Cleave

SCNCA TTT District Championships

This has been a year of many first-time experiences -- such as forgetting to bring my bike to a race -- and Saturday's TTT continued the streak. Our original 4-man 220+ team came to an end when a practice crash left two teammates with broken bones. I was able to recruit two women for a Mixed team but the husband of one of the women had a bad training crash and he had surgery the day before our race so she couldn't compete.

The fact that there would be just three of us was reinforced throughout the morning as we prepared to race. At registration, "Where is Jennifer?" At the start line by the guy calling teams to the staging area and the starter. And finally, by the team starting behind us. I asked, "Do you want to give us one of your people?"

My first mixed team and my first starting 3-person team went well enough. We weren't fast but we weren't bog slow. Our Masters woman (60+) dictated the pace but we were smooth until the last two miles and we were surprisingly fast on a couple of segments. Interestingly, this week was almost dead calm versus last week's windy conditions so the fastest legs were opposite of last week and our two trips up the start-finish straight were the slowest legs. Regardless, it was fun and a good learning experience.

15th Annual Public Safety - Memorial Day Race

Amazingly, I have only done seven road events so far this year and that includes two Tuesday evening races. My last road race was back in April and similarly, after such a long break (for me) it almost felt like the first race of the season. I was pack fodder in the 55+/60+ race. There were times where it was hard to stay in the pack though I never got to the point where I thought I was going to get dropped. I ended up 21st out of 26 on the 55+ scoring but we also had fourteen 60+ guys in the race so it didn't feel like I was quite that far back in the pack at the finish.

Since the 50 minute 55+ race didn't kill me, I decided to enter the 45+ race. It was a lot faster but smoother as is generally the case. For most of my time in the race, I was almost tail-gunning on the wheel of my friend who won the 55+ race in a break. I was okay for a while but at around 30 minutes I started feeling tired. At around 35 minutes there was a surge and I couldn't hold my position and quickly fell off the back. I finished the lap and pulled the plug. I guess my current fitness level is good for about 1-1/2 hours of racing.

sarals 

Cleave, that's good fitness in any event!

I'd have loved to been the fourth on your TTT team. You and your team did really well! 60+ woman? She must have been a beast!

Congrats on great weekend!

Cleave

@Racer Ex, yes, I agree that 1 minute is a huge improvement on that course. I was thinking more along the lines of sarals' journey as a bike racer.

@sarals, that is exactly my point. I know many racers who have started racing but gave up when results didn't come fast enough. I'd refer to the cliche that notes it's more about the journey than the destination but I'm not really into cliches.

Heathpack 

@Cleave, did you manage to race your TTT over the weekend?

Jackmen

Well here is my race report from Time Trial Number one this season that I did on Saturday. I competed in a 5 mile lowered my time by 1 minute 30 seconds or went from 21 to 24 MPH; 5K lowered time by 1 minute or from 21.5 to 24.3 MPH); 1 mile lowered time some I don't remember time, and 1/4 mile may have gotten a little slower, should have used my road bike. Overall I received 3 silver medals, and one bronze, in this St Louis Regional Olympics. I felt very good about the overall results, as I ran my heart rates up to 166-171 consistently on these and felt pretty wasted afterwards, even after the short efforts.

In two weeks I will do the state Senior games which is a 5K & 10K Time trial and a 20K and 40K road race, and I signed up for all. Two on Saturday, and two on Sunday. I have put a picture of my Blue triad TT bike that I got on Ebay. Its a real speed machine. Very nice bike, all Sram Red with 85MM deep tubular wheels. It just weighs 17.6 lbs. On the road it really flies.





Originally Posted by Jackmen
I am an older guy who has gotten into cycling a lot after 50. I am currently 57. Last year I did some Senior Olympic Time trials and did Ok. I am really just getting 5 years of solid road riding under my belt (>3000 miles per year).
I live in Missouri. The first race, I did was a St Louis Regional TT event (End of May 2015). They had 4 short TT races. 5 Mile, 5 K, 1 Mile, 1/4 Mile. Like I said really short. I used my road bike (nice road bike Giant Defy Advanced 0 with DI-2) with some clip on Aero Bars and did Ok. I was 3rd in 3 races and 2nd in one race in my age group. The level of competition was a little lower in the regional, but I did pretty good for a first set of races. I think I avg about 22 MPH in the 5 mile.
I was signed up for the Missouri State Senior Games which had a 5K, and 10K TT's , but I had a death in my family so I didn't have an opportunity to do that one. Then I also signed up for the Missouri State Time trial Competition which is a 40K TT (24+ Miles) Mid Aug 2015. This was a serious step up in quality of competition, and You have to have a USA Cycling Licence, which I got. I was in the 50-59 age group and there were 7 of us in that group. Same Road bike with clip ons. I averaged about 21.2 for the 40K, which was pretty fast for me. I placed 6 out of 7, like I said much better competition. I actually thought I did pretty good for the amount of riding I had done, and the equipment I had.

After this first Year of Racing I made a decision I was going to step it up this year. Got on Zwift with the trainer this winter, and have already put on 2000 miles this year, and am in much better shape, also lost 15 lbs. I also Bought a Nice TT bike which is very aero, deep Carbon wheels, with full Sram Red. I am in a great position on the bike, have a nice TT helmet, and a skin suit. I have been practicing with the TT bike and my riding buddy's have struggled to hang with me, in our rides.

I am preparing to ride the same set of races this year (starting with the regional Senior Olympics short TT races this coming weekend). I am aiming for much better results and feel I have prepared adequately to do better. Its been fun getting faster and in better shape, even though at 57 its not real easy.

We will see how the preparation and training will allow me to do.

Heathpack 

Whoops, @Cleave, I'm just now seeing that you did indeed make it to LLA for the TTT. I'm glad you at least got to do it. Wish I could've joined yall.

revchuck 

@Jackmen - Good work! Our Senior Olympics is in July, and we're doing the same four events, but in one day. I'm sure I'll sleep well that night!

Heathpack 

@Jackmen, sorry I did not follow most of what you said. There is a 0.25 mile time trial?

Anyway, kudos.

Jackmen

Yes, this st louis regional event does have a 1 and 1/4 mile time trial. I know kind of strange with such short distances. The state senior games have a more conventional 5k and 10k.

LAJ

Here-abouts, we call that a drag race.

Kudos indeed, @Jackmen.

Racer Ex 

Those are shorter than the 55-59 track pursuit and the 500m sprint.

Egads.

Good job. 3 MPH is a substantial improvement.

Racer Ex 

TNW 14 mile TT. 6th of 35. 6th of 7 "A"s.

It's a dry heat, like 85. Two 7 miles laps around a dry lake bed with a bit of up and down. Didn't help myself riding 2 hours the day before. Slowed 30s and 30w from lap 1 to lap 2. Heat and pollen pretty much shut down my breathing. 1:20 off the winner who went sub 30m. One of 5 in the 30m. If they had a 55 or even a 45 age group I crushed souls.

Got called a a "goddamn fast old man".

sarals 

No!

Cleave

That would be a compliment for me.

Did the Tuesday Night Worlds which made four races in four days. Missed the large-ish break (6-8 people) that caused the peloton to mostly come apart. By the finish there was about eight of us sprinting for the last few points spots. Of course, with my superior sprinting abilities and the fact that I used every match that I had to not get dropped, I was next-to-last in the group.

Legs were screaming at me yesterday. Next race is a hill climb TT up world-famous Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) on Saturday. Need to make racing hay while the sun is shining (or before I have to go back to Seattle).

Hermes

The GMR is one of my favorite hill climb races. We have our district ITT and TTT the following weekend. I will be supervising a beginner track session while you are racing. Next year, I may be able to do the GMR.

Heathpack 

Im pretty sure GMR is the same weekend as the NoCal ITT.

Racer Ex 

GMR is a hideous, awful race.



GMR is an amazingly great ride.

Heathpack 

Fourth of July, baby. I am there. Looking forward to it, all the way to the very top.

sarals 

Climbers....

valygrl

would love to do that!!

Love the striped roadkill.

Heathpack 

There's three parts to this route:
1. You can ride Glendora Mountain Road up to the "shack" or a little beyond to the gate. Thats maybe 9 miles of 5% grade but it goes relentlessly up. This is where the hillclimb TT takes place.
2. You can then continue on Glendora Ridge Road to Baldy Village. This is a one-lane road but very little traffic. Its generally up but with rolling terrain. Parts 1 and 2 are about 20-25 miles and there's zero water on the route until you get to Baldy Village.
3. You can then ride beyond the village to the base of the ski lifts. This is 3-4 miles of 9-10% grade. Its amazing when the Tour of California ends at the ski lifts, the pros fly up this part but if you've done it, you know how painful it is.

Traditionally they close this route to motorized vehicles every 4th of July weekend. Its hot then, and because of the lack of water, you really need to start early. And coming down can be a little less than its usual fun, because people who got a late start do really stupid stuff like stop in the shade on a blind corner on the wrong side of the road. But its so cool to ride without worrying about cars that you can save the descending fun for another time.

So everybody should try to come to SoCal 4th of July weekend one year and we can climb this thing. Its "fun".

This is Glendora Ridge Road:

LAJ

Bad ass.

LAJ

Saturday: City Park Crit 9/22

This is in the actual Denver City Park, with the I Max, and museums, and all that stuff. In the AM, they let them run what's called the long course, and it's 1.8 miles, I believe, and flat as a pancake. Through some roundabouts, a couple gates that narrow the course a bit, you know... Usual stuff. But wait, there's more! Prior to the race, they were out sweeping up the goose poop, and the pre race talk was a warning of a couple loose pit bulls that they are unable to catch.

The race took off, and of course, the pits were on the back part of the course. We dodged them, and never saw them again. Next lap, the group that started 30 seconds behind us, caught us, and then wouldn't ride away from us. They were a smaller group, and eventually, they neutralized them and let us go. But that also lasted about a lap. Then it turned into a crit, with some attacks, just the usual thing, where no one can ride away, and the bikeslingers rule the day. Of course, there were geese being chased off the course, and then a riding lawnmower decided to make an appearance. That was bad enough, but the mower was on the right, and the moto-ref decided to stop on the left, where no one was looking... Either way, more confident in the group, and though my position wasn't great, I did make up quite a few spots in the last 1/6th of the course.

Sunday: Deer Trail Road Race 3/23 + 23 40+ youngsters.

This is 42 mile L shaped out and back, with a cones in the middle of a 2 lane road where you turn around. Rolling hills the whole time, with a little wind. As an added bonus, they decided to mix in the 40+4 guys with us, but score us separately. (Or us with them, as the case may be) I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about how I was going to work my way to the front so I didn't have to fight for the turn. The first time I did this, a guy fell down right in front of me, and my race was over. With that on my mind, I got to the start area early, and had a decent spot for the neutral roll out. Of course, a couple minutes before, a spot was given right in front of me to some guy that could sure talk the talk. Of course, he couldn't clip in, and my decent spot was lost.

Made it to the course and it was as tight as I had imagined it would be. Just a wad of bike racers with the same thought as me... Get to the turn, and make it safely. One team was all over the front, and they had a couple big guys up front, and thank heavens it's rollers, as they had some issue getting up the hills. Thankfully, that allowed some advancement, though I had to ride more aggressively than I like, and put myself in spots I normally wouldn't. Made it through the first U-turn, the field strung out a bit, strictly due to the slinky thing. Since this is an L shape, we go by the finish line after the u-turn, then take a right, go a ways, do another u, then come back, take the left where we took the right earlier, head back out, do another u where did the first one, then head to the line.

There's a hill at the finish, so the first time up that hill, a big ol 40+ guy took a flyer, and he was like a wall. I couldn't resist, and went with. One other 40+ went too, and we held on past the right turn, and then onesie-twosie caught us. Rested up, burned a match to get to the front for the next u, survived it, and did all I could to stay near the front. I did a crapton of work doing that, but keeping the pace up was key. Teammate went on a flier, and I was covering the folks heading up, but that didn't last long. Took the left, and the pace somewhat slowed. It wadded up again, and my work to stay near the front seemed for nothing.

There were guys spread out all the way across, and no one seemed to want to advance. We went by the finish line going the opposite way, and the hill I planned to hit it was coming up, and I was stuck. Guy next to me likely thought I was nuts, but I was talking to myself, willing these guys to just open a hole, crap, or get off the pot. Like magic, a slot opened on the right, I snuck in, another opened to the right, I slotted over to the shoulder, and I rode the shoulder to front and beyond. Another fellow came with, and he was also a 50+ guy, and I've been in breaks with him before. He's a straight shooter, and today he said he was strong. We kept it up, and prior to the final u, we were caught by a 40+ guy, and the three of us were doing OK. Did the turn, saw exactly how far we were ahead, and also saw the damage we had done. That helped will me on, at least.

A group of eight-ten caught us, and I looked at the numbers and saw there were only two I was racing, and one was a teammate. My 50+ break-mate was also able to latch on, and was stronger than I, this day. One more 50+ guy caught me, but then faded. Within site of the line, I caught the other 50+ guy, and though I wasn't sure, I was somewhat sure I had third. Ended up, that was the case.

Too long, didn't read, I spent way too much time up front, did too much work, and pulled out a third. I have enough points to upgrade, and I likely will soon. Coach John and I will discus this further.

Heathpack 

We shall heretofore call you Sir Podium.

revchuck 

Way to go, LAJ!