2010 Pescadero Road Race by Chris Scheetz

Pescadero Road Race – 06/19/2010
Race Day Conditions – Overcast with temperatures in the low to mid 60’s, negligible wind, road was dry.
Course – 47 miles and approximately 3,620 feet of cumulative elevation gain.
Bike Ridden – 2004 Airborne Zeppelin, Titanium frame, running a compact crank set, 50-34 with a 12-23 rear cassette.
Raced in the CAT 4/5 45+ Category
The field was full; we started at 9:45am. It was a controlled start with a promenade of the peloton from Pescadero High School through downtown Pescadero, the whistle blown for the start of the race on the outskirts of town. We headed north on Stage Road and we were faced with basically seven miles and 800 + feet of climbing over two 400 foot hills. One thing I am not, is a proficient fast climber, and I faced difficulty during the first climb on Stage Road. As we ascended the first climb, the peloton quickly strung out on the narrow two lane road. I made my way over the first hill at the back of the field. I made good time on the decent and passed a hand full of less confident riders. As we hit the second climb, there was less traffic, but the majority of the peloton was well on their way over the second climb. I was not overly concerned at my position at this point as my primary objective was just to finish the race. There were seven of us at this point.
As we turned right on Highway 84, we could see the peloton at large only some 100 meters ahead of us. As we quickly figured out, now was the time to work collectively and endeavour to close the gap. Unfortunately for us, after a couple of miles, it was apparent the peloton was pacing faster than us. It was then that I looked at the riders around me and figured this was to be my race within the race.
As we raced east on 84, all seven were taking our turns at the front. To my surprise, half way on 84, we were passed by a group of seven plus that had started with us, but fared worse on Stage Road. Now we were fourteen plus but the peloton was out of sight.
We worked as a group until the right turn on Pesacadero Road and the approximately three mile accent of Pescadero Road/Haskins Grade. As mentioned earlier, I am not a not a proficient fast climber. With the group I was in, some riders moved forward, some moved backwards. I ended up somewhere in the middle. I read an article one time about racing in the hills and the author said it was all about the individual tempo and that is was I concentrated on. Three miles is was a long grade for me, validated by the movement of riders going past me and riders I pass. It was a relief when I reached the sign that said “2K” to the top. I felt good I was close to the crest, but then again, I never fully grasped the metric system. That was a long 2K. Then came 1K, then the 500K, 200K, 100K (what is this........ a sprint, we are going uphill at some reasonably difficult grade). I finally crested at what was ultimately to be finish line, problem was, I had another approximate 20 miles of racing.
The good thing about reaching the top of Haskins Grade was I had an approximate 10 miles of downhill, a good part being a fast technical decent. Numerous riders were passed on this decent.
On the decent, the group I was riding in was basically that same group as I stared the climb with plus a handful of riders caught on the decent. We rode collectively back to the town of Pescadero. (We even passed the group of CAT 45+ 1-2-3 that stared before us, how could that be???)
We passed back through the town of Pescadero on Stage Road. No more than a mile into Stage Road, we were passed by the CAT 45+ 1-2-3, drat!!. We road sensibly over Stage Road as a group took our right on 84. On 84, we caught and passed several other tired riders. We all knew when we reached the right on Pescadero Road, the race was on...
On queue, as we turned on Pescadeo Road, acceleration was increased and it became a function of how long can you sustain the pain! For me, it was all about tempo. Riders mover ahead of me and riders fell back. The defining moment in the race for me came at the “2K” to the top sign was reached. I knew metrics now! I increased my tempo and actually had in my sights, a hand full of riders in front of me that were within reach. Steady as she goes, 1K to go, passed a rider, 500K one more rider, 200K no one, 100K to go, yikes, two more riders ahead of me, if I do anything now, I need to beat these two guys to the top. There are advantages to accelerating from behind your opponent, take them by surprise, that is exactly what I did beating them to the finish line only to be greeted by another 10 miles to get back to my car.
While I did not have a podium or top ten finish, I completed an epic race in an epic venue that is open to anyone who has the desire test their racing abilities.
Overall time and speed per my computer was 2:29:56 averaging 18.8 mph.