Masters Misc Race Report Thread
#601
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 8,546
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
cross-post from The 33
Louisville crit SW4, 7th/45.
This was a cat 4 women's mentoring crit, which might explain the abnormally high turnout. It was fun & challenging & scary to race with such a big group. I stayed in the top 6 most of the race, didn't take any pulls, was pretty happy with how my cornering has improved. Just before crossing the start/finish at one to go we lapped the main field and I got caught in that group going thru the first turn, so I had to extract myself and chase back on, losing the last opportunity to recover before the long uphill approach to the finish. I made it back to the lead group, the sprint started really early, and I dug deep to pass one gal just before the finish.
I need to figure out how to do better in the last lap. I think I raced pretty smart the rest of it, but I just don't know what to do to close the deal. Work on my one minute power, I guess. I have a terrible fade at about 15 seconds.
Louisville crit SW4, 7th/45.
This was a cat 4 women's mentoring crit, which might explain the abnormally high turnout. It was fun & challenging & scary to race with such a big group. I stayed in the top 6 most of the race, didn't take any pulls, was pretty happy with how my cornering has improved. Just before crossing the start/finish at one to go we lapped the main field and I got caught in that group going thru the first turn, so I had to extract myself and chase back on, losing the last opportunity to recover before the long uphill approach to the finish. I made it back to the lead group, the sprint started really early, and I dug deep to pass one gal just before the finish.
I need to figure out how to do better in the last lap. I think I raced pretty smart the rest of it, but I just don't know what to do to close the deal. Work on my one minute power, I guess. I have a terrible fade at about 15 seconds.
#602
Idiot Emeritus
Valygrl, it seems to me your power is really good. I mean, to stay in the top 6 in a W4 crit is amazing. I see what you're saying about "closing the deal", though. You feel you're not matching the efforts of the other riders in the closer? Oh, you'll get there, and quickly. You're very strong! Congrats on riding smart, staying strong, and an overall great race.
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
#603
Idiot Emeritus
Here's the back half of the CCCX circuit course on Fort Ord. The Sea Otter road race goes the other direction on this section. Yes, it is that steep - this is from the top of the rollers. It's a women's group in the photo, I might be in the picture - in the back!
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
#605
OMC
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 6,960
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sprint, Look 585, Specialized Allez Comp Race
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 461 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
49 Posts
Valygrl - good job on that race! Staying on the front, even at the beginning, is something I need to work on.
Sara - I think I remember running that hill when I was stationed at Ord in the early 80s.
Sara - I think I remember running that hill when I was stationed at Ord in the early 80s.
__________________
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!
#606
Idiot Emeritus
Chuck, Eucalyptus Road. The ranges are to the right.
Vance, come on up! It's a tough course, but it's fun!
Vance, come on up! It's a tough course, but it's fun!
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
#607
Resident Alien
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Location, location.
Posts: 13,089
Mentioned: 158 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 349 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
6 Posts
Topsport Stage Race report:
Opened my bag Friday to find my helmet missing. Had to go by a cheapy at the LBS. Rode the road race course, reminded me of a lot of Texas courses. I did well in Texas.
I was doing really well in the race until I hit a pot hole and flatted my tubular half way through the race. I had good legs. No follow car so I got worst time + 5m.
This morning I woke up with a sore throat and a head full of muck. Came home.
So for 32 miles of racing I spent, counting the kennel for the dogs, hotel, gas, tire, helmet, and food around $700.
I think next weekend I'll just drive back and forth around Reno throwing a $20 bill out the window every mile.
Can't seem to get a break this year.
Opened my bag Friday to find my helmet missing. Had to go by a cheapy at the LBS. Rode the road race course, reminded me of a lot of Texas courses. I did well in Texas.
I was doing really well in the race until I hit a pot hole and flatted my tubular half way through the race. I had good legs. No follow car so I got worst time + 5m.
This morning I woke up with a sore throat and a head full of muck. Came home.
So for 32 miles of racing I spent, counting the kennel for the dogs, hotel, gas, tire, helmet, and food around $700.
I think next weekend I'll just drive back and forth around Reno throwing a $20 bill out the window every mile.
Can't seem to get a break this year.
#608
Old & Getting Older Racer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,343
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
5 Posts
Ex, you really can't seem to catch a break. The glass-half-full view is that you've stayed upright and haven't been to an emergency room or had an overnight stay in the hospital.
I think Big M got 4th yesterday in 45+.
I think Big M got 4th yesterday in 45+.
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
#611
Idiot Emeritus
I want you to, too!
Ex - who do I talk to to get you a break?? Damn the luck.....
Ex - who do I talk to to get you a break?? Damn the luck.....
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
#612
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Western MA
Posts: 15,669
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bethel M45+, mid 40's, stiff headwind sprint, in the field. Going into this week we were in 1st and 3rd, but with only a point or two between some very strong riders. It would be a day to totally focus on the team. One of the guys in the mix didn't show, so I marked the other rider for most of the race. He tried to get away several times but didn't get very far. Late in the race a strong M50+ guy from another team jumped right in front of me, so I took the chance, left my mark, and went. Another guy came along. I let the two of them do the work, taking a tempo pull to stay honest, but just being a PITA skipping pulls in the back. With 3 to go one of the riders started having shifting issues (Di2 no less) and dropped back. With two of us and 3 to go, ya gotta go. So we hammered as hard as we could but the other guy faded and we were caught with 1.5 to go. I slid back into the front looking for my mark, got on him, and he attacked. I stayed with him for a bit but he got away, finishing 6th with 1 point. So with a kilo to go I hit the front and nailed it, leading out the field, shortening the sprint. gsteinb came around and took the field sprint, finishing 3rd.
The wind picked up as it always does for the P/1/2/3. Brutal. On the backstretch with the tailwind I was doing 32mph under 150w. Crazy. An early four rider break got the teamwork going. I was in the middle of the field when a second group attacked, including our 17 year old phenom J Jr. I blasted to the front to cover. Within a few hundred meters I was joined by two teammates. We did three wide tempo at the front, and covered several attacks until they were out of sight. I was starting to fade, and the attacks just kept on coming, so I conserved and downed a gel. After I got some strength back I attacked a couple of times when the opportunity presented myself but nothing stuck. On the last lap guys were looking around, and I thought for an instant I'd try one last kilo effort, but I knew I only had half a kilo left, so I ended up in the middle of the field.
I'm tired and my legs are crunchy. I've had harder races by the numbers but these felt tougher.
The wind picked up as it always does for the P/1/2/3. Brutal. On the backstretch with the tailwind I was doing 32mph under 150w. Crazy. An early four rider break got the teamwork going. I was in the middle of the field when a second group attacked, including our 17 year old phenom J Jr. I blasted to the front to cover. Within a few hundred meters I was joined by two teammates. We did three wide tempo at the front, and covered several attacks until they were out of sight. I was starting to fade, and the attacks just kept on coming, so I conserved and downed a gel. After I got some strength back I attacked a couple of times when the opportunity presented myself but nothing stuck. On the last lap guys were looking around, and I thought for an instant I'd try one last kilo effort, but I knew I only had half a kilo left, so I ended up in the middle of the field.
I'm tired and my legs are crunchy. I've had harder races by the numbers but these felt tougher.
#614
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Topsport Stage Race report:
Opened my bag Friday to find my helmet missing. Had to go by a cheapy at the LBS. Rode the road race course, reminded me of a lot of Texas courses. I did well in Texas.
I was doing really well in the race until I hit a pot hole and flatted my tubular half way through the race. I had good legs. No follow car so I got worst time + 5m.
This morning I woke up with a sore throat and a head full of muck. Came home.
So for 32 miles of racing I spent, counting the kennel for the dogs, hotel, gas, tire, helmet, and food around $700.
I think next weekend I'll just drive back and forth around Reno throwing a $20 bill out the window every mile.
Can't seem to get a break this year.
Opened my bag Friday to find my helmet missing. Had to go by a cheapy at the LBS. Rode the road race course, reminded me of a lot of Texas courses. I did well in Texas.
I was doing really well in the race until I hit a pot hole and flatted my tubular half way through the race. I had good legs. No follow car so I got worst time + 5m.
This morning I woke up with a sore throat and a head full of muck. Came home.
So for 32 miles of racing I spent, counting the kennel for the dogs, hotel, gas, tire, helmet, and food around $700.
I think next weekend I'll just drive back and forth around Reno throwing a $20 bill out the window every mile.
Can't seem to get a break this year.
Ken
#615
Tilting at Windmills
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 690
Bikes: More please
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Valygrl, good work. Seems like your getting there.
RacerEx, well............damn.
Shovelhd, solid work as always. When are they gonna let you go "rouge" and try for your own bouquet?
RacerEx, well............damn.
Shovelhd, solid work as always. When are they gonna let you go "rouge" and try for your own bouquet?
#617
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Western MA
Posts: 15,669
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#619
Old & Getting Older Racer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,343
Bikes: Bicycle Transportation: 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
5 Posts
I wish I had a teammate to support. We have a small Masters team that is allergic to any course whose description contains the word 'hill.'
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
#620
So it is
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 21,358
Bikes: Luzerne, 684, Boreas, Wheelhouse, Alize©®, Bayamo, Cayo
Mentioned: 246 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11407 Post(s)
Liked 4,761 Times
in
2,770 Posts
Louisville Crit, 45+4
This course isn't one I like. It's .9 miles, and you are going downhill for basically half a lap, or uphill. No real flat section. 3 corners are in the downhill, and the uphill is a big arc. Last year I was off the back in a couple laps, and lapped 4-5 laps later.
This year, I was middle pack till I was up front/top 5 for a bit, then back to the middle. I think I actually had decent tactics, and was in good position on the last lap. Top 10 going into the last lap, and I couldn't hang the last 500 feet. 16th. Yet another thing I need to work on. The list grows, but that's OK.
Hung with rapwithtom a lot of the race, and that was A=OK.
#621
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 789
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Long ago and far away, when I raced cars, I was impressed by the emphasis on safety that went into track design. I don't think crit courses share that thinking (perhaps because they're transient and opportunistically found), and the result is escalated racer risk. Boo.
#622
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 8,546
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
LAJ & rapwithtom - what line were the guys taking in that last corner? Most of the women in my race were respecting the yellow lines, thus narrowing the effective width of the course. I found that swinging out really wide in the approaches to those corners let me carry speed through them, but left me with the choice of losing the draft to take the faster line vs staying in the draft and maybe having to break.
I actually liked the course, but it sounds like maybe that is just because I don't know any better, and i like right turns.
I actually liked the course, but it sounds like maybe that is just because I don't know any better, and i like right turns.
#623
So it is
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 21,358
Bikes: Luzerne, 684, Boreas, Wheelhouse, Alize©®, Bayamo, Cayo
Mentioned: 246 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11407 Post(s)
Liked 4,761 Times
in
2,770 Posts
valygrl, I made my best time taking the outside line. I did go inside a few times, but it seemed folks were slowing too much, or if I did have a clear shot to the inside, it was dicey. My only concern with the outside was the rider was just to my inside taking it too wide. I was in the gutter a couple times. Being outside on that corner also set me up to be sheltered for the arc up the climb. Lapped riders were also a concern, as they were hanging to the inside in that area. At least, I think that's what they were.
#624
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 789
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
LAJ & rapwithtom - what line were the guys taking in that last corner? Most of the women in my race were respecting the yellow lines, thus narrowing the effective width of the course. I found that swinging out really wide in the approaches to those corners let me carry speed through them, but left me with the choice of losing the draft to take the faster line vs staying in the draft and maybe having to break.
I actually liked the course, but it sounds like maybe that is just because I don't know any better, and i like right turns.
I actually liked the course, but it sounds like maybe that is just because I don't know any better, and i like right turns.
I tried throughout the race to try different lines/places in the pack for each of the corners.
I like the inside line on that corner because of 2 reasons: a) I felt like immediately after the corner, it was consistently the easiest spot of the entire race to move up on the RHS of the pack as there was almost always a lot of space there; and b) you know I thought that the most dangerous turn on the course; therefore, the last place I want to be is on the outside of the pack in said turn. Oh, also, upon exiting that turn on the outside, I frequently got pinched and had to brake, which is always annoying at the bottom of a hill.
#625
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 789
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's a crit. According to the USAC rules, a sanctioned crit has to allow the entire width of the road.