The Race Report Thread 2009-2012
02-20-12, 05:55 PM
#9726
SkinnyStrong
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Austin, Tejas
Posts: 1,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The weather hasn't been too kind to the early season races, except ToNB. The university oaks crit 3/4 race had freezing rain for a few laps. Hardman points are overrated.
02-20-12, 06:47 PM
#9727
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 1,035
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hey, one guy has figured out how to handle the cat 3 group this year
(starts @ 2:05 ):
02-20-12, 09:24 PM
#9728
no cat contains
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Edinburgh Scotland
Posts: 884
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Liked 142 Times
in
75 Posts
FSU Daulton RR Cat 4/5-48 miles, 3 16 mile loops
I really didn't know what to expect from this race going in. Coming from San Diego, I had no idea who to mark, what the course was like, but I really wanted results to offset the time it took just to get here (and back). Luckily, I came up with some UCSD riders the night before, and "previewed" the course by helping set up the feed zone for the longer collegiate races. The course is the same as the Madera County Stage Race, which didn't mean much to me, but I was able to talk to a few people that mentioned a "rough" section on one of the back sections of the course, and that one should bring extra tubes/CO2. Boy were they right! The collegiate races were marred by flats and lost bottles (bounced out in the rough section) and races ended in clumps of riders usually no larger than three or four racers. In addition, the winds were fairly strong (10-20mph) and provided a stiff headwind, tailwind, or crosswind in every section.
Seeing all this, it looked like I was going to have a tough race ahead of me, and I was a bit worried about racing with 5s again, even with a relatively small mixed field (30 or so). This fear was reaffirmed in the three mile neutral roll out where some of the riders were incapable of holding lines, especially when they looked anywhere but straight ahead. I decided immediately that I would be off the front in the rough section, as off the back wasn't an option for this race.
Once the race started, the pace barely picked up, and I was hoping to identify a strong/safe/smooth rider as a good wheel to follow. A mile and a half into the race, I found one. Off the front. I waited a little bit, expecting the field to immediately chase him down like a pack of dogs chases a cat, yet they sat on their haunches. I really wanted to join him, but heard the phrase "Breaks don't stick in the 4s" in my head from the many racers I've heard in from prior. So, I bridged up immediately.
I reach the other rider, and he says he's just trying to warm up his legs since the pack was going so slow. I was a little disappointed to hear this, but figured it was my best shot to get through the rough section unscathed the first time around. We worked together pretty well, and by the rough section (12 miles in) we couldn't see the pack behind us. Now, I was expecting potholes, and some gravel, obstacles easily avoided if you're looking forward. Instead, it felt like I was using a jackhammer or driving on a washboard dirt road. My bike was screeching and groaning (I was too, likely) and I noticed all the bottles that littered the course. We were both fortunate enough to escape with intact bikes and both of our bottles, and as we finished the first lap, we realized just how much work we had ahead of us.
We decided to try and keep the break, as the pack still hadn't made any progress, and quickly settled in to short, quick pulls. Rinse and repeat, we somehow made it through the second lap, and the rough section and head wind portion were taking their toll. I recovered a bit in the rollers and slightly downhill leg, but was really feeling it as soon as the wind hit me again. Unfortunately (looking back) I made a pact with the other rider saying if he could get me through the next two sections (headwind and rough road from hell) I wouldn't challenge him for 1st. I didn't know that we had a gap greater than 6 minutes at this point, and he still looked pretty strong. I hadn't been in so much pain, my entire body, for a long time. But I really wanted to finish this race on a high note.
Long story short, we both survived the pavé for a third time. We crested the first roller on the back straight (finish), and could see the finish line half a mile away on a smaller hill. Although my legs came back, or I was just excited to be finished, I kept to my word and rolled in a bit behind the other racer. I was happy to have beaten the odds and survived a 46 mile break with only one other. Oh, and I got $5. I thought I was getting a medal, so it was disappointing with how small the prize was, but I learned a lot and had a great time this weekend. Hopefully, I can keep getting results like this and the 2 upgrade points from 1st to 2nd don't come back to bite me!
And maybe I'll get better at writing these reports, too.
I really didn't know what to expect from this race going in. Coming from San Diego, I had no idea who to mark, what the course was like, but I really wanted results to offset the time it took just to get here (and back). Luckily, I came up with some UCSD riders the night before, and "previewed" the course by helping set up the feed zone for the longer collegiate races. The course is the same as the Madera County Stage Race, which didn't mean much to me, but I was able to talk to a few people that mentioned a "rough" section on one of the back sections of the course, and that one should bring extra tubes/CO2. Boy were they right! The collegiate races were marred by flats and lost bottles (bounced out in the rough section) and races ended in clumps of riders usually no larger than three or four racers. In addition, the winds were fairly strong (10-20mph) and provided a stiff headwind, tailwind, or crosswind in every section.
Seeing all this, it looked like I was going to have a tough race ahead of me, and I was a bit worried about racing with 5s again, even with a relatively small mixed field (30 or so). This fear was reaffirmed in the three mile neutral roll out where some of the riders were incapable of holding lines, especially when they looked anywhere but straight ahead. I decided immediately that I would be off the front in the rough section, as off the back wasn't an option for this race.
Once the race started, the pace barely picked up, and I was hoping to identify a strong/safe/smooth rider as a good wheel to follow. A mile and a half into the race, I found one. Off the front. I waited a little bit, expecting the field to immediately chase him down like a pack of dogs chases a cat, yet they sat on their haunches. I really wanted to join him, but heard the phrase "Breaks don't stick in the 4s" in my head from the many racers I've heard in from prior. So, I bridged up immediately.
I reach the other rider, and he says he's just trying to warm up his legs since the pack was going so slow. I was a little disappointed to hear this, but figured it was my best shot to get through the rough section unscathed the first time around. We worked together pretty well, and by the rough section (12 miles in) we couldn't see the pack behind us. Now, I was expecting potholes, and some gravel, obstacles easily avoided if you're looking forward. Instead, it felt like I was using a jackhammer or driving on a washboard dirt road. My bike was screeching and groaning (I was too, likely) and I noticed all the bottles that littered the course. We were both fortunate enough to escape with intact bikes and both of our bottles, and as we finished the first lap, we realized just how much work we had ahead of us.
We decided to try and keep the break, as the pack still hadn't made any progress, and quickly settled in to short, quick pulls. Rinse and repeat, we somehow made it through the second lap, and the rough section and head wind portion were taking their toll. I recovered a bit in the rollers and slightly downhill leg, but was really feeling it as soon as the wind hit me again. Unfortunately (looking back) I made a pact with the other rider saying if he could get me through the next two sections (headwind and rough road from hell) I wouldn't challenge him for 1st. I didn't know that we had a gap greater than 6 minutes at this point, and he still looked pretty strong. I hadn't been in so much pain, my entire body, for a long time. But I really wanted to finish this race on a high note.
Long story short, we both survived the pavé for a third time. We crested the first roller on the back straight (finish), and could see the finish line half a mile away on a smaller hill. Although my legs came back, or I was just excited to be finished, I kept to my word and rolled in a bit behind the other racer. I was happy to have beaten the odds and survived a 46 mile break with only one other. Oh, and I got $5. I thought I was getting a medal, so it was disappointing with how small the prize was, but I learned a lot and had a great time this weekend. Hopefully, I can keep getting results like this and the 2 upgrade points from 1st to 2nd don't come back to bite me!
And maybe I'll get better at writing these reports, too.
I've never made a pact like the one did, but I've certainly thought (daydreamed?) about it. If you're in position to be negotiating for 1st or 2nd, that's a good place to be, so take that as a silver lining. OTH, if you're not in a stage race you should never make that deal.
02-25-12, 01:58 PM
#9729
Senior Member
I'm going to go be a spectator at Pace Bend tomorrow, to cheer on my Cat 3 (w) friend and her BF racing P,1,2,3. Anyone from BF going to be there?
__________________
2014 Specialized Roubaix2003 Interloc Impala2007 ParkPre Image C6 (RIP)
2014 Specialized Roubaix2003 Interloc Impala2007 ParkPre Image C6 (RIP)
02-25-12, 05:01 PM
#9730
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Our team hosted the Walburg race today, so I was working instead of racing. We had over 700 at Walburg today and it went really smooth, a good day. It was a little easier watching knowing that I have Pace Bend tomorrow.
02-25-12, 05:05 PM
#9731
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Snelling RR, E3. I had 50 good miles in my legs today. Unfortunately, the race was 60 miles long. Blah.
02-25-12, 07:43 PM
#9732
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 730
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was there too. It really sucked. When we passed the 1-2 field I realized I was totally out of gas and pulled it in after 4 laps. I was shivering for about 20 minutes after. Averaged 240 watts for 80 minutes.
02-25-12, 07:59 PM
#9734
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Big Red One, Kansas
Posts: 269
Bikes: Cervelo Soloist Carbon/ Cervelo S1/ Cervelo P2C
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Spring Fling Race#1 CAT 4/5....derailed a leadout train for first place.
Two teams had alot of representation (8-10 guys each). I was by myself today. Tried two moves off the front, following primes, but could not make it stick. Tailed gunned until the last lap and than started making my move.
With 700meters to go, one of the teams started a leadout train on the right side. The speed was not high enough and they started to get swamped. I jumped with about 400meters to go on the opposite side (left side), went around a tricky right-hand turn and held off the field at the finish line.
Two teams had alot of representation (8-10 guys each). I was by myself today. Tried two moves off the front, following primes, but could not make it stick. Tailed gunned until the last lap and than started making my move.
With 700meters to go, one of the teams started a leadout train on the right side. The speed was not high enough and they started to get swamped. I jumped with about 400meters to go on the opposite side (left side), went around a tricky right-hand turn and held off the field at the finish line.
02-25-12, 08:41 PM
#9736
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Western MA
Posts: 15,669
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice work.
02-25-12, 09:36 PM
#9737
Elite Fred
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Edge City
Posts: 10,945
Bikes: 2009 Spooky (cracked frame), 2006 Curtlo, 2002 Lemond (current race bike) Zurich, 1987 Serotta Colorado, 1986 Cannondale for commuting, a 1984 Cannondale on loan to my son
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 42 Times
in
19 Posts
02-25-12, 09:43 PM
#9738
master auto tech
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hollister, ca.
Posts: 706
Bikes: ,system six ss, , caad9 cross, supersix evo hm, giant omiuim
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
wind was nice today wasn't it!! at the snelling road race
02-25-12, 11:15 PM
#9739
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
mazdatech10: Nope, it was not.
save10: Hang in there. It is a long season.
I need to remind myself to keep my chin up. A bunch of my teammates told me they thought I'd do well at Snelling, and I felt like I did, right up until the elastic snapped on the 4th lap. Either the punchy rollers or the wind or the distance, but the combination of the three was enough to do me in.
save10: Hang in there. It is a long season.
I need to remind myself to keep my chin up. A bunch of my teammates told me they thought I'd do well at Snelling, and I felt like I did, right up until the elastic snapped on the 4th lap. Either the punchy rollers or the wind or the distance, but the combination of the three was enough to do me in.
02-25-12, 11:47 PM
#9740
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
mazdatech10: Nope, it was not.
save10: Hang in there. It is a long season.
I need to remind myself to keep my chin up. A bunch of my teammates told me they thought I'd do well at Snelling, and I felt like I did, right up until the elastic snapped on the 4th lap. Either the punchy rollers or the wind or the distance, but the combination of the three was enough to do me in.
save10: Hang in there. It is a long season.
I need to remind myself to keep my chin up. A bunch of my teammates told me they thought I'd do well at Snelling, and I felt like I did, right up until the elastic snapped on the 4th lap. Either the punchy rollers or the wind or the distance, but the combination of the three was enough to do me in.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
02-26-12, 02:31 AM
#9741
Resident Alien
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Location, location.
Posts: 13,089
Mentioned: 158 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 349 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
6 Posts
Two wins for guys I help with some coaching today and super domestiqued for a teammate's "W" earlier in the week.
If anybody needs me tomorrow, I'll be down in the cave waxing the Batmobile.
If anybody needs me tomorrow, I'll be down in the cave waxing the Batmobile.
02-26-12, 08:51 AM
#9742
These Guys Eat Oreos
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Superior, CO
Posts: 3,432
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Greenville Spring Training Series, Week 2, Day 1:
Cat 4 Fork Shoals RR (3 15mile laps, 45mile total)
It was very intimidating lining up for this race, because of the sheer number of participants. We had nearly a full field of 100, something that I have not done very often. The weather was decent, temperature was about 50, but the wind was a steady 15-20mph with gusts even higher. Going into the race, I knew the crosswinds would never really be an issue like last weekend because this course is treed fairly well, and I didn't think the winds would be able to break through the trees. This leads an almost always head or tail wind on a course like this.
We roll out, and absolutely fly off from the start, noticing apparently we have a head wind going this direction. I take note and continue on. I started near the back end of the pack, something that doesn't really bother me that much usually. But today, the back of the pack was a disaster. Accordian was in full effect, and I could feel the rollers punching me as I was forced to do 500w, 0w, 500w, etc. Not to mention, about 4 miles from the start, 3 guys touched wheels directly in front of me, and they went into the ditch. Luckily I saw it coming, and had angled myself to the left a bit in order to dodge getting tangled up as well. I decide to start moving up, and it's near impossible. People were content with their position in the field, and there were walls of people where moving up was just not going to move up. I'll bring this up near the end again, but the group was not going fast enough which was causing the bunch up and the blocking from moving up. Being at the back at this point in a huge field didn't help.
I eventually move up, and get near the front on the second lap. I decide when we hit the straight in front of the start/finish line I would attack. This is pretty much the only place in the course I thought a break would be able to stick because of the tailwind. I had already decided I wasn't going to follow attacks anywhere else today, simply because that wind was going to boil my legs and there was no way we would survive. We make the turn onto that straight, and I was sitting about 10th wheel, which should be plenty good enough to send off an attack. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and I didn't get a good opportunity and decided just to keep sitting in.
On the last lap, at the beginning I had great positioning, and was sitting in the top 15 as I had been for the last 15 miles or so. When we hit the slight crosswinds, and instead of pushing my watts up to hold my position, I decide to get in the middle and take a few loses of position. Unfortunately, I let too many people get by and before I know it, I'm sitting in probably 60th position. I tell myself I have to move up, and I start the quest back up. But again, I am stuck behind the people that have no desire to move up. Holes are being left in front of the guys in front of me, and it pains me to not be able to get to them. With about 5 miles to go, I decide it's now or never. I decided I was going to either get to the top 10, or I was going to soft pedal in, and not contest the sprint for top 100. Instead of being content behind these losers, I start taking some risks. Some elbows rubbed, some handlebars touch, but I'm finally moving up in order to get to the holes I want to get to. Finally with about a mile and a half to go, I am able to ride right against the yellow line and shoot forward about 20 positions back up to the top 10 positions.
I'm sitting in, waiting for a hard right hand corner. We go through, and I hammer out of the corner along with everyone else. One team was trying to prepare a leadout on the right hand side, but I decide to sit on the left behind one other guy because I felt like we were moving better. About 1km ahead there is a hard right hand corner that is the 200m to go to the finish. I knew I had to be top5 through that corner if I wanted any chance of a decent finish. With about 500m to go, an attack goes, and I follow. The guy in front of me slows though, and I decide I need to punch around to the right. The slowing guy was near his limit and he began moving right under the pressure. We rub handlebars, and when he notices, continues to go more right but I got no where else to go, so our bars get tangled for a second. As I get them loose, I get a nasty speed wobble but save it. Phew, close call.
I get back to the attackers wheel up front, and we fly through the final corner. The guy in front of me didn't get enough brake and almost goes off the road, so looses a ton of speed. I fly by him, and fly by another guy that had nothing left. I'm sitting at second in the sprint, but I know I don't have enough in the tank to pass the guy in front. Some guy comes up on the left, and we are both sprinting full gun, but we are dead even. I tried to put in a second kick, but he was able to respond, and just barely edged me out at the finish (photo finish). Apparently there was one guy off the front that attacked with a couple of miles to go that won, I had no idea since I was too busy trying to get to the front. Ended up with 4th for the day.
Can't believe I just wrote that much for a race when I just sat in the whole thing!
Cat 4 Fork Shoals RR (3 15mile laps, 45mile total)
It was very intimidating lining up for this race, because of the sheer number of participants. We had nearly a full field of 100, something that I have not done very often. The weather was decent, temperature was about 50, but the wind was a steady 15-20mph with gusts even higher. Going into the race, I knew the crosswinds would never really be an issue like last weekend because this course is treed fairly well, and I didn't think the winds would be able to break through the trees. This leads an almost always head or tail wind on a course like this.
We roll out, and absolutely fly off from the start, noticing apparently we have a head wind going this direction. I take note and continue on. I started near the back end of the pack, something that doesn't really bother me that much usually. But today, the back of the pack was a disaster. Accordian was in full effect, and I could feel the rollers punching me as I was forced to do 500w, 0w, 500w, etc. Not to mention, about 4 miles from the start, 3 guys touched wheels directly in front of me, and they went into the ditch. Luckily I saw it coming, and had angled myself to the left a bit in order to dodge getting tangled up as well. I decide to start moving up, and it's near impossible. People were content with their position in the field, and there were walls of people where moving up was just not going to move up. I'll bring this up near the end again, but the group was not going fast enough which was causing the bunch up and the blocking from moving up. Being at the back at this point in a huge field didn't help.
I eventually move up, and get near the front on the second lap. I decide when we hit the straight in front of the start/finish line I would attack. This is pretty much the only place in the course I thought a break would be able to stick because of the tailwind. I had already decided I wasn't going to follow attacks anywhere else today, simply because that wind was going to boil my legs and there was no way we would survive. We make the turn onto that straight, and I was sitting about 10th wheel, which should be plenty good enough to send off an attack. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and I didn't get a good opportunity and decided just to keep sitting in.
On the last lap, at the beginning I had great positioning, and was sitting in the top 15 as I had been for the last 15 miles or so. When we hit the slight crosswinds, and instead of pushing my watts up to hold my position, I decide to get in the middle and take a few loses of position. Unfortunately, I let too many people get by and before I know it, I'm sitting in probably 60th position. I tell myself I have to move up, and I start the quest back up. But again, I am stuck behind the people that have no desire to move up. Holes are being left in front of the guys in front of me, and it pains me to not be able to get to them. With about 5 miles to go, I decide it's now or never. I decided I was going to either get to the top 10, or I was going to soft pedal in, and not contest the sprint for top 100. Instead of being content behind these losers, I start taking some risks. Some elbows rubbed, some handlebars touch, but I'm finally moving up in order to get to the holes I want to get to. Finally with about a mile and a half to go, I am able to ride right against the yellow line and shoot forward about 20 positions back up to the top 10 positions.
I'm sitting in, waiting for a hard right hand corner. We go through, and I hammer out of the corner along with everyone else. One team was trying to prepare a leadout on the right hand side, but I decide to sit on the left behind one other guy because I felt like we were moving better. About 1km ahead there is a hard right hand corner that is the 200m to go to the finish. I knew I had to be top5 through that corner if I wanted any chance of a decent finish. With about 500m to go, an attack goes, and I follow. The guy in front of me slows though, and I decide I need to punch around to the right. The slowing guy was near his limit and he began moving right under the pressure. We rub handlebars, and when he notices, continues to go more right but I got no where else to go, so our bars get tangled for a second. As I get them loose, I get a nasty speed wobble but save it. Phew, close call.
I get back to the attackers wheel up front, and we fly through the final corner. The guy in front of me didn't get enough brake and almost goes off the road, so looses a ton of speed. I fly by him, and fly by another guy that had nothing left. I'm sitting at second in the sprint, but I know I don't have enough in the tank to pass the guy in front. Some guy comes up on the left, and we are both sprinting full gun, but we are dead even. I tried to put in a second kick, but he was able to respond, and just barely edged me out at the finish (photo finish). Apparently there was one guy off the front that attacked with a couple of miles to go that won, I had no idea since I was too busy trying to get to the front. Ended up with 4th for the day.
Can't believe I just wrote that much for a race when I just sat in the whole thing!
02-26-12, 09:08 AM
#9743
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
Walburg Road Race. 5th. No expectations, just a tune up race. Got in what, I thought, was a sure winning break, but it only lasted 4 miles when Mirage chased us down. Countered when we were caught with another guy but that only lasted around 2 miles. Oh well. I was spent after that and missed 2 guys getting off the front that stayed away. Finished 3rd in the field sprint.
02-26-12, 11:42 AM
#9744
Ninja don't wear flipflop
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NE TN
Posts: 1,443
Bikes: Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL3, BMC TM01...if it every ships
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice Job Nate.
__________________
My slightly narcissistic and rarely updated blog can be found here
My slightly narcissistic and rarely updated blog can be found here
02-26-12, 11:55 AM
#9745
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,135
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2639 Post(s)
Liked 3,153 Times
in
1,660 Posts
Spring Fling Race#1 CAT 4/5....derailed a leadout train for first place.
Two teams had alot of representation (8-10 guys each). I was by myself today. Tried two moves off the front, following primes, but could not make it stick. Tailed gunned until the last lap and than started making my move.
With 700meters to go, one of the teams started a leadout train on the right side. The speed was not high enough and they started to get swamped. I jumped with about 400meters to go on the opposite side (left side), went around a tricky right-hand turn and held off the field at the finish line.
Two teams had alot of representation (8-10 guys each). I was by myself today. Tried two moves off the front, following primes, but could not make it stick. Tailed gunned until the last lap and than started making my move.
With 700meters to go, one of the teams started a leadout train on the right side. The speed was not high enough and they started to get swamped. I jumped with about 400meters to go on the opposite side (left side), went around a tricky right-hand turn and held off the field at the finish line.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
02-26-12, 05:14 PM
#9746
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pace bend road race - 35+ 4/5's (pack finish) and also the 4/5 race (6th)
35+ Cat 4/5 - I had a few teamates and we decided to attack all day and see what happens. There was much discussion that the finish was going to be dangerous, so we figured a field sprint wasn't worth the risk. The finish turned out to be pretty tame, I didn't see a wreck all day on the finish stretch. We attacked from the gun and many times throughout the race, but no dice. It's a hard course to get away on, but it was fun trying. Pack finish, but one of the most enjoyable races I've done.
Cat 4/5 - After the 35+ race, I figured I'd get some extra miles in and jumped into the 4/5 race. It was a smaller field so I figured I'd ride a more conservative race and see what I could do at the end. I stayed near the front, did a good bit of work to soften up the field, and felt reasonably strong at the end. With 1k to go, the field was totally splintered after the last hill and I was sitting with ~10 other guys still in contention for the win. I was 3rd wheel coming through the last turn with ~200m to go. My total lack of sprinting skills resulted in 6th place, but I was OK with that. It was my second top 10 this year after zero results during my first season last year. I also met BF member DStrong briefly at the race, super nice guy.
35+ Cat 4/5 - I had a few teamates and we decided to attack all day and see what happens. There was much discussion that the finish was going to be dangerous, so we figured a field sprint wasn't worth the risk. The finish turned out to be pretty tame, I didn't see a wreck all day on the finish stretch. We attacked from the gun and many times throughout the race, but no dice. It's a hard course to get away on, but it was fun trying. Pack finish, but one of the most enjoyable races I've done.
Cat 4/5 - After the 35+ race, I figured I'd get some extra miles in and jumped into the 4/5 race. It was a smaller field so I figured I'd ride a more conservative race and see what I could do at the end. I stayed near the front, did a good bit of work to soften up the field, and felt reasonably strong at the end. With 1k to go, the field was totally splintered after the last hill and I was sitting with ~10 other guys still in contention for the win. I was 3rd wheel coming through the last turn with ~200m to go. My total lack of sprinting skills resulted in 6th place, but I was OK with that. It was my second top 10 this year after zero results during my first season last year. I also met BF member DStrong briefly at the race, super nice guy.
02-26-12, 05:50 PM
#9747
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,297
Bikes: Too many.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 92 Post(s)
Liked 174 Times
in
86 Posts
Race Report: Snowball Crit #1 Practice Race, Cat4/5 (Me = Cat5), Chesapeake, VA:
Definitely the fastest of the 4 I've done thus far this year. It was nice not having to drive up to Richmond (100+ miles) for a race.
I don't think I have a whole lot to say about this one. It felt smoother than the other 3, even if it was faster. Fewer sketchy people it seemed. The pedal hard out of the 2 real corners only to coast half of the following leg got a little old after a couple dozen laps.
I was able to be... I hesitate to say more aggressive, but certainly less passive. I felt more comfortable holding my line mid pack through corners, and protecting my position.
Finished in the pack, which is what I was shooting for.
Strava Link: https://app.strava.com/rides/4546145 (Ignore the power numbers, as always)
Definitely the fastest of the 4 I've done thus far this year. It was nice not having to drive up to Richmond (100+ miles) for a race.
I don't think I have a whole lot to say about this one. It felt smoother than the other 3, even if it was faster. Fewer sketchy people it seemed. The pedal hard out of the 2 real corners only to coast half of the following leg got a little old after a couple dozen laps.
I was able to be... I hesitate to say more aggressive, but certainly less passive. I felt more comfortable holding my line mid pack through corners, and protecting my position.
Finished in the pack, which is what I was shooting for.
Strava Link: https://app.strava.com/rides/4546145 (Ignore the power numbers, as always)
__________________
02-26-12, 05:59 PM
#9748
Old & Getting Older Racer
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,343
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
5 Posts
Is that code for go at the gun with a few others and stay off the front for the entire race and beat your breakaway companions to the line?
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
02-26-12, 07:06 PM
#9749
Resident Alien
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Location, location.
Posts: 13,089
Mentioned: 158 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 349 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
6 Posts
They didn't know I had an OK sprint and were cat and mousing with each other...even a blind bird finds a worm once in a while.
Saw Cleave (rode around to find you after the 45 to say hi) and learnmedia, who stayed on to finish with the group on a tough windy day. Congrats!
Last edited by Racer Ex; 02-26-12 at 07:18 PM.
