Vapor trails.. The Allegheny Jet race report page.
 

This is the official Allegheny Jet race page. :thumb:

I began riding a bicycle as my exercise at age 45 when long forgotten athletic injuries surfaced leaving no cartilage in my left ankle. After years of solo riding I joined a club and met some riding buddies. Our group of riders got more and more competitive and a few of us began racing in our 50’s. I’m on a team that has other Master riders who are also good friends that I love be around. My athletic resume includes being a collegiate decathlete, meaning that I can do many events yet master none. My 5 year bicycle racing career seems to have followed the same course. I love competition and have come to embrace the training and personal preparation necessary to be able to race. I also have to give credit to my wife for putting up with my dedication and passion. In the past year I have done gravel road races in Michigan, crits, road races, TT’s (which I hate), mountain bike races, cyclo cross races and am now becoming a fixture at the new Cleveland Velodrome.

When racing, my best results have been in crits where my sprinting background shows up. One of my best best events back in college was the indoor 300 meter run that took around 33 seconds to complete on a 1/8 mile track. The non-traditional event is between the 200 meter and 400 meter races at which I was either too slow or too heavy to have great success, but the 300 meter was the happy medium. Looking at data from my Power Tap files, watts/kilo generated, I score the highest on 30 second power when compared to others according to the Coggen/Allen charts. Based on the PT data racing track would seem to be a natural for me so the required bike was recently purchased, mixed into the heard for a few weeks, then brought out to play on.

I hope you will enjoy reading my journey into racing and please feel free to comment. I have thick skin and don’t take myself too seriously.;)

After riding mtb on gravel mountain roads for 3 days in PA last weekend I somehow thought it would be a good idea to race the last Tuesday Worlds of the season. My coach had me scheduled to do 1/2 of the A race. Being the last race of the season the organizer mixed it up and shortened the race to 12 laps of the 2.1 mile course. From the get go the race was at a blistering pace and after 3 laps I could not close up gaps after turns and went off the back. At least I was able to get home and cut the grass that had grown over the weekend.

Crap happens. Now it's time to get ready for cyclo cross season plus the Velodrome has it's official opening tonight.

Yay, AJ!

Decathlon? I wouldn't have thought it! I would have expected you to be a football player (defensive back?), not track and field. Although, you did tell me way back when that you were a track coach.

It's great to read a little of your history. And, as always, it's going to be great to (continue) follow you.

Vapor trails? :thumb:

I did play football my senior year in college as a break from year round training. I ended up gaining 15 lbs that was hard to lose over the winter T & F season. I was a receiver and punt/kick returner.

My screen name came from a fishing forum that I carried over to BF for simplicity. We have a cabin on the Allegheny River and I have a jet outboard fishing boat hence "Allegheny Jet". Vapor trails show where a jet was. I thought the anology worked for race reports, apparently not so much.:D

No. It DOES work! I was teasing you...;)

Funny, I always assumed "Allegheny Jet" stemmed from where you live and that you are FAST (plus a reference to the regional airline that once hailed from your area).

Our Velodrome is now open. Ribbon cutting was last night and I participated in several simulated races. One was a 30 lap scratch race with about 15 riders. For some unknown reason the pace kept splitting up the group and I could keep bridging up to the leaders. With 8 to go I ended up on the front for 4 laps when Ohio's best rider attacked and 3 others chased. I chased too and just caught them coming out of turn 4 on the final lap. Everyone else in the race got dropped a few laps before the attack. Of the whole bunch racing that included a few track racers, and I'm the only cat 4, I end up 5th, what the hell? Later we were placed in groups of 5-7 for 10 lap match sprints and I took a 2nd and 1st, again, what the hell? Maybe this track thing is up my alley. I know that when laps tick off at 4 in less than a minute, "6 to go" goes very quickly. A local 50+ guy who races track and has been to the Nats and Worlds was in one of my match sprint races aNd I rode around him on the last lap when I won the Match Race, again, what the hell? Our first race is scheduled in Sept. with a 500 TT, Flying 200 and 2K pursuit. This track thing may be interesting. ;)

http://www.usacycling.org/events/get...rmit=2012-3202

It sounds like you're a natural, AJ...congrats!!

Your results are not surprising considering your short duration power numbers and leg speed. Typically, roadies start track racing with limited or no fixed gear experience and lack leg speed. You have been riding fixed on the road and working on cadence. Your sweet spot from your track and field days play perfectly with track events coupled with your threshold endurance. You are somewhat of a big fish in a small pond at the moment but that will change as more racers take up track but IMO, you will continue to do well.

I do not do mass start races or match sprints at the track. I do the timed events (500 meters and 2k pursuit), team pursuit and team sprint.

Thanks for the insight Heremes. I can agree with every point you make. I hope to pursue this aspect of cycling with the intention of staying with it for a few seasons. I'll glady forgo cross racing.

Good stuff. Psyched for you and your OH mates. What gearing were you using?

Oh lord yes. I like the laid back party vibe of cx... but to me, rather than being the best of both worlds (road and dirt) it takes the best elements of both out of the equation.

I was riding a 48/15. I don't know what my cadence was but I did record a max speed of 34.8 mph sometime during the evening. I do have 48, 49 and 50 tooth chain rings and 14, 15, and 16 teeth cogs. I put a 14 on the other side of the wheel but didn't flip it.

There was some 50+ guy at the track from Chicago with World Champ colors that was visiting his parents. I talked to him regarding gearing and he advised that I ride the smaller gear at first. He was riding something in the high 90's yesterday.

I follow the Cleveland Velodrome on FB. I am really happy for you and the greater Cleveland area racers to have a new facility. However, it is NOT ready for mass start races. The rail has to be completed and some type of board put over the metal posts. And those L bolts seen in this picture will gut someone and they will bleed out before a medic gets there. I thought that maybe I was overreacting and I showed the pic to my wife, who is not mechanical or construction inclined at all, and she was aghast. Our rail at Hellyer is marked by racers riding into it. And over the years, we have had racers go over the top.

My wife and I have a friend, who we met at worlds in 2010. She won 5 gold medals. She was doing Madison at Encino and something went wrong and she ended up on the rail at 35 mph. Her helmet was ripped off her head and she was slammed into the track. She broke her neck, her back, concussion and required plastic surgery. If she had hit the rail in a similar manner at Cleveland, I doubt that she would have survived. In somewhat of a miracle, she recovered and racing track again. She does not do mass start races any longer.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...664317712_.jpg

Hi AJ, yes it sounds like you are and you look like you are a natural trackie. I still think you biceps are larger than my calves. :eek:

Looking at the photo that Hermes posted, I have to agree with his assessment. I've seen too many weird things happen in all kinds of bike racing to trust that someone won't have contact with the outside of the track. I'm sure you'll get things together soon enough to make it a fun, fast, and safe facility.

I see the bolt you identify Hermes. It may be the only one as the turn starts there. I've already emailed my contact with the valid concerns. Having 33 years experiance managing parks, recreation public buildings and facilities for the DD population I'm well aware of maintaining safe facilities. I believe that exterior plywood or a similar product will cover the posts and cables.

At our cabin for the long weekend. I met up with two former T & F team mates
for a three hr ride on Sat. Lots of fun!

Riding with my son today will be hard, but fun.

Fishing has also been good.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...E5230269-1.jpg

Nice!!! What kind of fish is it? And, how did you cook it?

Did your son drop you or did he go easy on you? ;)

Sounds like a great weekend.

It's a Walleye and they are delicious when pan fried. Our ride was very civil with no dropping.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...EA30E81D4F.jpg

He did a nice decent. I only topped out at 52.9

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...EE11FD273F.jpg

Went to the velodrome for sprint work last night. The workout consisted of 4 x 1 lap accelerations from a momenttary track stand, 2 x 2 laps flying seated sprints, 2 x 1 lap OTS accelerations, and 2 x flying 200 meters. This Video clip was the second one. My legs were toasted by then. I did the flying 200's in a 49/14 gear. I forgot my computer head and don't know the cadence. It looks like 13.1" for the effort.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...6E3744B51D.mp4

Sorry to be the one who tells you this, Jet, but you don't hold the line quite like MEA just yet. :)

So how is the plywood to ride on? Seams are smooth enough?

The ride is smooth and makes a cool sound, but at the bottom of the track at speed one does feel undulations. However at 35 mph and 2.5 G's driving the bike is a skill I need to improve on.

A'Jet, As an observation and not a criticism, that track workout is a monster and would be way too much for me. Standing starts coupled with a 160 meter acceleration really takes it out of your legs and you did 4 of them. Do not do those prior to a race. Typically, if one wants to practice multiple standing starts, one shuts down in 50 meters or what we call a fast 50. We would couple the fast 50s with flying laps thus getting speed work with standing start practice.

Your flying 200 meter time is excellent for that track. The more turns one has to make the slower the flying 200 will be. The typical line at a 250 or less track for the flying 200 is to be close to the rail OTS reaching target initial velocity and dive off the bank into the apex of turn one assuming that the start line is between turn one and turn two. At your track, you should not go anywhere near the rail until they put up some boards and either put in a rail or remove the L bolts. The higher and closer you get to the rail with more initial velocity, the faster the flying 200. And you probably need stiffer wheels and possibly a stiffer frame for a sprint bike for your weight and power. I would classify you as a powerful sprinter and you are just beginning.

Learning to ride the black line at 35 mph takes some time but it will come. Accomplished sprinters get close to the black line. I like to watch Team USA sprint team workout at VSC. They dive off the banking from the balustrade out of turn one and just crush the black line hitting 42 mph.

Thanks for the input Hermes. I understand your comments regarding the hard sprint load. My crit and road season is finished and important cyclo cross races not on the radar for over 1 month allowed for the extra high intensity. Beginning early in the season my coach had me doing a lot of sprint work that required a lot of force. I've done similar sprinting intervals on the road bike and fine tuned the workload to prepare me for the upcoming track races. For instance I did intervals while pedaling at 90 rpm then would just nail it, pulling up and pushing down on the pedals, for 10 full revolutions attempting to get the rpm's above 120. I would do 5 sets of 5 reps with one effort every minute within a set. I also did 30, 40 and 50 second sprints on the flats after running out a small hill at 30 mph then nailing OTS for the sprints. I had a concern for the standing start in the 500 meters. I wanted to be sure that I could get up enough speed on the 166 meter track to be able to ride on the track through the first turn and avoid the apron. Last week, I started from brief track stands at the beginning of the straight-a-way and was able to be around 22-24 mph by the middle of the 2nd straight and at 30+ mph coming out of the 4th turn. The key last night was to get enough speed to hold the 50 degree banking at 40 meters in. I found that I can do it in the 49/14 which is the gear I may race in. My plans are to take it easy on the high end next week and possibly do some pacing for the 2K ITT so I’m fresh for the races on the 15th. I would love to get the flying 200M into the 12.75 range and be at 33 mph going into laps 2 and 3 in the 500M TT. The 2K TT will be a 2.5+ minute hard effort that I’ll attempt to hold a 450- 475 watt perceived effort. I should be able to establish the gear inches and matching it on my road bike with PT as one of my race tuneup workouts by establishing rpm's and mph.

Are bike computers allowed during track races?

The bolts you refer to are 4 bolts heads near the entrance. A piece of railing needs to be installed on the studs or the bolts need removed. I was promised they would be removed or the hand rail installed but it has yet to be done. I’ll once again voice my concern to a different board member at the facility.

A couple of points on the 500 meter TT. A good time in the 500 is all about the start - you cannot go hard enough. The start is technically complex much like a pole vault, high jump or anything that requires explosive power. They key point is where is the power generated? In the standing start, it is all about timing the gun, the lunge and the first pedal stroke and driving with your core by standing straight up with your ass well in front of the saddle and your nose in front of the front axel - and and and not going up track. If you ride up track, it will kill your speed. It is perfectly legal to ride down track and onto the blue band. You must get back on the track before the sponges. It is really easy to ride up track and most rookies do it. Riding straight is not good enough because you give up the advantage of going downhill for 1/2 pedal rotation from zero speed. As Roger Young says, the first pedal stroke is the most important and every succeeding pedal stroke up to full speed is of less importance. As a former decathlete, think run in the standing start.

I would not worry about generated enough speed to be on the banking from a standing start. Here is why. Normally, at VSC on the Siberian pine, it requires 18 mph to keep from slipping. However, that assumes there may be times where there is little power being applied or one floats the pedals. In a 500 meters, you will be at 500+ watts into turn one and there is no way with that amount of power the rear wheel will slip even though you may be going slower. I have not seen or heard of racers slipping down the track in a 500 meters or pursuit. Possibly, the 160 track is different but I doubt it. In match sprints they slip because they go too slow with very little power.

Bike computers are allowed in track races but not track Worlds and elite track nationals.under UCI regulations. Theoretically, masters track nationals should not allow electronics but they do. Electronic displays must be mounted under the saddle.

[QUOTE=Hermes;14698991 Electronic displays must be mounted under the saddle.[/QUOTE]

So, I take it that one would need to be really deep "in the drops" to read their computer.

:roflmao2:

Racer Ex can read his SRM under his seat.:D

The reality is that on the 160 track, you will be going too fast to take your eyes off the track to look at electronics on the bars and you will be mostly turning. I cannot look at electronics in the turns. If I have one number displayed on my Garmin, I can glance on the straight at VSC and see it. That is about it.

I saw a lot of pics from Ohio State Track Championships on FB. Did you compete?

Yes I did. I haven't had to time to post the results that just came out. I believe that I did fairly well for a first timer. There was a 10-15 mph wind that effected riding. I might have been better served in not racing the 500 and flying 200 in a 49/14. I used a 48/14 in the 2K and spun better. In the flying 200 the front wheel wobble showed up in both corners. Another racer witnessed it and asked what happened. I know that cost me dearly in time. In the 500 and especially the 2M I was able to ride very close to the measurement line and was even below it in the 2K. The 2K was a killer! My lungs still burn when taking a deep breath. I rode it well but went a little too fast at the start and dailed it back on the third lap when I noticed 31.5 mph on the computer.

In the overall standings I placed ahead of a lot of Cat 2 racers and even beat a former pro in my age group in two of three events.

Here are the results: http://clevelandvelodrome.org/wp-con.../11/DOC082.pdf

The whole dynamic of the race is a lot like a track meet. You warm up, sit, warmup again, do an event, repeat...