TommyL
05-26-08, 05:09 PM
Yesterday I competed in the road bike leg of the Ski to Sea relay race in Bellingham. Growing up here, I have always wanted to do the race, and I finally got my chance this year. I thought it would be interesting to share about my first experience in a race atmosphere.
The road bike leg covers 38 of the race's 85 miles, starting from the Hannegan Pass DOT station and ending in Everson with the hand off to the canoers. More about the ski to sea here (http://www.skitosea.com/).
My buddy and I (on two different teams created from one group of friends) got to the DOT station at about 8:10. The pre race meeting was at 8:30, the same time the race began up at the ski area, and the same time the highway was shutdown. Then we drank water, talked, and stood around waiting with some other friends until the first runners from the competitive division handed of to cyclists with time-trial Cervelos and aero garb. We knew we still had at least 30 to 40 minutes to wait.
When I heard my teams number, I scooted up to the exchange area, took off my cleat covers, and clipped in on one side. I had two unwrapped cliff bars in my saddle bag, I was full on water, I was ready.
My first near crash took place about five yards into the race. I grabbed the timing chip bracelet from my runner, pedaled one stroke to get coasting, and while I tried to attach the bracelet with one hand swerved and almost bit the dust.
Once I got going, the ride was great. For the first 15 miles I intermittedly drafted off of other racers, and some drafted off of me. I had not realized what a benefit it was to be riding with other people. However, being that we were 300 and somethingth going itno my stage, I was passing a lot of people and few were going my pace.
As I entered Glacier, I joined a paceline of four and we overtook a friend of mine who had passed me two mile in. He hopped on, and we cruised for a while. I would never have guessed racing would be so much easier when riding in a paceline! We picked up a few more, and it was amazing. However, I ended up being at the front for a steep hill, and not knowing how to approach the hill properly, ended up breaking the line up. We still had about 4, but I ended up at the front before the short and steep hill leading into Maple Falls, and I again inadvertently broke up the line. Oops.
At the top, my friend and I were alone, and we took turns leading into Kendall, where we picked up a woman riding alone. The three of us headed north, following the long, steady incline to South Pass Road. We shared the load for a while, but pretty soon I was doing evrything I could just to hang on to the two of them. When we made the turn onto South Pass, they left me in the dust and I was riding alone, passing another singular bike ever so often.
I was very slow for the next few miles, just trying to recover up the first big hill. After some water and the remainder of my first cliff bar, I headed down a short descent. Suddenly, about four riders came blasting by me, pedaling hard down the hill. As soon as they reached the bottom, however, they all shifted way down and began crawling up the other side. I found myelf in the middle of a chaotic mess trying to climb up the other side, passing people on the left and the right. I latched on to the lead rider and we pulled away from the crowd. A third rider joined us, and I let them split the load while I hung on for dear life all the way into Everson. Once I tried to lead, but I had nothing to bring to the table, and they passed me.
It was interesting to see how much faster I was simply because their were other riders on the course. If I had been alone I certainly would've been 10 or 15 minutes slower; maybe more.
Starting place: 310-320th
Finishing place: 245th
Spots gained: 60-70?
Final time: 1:45:06
Interesting note: My dad's team was in 20 somethingth going into their road bike leg, and their biker lost 40 spots or so, despite having the exact same time as myself. My guess is that most riders going my pace left in the middle of the pack. It was pretty funny to see hardcore time-trialists from under acheiving competitive teams zip by me.
I don't think I'll do any other racing, but I can't wait until next year!
The road bike leg covers 38 of the race's 85 miles, starting from the Hannegan Pass DOT station and ending in Everson with the hand off to the canoers. More about the ski to sea here (http://www.skitosea.com/).
My buddy and I (on two different teams created from one group of friends) got to the DOT station at about 8:10. The pre race meeting was at 8:30, the same time the race began up at the ski area, and the same time the highway was shutdown. Then we drank water, talked, and stood around waiting with some other friends until the first runners from the competitive division handed of to cyclists with time-trial Cervelos and aero garb. We knew we still had at least 30 to 40 minutes to wait.
When I heard my teams number, I scooted up to the exchange area, took off my cleat covers, and clipped in on one side. I had two unwrapped cliff bars in my saddle bag, I was full on water, I was ready.
My first near crash took place about five yards into the race. I grabbed the timing chip bracelet from my runner, pedaled one stroke to get coasting, and while I tried to attach the bracelet with one hand swerved and almost bit the dust.
Once I got going, the ride was great. For the first 15 miles I intermittedly drafted off of other racers, and some drafted off of me. I had not realized what a benefit it was to be riding with other people. However, being that we were 300 and somethingth going itno my stage, I was passing a lot of people and few were going my pace.
As I entered Glacier, I joined a paceline of four and we overtook a friend of mine who had passed me two mile in. He hopped on, and we cruised for a while. I would never have guessed racing would be so much easier when riding in a paceline! We picked up a few more, and it was amazing. However, I ended up being at the front for a steep hill, and not knowing how to approach the hill properly, ended up breaking the line up. We still had about 4, but I ended up at the front before the short and steep hill leading into Maple Falls, and I again inadvertently broke up the line. Oops.
At the top, my friend and I were alone, and we took turns leading into Kendall, where we picked up a woman riding alone. The three of us headed north, following the long, steady incline to South Pass Road. We shared the load for a while, but pretty soon I was doing evrything I could just to hang on to the two of them. When we made the turn onto South Pass, they left me in the dust and I was riding alone, passing another singular bike ever so often.
I was very slow for the next few miles, just trying to recover up the first big hill. After some water and the remainder of my first cliff bar, I headed down a short descent. Suddenly, about four riders came blasting by me, pedaling hard down the hill. As soon as they reached the bottom, however, they all shifted way down and began crawling up the other side. I found myelf in the middle of a chaotic mess trying to climb up the other side, passing people on the left and the right. I latched on to the lead rider and we pulled away from the crowd. A third rider joined us, and I let them split the load while I hung on for dear life all the way into Everson. Once I tried to lead, but I had nothing to bring to the table, and they passed me.
It was interesting to see how much faster I was simply because their were other riders on the course. If I had been alone I certainly would've been 10 or 15 minutes slower; maybe more.
Starting place: 310-320th
Finishing place: 245th
Spots gained: 60-70?
Final time: 1:45:06
Interesting note: My dad's team was in 20 somethingth going into their road bike leg, and their biker lost 40 spots or so, despite having the exact same time as myself. My guess is that most riders going my pace left in the middle of the pack. It was pretty funny to see hardcore time-trialists from under acheiving competitive teams zip by me.
I don't think I'll do any other racing, but I can't wait until next year!