Southern California - Aliso Viejo GP

All,

I'm sure you all know, but bears repeating that the inaugural Aliso Viejo Grand Prix is this Saturday, July 12th. CBR, Travis W and the Sho-Air team have worked hard to put together a great race in our own backyard. There are precious few races in Orange County, so please come out and support it. It's a great course and a great area to have a race.

This will also be my first race back after recovering from my 'hiatus', so I invite all you Cat IVs to come out and try to beat me. :)

When I'm not warming up, racing, and cooling down after my race, I expect to be handing out preems, so stop by and give me a nice BF hello.

See you out there,

Ethan Ede
Team Sho-Air/Sonance

I'll be there, cat 4. Looks like a fun course.

I'm attending almost solely because its close to home and its a CBR crit.

Edit: Er, I should probably be more clear - because its close to home and its a CBR crit, its worth supporting to me.

Will be there in the 4's.

Looking forward to this after a two month layoff. Still chipping away as a cat 5, but with all this heat, I actually don't mind waking up early for the beginner races. :D

I hope the field will be bigger than the one this past weekend at Dominguez Hills though.

In the IV's

First 3's race for me. Should be a short day, getting dropped and all. At least I'll get to hang out for a bit.

You can catch me hanging around... I'll probably have my camcorder there to record the races, but I don't know where I'll be working as a volunteer...

I did a pre-ride of the course tonight. The climb is about a third of a mile long. It's probably 4-5%, maybe a bit more with a flattish section in the middle and a roundabout at the top. If I understand correctly, the climb is between turns 3 and 4, just before a slightly downhill finish. Going all out, it takes about a minute to climb. I figure we'll go up it about 12-15 times. It will be painful and selective. I'm just wondering which side of the selection I will be on.

Hope to see you all there!

Ethan

i'm in for the 40+ 1/2/3 and the 3s... that's about 30 times up that thing!

Why did they have to put a hill on the course?

So I can finally have a chance at one.

Heh. Looks like my introduction to Cat 4 is going to be a baptism by fire.

So how'd everyone's day go?

My story is typical of my usual story with crits. I can usually hang with the lead group, but didn't ride a very smart race, so I as nowhere near where I needed to be when it counted. Doesn't help matters that I don't have any teammates out there.

I got a prime about halfway through, and took a couple laps to recover from that. Then there was a crash and the field split. I was in the front group, of about 11 guys, and knew I was too cooked to outsprint them all, so I made what turned out to be a poor gamble, and went hard on the climb at the start of the last lap. I'm a better climber than sprinter, and thought maybe some guys would pop off, giving me a better chance at a decent placing. Nobody popped off, and I was too cooked to do anything for the rest of that lap, other than try to recover. Managed to come in ahead of *one* guy in the group, for 10th. Too far back for any upgrade points. At this rate I'll be a IV forever. ;)

Still, it was a fun course, and definitely suited my strengths better than most crits. I'm generally somewhere in the middle or back, in the last couple laps, while the sprinters duke it out, so I'm not a big fan of crits, but I'll definitely do that one again.

That was in the IVs. I bailed out of the 30+ III/IVs after about 15 minutes. I was too cooked from the first race to stay with the pack. Figured I'd try and save some for LB tomorrow (Though I'm still not sure if I'm going to that one. Depends on GF plans...).

I thought it was a great course. It was definitely suited more towards climbers, which is uncommon for a crit. For me, that was a positive. And hats off to Travis, Shoair, Aliso Viejo, and CBR for putting on a great race. Hope it's back next year!

I finished 8th in the Cat 5's. I know that's nothing to brag about, but it is one of my final races as a 5 and that was my first time cracking the top 10, so I was pretty excited. The rest of my races as a 5 have come at Eldo, where 4's and 5's are combined and the race always comes down to the final sprint. That can get pretty hairy, so I usually don't even contest the sprint at the finish.

I probably could have finished higher at Aliso because I basically blew myself up on the second lap going up the hill. I fell back and missed a chance to get in the lead group. The rest of riders got really spread out, so I was battling back and doing all the work myself. I passed about 10 guys in the last few laps and out-sprinted two guys to the line to take 8th.

Great job, guys. Both very good results.

(((SPRINTERS BEWARE))))

I HATED the course. I knew as soon as I saw the climb that I was in for either a very long day or a very short one, and as soon as I realized I wasn't going to sniff the top ten I just decided to make it a short one. That took about...oh...two laps:rolleyes: I did my club ride this morning, which was at a pretty brisk pace, and I just wasn't in the mood to fight for a meaningless result in the afternoon.
With all the attrition, I could have easily finished in the top 20 had I just kept going, but there's no glory in simply finishing for me. I hate doing that. I know when I'm overmatched by a course. I hated the course when I first laid eyes on it. HATED it. HATE! That was like the Punchbowl of crits for me. **** that place:lol:

*roar*

Thoroughly owned by this course.

It was a quick realization that this was NOT a big ring hill. I was shot off the back in about two and a half laps, and got pulled out after 6. In fact, my only real complaint is not that I had no chance, but that I got pulled out at the top of the hill. If I was looking for just any race to do, I probably should have done tomorrow's race which is pancake flat, but I couldn't make it.

swimmer88: If you finished 8th on THAT course, you're doing pretty damn well.

Course did all of the selection. I don't think any field had more than 20 finish, at least not in the main group. Got boxed out in the last corner and couldn't quite close the gap to 3rd so I ended up 4th. 3 more points to the 3's.

Ended up 12th in the 3's. Hard race but I thought it was a fun course. I hadn't done any hard anaerobic workouts in about a month so I faded hard from the lead group with about 5 laps to go. I did win a nice wheel bag though.

LMAO, Jason. Sorry I missed you at the race, but always love your take on things. Tell us how you REALLY feel.

I posted this on Jason's wall on FACEbook, no need to rewrite:

I did surprisingly well in getting pulled with 2 to go. Our field (Cat IV) was whittled from 60 or 70 to 10 in the lead group and maybe 20 total that actually finished the whole race. It was attrition. It was like a furnace towards the top of the climb with no wind and I was at my max HR each time up except for the very first.

I was at the race ALL day and heard all sorts of comments. They were all generally positive while simultaneously saying it was the most difficult 'crit' on the calendar, or that they had ever done. One very experienced Masters cyclist said it was the best course he's ever done. Go figure. Of course, I was handing out preems for part of the day, so the guys I talked to were generally going well. But hell yea, BRUTAL course. Not for the nervous, as Phil Liggett would say...haha.

And yea, great job by all who put on the race, esp. Travis and the Sho-Air elite guys. I think there were preems on almost every lap. A top 10 there was a stellar finish. I coulda done it back in April, but I'm not back...YET.

Thanks everyone who showed up and raced. I had a great time despite getting pulled from my first race EVER, and for not getting a single BFer greet ALL DAY...sheesh. Not racing tomorrow, but best of luck to those that are.

Cheers,

Ethan Ede
Sho-Air/Sonance

I guess could clarify a little. I honestly thought the course was great. Just not for someone of my particular specialty. It was in a nice area with a very nice setting, and the event itself was very well organized and the races well executed. I especially liked the lead and follow scooters.
If I had the day to do over again, I definitely wouldn't have ridden in the morning. It wouldn't have helped me place any better, but I would have felt better about being shot out the back like a wet turd and probably would have gone ahead and finished.

Ahhhh the climb :)

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v260/30/3/557406432/n557406432_1024975_8839.jpg

Loved that course. Brother and I took 3rd and 7th in the 3's and couple of nice primes.

Ahhhh the climb :)

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v260/30/3/557406432/n557406432_1024975_8839.jpg

I ask that we please take the picture down as I do want to see anything close to resembling that course for quite a while :thumb:. My legs are still yelling at me. :twitchy:

Thanks everyone who showed up and raced. I had a great time despite getting pulled from my first race EVER, and for not getting a single BFer greet ALL DAY...sheesh. Not racing tomorrow, but best of luck to those that are.

Haha!
Ethan, I spoke with you for about 10 minutes before the Pro race started when we redid the cones after the kids races. If I had know that you were BF I would have introduced you to the other BF'ers that I saw around...

I ended up guarding the entrance to the Main Place apartments for most of the day, and received mostly positive comments from the drivers that I had to hold up. I hope that the race will be back next year!

I did surprisingly well in getting pulled with 2 to go. Our field (Cat IV) was whittled from 60 or 70 to 10 in the lead group and maybe 20 total that actually finished the whole race. It was attrition. It was like a furnace towards the top of the climb with no wind and I was at my max HR each time up except for the very first.


There were 20 finishers in the IV's. I know, 'cause I were he. I'm pretty sure I was DFL, though. I wasn't all that hot, but as the race wore on, as you'd turn at the top of the hill, you'd get a chest full of wind. I just put my head down and went for all I was worth. I've been training hard, rested the last 1/2 of the week, was thoroughly warmed up, everything. I felt really good. The course just gutted me. Average HR for the race....185....that's the _average_!

The crash was a young guy trying to pass me. Just as I was turning into the corner that lead onto the bricks I glanced back and I saw him dive-bombing me on the inside. I straightened up and gave him a bunch of room. He clipped the curb and went down. He didn't really slow me down all that much, just screwed up my downshifts for he hill. I asked his teammates and apparently he got up and continued, which was fortunate.

I stuck with the pack for about 5 laps. After that I was pretty much solo. I tried to work with a couple other guys at different points. We never could really get each other's timing right, so we didn't work well together. If I had a brain in my head I would have just sat behind and caught a breath, but I tried to do the right thing and take my turn pulling. I don't think I really helped us, and I know I didn't help me.

I loved the corner at the bottom of the hill. Just a note. If you were hitting your brakes, you're a flange. It was flat out and a blast.

Overall, a super tough race, but fun in the same sort of way that getting your wisdom teeth pulled is fun. I'll be in better shape next year and I'll do my damnedest to stick with the lead group.

OH YA, I also forgot. The flyer said that hill was 4%. Bull****. My Garmin said about 7.

Anyone watch the pro race? SoCalCycling has a picture of Dan Ramsey on the front page and says he won it, but I can't find the story for the life of me.

OH YA, I also forgot. The flyer said that hill was 4%. Bull****. My Garmin said about 7.

Well it was... for about 20 feet.

Anyone watch the pro race? SoCalCycling has a picture of Dan Ramsey on the front page and says he won it, but I can't find the story for the life of me.

I watched it, and it was a great race, but even the pro's found themselves getting destroyed by this course. At the end i believe only 20-25 riders were left.

About 20 minutes in, Ramsey was in a lead group of 5 riders, with about a 15 second gap on a chase group of 5 more riders. The peloton was another 20 seconds back. Ramsey dropped the hammer going up that hill and dropped one rider from the lead group. Then he dropped the remaining three. He was riding out front solo for a few laps. Soon though, one rider broke away from the group and caught up to him. Those two remained in front for the rest of the race, and eventually lapped the peloton. By that point there were only about 15 riders left in the peloton. Ramsey ended up taking the win at the finish.

After 75 minutes of racing on that course, I can't give enough credit and praise to every rider who finished.:thumb:It looked reeeeaaaalllyyy painful.

he lapped the field? Holy crap.

yeah buddy!

Yeah, it was pretty unreal watching those guys go around that course.

Heck, it was unreal watching the leaders in the 3's do it.

My teammate Brian ended up 9th in the Pro/1/2. very impressive ride.

I can only admire anyone who raced yesterday, I rode there from Irvine with a Friend and we did two laps before they asked us to clear the course...we actually pulled up behind the Riders on the first race...

We stayed and watched two Laps then rode home again.

SoCalCycling has a picture of Dan Ramsey on the front page
More photos: http://surf-shot.smugmug.com/gallery/5415021_2HGdR#331135271_SQwf5

And yet to come: http://www.rothphotography.smugmug.com/

Well it was... for about 20 feet.

Exactly!

Well, I went and looked at the data again. The first part of the hill peaked at about 8%, the middle 'flat' section was 3%, and the final steep bit was about 9%.

I've been training on a 6% hill and when I saw that thing I thought, "Man, something's not right with this picture."

Did it average 4%? At least this confirms my suspicion that the second climb was steeper than the first.

Ethan: I would have found you to say congrats on a great event, but alas, I have no idea what you look like.

I think it averaged something more like 6-7%. They also did not state in the flyer that it was an uphill finish. 3% after a climb like that is definitely not a flat one.

I think it averaged something more like 6-7%. They also did not state in the flyer that it was an uphill finish. 3% after a climb like that is definitely not a flat one.

For the record, the 3% part was shorter than the 8% or 9% part. The average was Probably 6-7 like merckx89 says.

My teammate Brian ended up 9th in the Pro/1/2. very impressive ride.

Pretty sure I saw you on saturday. UCLA/System Six?

Was gonna say hi, but didn't want it to be one of those

"Hey, aren't you..."

"No..."

"Oh... Ok sorry."

moments.

I think it averaged something more like 6-7%. They also did not state in the flyer that it was an uphill finish. 3% after a climb like that is definitely not a flat one.

from my garmin:

0.3 miles, 6.1% ave. and 8% max gradient.

felt like more on the 30th times over!

Felt like more than that on the 2nd time:o

from my garmin:

0.3 miles, 6.1% ave. and 8% max gradient.

felt like more on the 30th times over!

So what does that equate to in feet climbed per lap?

Mine said right at 100 feet/lap. It doesn't sound like much when you write it, but .....

Actually, 104 ft/lap. That sounds better.

Actually, 104 ft/lap. That sounds better.

Sounds even better if you add it all up.

According to my race data the IVs rode 13 laps.

So that's 1,352 ft. of climbing. Not bad for a 45 min. race.

That is, If I'm interpreting the peaks and valleys, on the data graph correctly. It might actually be 12 laps, so more like 1,248 ft.

-Trevor

It was 13 laps.

You know, a lot of times when I get done with a race, a crit in particular, I'm not _that_ tired. I'm winded from the sprint, sure, but even a race where I've spent a good chunk of time at the front I've still got the ability to ride home and sometimes ride pretty damn hard home. At the end of this race I was just shot. I couldn't even talk for a while. I just plopped down in the shade and watched the next race get going.

So it was good for that. I knew I was racing.

It was 13 laps.

You know, a lot of times when I get done with a race, a crit in particular, I'm not _that_ tired. I'm winded from the sprint, sure, but even a race where I've spent a good chunk of time at the front I've still got the ability to ride home and sometimes ride pretty damn hard home. At the end of this race I was just shot. I couldn't even talk for a while. I just plopped down in the shade and watched the next race get going.

So it was good for that. I knew I was racing.

I felt the same way. I was signed up for the 30+ III/IVs, and there wasn't a lot of recovery time in between. After numerous attempts to claw my way back onto the front group, I called it a day and bailed out. That was probably after only about three or four laps.

I was a bit disappointed, 'cause I wasn't expecting a good result in the second race, but I was hoping I'd at least have enough left to stay with the lead group and work for a friend. I was no help at all off the back...

Saw a few guys from the IVs race in the 30+ III/IV field. Not sure how many of 'em were suffering that badly, but there was quite an attrition rate. I think only around 11 or 12 guys even finished in the 30+ III/IV field.

I was signed up (and paid) for 30+. About the time I was trying (unsucessfully) to hold onto the lead group I made a deal with my body. Go like hell in this race and bail on the 30+. It would have been silly of me to race again with such limited recovery. Normally, it's not that big of a deal, but this was definitely not a normal crit course.

If I had a brain in my head, I would have cherry picked the 30+ race and placed way higher!