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| 2008 TTT Champs |
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Podium, baby!
Headline news, Cycle-U road team got 3rd place in Washington Team Time Trial championships.
Pictures are here
Sunday, July 20, 2008
W.W.J.D.
Jens Voigt had a great quote in the tour the other day. He said a German coach once gave him some wise advice: "If you try to win, you might lose, but if you never try to win, you've lost for sure".
This was our mantra for the Cycle U road team effort on Saturday's Skagit Valley Flats race. Making his first comeback since the horrific crash of Wenatchee
(see pic of broken bike), Nelson J. was ready to roll and make a hard effort. We carpooled with Alex T. who already has roughly 30 formal races under his belt this year and possibly close to 60 days racing if you count every little PIR, Seward event etc.
(see pic of broken bike), Nelson J. was ready to roll and make a hard effort. We carpooled with Alex T. who already has roughly 30 formal races under his belt this year and possibly close to 60 days racing if you count every little PIR, Seward event etc.We got an early start and arrived before check-in or the course was even marked. We found the staging area and decided to warm up on the course, a 5+ mile loop with a decent headwind and a little hillock to climb on one corner but ostensibly flat. We were to do 5 laps.
I wanted to change strategy a little from prior races. Rather than the tried and true "conserve at all costs, go hard at the end" idea, I wanted to try to recreate the magic of Boatstreet, get a little group together and try to stay away from the pack at least for a while, ideally for the duration.
Things got weird quick. First it was awfully cold, relatively speaking. Nary a bare arm to be found in the field - and majority wore knee warmers. As the 4's rolled out, neutrally behind pace car, things were fine, and guys began sorting themselves out in the first 1K of racing. Then the unexpected - the pace car takes a wrong turn! We followed him, then he slowed down and asked someone for directions. Then the ref pulled up and said 'turn it around boys'. So we did, creating an unstable mix of a packed field, a yellow line rule, and in my view - all the faster guys who had been jockeying for the front, now in the back of the pack.
What would Jens do? He would get back to the front however possible. It took about a lap and a half to worm back to the front 20 guys. At one point I rode up the dirt shoulder on the inside to do it. Realized once we were back up there that there was a lone rider about 45 seconds off the front. He apparantly stayed on course while the rest of us foolishly followed the pace car. I figured he'd be neutralized by the ref but obviously not as he stayed away and won the race.
Pack was very skittish, worst I've seen in a while. Lots of brakes touched and ripple effect cause locked tires and smoking rubber! Quite a few near misses with guys not holding lines - overlap was an especially bad idea at this race.
With 3 laps to go, I tried to implement my plan of taking off, but with a few other riders. So I tried the upfront approach and asked a few people who were in the top 20 to come along - and told them when I'd be going. Sbux, Jack's, Byrne and a Cycle Therapy guy. All seemed reasonably open and agreeable, so I made my move on turn 2 and went, I had a gap but no participants! Stuck with it to the next turn, but when I saw how close the pack was I sat up.
Then I saw Nelson for first time, and he moved up to the front and got a little daylight. I tried to block for a little bit. When group caught him, I went again but again to no avail.
Then Alex appeared looking strong and started to do some rotations for a bit, reeled in a solo flyer too. When it was all back together, I went ahead and threw caution to the wind and tried to go again. Still nothing.
Now its bell lap. Where did the time go. We're jostling a little for position. Ryan 6th or so, Alex just behind at maybe 10th. Just before final turn, 4th position violently flats - bam! We carry on. Surge just before the corner, corner, then sprints wind up. Pretty much a cluster fudge finish, so I back off a little, Alex got boxed in. Nelson finished in main pack.
So we were thrilled to all finish wheel side down, not placing is tough, but I certainly felt more tired than last two races where I just tried to sit in and conserve for sprint finish.
We looked good with a teammate in front 5 literally entire race - need to work out a little more of the communication on the bike so we know when to block v. rotate.
Lesson learned: I think sometimes its valuable to race a strategy for the strategies sake. I had to remind myself it was OK to attack because I stated to myself that a placing wasn't a priority on this race, but the mind wants you to jettison that thinking and just play it cool. I also learned guys will probably tell you all kinds of things, and let you dangle off the front on your own. Like love, true breaks are likely more about coincidence than overt planning.
Cheerio.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Derby Day's Crashapalooza
Kenton B., Evan 'Rabid Dog' B. and I met up at the Redmond Derby Day's Crit Saturday 7/12/08.
Fast flat course, oversold to 75+ willing but only partially-abled men who took to the line, some prematurely it seems, to race 35 minutes.
Race officials almost DQ'd some folks who ignored an order to hold until course was opened up for line-up. When we saw guys starting to squat the line, I encouraged our group to' giter done' and get out there. As it turns out, the ref let the guys who listened move to the front.
We wanted to push the pace early, and then settle in. Kenton did this in spades, leading the pack through turn 1 and alternating lead pace-setting through first couple three laps. He was a motor! At one point the promoter called out "Cycle University doing strong work at the front of the bike race".
When they called the first prime, I broke my own pre-race plan by covering the flyer who went off the front - wanting to be like Craig E., who does that kind of thing effortlessly. Alas I'm not him and I burned way too many matches trying to cover him, which I only just barely did by turn 4, and then narrowly pip him on the line. Sheesh - all that work, but it turns out for one of the most unique prizes ever - a case of heart-smart "Corazones" Jalapeno corn chips. School lunches are set for the next year for my kids.
My colleague in this endeavor and I weren't interested in trying to stay away so we didn't. I was thrilled to see Kenton come charging back by for the next few laps.
I think there had been a couple crashes to this point, but fairly far back in the pack, so Kenton and I were largely unmolested. But then a crash happened right after turn 1, when somehow a Starbucks/SCCA rider ended up over - he was behind Kenton and in front of me. I thought for sure I was riding into/over his shiny red bike but somehow I was able to get around him. Kenton/rest of the leaders looked a little like 'whoa!?!' but we carried on. To the credit of the racers/spectators/organizers, all crashes were sorted out before a lap was completed, so while I was in front group all day - we never came upon a scene where we had to take care to avoid folks.
A few more laps go by, then again, just after turn 1, that distinctive sounds of thud and scrape as expensive parts and dreams of glory go the way of the Do Do bird. Our intrepid Kenton fell victim to this particular pile-up, photographed by Amara B. here: http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/2008/pages/94AD1795dd.htm He's in that pile somewhere.
As to when he'll next jump into a 4/5 race, Kenton had this to say:
http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/2008/pages/94AD1827dd.htm [Edited out]. As the promoters blended all the master's together, it made some guys go 4/5 - many won't again I suspect.
And our new sensation Evan B. earned his new nickname by literally rinsing his guts out to stay in the pack, avoid the crashes and finish the race. http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/2008/pages/94AD1763dd.htm
Lessons learned: if you want to win - conserve at all costs. Going for the prime was stupid. Podium guys rode smart, never in top 4-5 during the race, they sat and they waited. Acceleration really happens at start of bell lap, and just builds to a crescendo heading into turn 4. I put it in the 53x11 just before turn 4, tried to guesstimate where 250 meters out was and then gave it all - alas not enough. Second place rider was in a crash and got back in the race - chapeau!
Enough criteriums already. Looking forward to Skagit circuit race next weekend and some pure climbing.
PS - Coach Ed looked good in 3's race but didnt stay for finish.
Fast flat course, oversold to 75+ willing but only partially-abled men who took to the line, some prematurely it seems, to race 35 minutes.
Race officials almost DQ'd some folks who ignored an order to hold until course was opened up for line-up. When we saw guys starting to squat the line, I encouraged our group to' giter done' and get out there. As it turns out, the ref let the guys who listened move to the front.
We wanted to push the pace early, and then settle in. Kenton did this in spades, leading the pack through turn 1 and alternating lead pace-setting through first couple three laps. He was a motor! At one point the promoter called out "Cycle University doing strong work at the front of the bike race".
When they called the first prime, I broke my own pre-race plan by covering the flyer who went off the front - wanting to be like Craig E., who does that kind of thing effortlessly. Alas I'm not him and I burned way too many matches trying to cover him, which I only just barely did by turn 4, and then narrowly pip him on the line. Sheesh - all that work, but it turns out for one of the most unique prizes ever - a case of heart-smart "Corazones" Jalapeno corn chips. School lunches are set for the next year for my kids.
My colleague in this endeavor and I weren't interested in trying to stay away so we didn't. I was thrilled to see Kenton come charging back by for the next few laps.
I think there had been a couple crashes to this point, but fairly far back in the pack, so Kenton and I were largely unmolested. But then a crash happened right after turn 1, when somehow a Starbucks/SCCA rider ended up over - he was behind Kenton and in front of me. I thought for sure I was riding into/over his shiny red bike but somehow I was able to get around him. Kenton/rest of the leaders looked a little like 'whoa!?!' but we carried on. To the credit of the racers/spectators/organizers, all crashes were sorted out before a lap was completed, so while I was in front group all day - we never came upon a scene where we had to take care to avoid folks.
A few more laps go by, then again, just after turn 1, that distinctive sounds of thud and scrape as expensive parts and dreams of glory go the way of the Do Do bird. Our intrepid Kenton fell victim to this particular pile-up, photographed by Amara B. here: http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/2008/pages/94AD1795dd.htm He's in that pile somewhere.
As to when he'll next jump into a 4/5 race, Kenton had this to say:
http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/2008/pages/94AD1827dd.htm [Edited out]. As the promoters blended all the master's together, it made some guys go 4/5 - many won't again I suspect.
And our new sensation Evan B. earned his new nickname by literally rinsing his guts out to stay in the pack, avoid the crashes and finish the race. http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/2008/pages/94AD1763dd.htm
Lessons learned: if you want to win - conserve at all costs. Going for the prime was stupid. Podium guys rode smart, never in top 4-5 during the race, they sat and they waited. Acceleration really happens at start of bell lap, and just builds to a crescendo heading into turn 4. I put it in the 53x11 just before turn 4, tried to guesstimate where 250 meters out was and then gave it all - alas not enough. Second place rider was in a crash and got back in the race - chapeau!
Enough criteriums already. Looking forward to Skagit circuit race next weekend and some pure climbing.
PS - Coach Ed looked good in 3's race but didnt stay for finish.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Pacific Raceway, Cat 4/5 Criterium, 7/1/08
Made my 3rd trip down to Pacific Raceway for the Cat 4/5 race (only my 2nd time to race since the last trip I declared a wash-out after seeing a drenched track). I have only been on my bike once in the last 2 weeks; wife is out of town traveling and I am covering the home front and kids solo. Sometimes fresh legs works in your favor and sometimes not so much so I had a real wait and see attitude.
Weather was great, probably mid 70's with no wind .... basically perfect. The course is the flat track with the two dragstrips and wide loops which is my favorite. Craig, CycleU team coach was there and several team mates who I had not met before. Sorry I missed getting everyone's name in memory but seemed like everyone enjoyed the race.
So about the race, typical warm up, brought no water which is really fine with me for a 50 min race. True to form I forgot to clear or interval my powertap so I need to clean out the warm up data. Typical scramble up to the line and there were approximately 60 riders from a variety of teams. Not sure but we may have been racing with Cat 3/4/5 together again. First lap starts out with no neutral roll out so by turn 1 the pace is clipping along pretty good, I work to get in the front 10 riders. Lap 2, not alot of action but different individuals are cruising up to the front to put the hammer down. At the long back stretch it gets strung out single file but it still is pretty unorganized and no one is making any serious moves. I am sticking in middle/front of the pack just grabbing wheels trying not to fall back.
Prem lap comes up and you can feel the pace pick up. I didn't join in the sprint, mainly out of self doubt (that match burning thing) and I was also out of position at about 20th coming out of the last turn. Gotta remember to either organize with the team or grab a better wheel for that bottom turn. Everyone sits up after the line and the peloton rolls on.
Somewhere in the next couple of laps was another prem but I missed the bell so don't really know what happened. It must have not been that serious of an effort because I really wondered what happened to the 2nd prem when they called out 2 laps to go.
2 laps is called and I move up to 10th'ish because the pack is sounding way too healthy. Lots of chatter, no one looks winded at all, and groups are starting to talk tactics. Pace picks up but you can sense people are loading up for the last lap.
Last lap, in the front 1/3 going into the 1st of the two turns. A WA Wines guy makes a move coming out of turn one against the wall and I follow his wheel. We quickly move up to front 15'ish going into the bottom turn. Rounding out the back of that turn I move to the outside edge of the last right hander afraid of getting caught against the barrier. I am feeling really good and decide to dive into the sprint, I fly around some people that are pulling out but am still just holding position against riders that are better organized on the inside. Just can't find a wheel to follow and I don't have a sprint from the last corner all the way to the line. I think I finished somewhere around 15th which is respectable for me.
Lessons learned:
I have finally figured out how to take the 2nd corner without reducing speed. I am sure other racers behind me appreciate this but my quads really enjoyed not having to pound as hard coming out of that corner. I sat in the front part of the pack the entire ride. No pulls at the front, no hanging on the outside in the wind, less accelarations required out of the corners, no slinky effect from pack surges ...that was a huge effort saver .... somewhat boring but it made a monsterous difference in how strong i finished.
I should have went for one of the prems. I had the legs to contest either one of the two prems or the finish but that would have required some planning on my own or in a team effort. I could have focused on one of the prems but I wanted to finish strong ... finishing any stronger would require moving up to top 5 in the last corner or some team tactics .... both a good idea.
End of the last lap I averaged 32mph, 457 watt avg, with a max of 750 watts. I think I was in 50x12 in the home stretch and that was too much gear with not enough cadence. I think I could hit more speed with less gear/more cadence. I obviously thought differently going into the turn but I either need to test this in training or try different next time.
Overall,
Great nice for racing and riding in the middle of the pack made the race much easier. I told the guys we must have rode slow but they said we averaged 25 for the 50 minutes ... they call that pedal efficiency right? I think I graduated from raw newbie to pack fill and will work on making that jump to contesting for something. I would also like to get some team tactics going, my cornering is good enough now I could lead out for someone which would be fun. I'll also work on getting some pics to liven up these long post.
Again, sorry I didn't get everyone's name and please chime in with your experience.
Weather was great, probably mid 70's with no wind .... basically perfect. The course is the flat track with the two dragstrips and wide loops which is my favorite. Craig, CycleU team coach was there and several team mates who I had not met before. Sorry I missed getting everyone's name in memory but seemed like everyone enjoyed the race.
So about the race, typical warm up, brought no water which is really fine with me for a 50 min race. True to form I forgot to clear or interval my powertap so I need to clean out the warm up data. Typical scramble up to the line and there were approximately 60 riders from a variety of teams. Not sure but we may have been racing with Cat 3/4/5 together again. First lap starts out with no neutral roll out so by turn 1 the pace is clipping along pretty good, I work to get in the front 10 riders. Lap 2, not alot of action but different individuals are cruising up to the front to put the hammer down. At the long back stretch it gets strung out single file but it still is pretty unorganized and no one is making any serious moves. I am sticking in middle/front of the pack just grabbing wheels trying not to fall back.
Prem lap comes up and you can feel the pace pick up. I didn't join in the sprint, mainly out of self doubt (that match burning thing) and I was also out of position at about 20th coming out of the last turn. Gotta remember to either organize with the team or grab a better wheel for that bottom turn. Everyone sits up after the line and the peloton rolls on.
Somewhere in the next couple of laps was another prem but I missed the bell so don't really know what happened. It must have not been that serious of an effort because I really wondered what happened to the 2nd prem when they called out 2 laps to go.
2 laps is called and I move up to 10th'ish because the pack is sounding way too healthy. Lots of chatter, no one looks winded at all, and groups are starting to talk tactics. Pace picks up but you can sense people are loading up for the last lap.
Last lap, in the front 1/3 going into the 1st of the two turns. A WA Wines guy makes a move coming out of turn one against the wall and I follow his wheel. We quickly move up to front 15'ish going into the bottom turn. Rounding out the back of that turn I move to the outside edge of the last right hander afraid of getting caught against the barrier. I am feeling really good and decide to dive into the sprint, I fly around some people that are pulling out but am still just holding position against riders that are better organized on the inside. Just can't find a wheel to follow and I don't have a sprint from the last corner all the way to the line. I think I finished somewhere around 15th which is respectable for me.
Lessons learned:
I have finally figured out how to take the 2nd corner without reducing speed. I am sure other racers behind me appreciate this but my quads really enjoyed not having to pound as hard coming out of that corner. I sat in the front part of the pack the entire ride. No pulls at the front, no hanging on the outside in the wind, less accelarations required out of the corners, no slinky effect from pack surges ...that was a huge effort saver .... somewhat boring but it made a monsterous difference in how strong i finished.
I should have went for one of the prems. I had the legs to contest either one of the two prems or the finish but that would have required some planning on my own or in a team effort. I could have focused on one of the prems but I wanted to finish strong ... finishing any stronger would require moving up to top 5 in the last corner or some team tactics .... both a good idea.
End of the last lap I averaged 32mph, 457 watt avg, with a max of 750 watts. I think I was in 50x12 in the home stretch and that was too much gear with not enough cadence. I think I could hit more speed with less gear/more cadence. I obviously thought differently going into the turn but I either need to test this in training or try different next time.
Overall,
Great nice for racing and riding in the middle of the pack made the race much easier. I told the guys we must have rode slow but they said we averaged 25 for the 50 minutes ... they call that pedal efficiency right? I think I graduated from raw newbie to pack fill and will work on making that jump to contesting for something. I would also like to get some team tactics going, my cornering is good enough now I could lead out for someone which would be fun. I'll also work on getting some pics to liven up these long post.
Again, sorry I didn't get everyone's name and please chime in with your experience.
Repeat After Me
The Tuesday/Thursday morning hill madness continued today, with Evan B, Ryan D, Sabrina H, Chris O and Bill S meeting at the Husky at 6a sharp to ride repeats. In Ryan's words, "It don't wait, so don't be late...", and we rolled promptly at six.
We headed through the Arboretum to LWB and up Madrona. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. If you're dizzy, that's six times, and we've got proof here:
Full GPS track is up at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6130411
Thanks to everyone for coming and making it a great morning! Oh yeah, Chris showed up and rode hard with a fever. There went the last excuse in my book. Very nice, Chris.
The next ride is Thursday (7/3), 6a at the Husky. We'll ride up Queen Anne via 3rd Ave W from Nickerson. It will hurt so good.
We headed through the Arboretum to LWB and up Madrona. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Then up. Then down. If you're dizzy, that's six times, and we've got proof here:
Full GPS track is up at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6130411
Thanks to everyone for coming and making it a great morning! Oh yeah, Chris showed up and rode hard with a fever. There went the last excuse in my book. Very nice, Chris.
The next ride is Thursday (7/3), 6a at the Husky. We'll ride up Queen Anne via 3rd Ave W from Nickerson. It will hurt so good.
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