Road Bike Racing - Jefferson Cup?!

I was driving through Virginia on I-95 and today and noticed lots of rain in spots. Did it rain on the race? How did the forumites do?

--Steve

I haven't heard a peep from any teammates, and I'm waiting for Nomad's race report.

I did the P123 at 9 a.m., it rained, it sleeted, hailed, then sleeted some more. 125 racers on wet sleet covered roads, oh yeah. I mixed it up in an early break that was brought back, had no interest in trying to go with the winning move as the pace had been single file for a while when it went, I was hanging on at that point, and it had serious horsepower. Once that move was gone, the field let it go and the elements really took their toll, everyone was surviving. Interesting that we lapped the M40+ race. I suffered like a dog, the elements were hideous. My hands and feet were numb until about 2 pm. I went in with questionable fitness and as a Cat 3, was actually glad to have finished with the field in a 'big boy' race.

I raced the women's CAT 4 which started at 1:00 pm it was probably the best for weather. The roads had dried up and it had actually warmed up... to 45F

I was shelled off the back on the second roller.. I definately need to work on hills SO it basically turned into a training ride for me...

I did the P123 at 9 a.m., it rained, it sleeted, hailed, then sleeted some more. 125 racers on wet sleet covered roads, oh yeah. I mixed it up in an early break that was brought back, had no interest in trying to go with the winning move as the pace had been single file for a while when it went, I was hanging on at that point, and it had serious horsepower. Once that move was gone, the field let it go and the elements really took their toll, everyone was surviving. Interesting that we lapped the M40+ race. I suffered like a dog, the elements were hideous. My hands and feet were numb until about 2 pm. I went in with questionable fitness and as a Cat 3, was actually glad to have finished with the field in a 'big boy' race.

awesome job. I bet you sleep like a baby tonight... you deserve it. well done.

Spent the morning setting up and in the Men's A wheel Prius. It was fun watching the A race play out. It's a lot more tactical than my race.

I rode men's C this afternoon. I did better than last year, and had the legs to launch a couple of attacks for the team. We did well, although one friend had has front wheel ripped apart (half the spokes are shredded, but, amazingly, it is still true!) and I hit the verge to dodge one of the Navy riders who hit the deck. Once again, I did not have the lets to maintain my position for the sprint, so I rolled in at the back, happy to have finished better than last year.

My stomach is still in knots though, and I feel awful!

Raced the collegiate A race.

Sleet/hail/some frozen stuff was falling from the sky as we prepared for our 9:00 start time. We eschewed a warmup in favor of sitting inside a car and complaining about how much the race was going to suck. My teammate Evan and I (Tar Heels), sick of missing every decisive move in previous A races, decided to employ the following foolproof strategy: have one of us near the front at all times to cover or get into every single break. Since the field was only about 30-35 riders, that was a feasible plan.

The pace was not incredibly hard for most of the race, but riders were jumpy and small moves were constantly taking off the front. We were able to cover most moves. About 15mi into the 60mi race, a 2-man break with 2 of the biggest teams (Va Tech and Navy) represented took off. No one seemed worried so we let it go. Their gap fluctuated up to 2 minutes but they were eventually caught at mile 44 or so.

At this point I was ready for another move to take off. At about mile 47, at the twisty downhill on the back stretch, a Va Tech cat 2 rider (Eric) and a Maryland rider went off the front. They seemed to be slowly getting a gap, so I bridged up to them. With the Tech rider, who seemed quite experienced, barking orders to "keep it steady," we started working together pretty well. The Maryland rider was struggling and we dropped him after 3 or 4 miles. The motorcycle kept giving us reports of a steadily increasing time gap. My legs began to burn but we kept it up, never looking back. Finally we got to the 1 km mark. I felt like I had no acceleration left in my legs, and if the Va Tech guy were to go, I wouldn't have been able to follow. But then, to my amazement, the dude just blew up. I simply rode away from him at 20 mph and had such a huge gap that I spent the last 200m coasting along, pumping my fists, and victory-saluting like a jackass. In short: Holy s__t, I just won an A race!!!

An App State rider who had been chasing us the whole time came through a few seconds later, followed by the UMD rider, and the field straggled in maybe 3 minutes later. We executed our strategy more or less perfectly. An extremely satisfying win, which I chalk up to my growing a "Dave Z" mustache. I started it last week, since which time I have gotten 2 wins. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Had a blast today. Chatted with a bunch of guys through the race and just had fun in the pack. It's fun to roll up on the front of the pack and start talking to the guy pulling :)

My plan was to attack as much as I could and work as hard as I could for as long as I could, then see what I had left at the end. I did that. Guessing I placed between 12-15ish? Route 1 Velo guys and I chatted a bunch and I watched the NCVC guys chase each other down a bunch. Good day on the bike for hard racing for training. I've gotten fat in two weeks and I felt it on the power climbs.

I was really floored at the lack of pack thinning that occurred during this race until I sat in on the back side of a lap. I was practically freewheeling, and definitely soft pedaling up hills that the front guys were attacking on. Very bizarrre course for that, but fun none the less.

Full race report/numbers here: http://www.pelotoneast.com/showthread.php?p=7341#post7341

Met Lithuania and we chatted for a while. He held on through the end, much to his surprise I think.

If the dude with the ergomo that I was talking to is on here - since I didn't get to see him after the race. Dude... you had people all around you working to get away from your wheel. Mighty sketchy. Mighty, mighty, sketchy.

Cheers,
VW

Raced the collegiate A race.

Sleet/hail/some frozen stuff was falling from the sky as we prepared for our 9:00 start time. We eschewed a warmup in favor of sitting inside a car and complaining about how much the race was going to suck. My teammate Evan and I (Tar Heels), sick of missing every decisive move in previous A races, decided to employ the following foolproof strategy: have one of us near the front at all times to cover or get into every single break. Since the field was only about 30-35 riders, that was a feasible plan.

The pace was not incredibly hard for most of the race, but riders were jumpy and small moves were constantly taking off the front. We were able to cover most moves. About 15mi into the 60mi race, a 2-man break with 2 of the biggest teams (Va Tech and Navy) represented took off. No one seemed worried so we let it go. Their gap fluctuated up to 2 minutes but they were eventually caught at mile 44 or so.

At this point I was ready for another move to take off. At about mile 47, at the twisty downhill on the back stretch, a Va Tech cat 2 rider (Eric) and a Maryland rider went off the front. They seemed to be slowly getting a gap, so I bridged up to them. With the Tech rider, who seemed quite experienced, barking orders to "keep it steady," we started working together pretty well. The Maryland rider was struggling and we dropped him after 3 or 4 miles. The motorcycle kept giving us reports of a steadily increasing time gap. My legs began to burn but we kept it up, never looking back. Finally we got to the 1 km mark. I felt like I had no acceleration left in my legs, and if the Va Tech guy were to go, I wouldn't have been able to follow. But then, to my amazement, the dude just blew up. I simply rode away from him at 20 mph and had such a huge gap that I spent the last 200m coasting along, pumping my fists, and victory-saluting like a jackass. In short: Holy s__t, I just won an A race!!!

An App State rider who had been chasing us the whole time came through a few seconds later, followed by the UMD rider, and the field straggled in maybe 3 minutes later. We executed our strategy more or less perfectly. An extremely satisfying win, which I chalk up to my growing a "Dave Z" mustache. I started it last week, since which time I have gotten 2 wins. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Nice win; congratulations!

My plan was to attack as much as I could and work as hard as I could for as long as I could, then see what I had left at the end.

What made you decide to take that approach instead of having a goal to try to win? I'm not making fun here... it's a serious question. I had assumed that this was an A or B race for you, so that's why I'm asking.

--Steve

After the Strasburg debacle and my general pissed-offedness after that race, I wanted to get a race in with a lot less "pressure" from myself really. We're supposed to be doing this for fun, right? It was certainly a lot more fun just riding hard.

I'm hoping to really do well at the end of April, so with that in mind I wanted a workout yesterday as much as anything else.

I did the cat 4 race and imo it was typical Virginia style cat 4 boring road race where no one wants to try to break because all they want to do is wait for the sprint. So yeah like NomadVW did I just worked the front trying to ID the strong guys, even started a dialogue where a few were committed to break. Every time I tried to go off with them they just sat on my wheel so I gave up. We almost had it at the perfect time which was on that one kicker after the right turn. A couple of guys were riding it hard but then would just sit up at the top instead of going hard back down and beyond.

The conditions were not too bad for our race which started at 3:30PM but I started getting cold at the end. My goal after the 3rd lap was to lead a sprinter team mate of mine to the finish. We had perfect positioning at the 1k mark. I started to lead out when my legs locked up - ouch! It seams to happen to me on cold damp days. So I went off to the side and let the field go by.

Get this is a moto official rode up beside me and yelled at me to sit down on my bike, I was standing because my legs were locked. I just looked at him like WTF? Then we exchanged words. What an ashole the guy was.

Q: Great job! You're going to be a 2 in no time.

Raced the collegiate A race.

I simply rode away from him at 20 mph and had such a huge gap that I spent the last 200m coasting along, pumping my fists, and victory-saluting like a jackass. In short: Holy s__t, I just won an A race!!!
An App State rider who had been chasing us the whole time came through a few seconds later, followed by the UMD rider, and the field straggled in maybe 3 minutes later. We executed our strategy more or less perfectly. An extremely satisfying win, which I chalk up to my growing a "Dave Z" mustache. I started it last week, since which time I have gotten 2 wins. Coincidence? I don't think so.

well done!

Results are out. I hadn't checked before I left. Happily one of the pack fodder at 15th. Walkersville will be fun next week :)

Results are out. I hadn't checked before I left. Happily one of the pack fodder at 15th. Walkersville will be fun next week :)

Forgot that race is a mixed 4/5, look forward to racing with you.

Are you in the M 35+ 4/5?

I spent the last 200m coasting along, pumping my fists, and victory-saluting like a jackass. In short: Holy s__t, I just won an A race!!!



Sounds like a great win. Congratulations.

Are you in the M 35+ 4/5?

Oh great! I gotta race against you? Be forwarned, I'll be sucking wheel as long as possible. If i make it to end, I will be sprinting my ass off. I'll be so wasted from the effort, i'll need a ride back to the school. :p

I'll be the large Latitude gent on the red/black fade IF CJ. Say hi!

I raced collegiate WB with the W4. The bike handling was atrocious among the 4s. Do not attack by cutting sharply across the entire road without looking to see if you're going to ram into half of the pack. If you're on the front down a rolling hill, keep pedaling!! Stop fishtailing when traveling on straight roads!

I tried to be smart the last 2km by sitting in, resting, and loading up the sprint legs instead of my usual doing too much work and having no sprint at the end. The last 1km was horrible. No one on the front (USCF people, predominantly) would go. The pace was ridiculously slow and the collegiate riders were boxed in and getting antsy. I finally slipped around to the outside following a strong rider from Navy when she found a gap. She started ramping up the pace. I was hoping to use her for a nice leadout. Then I see someone's bike flying in the air on the right side. Once again, everyone stopped pedaling except for 2 women at the front. I had to hit the brakes. We got to restart our "sprint" with less than 50 meters to go. Not enough space. We all finished where we had been on the road 300m back except for the girl on the ground and the one whose wheel that girl hit with her head (the wrecked one left in an ambulance but I think was OK, and the other one managed to stay upright somehow).

I've been training on those roads all year. I met my goal of not getting shelled on the climbs. I was ready for a sprint. I've been practicing my sprint. ....and then I didn't get to sprint. I was 5th in my field, which is fine, but that was still terribly disappointing. I'd much rather have tried and failed. Instead, I didn't even get to try.

It was amazing to have a rolling enclosure this year. I really hope they keep that up.

I was 5th in my field, which is fine, but that was still terribly disappointing. I'd much rather have tried and failed. Instead, I didn't even get to try.

It was amazing to have a rolling enclosure this year. I really hope they keep that up.

And so it goes in bike racing. I'd be happy with a 5th myself. They have a rolling enclosure every year at that race. It's the one thing that keeps me coming back to it.

Are you in the M 35+ 4/5?

Ah, no, didn't notice that there was one :) Oh well, I was planning on using you as my leadout.

Last year I distinctly remember a yellow line rule. ...or was that just for the smaller fields like mine?

i did my first mens b race at jeff cup
if i hadnt done the jmu hill climb the day before i would have had some sprint left for the finish, but sadly i went from 2/3rd in the main pack to who knows where in the last 200m.

This race was way too easy and really boring.

Ive heard a lot of people complaining about the lack of a thinning out of the pack but perhaps if they went harder, smarter they could have changed that.

Way too often the pack would surge at the most predictable times, at the climbs, around the corners, etc but as soon as the obstacle was passed they would settle down. At the most they would get a few people to drop off the back but then let them recatch after a short chase. Just as the pace would get high enough to put some of us weaker riders to the limit everyone would chill out. If there would have been a concentrated effort of just a minute or two AFTER that first hill I am sure a lot more damage would have been done.

Nomad was on the front for the first 3 laps trying to do whatever he could to animate the race but it just wasnt happening. I got on his wheel on his second jump away going up the hill the first time but there was no way I was going to be able to work with him. As hard as he was going there was just no gap being made. This was probably a good thing for me because I would have died trying to ride with him. After that I drifted back into the pack and was just amazed at how easy it was in there while people in the front were killing themselves trying to get away or do something. I think there needed to be more team organization for any break to work since the race was so huge.

At the end, this race was so easy that if I would have just been in better position going around the final corner I would have been in a place to contest a race I had no place being in.

^Lith - It kind of bothers me that you write you could have contested a race you had no place being in. Since you claim to be one of the weaker riders, were in there with 1 or 2 other team mates in a field of 100 (with like half of them being NCVC or Rt1Velo), it wasnt your race to make/animate. YOU rode intelligently within your own set of limitations, nothing wrong with that.

Im just saying I, any plenty of others no doubt, could have easily been popped if any of the stronger guys or teams made the effort to do so.

Last year I distinctly remember a yellow line rule. ...or was that just for the smaller fields like mine?

Must of been your field because this is the 4th year I've done this race and it's always been open road. Still odd that they would do that for a smaller field?


This race was way too easy and really boring.

I agree, sort of.



Ive heard a lot of people complaining about the lack of a thinning out of the pack but perhaps if they went harder, smarter they could have changed that.

Way too often the pack would surge at the most predictable times, at the climbs, around the corners, etc but as soon as the obstacle was passed they would settle down. At the most they would get a few people to drop off the back but then let them recatch after a short chase. Just as the pace would get high enough to put some of us weaker riders to the limit everyone would chill out. If there would have been a concentrated effort of just a minute or two AFTER that first hill I am sure a lot more damage would have been done.

Nomad was on the front for the first 3 laps trying to do whatever he could to animate the race but it just wasnt happening. I got on his wheel on his second jump away going up the hill the first time but there was no way I was going to be able to work with him. As hard as he was going there was just no gap being made. This was probably a good thing for me because I would have died trying to ride with him. After that I drifted back into the pack and was just amazed at how easy it was in there while people in the front were killing themselves trying to get away or do something. I think there needed to be more team organization for any break to work since the race was so huge.

At the end, this race was so easy that if I would have just been in better position going around the final corner I would have been in a place to contest a race I had no place being in.

Which race did you do? I did the cat 4 race and tried all day to get a break going away especially on and after that 'climb'. We rode that climb hard but then everyone would just die at the top. I kept rolling through and on the 2nd lap we had a potential break of about 5 but no one wanted to work. People don't realize that you need to really red line it to get off the front. I tried to get people to rotate and either they weren't strong enough to pull through or just didn't want to, I dunno?

So I ended up working a lot simply because the only way I would ever get results in a race like that is if I get in a break. I don't even bother to contest the sprint.

I was in the 4 race too and yeah the pace up the hill was high at times but it seemed to settle back down so soon once the top was reached. After the first lap I went up that hill in the pack each time and I swear it felt easier each of the remaining 3 laps. I would think if someone gunned it at the top of the hill and attacked all the way through the decsent they would be away or the field would have at least been greatly reduced.

I saw guys trying to go off all day which was weird because I never felt like there was any real effort to bring them back in from my position in the pack. There were a few times where I thought about working my way out of the pack to try and join one of those breaks but by the time I got out of the middle of the pack everyone was back together.

I was in the 4 race too and yeah the pace up the hill was high at times but it seemed to settle back down so soon once the top was reached. After the first lap I went up that hill in the pack each time and I swear it felt easier each of the remaining 3 laps. I would think if someone gunned it at the top of the hill and attacked all the way through the decsent they would be away or the field would have at least been greatly reduced.

I saw guys trying to go off all day which was weird because I never felt like there was any real effort to bring them back in from my position in the pack. There were a few times where I thought about working my way out of the pack to try and join one of those breaks but by the time I got out of the middle of the pack everyone was back together.

Yeah if you sat in you would actually draft up that 'climb' :D We did hit 44MPH on the descent though so I guess there was some elevation there.

Must of been your field because this is the 4th year I've done this race and it's always been open road. Still odd that they would do that for a smaller field?



Yeah, I know. Weird. I'm certain that we got a big lecture from Ruth about not getting run over by oncoming traffic. I was OTB last year (and still 7th...weak race) so obviously the rules of the road applied to me then, but before that, I'm sure all the ladies (4s and 123s) were told to stick right. I also remember oncoming traffic that was not told to pull over and move out of the way like they did last weekend. Oh well. It was a pleasant surprise to get to use the road this time. If only that had helped for positioning when it mattered.

I watched the men's 4 race, and I was surprised at how much that pack stayed together compared to a lot of other fields. Collegiate Cs were spread all over the place. VT and Navy orchestrated a great break at the end of the B race. The bigger teams in the 4s seemed content to just organize a small leadout for their strongest at the sprint.

Yeah if you sat in you would actually draft up that 'climb' :D We did hit 44MPH on the descent though so I guess there was some elevation there.

The descents killed me. I am way too nervous going downhill fast and add people around me and its worse. I was losing like 20+ spots each time. On the 3rd lap I was trying to figure out a way to make up for that. I guess thats a plus since it means i was in shape enough to actually think about anything for once.

Yeah, I know. Weird. I'm certain that we got a big lecture from Ruth about not getting run over by oncoming traffic. I was OTB last year (and still 7th...weak race) so obviously the rules of the road applied to me then, but before that, I'm sure all the ladies (4s and 123s) were told to stick right. I also remember oncoming traffic that was not told to pull over and move out of the way like they did last weekend. Oh well. It was a pleasant surprise to get to use the road this time. If only that had helped for positioning when it mattered.

I watched the men's 4 race, and I was surprised at how much that pack stayed together compared to a lot of other fields. Collegiate Cs were spread all over the place. VT and Navy orchestrated a great break at the end of the B race. The bigger teams in the 4s seemed content to just organize a small leadout for their strongest at the sprint.

The VT guy who got 3rd is one of my teammates (outside of college) and they broke away right where I was hoping to go which was cresting that hill and motoring on. They all looked really beat up coming to the finish line :D


The descents killed me. I am way too nervous going downhill fast and add people around me and its worse. I was losing like 20+ spots each time. On the 3rd lap I was trying to figure out a way to make up for that. I guess thats a plus since it means i was in shape enough to actually think about anything for once.

Hey man you got those beautiful Blue Ridge mountains to practice your descents in :D

I love going down fast, I'm fortunate enough to live right in the mountains and get a lot of practice. It can be a bit unnerving though in a large field. That's the thing about Jeff Cup. I like a field size of 50 or so not 125 :eek:

The VT guy who got 3rd is one of my teammates (outside of college) and they broke away right where I was hoping to go which was cresting that hill and motoring on. They all looked really beat up coming to the finish line :D


Rogues Racing?

Rogues Racing?

Yes that's the one.

BTW you all should come to our first home race July 6th. It's a crit down town Blacksburg and the course will be very challenging. It's also part of a race in Roanoke so you can make a weekend of it.

j,

were you the guy in the white knee warmers and long hair?

j,

were you the guy in the white knee warmers and long hair?

on a Moots as I recall...

Dirty white knee warmers actually. Racing a full season of cyclocross is not kind on a white kit :D

i saw you up there on the front like the entire time. i thought you were kind of nuts. you and nomad, always on the front.

I got behind you for a few minutes early in the race. thank god you made a nice draft otherwise i would have been cooked.

Yes that's the one.

BTW you all should come to our first home race July 6th. It's a crit down town Blacksburg and the course will be very challenging. It's also part of a race in Roanoke so you can make a weekend of it.

Maybe. Put on some cross races, and I'll be there :) I usually stick to collegiate races otherwise...

jfmckenna -- what is the Roanoke race? is it a RR, a downtown crit, or the Mill Mountain hill climb? I don't live in the area any more, but the Mill Mountain climb was my first race ever.

I'm trying to live vicariously through you VA guys -- I miss the area.

This guy that I'm following?

http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/jasonowatson/gallery-img-show?G_ID=G00008H6yc4jWiDI&start=2&pagtotal=50

I guess we chatted a few times. You'd think with all the time I spent on/off the front, they'd have at least ONE picture of me not sucking a wheel. Guess I need to work harder for the "sponsor photos" next time.

I like this one, cause it shows me while I'm laughing about something.

http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/jasonowatson/gallery-img-show?G_ID=G00008H6yc4jWiDI&start=37&pagtotal=50

Nomad I remember you up there, you were looking pretty strong actually. I was hoping that you and I along with a few others could breakaway. It was worth the try. How did you end up at the finish?

ericcox in Roanoke there is the Mill Mountain TT. It's a classic for sure! There is a crit on Friday then the TT. On Sunday there's the Blacksburg crit. http://www.id3races.com/

acorn_user we actually had a cross race last year. It was a collegiate race with a uscf field too. The turn out was low but it was a lot of fun. Hopefully there will be a bigger turn out next year.

I felt about as strong as I have all year at Jeff Cup, but that only translated into a meager 15th. Next time we're out together, we should work something out. I think we could have soft pedaled a whole lap and the pack woulda sat on our wheels there for a while.