Saturday, May 18, 2013
2000
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Claremont track series 5/7/2013
First race of the year up at Claremont.
Arrived early, signed up and warmed up on the track with a handful of others. Track is a 1/3 mile oval, with slight banking. 10 of us signed up for the B race, including a Jr on a cross bike, and another fellow on a cross bike w/ a rack! Neutral first lap, then it was on. 40 laps with a sprint for points every 5th lap, and a sprint for primes in between. You'd have 16 opportunities to go for it if you wanted to come home with some glory.
Sat in on the first sprint for points, just went for third place. Points 5 deep, so I was on the board. Jr on the cross bike had a SUPER creaky bottom bracket. I tried to avoid riding his wheel, in case bearings started shooting out and he went down in flames.
After the first sprint, 3 of us had about a 1/4 lap lead. I thought that this was not going to be a 3 man show, and soon enough the rest of the group caught on. Started going for primes after that. It is kind of hard to hear what is up for grabs, sometimes it is $2/$1 for first and second, other primes are gift certificates for local merchants. Got a prime, settled in.
About 15 laps in, I got a bit gassed and let off a bit, which was a big tactical mistake. 6 riders went off, and I was relying on the others to help me chase back on. After a few laps, I realized that they were not working, and were just going to keep on at a more moderate pace. Spent about 10 laps chasing back to the group, which had almost a 1/2 lap lead. I'd get closer, then they'd have a sprint lap, and pull away. About 25 laps in, I caught on, and had enough in the tank to take the next sprint. Unfortunately, I had missed the double points on the mid-race lap.
Alternated sprinting and sitting in for every sprint after that. Picked up another prime and a few more points. Last sprint, again double points. I was tired and got caught a bit too far back, 6th wheel. No way I was going to get to the front in the last 50 meters, so I just rode in and watched from the back.
Came in 6th place, walked off with $1 in cash and $3 in gift certificates. Not bad. Letting the group gap me was a mistake, but first race of the year, it's allowed. Felt much more comfortable and in control sprinting out of the corner, which in the past was a bit nervous. Not sure what changed, but that was a great improvement.
Unfortunately I'll be missing the next two weeks, so not much chance of placing high for the monthly overall payout, but I'll be in seattle, so may try to catch seward park race, and I'll get a ton of riding in while I am there.
Arrived early, signed up and warmed up on the track with a handful of others. Track is a 1/3 mile oval, with slight banking. 10 of us signed up for the B race, including a Jr on a cross bike, and another fellow on a cross bike w/ a rack! Neutral first lap, then it was on. 40 laps with a sprint for points every 5th lap, and a sprint for primes in between. You'd have 16 opportunities to go for it if you wanted to come home with some glory.
Sat in on the first sprint for points, just went for third place. Points 5 deep, so I was on the board. Jr on the cross bike had a SUPER creaky bottom bracket. I tried to avoid riding his wheel, in case bearings started shooting out and he went down in flames.
After the first sprint, 3 of us had about a 1/4 lap lead. I thought that this was not going to be a 3 man show, and soon enough the rest of the group caught on. Started going for primes after that. It is kind of hard to hear what is up for grabs, sometimes it is $2/$1 for first and second, other primes are gift certificates for local merchants. Got a prime, settled in.
About 15 laps in, I got a bit gassed and let off a bit, which was a big tactical mistake. 6 riders went off, and I was relying on the others to help me chase back on. After a few laps, I realized that they were not working, and were just going to keep on at a more moderate pace. Spent about 10 laps chasing back to the group, which had almost a 1/2 lap lead. I'd get closer, then they'd have a sprint lap, and pull away. About 25 laps in, I caught on, and had enough in the tank to take the next sprint. Unfortunately, I had missed the double points on the mid-race lap.
Alternated sprinting and sitting in for every sprint after that. Picked up another prime and a few more points. Last sprint, again double points. I was tired and got caught a bit too far back, 6th wheel. No way I was going to get to the front in the last 50 meters, so I just rode in and watched from the back.
Came in 6th place, walked off with $1 in cash and $3 in gift certificates. Not bad. Letting the group gap me was a mistake, but first race of the year, it's allowed. Felt much more comfortable and in control sprinting out of the corner, which in the past was a bit nervous. Not sure what changed, but that was a great improvement.
Unfortunately I'll be missing the next two weeks, so not much chance of placing high for the monthly overall payout, but I'll be in seattle, so may try to catch seward park race, and I'll get a ton of riding in while I am there.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Shoot the Loop TT
Guess this was the second race of the year. First since Battenkill, three weeks ago ( though it seems like much longer).
Low key 14 mile Time Trial sponsored by Eastern Mountain Sports. Showed up, signed up, took a 15 minute spin, then road back to the shop to check in. Only about a dozen racers. One guy looked very fast, disc wheels and all. His name was Dan. We chatted a bit about my Neuvation wheels on the TT bike, wished each other luck, then sat in on the rider meeting. 30 seconds between starts. Warm day, sunny, around 75 degrees. Pretty nice.
I pulled the low number, which meant that I went first. No problem. Took off, hit the gas, got into a groove. 3 miles of flat riding. Got passed by my minute man at this point ( the fast looking guy, Dan). No problem, he took off and got out of sight pretty quickly. A small rise, then a turn and a bit bigger of a hill. Nothing major, but when you're all out, a 2-3% grade feels murderous. Climbed about 150 feet, then hit a plateau. Still cruising.
Around 9 miles in, I started to see stars. Hit another turn, looked off to the side, and saw another rider about 30 seconds back. Wasn't sure I could hold him off, and was just planning on keeping up speed and let the chips fall. Within a mile, he passed with an "on your left". This ended up being Chris. Really starting to start to feel the burn at this point. Maybe went out just slightly too hot, but not knowing the course or profile, and not having done a TT in a few years, pacing has gone out the window. Not much pacing in the points races I've been doing more of. Or cross for that matter...
Focusing on just keeping a hard pace, keeping the HR close to the red. 1 mile to go, got passed again. Tried to try to stay on this rider. Passing was not going to matter in the results, as he already had at least 30 seconds on me, but wanted to keep him close. Ended finishing about 40 feet off his wheel.
Met the other racers, went for a cruise with Dan. Ended up working a bit hard, but what should I expect trying to keep up with the guy who beat me by 5 minutes in a 14 mile TT? Had a nice conversation. He mentioned they had this TT again in the fall. I said I'd see him there as long as it did not conflict with a cross race. Gotta have your priorities straight!
Great support. Big jug of Nuun, free water bottles and cytomax chews. Every racer got a pair of wool socks. Dan won a helmet and a plaque. I think I came in 4th out of 12? 21.3 mph average, which was pretty good. 3rd overall on the Strava segment, for whatever that is worth. Happy with the performance.
Caught up to my daughter at the park. She had gone fishing with her grandfather, and had caught 2 fish in the first two minutes! Solid dinner at home with the in-laws, couple of glasses of wine. Nice end to the day.
Tomorrow should be intervals, followed by a 20+ mile ride with a friend I have not seen since last fall. Looking forward to it. Seeing the friend. The intervals, not so much.
Low key 14 mile Time Trial sponsored by Eastern Mountain Sports. Showed up, signed up, took a 15 minute spin, then road back to the shop to check in. Only about a dozen racers. One guy looked very fast, disc wheels and all. His name was Dan. We chatted a bit about my Neuvation wheels on the TT bike, wished each other luck, then sat in on the rider meeting. 30 seconds between starts. Warm day, sunny, around 75 degrees. Pretty nice.
I pulled the low number, which meant that I went first. No problem. Took off, hit the gas, got into a groove. 3 miles of flat riding. Got passed by my minute man at this point ( the fast looking guy, Dan). No problem, he took off and got out of sight pretty quickly. A small rise, then a turn and a bit bigger of a hill. Nothing major, but when you're all out, a 2-3% grade feels murderous. Climbed about 150 feet, then hit a plateau. Still cruising.
Around 9 miles in, I started to see stars. Hit another turn, looked off to the side, and saw another rider about 30 seconds back. Wasn't sure I could hold him off, and was just planning on keeping up speed and let the chips fall. Within a mile, he passed with an "on your left". This ended up being Chris. Really starting to start to feel the burn at this point. Maybe went out just slightly too hot, but not knowing the course or profile, and not having done a TT in a few years, pacing has gone out the window. Not much pacing in the points races I've been doing more of. Or cross for that matter...
Focusing on just keeping a hard pace, keeping the HR close to the red. 1 mile to go, got passed again. Tried to try to stay on this rider. Passing was not going to matter in the results, as he already had at least 30 seconds on me, but wanted to keep him close. Ended finishing about 40 feet off his wheel.
Met the other racers, went for a cruise with Dan. Ended up working a bit hard, but what should I expect trying to keep up with the guy who beat me by 5 minutes in a 14 mile TT? Had a nice conversation. He mentioned they had this TT again in the fall. I said I'd see him there as long as it did not conflict with a cross race. Gotta have your priorities straight!
Great support. Big jug of Nuun, free water bottles and cytomax chews. Every racer got a pair of wool socks. Dan won a helmet and a plaque. I think I came in 4th out of 12? 21.3 mph average, which was pretty good. 3rd overall on the Strava segment, for whatever that is worth. Happy with the performance.
Caught up to my daughter at the park. She had gone fishing with her grandfather, and had caught 2 fish in the first two minutes! Solid dinner at home with the in-laws, couple of glasses of wine. Nice end to the day.
Tomorrow should be intervals, followed by a 20+ mile ride with a friend I have not seen since last fall. Looking forward to it. Seeing the friend. The intervals, not so much.
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