sarals 

Chuck, I slapped the bike on the saddle and said "Bad Venge!". It didn't care. Thanks, buddy!!!

Dalai

Nice work guys. You have got me all excited and looking forward to our Winter TT races!

I am still racing on the track locally most weekends. Yesterday it was at the Coburg Velodrome; another of the many Melbourne velodromes and one I hadn't been to before and so wasn't sure what to expect. On arriving I was impressed to find a really nice steeply banked 250m outdoor track! Although a touch bumpy, it offered a nice venue to spend a sunny autumn afternoon!



Four races were in the schedule. Unfortunately due to a number of potential reasons (long weekend holiday and the Bendigo Track Carnival also being held) there were only 5 riders in A grade for the day...

First up the usual scratch race. I was able to watch all the riders and once one pulled out with a flat tyre it was like a long sprint derby with riders all waiting for the other to attack. A couple laps to go the sprint is on and end up making ground to pass all but the winner who had a clear gap by the finish and was still pulling away.

Second race was a win and out. Again the fastest guy got a nice gap and easily won the first sprint. I moved up to sit on the hip of the rider in front and hit it hard on the whistle giving an all or nothing effort. Luckily I won the second sprint easily as I would have rolled in for last after that effort otherwise!

Third race was a match sprint with the fastest guy who has a mean kick. I was on the front and tried to go early but he was onto my wheel again almost immediately so I swung up. A little more foxing till he got the jump underneath me and it was all I could do was keep him in sight when he went and he cruised easily over the line in front of me.

Final race of the day was a heat for the 8 lap Handicap with top three getting through to the final. I was the second backmarker and just couldn't make up enough ground on the riders infront. Scatch marker finally came through a lot later than I was expecting and too late to catch up the riders infront so both of us missed out getting in the final.

In the end although not making the handicap final, I did enough to claim the second place cash for our grade on the day.

Finished with the Coburg club firing up their BBQ, so hung around afterward and enjoyed the company, sun and a few snags.

Racer Ex 

Sara, worth noting that you had one world, one national champ, and I believe a couple of state champs in your field. Small, but very tough, and you had a lot of obstacles thrown in front of you the last few weeks. You rode well, had a teammate on the podium, and you will improve in the TT's. Heidi knocked off two PB's already this year, we just need time and some work on your position to get you there.

Luck changes too.

BTW i have seen some very good riders get decoupled on that pothole section. Two years ago there was a nasty crosswind and we ended up with 7 out of 50 riders making the cut.

shovelhd

Sara I know the feeling of being 200m back, fighting for all you're worth, and not being able to close. It's one of the many lessons in racing. Some days you close the gap, other days you don't.

We both know it was all about the number.

LAJ

Sara, you're riding strong, but as Racer Ex says, you just need a little luck. Nice work!

LAJ

I don't understand half of what you said, but I do know what second place cash means. Nice!

happybday29475

Umm...you left out the key words in the title of the race: "Lookout HILL CLIMB". To answer your question: Does Gregory Bauge do hill climbs? Does Rasaan Bahati do hill climbs? Do I remind you more of Alberto Contador or Fat Albert?

Painfully, I must agree. TT's are not my favorite type of cycling, but they powerfully teach the important things that you mention, as well as, and especially on a road bike, learning how to be aero. And I am a master of the latter at approximately a kindergarten level.

happybday29475

Sounds like a really fun way to spend the day. I'm really looking forward to similar days at the new Boulder Valley Velodrome this summer. I'll likely start visiting the track weekly, with racing starting in a couple of months.

"I'm not fat, I'm a sprinter" will be put to the test soon...

sarals 

Ex, thank you. I have to say that I was impressed and a little awed by the display of power I saw from four of those ladies in my field, but you know what, I didn't doubt for one minute that I could stay with them. I knew I was overmatched, but I also knew that I belonged in that field. A far cry from two years ago.

My TT WILL improve. I know that. I'm way under performing there, and I can fix it.

Guys, thank you - all of you!

sarals 

Dalai! To paraphrase Strava, and with a nod to IBO, "Kudos"! That racing sounded like a blast. Congrats on the podium!

Racer Ex 

Dalai, you're killing me with those velodrome pics... it's like setting a tennis ball in front of a retriever and putting them on a leash that's just a little too short to reach it.

shovelhd

Woof

LAJ

Sure, it goes up a bit, but it's not terribly steep. It's like a slow TT. I have no big aspirations, but the time in the proper zones should be good training for the TT stuff. Plus, I get to do it on a road bike, and then I get to go ride my bike when I'm done!

Thank you @Racer Ex. As always, wise words.

Dalai

Translated - Went round in circles. Had lots of fun!

Will happen soon enough Racer Ex! Are there any tracks local to you since the move? And most importantly, has 'it' arrived yet?

happybday29475

LAJ, I'll not be doing Lookout. I talked with my coach and he feels a different workout is more appropriate for my goals.

As for frostbite, I'm sure the reasons he had me do that are similar to the reasons Ex stated.

I am bummed that the CSU circuit race was cancelled. We both liked the old Cobb Lake RR, and this replacement to that I might have liked even better, but now we'll never know.

Racer Ex 

Local track is 4 hours away. Outdoor 333.

And yes, it's here. Haven't been able to work on it yet. Out of the box though and pretty....

Cleave

@valygrl, great way to start the year!

@LAJ, same kudos as above!

@rapwithtom, Merckx style is brutal in the land of aero. Fantastic that you did it!

I think it's really cool that three folks from this forum were at the same race. I know that it's been fun when I've been able to race with others from this forum.

@sarals, very happy to hear that day 2 went better that you expected.

@Dalai, looks like fun plus you had some great results. That's a lot of racing in one day.

sarals 

Thanks, Cleave!

BTW, Bad Venge has been fixed - I hope. I let a Specialized dealer do it. They said "warrantee" if it does it again. I liked that.

nacler22

Great work by all our Master's mixing it up with some tough competition. I'm particularly jealous of Dalai, cause racing on a track with blue bird sky's, just sounds sublime.

Speaking of competition, I was invited on a team/club ride, comprised of mostly folks I don't know. The first climb (2.3mi @ 5%) is a designated "open it up" zone, and by the half-way point, I took the front with 2 others on my wheel. At the 3/4 mark, I stood up for the first time, and a kid (who must outweigh me by 30lbs) on a steel Bridgestone (cira1983), launched like a Minuteman missile...........and didn't slow down till the top.

Turns out that he doesn't race, and only rides for fun. Screw that, I'm going to hook him up with my Flash, (which needs a good home) convince him to join our team, pin a number on him, and watch some souls get destroyed.


p.s. when I say kid, that means anyone under 25.

Dalai

Glad it all worked out!

shovelhd

Love them or hate them, you can't beat how Specialized backs up their products, S-Works in particular. I hope it all works out for you Sara.

happybday29475

Yep - I've had a customer service experience from Specialized that floored me (in a good way). The shop guys told me it it's normal Specialized behavior.

sarals 

The mechanic was great. He called Specialized while I was there and explained the problem. I assume he was talking to a factory rep. He was told what to look for and what compound to use on the parts. When I came back an hour later it was all done. He's also checked the compression collar on the seatpost. And, they didn't charge me! I was some kind of impressed. Tom, I concur!

Hermes

Man...I thought Cervelo had the patent on slipping seat posts. Who would have thought that Specialized would infringe.

shovelhd

Scott is a player as well.