Madison

Anybody done the Devil's Punchbowl RR before? How is it?

curiouskid55

Very difficult.

oc_rider

Do you like to climb or are good at climbing?

If yes, you shouldn't have a problem!

But if you are the fast twitch muscle/sprinter type, then there are other races that you can spend your money on.

umd

This.

I did it two years ago as a cat 5. I was dropped about 5 minutes in.

I'm considering doing it again this year as a cat 3.

I hope to last a lap...

oc_rider

I rode this race a couple of years ago as a 4 and got dropped before we had reached the feed zone on the first lap. I kept going and "finished" the race.

LT Intolerant

Great course. Starts out w a gradual climb which gets steeper and steeper. The climb last about 12-15 mins depending on the speed of the group. Once you crest the climb there is a false flat and its really important not to lose contact or position.

After the false flat there is a very fast, non-technical, long descent. You must be in a group or you are done. I didn't take this advice and paid dearly. After the descent there is a long stretch of windy, flat to rolling terrain into a short downhill, back to the finish, which is a small climb.

The course certainly favors a climber but all-arounders can do well there as well, at least I hope so!

Cleave

Hi,

As others have said, hard course. LT Intolerant's description is pretty much how I would describe it. I did a slightly shorter version of the course at the UCLA Road Race in February and I did pretty badly. You definitely need to be a decent climber to stay with the front group.

OCshark

Great! We can ride together after we're both pummeled. I've done it twice (2000, 2001). Got spanked both times, so I expect similar results again. This is just more training for San Luis Rey the way I see it.

You racing Ontario this Sunday?

felt1

I'll be racing it. But from what I understand the Cat5 race usually has about 4 or 5 guys that have a legitimate chance of winning it, the rest are just road fodder. I'm one of the road fodder, the only reason I'm doing it is because a team mate of mine has a chance and I figure I can just blow myself up trying to help him any way I can. I doubt I will race it again unless I lose 30# and miraculously keep my power.

zzzwillzzz

there's not really a way for you to help your team mate in a race like this

efficiency

Your teammate is more likely to push the pace and then heckle you until you get dropped.

igoyippy4skippy

This teammate sounds like a real jerk. Who does that to his own team? Was this the same guy who strung it out at redlands and reduced the field from 50 to 35 with one of his own teammates being one of the racers that got pulled or dropped?

Jeff262

Hmmm. that #35 was me at least I wasn't one of the 36-50. Damn cold did me in that day. At least that's the excuse that makes me feel better about being DFL

I will be out at Punchbowl doing the 40+ 4/5. Looking forward to some suffering.

TCR

+1

efficiency

Sounds like you know the guy.

igoyippy4skippy

Yeah I think I may know him... tell you what when I see him I will punch him right in the balls and tell him to upgrade to cat4 already.

OCshark

What a lovely day for a race. Even if my race was for all practical purposes over 3 miles into the first climb!

umd

So how did everyone else's races go?

jmechy

what about yours?
I saw that Chester did well, still waiting for your report.

umd

here

I was on my iphone at the time didn't want to retype it a third time...

TCR

Shelled on the 1st hill on the 1st lap! But I knew that was gonna happen before I even signed up.

Anybody get a snapshot of the 40+ 4/5 results. Curious if I got 65th or 67th.


Edit:
46th, I so suck

dolophonic

did the 1-2's very hard race. Rock had a load of guys + Floyd was there.. it was hard.. Got 18th, bout all i had .

umd

What happened with the break. Last I saw Walked was in a break with Floyd and a Lagrange guy. But in the results he is 4th and no Floyd. Was the break caught? Anyway, two teammates in the top 10, is pretty cool

Jeff262

Don't feel so bad. I was only 10 ahead of you. Not sure of how many starters but pre-reg was full at 75. I am sure lots dropped. Looking at my data I think I was dehydrated and the heat took its toll. My HR data was sky high and pegged in Anaerobic Capacity zone for most of the ride yet my power data sucked.

zzzwillzzz

from what i heard at the santa clarita crit, floyd had to catch a plane for another race on sunday and left before the finale