've never been one to push through wind espcially carrying 225lbs. I actually attacked at one part of the race and of course it didn't last long but now I know my what I need to work on...Recovery. I found a way to take away my nervouses.. Make jokes and chit chat with other riders.. IT HELPS!!! All in all it was a great race and only two crashes for the day, one at the finish line and the other on the recovery lap(if that even counts as still being part of the race).

One thing I need to work on is that last corner, for some reason I'm always slow to jump.

Cat 5b finish line crash. That crash looked pretty spectacular from the sidelines. You can see the guy on the left has his food out of the pedal, and the guy in the middle leaning into the guy on the right. I believe guy on right won. Edit: I think the CBC guy on the far right won.

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2419.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2420.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2421.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2422.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2423.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2424.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2425.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2426.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2427.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2428.jpg

Cat 4 race report.

I suck. I hardly ever felt like I was working, but didn't want to make a move in the wind. Kept getting pushed to the inside on the last lap and was pretty far back by the last corner. Made up a lot of ground, but ended nowhere near the front. I counted maybe 30 riders ahead of me. I was told the field was full, 100 riders.

Cat 4 report.
The race was one giant cluster ... I know I said that for Anger Management Crit, but this one took it to a whole new level. No one wanted to work near the front. We get in to the wind everyone just seat up. The "attacks" were guys getting to the front either pulling the field or getting few feet ahead and seating up. Some teams had 3-5 people in that race, you would think they would try something. I tried to stay near the front as much as possible where it is relatively safe.

On lap four one guy was gaining ground and a gap was forming. It looked like the guy behind was "blocking". I figured hey maybe we can work together and do something. So I attack. Get to the dude, he almost runs me off the road by pushing in to me when I was passing him. So I hammer for a bit, look back I have a gap but the dude is not on my wheel, and no one is doing anything. I figure whatever, seat up. I think thats what happened to other "attacks" although others had more people. In final turn I got caught inside and just couldn't get out. After the turn I floored it and tried to find a good wheel but everyone was blowing up. So I just cranked it up and tried to gain as much ground as possible. Think I was in top 30 or something. When I finished some big fat guy was on my right so I don't think cameras even saw me.

Add to this barrel off fun most of the race I had to hear "oh common", "damnit hold straight line" "take it easy on the turns", "hold your line", and usual expletives when people doing stupid stuff. On top of that I had some guy molesting my ass. I am like "dude I know you are there, either pass or quit overlapping wheels, but for the love of god quit grabbing my ass". It's starting to make me feel very uncomfortable. Favorite moment was some guy *****ing about no one pulling at the front. My reply "Well why don't you do it then?" No, reply. :rolleyes: Only good thing is that no one crashed somehow. Will be racing in NorCal on 29th/30th will see how Cat4s are up there. Had a chat with another BF member. That superman on the bike is damn awesome! :D

Only good thing is that no one crashed somehow. Will be racing in NorCal on 29th/30th will see how Cat4s are up there. Had a chat with another BF member. That superman on the bike is damn awesome! :D

One guy went into the curb on one of the turns... I'll be up north on the 29th/30th as well. Orosi and Hanford? Anyway, what team are you on, I'll look for some pics...

One guy went into the curb on one of the turns... I'll be up north on the 29th/30th as well. Orosi and Hanford? Anyway, what team are you on, I'll look for some pics...

No it's Ronde Van Brisbeen Crit and Circuit race. If there is an award for the most hard to pronounce name I think that race would win it. lol. I am on UCI team.

Cat 4 report.
The race was one giant cluster ... I know I said that for Anger Management Crit, but this one took it to a whole new level. No one wanted to work near the front. We get in to the wind everyone just seat up. The "attacks" were guys getting to the front either pulling the field or getting few feet ahead and seating up. Some teams had 3-5 people in that race, you would think they would try something. I tried to stay near the front as much as possible where it is relatively safe.

On lap four one guy was gaining ground and a gap was forming. It looked like the guy behind was "blocking". I figured hey maybe we can work together and do something. So I attack. Get to the dude, he almost runs me off the road by pushing in to me when I was passing him. So I hammer for a bit, look back I have a gap but the dude is not on my wheel, and no one is doing anything. I figure whatever, seat up. I think thats what happened to other "attacks" although others had more people. In final turn I got caught inside and just couldn't get out. After the turn I floored it and tried to find a good wheel but everyone was blowing up. So I just cranked it up and tried to gain as much ground as possible. Think I was in top 30 or something. When I finished some big fat guy was on my right so I don't think cameras even saw me.

Add to this barrel off fun most of the race I had to hear "oh common", "damnit hold straight line" "take it easy on the turns", "hold your line", and usual expletives when people doing stupid stuff. On top of that I had some guy molesting my ass. I am like "dude I know you are there, either pass or quit overlapping wheels, but for the love of god quit grabbing my ass". It's starting to make me feel very uncomfortable. Favorite moment was some guy *****ing about no one pulling at the front. My reply "Well why don't you do it then?" No, reply. :rolleyes: Only good thing is that no one crashed somehow. Will be racing in NorCal on 29th/30th will see how Cat4s are up there. Had a chat with another BF member. That superman on the bike is damn awesome! :D

I have a different point of view, no one was getting away into that head wind. It was pushing 30mph and if a team got to the front and started working all it would do would be dragging the entire field to the front. That would have been just stupid. Second there were a few idiots but that's bike racing. There will always be guys who aren't strong or have good bike handling skills in any 4's race. It was obvious by lap 3 that nobody was getting away and it was coming down to the last corner and where you were positioned. My team got up there and we got two of our guys in the top ten. La Grange did a great job getting their guys up and into the last 100m. I'm sorry you had a bad experience but from my perspective it was a good race.

Had a chat with another BF member. That superman on the bike is damn awesome! :D

I didn't know you were there until George told me. Wish I would have seen you to say hi. :)

I had a guy that I met last week at Murrieta come up after the race and tell me to tell my "hubby" (he's actually my boyfriend, but I didn't correct him) to do some pulling next time. :eek: :p

I didn't know you were there until George told me. Wish I would have seen you to say hi. :)

I had a guy that I met last week at Murrieta come up after the race and tell me to tell my "hubby" (he's actually my boyfriend, but I didn't correct him) to do some pulling next time. :eek: :p

Was your Hubbyfriend in a break with this guy? If not then too bad, there were a lot guys who never hit the front in our race, including the guy who won. He only hit the front when it counted.

Race Report: This was going to be the first race where our whole team actually showed up and boy did it make a difference. We arrived plenty early to watch the finish of a race to try to see how the sprint played out, since I've never seen the course before. Found out that it's a very long sprint which is good for me. We had plenty of time for a good hour warm up and made it to the line with about 10 min to spare, though they started us late so it ended up being more like 15. All 4 of us lined up on the line and I must say that everyone had a very good race. Rick stayed in the top 10-15 most of the race and didn't seem to be working hard at all, and both dave and oscar played their parts perfectly. Nothing really happened until the last lap, a few breaks, but nothing major, no crashes, and didn't really drop anyone. The wind did pick up later in the day, so our back stretch was something like 16-17. Dave's job for the race was to keep in the top 10 and keep me out of the wind, which he did perfectly. I always had a wheel and didn't really do any work. Coming into the last lap, Oscar, went to the front and just drilled it on the backstretch to try to sting out the field and no one managed to come around. I was sitting 2nd wheel coming into the last corner when he pulled off doing an amazing job in the process. The first 200 yards of the final straightaway was basically 5 guys riding side by side waiting for someone to jump. Finally someone comes through on the inside and I manage to get on his wheel with about 700 to go. He gets a gap of about 20 yards, but dies at about 600 to go and I come around and spin like mad. I thought the finish was never going to come and I kept looking back to see where the field was. I finished about 5-10 seconds ahead of the pack and had time to sit up and do a victory salute for the last 20-30 yards. I later found out that the reason no one caught me was because we were all spun out. I finished with a sprint of 43.6 MPH and couldn't have gone any faster even if i had had the legs, I just ran out of gears, as did everyone else apparently, I definitely wish I had had an 11 tooth that day. There is no way I would have been able to pull it off with out the help of my teammates and it was great to have someone to race with.

Final stats on the day are 15.49 miles in 37 minutes with an average of 23.7 MPH. 239 watts average power with the last one minute at 645.

I never saw the front the whole day until the last 600 meters. Those who win work the least. Such is bike racing.

merckx89:
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2430.jpg

esammuli in his bell lap "suicide attack":
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2432.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2433.jpg

Thanks umd. Beautiful pics as always. Tell your wife to keep up the good work!

I have a different point of view, no one was getting away into that head wind. It was pushing 30mph and if a team got to the front and started working all it would do would be dragging the entire field to the front. That would have been just stupid. Second there were a few idiots but that's bike racing. There will always be guys who aren't strong or have good bike handling skills in any 4's race. It was obvious by lap 3 that nobody was getting away and it was coming down to the last corner and where you were positioned. My team got up there and we got two of our guys in the top ten. La Grange did a great job getting their guys up and into the last 100m. I'm sorry you had a bad experience but from my perspective it was a good race.

I guess my post was more negative then I wanted. I still had fun, and it was a good learning experience. I am more confident moving through the pack, just need to work on my positioning. I always seems to get boxed in, need to work on that. My only regret was seating up, I should have just kept pushing and see what happens.

Yes, if they just worked in the front there is no point. I just wonder what would have happened if two or three people formed a gap and really drilled it on that uphill while people in the front were soft pedaling. I honestly thing an organized break could have succeeded. Wind was really 30mph? Damn.

I honestly think an organized break could have succeeded. Wind was really 30mph?incorrect. even if you're being honest. it takes a lot of power to make a break succeed without the wind and even more with it. if the 35+ guys can't make it stick with more organized teams and wider range of strengths then the 4s ain't gonna get it done

Rolling off
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2437.jpg

Early "break" attempt
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2438.jpg

Can you spot George?
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2442.jpg

A bunch of PAA on the front. Is EDR up there?
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2444.jpg

Huge field
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2449.jpg

Another attack
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2456.jpg

UnmeyDurak?
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2458.jpg

It as cool when you could see both fields at the same time
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2463.jpg

Downhill to the start/finish was more stretched out
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2464.jpg

Coming down for the bell lap
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2467.jpg

Approaching the finish
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2474.jpg

Bubba in front by a mile
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2476.jpg
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2477.jpg
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2478.jpg

Sprinting for second
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2479.jpg

Chucklehead
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2480.jpg

incorrect. even if you're being honest. it takes a lot of power to make a break succeed without the wind and even more with it. if the 35+ guys can't make it stick with more organized teams and wider range of strengths then the 4s ain't gonna get it done

The 35's had 15s with a half a lap to go and a solid 4-5 man break and they got caught. Without the wind they might have survived but the wind in the last 1k was really brutal. By theend of lap 2 I knew no one was going to succeed in getting away so we waited and drilled it out of the final turn. Not as dramatic as solo break to line but thats just how this race unfolded.

Ummy I'm glad you had fun, honestly this should be the only reason any of is do this. I try to learn something from every race I do. Last weekend in Murietta I didn't finish either day, but I learned a lot from both DNF's and had a great race this time out.

Great pics (as always) Kim and Steve!

Great pics (as always) Kim and Steve!

INDEED! Kim thank you for the Cat IV pics!!

Another attack
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2456.jpg

UnmeyDurak?
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2458.jpg


Hey thats me! Looking dorky, and seating too high, as usual. :D Great picks umd.

A bunch of PAA on the front. Is EDR up there?
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2444.jpg



That's me second wheel in the PAA kit, the three of went off the front at the turn around and held it to start/finish. We had decent gap and were going pretty hard but got caught right at start/finish. That's when I knew nobody was going to get away. Nice pics BTW.

Great pics (as always) Kim and Steve!

Hey Brandy was your boyfriend in the C4 race?

Hey Brandy was your boyfriend in the C4 race?

Yes...in this pic with the red, black and white Sho-Air kit and the white cycling cap under the red/black/white helmet.

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2442.jpg

Yes...in this pic with the red, black and white Sho-Air kit and the white cycling cap under the red/black/white helmet.

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2442.jpg

I don't remember him doing any more wheel sucking than anyone else. There were a ton of guys who never hit the front. Bubba never hit the front or pulled until the last 100m...he won...should we be surprised?

I don't remember him doing any more wheel sucking than anyone else. There were a ton of guys who never hit the front. Bubba never hit the front or pulled until the last 100m...he won...should we be surprised?

Hey...it's bike racing, right? The guy is actually first wheel in a couple of UMD's pics. :p

Hey Brandy, do you have that pic of me eating after the race?

Hey Brandy, do you have that pic of me eating after the race?

Damn...I didn't manage to catch you mid-bite. :p

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2352/2340624311_7e200540d2.jpg

Cat IV...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2340625601_ffe5a69304.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2340625349_ac70789f7e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2341458680_a1aa4666d1.jpg

oh yeah, my report:

start: pack

mid-race: pack

"f'k, dude" says me

"get off your brakes!" says everyone

"watch your line" says the guy going backwards through the field(wtf?)"

late race: tried to move up on the inside against the wind. got squeezed.

"watch it!" says me.

"F'K!" says me.

off the final turn:

moving to second wheel. get chopped for the first time by lagrange guy. life flashes before eyes.

"F'K DUDE!" says me.

move in behind vireo. he gets chopped by lagrange guy.

"WTF!" says me.

move forward again. trying to get by lagrange guy. get chopped AGAIN. same guy. life flashes before eyes AGAIN. second time in 10 seconds. decide to cut my losses at the $25 it cost me to register for the race.

"mother f...."

let up, guys pass left, right, left right. i'm boxed. stop pedaling. throw hands in the air. had plenty for a top 10. ended-up outside of top 30. maybe outside top 40. who cares at this point.


i'm developing a healthy dislike for the big lagrange guy on the blue landshark with the "ramrod" sticker. f'kn guy. he was sketchy at murrieta as well. he'll probably end-up hurting someone.

Anyone know where/when the results going to be posted?