Allegheny Jet

I can't find the jealous emoticon. I'll just have to use this one.

Cleave

If I'd been there (instead of Arizona), I'd have been very conflicted since Reggie is my teammate. Not that I'd have wished you ill. Interesting that they're now having two racers on the track at the same time for the 2K Pursuit (TT). I like that. Get embarrassed real-time instead of just on the scoring sheet.

Hermes

Cleave, They expanded the staging area by putting carpeting down. It was a nice improvement.



You could have raced head to head against VanceMac. I rate VM as a potentially better pursuiter than Jay W with specific training and aerobars and oh boy maybe better than R****Ex.

VanceMac

I was on deck along the backstretch, and everyone was vocal for both riders.

Agree on running two up... motivating. Andrew and I were a half-second apart, and I imagine that helped us both.

VanceMac

Hey now! I shouldn't be mentioned in the same post with those two. But I appreciate the kind words. I may well regret this pursuit thing... that **** hurts.

Racer Ex 

The 2k is hideous. Kilo riders think they hurt but really, they have no idea.

VanceMac

I'm glad you said that. Everyone piles on about the kilo... but in my limited experience, that 2k hurt in ways I've never hurt on a bike before. It's smack in the middle of that no-man's-land between aerobic and anaerobic.

Cleave

Legs were tired after this weeks intervals at the track but I like this course and I thought I'd hang and save as much as possible for the end. Unfortunately, a lot of the SoCal 55+ big dogs showed up and coming up to halfway through (3 lap to go) they went. There was something like seven 55+ guys and two 60+ guys. With 2 to go I tried animating the pack a few times but the front was filled with teammates of the breakaway and my efforts went for naught.

The field got the bell and I was trying to stay in a good position but I wasn't doing a good job of it. We hit the finish hill and I was waiting and waiting and waiting... And I waited too long. I was watching a couple of people in front of me and it seemed like no one really started going and by the time I realized we were almost to the line there was no place to go as everyone was spread across the road. 18th place finish.

Ninety minutes later I was on the line for the Cat 3 race. I was surrounded by kids; with some Juniors in the field who were young enough to be a grandchild (if I'd been married earlier). I had a good start but man these kids were moving into spaces very aggressively and after 1-1/2 laps I'd filtered to the back. I was hanging there comfortably enough until we were finishing the 4th lap (of 8) and there was some attacking on the finish hill. I was behind some guys who were opening gaps and I went around all of them but couldn't get myself re-attached. Rode with some other dropees and finished OTB. Not sure where I finished but I don't think I was DFL.

Saw Racer Ex briefly and one of my teammates was there but he wasn't racing. He was one of two Moto Refs.

sarals 

I got up at 3:45, and was on the road to Snelling with the Tall Russian at 4:40. I was following my GPS and still managed to miss a turn in Merced, but I got to Snelling with 50 minutes to spare. I got the Bianchi ready, checked in, did a hasty warm up, forgot to put on my HR strap, ate a banana, went to the Porta Potty (no line!), and then headed to the line. 50 riders, many teams, few solo riders. It was a relaxed atmosphere at the start line, and the race ref relaxed us even more with a thorough brief. I went over in my head what I needed/wanted to do. 1) Finish with the pack. 2) Stay towards the front. 3) Observe the other ridiers and protect my front wheel. 4) Be more aggressive. 5) Use the first lap to learn and to warm up.

Motorpaced out for the four mile neutral start. Lots of yo-yoing, but the gals were attentive - lots of "slowing", "on your left", "on your right" calls. Good. Very good!

Came up to race speed after the start turn. The pace went to high teens, low twenties. I moved up the middle, sat in just ahead of the mid pack. Many, many team riders up there. Encountered the first rollers, noticed some of the gals falling off, and worked around them, marking who they were. Feeling pretty good, but aware that I'm not yet warmed up.

Horn from the rear of the pack, ref coming up on a moto to the left, telling us to move right, overtaking pack (men 4), neutralized. Good - I used this respite to recover a little.

Released again, pace came back up, comfortable. We get into a tight right hand turn, and I find out many of these ladies are not confident in the corners. In the next corner, I coach the gals around me, telling them to "pick your line and hold it". Some repeated that, and all held their lines. Pace came up a little, more rollers, feeling those in the legs a bit, but managing to stay where I want to in the pack.

Tight right hand turn, and the pace comes WAY up - 30 plus. I was a little surprised by that, and lost my place, even got gapped a bit, but other gals did, too, and I took advantage of that by moving around them, and gathering momentum, which I used to move back to the middle of the pack. The pace was now relentless, my legs were talking to me, and I was beginning to think "recovery!". Even though I was sheltered, I was still working harder than I wanted to, but I was NOT going to get gapped!

Short descent, crossed a small (really rough!) bridge, and then hit a short, steep climb. I came OTS, in the right gear, and drilled that climb, not wanting to loose position. When I got to the top I needed to recover thinking others would, too, but the pack was ramping up speed again and I was having trouble matching that acceleration. I recall thinking "don't loose that wheel, get up in there!", but I just didn't have the power. A gap opened, and I started to feel the wind. I really needed to rest, but there wasn't an opportunity, my legs were really starting to yell at me. I needed to step on the gas, too, but I just didn't have it at the moment. I held position, just off the back of the main pack. Left hand turn, tight, with some gravel, but I took a chance, inside line, and got back some position. However, I ended up on the wrong side of the pack in the crosswind, and I was working too hard, again. On top of that, the pavement had gotten really, really rough, and I was getting the &^%* pounded out of me, and it was taking it's toll. 90 degree right hand turn, still dangling on the back, came off the saddle for an acceleration, and sputtered. Short climb, legs loaded up, and the pack started to pull away. Crossed the finish line just then thinking "well, I did sit in for most of one lap".

Started the second lap knowing I needed to recover! Some gals came by on the left - "get on!". I tried - and missed. Settled in at about 17 MPH. The legs were finally starting to awaken after those cold efforts. Three more gals come by on the right, and I jumped on. Stayed there for a few miles, and then took the lead in the same right hand turn where I coached cornering - and took the lead because their lines were not good! One gal jumped on my wheel as I passed, and hung there for a few miles. We did the short descent together, I pulled ahead of her on the short climb, and then she caught back up, passed me, and started easing away. I couldn't get her wheel - my right calf was cramping up - dammit!

Third and final lap, licking wounds, hoping calf calms down, and here come the gals I'd dropped earlier. I got on, we had a discussion about working together, and off we went. We gathered up one other woman, and had a nice pace line going for a while. I was taking the pull when we got to the short rough bridge, and I decided to drill that following climb again. I fully expected the other riders to come with me. I hammered the hill, yes I did, and passed another woman about half way up, telling her to "get on!" She didn't. When I got to the top, I checked for rider shadows, didn't see any, so I turned around, and the other five were half way up the climb. I thought "geez, I think I just launched an attack - KEEP GOING".

So I started burning the matches I had left, hammering as hard as I could. I rolled over the rough section at 20 MPH (so rough my cadence counter pickup shook loose). I hit the right hand turn just before the finish line thinking "don't take any home, leave it out here, go!" I came off the saddle, deep in the pain cave, but kept working hard. Briefly sat, but came OTS for the finish.

And it felt good!

I don't know where I finished, but it doesn't matter. I learned a lot about me, bike racing, and more about me. And I realized I CAN do it, and it's hell bent for fun! Here's Strava.

tony2v

Bravo Sara!!!!

sarals 

Thank you, Tony!

nacler22

Nice race report Sara.

Sounds like you raced smart, and left it all on the course. I recall from a much earlier post, that you require a long warm-up. You already know where I'm going with this, so I won't mention it........oops.

Well done.

shovelhd

Sara is a bike racer!!!!!!!

The surges are always what gets you. It takes time and work to to minimize the affect, but it is all a part of the progression. You have a bright future.

Hermes

Well done Sara. Results https://www.usacycling.org/results/i...ermit=2013-416

sarals 

38 of 48. I'll take that! I learned a lot out there yesterday, and biggest of all - I had a blast!

Everyone - thank you!!!

Esteban58

Put this feeling in the (memory) bank... Next time something doesn't go well, take it out and run it through your head again.
This (like most of life?) isn't a smooth plot, but you can work your way through the valleys and enjoy the peaks.

VanceMac

Most important parts. Great job out there.

VanceMac

I keep trying to make one of those Rosena races, as I really want to check out the course. I will have to settle for LA Circuit, I suppose. Good job mixing it up with the 3s.

Hermes

Cleave, Great racing.

sarals 

Cleave, strong work - as usual! I wanna be like you!

AzTallRider

Way to go, Sara. You really "raced your bike", and are starting to see the payoff for your hard work!

AzTallRider

What? Only 2 races?!? Slacker!

valygrl

Nice work sarals!!!! SOunds like a tough race, and like you are seeing you have some stuff to be confident about - cornering and pack handling count for a lot and can fill in where power might be lower. Build on that, if you can.

Did you end up doing the slugfest?

shovelhd

+1

Racer Ex 

Ontario GP 50+ Hideously windy (gusts to 30+), crappy air quality and not toasty warm. Teammate Marvin launches from the gun and is off with another national champ. I come around a few guys, launch and bridge. We motor away. Marvin takes the points prime for the series. Last lap I stick Marvin on our competitors wheel, they both launch, I come off. Marvin ends up winning, I end up 3rd. Marvin leads the series.

45+ "I swear I don't go on break". I cover two guys from one of the big teams (one national champ) who take off with fresh legs on the first lap. I sit on for two laps hoping the field catches us, then I look over and here's my teammate Scotty. Oh well. 2nd guy is dead weight so I take him off the back 1/2 way through so it's 2 on 1. Scotty lets me gap off the front (didn't communicate this, I turned around to go WTF) on the last lap, I miss getting on, chase, Scotty wins in the photo finish, I get caught at the line and finish 12th-ish.

Better day for the team than yesterday. I'm too old for this though. Still coughing.

Outstanding job Sara, I'm proud of you. Cleave, way to mix it up.