Hida Yanra

hah - it's true. it wasn't until you mentioned what squad you were on that it clicked for me.

Bob Dopolina 

Tour of East Taiwan - 2 Stages with climbing, wind and rain.

I've done this race 10 times with varying results. We wanted points for our riders (since this is an "A" race for the season long points classification) and our first podium spots as a new team.

After the main climb on day 1 I chased back through the race caravan and rejoined the main group. I spent the day hiding and just avoided a crash at the finish.

Our Elite Masters 30+ was 2nd. I was 8th in Elite Masters 40+

On the second days it was 178km of wind on intermittent rain. Conditions I like. We tried to place our guys in moves but nothing stuck until after 120km when we finally got our designated guy away. Once he was gone I worked to get another rider away so we could maximize on team points.

We finished 2nd again in Elite Masters 30+, 5th in Elite (senior riders) and Team Overall (for all Elite Cat teams) we were 6th.

Full story here.

CrimsonKarter21

Some kermesse near Geraardsbergen today.
Patrick Cocquyt and his team showed up as well as the South Africans and the Kazakhs. Two or three hills, and as many fast downhills, only two turns requiring any brakes. 161 starters.

-I think I was racing yesterday, so I did 2.5 hard hours, lots of climbing, and some sprints.
-I got some money owed to me afterwards, decided to race.
-Dead legs during my warmup.
-Started mid-field
-Moved up near the front
-Made every split and selection
-Climbed very well
-Decended even better
-Got my racing Mojo back
-Some soigneur almost crashed everyone in the race right in front of me, my first instinct? "God verdomme!". I don't even swear in English anymore.
-1:45 into the race my legs lost all power. Fark.

Very weird. Coming out of a corner, we're climbing a small rise, everyone is in the hoods and out of the saddle. I'm passing a few people and it was a very weird sensation in my guads; it wasn't a cramp and it wasn't lactic acid, and it wasn't super painful, but I went from passing people to being passed like I was standing still. I wait for about 45 seconds as the field all passes me, and I try to sprint back up to catch on, but nothing is happening. It was like riding with my brakes on.

Anyways, I was totally fine and cruising with [relative] ease until this point, we only had 2 laps left to go. I need to pull up my power file, but it was the weirdest feeling.

bdcheung

a bonk?

CrimsonKarter21

I ate a little bit before the race, and didn't get the feeling of hunger. I didn't really drink much, but I did have a few nips of water, and half a bottle of my endurance drink with an extra 200mg of caffeine in it, but I really doubt it was that. The drink is basically 90% maltodextrin, some protein, the caffeine and some Branch chain amino acids.

I forgot to mention that Mon-Sat last week I clocked in 22 hours of hard training, but I thought I was pretty well rested.

Racer Ex 

Le bonk. Meet the man with the hammer. Check the kj on the power file and compare it to your caloric intake. My dart board guess would be at least 500-700 calories down.

I never feel hungry when I bonk. Somebody just kicks the cord out of the wall and the lights go out.

CrimsonKarter21

Hmm, I expended around 1800kJ in 1:45, took in no food during the race, and a little bit of my hi-cal drink. Saying bonk makes total sense, and I'm not saying I didn't, but damn dude, it felt nothing like a bonk.
It literally happened in a second; riding strong and moving up, to watching 80 guys pass me like I'm standing still.

On the other hand, I freakin descibed a bonk to the "t".

chado445510

First race today in High School B class, I got third place with a hill climb finish. it's nice being 130 pounds. the first part was hilarious, no one wanted to take pulls, so we were putt-putt-putting around at about 15 mph until the sprint up the hill.

Racer Ex 

...

.PJ

For the WA people in the thread: have any of you attended any upgrade clinics? There's one this Saturday in Spokane, would it be worth the drive from Seattle?

mike868y

Good job! I'm jealous that you have high school racing, that is awesome.

Obscene

I dreamed of getting up to 130lbs in high school... hell it's an effort to stay over 130lbs now!

waterrockets 

Remind me not to be behind you when the race turns into a stiff crosswind.

waterrockets 

Remind me not to be behind you when the race turns into a stiff crosswind.

mattm

Quite a drive for 5 mass start "credits" towards your 4's upgrade - but given how long it took me to get my 10 USAC starts (too long) it's not altogether a bad idea, if you have time and gas to burn, and can't wait to be a 4.

How new are you to group riding/racing?

Another option is just do your 10 USAC starts, and come out to Thursdays @ Seward Park 5:30 pm race (4/5's) or PIR in Kent on Tuesdays - they don't count towards upgrades but are great training before doing the 'real thing.'

grolby

That's the best part about being so small (I'm <130 myself); I may be suffering when it gets windy, but at least the guy behind me is suffering almost as much.

queerpunk

Lol. Indeed. I chuckled at your "Yes, I am that small" post in some other thread recently. I have to do the same thing.

waterrockets 

That's why I always go to the front, gutter everyone and hammer along at 400W for a while. If I'm going to suffer anyway, it might as well be on my terms.

Grumpy McTrumpy

so you pull on the leeward side of the lane and make it impossible for people to echelon?

kudude

or ever.

kudude

or ever. x2

Look, I'm like a mod!!!

waterrockets 

Depending on my race/team goals, absolutely. Maybe make room for a teammate or two. There have been a couple races where I've shredded half the field off the back with a 3' effort that I couldn't possibly hold.

JohnKScott

Stay out of my wake sonny!

ridethecliche

ahahahhahah

fordfasterr

3rd (out of 5) at the local crit tonight... I hope it picks up again, this is getting strange...