shovelhd

Are you going to nuke my results thread?

gsteinb

I imagine it would be a move/title change rather than an 86ing of anything

VanceMac

I'd just call it "Masters" and not even saddle it with a number. Self-selection will work... and if a 34-year-old wants to regularly read/contribute there, no worries.

shovelhd

+1

revchuck 

That'd work.

Hermes

I have some suggestions on "organizing" the forum but I am racing today. Will provide ideas tomorrow.

revchuck 

2:24 at endurance pace today. A front is coming through - we've got a wind advisory in effect until tonight. I did an out-and-back, starting into the wind. I figured 80 minutes out would be 70 minutes back, but the second half took 64 minutes, and I pushed harder the first half. 200 watts to maintain not quite 13 mph in the drops on level ground. Gotta love it.

sarals 

+2

sarals 

Gary, welcome to you, and I welcome your thoughts.

This is selfish, but the 50+ racing forum is the only place a new 60 plus female racer, me, feels comfortable. That's because the great people here have made that so. I'm a fish out of water on the 33, and I'm not too keen on exposing myself to the off handed comments I and others are subject to there. There is far more tolerance here than the 33. I'm concerned that if this becomes a Masters forum, that tolerance would become diluted or even disappear.

Then again, I do see the need to welcome a Masters category somewhere. Breaking the forums down even further would be cumbersome, detrimental.

Hermes, I'm really interested in seeing your ideas.

sarals 

A 50+ mile fast paced group ride yesterday with some capable folks, some were former racers. There was a lot of climbing, and some fast paceline work. One of the fellas was a former time trialer and, he laid down a solid steady pace on a long climb that made for an excellent workout. Except for the first part of the ride, I was on or near the front the whole way, even during the climbs. I did fade a little on a longer climb, but recovered over the top and regained position on the next short climb. On one of the fast descents I hit a pothole (in a shady section) at 40+ MPH that would have brought me down if I hadn't been in the drops (the video on the 33 comes to mind). The surprise was I didn't get a pinch flat! One of the big guys and I stretched it out on the last five miles with a 22 MPH average speed to the parking lot at the end. I managed 24 to 26 for brief periods, but as I said elsewhere, those speeds are hard for me to hold for long. I've no power data, I was on the Bianchi for the ride. I did average almost 17 MPH, with an average heartrate of 102 maxing at 170 over 50.7 miles. All in all a great training ride, with great folks in perfect weather. And, if I've lost anything in this down period, I don't know what it would be!

chasm54

Sara, you must be pretty fit. An HR of 102 is right at the bottom of my recovery zone, I don't think I'd see a 17mph average over 3 hours with that low an HR figure.

As to what you might have lost, if you're anything like me it's the top end that goes first. My endurance base hangs around pretty well, even after quite extended breaks

sarals 

Thank you, Chas! I can hang in there, that's for sure. I'm chomping at the bit for the next road race. I've heard top end goes first, but I'm confused by the term - is it "stop speed", or that "top strength"?

chasm54

You need to talk to your esteemed coach. But in my case, it is neither of those things. What goes first is my ability do repeated efforts. The most difficult thing in racing, for me at least, is going anaerobic, recovering at speed, then going anaerobic, rinse and repeat. If I'm in less than top shape I'll go boom after a few surges.

Then there's the hills, of course...

gsteinb

yeah, though I definitely feel the need to weed out the 20 and 17 something crowd.

sarals 

Gotcha! I do that, too, Chas. Exactly. As of right now, though, recovery is still good, as good it was when I peaked for Snelling (but it's not as fast as 40 year old).

shovelhd

Well I sure as heck ain't as fast as a 30 year old Cat2, either.

sarals 

For the whole race.

AzTallRider

I absolutely agree that the racing forums have more in common with each other than they do with their parent forums. I try to contribute now and then to the 50+, but my goals are far different than most of the folks there. Not superior, I feel the need to add, but different. One of the reasons this sub-forum was needed was the negative reception any performance oriented posts would get in the parent forum. There is a fundamental lack of understanding of racing by those who do not indulge. We all know that. My only question concerning setting up a separate racing forum, with appropriate sub-forums, would be what the visibility might attract. Maybe nothing. Maybe it's the best idea. I'll let those who have been around here longer provide their thoughts, and go with the flow.

AzTallRider

Damn - you burst my bubble.

gsteinb

I have buy in for the move. Keep a look out.

sarals 

Excellent!

Gary, what does that eagle next your screen name mean?

Racer Ex 

500 TSS over 3 days. I went and did GMR after the crit Sunday. Rain forecast for the weekend so I may not be racing.

shovelhd

htfu

Racer Ex 

As much as I want the free CT scan, breaking the only L-series vertebrae that's still intact is not a goal. Saturday is Copperopolis and this downhill pavement looks a lot like the uphill.

AzTallRider

Yuck.