Racer Ex 

What always surprises me is how people aren't born knowing everything

Racing is a huge learning curve that probably never really stops.

shovelhd

It sure hasn't stopped for me.

VanceMac

Funny, I just had a lengthy discussion about gear choice for the 200 with a teammate far more experienced than me. We were discussing a third individual who had a poor time at yesterday's TT event. I thought he was in too small a gear for that event, but he made a decent case that this person did not end up being cadence-limited. I still think he should have been a bit bigger, given that your top speed going in is so crucial. What gear did you use?

I hope to see you at Nats. I wish it was on a 250m, but I'm not complaining.

VanceMac

It's remarkable. Makes it fun to watch (whether in person, or just results/standings). I was more interested in the results of Ex category Saturday than I was the Giro. Oh, and great job Ex... both days.

valygrl

The learning curve is addictive, I love it.

Hermes

Nice racing this weekend to everyone.

sarals 

I see that you do! I'm getting the addictive part, too. It keeps me coming back.

It took me a few races to figure out that speed and strength are only a small part of the game. It's really a cerebral game played out moment to moment. Learning to anticipate and make the right judgement call and then move is such a difficult game to grasp. I like that!

chasm54

Hmm. With the greatest respect, Sara, I don't agree. Speed and strength are not sufficient, but they are necessary. They are the price of admission. With them, you can start to play the cerebral stuff, ride smart, etc. etc. Without them, you're (we're) not involved.

Hermes

Sara, here you go. In past years, the masters district road race championships were held in the Sierras at altitude that featured a 16 mile climbing course that was done 4 times. This year it is being promoted by SJBC and features a climb up Mount Hamilton and a descent down the backside. And since this is a state championship event, there is a 60 -64 women's age group. Although they are running some of the age groups together but scoring separately. Show these other 60 to 64 women how it is done and win a bear jersey!

sarals 

Oh, Hermes, I'd love to! I can't, though. It's a work weekend and I have the Senior Games the following week. I will get a chance to race with 60 - 64 aged women there, too.

sarals 

Chas, yes, I agree. But, I was speaking from the perspective of having the physical skills. They're hardly the whole game, unless it's the Race of Truth.

jsutkeepspining

wait ex you're only 50-55???? I always thought you were over 60....i take back any old jokes, you're still a young pup.

Cleave

Hermes, yes, it was Al and Laura. I'll comment more on the time below. Their time equaled my best time in a TTT a few years back.

As I mentioned, I've got GPS data for this course dating back to 2006 for both ITT and TTT events. I'm not sure why the organizers advertise the course as 23.5 miles. Between three (3) different models of Garmin computers I always get something just under 23.1 miles, but I'm willing to round up to 23.1 miles. Some years they show calculated speeds in the results, but given the distance discrepancy, I'd say the speeds are optimistic. Given my computed average speed, 24.7 MPH, I still would have been a few seconds over 1 hour if the course had been a full 40 Km.

BTW Ex, I like the holding serve analogy.

AJ, I remember that one and I've been there too -- really bad result in the last race of the year. In fact that's how I ended last season at Masters Criterium Natz (somewhat unintentionally as I had intended to race a few times later in the year).

Everyone else, it's great that you're out there learning and/or getting results. Keep reporting!

shovelhd

That race was crazy.

caloso

Sara, you've got the heart.

Racer Ex 

TT's are actually quite complex and I can tell you I beat a lot of folks who had higher power than I did on Saturday. Pacing, finding the balance between aero and power, mental discipline and guts really do factor in hugely.

In many ways mass start racing is easier. I don't know anybody who got lucky and won a TT.

Racer Ex 

(shrug). Like any of us have a choice about our age?

chasm54

Actually, we have. Everyone here has made a choice to stay younger, for longer.

Allegheny Jet

VanceMac- I used a 49/14 in the flying 200m. The ramp up was on the curve and the 200 started at the beginning of the back straight which was right into the wind. I don't think I got anywhere near top speed at anytime in the race. I was concerned about the 500tt that was at the middle of the home straight with the finish on the back side, once again into the wind. I raced the 500TT in a 49/15 which allowed a superman start, then meeting the wind on the back straight and again to finish out I think the easier gear took away some of the start as I felt really fast probably due to the higher cadence than I am used to having. I was surprised that the concrete surface at MTV was not as butter smooth as I expected and I am wondering about optimum tire pressure. Just being in the facility was a learning experience that I will bring to the next visit there. I hope to ride on the track two more times before Nat’s.

On Sunday I went to the Cleveland Velodrome to get some pursuit work in since I didn't get to race it on Sat. After riding a pretty good workout in the pursuit position in a 49/14 gear I did two flying 200 efforts with a 5 min recovery in between. My time for those two efforts was over 1 second better than my race effort the day before. We have TT Tuesday next week and I intend to race the flying 200 in the 49/15, the 500tt in 49/14 and 2k pursuit in 48/13. I will keep trying different gear combo’s and take note of the wind and humidity to develop a pattern of what works best for me.

VanceMac

Yep. Everyone is different. And you sound like a masher! I have a 13t, but have never used it.

Hermes

You guys are scaring me with the 13t. I have a 17t.

Racer Ex 

2 man TT state champs. Rode a 48:05. We got:

Cleave

Well, we weren't last.

Our last-minute, rag-tag team stayed together until about 2 miles to go. Unfortunately two teammates were sub par today so we did a bit of waiting. (Gallows humor: the slower guys were "arguing" about who was slowest after we finished.) Of course, I felt much better than last week when I did the ITT on the same course. Still had a lot of fun since everyone was pretty smooth and the exchanges went well.

The Shiv is definitely more of a handful than the Bianchi in moderate crosswinds. It feels faster in headwinds.

Racer Ex 

I saw Cleave coming through on the front in the last corner. The glare he gave those guys for dilly dallying probably melted the glue on their tubulars.

shovelhd