Masters Misc Race Report Thread
03-22-15, 08:01 PM
#3076
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shovel - I hope that bug you're catching isn't the offthebackitis I had last Sunday!
__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
03-22-15, 11:09 PM
#3077
Idiot Emeritus
Chuck, late on this, but first - Congratulations - you raced a HARD race, the Roubaix name is in there for a reason, it seems to me. Second, yes, as Ex said, we all know the athlete who counted all the chickens before they hatched and went in over her head, blew in big way, and almost quit - the sport, not the race. There is no honor in driving on when you've cashed in all your chips. Don't wreck coming weeks of training, pull the plug and live to fight another day. Take that from a hard-headed know it all who had to learn it the hard way. Ex is dead on right.
Shovel, hey....you're an experienced racer, you had a bad day, I don't know what's been going on with you, but GC mentioned "bug". That's been a soul sucker this winter, and I'd wager you just need to get on form. One race is not a deal breaker. You hung tough, and that's the Shovel I know.
And that's the Revchuck I know, too.
Great job, guys!
Shovel, hey....you're an experienced racer, you had a bad day, I don't know what's been going on with you, but GC mentioned "bug". That's been a soul sucker this winter, and I'd wager you just need to get on form. One race is not a deal breaker. You hung tough, and that's the Shovel I know.
And that's the Revchuck I know, too.
Great job, guys!
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Last edited by sarals; 03-23-15 at 12:09 AM.
03-22-15, 11:47 PM
#3078
Idiot Emeritus
Tempus Fugit ITT, W 60+ Open; and Tempus Fugit ITT, Merckx
I decided to do two ITT's today. Time Trails are not my cup of tea, my low LTHR fast twitch body just doesn't match up with that discipline. Then, throw in a course that is uphill with a lot of punchy rollers and steep sections, and you've got something that I'm sure to mess up. However, I signed up for the W 60+ Open race, and then the Merckx race. My intent was to get two races in, and also to try to get an answer about my TT bike, as per the fit and making power on it verses a road bike. The course is out and back - uphill out, and downhill back, 12KM.
I arrived just before 7AM, my start time was 810AM for the W 60+ race. I parked next to Hermes and MEA, and it was wonderful to see them and get to race with MEA. They're such fun people! Anyway, there were three of us in the W 60+ field; MEA, Narda, and I. I knew I had third, and also that I was over matched (being realistic here), but MEA and Narda were my rabbits, and I wanted to see how much time I'd NOT loose against them. I warmed up on the trainer, to protocol, and while I was doing it, a light rain started. I arrived at the start house five minutes or so before my start, still warm, and I was ready to go. I noticed my heart rate was high, like almost 100, and I wasn't doing anything. I was sure it was nerves, although I did feel relaxed. I started third, 2 minutes behind the first rider off (MEA). I went out relatively easy, trying to control my nerves and my pace. The course is difficult to pace on because of all of the rollers and the sharp turns. My plan was to attack the rollers and recover a bit on the false flats, and then on the way back down the hill just let it go. My high heart rate went even higher, and I was well above LTHR before I knew it. I can work up there, but it tires me out, and my power slowly drops off. Throw in a hill or roller, and I just hit a wall trying to get up them with any kind of speed. On top of that, the rain got heavier. Not a deluge, but a heavy, heavy mist, and the road got wet and so did my visor. I hit the turnaround, and started back. I was having trouble seeing very far up the road because of the water on my visor, but I tried to keep it going. Near the bottom of the course there are a series of right/left turns, some fairly sharp. There were puddles of water on the road by then, so I let prudence take over from gung-ho and took it easy around those turns. I finished with a 38:42, 4 minutes behind Narda, and 7 minutes behind MEA. Still, I was over a minute faster than I was last year.
The Merckx was next. I had to wait 4 hours for it, and I made sure I stayed off my feet as much as possible. I also changed out of my wet kit and sat in the car with heater running. 30 minutes prior to my 1233 start (I was dead last for the day to roll off), I got on the Venge and did some easy spinning on the road to warm up. My legs felt pretty good, a bit tired, but not bad. The weather had cleared, but the wind had come up. It was gusting 10 to 12 MPH UP the hill, so tailwind out, headwind back. I left the start house and got up to speed, trying to maximize velocity over the easier sections. I was pretty sure I'd be faster on those punchy sections and uphill over all than I was on the TT bike. I felt like I was, too, and I hit the turn around feeling pretty good. I'd been working hard, but not backing down, and keeping my cadence high. The wind downhill was much more of a factor than I thought it would be. So was the cramp that I threw in my right calf when I overspun on a fast section of the course. I had to slow w a y down to work that out, but I managed to. I started to really feel the fatigue in my legs when I neared the bottom of the course. I was having trouble keeping my pace when I'd hit a wind gust or a roller, and I'd slow pretty significantly when that happened. I hit the line with a 39:30, almost 8 minutes down on the winner and just under a minute slower than I'd been on the TT bike.
I looked at my data after the race, just a quick glance, to compare the uphill times between the two races. I felt like I'd been faster on the road bike up the hill, but I was NOT. And, even with going easier than I intended on the TT bike on the return, I was still faster there, too. Hmmm. So, once the fit finally gets dialed in on the TT bike, I may actually be sort of competitive. I'll keep trying, that's for sure.
I decided to do two ITT's today. Time Trails are not my cup of tea, my low LTHR fast twitch body just doesn't match up with that discipline. Then, throw in a course that is uphill with a lot of punchy rollers and steep sections, and you've got something that I'm sure to mess up. However, I signed up for the W 60+ Open race, and then the Merckx race. My intent was to get two races in, and also to try to get an answer about my TT bike, as per the fit and making power on it verses a road bike. The course is out and back - uphill out, and downhill back, 12KM.
I arrived just before 7AM, my start time was 810AM for the W 60+ race. I parked next to Hermes and MEA, and it was wonderful to see them and get to race with MEA. They're such fun people! Anyway, there were three of us in the W 60+ field; MEA, Narda, and I. I knew I had third, and also that I was over matched (being realistic here), but MEA and Narda were my rabbits, and I wanted to see how much time I'd NOT loose against them. I warmed up on the trainer, to protocol, and while I was doing it, a light rain started. I arrived at the start house five minutes or so before my start, still warm, and I was ready to go. I noticed my heart rate was high, like almost 100, and I wasn't doing anything. I was sure it was nerves, although I did feel relaxed. I started third, 2 minutes behind the first rider off (MEA). I went out relatively easy, trying to control my nerves and my pace. The course is difficult to pace on because of all of the rollers and the sharp turns. My plan was to attack the rollers and recover a bit on the false flats, and then on the way back down the hill just let it go. My high heart rate went even higher, and I was well above LTHR before I knew it. I can work up there, but it tires me out, and my power slowly drops off. Throw in a hill or roller, and I just hit a wall trying to get up them with any kind of speed. On top of that, the rain got heavier. Not a deluge, but a heavy, heavy mist, and the road got wet and so did my visor. I hit the turnaround, and started back. I was having trouble seeing very far up the road because of the water on my visor, but I tried to keep it going. Near the bottom of the course there are a series of right/left turns, some fairly sharp. There were puddles of water on the road by then, so I let prudence take over from gung-ho and took it easy around those turns. I finished with a 38:42, 4 minutes behind Narda, and 7 minutes behind MEA. Still, I was over a minute faster than I was last year.
The Merckx was next. I had to wait 4 hours for it, and I made sure I stayed off my feet as much as possible. I also changed out of my wet kit and sat in the car with heater running. 30 minutes prior to my 1233 start (I was dead last for the day to roll off), I got on the Venge and did some easy spinning on the road to warm up. My legs felt pretty good, a bit tired, but not bad. The weather had cleared, but the wind had come up. It was gusting 10 to 12 MPH UP the hill, so tailwind out, headwind back. I left the start house and got up to speed, trying to maximize velocity over the easier sections. I was pretty sure I'd be faster on those punchy sections and uphill over all than I was on the TT bike. I felt like I was, too, and I hit the turn around feeling pretty good. I'd been working hard, but not backing down, and keeping my cadence high. The wind downhill was much more of a factor than I thought it would be. So was the cramp that I threw in my right calf when I overspun on a fast section of the course. I had to slow w a y down to work that out, but I managed to. I started to really feel the fatigue in my legs when I neared the bottom of the course. I was having trouble keeping my pace when I'd hit a wind gust or a roller, and I'd slow pretty significantly when that happened. I hit the line with a 39:30, almost 8 minutes down on the winner and just under a minute slower than I'd been on the TT bike.
I looked at my data after the race, just a quick glance, to compare the uphill times between the two races. I felt like I'd been faster on the road bike up the hill, but I was NOT. And, even with going easier than I intended on the TT bike on the return, I was still faster there, too. Hmmm. So, once the fit finally gets dialed in on the TT bike, I may actually be sort of competitive. I'll keep trying, that's for sure.
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03-23-15, 05:51 AM
#3080
Senior Member
Nice Sara. Faster than last year on wet roads.
03-23-15, 08:58 AM
#3081
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Great to see you Sara. The descent was difficult for sure with the rain and quite frankly, I was a bit concerned for the racers. Mist on roads that have not seen rain for weeks turns them into a slippery mess beyond simple wet roads. You guys did a great job handling the course and making smart racing decisions.
MEA was going to race the Cat 3/4 but due to the weather we decided to leave and head out to pre-ride the masters championship road race course that was another 70 miles away and on the other side of the ridge so the weather would be better. Sorry that MEA was not there for the podium with you.
The road race course is hard. We rode tempo power team team trial on the course. After the first right turn, it turns into a series of punchy roller with some flat sections. Another right turn, and you are into the wind with more rollers. The 2nd to last turn looks like the rollers are over but noooooooooo. There are more and some of them top with a steep kick and then very fast downhill.
To an extent, this is a good course for me - fast endurance racer with good 1 min power. I can standing start my way over the tops of the rollers. BTW, the fast endurance guy title is a bit of a curse...not quite a sprinter and not quite a TT - jack of all trades master of none.
Power to weight is going to be an important metric because there was over 1000 feet of climbing in the 20 miles and the number of rollers are going to wear down the legs.
As with most races, he/she that can stay with the group and conserve energy can definitely make something happen in the last 4 miles with the tough rollers. The finishing mile or so is flat and fast with the wind at the back. You do not want any sprinters around.
There is a monster pot hole in the last 4 miles. Anyone in that will be on the deck.
Road surface is fair to good with some rough spots and of course...bees.
MEA was going to race the Cat 3/4 but due to the weather we decided to leave and head out to pre-ride the masters championship road race course that was another 70 miles away and on the other side of the ridge so the weather would be better. Sorry that MEA was not there for the podium with you.
The road race course is hard. We rode tempo power team team trial on the course. After the first right turn, it turns into a series of punchy roller with some flat sections. Another right turn, and you are into the wind with more rollers. The 2nd to last turn looks like the rollers are over but noooooooooo. There are more and some of them top with a steep kick and then very fast downhill.
To an extent, this is a good course for me - fast endurance racer with good 1 min power. I can standing start my way over the tops of the rollers. BTW, the fast endurance guy title is a bit of a curse...not quite a sprinter and not quite a TT - jack of all trades master of none.
Power to weight is going to be an important metric because there was over 1000 feet of climbing in the 20 miles and the number of rollers are going to wear down the legs.
As with most races, he/she that can stay with the group and conserve energy can definitely make something happen in the last 4 miles with the tough rollers. The finishing mile or so is flat and fast with the wind at the back. You do not want any sprinters around.
There is a monster pot hole in the last 4 miles. Anyone in that will be on the deck.
Road surface is fair to good with some rough spots and of course...bees.
03-23-15, 10:23 AM
#3082
Idiot Emeritus
More bees? Oh, my...
Hermes, thanks for that report! It sounds like Snelling on steroids, it is in the same area. MEA should do well there. Me, well, we'll have to see. Rollers do tend to wear me down.
Hey, no worries on the podium shot. That wasn't done until almost 2PM! It made for a long day. Once again, just great to see you two!
Hermes, thanks for that report! It sounds like Snelling on steroids, it is in the same area. MEA should do well there. Me, well, we'll have to see. Rollers do tend to wear me down.
Hey, no worries on the podium shot. That wasn't done until almost 2PM! It made for a long day. Once again, just great to see you two!
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03-24-15, 09:12 AM
#3083
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First race of 2015 season
Hi all its been awhile, lots of life stuff going on.. retirement from Army, get a new job as contractor :-( get second new job as Department of the Army civilian :-)
SO Sunday March 2015 was my first race of the 2015 season. It was an Women's open race on the NASCAR course at Richmond International Race track. I knew the younger gals (1/2/3s) would establish a break early and I wanted to be there. Plus with a large field of CAT 4 who had never raced on a BANKED course I wanted to be up front. The wind was whicked, saw later that there were gust exceeding 30 mph. Even into the wind we were still holding 18-19 mph. Well we're 4 laps in and hit the cross wind corner and the attack happens, I'm getting on it, bound and determined to stay up front, I'm about 8th wheel. I'm also on the very inside of the track, near the yellow line, where it is the flattest and we go into the corner 4 wide.
One of the gals on the outside goes hard but also slides down the banking and chops a wheel of one of the gals to my right (one of the husband's was video taping the race, so you can see it all unfold). The carnage begins, all of the sudden there is a gal down in front of me and no where to go, I do a lateral roll, coming down on my left side, hips and upper back hit first, then head, and I roll completely over. never touched the brakes. new there were at least 20 gals behind me.
End result, Displace fractured left posterior 6th rib, road rash on both legs, right forarm, left elbow, huge bruise on left hip. The bike faired much better only minor scuffs on the bar tape, left brake hood, left edge of the saddle. Some how I broke the buckle on my right shoe.
New helmet ordered, new buckle ordered, but limited to the trainer until I can breath without pain. Right now I cannot get into the drops without pain, so that's my measure before I get back on the road
Of the four of use that went down we all ended up pretty beat up. several concussions, one gal has orbtial and facial fractures, one young gal broke her wrist.
I will get back racing soon as this body heals, but think I will take this race off the schedule, a couple of years ago, a similar incident happened, but I only got hipped checked and managed to stay upright, not giving this course a 3rd chance..
Stay safe and race smart
Hi all its been awhile, lots of life stuff going on.. retirement from Army, get a new job as contractor :-( get second new job as Department of the Army civilian :-)
SO Sunday March 2015 was my first race of the 2015 season. It was an Women's open race on the NASCAR course at Richmond International Race track. I knew the younger gals (1/2/3s) would establish a break early and I wanted to be there. Plus with a large field of CAT 4 who had never raced on a BANKED course I wanted to be up front. The wind was whicked, saw later that there were gust exceeding 30 mph. Even into the wind we were still holding 18-19 mph. Well we're 4 laps in and hit the cross wind corner and the attack happens, I'm getting on it, bound and determined to stay up front, I'm about 8th wheel. I'm also on the very inside of the track, near the yellow line, where it is the flattest and we go into the corner 4 wide.
One of the gals on the outside goes hard but also slides down the banking and chops a wheel of one of the gals to my right (one of the husband's was video taping the race, so you can see it all unfold). The carnage begins, all of the sudden there is a gal down in front of me and no where to go, I do a lateral roll, coming down on my left side, hips and upper back hit first, then head, and I roll completely over. never touched the brakes. new there were at least 20 gals behind me.
End result, Displace fractured left posterior 6th rib, road rash on both legs, right forarm, left elbow, huge bruise on left hip. The bike faired much better only minor scuffs on the bar tape, left brake hood, left edge of the saddle. Some how I broke the buckle on my right shoe.
New helmet ordered, new buckle ordered, but limited to the trainer until I can breath without pain. Right now I cannot get into the drops without pain, so that's my measure before I get back on the road
Of the four of use that went down we all ended up pretty beat up. several concussions, one gal has orbtial and facial fractures, one young gal broke her wrist.
I will get back racing soon as this body heals, but think I will take this race off the schedule, a couple of years ago, a similar incident happened, but I only got hipped checked and managed to stay upright, not giving this course a 3rd chance..
Stay safe and race smart
03-24-15, 09:32 AM
#3084
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Colonelmom - Argh! Helluva way to start the season! Heal quickly and well.
Congrats on your retirement! I'm personally loving my blue ID card.
Congrats on your retirement! I'm personally loving my blue ID card.
__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
03-24-15, 10:22 AM
#3085
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That's terrible. Heal up.
Did is anyone report the rider? Video evidence is very compelling to officials. I would encourage you or someone else to report the rider and provide the evidence. She is just going to do it again if there are no consequences.
Did is anyone report the rider? Video evidence is very compelling to officials. I would encourage you or someone else to report the rider and provide the evidence. She is just going to do it again if there are no consequences.
03-24-15, 10:27 AM
#3086
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shovelhd, I hope a change of scenery and some warmer temps get you back in the game as you're used to.
03-24-15, 10:29 AM
#3087
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Well done, Sara! Rain and a handling machine like a TT bike... Good job indeed.
03-24-15, 10:30 AM
#3088
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I'm sorry to hear, Colonelmom. Heal well.
03-24-15, 10:31 AM
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03-24-15, 10:44 AM
#3090
Senior Member
Dang Colonelmom! Sorry to hear that. Hope you, and the others, heal quickly and fully.
03-24-15, 06:27 PM
#3091
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Not saying that this is what happened to Colonelmom but with some fairly new racers it's worth repeating to remind yourself to always look as far ahead as you can, and not target fixate on the wheel in front of you. A lot of crashes you can see coming and sometimes 0.5 extra seconds is the difference between just missing or hitting the mess that you're left with in front of you.
Even veteran riders can "target fixate" and end up looking at the wheel they are following. It's especially hard on a track or banking where you have to look "uphill".
03-24-15, 07:56 PM
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Healing thoughts Colonelmom.
03-25-15, 12:10 PM
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3 race reports in 1!
TL;DR:
- 3 good race experiences in Albuquerque over the weekend
- 0 upgrade points
Friday afternoon I drove from Colorado to New Mexico. Shortly before arrival I started to get an upset stomach, I think probably from my mid-journey, small-town, hole-in-the-wall lunch spot. Friday night I spent almost the entire night *this* close to throwing up, but I never did, even though I tried everything including 3am jumping jacks. I didn’t sleep until 4am or so.
The alarm went off at 6am. I was feeling a bit better but not entirely. I decided to have a nice big breakfast to either a) get me over the hump and finish the job of throwing up, or b) getting some fuel in me so I could race. It turned out to be the latter.
All races were circuit races on paved roads in an un-built housing development, so sort of crit-like but with longer, more convoluted courses.
Saturday - 4’s - ~9th of 19
I had planned on racing 2 consecutive 1 hour circuit races, but because of my night and uncertain stomach I decided to only race once. Chose 4's. There were about 19 starters, 15 or so of them were surely no more half my age. I find it amusing that a spindly teenager is so intimidating to this full-framed man.
Race was mostly uneventful. I tried to be near the front, but wasn't a couple of different times as a group of a few riders went off the front. Group was sketchy in corners; I give the group riding a C- and me a C.
I mostly rode around in the pack, and then jumped before the final 2 turns with maybe 700m to go. Easily won out of the pack (2 small groups had already finished ahead) but was fading a bit at the end of the sprint.
Post mortem
While I’m sure I wasn’t at 100%, I never really felt like my bad night was limiting.
My fear in the pack in corners is limiting, however I’m not sure it is inappropriate. I was never in danger of getting dropped, and there were only a couple of times that I had to work hard to stay in.
Sunday - 45+ 10 laps @ 5ish minutes per lap
small field, 8 or 9
I didn't know but I figured I would get blown out sooner or later, since in Colorado I think of 45+ as more or less retired pros and no place for a 4 to be (admission: this is a horrible pre-race attitude). I had 1 Colorado teammate (cat 2) in the race (small world!)
First 2 laps were really slow and conversational. Old guys getting to know each other I guess.
3rd lap was $10 prime and race pace happened. I was 5th wheel and 4th wheel got gapped and I quickly went around, and just like that the 4 strongest riders were separated. There were 2 teams of 2. Interesting…until I made a dumb mistake and got shelled. I had a chance for an early attack for the prime and took it. I thought that by attacking early that the other team would have to chase me and and effectively lead out my much stronger teammate for the prime. The tactic worked and my teammate won the prime, but I had gone too hard, and after the prime, I couldn’t get back on.
It was such a shame to throw away a chance at an interesting race.
After chasing for a half a lap I sat up and waited for the next rider, thinking that maybe working together we could catch up. We tried but it wasn’t to be. We traded pulls until the last lap, then began playing games. I sprinted around him before the last corner and then beat him to the line for 4th.
The other team took turns attacking my teammate like you might read about in a textbook. He held on for second.
I blame my head for the way the race played out. I assumed all the 45+ guys were 1’s or 2’s or 3’s and that they were much faster than me. That was dumb, I found out later that one guy was a 4.
Sunday - 4’s 6th-ish of 19 or so.
The race started 10 minutes after the previous race finished. I had some water and a snickers bar between the races.
19 racers, again I was probably twice as old as the average racer. Tailgunned 1st half of race. This race was fast from the start, these children don’t have the patience of us masters. There were numerous foolish solo attacks. Second half moved up to 5th wheel or so, stayed there most of the rest of the race. With a few to go a kid took a flier that I thought would never stick but it did. He stayed out 100 meters in front for maybe 15 minutes at 25mph on a course with many turns and a breeze; kudos to him. His obviously very strong teammate, whom I was marking, patrolled the front but never pulled. I was sure the solo flier would be pulled back and that this guy would go, and I was ready for it…but it was never to be. In the last lap 5 or 6 of us broke away from the rest (the solo flier was still 100m in front). Of those 5, I entered the last turn last, and there was not enough distance, maybe only 75m, to get past anybody after the turn but before the finish line. I was mostly too tired to move up before the turn when I knew I should have; actually, more than fatigue, it might have been balls…the pace was fast going into that last corner, and these kids do not think about risk. Last of that group for 6th place.
Post-mortem: my cornering at speed got much better throughout the day. I rode well in the pack. I had good race awareness. I made good tactical decisions. Since this was my second race, my sprint was probably diminished, but in general I felt quite good. If only I weren’t so terrified by spindly teenagers going balls out around around corners using wild and unpredictable lines.
TL;DR:
- 3 good race experiences in Albuquerque over the weekend - 0 upgrade pointsFriday afternoon I drove from Colorado to New Mexico. Shortly before arrival I started to get an upset stomach, I think probably from my mid-journey, small-town, hole-in-the-wall lunch spot. Friday night I spent almost the entire night *this* close to throwing up, but I never did, even though I tried everything including 3am jumping jacks. I didn’t sleep until 4am or so.
The alarm went off at 6am. I was feeling a bit better but not entirely. I decided to have a nice big breakfast to either a) get me over the hump and finish the job of throwing up, or b) getting some fuel in me so I could race. It turned out to be the latter.
All races were circuit races on paved roads in an un-built housing development, so sort of crit-like but with longer, more convoluted courses.
Saturday - 4’s - ~9th of 19
I had planned on racing 2 consecutive 1 hour circuit races, but because of my night and uncertain stomach I decided to only race once. Chose 4's. There were about 19 starters, 15 or so of them were surely no more half my age. I find it amusing that a spindly teenager is so intimidating to this full-framed man.
Race was mostly uneventful. I tried to be near the front, but wasn't a couple of different times as a group of a few riders went off the front. Group was sketchy in corners; I give the group riding a C- and me a C.
I mostly rode around in the pack, and then jumped before the final 2 turns with maybe 700m to go. Easily won out of the pack (2 small groups had already finished ahead) but was fading a bit at the end of the sprint.
Post mortem
While I’m sure I wasn’t at 100%, I never really felt like my bad night was limiting.
My fear in the pack in corners is limiting, however I’m not sure it is inappropriate. I was never in danger of getting dropped, and there were only a couple of times that I had to work hard to stay in.
Sunday - 45+ 10 laps @ 5ish minutes per lap
small field, 8 or 9
I didn't know but I figured I would get blown out sooner or later, since in Colorado I think of 45+ as more or less retired pros and no place for a 4 to be (admission: this is a horrible pre-race attitude). I had 1 Colorado teammate (cat 2) in the race (small world!)
First 2 laps were really slow and conversational. Old guys getting to know each other I guess.
3rd lap was $10 prime and race pace happened. I was 5th wheel and 4th wheel got gapped and I quickly went around, and just like that the 4 strongest riders were separated. There were 2 teams of 2. Interesting…until I made a dumb mistake and got shelled. I had a chance for an early attack for the prime and took it. I thought that by attacking early that the other team would have to chase me and and effectively lead out my much stronger teammate for the prime. The tactic worked and my teammate won the prime, but I had gone too hard, and after the prime, I couldn’t get back on.
It was such a shame to throw away a chance at an interesting race.
After chasing for a half a lap I sat up and waited for the next rider, thinking that maybe working together we could catch up. We tried but it wasn’t to be. We traded pulls until the last lap, then began playing games. I sprinted around him before the last corner and then beat him to the line for 4th.
The other team took turns attacking my teammate like you might read about in a textbook. He held on for second.
I blame my head for the way the race played out. I assumed all the 45+ guys were 1’s or 2’s or 3’s and that they were much faster than me. That was dumb, I found out later that one guy was a 4.
Sunday - 4’s 6th-ish of 19 or so.
The race started 10 minutes after the previous race finished. I had some water and a snickers bar between the races.
19 racers, again I was probably twice as old as the average racer. Tailgunned 1st half of race. This race was fast from the start, these children don’t have the patience of us masters. There were numerous foolish solo attacks. Second half moved up to 5th wheel or so, stayed there most of the rest of the race. With a few to go a kid took a flier that I thought would never stick but it did. He stayed out 100 meters in front for maybe 15 minutes at 25mph on a course with many turns and a breeze; kudos to him. His obviously very strong teammate, whom I was marking, patrolled the front but never pulled. I was sure the solo flier would be pulled back and that this guy would go, and I was ready for it…but it was never to be. In the last lap 5 or 6 of us broke away from the rest (the solo flier was still 100m in front). Of those 5, I entered the last turn last, and there was not enough distance, maybe only 75m, to get past anybody after the turn but before the finish line. I was mostly too tired to move up before the turn when I knew I should have; actually, more than fatigue, it might have been balls…the pace was fast going into that last corner, and these kids do not think about risk. Last of that group for 6th place.
Post-mortem: my cornering at speed got much better throughout the day. I rode well in the pack. I had good race awareness. I made good tactical decisions. Since this was my second race, my sprint was probably diminished, but in general I felt quite good. If only I weren’t so terrified by spindly teenagers going balls out around around corners using wild and unpredictable lines.
Last edited by happybday29475; 03-25-15 at 03:53 PM.
03-25-15, 01:56 PM
#3094
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@rapwithtom - damned good job! 
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Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
03-27-15, 03:27 AM
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Positive vibes sent!
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Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
03-27-15, 04:30 AM
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Props Tom. Sara....Sara...Sara..
03-29-15, 02:13 AM
#3100
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Raced my Clubs Track Championships yesterday.
First up was the 3000m IP. Won this convincingly though was the only Masters rider with aero helmet etc.
Second up was the Scratch race. Broke away 5 laps to go taking two others. We rolled turns and it came to a match sprint on the final lap with me on the front. Went hard and ended with a rider making it to my shoulder coming round the final bend but held him and the third fast finishing rider on the line.
Final race was a 60 lap Points race. Had a couple of races within the race (we raced with the few Elites who were there yesterday) and it was hard to keep tabs of the points with the other Masters. I'd won the 3 of the 6 sprints and the next closest Masters with 2 wins and second to my 3 wins and I'd been 2nd to his leading to the final sprint. Here another Masters took out the final sprint with me in third. Scoring had the other guy even on points and as he finished second to my third so was initially given the win. Till they rechecked the scores and realised they had given me one point and not 2 as I should receive for my third in the final sprint so ended with the win by one point!
So that is the track season done. Now first A race for winter is the first round of the National CX series in Brisbane late may!
First up was the 3000m IP. Won this convincingly though was the only Masters rider with aero helmet etc.
Second up was the Scratch race. Broke away 5 laps to go taking two others. We rolled turns and it came to a match sprint on the final lap with me on the front. Went hard and ended with a rider making it to my shoulder coming round the final bend but held him and the third fast finishing rider on the line.
Final race was a 60 lap Points race. Had a couple of races within the race (we raced with the few Elites who were there yesterday) and it was hard to keep tabs of the points with the other Masters. I'd won the 3 of the 6 sprints and the next closest Masters with 2 wins and second to my 3 wins and I'd been 2nd to his leading to the final sprint. Here another Masters took out the final sprint with me in third. Scoring had the other guy even on points and as he finished second to my third so was initially given the win. Till they rechecked the scores and realised they had given me one point and not 2 as I should receive for my third in the final sprint so ended with the win by one point!
So that is the track season done. Now first A race for winter is the first round of the National CX series in Brisbane late may!