Race Report Thread
06-11-17, 09:35 AM
#676
aka mattio
Yeah... those guys are great. and it's definitely a robust field. Roger - wow - what a show of brute force he put on. I've raced with riders of that caliber before, but what's really new is the breadth of the field. The incredible talent of the midpack riders. It's deep, it's really deep. Strong guys losing a lap one race and then throwing down big time for the next.
I was sitting 10th in the Omnium going into the points race, and guys behind me in the overall were up the track scooping up points while the field was chasing pretty enthusiastically. I've got almost 10 mins at about 52kph average in my data.
Combine that with a big track, a big field, big gears, and a bit of banging around as everybody is looking for opportunities in a big field - it's a very exciting new awesome hard challenging environment.
I mean, every time I've raced a new field (not juts a local field; the first time i raced regionally, or nationally, etc) it's been exactly that learning experience.
And nothing drills it down more than the elimination, where everbody's hammering, not sprinting - the speed is constantly high - everybody is fighting for position - it's a huge field... the difference between an elite elimination and a local one is light years.
it feels great to have had some top tens in a few of the races - and to feel outgunned - and to know that i'm stronger than i ever have been before, and also that there's room to build from here, through the season, and into Nats.
I was sitting 10th in the Omnium going into the points race, and guys behind me in the overall were up the track scooping up points while the field was chasing pretty enthusiastically. I've got almost 10 mins at about 52kph average in my data.
Combine that with a big track, a big field, big gears, and a bit of banging around as everybody is looking for opportunities in a big field - it's a very exciting new awesome hard challenging environment.
I mean, every time I've raced a new field (not juts a local field; the first time i raced regionally, or nationally, etc) it's been exactly that learning experience.
And nothing drills it down more than the elimination, where everbody's hammering, not sprinting - the speed is constantly high - everybody is fighting for position - it's a huge field... the difference between an elite elimination and a local one is light years.
it feels great to have had some top tens in a few of the races - and to feel outgunned - and to know that i'm stronger than i ever have been before, and also that there's room to build from here, through the season, and into Nats.
06-11-17, 10:18 AM
#677
Full Member
Yeah... those guys are great. and it's definitely a robust field. Roger - wow - what a show of brute force he put on. I've raced with riders of that caliber before, but what's really new is the breadth of the field. The incredible talent of the midpack riders. It's deep, it's really deep. Strong guys losing a lap one race and then throwing down big time for the next.
I was sitting 10th in the Omnium going into the points race, and guys behind me in the overall were up the track scooping up points while the field was chasing pretty enthusiastically. I've got almost 10 mins at about 52kph average in my data.
Combine that with a big track, a big field, big gears, and a bit of banging around as everybody is looking for opportunities in a big field - it's a very exciting new awesome hard challenging environment.
I mean, every time I've raced a new field (not juts a local field; the first time i raced regionally, or nationally, etc) it's been exactly that learning experience.
And nothing drills it down more than the elimination, where everbody's hammering, not sprinting - the speed is constantly high - everybody is fighting for position - it's a huge field... the difference between an elite elimination and a local one is light years.
it feels great to have had some top tens in a few of the races - and to feel outgunned - and to know that i'm stronger than i ever have been before, and also that there's room to build from here, through the season, and into Nats.
I was sitting 10th in the Omnium going into the points race, and guys behind me in the overall were up the track scooping up points while the field was chasing pretty enthusiastically. I've got almost 10 mins at about 52kph average in my data.
Combine that with a big track, a big field, big gears, and a bit of banging around as everybody is looking for opportunities in a big field - it's a very exciting new awesome hard challenging environment.
I mean, every time I've raced a new field (not juts a local field; the first time i raced regionally, or nationally, etc) it's been exactly that learning experience.
And nothing drills it down more than the elimination, where everbody's hammering, not sprinting - the speed is constantly high - everybody is fighting for position - it's a huge field... the difference between an elite elimination and a local one is light years.
it feels great to have had some top tens in a few of the races - and to feel outgunned - and to know that i'm stronger than i ever have been before, and also that there's room to build from here, through the season, and into Nats.
06-11-17, 10:25 AM
#678
Full Member
Also, it's very possible to over-do it in a workout or race day. It really depends on where you are in your program if your program can a day like you had (digging really deep, puking, etc...).
The body can respond in one of two ways:
- Treat it as stimulus and induce overcompensation (growth)
- Treat it as over-training and induce fatigue. The "hole" that's hard to dig out of and takes weeks of time off the bike.
The body can respond in one of two ways:
- Treat it as stimulus and induce overcompensation (growth)
- Treat it as over-training and induce fatigue. The "hole" that's hard to dig out of and takes weeks of time off the bike.
06-11-17, 12:28 PM
#679
Full Member
Yeah... those guys are great. and it's definitely a robust field. Roger - wow - what a show of brute force he put on. I've raced with riders of that caliber before, but what's really new is the breadth of the field. The incredible talent of the midpack riders. It's deep, it's really deep. Strong guys losing a lap one race and then throwing down big time for the next.
I was sitting 10th in the Omnium going into the points race, and guys behind me in the overall were up the track scooping up points while the field was chasing pretty enthusiastically. I've got almost 10 mins at about 52kph average in my data.
Combine that with a big track, a big field, big gears, and a bit of banging around as everybody is looking for opportunities in a big field - it's a very exciting new awesome hard challenging environment.
I mean, every time I've raced a new field (not juts a local field; the first time i raced regionally, or nationally, etc) it's been exactly that learning experience.
And nothing drills it down more than the elimination, where everybody's hammering, not sprinting - the speed is constantly high - everybody is fighting for position - it's a huge field... the difference between an elite elimination and a local one is light years.
it feels great to have had some top tens in a few of the races - and to feel outgunned - and to know that I'm stronger than i ever have been before, and also that there's room to build from here, through the season, and into Nats.
I was sitting 10th in the Omnium going into the points race, and guys behind me in the overall were up the track scooping up points while the field was chasing pretty enthusiastically. I've got almost 10 mins at about 52kph average in my data.
Combine that with a big track, a big field, big gears, and a bit of banging around as everybody is looking for opportunities in a big field - it's a very exciting new awesome hard challenging environment.
I mean, every time I've raced a new field (not juts a local field; the first time i raced regionally, or nationally, etc) it's been exactly that learning experience.
And nothing drills it down more than the elimination, where everybody's hammering, not sprinting - the speed is constantly high - everybody is fighting for position - it's a huge field... the difference between an elite elimination and a local one is light years.
it feels great to have had some top tens in a few of the races - and to feel outgunned - and to know that I'm stronger than i ever have been before, and also that there's room to build from here, through the season, and into Nats.
Seriously, it was a great weekend of racing in T-town, followed up by another impressive fireworks display. I was truly impressed with the speed of the international field. We had 19 countries represented, so the fields were huge.
DCAQqf1XUAEpMLE.jpg
More here: @thevelodrome
06-11-17, 01:47 PM
#680
aka mattio
that fireworks display was out of control - i've never seen the kind of firework that's just a huge ball of fire slowly rising and burning. wtf was that?! three times?!
06-11-17, 03:06 PM
#681
Full Member
Here's a tutorial:
06-14-17, 10:12 AM
#683
Idiot Emeritus
I want to point out that I'm a sprinter and I don't want to make a habit of contesting mass start events. However, my coach and I agreed that the experience is worth getting a few mass starts out of my system. I do enjoy a crit now and then, a women's field, where the factor is age and not genetic. However, the pickings on the track, at least for Hellyer, are a lot less if you're a masters women. I mean a 65+ masters woman, not a 35 or 45. So, for the omnium I decided to do, it was race with the men or don't race. Granted, I'd probably have a better experience in a young 3/4/5 women's field for a mass start event than I would in any men's field, but my thinking was the title "Geezer Races" would mean older folks, and a more sustainable pace as well as attacks I could manage.
Nope.
This was my second "attempt" at the Hellyer Vie 13 Geezer Races. Last night was scratch races only. And, Rock Hill is two weeks away. Guess who came to dinner?? Add into the mix that I raced a crit and time trial over the weekend, so I had some racing in my legs already.
Venue: Hellyer Park Velodrome
Date: 13 June 2017
Race: Geezer Race Omnium, Scratchapalooza (Three consecutive scratch races)
Conditions: Cool and breezy
I rode the Vie 13 "Geezer Races" at Hellyer again tonight. On the menu was "Scratchapaloosa". Three scratch races. It was three girls vs. more than 15 boys, Cat 1/2 boys, tuning up for Track Nats at the end of the month in Rock Hill, SC. And, they brought their A Game. From my perspective, it was hardly a fair fight. I'm not going to bother with a race report, because I didn't race. I couldn't race with those guys! I didn't even really survive. I have no idea what a fist fight feels like, but it has to be something like what happened to me tonight in that first race. I was sure I was punched at least a half dozen times. Right in the nose. The speed I got to was 31 MPH on the first lap, and I was fading rapidly off the back at that pace. Heaven knows how fast that pack was going. Chase back on? Where was the motor??
After the first race, one of the women prompted the girls to gang up on the RD, and we told him "THAT was NOT fun!" So, he broke out the 60+ men from the overall field (they were nobodies; just WR holders and National record holders) and combined we girls with them and sent us all out to do a ten lap scratch race on our own. It was a little late for me and my legs, though. I managed to stay in for five laps, but just could not match a jump and stay attached. My legs, and body, had had enough, I had put them through an awful lot over the weekend. I did finish, however.
But, when we rolled out for the third and last 15 lap scratch race, that was the coup de grace. I lasted, I think, three maybe four laps. There was an acceleration, not even a hard one, and the rubber band popped. I had nothing in the tank left to summon up a chase, so I rolled onto the apron and called it a night.
Remind me not to do that again! Except maybe an omnium at VSC. On second thought, maybe not. I'll stick with sprint events!
Thanks for reading!
Nope.
This was my second "attempt" at the Hellyer Vie 13 Geezer Races. Last night was scratch races only. And, Rock Hill is two weeks away. Guess who came to dinner?? Add into the mix that I raced a crit and time trial over the weekend, so I had some racing in my legs already.
Venue: Hellyer Park Velodrome
Date: 13 June 2017
Race: Geezer Race Omnium, Scratchapalooza (Three consecutive scratch races)
Conditions: Cool and breezy
I rode the Vie 13 "Geezer Races" at Hellyer again tonight. On the menu was "Scratchapaloosa". Three scratch races. It was three girls vs. more than 15 boys, Cat 1/2 boys, tuning up for Track Nats at the end of the month in Rock Hill, SC. And, they brought their A Game. From my perspective, it was hardly a fair fight. I'm not going to bother with a race report, because I didn't race. I couldn't race with those guys! I didn't even really survive. I have no idea what a fist fight feels like, but it has to be something like what happened to me tonight in that first race. I was sure I was punched at least a half dozen times. Right in the nose. The speed I got to was 31 MPH on the first lap, and I was fading rapidly off the back at that pace. Heaven knows how fast that pack was going. Chase back on? Where was the motor??
After the first race, one of the women prompted the girls to gang up on the RD, and we told him "THAT was NOT fun!" So, he broke out the 60+ men from the overall field (they were nobodies; just WR holders and National record holders) and combined we girls with them and sent us all out to do a ten lap scratch race on our own. It was a little late for me and my legs, though. I managed to stay in for five laps, but just could not match a jump and stay attached. My legs, and body, had had enough, I had put them through an awful lot over the weekend. I did finish, however.
But, when we rolled out for the third and last 15 lap scratch race, that was the coup de grace. I lasted, I think, three maybe four laps. There was an acceleration, not even a hard one, and the rubber band popped. I had nothing in the tank left to summon up a chase, so I rolled onto the apron and called it a night.
Remind me not to do that again! Except maybe an omnium at VSC. On second thought, maybe not. I'll stick with sprint events!
Thanks for reading!
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"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"
06-14-17, 04:22 PM
#684
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Last week, the podium for the women's cat 4/5 omnium was 66 years old. We've worked hard to create two women's fields for exactly this purpose. This Saturday is the last one of the year. JUST FYI.
06-14-17, 05:01 PM
#685
Idiot Emeritus
Vance, seriously, I'd LOVE to do an omnium at VSC. I did watch the one when I was there for the LAVRA TT last month, and I wish I'd entered it. Racer Ex was surprised I hadn't! You have a pretty good population of masters ladies to draw on. Up here, not so much. Sadly, this weekend I'm working, so I can't make it - darn it!! I know you've worked hard to put together a great series for the women, the word has spread!
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"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"
07-03-17, 08:45 PM
#686
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Back from Master's track Nats at Rock Hill. Tom at USAC is really just getting better and better at this, pretty much went off without a hitch despite a lot of weather rolling in and out. Like that track a lot.
07-03-17, 09:25 PM
#687
Idiot Emeritus
I wish I'd gone!
Great racing out there, Ex!!
Great racing out there, Ex!!
__________________
"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"
07-03-17, 09:27 PM
#688
Idiot Emeritus
Me, I just did a couple of inconsequential mass start races with the young women at Hellyer last Wednesday. At last, people I can race with! Good times, I wasn't looking for results, just experience. I wish I'd jumped into the Keirin qualifier that night, though. Maybe next time - which will probably be next year!
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"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"
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07-04-17, 08:45 AM
#689
Full Member
Well, got back from Nationals. Things didn't go as well as planned -- despite probably being fastest on paper in a sprint I botched the scratch race and lost a lap. Got within 5 bike lengths of the winning break and sat up thinking "this isn't going to work". They then went on to lap the field.... It was won by Brian from Atlanta, who was totally deserving and a nice guy to boot.
Proceeded to blow myself up in the points race -- went across solo to a 4 man break early in the race. They had a half lap lead and I never really recovered from the bridge. Sometimes you throw the dice and take your chances. Finished 6th.
Not being satisfied (glutton for punishment) decided to do the team pursuit and madison. Are team pursuit was made of up of 2 riders who had never done TP (or ridden on aero bars on a track). As for the madison, I had hurt my ribs a month ago and I could only do a half throw...
Team Pursuit. Of course this went as expected. We started with one of the slowest starts out of ALL the age+gender categories (I think we beat one 45+ women's team?) with a 1:04. We then had an arm pad come off which resulted in 2 riders riding side by side. We then finished the last kilo in 1:04. We then proceeded to cheer secretly cheer other teams self-destructing, "Go. Go. attack your team mates!" Schadenfreude! I'm not sure that our slapstick team deserved the silver, but we'll take it.
Madison. At the end of the day, 90+ degrees, a total death march. Well, not being able to do a real sling was, well, a significant handicap. Being a light rider, I can usually get massive boost and pressure the field at will. This time, it allowed me to just keep up. The team from Colorado was really strong, and we had to really fight to stay with them. My partner was great but it was really all we could do to get silver -- he was getting almost no throw off of me and he'd fight to keep them within 20m. Then I would sprint to recatch. Wash repeat. 80 laps of 40/40 intervals?
The highlight of my trip was being able to hangout with some real characters. Nima, Tim Mullins, Randy, Heath, Santiago. Real throwback guys when racing was filled with characters and not just people chasing watts.
Proceeded to blow myself up in the points race -- went across solo to a 4 man break early in the race. They had a half lap lead and I never really recovered from the bridge. Sometimes you throw the dice and take your chances. Finished 6th.
Not being satisfied (glutton for punishment) decided to do the team pursuit and madison. Are team pursuit was made of up of 2 riders who had never done TP (or ridden on aero bars on a track). As for the madison, I had hurt my ribs a month ago and I could only do a half throw...
Team Pursuit. Of course this went as expected. We started with one of the slowest starts out of ALL the age+gender categories (I think we beat one 45+ women's team?) with a 1:04. We then had an arm pad come off which resulted in 2 riders riding side by side. We then finished the last kilo in 1:04. We then proceeded to cheer secretly cheer other teams self-destructing, "Go. Go. attack your team mates!" Schadenfreude! I'm not sure that our slapstick team deserved the silver, but we'll take it.
Madison. At the end of the day, 90+ degrees, a total death march. Well, not being able to do a real sling was, well, a significant handicap. Being a light rider, I can usually get massive boost and pressure the field at will. This time, it allowed me to just keep up. The team from Colorado was really strong, and we had to really fight to stay with them. My partner was great but it was really all we could do to get silver -- he was getting almost no throw off of me and he'd fight to keep them within 20m. Then I would sprint to recatch. Wash repeat. 80 laps of 40/40 intervals?
The highlight of my trip was being able to hangout with some real characters. Nima, Tim Mullins, Randy, Heath, Santiago. Real throwback guys when racing was filled with characters and not just people chasing watts.
07-04-17, 08:52 AM
#690
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"Go. Go. attack your team mates!" Schadenfreude!
Sounds like a fun week!
I want to +1 Racer Ex's assessment. I was only on site for the last 2 days watching, but it seemed to be organized well and they handled adversity (rain, lightning, manufacturing plant fire, etc...) with immediate, up-front, clear and concise communication. Website schedule updates were prompt as well.
I got to finally meet a few folks from here as well.
07-04-17, 09:53 AM
#691
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Anyway, if you ever want to get together on a Saturday to practice the Madison, I would love to do that. I've never done it, and I was advised that it is something you need to practice before getting out there and doing it.
07-04-17, 10:01 AM
#692
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I agree completely. Between Tom and the Rock Hill staff and volunteers, it was a great competition. I will gladly return there. I hope my track does as well with UCI Master Worlds.
07-04-17, 10:25 AM
#693
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Would have been good to put some names to faces, sorry I was out of the loop.
Ended up 3,5,2,4 in my events. Missed the jersey by a 1.1s in the TP. My tandem TT partner took gold in the match sprints, my other teammate took the points race (my 3rd place). I kept from melting, had some good fried chicken, and got to hang out with friends I don't get to see enough. Long but good week.
Ended up 3,5,2,4 in my events. Missed the jersey by a 1.1s in the TP. My tandem TT partner took gold in the match sprints, my other teammate took the points race (my 3rd place). I kept from melting, had some good fried chicken, and got to hang out with friends I don't get to see enough. Long but good week.
07-04-17, 10:29 AM
#694
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I went 2 for two, gold in 65 plus 500 and team sprint. I wish I had time to look up people here but since I don't know many faces I would have had to go around asking each person if they played on this forum. It was just too hot to do anything but sit in my chair under a wet towel unless I actually had to be on the bike.
07-04-17, 10:35 AM
#695
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Apparently way more people know me than I can remember at Rock Hill. Given how I left that track in 2015, I was really touched at the loudness of the cheering when the 500 podium was announced. I was really glad I went back this year to close the circle.
07-04-17, 03:25 PM
#698
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Awesome Rensho. Congrats.
I guess my name is actually "Up Up Up". That's what they were yelling at me anyway.
I guess my name is actually "Up Up Up". That's what they were yelling at me anyway.
07-04-17, 03:36 PM
#699
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Just got back from Masters Natz as well....500 didn't go as well as I'd hoped and the sprints went better than expected. I ended up doing every repacharge which put me at 11 sprint heats to make it a LONG day, but I made it to the semi's and came home with a 4th in the 50-54 group. Training in the hot, Florida mid day heat and humidity provided the conditioning needed to overcome some faster sprinters as my times stayed the same or got faster throughout the day.
07-04-17, 03:47 PM
#700
Full Member
