The Race Report Thread 2009-2012
07-27-09, 07:19 PM
#1752
Senior Member
11th annual Zionsville Crit. Cat 5 race. Second race ever.
I felt amazing. Right up until the second corner of the fourth lap. I think my inside pedal hit the ground and I was sliding on the ground before I knew what was even happening. I'll know better next time. Thankfully, I was on the outside and only managed to hurt myself and my bike without hitting anyone else. I got back up and finished the last 21 laps, but there was no free lap so I just had to ride alone as fast as I could. I got lapped with 6 or seven laps to go. I wish there had been a free lap because I could have easily been in the race, but the organizer was explicit at the start that CAT 5 races don't have that privilege.
All in all it would have been better if I didn't crash, didn't shred my nice bibs, and didn't wreck my new toupe saddle. But... I didn't break anything, didn't hurt my bike in any "need a new bike" kind of way, and didn't take anyone else out. My teammate took first place. I'm still not sure if that made it better or worse at the time.
Now it's time to heal and then get back to doing intervals as fast as I can.
I felt amazing. Right up until the second corner of the fourth lap. I think my inside pedal hit the ground and I was sliding on the ground before I knew what was even happening. I'll know better next time. Thankfully, I was on the outside and only managed to hurt myself and my bike without hitting anyone else. I got back up and finished the last 21 laps, but there was no free lap so I just had to ride alone as fast as I could. I got lapped with 6 or seven laps to go. I wish there had been a free lap because I could have easily been in the race, but the organizer was explicit at the start that CAT 5 races don't have that privilege.
All in all it would have been better if I didn't crash, didn't shred my nice bibs, and didn't wreck my new toupe saddle. But... I didn't break anything, didn't hurt my bike in any "need a new bike" kind of way, and didn't take anyone else out. My teammate took first place. I'm still not sure if that made it better or worse at the time.
Now it's time to heal and then get back to doing intervals as fast as I can.
Be careful with pedaling in the corners. As you've seen, it's easy to misjudge your lean angle and have a strike. In my last crit, a guy nearly took himself and me out when he dug a pedal hard on one turn. He pulled off quite the remarkable save, but I was not happy at having to sprint back onto the group. Of course, not more than two laps later, I gently touched the pavement with my pedal on turn 2, just enough to hear and feel it, not enough to have any effect on my line or speed. Oddly enough, it didn't faze me or scare me in the slightest - I just made a mental note to be little bit more cautious.
07-27-09, 09:05 PM
#1753
The engine that could
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I want to make sure that I am clear that I was not trying to criticize the organizer about the no free lap rule in the cat 5 race. He announced it politely and clearly before the race started and that is all I can hope for. Yes, I would have liked to have one looking back, but I in no way feel jaded against the race officials who seemed to have put on a good race all in all.
07-28-09, 07:19 PM
#1754
gmt
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I've definitely broken the 25mph barrier
20km TT 29:32
it hurt. lots. 4th place (there were some fast guys there tonight)
20km TT 29:32
it hurt. lots. 4th place (there were some fast guys there tonight)
07-28-09, 08:01 PM
#1755
meow
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I was feeling tired and craving carbs all day...was going to take day off or pedal easy as I was thinking that I would enter a crit on Wednesday...turns out that I had a senior moment and the race was tonight...took a 30 minute catnap to try and collect myself and went to the race...advertised as a 32 mile crit, but, I believe it was a bit more tonight (Wompatuck)...not too shabby...took some turns at the front...with 5 laps to go, a couple of guys bolted off...I let them go and then found myself in the front of the peloton taking it easy, as was everyone else...
I knew that I should preserve energy for the sprint, but, I wanted to pound, I did not care about finish results...so, with the 2 guys about 75 yards or so up the road, I pounded and bridged up pretty well and quickly if I say so myself...no one else came with me...the three of us were away with a fair bit of distance, but, one guy kept saying "short"...I was not sure what this meant, but, it sounded like he was saying that this is not going to work (and somehow I sensed he had a fair bit of experience...certainly more than me), so, that was that...I was very satisfied that I bridged up with some good strength (at least for me) in this 1-4 training race...
Got dropped with 2 laps to go, but, I did not care, I was satisfied with my ride given some of my willingness to be in front more than usual and that I did the bridge thingy with authority and confidence...avg watts excluding zeroes was 250 for 65 minutes -- in essence, this is the amount of time that I was pedaling (out of 77 minutes)...
I knew that I should preserve energy for the sprint, but, I wanted to pound, I did not care about finish results...so, with the 2 guys about 75 yards or so up the road, I pounded and bridged up pretty well and quickly if I say so myself...no one else came with me...the three of us were away with a fair bit of distance, but, one guy kept saying "short"...I was not sure what this meant, but, it sounded like he was saying that this is not going to work (and somehow I sensed he had a fair bit of experience...certainly more than me), so, that was that...I was very satisfied that I bridged up with some good strength (at least for me) in this 1-4 training race...
Got dropped with 2 laps to go, but, I did not care, I was satisfied with my ride given some of my willingness to be in front more than usual and that I did the bridge thingy with authority and confidence...avg watts excluding zeroes was 250 for 65 minutes -- in essence, this is the amount of time that I was pedaling (out of 77 minutes)...
07-28-09, 08:05 PM
#1756
Batüwü Creakcreak
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Training crit today.
Did the A race today.
Totally shelled, totally awesome.
My back started killing me about 30 mins into the race. I couldn't pedal anymore. I hate this...
PS: BG. It's slamdancing, not pounding. Duh!
Did the A race today.
Totally shelled, totally awesome.
My back started killing me about 30 mins into the race. I couldn't pedal anymore. I hate this...
PS: BG. It's slamdancing, not pounding. Duh!
07-28-09, 08:06 PM
#1757
**** that
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The organizer is of course free to make that rule, and everyone else is of course free to think that an organizer who makes such a rule is stupid, mean and/or petty to do so. That's some pretty major BS. Crits by definition have a free lap rule, and there's no reason I can think of that Cat 5 races don't get that "privilege" (it's not a special privilege, just a standard rule).
Be careful with pedaling in the corners. As you've seen, it's easy to misjudge your lean angle and have a strike. In my last crit, a guy nearly took himself and me out when he dug a pedal hard on one turn. He pulled off quite the remarkable save, but I was not happy at having to sprint back onto the group. Of course, not more than two laps later, I gently touched the pavement with my pedal on turn 2, just enough to hear and feel it, not enough to have any effect on my line or speed. Oddly enough, it didn't faze me or scare me in the slightest - I just made a mental note to be little bit more cautious.
Be careful with pedaling in the corners. As you've seen, it's easy to misjudge your lean angle and have a strike. In my last crit, a guy nearly took himself and me out when he dug a pedal hard on one turn. He pulled off quite the remarkable save, but I was not happy at having to sprint back onto the group. Of course, not more than two laps later, I gently touched the pavement with my pedal on turn 2, just enough to hear and feel it, not enough to have any effect on my line or speed. Oddly enough, it didn't faze me or scare me in the slightest - I just made a mental note to be little bit more cautious.
Edit: I wish I had something meaningful to post here, but I haven't raced since the 11th, it sucks.
07-28-09, 08:14 PM
#1759
meow
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I was going to ask a question in the power thread, but, since your here now I'll ask now here...when computing average power for a race, is it appropriate to exclude the zeroes? For example, in the race tonight, total time was 77 minutes, but, amount of time when pedaling (and when power was greater than zero) was 65 minutes...is it appropriate to compute power using the 65 (of the 77 minutes), or should I use all 77 minutes? What is the standard when people report power? I can see the argument for using data from all 77 minutes -- certainly, those 12 minutes when I was not pedaling (77 minutes for race minus 65 minutes when I was pedaling) could affect the power that I could generate when I was pedaling...in essence, those 12 minutes are "rest" time...of course, rest periods will affect pedaling periods.
07-28-09, 08:27 PM
#1760
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I was feeling tired and craving carbs all day...was going to take day off or pedal easy as I was thinking that I would enter a crit on Wednesday...turns out that I had a senior moment and the race was tonight...took a 30 minute catnap to try and collect myself and went to the race...advertised as a 32 mile crit, but, I believe it was a bit more tonight (Wompatuck)...not too shabby...took some turns at the front...with 5 laps to go, a couple of guys bolted off...I let them go and then found myself in the front of the peloton taking it easy, as was everyone else...
I knew that I should preserve energy for the sprint, but, I wanted to pound, I did not care about finish results...so, with the 2 guys about 75 yards or so up the road, I pounded and bridged up pretty well and quickly if I say so myself...no one else came with me...the three of us were away with a fair bit of distance, but, one guy kept saying "short"...I was not sure what this meant, but, it sounded like he was saying that this is not going to work (and somehow I sensed he had a fair bit of experience...certainly more than me), so, that was that...I was very satisfied that I bridged up with some good strength (at least for me) in this 1-4 training race...
Got dropped with 2 laps to go, but, I did not care, I was satisfied with my ride given some of my willingness to be in front more than usual and that I did the bridge thingy with authority and confidence...avg watts excluding zeroes was 250 for 65 minutes -- in essence, this is the amount of time that I was pedaling (out of 77 minutes)...
I knew that I should preserve energy for the sprint, but, I wanted to pound, I did not care about finish results...so, with the 2 guys about 75 yards or so up the road, I pounded and bridged up pretty well and quickly if I say so myself...no one else came with me...the three of us were away with a fair bit of distance, but, one guy kept saying "short"...I was not sure what this meant, but, it sounded like he was saying that this is not going to work (and somehow I sensed he had a fair bit of experience...certainly more than me), so, that was that...I was very satisfied that I bridged up with some good strength (at least for me) in this 1-4 training race...
Got dropped with 2 laps to go, but, I did not care, I was satisfied with my ride given some of my willingness to be in front more than usual and that I did the bridge thingy with authority and confidence...avg watts excluding zeroes was 250 for 65 minutes -- in essence, this is the amount of time that I was pedaling (out of 77 minutes)...
07-28-09, 08:32 PM
#1761
Batüwü Creakcreak
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How do the Tuesdays compare to Wednesdays??? I've been racing Wednesdays at Wompatuck and just upgraded to CAT4 and think it might be fun to ride with some really fast guys...should I stick with the Wednesdays and try and make some moves, or ride Tuesdays and hang on for dear life??
Remember, training is a balance of intensity and duration. So if you go that hard 2 days straight, you need to back it off.
Having raced with you in the spring, I think you should get more races under your belt. Your confidence in races wasn't so high. It's better now, I bet, but you should be the one attacking aggressively in races because that's what you're good at.
Ride those suckaz off your wheel!
07-28-09, 08:42 PM
#1762
meow
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How do the Tuesdays compare to Wednesdays??? I've been racing Wednesdays at Wompatuck and just upgraded to CAT4 and think it might be fun to ride with some really fast guys...should I stick with the Wednesdays and try and make some moves, or ride Tuesdays and hang on for dear life??
07-28-09, 08:44 PM
#1763
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Do an easy ride monday, and an easy night thursday, and do both the tues and weds rides.
Remember, training is a balance of intensity and duration. So if you go that hard 2 days straight, you need to back it off.
Having raced with you in the spring, I think you should get more races under your belt. Your confidence in races wasn't so high. It's better now, I bet, but you should be the one attacking aggressively in races because that's what you're good at.
Ride those suckaz off your wheel!
Remember, training is a balance of intensity and duration. So if you go that hard 2 days straight, you need to back it off.
Having raced with you in the spring, I think you should get more races under your belt. Your confidence in races wasn't so high. It's better now, I bet, but you should be the one attacking aggressively in races because that's what you're good at.
Ride those suckaz off your wheel!
07-28-09, 08:45 PM
#1764
meow
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Difference, on paper, for Wompatuck is: Tuesday is 1-4 and Wednesday is 3-5 and 35+ ...hmmm, tempted to head down tomorrow...gotta see what the day brings...
07-28-09, 08:47 PM
#1765
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Oh, then maybe I didn't have a senior moment...there is a Wompatuck race on Wednesday evenings too? This was the first time I raced at Wptk, so, I can't comment on differences between Tuesday and Wednesday...I guess I should read the event calendar more carefully...I'm not sure whether average mph means anything, but, I had 25.7 tonight...my two most recent races at Wells, I've been at 26.9 and 25.9...there were plenty of riders tonight who could ramp it up on attacks, that's for sure...good bursts of speed....
07-28-09, 08:50 PM
#1766
meow
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Nix that...forgot that I'm going to be an expert guest on Emily Rooney's Greater Boston show tomorrow night...
07-28-09, 09:03 PM
#1767
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Paid $12 to race tonight. Won $19. I gave it to the local racer who's collecting for a cancer ride he's doing, and I felt good about it.
07-28-09, 09:15 PM
#1768
meow
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07-29-09, 09:08 PM
#1769
Senior Member
Raced tonight. Small field, 11 starters I think.
Slow and surge-y. Felt strong. Tried some attacks.
Yelled at a guy.* He probably didn't deserve it.
Winning solo attack goes with maybe 8 to go. No interest in chasing.
Got yelled at.** Probably deserved it.
Attacked WR style at ~750 to go. Only caught by one guy (the yeller).
3rd. Won $10.
Starting to feel strong again. Awesome.
* I apologized for being a d*ck. We're cool.
** I apologized for riding like a d*ck. We're cool.
Slow and surge-y. Felt strong. Tried some attacks.
Yelled at a guy.* He probably didn't deserve it.
Winning solo attack goes with maybe 8 to go. No interest in chasing.
Got yelled at.** Probably deserved it.
Attacked WR style at ~750 to go. Only caught by one guy (the yeller).
3rd. Won $10.
Starting to feel strong again. Awesome.
* I apologized for being a d*ck. We're cool.
** I apologized for riding like a d*ck. We're cool.
07-30-09, 07:25 AM
#1774
Making a kilometer blurry
Raced tonight. Small field, 11 starters I think.
Slow and surge-y. Felt strong. Tried some attacks.
Yelled at a guy.* He probably didn't deserve it.
Winning solo attack goes with maybe 8 to go. No interest in chasing.
Got yelled at.** Probably deserved it.
Attacked WR style at ~750 to go. Only caught by one guy (the yeller).
3rd. Won $10.
Starting to feel strong again. Awesome.
* I apologized for being a d*ck. We're cool.
** I apologized for riding like a d*ck. We're cool.
Slow and surge-y. Felt strong. Tried some attacks.
Yelled at a guy.* He probably didn't deserve it.
Winning solo attack goes with maybe 8 to go. No interest in chasing.
Got yelled at.** Probably deserved it.
Attacked WR style at ~750 to go. Only caught by one guy (the yeller).
3rd. Won $10.
Starting to feel strong again. Awesome.
* I apologized for being a d*ck. We're cool.
** I apologized for riding like a d*ck. We're cool.
07-30-09, 07:49 AM
#1775
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I hope I did one of my last cat 4 crits last night. I was almost taken out no fewer than three times in the last three laps...one is not anyone's fault, the other two were just really dangerous/stupid moves. With three to go the winner jumped, me and another rider jumped after--he flatted in a turn with me right on his wheel and I had do grab the brakes hard. I had 3 seconds on the field and should have burried it and gone again, that way I could have felt like I accomplished something last night. Instead I thought I had much better chances in a sprint. Last lap, total mayhem. Morons doing all kinds of stupid things and I kept my nose clean and didn't get in the sprint. top 10, but weak.
I don't have the points, but 3 podiums within my top 10 finishes. I'm sending in my request after this weekend.
but...I want to win before I upgrade. I've come so close several times and I know I've got one in there somewhere, I just need to find it. I remember reading substructure's posts last year and I totally understand...I'm just frustrated. I'm venting...I just need to cool off and ride. On the upside, the spring is officially back in my legs...I'm due.
I don't have the points, but 3 podiums within my top 10 finishes. I'm sending in my request after this weekend.
but...I want to win before I upgrade. I've come so close several times and I know I've got one in there somewhere, I just need to find it. I remember reading substructure's posts last year and I totally understand...I'm just frustrated. I'm venting...I just need to cool off and ride. On the upside, the spring is officially back in my legs...I'm due.
Last edited by slim_77; 07-30-09 at 10:48 AM. Reason: spelling