Northern California - Altamont TTT

I saw this in Henry's signature.

Looks to be mostly flat with good pavement.

Anyone interested in forming a BF team (must be 4-man team)? ;)

I saw this in Henry's signature.

Looks to be mostly flat with good pavement.

Anyone interested in forming a BF team (must be 4-man team)? ;)


Actually the course is an out and back over a 600 ft gradual climb, all 2-3% grade.

So it's climb, descend, turn around, climb, descend.

I would love to do the TTT but I'll probably be working the event (unless I can get an hour break).

Come on Ramon? Ben? Glenn? Someone? Join Marco for some TTT action.

I would love to ride the event too but like Blastradius I will be working the event. Its a great course. I rode it this morning and it was superfast on the way out but headwinds can make it a fun challenge on the way back.
Fingers crossed.

Based on the registrations so far, there may be more volunteers than riders! Might be able to get a podium in some brackets just by showing up and finishing (is there a time cutoff?:innocent:). How 'bout podium girls?

JB

Jonathan, your Team in Training crew could make a good team(s). It's a good chance to practice some pacelining.

It would be fun! Unfortunately, we've already got a 65 mile ride on the calendar for that Saturday.

JB

Pete, I know you are looking at this... You, me, and two more. We can drive you out too.

Interesting...will this event be held next year too?

I'll be racing in the W 35+ category - we have a gnarly 4-women Webcor Alto Velo team - I think I shall call ourselves "The Green Angels."

I don't have enough fast women on my team to do this, and without the coed option, I guess I'll find something else to do...:innocent:

I don't know if my team is doing this or not.
I'm pretty sure we will have a 45+ team, though I don't know about 35+.

I can't decide between this and the Napa Grand Prix.
I'd like to try that "reverse win & out" race where the 1st across the line with 4 laps to go gets 5th, 1st across the line with 3 laps to go gets 4th, etc. On the final lap, the winner gets 1st and 2nd gets 6th, then 7th, etc.
I bet if I went for an early break no one would chase since it would only be for 5th place.

Interesting...will this event be held next year too?

I guess it would depend on how successful it is. It's crunch time.

I would do this if I could find 3 other guys my advanced age....
That would be the "top" category they offer.


Hummmm?????

If you can't find others all above a certain age, you can just do Cat 5 which is open to all ages.

If you can't find others all above a certain age, you can just do Cat 5 which is open to all ages.

Yeah, but I'm thinking, how many 55+ teams will there be? I know it wouldn't matter in the scope of speed, or the problems of the world, but if there's a field of just 3 teams, I just might podium!

Pete.... How olds are you, anyway?

I would do this if I could find 3 other guys my advanced age....
That would be the "top" category they offer.


Hummmm?????

I'm in your category (and Pete's).....:innocent:

I'm in your category (and Pete's).....:innocent:

Hailing Mr. 777

And then ??????

Hailing Mr. 777

And then ??????

I don't think Pete will mind me letting you know his Racing Age is 55 so he can enter 55+ races.

I'll be probably racing in men's E4. not sure yet.

I'll be probably racing in men's E4. not sure yet.

With some Webcor teammates, I am assuming. Right Ivan?

Hailing Mr. 777

And then ??????

Marco:

Is your Dad still riding?

He's an old time trialer, right?

Marco:

Is your Dad still riding?

He's an old time trialer, right?

No he doesn't ride seriously any more. He tries to keep his HR under like 160 when doing workouts so this kind of thing is out of the question.

He could probably be pretty fast if he got past the redline he set for himself. Like 10-yrs ago, he used to do like 54 min 40k TTs, and now he's probably lighter/stronger than he was then.

However, now he feels too much intensity is no good at his age... and it's more about maintenance than performance. :rolleyes:

I could dye my beard gray...

(But I'd still be slow. :P)

I could dye my beard gray...

(But I'd still be slow. :P)

And redundant.

I wouldn't mind giving it a try, but I can't imagine I'd be any kind of asset to a team effort. Unless you need an anchor.

And redundant.I clicked the button once, but the site took that moment to dive off a cliff.

Also, I have no idea what you're talking about. :P

With some Webcor teammates, I am assuming. Right Ivan?

yep :)

I might be up for this. I don't have aero-bars, but would we even need them for a Cat 5 team TT? This could be fun.

Doo eeet. There's only one other cat 5 team so you're chances of hitting the podium are good.

I might be up for this. I don't have aero-bars, but would we even need them for a Cat 5 team TT? This could be fun.

Not needed... the guys with aerobars should just do slightly longer pulls.

I might be up for this. I don't have aero-bars, but would we even need them for a Cat 5 team TT? This could be fun.

People don't actually ride pacelines with TT bars, do they? That would scare the bejeessus out of me! :eek:

People don't actually ride pacelines with TT bars, do they? That would scare the bejeessus out of me! :eek:

Err. yeah

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/g/GIRO%20D%27ITALIA%20-%20STAGE%20ONE%20032.jpg

In Team Time Trials they do. You need to practice, practice, practice.

Probably depends on the course:

http://www.cyclingfans.com/2008_tour_de_georgia_team_time_trial_slipstream_chipotle_wins.jpg

On this one, I'd probably use them. Doesn't seem too technical, and would provide a definite advantage. A good way to spread the advantage over the team, would be for the aerobar members to take longer pulls than they would without them.

Let LA show you how... and if you fall off you just get back on.:thumb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZQ2K-0FugQ

Here is how you do it fixed gear with no brakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNRP-cdUDts

On this one, I'd probably use them. Doesn't seem too technical, and would provide a definite advantage. A good way to spread the advantage over the team, would be for the aerobar members to take longer pulls than they would without them.

Although it isnt technical it can be very fast on the way out and the wind can be pretty gusty. I once saw 50MPH on a lunch time cycle ride with the Cycletrons. I agree that aerobars could help, especially if you are confident on them but the course is pretty rolling and you probably wont be able to use them everywhere. I dont think you will lose too much time as a 4 man team without them. Its a great fun course.

Here is how you do it fixed gear with no brakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNRP-cdUDts

Amaaaazing. Such precision.

Although it isnt technical it can be very fast on the way out and the wind can be pretty gusty. I once saw 50MPH on a lunch time cycle ride with the Cycletrons. I agree that aerobars could help, especially if you are confident on them but the course is pretty rolling and you probably wont be able to use them everywhere. I dont think you will lose too much time as a 4 man team without them. Its a great fun course.

+1, if you keep the rotation moving you should be able to keep a pretty high pace going.

The online registration closes 4/1 at 3:01am so get registered. It should be fun.

I'm doing it with Owner, Rumbutter, and one other guy Frank.

*** BTW, this race is on the Bay Area Women's Cycling Racing Series. There should be a large number of women's teams there too ;).

I couldn't get anyone... It would have been fun. Then again, right now I really need to do distance/climbing for DMD training. So I'm gonna have to miss this one.

There are now three women's teams entered in the W 35+ category. Our Webcor team is up for the challenge from Team Kalyra (some big TT guns) and Team Velo Bella. Team Webcor will all be on TT bikes. Hermes and I did a reconnaissance ride yesterday of the course on our road bikes. The cross winds were outrageous - hopefully early morning won't be too windy.

I couldn't get anyone... It would have been fun. Then again, right now I really need to do distance/climbing for DMD training. So I'm gonna have to miss this one.

Marco:

Do you want to get a group together and just start practicing for fun? I think Team TT sounds like a blast. We could just use Canada Rd for now. I'm in....

With the 8am start, all the teams should be done by 11 or 12. How did the grades feel on the road bikes?

I live close to Livermore. I would be down for the Cat 5 if there was a group wanting to form on here.

There are now three women's teams entered in the W 35+ category. Our Webcor team is up for the challenge from Team Kalyra (some big TT guns) and Team Velo Bella. Team Webcor will all be on TT bikes. Hermes and I did a reconnaissance ride yesterday of the course on our road bikes. The cross winds were outrageous - hopefully early morning won't be too windy.

That was a very unusual wind direction on Sunday. Normally at this time of year it is a tailwind out and a headwind home. The wind was back to the normal direction this evening and much lighter.

The FFBC Cat 4 mens team are riding regular road bikes as none of us have TT bikes and we are all poor ;)

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/altamont.jpg

Had a ride round the course this morning. The winds were pretty strong as can be seen by my speed on the downhill past the golf course :)

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/altamont_speed.jpg

The start list for the Cyclepath Altamont TTT has now been published :
http://ffbc.org/RaceTeam/Races/index.html (http://ffbc.org/RaceTeam/Races/index.html)