The Race Report Thread 2009-2012
10-31-10, 08:30 PM
#5851
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 3,215
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
10-31-10, 08:52 PM
#5853
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 3,215
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The fervor the person who believes cancer is caused by fungus was certainly defending his position with a religious zeal.
Edit: I don't know what I was thinking when I typed this, but it doesn't make any sense. I'm still leaving it this way.
Edit: I don't know what I was thinking when I typed this, but it doesn't make any sense. I'm still leaving it this way.
Last edited by wens; 11-01-10 at 07:55 AM.
10-31-10, 09:34 PM
#5854
Making a kilometer blurry
Teammate Allen and I won the Uber Geezer division (90+ combined) at the traditional season ending 2 man time trial today. Great course, but not without some interesting challenges this running. Start with the old lady driving slowly on course for the first few blocks. Add in a back and forth duel with Winnebagos, pickups towing camper trailers, and other sundry vehicles for around 5 miles thanks to particularly heavy traffic. There's nothing quite like using a two foot wide shoulder at 45 MPH dodging rear view mirrors.
We safely negotiated all but the last 0.3 miles of the course when, just before the final hard right, we come up on a team going, by our standards, at a pretty subdued clip. No problem, I figure we'll just pass them on the outside.
You know that funny feeling you get the first wiff when something's going bad? When the guy let out a "WHOA!" when I came by on his left was the first clue. I just had that feeling he wasn't planning on turning, so I kept going straight. He still managed to run into the back of me, had I tried to take the corner I'd have been on my ass, as it was I ended up dancing through the gravel for a bit. Stop, turn around, see downed rider being attended to, finish race. Cost us about 30 seconds at least and knocked us out of the top 5 overall times...some darn good riders in there ahead of us.
Go back and check on the guy and yep, he thought the turn was up the road. SLightly worse for wear but nothing fatal. Ride into town and we get stopped by some racers who inform us that Allen had gone down hard in the corner in question. Which was funny, given that Allen was standing right next to me.
[Season=/end]
We safely negotiated all but the last 0.3 miles of the course when, just before the final hard right, we come up on a team going, by our standards, at a pretty subdued clip. No problem, I figure we'll just pass them on the outside.
You know that funny feeling you get the first wiff when something's going bad? When the guy let out a "WHOA!" when I came by on his left was the first clue. I just had that feeling he wasn't planning on turning, so I kept going straight. He still managed to run into the back of me, had I tried to take the corner I'd have been on my ass, as it was I ended up dancing through the gravel for a bit. Stop, turn around, see downed rider being attended to, finish race. Cost us about 30 seconds at least and knocked us out of the top 5 overall times...some darn good riders in there ahead of us.
Go back and check on the guy and yep, he thought the turn was up the road. SLightly worse for wear but nothing fatal. Ride into town and we get stopped by some racers who inform us that Allen had gone down hard in the corner in question. Which was funny, given that Allen was standing right next to me.
[Season=/end]
Beech I run you over
Run you over
Run you over
Beech I run you over
And I don't think twice.
click to embiggen on original site with more pics of scene:
11-01-10, 06:32 AM
#5855
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: TX
Posts: 2,620
Bikes: Orbea Orca Trek 5500 Trek Equinox
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow, amazing shot.
I did the ITT at the Tour de Gruene. I had a decent ride, finishing 1:33 faster than last year (15 watt higher avg too). Finished 7th in my division.
I did the ITT at the Tour de Gruene. I had a decent ride, finishing 1:33 faster than last year (15 watt higher avg too). Finished 7th in my division.
11-01-10, 06:40 AM
#5856
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 3,385
Bikes: It has two wheels
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Short: Orchard Cross in NH, Championship, 6 juniors, I came in 2nd. 1st place was from massachusetts, so i am the junior cross champion of nh.
Loooong: I just got back from a cross race. It was Orchard Cross at Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls, NH. it was the championship race for NH, so since it was in my back yard I figured I'd go. There were a staggering 6 juniors in the 15-18 age group, so I didn't think it would be too hard. When I came to the race, I though my teacher would let me use his bike, but he didn't make it, so I went over to a Felt Demo truck and they let me use their bike. It was wicked helpful, and saved the day. since i'm just a roadie, i didn't have any mtb shoes, so i borrowed one of my friends'. Everything ended up coming together about 10 minutes before the race, so i didn't have a chance to ride it. this sucks, because my bike handling skills are pretty poor. I followed for the first part of the first lap, but my teammate crashed and a kid attacked, so i tried to hold his wheel. he kept getting further and further away, and no one was coming up behind me, so i was in 2nd place for most of the race. I finished in 2nd. The kid who beat me was from Mass, so I assumed the title of nh junior cross champion. I got a 30 dollar gift card to the LBS, and a bucket of orange heed. Good race-last of the season. I'm happy.
Loooong: I just got back from a cross race. It was Orchard Cross at Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls, NH. it was the championship race for NH, so since it was in my back yard I figured I'd go. There were a staggering 6 juniors in the 15-18 age group, so I didn't think it would be too hard. When I came to the race, I though my teacher would let me use his bike, but he didn't make it, so I went over to a Felt Demo truck and they let me use their bike. It was wicked helpful, and saved the day. since i'm just a roadie, i didn't have any mtb shoes, so i borrowed one of my friends'. Everything ended up coming together about 10 minutes before the race, so i didn't have a chance to ride it. this sucks, because my bike handling skills are pretty poor. I followed for the first part of the first lap, but my teammate crashed and a kid attacked, so i tried to hold his wheel. he kept getting further and further away, and no one was coming up behind me, so i was in 2nd place for most of the race. I finished in 2nd. The kid who beat me was from Mass, so I assumed the title of nh junior cross champion. I got a 30 dollar gift card to the LBS, and a bucket of orange heed. Good race-last of the season. I'm happy.
11-01-10, 06:47 AM
#5857
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 3,385
Bikes: It has two wheels
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Congrats Nate & Ex!
11-01-10, 07:37 AM
#5858
Making a kilometer blurry
Tour de Gruene: rode with my brother-in-law from houston (BF:houston_biker). We got 2nd in our age group, not sure on the overall, but nothing amazing. Finished in ~1:06:30.
Legs fell asleep again. Still had ok power though, as most of my pulls were in the 350-375W range. Good finish for the season. Cool medals with a bit of chain wrapped around a cog-shaped medal.
Legs fell asleep again. Still had ok power though, as most of my pulls were in the 350-375W range. Good finish for the season. Cool medals with a bit of chain wrapped around a cog-shaped medal.
11-01-10, 08:25 AM
#5859
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 3,385
Bikes: It has two wheels
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sounds amazing to me WR. Nice job!
11-01-10, 10:37 AM
#5860
Banned.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: ATX, Ex So Cal
Posts: 11,058
Bikes: Ridley Noah-Scott Addict-Orbea Ordu
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Tour de Gruene: rode with my brother-in-law from houston (BF:houston_biker). We got 2nd in our age group, not sure on the overall, but nothing amazing. Finished in ~1:06:30.
Legs fell asleep again. Still had ok power though, as most of my pulls were in the 350-375W range. Good finish for the season. Cool medals with a bit of chain wrapped around a cog-shaped medal.
Legs fell asleep again. Still had ok power though, as most of my pulls were in the 350-375W range. Good finish for the season. Cool medals with a bit of chain wrapped around a cog-shaped medal.
11-01-10, 11:29 AM
#5861
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: TX
Posts: 2,620
Bikes: Orbea Orca Trek 5500 Trek Equinox
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-01-10, 01:16 PM
#5862
carbon is too light
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,261
Bikes: Yes.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 103 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
161 Posts
Teammate Allen and I won the Uber Geezer division (90+ combined) at the traditional season ending 2 man time trial today. Great course, but not without some interesting challenges this running. Start with the old lady driving slowly on course for the first few blocks. Add in a back and forth duel with Winnebagos, pickups towing camper trailers, and other sundry vehicles for around 5 miles thanks to particularly heavy traffic. There's nothing quite like using a two foot wide shoulder at 45 MPH dodging rear view mirrors.
We safely negotiated all but the last 0.3 miles of the course when, just before the final hard right, we come up on a team going, by our standards, at a pretty subdued clip. No problem, I figure we'll just pass them on the outside.
You know that funny feeling you get the first wiff when something's going bad? When the guy let out a "WHOA!" when I came by on his left was the first clue. I just had that feeling he wasn't planning on turning, so I kept going straight. He still managed to run into the back of me, had I tried to take the corner I'd have been on my ass, as it was I ended up dancing through the gravel for a bit. Stop, turn around, see downed rider being attended to, finish race. Cost us about 30 seconds at least and knocked us out of the top 5 overall times...some darn good riders in there ahead of us.
Go back and check on the guy and yep, he thought the turn was up the road. SLightly worse for wear but nothing fatal. Ride into town and we get stopped by some racers who inform us that Allen had gone down hard in the corner in question. Which was funny, given that Allen was standing right next to me.
[Season=/end]
We safely negotiated all but the last 0.3 miles of the course when, just before the final hard right, we come up on a team going, by our standards, at a pretty subdued clip. No problem, I figure we'll just pass them on the outside.
You know that funny feeling you get the first wiff when something's going bad? When the guy let out a "WHOA!" when I came by on his left was the first clue. I just had that feeling he wasn't planning on turning, so I kept going straight. He still managed to run into the back of me, had I tried to take the corner I'd have been on my ass, as it was I ended up dancing through the gravel for a bit. Stop, turn around, see downed rider being attended to, finish race. Cost us about 30 seconds at least and knocked us out of the top 5 overall times...some darn good riders in there ahead of us.
Go back and check on the guy and yep, he thought the turn was up the road. SLightly worse for wear but nothing fatal. Ride into town and we get stopped by some racers who inform us that Allen had gone down hard in the corner in question. Which was funny, given that Allen was standing right next to me.
[Season=/end]
11-01-10, 01:23 PM
#5863
ride lots be safe
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,224
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My buddy and I nearly got knocked down at that turn a couple years ago, except we were a bit behind so I was about to dive inside of the slower pair who looked like they were gonna miss the turn, until the last moment their leader locks up the brakes and fishtails into me. Nobody went down but words were exchanged.
Icing on the cake - after the finish he gets into a yelling match with my buddy about it because he thought we "cost him his placing" - because he read the results sheet wrong, thought all the numbers with "X" after them were DQ'd. (They were the 30 second starts).
Icing on the icing - we were the team that beat them out of the placings.
Last edited by Creakyknees; 11-01-10 at 01:28 PM.
11-07-10, 08:51 PM
#5864
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2,420
Bikes: Baum Romano, Brompton S2, Homemade Bamboo!
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 474 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
129 Posts
Had my first ever 'competitive' race this week (that is a race where I wasn't dropped or back in a second group) while on holiday back in AUS.
Northern Veterans DC Cycles Crit Series.
The first race of the series was postponed due to heavy rain, so I got a sleep in on Sunday morning - always nice after a 9 hour plane flight the day before.
Second race was on the Tuesday public holiday (Melbourne Cup Day, 2 Nov) on a lovely course around an industrial estate behind the Ford MoCo head office in Melbourne.
By a bit of guess work, I was put in Cat 4 (or 'D' grade) and this seemed about right. Although not needed, I had been asked by the organisers to hold back if it was too easy so that no one got upset about any potential miss-grading. Riders varied in age from 35 (min) to a couple of guys who would have been 60+. There was also one guy who told me afterwards that he had a heart attack 3 weeks ago!
First couple of laps seemed a bit slow, so I was worried that I should have been up a division, but once everyone warmed up the speed improved.
Race was 50 minutes plus bell with an intermediate sprint about 20 minutes in.
Once we had the whistle to indicate the sprint lap, I tried to get into position on the top of the course so that I could have a clear run on the last corner before the straight, but my inexperience saw me boxed in a bit and I didn't get an early clear run. I was still building speed and catching the guys in front when I hit the line, but I was fourth and just out of the points. 58km/h top speed.
The race was decided here, just after the sprint. Two guys broke away and the group let them go. Too tired from the sprint to react and probably thought they went too early.
The pack continued for another half an hour, but no structured attempt to haul in the two guys out the front. They stayed between 300-500m ahead for the rest of the race.
On the last lap I again tried to get into a better position for the sprint, but again was boxed in at the last corner. Once I did get free I had good speed, but crossed 6th in the bunch (8th overall).
Was quite happy with the 36km/h ave speed, but might have been able to go higher and keep up with the Cat 3s based on times. Just lacking experience in how to position and push myself.
The Cat 1 and 2 guys were fun to watch later on. The ave speeds were well over 40km/h and the sprints close to 70.
Being actually in the race (and not dropped etc) meant that I learned a lot more about racing.
Northern Veterans DC Cycles Crit Series.
The first race of the series was postponed due to heavy rain, so I got a sleep in on Sunday morning - always nice after a 9 hour plane flight the day before.
Second race was on the Tuesday public holiday (Melbourne Cup Day, 2 Nov) on a lovely course around an industrial estate behind the Ford MoCo head office in Melbourne.
By a bit of guess work, I was put in Cat 4 (or 'D' grade) and this seemed about right. Although not needed, I had been asked by the organisers to hold back if it was too easy so that no one got upset about any potential miss-grading. Riders varied in age from 35 (min) to a couple of guys who would have been 60+. There was also one guy who told me afterwards that he had a heart attack 3 weeks ago!
First couple of laps seemed a bit slow, so I was worried that I should have been up a division, but once everyone warmed up the speed improved.
Race was 50 minutes plus bell with an intermediate sprint about 20 minutes in.
Once we had the whistle to indicate the sprint lap, I tried to get into position on the top of the course so that I could have a clear run on the last corner before the straight, but my inexperience saw me boxed in a bit and I didn't get an early clear run. I was still building speed and catching the guys in front when I hit the line, but I was fourth and just out of the points. 58km/h top speed.
The race was decided here, just after the sprint. Two guys broke away and the group let them go. Too tired from the sprint to react and probably thought they went too early.
The pack continued for another half an hour, but no structured attempt to haul in the two guys out the front. They stayed between 300-500m ahead for the rest of the race.
On the last lap I again tried to get into a better position for the sprint, but again was boxed in at the last corner. Once I did get free I had good speed, but crossed 6th in the bunch (8th overall).
Was quite happy with the 36km/h ave speed, but might have been able to go higher and keep up with the Cat 3s based on times. Just lacking experience in how to position and push myself.
The Cat 1 and 2 guys were fun to watch later on. The ave speeds were well over 40km/h and the sprints close to 70.
Being actually in the race (and not dropped etc) meant that I learned a lot more about racing.
11-07-10, 10:57 PM
#5865
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 910
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well done on the race. How did the "D Grade" race stack up with your previous experience?
11-07-10, 11:34 PM
#5866
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2,420
Bikes: Baum Romano, Brompton S2, Homemade Bamboo!
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 474 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
129 Posts
In the Open I am competing against the best riders, so the the field is pretty much split from the get-go into different ability packs. Even if you are riding well with a group your speed, the fast guys can often lap you after a while and you have to pull out. Many of the good Open guys are over 30, so they regularly enter both events and pound you again anyway!
11-08-10, 01:47 PM
#5867
Senior Member
Well, I did a cross race yesterday, McEwen Cyclocross Festival in TN. It went well for about the first 30 seconds or so, I was in contention for the hole shot prize but I lost the front wheel around the very first corner and wiped out. No big deal, I was still in it, so I hopped back on, but the pedals wouldn't turn. The chain was jammed in between the BB shell and crank, and I needed several seconds to get it out again. Got rolling, and the chain was all over the place, went over the barriers for the first time and found that I had lost the chain again when I remounted. This happened again over a big log barrier toward the end of the lap. I was pissed and was going to pack it in at the end of that lap, but someone convinced me to put the chain on the big ring and stay in it. So I did the remaining three laps (30 min. race and I got lapped) on my 44 ring with the chain skipping up and down the cassette. Incredibly, the results say that I was only third-to-last, which seems hard to believe, since I'm pretty sure I was running DFL, but whatever.
It turned out that dropping my chain that first time wedged it between the crank and frame forcefully enough to twist the links, which was the reason for both the skipping (in spite of putting the shifters into friction mode) and the continual chain dropping after that. So now I have several equipment changes to make before the next race. I don't suppose I could have hoped for a better introduction to cross, and it can only get better from here, I guess.
Incidentally, downhill off-camber turns are frickin terrifying on a cross bike.
It turned out that dropping my chain that first time wedged it between the crank and frame forcefully enough to twist the links, which was the reason for both the skipping (in spite of putting the shifters into friction mode) and the continual chain dropping after that. So now I have several equipment changes to make before the next race. I don't suppose I could have hoped for a better introduction to cross, and it can only get better from here, I guess.
Incidentally, downhill off-camber turns are frickin terrifying on a cross bike.
11-08-10, 01:52 PM
#5868
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 9,458
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
10 Posts
Incorrect.
Correct.
Incidentally, downhill off-camber turns are frickin terrifying on a cross bike.
11-28-10, 04:36 PM
#5870
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 9,458
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
10 Posts
Mabra championships in Taneytown, MD.
I got 14/45 in the C men race. Then I raced juniors and had my first DNF. Slid out on mud in the first half of the first lap, and it took 10 seconds to get my shifter unhooked from a pole they use to put tape up, putting me in last. Gunned it and got myself into 3rd eventually. 3/4 of the way through the first lap I broke a chain. Ran/walked back to the start/finish area and pulled out.
Disappointing, yeah.
I got 14/45 in the C men race. Then I raced juniors and had my first DNF. Slid out on mud in the first half of the first lap, and it took 10 seconds to get my shifter unhooked from a pole they use to put tape up, putting me in last. Gunned it and got myself into 3rd eventually. 3/4 of the way through the first lap I broke a chain. Ran/walked back to the start/finish area and pulled out.
Disappointing, yeah.
12-07-10, 03:16 PM
#5871
shaken, not stirred.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Shaky Isles.
Posts: 5,253
Bikes: I've lost count.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1413 Post(s)
Liked 975 Times
in
393 Posts
My first criterium.Festival of Cycling newcomers crit. 30 Mins + 2 laps.
The pace was faster than I was anticpating and consequently I was OTB from the second lap.
Pulled, along with 5 others 20 minutes in. I need to do more intervals. It hurt but was lots of fun.
The pace was faster than I was anticpating and consequently I was OTB from the second lap.
Pulled, along with 5 others 20 minutes in. I need to do more intervals. It hurt but was lots of fun.
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
vBulletin: snafu
12-07-10, 03:37 PM
#5872
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,317
Bikes: Type of horse.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My first criterium.Festival of Cycling newcomers crit. 30 Mins + 2 laps.
The pace was faster than I was anticpating and consequently I was OTB from the second lap.
Pulled, along with 5 others 20 minutes in. I need to do more intervals. It hurt but was lots of fun.
The pace was faster than I was anticpating and consequently I was OTB from the second lap.
Pulled, along with 5 others 20 minutes in. I need to do more intervals. It hurt but was lots of fun.
Awesome! Positioning will probably get you the last 10 minutes. Hide from the wind.
12-07-10, 06:01 PM
#5873
shaken, not stirred.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Shaky Isles.
Posts: 5,253
Bikes: I've lost count.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1413 Post(s)
Liked 975 Times
in
393 Posts
I was hiding from the wind as much as possible. I just wasn't fast/fit enough to hang on the back of the pack.
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
vBulletin: snafu
01-05-11, 03:32 PM
#5875
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 3,385
Bikes: It has two wheels
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
^^^
Nice race & report!
Nice race & report!