"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Finished my first race

I previously posted for advice on my first race. Here is the follow up on how I did. I finished somewhere between 60 and 70th place out of 100 in an open hilly event. Final results not posted yet. The course was shortened to 45 miles since part of leg 3 (as it turns out, the smallest hill was eliminated) was closed due to a rock slide. I am pleased with this result as a first race. My goal was to just finish. I hope to drop 15-20 pounds over the next year and finish in the top 1/2.

Thanks to all that gave me advice!

www.killerdiller.org

http://www.rxdesign.com/pix/killerdiller/kd04/KD04-3311.jpg That's me wearing the white helmet.

How was it? Find anybody to pace with? What was the toughest part?

I heard that the Killer Diller was gonna be rough. I have friends in a club from Austin who were supposed to participate.

Congrats on the finishing, and placing well for a first race.

How was it? Find anybody to pace with? What was the toughest part?

It was a great time. The weather couldn't of been better--likely mid seventies, overcast, with little wind. I paced with the second large group to the first climb where a lot of people were dropped, including me. I need lower gearing to lug my 193 pounds up the hill and maintain a good cadence. I don't care much about image, so I made it up 2/3rds of the first climb, stepped off for about 50 feet, then proceeded to get back on my bike and pass everyone that passed me while I was walking. Kind of funny, but people were crawling up some of these hills at a pace not much faster than a brisk walk.

I then stayed with a group of 4 for most of the ride with a couple riders joining us at times and either passing or falling off the pace. Hit 50+mph on most of the decents. Bike was rock solid. The trick was replacing my Campagnolo Eurus front wheel with the original Bontrager Race Lite. The Race Lite is a much beefier wheel with paired spoking. As a result, the shimmy problem I previously experienced was resolved.

The toughest part was the 4th climb, which is the first hill on the third leg. Coming up the other side wasn't easy either. Not as steep, but just a pretty long climb. The very first climb was tough too. Come to think of it, all the climbs were tough. Nice rollers in between that I can power over. I really should of tried to gain more time on the rollers. They are my strength, but I took it easy trying to preserve my energy.

I need to work on these hills over the summer and drop 15-20 pounds. I then hope I can spin easier at 6-8 mph with a 39 by 27. That would give me a much better time.

Thanks Divekrb. If I can get down to 175 I will be very happy. Mush lower than that and I think I will be too thin.

I may go looking for a 38 ring. My cranks are 175s.