Masters Misc Race Report Thread
06-16-14, 06:53 AM
#2301
Senior Member
Weekend Race Report:
Saturday - Best on Hess SW3, 3rd / 3 (last)
Windy, rolling 9 mile TT in the plains south of Denver. Not much to say.
Sunday - Guanella Pass HC, SW3, 5th/6
11 miles, 3200' climbing, from 8,500' to 11,700' elevation. Dropped after 5 minutes, so no strategy to speak of, just an uphill TT at ridiculous altitude. The last 2 miles >8%. Cold and windy. Hovered near vomit-threshold for a long time.
Saturday - Best on Hess SW3, 3rd / 3 (last)
Windy, rolling 9 mile TT in the plains south of Denver. Not much to say.
Sunday - Guanella Pass HC, SW3, 5th/6
11 miles, 3200' climbing, from 8,500' to 11,700' elevation. Dropped after 5 minutes, so no strategy to speak of, just an uphill TT at ridiculous altitude. The last 2 miles >8%. Cold and windy. Hovered near vomit-threshold for a long time.
06-18-14, 01:36 PM
#2302
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valygrl, major props for giving that hell they call a race a go. Very well done, and huge bonus points for even pinning a number on.
06-18-14, 02:07 PM
#2303
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Again, I want to thank each of you folks personally for the well wishes. Much thinking involved here, and it seems my wrecks aren't the normal road rash, torn up stuff, type deals. If there really is such a thing. I hesitate to speculate what the next one may bring, as they seem to be getting progressively worse, and the bike riders don't seem to be getting any better. Heck, maybe it's just me, and I'm the hazard. Though the 55+ bunch sure seemed to be in my wheelhouse, and I don't think I came close to killing anyone in those races.
Perhaps the distance thing is more my cup of tea, and revisiting that may be my best option. Who knows. Too much time to think, and my mind bouncing around like a rubber ball doesn't help a lot.
Perhaps the distance thing is more my cup of tea, and revisiting that may be my best option. Who knows. Too much time to think, and my mind bouncing around like a rubber ball doesn't help a lot.
06-18-14, 02:30 PM
#2304
Senior Member
LAJ - Hope you heal up both the physical and mental side. Tough row to hoe but with time you'll get there.
Expect to see you back soon.
Expect to see you back soon.
06-19-14, 09:25 PM
#2305
Idiot Emeritus
2014 Pasadena Senior Games, 2015 Nationals Qualifier, Women's 60 - 64 Category
The short of it is that I qualified in both the ITT and the road race. And, I had to earn it!
Tuesday:
5K ITT...
2 laps. The Tall Russian and I left Casa Ex a little late. The traffic on the freeways was awful, and we arrived at El Dorado Park in Long Beach with only 35 minutes left on the clock before the women were to roll off for the time trial. I got checked in, got my number pinned on and then did a very hurried warmup on the course, only to get to the line and sit there for fifteen minutes. I finally rolled off for my TT. I was to do a short burst and then hit a target wattage for the first of the two laps. However, I couldn't keep it smooth, I was over or under that number, by a lot. I was so frenzied and upset, and I never did settle down. Still, I managed third in my age group, and the surprising thing was that I was only 20 seconds behind the winner, and very few seconds behind second place. Second place was my nemesis, the gal who had beat me four times last year.
40K Road Race...
14 laps. 24 in the field. This was a Nationals Qualifier, after all, and there was some serious talent lined up for that race. There were six in the 60 - 64, I knew two of them. My team mate was in the 55 - 59, and she and I had discussed strategy based on the field makeup of the year before. This field was WAY different. We rolled off at the whistle, and immediately a rider went to the front and tried to get away. Seven of us responded to that, and we went up the road in an eight woman break that the rest of the field never did bring back. The pace was high enough to where I decided I wasn't going to the front, I was satisfied with the mid to back of that pack, staying sheltered and marking my nemesis (only she and I of our age group had made it into the breakaway). The woman who had gone off the front and formed the break sat up there just hammering. She was awesome! Several of us discussed her strength and decided we'd let her sit there and wear herself down. It took her eight laps to do it! We averaged 22 MPH per lap on those first eight. The difference between masters women and the Cat 4 younguns is mostly in the accelerations. They aren't as violent as the young crowd, and there aren't as many. They were more like increasing speeds as the 50 - 59 gals tried each other (and us older ones by default) and it was work to hang on when they did that. Loose the wheel in one of those surges, and it would definitely be OTBistan. The one big issue was bike skills. A couple of the gals in the break had very poor skills, and couldn't hold a line if they were on rails. One woman in particular was very bad, and that coupled with her aggressiveness made for a sketchy and nervous race. With three to go, I went into the turn prior to the finish straight three abreast, me in the middle, with her on my right, and she chopped my front wheel, hit it. I didn't go down, but I lost ground and had to chase hard to get back on (up a slight hill and into the wind). I felt some cramping in my calves on that one, and I became a bit concerned about my ability to sprint. On the bell lap, we all took that same corner, and two riders attacked up the right side. We all jumped to cover, there was shouting "right side!", and I was scrambling to find a wheel. I got gapped but bridged. I felt that one, too. I couldn't hold the wheel long I had for long, and half way through that punishing bell lap, I got gapped again (speed, 26 MPH). My calves were really cramping by then, and I just couldn't bridge. The break strung out and fell apart, with my team mate and the eventual winner sprinting for the win. The rest of us rolled across solo. I was eighth, second in my age group. That was a TOUGH master's race, let me tell you!
Wednesday:
10K ITT...
4 laps. I was feeling that 40K road race from the day before. Ex and I talked about it, and he suggested that I had qualified, so just go out and work on technique. Reduce the target wattage by 10 watts for the first two laps, then go for it. But, it just wasn't there. My heart rate was high, and my power was low. Tired! Each lap was a little slower than than the previous one. I finished fourth in my age group, behind my nemesis from the year before (who was also tired and took third), and two tri-chicks who didn't race the day before. Even though I had qualified for the Nationals, I was NOT happy with fourth.
20K Road race...
8 laps. I was p/o-ed. I wanted redemption from my poor 10K ITT effort. 16 rider field, but most of the strong ones stayed to do this race. We rolled off almost leisurely at the start, and did a slow pace for the first three laps. Then it got serious. We ramped the pace up to the 20's, and shed half the field. For me, there were two other 60 - 64 women, my nemesis, and Cleave's team mate, who is some kind of strong. We let the 55 - 59 gals dictate the pace ("I ain't goin' up there, let them do it!"), and that they did, throwing in some serious attacks and making life in that group hard! The good part was that the skills this time around were SOLID, not a sketchy move by anyone. It was pretty windy, and there was some moving around to try to stay out of the wind, but everyone was very cognizant of the other riders in that pack. The bell lap came, and it became a crit. Several attacks were tried, each covered. We hit the final turn before the finish single file at 26 MPH, and then the fun started. My nemesis went to the front, I thought too early, and I was close enough to pull her back when she faded - I thought! What I didn't take into account was Cleave's team mate, who had a strong sprint. I was hoping to use her for a leadout, but she wouldn't bite, and stayed to my right on the windward side and matched my efforts! It was a great finish, seven of us across the line with only three seconds from first to seventh, crossing the line into the wind at 27.3 MPH. Yeah, OLD ladies! That was so much FUN! I have never enjoyed a race as much as I did that one. Even though I placed third in my age group, I will not complain - I was tested, and that's where I was in that race that day.
The short of it is that I qualified in both the ITT and the road race. And, I had to earn it!
Tuesday:
5K ITT...
2 laps. The Tall Russian and I left Casa Ex a little late. The traffic on the freeways was awful, and we arrived at El Dorado Park in Long Beach with only 35 minutes left on the clock before the women were to roll off for the time trial. I got checked in, got my number pinned on and then did a very hurried warmup on the course, only to get to the line and sit there for fifteen minutes. I finally rolled off for my TT. I was to do a short burst and then hit a target wattage for the first of the two laps. However, I couldn't keep it smooth, I was over or under that number, by a lot. I was so frenzied and upset, and I never did settle down. Still, I managed third in my age group, and the surprising thing was that I was only 20 seconds behind the winner, and very few seconds behind second place. Second place was my nemesis, the gal who had beat me four times last year.
40K Road Race...
14 laps. 24 in the field. This was a Nationals Qualifier, after all, and there was some serious talent lined up for that race. There were six in the 60 - 64, I knew two of them. My team mate was in the 55 - 59, and she and I had discussed strategy based on the field makeup of the year before. This field was WAY different. We rolled off at the whistle, and immediately a rider went to the front and tried to get away. Seven of us responded to that, and we went up the road in an eight woman break that the rest of the field never did bring back. The pace was high enough to where I decided I wasn't going to the front, I was satisfied with the mid to back of that pack, staying sheltered and marking my nemesis (only she and I of our age group had made it into the breakaway). The woman who had gone off the front and formed the break sat up there just hammering. She was awesome! Several of us discussed her strength and decided we'd let her sit there and wear herself down. It took her eight laps to do it! We averaged 22 MPH per lap on those first eight. The difference between masters women and the Cat 4 younguns is mostly in the accelerations. They aren't as violent as the young crowd, and there aren't as many. They were more like increasing speeds as the 50 - 59 gals tried each other (and us older ones by default) and it was work to hang on when they did that. Loose the wheel in one of those surges, and it would definitely be OTBistan. The one big issue was bike skills. A couple of the gals in the break had very poor skills, and couldn't hold a line if they were on rails. One woman in particular was very bad, and that coupled with her aggressiveness made for a sketchy and nervous race. With three to go, I went into the turn prior to the finish straight three abreast, me in the middle, with her on my right, and she chopped my front wheel, hit it. I didn't go down, but I lost ground and had to chase hard to get back on (up a slight hill and into the wind). I felt some cramping in my calves on that one, and I became a bit concerned about my ability to sprint. On the bell lap, we all took that same corner, and two riders attacked up the right side. We all jumped to cover, there was shouting "right side!", and I was scrambling to find a wheel. I got gapped but bridged. I felt that one, too. I couldn't hold the wheel long I had for long, and half way through that punishing bell lap, I got gapped again (speed, 26 MPH). My calves were really cramping by then, and I just couldn't bridge. The break strung out and fell apart, with my team mate and the eventual winner sprinting for the win. The rest of us rolled across solo. I was eighth, second in my age group. That was a TOUGH master's race, let me tell you!
Wednesday:
10K ITT...
4 laps. I was feeling that 40K road race from the day before. Ex and I talked about it, and he suggested that I had qualified, so just go out and work on technique. Reduce the target wattage by 10 watts for the first two laps, then go for it. But, it just wasn't there. My heart rate was high, and my power was low. Tired! Each lap was a little slower than than the previous one. I finished fourth in my age group, behind my nemesis from the year before (who was also tired and took third), and two tri-chicks who didn't race the day before. Even though I had qualified for the Nationals, I was NOT happy with fourth.
20K Road race...
8 laps. I was p/o-ed. I wanted redemption from my poor 10K ITT effort. 16 rider field, but most of the strong ones stayed to do this race. We rolled off almost leisurely at the start, and did a slow pace for the first three laps. Then it got serious. We ramped the pace up to the 20's, and shed half the field. For me, there were two other 60 - 64 women, my nemesis, and Cleave's team mate, who is some kind of strong. We let the 55 - 59 gals dictate the pace ("I ain't goin' up there, let them do it!"), and that they did, throwing in some serious attacks and making life in that group hard! The good part was that the skills this time around were SOLID, not a sketchy move by anyone. It was pretty windy, and there was some moving around to try to stay out of the wind, but everyone was very cognizant of the other riders in that pack. The bell lap came, and it became a crit. Several attacks were tried, each covered. We hit the final turn before the finish single file at 26 MPH, and then the fun started. My nemesis went to the front, I thought too early, and I was close enough to pull her back when she faded - I thought! What I didn't take into account was Cleave's team mate, who had a strong sprint. I was hoping to use her for a leadout, but she wouldn't bite, and stayed to my right on the windward side and matched my efforts! It was a great finish, seven of us across the line with only three seconds from first to seventh, crossing the line into the wind at 27.3 MPH. Yeah, OLD ladies! That was so much FUN! I have never enjoyed a race as much as I did that one. Even though I placed third in my age group, I will not complain - I was tested, and that's where I was in that race that day.
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
06-19-14, 10:15 PM
#2306
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Sara. 
06-19-14, 10:25 PM
#2307
Idiot Emeritus
06-19-14, 11:34 PM
#2308
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That was a pleasure to read, Sara. Well Done!
06-19-14, 11:36 PM
#2309
Idiot Emeritus
06-20-14, 04:18 AM
#2310
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Sara - Awesome job, great results!
__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
06-20-14, 05:25 AM
#2311
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I am so happy for you. Ex must be elated. You finally got to race with a bunch of strong peers, and now you know how you stack up. You belong with them. Great racing. Great tactics. Great bike handling. Great patience and perserverence. Great job!!!
06-20-14, 07:59 AM
#2312
Idiot Emeritus
Shovel, thanks!! Ex was beaming, he had two pupils in those races, and we both did very well. It made for a great week for everyone.
Chuck, thanks!
Lest I forget, it was just fantastic seeing AzT and Cleave and spending time with them. Cleave's Shiv was quite the conversation topic on Tuesday. Of course, it is totally immaculate and talk about style! Cleave is all over that.
Great times!
Chuck, thanks!
Lest I forget, it was just fantastic seeing AzT and Cleave and spending time with them. Cleave's Shiv was quite the conversation topic on Tuesday. Of course, it is totally immaculate and talk about style! Cleave is all over that.
Great times!
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
06-20-14, 08:09 AM
#2313
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But did the Shiv work? I think it is snake bit and he should send it to me.
At our HIT session on Tuesday, there were 5 Shivs. At the track, one guy has a Shiv set up as a track bike and a junior showed up with a geared TT Shiv who wanted to ride some laps to test aero position. One might ask, whoever does not have a Shiv, please stand up.
At our HIT session on Tuesday, there were 5 Shivs. At the track, one guy has a Shiv set up as a track bike and a junior showed up with a geared TT Shiv who wanted to ride some laps to test aero position. One might ask, whoever does not have a Shiv, please stand up.
06-20-14, 09:27 AM
#2314
Idiot Emeritus
But did the Shiv work? I think it is snake bit and he should send it to me.
At our HIT session on Tuesday, there were 5 Shivs. At the track, one guy has a Shiv set up as a track bike and a junior showed up with a geared TT Shiv who wanted to ride some laps to test aero position. One might ask, whoever does not have a Shiv, please stand up.
At our HIT session on Tuesday, there were 5 Shivs. At the track, one guy has a Shiv set up as a track bike and a junior showed up with a geared TT Shiv who wanted to ride some laps to test aero position. One might ask, whoever does not have a Shiv, please stand up.
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
06-20-14, 09:33 AM
#2315
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I have not criticized Cleave's Shiv and pointed out that it looked great and he looked great on it. The past problem was he said that he was slower on the Shiv than the Bianchi even though it is set up the same. Therefore, the bike is cursed or needs some type of ritual performed to remove the demons.
06-20-14, 10:44 AM
#2317
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I am waiting for the Shogun pics.
06-20-14, 04:06 PM
#2319
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Great racing and great write-up, Sara! Sounds like you finally got to test yourself against your actual peers, and you did great!
Congrats on keeping it together with that wheel-touch, too. Wow.
Curious about the first event. Shouldn't a 5K TT just be balls to the wall from the get-go? What was your target as a percent of FTP? What was the course like? I've been doing a lot of hilly TT's and my coach has me using RPE instead of watts for them. Too bad about missing the warmup for that one.
Congrats on keeping it together with that wheel-touch, too. Wow.
Curious about the first event. Shouldn't a 5K TT just be balls to the wall from the get-go? What was your target as a percent of FTP? What was the course like? I've been doing a lot of hilly TT's and my coach has me using RPE instead of watts for them. Too bad about missing the warmup for that one.
06-20-14, 04:46 PM
#2320
Idiot Emeritus
Great racing and great write-up, Sara! Sounds like you finally got to test yourself against your actual peers, and you did great!
Congrats on keeping it together with that wheel-touch, too. Wow.
Curious about the first event. Shouldn't a 5K TT just be balls to the wall from the get-go? What was your target as a percent of FTP? What was the course like? I've been doing a lot of hilly TT's and my coach has me using RPE instead of watts for them. Too bad about missing the warmup for that one.
Congrats on keeping it together with that wheel-touch, too. Wow.
Curious about the first event. Shouldn't a 5K TT just be balls to the wall from the get-go? What was your target as a percent of FTP? What was the course like? I've been doing a lot of hilly TT's and my coach has me using RPE instead of watts for them. Too bad about missing the warmup for that one.
The strategy I used for the 5k is experienced based, and I'm a noob, so Ex had me do some specific things based on what he knows I can do. My FTP is 147. He wanted me to go out hard for six seconds, to get up to speed and settle, and then try to hold 170 watts. On the second lap, turn it up. Then, finish big.
The wheel touch could have been worse if I hadn't gone through a team clinic just a few weeks ago where we practiced just that. Lucky!!
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"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
06-20-14, 09:29 PM
#2322
Old & Getting Older Racer
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I have not criticized Cleave's Shiv and pointed out that it looked great and he looked great on it. The past problem was he said that he was slower on the Shiv than the Bianchi even though it is set up the same. Therefore, the bike is cursed or needs some type of ritual performed to remove the demons.
The "flaw" in my Shiv is my inability to go fast on it.
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Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
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Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
06-20-14, 11:15 PM
#2323
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06-21-14, 09:40 AM
#2324
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Cleave took one and I am hoping that I can get something from the photographers on course. Ended up winning the 5k on it. Fast time for the 5k and the only time under 8m.
Much more rubbery ride than the Shiv. Yes, I have a Shiv also.
More results to follow.
Much more rubbery ride than the Shiv. Yes, I have a Shiv also.
More results to follow.