Ygduf

I checked my last ride up to the ranger station from North Gate. Admittedly, it was after a full South-Gate-to-Summit TT effort, but NG to RS was way over 40. I'll be happy if I'm within 30-35. If the fastest-fastest times are 25ish, 32 is a reasonable goal. Fastest OLH times are like 16 minutes, I'm 25% slower than that over a 20-min interval. Make it 27% slower over a longer interval, and 25 + 27% = 31-32.

Ygduf

K, now I'm obsessed with this. Anyone want to pre-ride this next weekend? Maybe early Sunday if the weather is good?

Steve90068

If the weather cooperates, I'm in for a pre-ride. I've never done Diablo, it would be good to know what the hell I'm getting my self into

sibe

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for the support. This event has always been a great way to come out and race with so of the best climbers in Nor Cal. We are planning to have our team ride pre ride the course this Sunday. We leave Peet's in Danville at 8:00am and will be at North Gate around 8:30 - 8:40 (I'm guessing). We will regroup at the Junction and then probably head to the summit at a mellow pace.

We welcome all of you to join us, it's a great opportunity to test your pace and make sure you don't go too hard too early or the opposite. Setting the proper pace is so important in a time trial and this takes practice. Only issue is that we have fragile egos, so don't beat us up too bad on the climb, especially if you are on a 30lb steel touring bike with luggage and fenders.

Meet us at Peet's, in route to North gate or at the kiosk. Remember the finish is at the ranger station, so 2 minutes or so before the junction, so take that into consideration when calculating your times (if in the past you have timed yourself to the junction).

I will post more info on Thursday or Friday

Thanks again for your support.

Bill Beers
Wells Fargo Racing Team.

cthenn

I don't ride OLH much, but my best time up there was around 21:30, and my best time up to the junction (about .3 miles longer than the TT will be) was 33:07 a few years back. I rode to the summit last night, so I wasn't going hard, but from the finish line to the junction took me about 1:45. In a race situation, probably about a minute and a half faster than that time. So yeah...if you can get up OLH under 20 minutes, you'll probably be around 30 minutes for this TT. It would be "desperately close" (to quote Phil Liggett) getting under 30'.

The key is to hammer the flats and don't blow up on the third of a mile or so of 10%.

Ygduf

I've had a power meter for only a few days now, but I'm pretty sure the 30 seconds I cut off OLH were from pacing myself better due to having it. I will be trying for 30min, definitely. The other thing is that I did OLH with full water/saddlebag/food/etc. I'll be switching to a lighter front wheel, latex tubes, no saddlebag, no-salt for a few days diet, etc... to shave every gram.

The winner's times for cat 5 were 28-something last year. If I'm anywhere near competitive with those times I will be very happy.

UmneyDurak

Damn you are taking it seriously. The winner of cat 5 would have been the winner in CAT4 and in top 10 in P/1/2. Times in CAT5 don't really mean anything, you get anyone from pro tri athletes to someone who just got a bike a week before the race. Just something to keep in mind.

Ygduf

In my mind 1-3 minutes is competitive. Still think 30-32 is the goal range.

DiabloScott

(sorry but I can't figure out why my X axis is off by a factor of 10)

Based on distance: t(ngr) = t(olh)*1.7

Based on VAM: t(ngr) = t(olh)*1.4

So 20 minutes on OLH = 28-34 minutes on NGR
And 16 minutes on OLH = 22-27 on NGR so that corrolates pretty well with the fastest times on both.
(Sort of accounts for the distance between the finish line and the Junction)

cthenn

Graphically, OLH looks steeper than Diablo, but in my mind, I always liked OLH...had a good gradient for me. Hmm, maybe I was always feeling good the days I rode it.

Kings Mtn was the tough one...

cthenn

Bike racing is full of sandbaggers haha! Some 3/4 washouts will race in the 5's because they have a better shot. Others are just really talented who have no team. Cat 5 is kind of a joke in my opinion. 4's too.

The sad thing is I'd qualify for MASTERS for the first time this year. Fark I'm old!!!

Ygduf

I'm in 5 because I've never raced before. Will be on a 1-day license.

cthenn

One thing I want to ask is where the 15% gradient is, as advertised on the flyer?? As far as I know the steepest part is around 10% near Burma Road (fire road). Unless you mean one of the inside switchbacks!?!??!

cthenn

You aren't "lucky" enough to qualify for old guy racing? Oh, and BTW, I saw the results for masters 45+, so there is no break once you get older...

I've seen several races where they have a "recreational" category as well. The only reason I mention cat 5 is a joke is because of the things I said. You just don't want to feel like you did poorly because you did 30 minutes and the winner was 3 or 4 minutes faster.

DiabloScott

Yeah, the steepest part is that section near Burma (the three mile bump) and about 10%... if there's any 15% sections they're really short like the inside line of a switchback. Sometimes altimeter computers will register some weird stuff.

Ygduf

I have no illusions. My success will be measured by my performance vs. my expectations. I'm interested in racing, and tactics play a part there, but for an uphill TT I feel like it's Me vs. Me. Whatever position I end up in is secondary. Pacing, eating well between now and the 12th, and riding/resting are all I can do. I'm also 6'3", so climbing hasn't been my strongest aspect of my riding. That's a built-in hedge on the risk of putting myself out there.

Pizza Man

Racers are allowed to downgrade from Cat 3 to Cat 4, but technically by the rules are not allowed to ever downgrade back to Cat 5 since Cat 5 is supposed to be for beginners only and upgrading to Cat 4 is based on experience and skill, not strength.
In hill climbs, the Cat 5 field usually has a huge range of riders from former elite triathletes, runners & other athletes who can be very strong to recreational riders who have just started exercising.

There are a lot of "old guys" in this area who are very strong. Ned Overend won this race in 2008 with a 23:40.7 at the age of 52!

And to compare this to OLH, I rode 25:53 here last year and 15:35 on OLH.
I rode 24:30 here the year before, so I think the wind was more favorable in 2008 than in 2009 since most people were slower in 2009.


I wish they would set up the start order with more time between the P/1/2 and 35+ 1/2/3 races so I could do it twice. :-)

powpow

Chris, are you doing it this year?

Pizza Man

Yes, I've entered the 35+.

Ygduf

I want a nickname like "The Lung".

cthenn

Oh...I'm quite aware of the skills of some older riders. Yeah...and Ned Overand, well he's just a freak. A lot of the pro peloton get fat and slow once they get off the bike, but Ned just keeps on going. He's an animal.

And congratulations on your times, they are quite impressive.

NorCalBiker

Is this mean that the Northside will be closed for public riders (non-participant)?

cccorlew

Lat year I came up the Southgate to discover this event. I thought I'd have to go back teh South, but was told to go ahead, just be sure not to cross over the center line.

Pizza Man

I don't think the road will be closed to the public. I recall passing non participants on the way up in years past.

Also, for those of you doing the TT:
FWIW - I've done it 3 times, 2006, 2008 & 2009. My best time, by over 1 minute, was in 2008 which was the only time that I did it with clip-on aerobars. I only used them for the first 1.5 miles or so, then as it got steeper I put my hands on the hoods.
Not sure if it was the aerobars or other factors (wind, fitness, heat, etc.) that was responsible for the faster time in 2008, but I've put them back on for Saturday.

Ygduf

Do you ride with power or gps or anything to see how the efforts compare otherwise. A minute seems like a big gain in 1.5 miles, all else being equal.