Well the 4/5s were much better last night, we actually held a descent pace for most of the race. Enzo Gucci (sp?) attacked right off the start, and I'm glad he did because I think it set the tone for a mo' betta race. I spent a good amount of time at and off the front, but sat up for the sprint. I need to find my ballz, because I get chicken sh!t going into that last turn on the last lap. I've seen too many crashes there.

Cleave- I saw you off the front is several of Kenny's shots, good stuff :)

The 4/5s were better last night. I had to do a double take at the guy on the cyclo-cross bike. http://images35.fotki.com/v1165/photos/1/185551/6107533/Eldo48025-vi.jpg?1207713900

That was my first time out and it was fun. The pace was good and it wasn't too dangerous.

The 4/5s were better last night. I had to do a double take at the guy on the cyclo-cross bike. http://images35.fotki.com/v1165/photos/1/185551/6107533/Eldo48025-vi.jpg?1207713900

There's usually one or two cross riders out there on their cross bikes and they have no problems keeping up.

That was my first time out and it was fun. The pace was good and it wasn't too dangerous.

...and you came in second. Oh, you must have forgotten to mention that. ;) :p

Did you secure my deal with Chet? :D

Still sick, I dragged my butt out there last night and after a few laps I faded to the back and pulled off. I'll be there next week.

I did it for the first time yesterday. It was tons of fun. There were couple safety nannies, but not too bad. Pace was a bit on a mellow side, which allowed me to get out of my comfort zone try pulling, blocking, bridging. It was fun, but it's about 5 hour commitment (ride out there + race). When everything was said and done I spent three hours on a bike. Don't think I can do it very often. :(

I think I saw Brandy, wanted to say Hi, but wasn't sure it was here.

P.S. Gucci check over the shoulder before swinging drastically left for a sprint. I was behind you, and knew better not to overlap, but if someone were there would have been a crash.

I did it for the first time yesterday. It was tons of fun. There were couple safety nannies, but not too bad. Pace was a bit on a mellow side, which allowed me to get out of my comfort zone try pulling, blocking, bridging. It was fun, but it's about 5 hour commitment (ride out there + race). When everything was said and done I spent three hours on a bike. Don't think I can do it very often. :(

I think I saw Brandy, wanted to say Hi, but wasn't sure it was here.

P.S. Gucci check over the shoulder before swinging drastically left for a sprint. I was behind you, and knew better not to overlap, but if someone were there would have been a crash.

I'll do my best. It's frustrating being stuck behind 8 guys in a sprint that are pretty much standing still.

Well the 4/5s were much better last night, we actually held a descent pace for most of the race. Enzo Gucci (sp?) attacked right off the start, and I'm glad he did because I think it set the tone for a mo' betta race. I spent a good amount of time at and off the front, but sat up for the sprint. I need to find my ballz, because I get chicken sh!t going into that last turn on the last lap. I've seen too many crashes there.

Cleave- I saw you off the front is several of Kenny's shots, good stuff :)

Hi,

Going from a terrible TT on Saturday to an OK PV ride on Sunday to feeling very good yesterday sure puts one through the gamut of cycling emotions. Got into one break that had a lot of potential and we were off the front for almost two laps. Wasn't the best working group of guys but when the Pro/1/2/3 field caught the Masters pack we couldn't hear the siren in the distance and everybody ended up sitting up (including me). Later I spoke with our "pack official" and he said that we could have kept going as long as we stayed away from the Pro/1/2/3 pack since we had already been off of the front for so long. Lesson learned. :o

Anyway, the main purpose is to get a good workout. ;)

Won't be there for the next two weeks due to business travel. I will be at the Torrance Crit, Punchbowl, San Luis Rey, and Masters Districts -- all on consecutive weekends. :eek:

BTW, I met Enzo, spoke with Brandy for a bit, and said hi to Groupetto. Oh, and I ended up in pink and blue because I don't have matching arm warmers for my new kit -- it was cold out there during the evening.

Hi,
I ended up in pink and blue because I don't have matching arm warmers for my new kit -- it was cold out there during the evening.

New team or same team, new kits? If they're the ones I'm thinking of, they're very nice looking!

I'll do my best. It's frustrating being stuck behind 8 guys in a sprint that are pretty much standing still.

:beer: agreed.

but ya gotta be careful(not that you don't already know). this is what has caused most of my outside-of-the-top-10 finishes this year. you always have a bunch of guys who fight so hard to stay on the front, but have ZERO intention of trying to finish the job at the end. i'm so afraid of causing one of these guys to crash and injurying them or myself or someone else, that i tend to just back off when i get caught behind them and settle for a decent finish rather than a really good one. frustrating, but much safer. and at a place like eldo it's just not worth it to take chances like that.

:beer: agreed.

but ya gotta be careful(not that you don't already know). this is what has caused most of my outside-of-the-top-10 finishes this year. you always have a bunch of guys who fight so hard to stay on the front, but have ZERO intention of trying to finish the job at the end. i'm so afraid of causing one of these guys to crash and injurying them or myself or someone else, that i tend to just back off when i get caught behind them and settle for a decent finish rather than a really good one. frustrating, but much safer. and at a place like eldo it's just not worth it to take chances like that.

Honestly, from my peripheral, I knew there was nobody there, but he is right about needing to ride a bit more conservative in that type of group. There are a lot of people out there who don't know any better.

People need to realize that if you're going to be next to someones wheel in a sprint, you need to have the ability to react really quickly.

Either way, it was a fun ride.

Why would you go all the way down there when you got the bowl in your backyard ?
I have done Eldo and prefer the Bowl..

I do love the Bowl, but something different is good sometimes. :)

I do love the Bowl, but something different is good sometimes. :)

Something different that gives you upgrade points? ;)

I'll do my best. It's frustrating being stuck behind 8 guys in a sprint that are pretty much standing still.

Yeah, people were seating up on the finish sprint. WTF? If you want to seat up don't be at the front!

Yeah, people were seating up on the finish sprint. WTF? If you want to seat up don't be at the front!

Yeah, guys kill themselves to be at the front, and 300m from the finish they are completely dead. It makes no sense. I can see if they were leading someone out, but they more or less sit up and don't move over or anything, haha.

Yeah, people were seating up on the finish sprint. WTF? If you want to seat up don't be at the front!

That's very typical at El Dorado. There were several times last year where I was in good position and just winding up the sprint and the a-hole in front of me would sit up and stop pedaling. WTF?? it's only like 10 more seconds to see it through. This always causes some dicey moves, because if your behind, you almost have to change your line to avoid going up someones ass.

Yeah, guys kill themselves to be at the front, and 300m from the finish they are completely dead. It makes no sense. I can see if they were leading someone out, but they more or less sit up and don't move over or anything, haha.

Perhaps they're 5s? Chris used to tell the 5's that since it didn't count for them to stay out of the final sprint.

Yeah, guys kill themselves to be at the front, and 300m from the finish they are completely dead. It makes no sense. I can see if they were leading someone out, but they more or less sit up and don't move over or anything, haha.

Funny to read everyone discussing this... It happened to me on the second prime... I blew the f up on the sprint. I thought I could take it the whole way, but I couldn't. Too much time in the wind leading my boys up to the front. Guilty as charged. I blocked the whole left side including one of my teammates.

One question though... In a sprint would you rather have the people blowing up in front of you sit up and soft pedal or swerve out of the way? I would argue that sitting up 300m before the line is way better than swerving and getting out of the way.

New team or same team, new kits? If they're the ones I'm thinking of, they're very nice looking!

Hi Brandy,

Team Kings is a team under the Lightning Velo club. There are two racing teams registered with USAC under Lightning Velo: Lightning Velo and Team Kings. Team Kings has a red and black kit not to be confused with the other red and black kits out there. :rolleyes: :)

Just looked at the pictures from ElDo, I look dorky on all of them. lol

Funny to read everyone discussing this... It happened to me on the second prime... I blew the f up on the sprint. I thought I could take it the whole way, but I couldn't. Too much time in the wind leading my boys up to the front. Guilty as charged. I blocked the whole left side including one of my teammates.

One question though... In a sprint would you rather have the people blowing up in front of you sit up and soft pedal or swerve out of the way? I would argue that sitting up 300m before the line is way better than swerving and getting out of the way.

Hi,

Despite what you might see in professional racing, at this level, just hold your line and keep pedaling.

Have fun and stay upright. :)

Funny to read everyone discussing this... It happened to me on the second prime... I blew the f up on the sprint. I thought I could take it the whole way, but I couldn't. Too much time in the wind leading my boys up to the front. Guilty as charged. I blocked the whole left side including one of my teammates.

One question though... In a sprint would you rather have the people blowing up in front of you sit up and soft pedal or swerve out of the way? I would argue that sitting up 300m before the line is way better than swerving and getting out of the way.

Theres a difference between someone giving the leadout to a teammate and taking up the far left side, and an entire group of people sitting up at the front, haha. If you're leading someone out, it's expected you're going to blow up before the finish. But what seems to happen is the entire group of guys at the front all suddenly run out of gas and take up the entire road.

It's honestly no big deal. No team in the 3/4/5's really has the organisation to bring a leadout train to the line and send their sprinter in for a win, anyways, so we're all just *****ing, haha. It can be a little dangerous, though... I grew up racing BMX so I LOVE sprinting and I love being elbow to elbow with people, but I know that really sketches most people out, so I avoid it as much as possible.

I used to race BMX, so I love sprinting and I love being elbow to elbow, so it really doesn't bug me too much.

Just looked at the pictures from ElDo, I look dorky on all of them. lol

Funny you should mention that.

A recent joint study between American & German scientists, with input from Italian fashion designers, concluded that purchasing and wearing a Team Bearclaw (http://www.teambearclaw.com)kit will increase your sex appeal by 93.7%

Not so fast Enzo!

Last year in cat 3 I lead out SBW teammate Sergei Cemenenkoff over 8 times to 1st place finish including CBR state champ., and there were only 2 of us.

In 2003, cat 4 We had 14 1st place winnings including 2 state champs (Manhattan Beach GP and CBR) due to 1 man leadout and on top of that El Dorado was won by him in the mid season with such a margin that if he had skipped whole season he would still won it, so they transferred us to cat 1-2-3.


In reality you don't need a whole team for lead out, you can do fine with just two.


For people who find themselves stuck behind people who "stop pedaling" - you are far too behind to begin with.

Try to be top 10 on the last lap by the finish line , then take it easy on the backside where ducks are (there always a headwind) move up to top 5 after the corner 3 and "recycle" every attack at that point. by "recycling" i mean immediately getting on the wheel of whoever launches an attack and riding them 100 yards after turn 4.

Ideally in order to be top 3 on the finish line you should be 4-5 in the turn.. people dying like flies after last turn.




Theres a difference between someone giving the leadout to a teammate and taking up the far left side, and an entire group of people sitting up at the front, haha. If you're leading someone out, it's expected you're going to blow up before the finish. But what seems to happen is the entire group of guys at the front all suddenly run out of gas and take up the entire road.

It's honestly no big deal. No team in the 3/4/5's really has the organisation to bring a leadout train to the line and send their sprinter in for a win, anyways, so we're all just *****ing, haha. It can be a little dangerous, though... I grew up racing BMX so I LOVE sprinting and I love being elbow to elbow with people, but I know that really sketches most people out, so I avoid it as much as possible.

I used to race BMX, so I love sprinting and I love being elbow to elbow, so it really doesn't bug me too much.

Perhaps they're 5s? Chris used to tell the 5's that since it didn't count for them to stay out of the final sprint.
that actually makes a lot of sense...the unfortunate thing is that no one will actually do that.

I wasn't able to make it out this time since I've had midterms all week. I'll be there next week though in good form, and sporting a seven cycles jersey. I'm unattached, so I wear whatever I want, lol. If you see me, say hi.

I blocked the whole left side including one of my teammates.

Not the whole left side....I got through. I was clear and free, but the guy who took it went by me like I was chained to a tree.

that actually makes a lot of sense...the unfortunate thing is that no one will actually do that.

If it helps, I do.

I deliberately park myself right off the end of the 4/5 race so I can learn what to do (hold my line, pedal through a turn,etc), what not to do (sit up on the final sprint, lay off my rear brake, etc) and how to not kill other riders and destroy other's bikes.

Or maybe I'm just timid.

The common advice to "stay in the top 10" or "stay at the front" is (in my humble opinion) what causes Cat 5 riders who don't know what they're doing to move up when they shouldn't. In the end, you get a bunch of terrible Cat 5 riders racing with Cat 4 riders and thinking that they're Cat 4 quality, while learning bad habits that they carry to Cat 4 and up.

/rant
/off soapbox

If it helps, I do.

I deliberately park myself right off the end of the 4/5 race so I can learn what to do (hold my line, pedal through a turn,etc), what not to do (sit up on the final sprint, lay off my rear brake, etc) and how to not kill other riders and destroy other's bikes.

Or maybe I'm just timid.

The common advice to "stay in the top 10" or "stay at the front" is (in my humble opinion) what causes Cat 5 riders who don't know what they're doing to move up when they shouldn't. In the end, you get a bunch of terrible Cat 5 riders racing with Cat 4 riders and thinking that they're Cat 4 quality, while learning bad habits that they carry to Cat 4 and up.

/rant
/off soapbox

Hi,

Nicely stated! :)

A sensible Cat 5 racer. You'll go far in this sport or at least stay upright for a long time.

Glad you're having fun at Eldo.

Last year in cat 3 I lead out SBW teammate Sergei Cemenenkoff over 8 times to 1st place finish

In 2003, cat 4 We had 14 1st place winnings

Just curious, but don't you upgrade before you collect that many wins? Is it because they are CBR?

Just curious, but don't you upgrade before you collect that many wins? Is it because they are CBR?

yeah, that reeks of some serious sandbaggery. sandbaggery that i would like to take part in:o

Nice post although there are Cat 4s that don't know what they are doing either. Since no one told them what they were doing wrong, and they never learned in their ten races.

P.S. thanks for the energy bar.

UD
If it helps, I do.

I deliberately park myself right off the end of the 4/5 race so I can learn what to do (hold my line, pedal through a turn,etc), what not to do (sit up on the final sprint, lay off my rear brake, etc) and how to not kill other riders and destroy other's bikes.

Or maybe I'm just timid.

The common advice to "stay in the top 10" or "stay at the front" is (in my humble opinion) what causes Cat 5 riders who don't know what they're doing to move up when they shouldn't. In the end, you get a bunch of terrible Cat 5 riders racing with Cat 4 riders and thinking that they're Cat 4 quality, while learning bad habits that they carry to Cat 4 and up.

/rant
/off soapbox

Not so fast Enzo!

Last year in cat 3 I lead out SBW teammate Sergei Cemenenkoff over 8 times to 1st place finish including CBR state champ., and there were only 2 of us.

In 2003, cat 4 We had 14 1st place winnings including 2 state champs (Manhattan Beach GP and CBR) due to 1 man leadout and on top of that El Dorado was won by him in the mid season with such a margin that if he had skipped whole season he would still won it, so they transferred us to cat 1-2-3.


In reality you don't need a whole team for lead out, you can do fine with just two.


For people who find themselves stuck behind people who "stop pedaling" - you are far too behind to begin with.

Try to be top 10 on the last lap by the finish line , then take it easy on the backside where ducks are (there always a headwind) move up to top 5 after the corner 3 and "recycle" every attack at that point. by "recycling" i mean immediately getting on the wheel of whoever launches an attack and riding them 100 yards after turn 4.

Ideally in order to be top 3 on the finish line you should be 4-5 in the turn.. people dying like flies after last turn.

What team do you ride for? I'm assuming you're a Cat 2 now? I was hoping to be a 2 by the end of the year, but work and personal life tend to limit the races I can do. All of my friends are P/1/2 guys, so it's frustrating never being able to race with them.

Ivan Dominguez and I were at my bar watching replays of the first stage of Tour of Missouri a few months ago. He was saying how dead he felt coming up the last small climb, but that he figured he would go for it anyways.

Talk about coming from WAY behind and passing people like they weren't moving... When he is in good form, I don't think there is anyone in the States that can outsprint him.

The last couple weeks have been a mess in the final sprint at Eldo, the only real way to avoid it is to try and take a few strong guys up front and just start jacking up the pace and hopefully leave all those other guys behind. It's like dodging a minefield out there at times.

The last couple weeks have been a mess in the final sprint at Eldo, the only real way to avoid it is to try and take a few strong guys up front and just start jacking up the pace and hopefully leave all those other guys behind. It's like dodging a minefield out there at times.

Hi, my name is Eastersm. I win primes and races for La Grange at Eldo by moving through the pack as illustrated below:

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n127/badfishgood/stratton.jpg

Dayum, this place is good the last couple of days :)

Was there a full 360 in there?? By the way I'm submitting your illustration to the MOCA, I think you may have found your nitsch.

I was hoping to be a 2 by the end of the year, but work and personal life tend to limit the races I can do. All of my friends are P/1/2 guys, so it's frustrating never being able to race with them.


Yeah, I know what you mean... I was planning to be on a european pro team by June, but my job, age, weight, VO2_max, lack of talent, etc seem to be holding me back...

Ha Ha..

Yeah, I know what you mean... I was planning to be on a european pro team by June, but my job, age, weight, VO2_max, lack of talent, etc seem to be holding me back...

Were you given permission by Chet Bearclaw to leave Team Bearclaw for a European Pro Team? I wouldn't reccomend upsetting him, he hasn't been in the best mood lately.

Yeah, I know what you mean... I was planning to be on a european pro team by June, but my job, age, weight, VO2_max, lack of talent, etc seem to be holding me back...

Good meeting you out at the Omnium RR today, I hope Chet doesn't come down on you to hard for only finishing 2nd or 3rd (can't remember). I'm sure he was probably out setting the world speed record for hang gliding, or base jumping in the wind or something.

Good meeting you out at the Omnium RR today, I hope Chet doesn't come down on you to hard for only finishing 2nd or 3rd (can't remember). I'm sure he was probably out setting the world speed record for hang gliding, or base jumping in the wind or something.

Close... he's been crash testing Formula 1 cars. Check out the latest race report on the website for more details.

Good meeting you out at the Omnium RR today, I hope Chet doesn't come down on you to hard for only finishing 2nd or 3rd (can't remember). I'm sure he was probably out setting the world speed record for hang gliding, or base jumping in the wind or something.


Nice to meet you too... We all deserve congrats for just surviving that race...

Close... he's been crash testing Formula 1 cars. Check out the latest race report on the website for more details.

well done as usual...

Don't tell me the video of Jason's record setting run is going to waste!

well done as usual...

Don't tell me the video of Jason's record setting run is going to waste!

Yeah, except the editor didn't spell check it, and the ****** that wrote it obviously didn't either.

I don't know... I hope they put the video up soon, hahaha.

Yeah, except the editor didn't spell check it, and the ****** that wrote it obviously didn't either.

I noticed, but focused on the positive ...

When are you playing Paris-Roubaix at the restaurant?

Roubaix will be on VS. next Sunday. See if Chet Bearclaw can get his hands on the executives over at VS. for not broadcasting the race live today on TV. I'll understand if he's off somewhere re-inventing the English language.

Just curious, but don't you upgrade before you collect that many wins? Is it because they are CBR?

Because all I did was leadout for Sergei I did not accumulate any points for the season, however once Chris calculated the exuberant amount of points by Sergei they kicked us both into cat 1-2. We upgraded to cat 3 after him winning MBGP.

in 2007 we had over seven 1st places..With proper winter base mileage training Cat 3 is just a little harder then cat 4.

Oh yeah.. one of the FUN moves at eldo is get together group of 4 or more "time trial" type of guys and NOT contest 1s prime, but to punch it right after the prime..

Most of the field is strung out and tired.. it works 75% of time.. and looks cool too!

You need MINIMUN of 4 guys who cam maitain average 27mph.. pack will never get you..

At a time we were with Diamond Bar cyclery yellow and blue uniforms..Later with SBW.

Unfortunately Sergei had a high speed crash on PV switchbaks early in winter training season so racing it's not happening this season..

Currently cat 3 and no desire to move up any higher.. demands for training and commitment necessary to be "on par" with pro's is way out of reach for me..

Ivan is cool! Talk to him about the lead out- it is a 90% of succes in local crit racing.. You need a teammate that has a sence of navigating thru the pack, able to ride his guts out for last 1/2 lap and play "recycle the attacks" game on last 2 laps..

Early in the season I have this little game of my own that i play in Eldo or Hughes park.. I count how many laps it would take me to move from the very end of the pack to the top 5.. In the beg. of the season it is usually 1 lap at hughes, 1/2 at eldo.. when it takes less then .25 laps you know you are in great mental and phys. shape..

being able to ride your way to the front of the pack using other peoples wheels and drafting will bring great success in crit racing..





What team do you ride for? I'm assuming you're a Cat 2 now? I was hoping to be a 2 by the end of the year, but work and personal life tend to limit the races I can do. All of my friends are P/1/2 guys, so it's frustrating never being able to race with them.

Ivan Dominguez and I were at my bar watching replays of the first stage of Tour of Missouri a few months ago. He was saying how dead he felt coming up the last small climb, but that he figured he would go for it anyways.

Talk about coming from WAY behind and passing people like they weren't moving... When he is in good form, I don't think there is anyone in the States that can outsprint him.

tonight was a pretty good race...no crashes (at least in the 4/5's) and an ok finish. There was the typical crowded sprint with guys who literally stopped pedaling in the middle of the road while everyone else was sprinting like crazy, but everyone walked (rode) away unharmed. We got lapped twice by the pro's. The pace was a little slow tonight, I think that was due to the headwind we had...the pace slowed down to 20mph at some points of the race. I finished just outside of the top 10...bummer, maybe I'll put some points on the board next time.