Cleave

Hi,

So with 9 races under my belt so far this year (1 TT, 7 crits, and 1 circuit -- Tuesday series), I thought I'd post how the other half races.

1. Tom's Farm TT, Jan 13: 6th out of 10 in Masters 50+
2. Roger Millikan Memorial Criterium, Feb 10: Field in Masters 45+ (all categories)
3. Roger Millikan Memorial Criterium, Feb 10: OTB (DFL?) after attacking solo with 3 to go in Masters 50+ (all categories)
4. Anger Management Criterium, Feb 17: Field in Masters 50+ (all categories)
5. Anger Management Criterium, Feb 17: Field in Masters 40+ 1/2/3
6. Dash 4 Cash Criterium, Mar 2: Field in Masters 50+ (all categories)
7. Dash 4 Cash Criterium, Mar 2: Field in Masters 40+ 1/2/3
8. El Dorado Tuesday Twilight Racing Series, Series #1, Race #1, Mar 4: Field in Masters 40+ (all categories + women + juniors)
9. Tour de Murrieta Criterium, Mar 8: OTB and pulled with 3 to go in Masters 45+ 1/2/3/4

At the Tour de Murrieta I found myself stuck at the back with a bunch of people who weren't the best at cornering at this slightly technical course. I kept on having to close small gaps out of almost every corner and I just didn't feel good enough to barge my way to the front of the 60 rider field. With what turned out to be 6 to go, I had to close a large gap when someone fell off. I had to do the same with 5 to go and when the hammer really fell with 4 to go I fell off on the headwind straight. I rode a lap solo and didn't lose nearly as much ground as I thought I would, but when I crossed the line with 3 to go the referee pulled me. Still ended up with a 26 MPH average for 19 miles.

I'm reasonably happy with how I'm riding for this time of year. Usually I've only race a couple of times by now and I am usually hanging on for dear life. I've been somewhat active at the front in the Masters 50+ races and I've hung in fairly well in the 40+ and 45+ races except for Murrieta.

I won't be doing a weekend race until April because I have to do dad and family things the next few weekends. I will be racing Tuesday nights through March but I be traveling on business and missing 4 Tuesdays in April and early May.

I guess things can't be too bad since I've managed to stay upright and finish every lap except for this past Saturday. Year-to-date stats (excluding the TT): 149.8 miles at 25.7 MPH.

palesaint

Those are pretty impressive numbers by themselves.... much more so when it's by someone who has about 20 years on me. You've got a great season going on, and it's not even mid-March. Good job!

jkizzle

better stats than mine thus far haha, and im 21! keep it up!

our tuesday nights are race simulation, not actual races, and they dont start until tonight due to the weather, but hopefully will really help me whip myself into raceshape.

cmh

Nice job getting out there often and doing some fast racing.

patentcad

If Pcad catches you in a 50+ race he will crush you like a Geritol tablet under his Sidi.

VosBike

This thread almost makes we want a cyclocomp for the first time in about two years.

CastIron

Self loathing begets cockiness?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't see it coming.

caloso

I've been there, my friend, I've been there.

patentcad

Road Bike Racing does seem like a perfect venue for Trash Talk. And what's more pathetic than a 50 year old Trash Talking another 50 year old bike weenie on the Internet?

Nothing I can think of.

There are many paths to Self Loathing my little Castaway.

CastIron

Pcad is my Yoda.

patentcad

That's about right.

Excellent video.

Cleave

Hi,

Remember it's 150 miles cumulative done 20-25 miles at a time. 150 miles at 25+ MPH all at once would be impressive.

Cleave

Hmmm... oh to be 21 again -- not! Interestingly, I'm faster on the flats at 50 than I was when I was 21. We won't talk about hills though.

Cleave

Hi,

Often is easy in SoCal. The hard part is picking the right races because burn out is also easy in SoCal.

Cleave

Hi,

First of all, remember that I am older than you -- R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Second, I take Centrum Silver, not Geritol, as recommended by my PCP (Primary Care Physician).

Last, you can do better than Sidis for foot swag, can't you?

Cleave

Tis better to have taken a flyer and died than to have never flyed at all.

Cleave

A bunch of 50 year-olds refusing to pull through waiting for a 30 MPH field sprint.

DrWJODonnell

I like the possible DFL after the attack. Shows guts. Keep up the good work. Oh, and which half do you belong to again?

Cleave

Hi All,

Thanks for the kind words and support above. Obviously I'm still a bit amped up after tonight's so-called race. I'm afraid to download the Garmin because it was not a very aggressive race. Also had to endure some guys who I hope were Cat 5 40+ year-olds because they sure rode like they were.

I'd have attacked a few more times than I did if the road wasn't blocked so many times with guys fighting for wheels from 10th on back. Coming up to the bell out of turn 4 I was pretty well placed behind a big guy who had never been near the front the whole race. He was obviously trying to line up some teammates like they Chipo's old lead out squad. I got swarmed on the left where there wasn't much room and liking my skin more than I needed to fight for position, I found myself 3/4 of the way back in the pack by the time we got the bell.

I watched several near misses on the last lap. It amazes me that these guys think that it's so important to win a Tuesday night series race. I guess I got a reasonable workout.

Cleave

Hi,

Guts but no brains? Heck, after all these years most of these races are just another race.

Think of the half that doesn't place -- first word starts with a 'P' and the second with a 'F'. At least I'm not anonymous.

patentcad

Just keep hammering Cleavey. You know what keeps me going? The hope that in a year or so, I can get a new Dura Ace group on my racing bike that lets me say 'my gears go to eleven'.

sagginwagin

Great job! Our racing season hasn't even started yet and you guys have 7+
races already under your belts! Must be nice.

Just a question to the OP: wouldn't you have burned comparable energy making your way to the front as
you did in constantly bridging gaps created by the riders that you said had questionable cornering skills?

Cleave

Hi,

That's exactly what I wrote in EDR's thread on this race. Of course as I get older, I figure out more things that I should have done during the race.

barryflht

I am one of them .... The learning curve can be steep and painful.....but, everybody starts somewhere.....I just got on a bike at 50, so I know yur #'s are pretty impressive no matter how "cumlative" it is.

Good Job Cleave

Brandy

I heard lots of strategizing out there last night!

I almost popped out there last night. I was on your wheel after what I like to refer to as the "sketchy turn" on the second to last lap and you took off like lightning. I tried to stay with you but had no more in me. It was definitely sketchier out there than last week, but hey...lay off the newbie bashing. Just kidding Cleave, you've been very encouraging to me out there amongst the boys.