Road Bike Racing - Pain and Perspective in the Greenville Criteriums

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Snuffleupagus
03-29-08, 10:48 PM
Yesterday I did the first crits of my comeback from knee surgery. Who the hell races crits in the rain seven weeks after a major operation? Yeah, I'm not really sure either, I think it's my alter-ego. I've got sort of a Dr. Noah and Mr. Bike relationship with racing.

To keep a long story short, I pulled 9th place in the rain and cold in Greenville. I did as I'm wont to do and jumped to a 7 lap solo break, got caught, recovered, and got into the winning break for the last 20+ minutes. We NEARLY got caught at the line. I sat up as I thought I was out of the money (8 deep), but it turns out a lot of guys we lapped decided it'd be cool to jump on our break in the last lap and clog up the field and sprint for 40th...lesson, never sit up.

Woulda/shoulda/coulda...


Power Data
3/4 Race:
Duration: 50:08
Work: 924 kJ
TSS: 85 (intensity factor 1.009)
Norm Power: 323
VI: 1.05
Distance: 20.418 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 896 307 watts
Cadence: 29 198 104 rpm
Speed: 9.2 30.3 24.4 mph
Pace 1:59 6:31 2:27 min/mi
Hub Torque: 0 426 84 lb-in
Crank Torque: 0 1272 255 lb-in (anyone wanna explain how I laid down 1272 in/lb - yet only 900w?)

The following 1/2/3 race was ugly. It's the first race I've been dropped from in 2 years, the first effort, a small, fast field and the wet cold really took it out of me. I did the big boy thing that I've preached about on here...once I was out of contention I pulled off course so as not to make a hazard of myself. I don't feel too bad though, as all of the 3s who'd raced before were dropped within the first 20-30 minutes.

In the end, I'm incredibly lucky, and incredibly happy to be able to race once again. Once I tune up my anaerobic engine a little bit more I'll be in good form. I've been focusing more on longer, steady efforts, and today illustrated that I need to start the over/unders with a purpose. Until then, I'll keep focusing on breaks in races. It's what Jens would do :)


substructure
03-30-08, 02:32 AM
Good job, bro. Are you going to the Upstate SC road races in a couple of weeks? Donaldson and Fork Shoals.

WCroadie
03-30-08, 05:01 AM
Nice job. Why were lapped riders not pulled, especially in a crit?


Snuffleupagus
03-30-08, 05:17 AM
Thanks guys.

Sub: That weekend I'm either doing a MTB race, or taking a buy on racing altogether to visit some family. I'm doing Rock Hill for sure though.
WC: I don't know, they weren't doing it in any of the races.

substructure
03-30-08, 05:54 AM
Look for me Sunday at Rock Hill. We roll at 8:45.

Lithuania
03-30-08, 08:33 AM
judging by your VI it looks like you must have done a lot of work in that first crit.

Snuffleupagus
03-30-08, 04:10 PM
judging by your VI it looks like you must have done a lot of work in that first crit.

Yeah, I worked a lot in the break, as I knew we didn't have a massive lead - and only about 3 other guys had the legs and were interested in working.

Then of course my suicidal solo break...

ilpirata87
03-30-08, 09:35 PM
hey solid race Noah! always good for a suicide move, eh?

waterrockets
03-30-08, 11:20 PM
Man, nice work on the fitness there! Your recovery from surgery is insane.

Snuffleupagus
03-31-08, 08:04 AM
Q: Suicide moves are the best kind.

WR: I'm surprised every time I get on the bike :)

substructure
03-31-08, 08:08 AM
Q: Suicide moves are the best kind.

WR: I'm surprised every time I get on the bike :)

I do some stuff for Carolina Masters. They sent me this:
SlideShow (http://www.reflector.com/photos/mediahub/media/slideshow/index.jsp?tId=95632)

Where you at?