Great Lakes - Hillsboro Race Recap

A very interesting race on a great day. Here is an overview of the race data.

http://www.pbase.com/image/123497186/original.jpg

If you look at the yellow cadence line, you can see when I'm in the pack, and when I'm off the front (white) or pulling (pink).

The race started slowly and then I noticed the Mack guys start to mass at the front ... OK ... somethings up. I moved to the front and sure enough, they launch one rider OTF. I jump and eventually grabbed his wheel. It took a big effort for me to catch him, over a minute at 400 watts.

Sadly, I was smart enough to catch the break, but not strong enough to stay with it! :mad: I lasted about 25 minutes, 9.2 miles, NP 268 watts, 92% max HR. That was my last season TT pace but I just couldn't hold it this early in the season.

So, back in the pack I go, staying near the front. Everything was looking great till we got back into town. I climbed the hills fine, in the top 10. Then we make the turn to the downhill and the guys gun it! I'm doing 550 watts going into the downhill!:twitchy:

So now we are hauling down the hill at 42 mph and hit the cement/brick pavement. I am no longer in control of my bike as it skitters across the pavement. I notice what must be bottles popping out like popcorn in front of me, and head is being jostled so badly I can't see clearly. :eek: This was not safe riding for me and I sat up and bagged it! I was not under duress at the time with only an 87% max HR, this bike race simply wasn't worth the risk for me. :(

I was going to quit but a EMC guy pulls up alongside and says ... "I'll go for another if you will?" UghhhhH!!! ... so off we go. We had a group of 5 guys but only I and the EMC dude did any work. I ended up doing about 75% of the work but didn't mind as I looked at it as an SST ride.

Then back in town, EMC passes me on the bricks at the end and I'm like huh? I drag you around the whole course and your gonna try to beat me to the line for 40'th place? :bang: That wasn't gonna happen so I gun it and take him well before the line. Jees ... some appreciation.

First lap till bagging it: 1:15, 28.4 miles, NP 238 watts, 22.6 avg mph.

Second lap plus: 1:28, 29.4 miles, NP 206 watts, 19.8 avg mph.

I really enjoyed the race but don't think I'll do it next year. The risk in that downhill just isn't worth it for me. Maybe it's my bike (nobody used the SLC-SL in Paris-Roubaix, they all went the the R3), or maybe I'm a puss, but that section was not fun for me. Hitting a water bottle and going down on bricks at 40+ is not cool, really not cool.

Everything else was great, except my fitness of course. lol

Seems like J-dub was right.. bombing down the cobbles at almost 50mph is not for the faint of heart :)

Seems like J-dub was right.. bombing down the cobbles at almost 50mph is not for the faint of heart :)

I learned that if you bust your ass for an hour, you don't need to bomb those cobbles :D

Tim, I'm trying to estimate my TSS as I was riding without power, I'm curious what you ended up with.

TSS for me was 217 for me.

Scummer, I've been called wreckless a few times, sketchy more than once, but never timid with regard to my riding. I have a long history in speed related sports (bicycle riding 50+, ski jumping 60+mph, downhill skiing 60+ mph, car racing 175+ mph). Speed itself doesn't scare me. High speeds, over difficult pavement, in a pack, and bottles coming loose really isn't cool for me.

First half hour of the cat 4 race was a nightmarish cat 5 crit. Way too much nervous energy and lots of nonsensical braking and accelerating It was quickly figured out that it was ok to ignore the centerline rule and the pack was oscillating between bunched up and strung out. I started in the middle but found myself at the very back after about 15 minutes. Lots of sketchy wheels and I wasn't going to risk moving up unless I was completely sure. Gaps then started to form and I was able to close them and work up. Glad to see Wildcard turning up in force, they always push the pace and turn it into a race. After about half an hour we had shed 30-40% of the pack. I barely hung on but was starting to feel really good. We turned into a headwind and the nervousness was gone, we slowed down and prepared for the second half of the lap - which is mostly tailwind with much less difficult crosswind. Then my chain came off. Psimet stopped and gave me his chaintool - for which I'm very grateful. Took me a full 15 minutes with trembling fingers to fix it. I pushed the first rivet out too far and couldn't get it back in. Gave up and tried another link. Put chain together and then had to flex it like crazy and make small adjustments to loosen it up. Then I did a 50 mile TT.

Caught up to Mayo about 5 miles into the second lap. Good to see him back and riding with determination. Dropped him wihtout realizing on a hill. Caught the cat 4 grupetto coming into town and picked off 10 or so places on the hill and bricks. Agreed to sprint it out with a Mesa Cycles junior as a fun way to end the ride - nipped him by a wheel. Nice day for a ride.

Bummer about the chain - the KMC missing link went missing - probably on a practice run on the cobbles. It had only about 15 hours on it and I had checked it thoroughly the night before.

Numbers geeks:

first 29 minutes: 10.7 miles, 22.1 mph, AP:240W NP:288W

15 min break on side of road

Solo TT: 2h20mins, 45.7 mi 19.5 mph AP:217W NP 240W

Total tss: 220 for the race

That's a bummer. Lot of mechanical's yesterday.

Anyone have any idea why Ryan Fay was watching from the sidelines at the end?

Nice reports!

Is that a Van Gogh CC? :D Oh sorry, it's one of your charts :rolleyes:

Congrats tspek :thumb:

Not to worry. Lat year I wiped out on a corner. I still get twinges from my hip joint because of it. I'll take a mechanical anyday, anything is better than crashing. DFL>DNF.

The cobbles are often easier at speed, you do have to be loose and relaxed though. Shouldn't be a reason to bag it, but a lot depends on how others are riding. Not sure why water bottles always go flying. I think people ride bikes that are too stiff and use a too-high tire pressure. I ran 100 psi in 25mm tires and that was too much. 90-95 psi would have been better.

I'd really like to hear how fast other groups went through the cobbles. I rode them at 30 and 35 the day before and felt reasonably comfortable. Above 40 ... no freakin way on my bike, in a pack, and bottles on the deck.

Tspek, How did the race go down? I'm guessing that it was reasonably smooth on the second half of the first lap, then all hell broke loose through town and coming out. I met the leaders coming out as I was going in, first group of about 10, a tired looking chase group of a dozen, a few stragglers and then a totally devastated line of individuals who looked like they got blown up in the crosswind on the hill out of town. Many of those shelled I know to be very strong, it must have been a very intense 5-10 minutes.

From the results, it looks like the lead groups amalgamated into a bunch of about 25, then yourself and JW broke away at some stage on lap two?

Tspek, How did the race go down? I'm guessing that it was reasonably smooth on the second half of the first lap, then all hell broke loose through town and coming out. I met the leaders coming out as I was going in, first group of about 10, a tired looking chase group of a dozen, a few stragglers and then a totally devastated line of individuals who looked like they got blown up in the crosswind on the hill out of town. Many of those shelled I know to be very strong, it must have been a very intense 5-10 minutes.

From the results, it looks like the lead groups amalgamated into a bunch of about 25, then yourself and JW broke away at some stage on lap two?

Pain. Lots of pain.

I had some problems clipping in at the start so the first half of the lap I spent in back trying to move up, without getting DQ'ed.

About halfway into the 1st lap there was a large opening on the right (outside of a turn) and I moved up some 50 spots. A guy was off the front for some reason, clearly hurting. I felt it might be a decent opportunity to get a real warmup, and conveniently a guy decided to chase him down, so he pulled him halfway in, I pulled in the rest. A few others followed .

That was pretty much all the excitement on the first lap except that I spent way too much time out front.

2nd lap: I see a 3 man break go off the front. I look at the front of the peloton where 3-4 teammates are riding like grandmas are and realize one of the guys is theirs. I look closer and realize another one the guys is Whipple. I look to Raviv and say "That's trouble".

We ride to the front casually, I stomp on it and get a good gap, look back and Raviv is on his way. I put my head down and continue on. I get there and recover for a bit before they realize they've picked up another. In talking to Raviv at the end of the race, I think he misjudged whether or not the break would stick, I think he was very close to being right. None the less, he dropped back and helped Tati and Wild card block.

4 man break, looks iffy for a while but slowly the gap gains.
4 man break turns into a 3 man break.
We reel in the 3rd guy a few times since he had the teammates.
3 man break turns into 2 man break.

Whipple is a horse. He very likely could have done it without me. We continue to rotate, his pulls are substantially longer.

I look at him and make it clear that I'm riding on the edge, I'll pull through whenever he wants, and if we make it, the race is his.

Did I mention that he's a horse?

We climb into town, and he goes off, we had about 90 seconds on the field.

Awesome day.

There were quite a few bottles laying loose at the bottom of that downhill. Several still had cages attached ! :)

Aham, others, what were your numbers and speed on the hill?

Speed on the hill was 42.8mph with some feathering of the brakes. There was a bouncing mine field of bottles, I was on my hoods and out of the saddle ready to bunny hop. My tacx bottle cages did their job and kept my precious little amount of water on board.
Entire workout (290 watts):
Duration: 2:32:16 (2:49:22)
Work: 2636 kJ
TSS: 259.2 (intensity factor 1.013)
Norm Power: 337
VI: 1.16
Distance: 57.882 mi

my third race and first road race. the 29 mile loop was a challange for me and my skillz. there were tight country roads with winter muck not washed away yet, short risers, short descents with tricky s turns, quick turns and the wind.

early start to the day since i was staying at the in laws about 60 miles away from the the race start. i didnt have the grand breakfast that some had, but i grabbed a McGriddle and some coffee in Litchfield. i got to tell you something, a pancake muffin injected with syrup is pure genius. god bless the Golden Arches.

i was pretty early to the start getting a prime parking spot near the start/finish. checked in, got instructions on proper number placement. since there were two, a giant one and a small one, i had the lady write down on the back which side which number went. later when the full crew arrived PSI pointed out that i pinned the numbers on wrong or backwards. even when a CAT 5 follows instructions he is wrong. :)

it was cool to hang out with the experts of the team before the start. warm up was solid as i rolled out with the team. in typical Psi fashion he was all 411 and i was taking it in.

the first time we went up the "big climb" the sharp left turn on the decent really surprised me. i was in the gravel, then the grass, but managed to keep it all together. after that turn is the decent into and onto the brick road. my first thought was holly *****. i was coasting down it and hitting 30 with ease. the transition to the brick road is plastered with asphalt patches, uneven payment, and oh yeah, a left hand turn at the bottom. next, after the decent the bricks continue, slightly uphill, and i was bouncing all over the place. i was not comfortable on this section at all. i took two more warm up passes on it though. all that and all i had done was a solid warm up.....

lets race. the neutral start was helpfull since i was small chainring'ing it at the start line. the Scottsman and I lined up together in the second row, then waited 10 to 15 minutes for the roll out. unfortunately, this would be the most time i spent with him.

4 miles in i was in the back 1/3rd of the pack. not due to fitness, but more a lack of skills. i need to work on getting my arse in the front half of packs and hope that comes with more races. the back was all that CAT 5s are said to be; brakes, surges, brakes, surges, squirrels, brakes, and surges.

then, everyone yells slowing, i hear brakes, i hear metal, i hear a pop, and the guy in front of me locks up his brakes. i got no where to go, so i continue forward on my line, slowing, but not braking, and i believe i pushed that guy off the road into the ditch. i either got my tire square on his or into his RD. not sure, but my first thought was braking hard was not the right thing. 5 seconds later i see the Flying Scottsman, who had been riding well near the front, floating back. remember the pop? as we pass i say, "flat" he says "flat" then i say "****" and slam my bars.

4 miles in his day was done.

i spent the next 16 miles at the back of the pack. i never got comfortable. braking and surging again and again. i would move up and fall back quickly. at one point on a nasty quick decent with a s turn i started to move up when a Metro East rider came blazing by on my left, into the gravel shoulder and i was sure he was bound for the ditch and a 10' drop. several minutes later he rejoined the pack, but i have more on him later.

riding at the back and being caught on the wrong side of the cross wind was killing me. no one was breaking away and no one was pushing the pace that hard. however, doing what i was doing was bad. at mile 20 the pace did pick up a bit and i was falling off the lead 20 guys. we hit a roller and i found myself standing, nailing it, and losing ground.

all i could hear was Psi; "dont ever lose the wheel in front of you. do everything you can to stay with the pack.do it."

standing and hitting it hard for only 5 strokes, i pause, 5 more, i think i am done.

no no no. i am telling myself this out loud with a few curse words that i believe could have been DQ'ed. i bury myself and i grab back onto the pack at mile 22ish.

at mile 25 the pace really picks up and i finally look down at the Garmin and think the two climbs should be coming. i look up and i see the feed zone climb. i like climbing.

i am on the inside as we hit the two hills and think that is dumb. we shed riders in the feed zone. as we hit the final hill a skinny rider stands to go at the base and the pace picks up. i keep thinking go, but wait. half way up that rider is blown up and going back. my inside line didnt hurt me and i passed half the pack on this section.

next we have the nasty left and mad decent. at the top, the previous mentioned Metro East rider asks me if there are any more hills and i say no, but watch out for the tricky left. he floats back and i am about 5th going into the turn. he returns, blazing inside me and yelling; "look out & im sorry." he has pushed me back into the soft gravel and grass ditch that i scouted on my warm up. he and several other riders fly past me.

shift, jump, check bottles, grab his wheel and i am bombing the decent. i dont bomb, i did today. i was up, just off the saddle as we hit the rough stuff. i was passing everyone and catching the two leaders. as i hit 41 mph the sharp left approached, i was on the inside, then remembered i am also bad at taking corners at high speed. so, i brake and fall back.

i make the turn. i was dead that last little incline of bricks, but i passed two riders. we hit the corner and the better pavement, but two riders flew by me. maybe three not sure. i thought i was done and should sit up, but i look up and there aint that many riders in front of me. i cant stand, but i am turning the crank. i believe i passed two the last 200m to finish 6th.

i finished up my day cheering on PSIMET Racing. a really really nice day. congrats to those whos raced, especially those doing two laps and double especially to those with a brick. :)

later.

great job aaron! sorry i wasnt there to pull for ya...

That's awesome Aaron.

Continue to don't lose that wheel but remember that the further back you are the more sketchy the ride.


i was dead that last little incline of bricks, but i passed two riders.

So where they. Don't ever forget that.

i grabbed a McGriddle and some coffee in Litchfield. i got to tell you something, a pancake muffin injected with sryrup is pure genius. god bless the Golden Arches.
Now was this a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle, a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle, or one of them girly no egg or cheese McGriddles?

Choosing the wrong one could have been the difference between sixth place and a brick.

Now was this a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle, a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle, or one of them girly no egg or cheese McGriddles?

Choosing the wrong one could have been the difference between sixth place and a brick.

i went the way of the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese McGriddle, hasbrown & small coffee with one creamer. i didnt want to get all crazy by intaking sausage prior to a race. later.

forgot to mention my avg pwr was 223w, NP was 278, and TSS 145. later.

Dang Aham, nice numbers.

THE COOLEST DAMN PACE CAR IN ALL THE LAND!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/PaceCar.jpg

THE COOLEST DAMN PACE CAR IN ALL THE LAND!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/PaceCar.jpg


What's cooler is that the girl in the front was leaning out of the car with a camera the entire time Whipple and I were OTF. I gots to find me those pics.

Easy now... we'll fix you up in no time.. just a little scratch on the tire, we'll patch you up maybe grease your chain a little and you're as good as showroom new.

http://www.peloton-pix.com/Road-Racing/2010-Hillsboro-Roubaix/11793237_UkKdr#835201978_LNZzR-A-LB

Next time you hear sirens ... now you know. Some rider just got a flat! :p

THE COOLEST DAMN PACE CAR IN ALL THE LAND!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/PaceCar.jpg

That's an '02... possibly an '03. Looks like pro-drive mud flaps, but I bet they're knock-offs... the real ones are super pricey. Based on the amount of money it looks like that dude has put in to actual rally equipment (light bar and lights, what looks to be a HAM radio, etc), I'll bet that dude either does TSD or is really wrapped up in the local rally scene. No cage, though...

Man that picture makes me regret selling my WRX. Mine was nearly identical except it wasn't a wagon, I had PIAA's instead of Hella's, and the flaps were black. Ah, the memories...

Dude Aaron, that is awesome! Can't wait to get into a race this year. Though I don't know how I am going to take people doing stupid moves in front of me. With a cage fighters attitude and build, there could be problems :D This story pumped me up, I am dancing right now. Just did the moonwalk. Oh yeah, doing the gumby now.

That's an '02... possibly an '03. Looks like pro-drive mud flaps, but I bet they're knock-offs... the real ones are super pricey. Based on the amount of money it looks like that dude has put in to actual rally equipment (light bar and lights, what looks to be a HAM radio, etc), I'll bet that dude either does TSD or is really wrapped up in the local rally scene. No cage, though...

Man that picture makes me regret selling my WRX. Mine was nearly identical except it wasn't a wagon, I had PIAA's instead of Hella's, and the flaps were black. Ah, the memories...

Mommy had a WRX at one time. I loved that thing...

Mommy had a WRX at one time. I loved that thing...

I had one of the first few imported. I believe the very first WRXes hit our shores in May of 2001 (possibly the end of April) as an '02 model. I got mine the beginning of June. Loved everything about the car, except putting premium gas in it. Was an absolute blast on the gravel.

I had one of the first few imported. I believe the very first WRXes hit our shores in May of 2001 (possibly the end of April) as an '02 model. I got mine the beginning of June. Loved everything about the car, except putting premium gas in it. Was an absolute blast on the gravel.

Basically the same story for her. She was looking for a new car and I convinced her to go test drive one, she fell in love with it.

I'm in need of a new car, and am considering getting an older wagon.

http://www.psimet.com/images/Team/RacingPics/HillsboroBrick.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/image/123576961/original.jpg

^^^^ better caption: "i knew i should have done the 5s with aham." later.

^^^^ better caption: "i knew i should have done the 5s with aham." later.

"Does anyone here know if they are testing for Flomax and Cialis as P.E.D.'s?"

"This Viagra better work cause I"m gonna have trouble with my cadence and this woody."

That's a damn fine foto. ;) (thanx bro)

John, what do you think? In direct sunlight Canon's overexpose so I normally dial in -1/3 or -2/3 EC to capture the highlights. Also, did you set jpg to low contrast (again because of the direct sunlight)?

Also, out on the course 5 or 10 miles, there was a guy in a bright green windbreaker shooting shots. Who was he?

Up at 4am, 5 1/2 hour hammer fest in the car, follow some crazed college kid in a pickup through town so I can find the course ... dial in -2/3 EC for that 'perfect shot'? :o More like, where's the start? Where's the brick? Can I park here? Why not? Where's the can? Don't lock the keys in the car! Then it's basic - AV mode and start firing. Worry about the fine details in post production (I love batch files). I never made it out of town, just walked the square loop. There was a guy at the S/F most of the day with a Nikon and a few folks out with their personal DSLRs, but didn't see any 300mm or 400mm f2.8s out there. Whew! :rolleyes:

Edit: I may have played with EC a bit, but ended up just shooting at "0". I have a polarized filter that I sometimes use on bright days when the road is reflecting a ton of light and blows out. That has helped a lot during Superweek on the concrete street courses. I'm usually looking more for decent backgrounds for the riders. Nobody wants a foto of themselves with a dumpster in the background. ;)

John, what do you think? In direct sunlight Canon's overexpose so I normally dial in -1/3 or -2/3 EC to capture the highlights. Also, did you set jpg to low contrast (again because of the direct sunlight)?

Also, out on the course 5 or 10 miles, there was a guy in a bright green windbreaker shooting shots. Who was he?

Always expose for the highlights.

I hear you John, been there many time myself. ;)

^^^^ better caption: "i knew i should have done the 5s with aham." later.

"D'OH! That wasn't a fart!"

Follow through for the fail!

Nobody wants a foto of themselves with a dumpster in the background. ;)

I do! Better than a picture you will probably get of me curled up in a corner sucking my thumb after getting pwnd

"This Viagra better work cause I"m gonna have trouble with my cadence and this woody."

Ha...that is hysterical ^ I love the photo ...the look on your face is priceless.

By the way, my cycling computer wasn't working and I didn't know how fast I was going at any point whether bombing down the bricks or struggling up the hills. I think I kinda liked that :)

The bricks didn't bother me but I wasn't in a huge group. There were just 4 of us together. Big difference.