The 2013 Race Results Thread
05-05-13, 11:13 AM
#1201
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Blue Hills Classic Cat 4 (4x 7mi loops, finish on top of a 3min climb)
Roughly 15-20th (top 1/3)... tail end of the leaders crossing the line
tl;dr below
Unlike UMassAm I was supposed to do 4 laps, and did. Last year in the 5s race, everything broke apart first time up the hill, and I did a painful 3 man TTT for 15 miles to finish in chase group one (9th/10th) in front of the main group. Race felt very different since we stayed together-- aside from some guys who dropped off the back. Instead of a 35min FTP trial, each lap was 6 miles of mostly chilling followed by (to me) very hard 3-4 minute VO2max efforts.
Was happy to stay with the lead group each time up the climb... I'm not the smallest guy. For some reason the 3rd time up the hill really hurt me. Sadly was 30th wheel coming into the bottom of the hill the last time... pretty tight roads coming into it, fast downhills, not a lot of room to move up. Still I got my head down and passed 10-15 people as we worked our way up (Strava suggests I went up the hill only 2-3 sec slower than the winner), to finish with a little gap just catching the back of the winner's group sprint.
Not a great result, but I felt good and its nice to finish towards the front. More work and I think I can actually play a role in a race that isn't nearly flat
Roughly 15-20th (top 1/3)... tail end of the leaders crossing the line
tl;dr below
Unlike UMassAm I was supposed to do 4 laps, and did. Last year in the 5s race, everything broke apart first time up the hill, and I did a painful 3 man TTT for 15 miles to finish in chase group one (9th/10th) in front of the main group. Race felt very different since we stayed together-- aside from some guys who dropped off the back. Instead of a 35min FTP trial, each lap was 6 miles of mostly chilling followed by (to me) very hard 3-4 minute VO2max efforts.
Was happy to stay with the lead group each time up the climb... I'm not the smallest guy. For some reason the 3rd time up the hill really hurt me. Sadly was 30th wheel coming into the bottom of the hill the last time... pretty tight roads coming into it, fast downhills, not a lot of room to move up. Still I got my head down and passed 10-15 people as we worked our way up (Strava suggests I went up the hill only 2-3 sec slower than the winner), to finish with a little gap just catching the back of the winner's group sprint.
Not a great result, but I felt good and its nice to finish towards the front. More work and I think I can actually play a role in a race that isn't nearly flat
05-05-13, 12:42 PM
#1203
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Cone-Azalia Cat 5s, 3 laps of a 10.1 mile course. Four-ish miles of dirt/gravel each lap, and the actual paved sections weren't much smoother. Finished 13th out of 22 thanks to some bomb-proof wheels.
I guess I'll start with everything that went right today, because it's a short list:
1. I didn't flat.
2. I didn't crash.
That's about it. Rough roads and big chunks of gravel conspired to take lots of riders out all day long. Every lap, I'd pass about a dozen people either fixing a flat on the side of the road or walking their bike back to the start. One of the stretches of gravel also had a nice deep patch of sand that looked like it caused a few crashes today.
As for the actual race part...I got spit off the back very early today, which was disappointing because I'd been doing a decent job of hanging with the pack in the training races I'd done earlier in the spring. The very first section of dirt, I hit a huge hole. Kept it upright, but my bars changed position and the bolt in my Sram Garmin mount flew out. Managed to snag the computer and stuff it into my jersey before the mount actually fell off my bars, but the damage was done. The hole scrubbed enough speed to separate me from the pack in a section with some very nasty crosswinds. Gave a half-hearted chase for half a lap then just decided to join up with a few others who also got dropped quickly and finish the race together.
Looking at the final results and lap times, my experience wasn't unique. Nobody in the front of the Cat 5 field finished within 20 seconds of each other. But for my part, just terrible decision-making in the first third of the race. Gotta learn and get better, three weeks until the next one.
I guess I'll start with everything that went right today, because it's a short list:
1. I didn't flat.
2. I didn't crash.
That's about it. Rough roads and big chunks of gravel conspired to take lots of riders out all day long. Every lap, I'd pass about a dozen people either fixing a flat on the side of the road or walking their bike back to the start. One of the stretches of gravel also had a nice deep patch of sand that looked like it caused a few crashes today.
As for the actual race part...I got spit off the back very early today, which was disappointing because I'd been doing a decent job of hanging with the pack in the training races I'd done earlier in the spring. The very first section of dirt, I hit a huge hole. Kept it upright, but my bars changed position and the bolt in my Sram Garmin mount flew out. Managed to snag the computer and stuff it into my jersey before the mount actually fell off my bars, but the damage was done. The hole scrubbed enough speed to separate me from the pack in a section with some very nasty crosswinds. Gave a half-hearted chase for half a lap then just decided to join up with a few others who also got dropped quickly and finish the race together.
Looking at the final results and lap times, my experience wasn't unique. Nobody in the front of the Cat 5 field finished within 20 seconds of each other. But for my part, just terrible decision-making in the first third of the race. Gotta learn and get better, three weeks until the next one.
05-05-13, 05:43 PM
#1204
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Not much to report from Springbank...Not my day...
Got caught up in a crash on the 3rd corner, luckily I found the soft grass and did minimal damage to the bike. Made to the pit to take my lap. Got back in and was working good, then on the 4th lap or so rear tire popped. I have a feeling the crash may have done something that finally let go. Having a tubular was nice, allowed me to ride my way to the pit to swap wheels and once again take my free lap. Got back in again, but now the legs were not as sharp and the accelerations up the slight incline on the back stretch were causing gaps to form. I was doing a good job closing them when on the front stretch I hit a bump that cause my saddle to tilt up. I tried to slam it down, but couldn't get it to tilt back. This momentary lapse caused a major gap to form and I was basically done. Spent the rest of the race working with another guy, but each major bumped caused more tilt. By the end I felt like I was 13 and riding a BMX bike again
I really hate this race...
Got caught up in a crash on the 3rd corner, luckily I found the soft grass and did minimal damage to the bike. Made to the pit to take my lap. Got back in and was working good, then on the 4th lap or so rear tire popped. I have a feeling the crash may have done something that finally let go. Having a tubular was nice, allowed me to ride my way to the pit to swap wheels and once again take my free lap. Got back in again, but now the legs were not as sharp and the accelerations up the slight incline on the back stretch were causing gaps to form. I was doing a good job closing them when on the front stretch I hit a bump that cause my saddle to tilt up. I tried to slam it down, but couldn't get it to tilt back. This momentary lapse caused a major gap to form and I was basically done. Spent the rest of the race working with another guy, but each major bumped caused more tilt. By the end I felt like I was 13 and riding a BMX bike again
I really hate this race...
05-05-13, 06:13 PM
#1205
Riding the bike I love.
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Ah, better luck next time rbart! Are you going to lake of bays next week?
Here's my day:
Spring(Crash)bank today..$40, 1:30 hr rushed drive, scrambling to sign in and getting stabbed 5 times while getting number pinned on me, pass rollout, fixed upsidedown number, start, crash on first corner roughly 50 meters in. I'll take pics later. My bike is OKAY, rear derailleur bent up and right hood scrathed up a bunch, and my new carbon wheels were ran over by my teammate when I went down, there's a scratch but looks ok. The worst of it is a rash on my right elbow, elbow is most likely bruised, and hip probably bruised. What a ******* waste.
From what I've heard - two people in the hospital, 8 crashes at the corner I crashed at, my buddy landing on his head and has massive road rash on his whole upper back, plus his all carbon frame cracked and wheel valve popped, he might need a new bike..and all of that in only two(?) races.
I'm terrified to go into the pack now because the crash was partly my fault. I didn't know, but I was going to fast into the corner and as we were turning the whole pack veered left, right into me, touched wheels and went down taking 2 others with me. Apparently that's what that corner is all about, I didn't know. Could've taken a free lap but I was so shaken up at the time and didn't want to cause another one. I'll have to see how next weeks race goes (94km, hilly. The hills suit me better I think) but if it doesn't go well than I don't think racing is my thing. This was only my third race, only two of which I actually trained for and knew what I was doing.
Here's my day:
Spring(Crash)bank today..$40, 1:30 hr rushed drive, scrambling to sign in and getting stabbed 5 times while getting number pinned on me, pass rollout, fixed upsidedown number, start, crash on first corner roughly 50 meters in. I'll take pics later. My bike is OKAY, rear derailleur bent up and right hood scrathed up a bunch, and my new carbon wheels were ran over by my teammate when I went down, there's a scratch but looks ok. The worst of it is a rash on my right elbow, elbow is most likely bruised, and hip probably bruised. What a ******* waste.
From what I've heard - two people in the hospital, 8 crashes at the corner I crashed at, my buddy landing on his head and has massive road rash on his whole upper back, plus his all carbon frame cracked and wheel valve popped, he might need a new bike..and all of that in only two(?) races.
I'm terrified to go into the pack now because the crash was partly my fault. I didn't know, but I was going to fast into the corner and as we were turning the whole pack veered left, right into me, touched wheels and went down taking 2 others with me. Apparently that's what that corner is all about, I didn't know. Could've taken a free lap but I was so shaken up at the time and didn't want to cause another one. I'll have to see how next weeks race goes (94km, hilly. The hills suit me better I think) but if it doesn't go well than I don't think racing is my thing. This was only my third race, only two of which I actually trained for and knew what I was doing.
Last edited by sstang13; 05-05-13 at 06:19 PM.
05-05-13, 06:59 PM
#1206
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I "raced" Cone-Azalia with Spartannia above!
I got curb stomped by the field! Hard!!!!
It was a leisurely roll out...and I was near the back of the field. After the first turn, we were on dirt road. The field up front started to take off. By the time I noticed and got around the slower riders in front of me, it was too late. I didn't have the motor to catch up and latch on. So...lonely ride for me. I finished like 21st out of...not many more than 21. lol
I pretty much knew I was going to do poorly though. I logged a lot of miles this past week and my legs were pretty well fried. And, after hearing about all the broken wheels, frames, forks, bars, and seatposts from my friend that volunteers every year, I opted to bring my 23 lbs all steel Soma Double Cross with 1700g handbuilt Velocty A23's. I had no fear smashing into potholes. But...I didn't hit them at a very fast speed! lol
This was a great workout! Hoping to do better for Tour of Frankenmuth at the end of this month! But I don't expect to be in top form until July or August (just started training this past week since the weather got nice).
Here's a short blog post about my troubles: https://www.slowvelo.com/2013/05/cone...road-race.html
I got curb stomped by the field! Hard!!!!
It was a leisurely roll out...and I was near the back of the field. After the first turn, we were on dirt road. The field up front started to take off. By the time I noticed and got around the slower riders in front of me, it was too late. I didn't have the motor to catch up and latch on. So...lonely ride for me. I finished like 21st out of...not many more than 21. lol
I pretty much knew I was going to do poorly though. I logged a lot of miles this past week and my legs were pretty well fried. And, after hearing about all the broken wheels, frames, forks, bars, and seatposts from my friend that volunteers every year, I opted to bring my 23 lbs all steel Soma Double Cross with 1700g handbuilt Velocty A23's. I had no fear smashing into potholes. But...I didn't hit them at a very fast speed! lol
This was a great workout! Hoping to do better for Tour of Frankenmuth at the end of this month! But I don't expect to be in top form until July or August (just started training this past week since the weather got nice).
Here's a short blog post about my troubles: https://www.slowvelo.com/2013/05/cone...road-race.html
05-05-13, 08:57 PM
#1209
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Turkey Hill Country Classic, M40+ open race (yesterday).
Always a strong masters field. Race changed from last year: from eight laps, each with a short steep climb, to seven laps, with the climb only on the last lap. So, effort-wise, an easier race. I had two team mates in the race, one of whom has been riding incredibly strong all spring. Sure enough, he was off the front for half the race again - but this time, his small break couldn't hold on to the lead. I took part in a short-lived break heading into the last lap, but we were gobbled up before "the wall". Second half of the last lap, I managed to position myself fairly near the front, but when the pace really ramped up I slipped back to mid-pack, which is where I finished. Still a better result than last year, where I dropped my chain on the fifth time up the wall, and solo'd in for a not-quite-DFL result.
Surprising amount of sketchiness in this year's race - in the first lap and a half, I was lucky to stay upright twice when everybody around me was grabbing handfuls of brakes.
Always a strong masters field. Race changed from last year: from eight laps, each with a short steep climb, to seven laps, with the climb only on the last lap. So, effort-wise, an easier race. I had two team mates in the race, one of whom has been riding incredibly strong all spring. Sure enough, he was off the front for half the race again - but this time, his small break couldn't hold on to the lead. I took part in a short-lived break heading into the last lap, but we were gobbled up before "the wall". Second half of the last lap, I managed to position myself fairly near the front, but when the pace really ramped up I slipped back to mid-pack, which is where I finished. Still a better result than last year, where I dropped my chain on the fifth time up the wall, and solo'd in for a not-quite-DFL result.
Surprising amount of sketchiness in this year's race - in the first lap and a half, I was lucky to stay upright twice when everybody around me was grabbing handfuls of brakes.
05-05-13, 09:22 PM
#1210
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Over here I grabbed 3rd and $120 at Barrio Logan yesterday in front of my family. It was worth puking in my mouth after the finish line...
The course suits me well. Its very technical with many corners and poor quality roads. Also each lap features a long big ring hill up to the start/finish and pedaling descent.
It started off fast as usual and I made sure to get a good start so I could stay near the front, both so I could keep my head in the game and give a good show for my family. About 10min in I took a hard pull up the hill and wound up OTF by a good 50m or so. Due to the technicality of the course I was able to stay OTF for about 4 laps, but no one joined me and they were closing in so I sat up and resumed my position in the top 10 riders.
Fast forward to the last 5 laps and people are trying to move up and crowd my wheel every few corners. Having my family around made me more aggressive about maintaining my position so I was leaning left and leaning right to let ppls know that they picked the wrong wheel to grab. At about half way through the last lap I was 5th or 6th wheel and I knew that I had a podium in the bag. I jumped hard after the last corner, passed a few dudes and grabbed 3rd. Thankfully some SDBC riders took control of the front with about 2 to go so it was fast and I didn't have to worry about people crowding the sides as much.
The course suits me well. Its very technical with many corners and poor quality roads. Also each lap features a long big ring hill up to the start/finish and pedaling descent.
It started off fast as usual and I made sure to get a good start so I could stay near the front, both so I could keep my head in the game and give a good show for my family. About 10min in I took a hard pull up the hill and wound up OTF by a good 50m or so. Due to the technicality of the course I was able to stay OTF for about 4 laps, but no one joined me and they were closing in so I sat up and resumed my position in the top 10 riders.
Fast forward to the last 5 laps and people are trying to move up and crowd my wheel every few corners. Having my family around made me more aggressive about maintaining my position so I was leaning left and leaning right to let ppls know that they picked the wrong wheel to grab. At about half way through the last lap I was 5th or 6th wheel and I knew that I had a podium in the bag. I jumped hard after the last corner, passed a few dudes and grabbed 3rd. Thankfully some SDBC riders took control of the front with about 2 to go so it was fast and I didn't have to worry about people crowding the sides as much.
05-05-13, 09:30 PM
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The crashfest wasnt that bad today. Just a few in every race.
I survived three races. Wanted to stay out of troubles so I did quite a bit of work at the front in every race but for safety reasons (state TT in two weeks) didnt contest any of the sprints. Good workout. Too bad I missed the winning break in one of the races as being OTF is the safest way doing this race. I tried but got pulled back everytime
05-05-13, 09:58 PM
#1212
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I crapped the bed in today's circuit race. My first race ever as a protected rider and I just blew all my teammates' hard work. Just picked a really bad line with 800 to go, got swarmed, boxed in, and could not catch my guys who were trying to take me to the front. Pack finish (23), and 8th overall for the weekend. Bah.
I wish I could blame yesterday's crash or the fact that I had to ride my old Gazelle, but truly it was just poor bike racing.
I wish I could blame yesterday's crash or the fact that I had to ride my old Gazelle, but truly it was just poor bike racing.
05-05-13, 11:56 PM
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To begin with I got a BG Bike Fit at HSP on Thursday and my knee angle changed by 10 degree so I felt like S*** on Friday
Wenatchee Omnium - Saturday - P1/2/3 - TT - I don't have a TT bike built up but decided to do the TT anyways on my road bike with no clipons just for training. The TT was staggered by numbers and since I have a 4 digit race number I had rental guys behind me. I was lucky and had Stephen Ellings (?) a pro xc mountain biker who races for BMC behind me also on a road bike. I started out a tad fast but caught my 30 sec guy and almost my minute guy. In the Last mile of a 9mile TT, Stephen caught me and ended up riding 35sec faster than me so I felt pretty good that I didn't get demolished by him. I also was 22/~40 guys in the TT and beat a bunch of 1/2s and was 1:30sec down from 2nd place and 2min down from 1st place overall. I ended up 3rd for Cat3 the two guys ahead of me were only 30sec faster on TT bikes.....
Saturday evening - P1/2/3 - Crit - I felt alright for the first 15min then they eased off but I had a mechanical and we couldn't fix it without going into a shop so it was considered a pack finish.... SO I LOST POINTS THERE!!!!!!!
Sunday - P1/2/3 - RR - Started out alright I was told I didn't have to do anything but then I started getting told to "go" aka bridge so I ended up bridging 3 times to a couple groups of ppl up the road. Then it split apart with a attack and basically 15 ppl were in the break and a s*** ton of ppl werent however a couple of guys broke away and i followed with a teammate or two. It was a group of 6 and we managed to catch the break about 20miles later. Then I just responded to attacks and was shot at the end and just rode through in 14th for the RR.....
I got 2nd overall in the 3s but would've won if I didn't have the mechanical in the crit. I ended up getting 15 pts for the weekend.
Wenatchee Omnium - Saturday - P1/2/3 - TT - I don't have a TT bike built up but decided to do the TT anyways on my road bike with no clipons just for training. The TT was staggered by numbers and since I have a 4 digit race number I had rental guys behind me. I was lucky and had Stephen Ellings (?) a pro xc mountain biker who races for BMC behind me also on a road bike. I started out a tad fast but caught my 30 sec guy and almost my minute guy. In the Last mile of a 9mile TT, Stephen caught me and ended up riding 35sec faster than me so I felt pretty good that I didn't get demolished by him. I also was 22/~40 guys in the TT and beat a bunch of 1/2s and was 1:30sec down from 2nd place and 2min down from 1st place overall. I ended up 3rd for Cat3 the two guys ahead of me were only 30sec faster on TT bikes.....
Saturday evening - P1/2/3 - Crit - I felt alright for the first 15min then they eased off but I had a mechanical and we couldn't fix it without going into a shop so it was considered a pack finish.... SO I LOST POINTS THERE!!!!!!!
Sunday - P1/2/3 - RR - Started out alright I was told I didn't have to do anything but then I started getting told to "go" aka bridge so I ended up bridging 3 times to a couple groups of ppl up the road. Then it split apart with a attack and basically 15 ppl were in the break and a s*** ton of ppl werent however a couple of guys broke away and i followed with a teammate or two. It was a group of 6 and we managed to catch the break about 20miles later. Then I just responded to attacks and was shot at the end and just rode through in 14th for the RR.....
I got 2nd overall in the 3s but would've won if I didn't have the mechanical in the crit. I ended up getting 15 pts for the weekend.
05-06-13, 05:28 AM
#1214
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05-06-13, 06:57 AM
#1216
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Orchard Beach crit - cat 4
This is a flat/fast .5mi course, and a lot of people seemed to have trouble with the two real corners. I stuck near the front for most of the race, to stay out of trouble. Then I f'd up with 3 to go, and got swamped. Crash in front of me on the bell; I had no where to escape to and ended up landing on top of one of the first guys to go down (very low speed at that point, no damage).
I'm especially bummed because there was 1 guy solo OTF, and I considered trying to bridge with 4 to go - but I didn't have the confidence. Told myself I'd try it with 2 to go...but instead I ended up wasting my energy just trying to regain the positions I'd lost. He ended up staying away, btw.
There were 3 crashes in my race alone, including 1 in the middle that kept us neutralized for more than 10 minutes.
This is a flat/fast .5mi course, and a lot of people seemed to have trouble with the two real corners. I stuck near the front for most of the race, to stay out of trouble. Then I f'd up with 3 to go, and got swamped. Crash in front of me on the bell; I had no where to escape to and ended up landing on top of one of the first guys to go down (very low speed at that point, no damage).
I'm especially bummed because there was 1 guy solo OTF, and I considered trying to bridge with 4 to go - but I didn't have the confidence. Told myself I'd try it with 2 to go...but instead I ended up wasting my energy just trying to regain the positions I'd lost. He ended up staying away, btw.
There were 3 crashes in my race alone, including 1 in the middle that kept us neutralized for more than 10 minutes.
05-06-13, 07:00 AM
#1217
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Turkey Hill Country Classic, M40+ open race (yesterday).
Always a strong masters field. Race changed from last year: from eight laps, each with a short steep climb, to seven laps, with the climb only on the last lap. So, effort-wise, an easier race. I had two team mates in the race, one of whom has been riding incredibly strong all spring. Sure enough, he was off the front for half the race again - but this time, his small break couldn't hold on to the lead. I took part in a short-lived break heading into the last lap, but we were gobbled up before "the wall". Second half of the last lap, I managed to position myself fairly near the front, but when the pace really ramped up I slipped back to mid-pack, which is where I finished. Still a better result than last year, where I dropped my chain on the fifth time up the wall, and solo'd in for a not-quite-DFL result.
Surprising amount of sketchiness in this year's race - in the first lap and a half, I was lucky to stay upright twice when everybody around me was grabbing handfuls of brakes.
Always a strong masters field. Race changed from last year: from eight laps, each with a short steep climb, to seven laps, with the climb only on the last lap. So, effort-wise, an easier race. I had two team mates in the race, one of whom has been riding incredibly strong all spring. Sure enough, he was off the front for half the race again - but this time, his small break couldn't hold on to the lead. I took part in a short-lived break heading into the last lap, but we were gobbled up before "the wall". Second half of the last lap, I managed to position myself fairly near the front, but when the pace really ramped up I slipped back to mid-pack, which is where I finished. Still a better result than last year, where I dropped my chain on the fifth time up the wall, and solo'd in for a not-quite-DFL result.
Surprising amount of sketchiness in this year's race - in the first lap and a half, I was lucky to stay upright twice when everybody around me was grabbing handfuls of brakes.
fortunately, no crashes in the 40+ field sprint, but the 3/4 field took care of that. holy smokes what a pile up.
05-06-13, 07:23 AM
#1218
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Ah, better luck next time rbart! Are you going to lake of bays next week?
Here's my day:
Spring(Crash)bank today..$40, 1:30 hr rushed drive, scrambling to sign in and getting stabbed 5 times while getting number pinned on me, pass rollout, fixed upsidedown number, start, crash on first corner roughly 50 meters in. I'll take pics later. My bike is OKAY, rear derailleur bent up and right hood scrathed up a bunch, and my new carbon wheels were ran over by my teammate when I went down, there's a scratch but looks ok. The worst of it is a rash on my right elbow, elbow is most likely bruised, and hip probably bruised. What a ******* waste.
From what I've heard - two people in the hospital, 8 crashes at the corner I crashed at, my buddy landing on his head and has massive road rash on his whole upper back, plus his all carbon frame cracked and wheel valve popped, he might need a new bike..and all of that in only two(?) races.
I'm terrified to go into the pack now because the crash was partly my fault. I didn't know, but I was going to fast into the corner and as we were turning the whole pack veered left, right into me, touched wheels and went down taking 2 others with me. Apparently that's what that corner is all about, I didn't know. Could've taken a free lap but I was so shaken up at the time and didn't want to cause another one. I'll have to see how next weeks race goes (94km, hilly. The hills suit me better I think) but if it doesn't go well than I don't think racing is my thing. This was only my third race, only two of which I actually trained for and knew what I was doing.
Here's my day:
Spring(Crash)bank today..$40, 1:30 hr rushed drive, scrambling to sign in and getting stabbed 5 times while getting number pinned on me, pass rollout, fixed upsidedown number, start, crash on first corner roughly 50 meters in. I'll take pics later. My bike is OKAY, rear derailleur bent up and right hood scrathed up a bunch, and my new carbon wheels were ran over by my teammate when I went down, there's a scratch but looks ok. The worst of it is a rash on my right elbow, elbow is most likely bruised, and hip probably bruised. What a ******* waste.
From what I've heard - two people in the hospital, 8 crashes at the corner I crashed at, my buddy landing on his head and has massive road rash on his whole upper back, plus his all carbon frame cracked and wheel valve popped, he might need a new bike..and all of that in only two(?) races.
I'm terrified to go into the pack now because the crash was partly my fault. I didn't know, but I was going to fast into the corner and as we were turning the whole pack veered left, right into me, touched wheels and went down taking 2 others with me. Apparently that's what that corner is all about, I didn't know. Could've taken a free lap but I was so shaken up at the time and didn't want to cause another one. I'll have to see how next weeks race goes (94km, hilly. The hills suit me better I think) but if it doesn't go well than I don't think racing is my thing. This was only my third race, only two of which I actually trained for and knew what I was doing.
That one sound a bit challenging with all the hills..
05-06-13, 08:09 AM
#1219
Riding the bike I love.
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05-06-13, 08:27 AM
#1220
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05-06-13, 08:29 AM
#1221
no cat contains
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Eden RR, Cat 4, 47 miles
We had a field of probably 15 or 20 and some were cat 5s. The course is an out and back, but you come back part of the way once before you come all the way back to the finish, so you end up doing a long climb twice. The race is otherwise roll-y and windy.
Coming into the race I was looking out for a guy who won a Roubaix style race on the first weekend of the season. My goal was to make sure I was on his wheel. Big pure power guy.
5 or 6 miles out from the start there is a half mile kicker at 6 or 7% and I upped the pace there. A few miles later we were into the rollers and the intensity went up. At around mile 10 I felt like I could hear a lot of heavy breathing around me so I put in a dig.
Right away I got a gap and who should come up to my wheel but the guy I was marking. Game on. We started working together and my thinking was that we would at the very least bring some more guys out of the group or drop some off the back. I didn't expect us to get and secure a gap so quickly.
Into the long climb the first time we agreed to work together. Gap stuck at about a minute over chase group of 3.
Second time up the climb my breakmate hammered up the climb and we settled in to a good tempo back toward the finish. The gap had gone out and by 5k to go it was clear we weren't getting caught. With 2 or 3 to go I turned and said, "I can't sprint to save my life, how about you?", hoping to get some insight if he answered. He said, "oh, me neither", and it was obvious that he was telling the truth. Really nice guy but no poker face.
At 1k I said, "looks like a car might be coming up. (our follow car was behind the chase group)" and he went to the front almost instinctively. I locked on his wheel. The finish is uphill from 200 meters out. He stood up at 150 with just a hint of a wobble in his legs- he had pulled a lot of the way back from the second climb -and I jumped around him. Victory baby!
We had a field of probably 15 or 20 and some were cat 5s. The course is an out and back, but you come back part of the way once before you come all the way back to the finish, so you end up doing a long climb twice. The race is otherwise roll-y and windy.
Coming into the race I was looking out for a guy who won a Roubaix style race on the first weekend of the season. My goal was to make sure I was on his wheel. Big pure power guy.
5 or 6 miles out from the start there is a half mile kicker at 6 or 7% and I upped the pace there. A few miles later we were into the rollers and the intensity went up. At around mile 10 I felt like I could hear a lot of heavy breathing around me so I put in a dig.
Right away I got a gap and who should come up to my wheel but the guy I was marking. Game on. We started working together and my thinking was that we would at the very least bring some more guys out of the group or drop some off the back. I didn't expect us to get and secure a gap so quickly.
Into the long climb the first time we agreed to work together. Gap stuck at about a minute over chase group of 3.
Second time up the climb my breakmate hammered up the climb and we settled in to a good tempo back toward the finish. The gap had gone out and by 5k to go it was clear we weren't getting caught. With 2 or 3 to go I turned and said, "I can't sprint to save my life, how about you?", hoping to get some insight if he answered. He said, "oh, me neither", and it was obvious that he was telling the truth. Really nice guy but no poker face.
At 1k I said, "looks like a car might be coming up. (our follow car was behind the chase group)" and he went to the front almost instinctively. I locked on his wheel. The finish is uphill from 200 meters out. He stood up at 150 with just a hint of a wobble in his legs- he had pulled a lot of the way back from the second climb -and I jumped around him. Victory baby!
05-06-13, 08:34 AM
#1222
Senior Member
Hi - i was there. that race was weird, it's been a long time since i've done a cat 4 race, but that's what saturday reminded me of. i was in a bunch of moves that went up the road and none really had any cooperation or commitment to stay away. the field chased everything like, well, a cat 4 field. at the end there were 4 guys off the front, which included one of my team mates (it was just me and another guy), which was good, but in the field it felt really sketch. no one was organized or doing any sort of lead out, it was just riders ditch to ditch looking at each other. i have to admit i found it too nerve wracking for my liking. so as soon as we engulfed the 4 off the front, which was on the last bump going into the finish stretch (approx 2K to go), we were going kind of slow so I attacked as hard as I could in an attempt to solo to the finish, but got caught at about 500M.
fortunately, no crashes in the 40+ field sprint, but the 3/4 field took care of that. holy smokes what a pile up.
fortunately, no crashes in the 40+ field sprint, but the 3/4 field took care of that. holy smokes what a pile up.
05-06-13, 08:40 AM
#1223
negligent.
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I've seen much better handling as a whole in (some) cat 4 fields, before..I'm not sure what it was about this race..
Actually...it was a headwind on the back stretch, after turn 2. I suppose a lot of people were trying to move up on the start/finish stretch with the tail wind, leaving them coming in to turn 1 too fast, and too bunched up.
Actually...it was a headwind on the back stretch, after turn 2. I suppose a lot of people were trying to move up on the start/finish stretch with the tail wind, leaving them coming in to turn 1 too fast, and too bunched up.
05-06-13, 08:40 AM
#1224
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i raced turkey hill as well. missed 3/4 reg like a moron so raced p/1/2/3. got shelled like halfway through after the right turn off the road with the cones. that crosswind got me. did a few laps solo then got pulled. chilled in the grass and enjoyed the free ice cream. solid day.
05-06-13, 09:27 AM
#1225
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I've seen much better handling as a whole in (some) cat 4 fields, before..I'm not sure what it was about this race..
Actually...it was a headwind on the back stretch, after turn 2. I suppose a lot of people were trying to move up on the start/finish stretch with the tail wind, leaving them coming in to turn 1 too fast, and too bunched up.
Actually...it was a headwind on the back stretch, after turn 2. I suppose a lot of people were trying to move up on the start/finish stretch with the tail wind, leaving them coming in to turn 1 too fast, and too bunched up.