Hermes

AzTallRider

Hey, this particular Cat1 is only 17 years younger!

I'm not beating myself up, just trying to maximize my learning from each race. I'm frankly overjoyed to be mixing it up at the front of the A race without being dropped as a result. Last year, when I "forgot my limitations" I'd be off the back in a heartbeat. Now, I'll maybe drift to the back for a bit, but hang on, recover, and then move back up. So I'm absolutely having a blast, Sara! I guess the big thing for me, right now, is figuring out how to use my improved abilities. I believe my best chances to win are via a break, so I'm sorting out the best ways to make that happen, and just as importantly, when. I need to plug my brain in and download a mess of experience, Matrix style.

AzTallRider

This is the guy I was chasing: https://www.usacycling.org/results/?compid=65615

sarals 

He's impressive! I wonder who he was racing against when he finished 13th? He must have been having an off day.

AzT, I am working towards where you are now. I can clearly recall your threads from last year, when you were getting popped and blown up and all sorts of disappointing things were happening. You've come a long way, and I'm proud of you! You inspire me, too, giving me a degree of certainty that I Can Do It, too (never mind that the women's fields around here are almost all "young-uns" and Cat 1/2).

Keep on keeping on, AzT!

sarals 

Hermes, I think that Eastwood metaphor was perfect (better than the Empty Chair). I can see where, with some of you fellas, the famous "....go ahead....MAKE MY DAY...." would be very appropriate, as well.

Hermes

Here are the demographics for NCNCA district for 2010 but it is probably indicative of today. The largest category for women is Cat 4 for all age groups. Note that there are no Cat 1 women over 55 and there is only one Cat 1 man. Most women racing in the Masters races are Cat 2 and 3 and the ratio varies. And most of the masters women's racing is limited to Cat 1,2 and 3 with Cat 4 being excluded. The women voted to have it that way. So Cat 4 women racing with Cat 1,2 is not likely but there are some exceptions. For example, if there is only one women's field in a race, it may be open which means that all categories race together which will mean a tough day in the saddle for the cat 3/4s.

shovelhd

Love the Clint metaphor. He's my favorite actor, and that scene is a perfect fit for the subject.

Hermes, out here is it similar but different. The women's is pretty much the same except open out here can include Cat4. Due to small field sizes, open racing is the norm not the exception. They will complain about it but the solution is really in their hands, to increase their own numbers enough to allow split fields. On the men's side, we have way more than one M55+ Cat1, but most Masters here are Cat2 or Cat3 with the majority of the local big guns at Cat3 so they can win in the Cat3 races. The national level guys are at Cat2 or Cat1 and don't play that game.

chasm54

Starting my fourth week in Spain, and starting to load up on the intensity. Yesterday went out for four hours with a young fellow-countryman who, like me, is out here training for the winter. The difference is that he is 35 years younger than me and has reasonable expectations of a pro contract when he goes home. So after four hours I was in pieces while he was nicely warmed up for his evening ride with the local desperados. Sheesh.

I'm fitter than I've been for a while, though...

Racer Ex 

SoCal. Monster Media went 1/2/3. Big ocean with lots of predators.

Family stuff today, then head back up the hill. No training. Tomorrow I might go skiing, good leg workout.

AzTallRider

Was just thinking earlier today that we could use a report from Spain - glad you are enjoying yourself.

AzTallRider

I don't think we have a Cat1 in our 55+ crowd; maybe not even in 50+. Quite a few 2's, and lots of Cat3s and 4s.

revchuck 

Played hookey last night to hang out with my wife, so I did yesterday's workout today - 4x2 minute VO2 max intervals (5 minutes RBI) within a 1:22 ride. Amazing how heavy your legs get about 2/3 of the way through. Earlier sessions had been 8x1 minute, since my coach hadn't had me do these before. Can't wait until they go to three minutes.

sarals 

In the races I've done over the past year, there have been, almost without exception, combined fields. That is due to low numbers, I would guess. Because of that experience, I said I race against cat 1/2 fields. The last race I did, Watsonville, for example, the field was, if I remember, around 18 riders. 4 were 35+ (age, not category), and I know for sure that I was racing as a Cat 4 as was one of the other 35+ women. The rest of the field was almost exclusively cat 1/2. Maybe a couple of 3's. Every race I had been a part of last year was populated so. That DID make for long days! I do wish more of the 4's and 35+ women (not the 35+ masters group, but gals over 35) would compete in the races I attend!

sarals 

Today I was to do intervals, 5 one minute on/off at high power ("adaption"). Last night at work, I had a late/early morning (0400) flight, which concluded at 0800. I was a little tired from that. Adaption and a "a little tired" don't mix, apparently. I popped in a very big way during the second effort (off the bike, on my hands and knees - ugly). My HR said 193, which is way over my VO2 max - now, I don't believe that, but my HR was high. When I recovered I decided to just ride at recovery, try to rebuild and do it again. I ended up riding 40 miles, doing some efforts on rollers and on some short climbs, as well as few sprints, but I never felt the adapation efforts were going to work. So, they'll happen again another day. The day was productive, though. I was on the bike, on the road, and I did enjoy myself, in spite of that major bonk!

Hermes

Another track session today at VSC. Only a few showed up at the 4PM racer session. It is back to NorCal tomorrow.

Cleave

Hi, sorry to have missed Hermes and Velo Diva this week. I've ridden every day since last Thursday and am about to head out for a very easy ride. Did Roger's Session at VSC last night: Z1 1 min, Z2 1 min, Z3 2 min X 6 reps per set X 2 sets (10 min between sets). Sort of wanted to something harder today with rain forecast for tomorrow, but my body is saying ride easy, if at all. Tomorrow will be a complete rest day if the forecast is correct.

VanceMac

I really don't like rest weeks... especially when they are more exhausting than regular weeks. Looking forward to getting back to the grind tomorrow, and a good build month.

Red Rider

The weather has been foul; I hate riding in the rain. We did another Sufferfest last night. Wed. we shredded our legs in the gym. Thurs. we Sufferfested. Today we ran an "easy" 3 miles in the cold, covered by leaden skies. Glad to get out and continue the training,despite how relatively cold is was.

chasm54

Thanks. The difference the weather makes is revelatory. It hasn't rained in daylight hours since I got here four weeks ago, and typical daily temperatures at present are in the low 60s fahrenheit, so training is a positive pleasure.

The local drivers seem to like cyclists, too, which helps...

Racer Ex 

Went skiing yesterday. 3 hours non stop, the weather kept a lot of people at home (20's and light snow) so it was ski right onto the chair with no waiting. I think I got the cost per run down to under $6; unfortunately our annual pass is blocked out for the holiday.

Terrific snow conditions and considering I hadn't been on the boards in 5 years I was shooting through the trees pretty well. But holy smokes my thighs were jello afterwards.

We decided to hold out a bit longer here and wait for the road conditions to improve. Taking the dogs for a walk in a few then going to go do some cross country.

VanceMac

We got drenched this morning. It was supposed to hold off until noon, but as often happens along the coast, a random cell erupted. Temp was around 50, and I was prepared for it... except for the fleece gloves: no bueno. My fingernails were blue by the time I got home. So froze my butt off, without getting the powder payoff that Ex enjoyed. Tomorrow is looking a little better.

sarals 

I did a long warmup spin and 20 minutes of strength yesterday. I had not been keeping up on the core work like I should have been, and it told on me. The hour I did on Wednesday really put the hurt on me yesterday, but it's all good, right?

The weather is getting better, and the forecast for the next few days is encouraging. I'll be on the bike on the road, rather than in The Cold Garage or on a gym spin trainer. Oh, yay!

shovelhd

It's snowing, so it was the trainer this morning for strength work. Snowboarding would have been a lot more fun.

Cleave

We have way too many Cat 1 and 2 guys in 50+ (including our friend Racer Ex ). Same with 55+. How much longer before Ex is that old?

shovelhd

Let's put it this way. Ex and I will eventually end up in the same field.