Where - At the CCCX Circuit Race course at Fort Ord, CA
When – Oct 1, 2011
Race – 35+ Cat 3/4 Race
Stats – 75 minutes, 7 laps, 30ish miles and still, a beautiful day for a bike ride
Finish – 10th!
CoreTechs Teammates – Andrew Adelman, Steve Stewart, Dave Puglia
Now that I'm a Cat 4, I can race with the fast guys. This pack is made up of younger, stronger and more experienced riders. None the less, I have a huge ego so I think I'm gonna do pretty well!
As the racers assemble at the line for the start, all of us CoreTechs teammates are quietly discussing our tactics and I'm given my assignment. I'm to keep an eye on two particular riders and if either one goes on a break, I am to cover it – that is I'm supposed to go on the break with them. You should also know that I'm told both of these guys are very strong and could get away. Worrying, but I intrepidly accept (again with the ego!)
We start at the whistle. Of course, unlike earlier in the morning, I'm not late, I'm well warmed up and I'm ready for a good race. It's just that, well, I'm not really ready for what actually happens. Right from the whistle, one of my "assignments" speeds away from the front of the pack and creates a break. But hey, I'm savvy and I watch the Tour de France, so of course I know there is no way this guy is going to be able to make it stick by himself. Then Andrew gently reminds me of my assignment. So I report back that "my assignment" is already looking over his shoulder and won't be able to stay away. Andrew chides me a little more and I move up towards the front of the pack to make sure I'm ready for any other moves.
Crap. Another rider has joined up with My Assignment and their gap is getting bigger. I give chase, now knowing full well that I've made a minor mistake. I put in a huge effort to catch the miscreants and am able to stay with them for most of the first lap.
Some of you know that, on the CCCX circuit, there is a 90 degree right hand turn that should be taken fast and that this turn leads into a series of hills that somewhat resemble four or five giant stairs – I call this section, "The Steps". Well my breakaway companions are very fast and I've done some good, hard work to help keep the pack only 15 seconds back. But, I am spent. The Steps finally do me in and, near the top, the pack catches me. I'm able to rejoin and it looks like we're going to reel in the breakaway. So, I settle in and try to rest. It is good to have my teammates nearby and I'm already beginning to recover.
Unfortunately, no one takes up the chase and the gap begins to grow. By the third or fourth lap, the gap between the break and the pack is well over a minute. A couple of individual riders try to bridge the gap but no one is making any real progress.
So, Steve, Andrew and I decide we'll bridge. Andrew leads us out and we accelerate past the front of the pack and pick up a rider who was off the front, trying to bridge by himself. I take the lead and put the hammer down. Up till now, no one else in the pack seems interested in doing any work, they haven't chased any of the other bridging attempts, there are four of us and I'm ready for another maximum effort. So I feel we have a pretty good chance.
But, this is a bike race. I make a strong, hard pull and move to my right so the next guy can take over, when I hear from behind me, "The entire pack is on our wheel." We're going much faster now but it is just bad tactics to do all the work while the entire pack relaxes in our draft. So, we let up and the whole pack slows down and for a couple of more laps, we all have a nice, friendly ride on a sunny afternoon.
Then, with a little more than two to go, a San Jose Bike Club rider gets out in no-man's-land between the breakaway and the pack. The breakaway is more than two minutes in front so there is nothing to be done about them but Andrew seems to be feeling strong and bridges up to the SJBC Rider. I'm near the front of the pack and I can see they are working together pretty well.
I also feel pretty good and I want to join Andrew. But I don't want to drag the entire pack up to Andrew and basically eliminate his chance for a podium finish. So, I go to the front of a very slow pack, get my cadence up around 105 rpm's so it looks like I'm working and I pull the pack around at a leisurely 19 mph for the entire last lap (normal last lap speed is more like 23 – 24 mph). The gap to Andrew gets bigger and bigger – perfect!
The two guys in the front breakaway get first and second by a margin of almost three minutes over the pack. Andrew's break has about 45 seconds on the pack by the end of the race and he out sprints SJBC guy for an awesome third place. I'm not well positioned as the pack sprint winds up for the final podium spot but I'm pretty happy with my near the front finish.
It has been another fun race on a beautiful, sunny day. I learn more than a few new lessons (like, listen to your more experienced teammates), I get to help my teammate podium and I finish very respectably in a race with younger and stronger guys. I can't wait for next season!
Tom Rice, Biycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team
Friday, October 14, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
CoreTechs Racing in Belgium-Rick Adams Report
Saturday, October 1, 2011: Nieuwerkerken-Aalst, Belgium
Course: 9 laps on a 7 km circuit that included a short hill, very narrow roads, corn fields, cows, sheep and even spectators drinking beer – of course. I rode in the Cat D (50-55 years old). Race registration was in a pub – making the local after-the-race recovery beverage easy to find.
Sixty riders start. On the line I was about 40 from the front, not thinking much of my exact starting place. That was a giant mistake. Seems that local tradition has the team from host town do a parade lap at full-speed! So with my heart rate near my max for the first lap, I thought – are these guys all really all over 50? (Actual data for 1 of 9 laps: speed 25 mph, HR average 196, normalized power 303 watts, including a 30 s section of 555 watts)
Lap 1, Turn 1 fine, ok, I thought, these guys can ride their bikes. Up the hill the first time, no one attacked – thank god! I moved up to about 20th and can now see the front of the race wind it way through these 8’ wide roads and I thinking, “even if I get dropped, this better than the best roller coaster I have ever been on.” This narrow road winds through corn, sheep, cows, neighborhoods, a brief stretch of downtown – a true kermesse style race.
Laps 2 through 7 slow slightly. My HR is down to 185 – where it stays for the next 70 minutes. But, the attacks never stop. About 20 of the 60 riders seem to pride themselves on out-crushing each other while the rest of us pay with pain just to stay in. After 7 laps, the field has been reduced to about 30 guys. I have been on the ride of my life.
With 2 laps to go, everyone left realizes that this race is going to finish in a field sprint. The relentless attacks stop for a lap and I actually see the front and hear my name (although barley recognizable pronounced with a Flemish accent) as leader of the race as we cross the start finish.
Do I set up for the sprint – no, I think better of that idea. I finish mid-pack and head straight back for a few recovery beverages before I ride the 20 miles back to the house.
Sunday, October 2, 2011: Westkerke, Belgium, between Brugge and the ocean.
No pub for race registration, so a catering company put up a temporary pub. I have now learned that pubs are part of nearly every bike race in Belgium. Here the registrars spoke Flemish, drank beer, and loved talking with all of the riders. After a bit of poking around, I was able to find a Race Official who spoke enough English and who helped me register.
This race is in west Flanders, land of the wind! The course started and finished on a wide 4-lane road in the middle of town but almost immediately turned left onto a curvy, narrow, farm roads again full of corn, cows, sheep and, yes, spectators.
Today’s circuit is not the technical challenge of yesterday. Today’s challenge is the constant series of attacks every turn of the wind. The locals use wind like the rest of the world use hills – to thin the weak from the peloton. I knew this, but I still was not prepared for that many attacks. Finding draft on this course was a bit easier until we made a turn and the cross-wind eliminated all shelter. Thank god that for 500 meters of this circuit the road narrowed to less than 8’ across. Here a few riders could control and temper the attacking because the road was full at three riders across.
Finally with 40k of a total 55k done, five guys got clear – attacking at the turn of the wind. This was one of the few multi-rider attacks that I missed, but at least I was at the front participating in the race. At the sprint finish for 6th, I got sucker into the left side with a strong wind coming of the ocean from the right. I felt great until 200 meters to go when I simply ran out road: everyone kept coming over the top on the right in the wind. Finished mid-pack but what a great ride.
Next up, riding around Lucca, Italy and Italian Gran Fondo on Saturday.
Rick Adams
Course: 9 laps on a 7 km circuit that included a short hill, very narrow roads, corn fields, cows, sheep and even spectators drinking beer – of course. I rode in the Cat D (50-55 years old). Race registration was in a pub – making the local after-the-race recovery beverage easy to find.
Sixty riders start. On the line I was about 40 from the front, not thinking much of my exact starting place. That was a giant mistake. Seems that local tradition has the team from host town do a parade lap at full-speed! So with my heart rate near my max for the first lap, I thought – are these guys all really all over 50? (Actual data for 1 of 9 laps: speed 25 mph, HR average 196, normalized power 303 watts, including a 30 s section of 555 watts)
Lap 1, Turn 1 fine, ok, I thought, these guys can ride their bikes. Up the hill the first time, no one attacked – thank god! I moved up to about 20th and can now see the front of the race wind it way through these 8’ wide roads and I thinking, “even if I get dropped, this better than the best roller coaster I have ever been on.” This narrow road winds through corn, sheep, cows, neighborhoods, a brief stretch of downtown – a true kermesse style race.
Laps 2 through 7 slow slightly. My HR is down to 185 – where it stays for the next 70 minutes. But, the attacks never stop. About 20 of the 60 riders seem to pride themselves on out-crushing each other while the rest of us pay with pain just to stay in. After 7 laps, the field has been reduced to about 30 guys. I have been on the ride of my life.
With 2 laps to go, everyone left realizes that this race is going to finish in a field sprint. The relentless attacks stop for a lap and I actually see the front and hear my name (although barley recognizable pronounced with a Flemish accent) as leader of the race as we cross the start finish.
Do I set up for the sprint – no, I think better of that idea. I finish mid-pack and head straight back for a few recovery beverages before I ride the 20 miles back to the house.
Sunday, October 2, 2011: Westkerke, Belgium, between Brugge and the ocean.
No pub for race registration, so a catering company put up a temporary pub. I have now learned that pubs are part of nearly every bike race in Belgium. Here the registrars spoke Flemish, drank beer, and loved talking with all of the riders. After a bit of poking around, I was able to find a Race Official who spoke enough English and who helped me register.
This race is in west Flanders, land of the wind! The course started and finished on a wide 4-lane road in the middle of town but almost immediately turned left onto a curvy, narrow, farm roads again full of corn, cows, sheep and, yes, spectators.
Today’s circuit is not the technical challenge of yesterday. Today’s challenge is the constant series of attacks every turn of the wind. The locals use wind like the rest of the world use hills – to thin the weak from the peloton. I knew this, but I still was not prepared for that many attacks. Finding draft on this course was a bit easier until we made a turn and the cross-wind eliminated all shelter. Thank god that for 500 meters of this circuit the road narrowed to less than 8’ across. Here a few riders could control and temper the attacking because the road was full at three riders across.
Finally with 40k of a total 55k done, five guys got clear – attacking at the turn of the wind. This was one of the few multi-rider attacks that I missed, but at least I was at the front participating in the race. At the sprint finish for 6th, I got sucker into the left side with a strong wind coming of the ocean from the right. I felt great until 200 meters to go when I simply ran out road: everyone kept coming over the top on the right in the wind. Finished mid-pack but what a great ride.
Next up, riding around Lucca, Italy and Italian Gran Fondo on Saturday.
Rick Adams
Monday, October 3, 2011
Mark Foster's 45+ 4/5 Report
CCCX Ft Ord
Written by Mark Foster
10/1/11
45+ Cat 4/5
16 riders, 1 team mate- Tom Rice
So finally we get a beautiful day for the races. Sunny, 70 degrees, absolutely perfect….except the wind. As I’m warming up on the trainer I notice Tom hasn’t shown up, and the race starts in 20 minutes. I think to myself, “Bummer, I guess Kate really tightened down the screws”. Then Tom comes flying in to registration; half dressed and completely frazzled….I think(I was on my trainer). We line up to start the race and the race director gives us another minute for Tom….nice. Tom shows up and the whistle blows. The pace starts easy enough, then one guy(Patrick Hampton) attacks on the first hill. So much for Tom’s easy warm up. Tom’s adrenalin is so high he can’t help himself and though not warmed up, begins to chase. He gets some help and just after the first lap we catch Patrick. At that point I decide to get everyone’s pulse up and pull for an entire lap. I think I dropped one or two guys, but that was it. At the top of the backside hill into the wind, I could hear my buddies cracking jokes and laughing about the effort I was putting out….to no avail. Although it was the fastest lap of the race, I looked back after my stint and said, “That’s all I’m gonna put out….I have three laps to recover.” The last lap was slow and going into the final downhill we start wishing each other luck….too funny. I lead it into the downhill, but big Jeff(MVV) can’t help but pass me on the fast descent. It was a repeat of the last race there. I follow in his draft. Two guys pass him(us) in the final corner and they start the sprint early. I take off when they do. The only difference in this race, is that I pass on the right instead of the left. I take the win by a few bike lengths and get the Series Jersey for the season. I’m going to miss that class and those guys next year. I had such a good day, that I elected to not do the next race and call it a season….and immediately belly up to Steve’s van for the post race Margs. I had a blast this year and know that Tom is going to be the guy to beat in that class next year! Thanks for reading and see you guys at the Low-Key Hill Climbs….maybe. -Mark
10/1/11
45+ Cat 4/5
16 riders, 1 team mate- Tom Rice
So finally we get a beautiful day for the races. Sunny, 70 degrees, absolutely perfect….except the wind. As I’m warming up on the trainer I notice Tom hasn’t shown up, and the race starts in 20 minutes. I think to myself, “Bummer, I guess Kate really tightened down the screws”. Then Tom comes flying in to registration; half dressed and completely frazzled….I think(I was on my trainer). We line up to start the race and the race director gives us another minute for Tom….nice. Tom shows up and the whistle blows. The pace starts easy enough, then one guy(Patrick Hampton) attacks on the first hill. So much for Tom’s easy warm up. Tom’s adrenalin is so high he can’t help himself and though not warmed up, begins to chase. He gets some help and just after the first lap we catch Patrick. At that point I decide to get everyone’s pulse up and pull for an entire lap. I think I dropped one or two guys, but that was it. At the top of the backside hill into the wind, I could hear my buddies cracking jokes and laughing about the effort I was putting out….to no avail. Although it was the fastest lap of the race, I looked back after my stint and said, “That’s all I’m gonna put out….I have three laps to recover.” The last lap was slow and going into the final downhill we start wishing each other luck….too funny. I lead it into the downhill, but big Jeff(MVV) can’t help but pass me on the fast descent. It was a repeat of the last race there. I follow in his draft. Two guys pass him(us) in the final corner and they start the sprint early. I take off when they do. The only difference in this race, is that I pass on the right instead of the left. I take the win by a few bike lengths and get the Series Jersey for the season. I’m going to miss that class and those guys next year. I had such a good day, that I elected to not do the next race and call it a season….and immediately belly up to Steve’s van for the post race Margs. I had a blast this year and know that Tom is going to be the guy to beat in that class next year! Thanks for reading and see you guys at the Low-Key Hill Climbs….maybe. -Mark
Tom Rice's CCCX Report from the 45+ 4/5 race
Where - At the CCCX Circuit Race course at Fort Ord, CA
When – Oct 1, 2011
Written by Tom Rice
Race – 45+ Cat 4/5
Stats – 1 hour, 5 laps, 22 miles and a Beautiful, sunny day for a bike ride
Finish – 4th!
CoreTechs Teammates – Mark Foster
This was my first race as a recently upgraded Category 4 racer but I've done this race a number of times as a Category 5. The goals for this race are to make sure Mark Foster stays in first place in the championship points series for this race and for both of us to finish as close to the front as possible with one of us winning.
With that in mind, I get in my pickup truck for the drive down at about 8:45 in the morning with plenty of time to get to the race, get registered and get in a good warm-up. I'm mentally working out final strategy and tactics as I pull onto highway 280 at Edgewood Road and set the cruise control.
It is a very nice day and I get completely zoned into my drive. In fact, I'm so zoned out that by the time I realize I've passed the highway 85 exit towards 101 south, I'm on highway 680 and I'm already in Fremont. Fremont for crap's sake. I've just added almost an hour to my drive. I'm so far off track that I'm not even sure the best way to get back to 101 south.
So, I pull off the highway, enter my destination into the GPS and it calculates how long it will take to get to Fort Ord. I'm going to make it but only by about a half an hour. But, here's the rub – because of my "detour", I have to stop for gas before I get to the race, so I'm going to arrive only 20 minutes before the start of the race. This is not recommended race day preparation technique.
I get there, park, get my bike out, pump up the tires, register, pin my number on my jersey, get dressed and roll up to the start finish – all in a complete panic. I get there with about 2 minutes to go and receive some good natured ribbing about being late…
At the whistle we start. I have not had time for any warm-up so I go to the front and put in a long medium effort pull to get the blood flowing properly (and to shake off the panic of almost missing the start) and it works, I actually feel pretty good.
The race pace is not super fast and no one seems willing to put in a big effort to break away. So, most of the race is fairly uneventful. That said, Mark and I both believe that a well "tenderized" pack results in a safer sprint so we work to make sure the pace stays high enough so some of the riders will be a little worn out at the finish.
On the last lap, coming down the hill leading into the left hand turn that leads onto the finish straight, I'm setting up to get into the top five or so riders when I hear some chaos from behind and to the right of me. One of our pack gets shunted off the road into the gravel which makes a lot of noise and I get a little distracted. I refocus coming through the turn onto the finish straight and look for a good wheel to lead out my sprint. I'm about seventh position at this point and I have a lot of space to make up. So, I begin my sprint earlier than I normally would but it seems like everyone is.
I'm winding up to full power and I start to get boxed out to the right – not enough road and a slower rider in front of me – I have to let up. As this rider starts to sit up (he's is wiped out and slowing), I yell out, "On your right. On your right!" He hears me, straightens up his line and I have the space I need to wind up my sprint again. (Thank you, whoever you are, you are a good and honorable rider.) I pass one, two, then three riders and I'm looking at second place. But right at the line, I see two other wheels cross at the same time as I do. Close!! I'm pretty sure I've made the podium but I not sure if I'm fourth or fifth… I check the results page - fourth! My first race as a Category 4 and I'm on the podium - a very good race for me!
I'll let Mark tell the rest of the story…
Tom Rice, Bicycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team
Written by Tom Rice
Race – 45+ Cat 4/5
Stats – 1 hour, 5 laps, 22 miles and a Beautiful, sunny day for a bike ride
Finish – 4th!
CoreTechs Teammates – Mark Foster
This was my first race as a recently upgraded Category 4 racer but I've done this race a number of times as a Category 5. The goals for this race are to make sure Mark Foster stays in first place in the championship points series for this race and for both of us to finish as close to the front as possible with one of us winning.
With that in mind, I get in my pickup truck for the drive down at about 8:45 in the morning with plenty of time to get to the race, get registered and get in a good warm-up. I'm mentally working out final strategy and tactics as I pull onto highway 280 at Edgewood Road and set the cruise control.
It is a very nice day and I get completely zoned into my drive. In fact, I'm so zoned out that by the time I realize I've passed the highway 85 exit towards 101 south, I'm on highway 680 and I'm already in Fremont. Fremont for crap's sake. I've just added almost an hour to my drive. I'm so far off track that I'm not even sure the best way to get back to 101 south.
So, I pull off the highway, enter my destination into the GPS and it calculates how long it will take to get to Fort Ord. I'm going to make it but only by about a half an hour. But, here's the rub – because of my "detour", I have to stop for gas before I get to the race, so I'm going to arrive only 20 minutes before the start of the race. This is not recommended race day preparation technique.
I get there, park, get my bike out, pump up the tires, register, pin my number on my jersey, get dressed and roll up to the start finish – all in a complete panic. I get there with about 2 minutes to go and receive some good natured ribbing about being late…
At the whistle we start. I have not had time for any warm-up so I go to the front and put in a long medium effort pull to get the blood flowing properly (and to shake off the panic of almost missing the start) and it works, I actually feel pretty good.
The race pace is not super fast and no one seems willing to put in a big effort to break away. So, most of the race is fairly uneventful. That said, Mark and I both believe that a well "tenderized" pack results in a safer sprint so we work to make sure the pace stays high enough so some of the riders will be a little worn out at the finish.
On the last lap, coming down the hill leading into the left hand turn that leads onto the finish straight, I'm setting up to get into the top five or so riders when I hear some chaos from behind and to the right of me. One of our pack gets shunted off the road into the gravel which makes a lot of noise and I get a little distracted. I refocus coming through the turn onto the finish straight and look for a good wheel to lead out my sprint. I'm about seventh position at this point and I have a lot of space to make up. So, I begin my sprint earlier than I normally would but it seems like everyone is.
I'm winding up to full power and I start to get boxed out to the right – not enough road and a slower rider in front of me – I have to let up. As this rider starts to sit up (he's is wiped out and slowing), I yell out, "On your right. On your right!" He hears me, straightens up his line and I have the space I need to wind up my sprint again. (Thank you, whoever you are, you are a good and honorable rider.) I pass one, two, then three riders and I'm looking at second place. But right at the line, I see two other wheels cross at the same time as I do. Close!! I'm pretty sure I've made the podium but I not sure if I'm fourth or fifth… I check the results page - fourth! My first race as a Category 4 and I'm on the podium - a very good race for me!
I'll let Mark tell the rest of the story…
Tom Rice, Bicycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team
A visit to the cave-CCCX final story of the year
Cat 45+ 1/2/3 Race Story (photo by Tim Westmore)
Teammates in the race: Steve Stewart and Dave Puglia
CCCX race site: 7 laps of 4.5 miles per lap. Rolling terrain
A bright and sunny Saturday. The final race day of 2011
written by Andrew A
Race reports are a fun way to whittle away a good 15 minutes of the work day in an act of ego inflation. So with my knife sharp and my piece of wood in front of me I will endeavor to entertain as best I can. Let the hyperbole flow!
It is dark and all other senses have been eliminated. Pain is ever present. I should have turned left or right, but instead I went straight and ended up deep in the pain cave (how is that for hyperbole?). I spend time here because it is part of our sport. This is what we sign up for when we decide to race bikes. We guarantee ourselves a visit to the cave when we pay our money to race. I paid my money and thus am doing my penance. How did I get here?
It started innocently enough. Teammate Steve Stewart casually points out the rider next to me as "one to watch". Said the guys name is Steve Heaton and he is going for the overall win in the series. The man has big legs. For some reason this caught my attention and it registered in my brain. I also noted that in a race of 17 guys, three were wearing the Safeway kit. For those reading this and smart enough to avoid the pain cave, Safeway has a strong team, and these three are strong. I also had managed to pick up a nasty bug from my kids, so mentally I was going to take this race easy and ride in the pack. No chasing breaks for me this race!
Seven lap race with each lap being 4.5 miles long and full of "rollers". Nothing too steep, but this is not a flat course. First lap is mellow, almost enjoyable. The cave is far from my mind. Onto the second lap a flash of white and yellow catches the corner of my eye. Like a dog that spots a squirrel, instinct takes over and I chase the flash. When I glance back, it is just myself and Heaton. The pack is fading behind. My mind races. I don’t want to be here. It is too early in the race and there are just two of us. This squirrel has some big legs. I look ahead and see glimpses of the cave. If I stay, I know I will visit.
From behind, another rider is coming. We slow a bit for him to join. It is a Safeway rider (Robert Pasco). Now we are back at it, but Pasco does not want to help. He also thinks it is too early for a break (We have almost 25 miles of racing ahead of us and a hungry pack behind us). After each of my turns on the front, I try to reason with Robert. My conversations go something like this, "Robert, your team will not chase, my team will not chase. I can not keep taking pulls with this beast (Heaton). You have to help." Nothing. So I try a new tactic. "Robert…please, please, please help." I think my groveling did the trick. Lap four Robert starts to pull!
It is too late though. I have gotten too close to the cave's entrance. Heaton goes to the front again and ups the pace on the next roller. I cling to his rear wheel. I can feel my vision starting to fade. My mind starts to reason with my legs. "If you stop pedaling so hard, I will stop this knife like pain I am putting into you." My lungs join the conversation and side with my mind. The crack has happened. I let a small gap form between myself and the other two. My legs argue for a brief minute and catch back on but it is futile. From deep in the cave I watch as Pasco and Heaton ride away from me. I am alone.
Now what? I have one and 3/4 laps left to do in the race. I take a step out of the cave and look around. I can not see anyone in either direction. My two tormentors are out of sight ahead and the chasing pack is nowhere to be seen behind. I contemplate just riding off the course and licking my wounds. Instead, I reason that I will go until the pack catches me. After 3/4 of a lap, still no pack in site. Well hell, I am still in third place and already visited the cave once. Another visit would not kill me. I put my head down, take a step back into the cave and go. I hold on for the full lap and cross the line. Race over, pain over, senses return. I get third place. Heaton won and Pasco took second.
I have signed up for one more race. I do end up racing, but that is another 15 minutes of whittle time, so that story will have to be told latter.
AA
Teammates in the race: Steve Stewart and Dave Puglia
CCCX race site: 7 laps of 4.5 miles per lap. Rolling terrain
A bright and sunny Saturday. The final race day of 2011
written by Andrew A
Race reports are a fun way to whittle away a good 15 minutes of the work day in an act of ego inflation. So with my knife sharp and my piece of wood in front of me I will endeavor to entertain as best I can. Let the hyperbole flow!
It is dark and all other senses have been eliminated. Pain is ever present. I should have turned left or right, but instead I went straight and ended up deep in the pain cave (how is that for hyperbole?). I spend time here because it is part of our sport. This is what we sign up for when we decide to race bikes. We guarantee ourselves a visit to the cave when we pay our money to race. I paid my money and thus am doing my penance. How did I get here?
It started innocently enough. Teammate Steve Stewart casually points out the rider next to me as "one to watch". Said the guys name is Steve Heaton and he is going for the overall win in the series. The man has big legs. For some reason this caught my attention and it registered in my brain. I also noted that in a race of 17 guys, three were wearing the Safeway kit. For those reading this and smart enough to avoid the pain cave, Safeway has a strong team, and these three are strong. I also had managed to pick up a nasty bug from my kids, so mentally I was going to take this race easy and ride in the pack. No chasing breaks for me this race!
Seven lap race with each lap being 4.5 miles long and full of "rollers". Nothing too steep, but this is not a flat course. First lap is mellow, almost enjoyable. The cave is far from my mind. Onto the second lap a flash of white and yellow catches the corner of my eye. Like a dog that spots a squirrel, instinct takes over and I chase the flash. When I glance back, it is just myself and Heaton. The pack is fading behind. My mind races. I don’t want to be here. It is too early in the race and there are just two of us. This squirrel has some big legs. I look ahead and see glimpses of the cave. If I stay, I know I will visit.
From behind, another rider is coming. We slow a bit for him to join. It is a Safeway rider (Robert Pasco). Now we are back at it, but Pasco does not want to help. He also thinks it is too early for a break (We have almost 25 miles of racing ahead of us and a hungry pack behind us). After each of my turns on the front, I try to reason with Robert. My conversations go something like this, "Robert, your team will not chase, my team will not chase. I can not keep taking pulls with this beast (Heaton). You have to help." Nothing. So I try a new tactic. "Robert…please, please, please help." I think my groveling did the trick. Lap four Robert starts to pull!
It is too late though. I have gotten too close to the cave's entrance. Heaton goes to the front again and ups the pace on the next roller. I cling to his rear wheel. I can feel my vision starting to fade. My mind starts to reason with my legs. "If you stop pedaling so hard, I will stop this knife like pain I am putting into you." My lungs join the conversation and side with my mind. The crack has happened. I let a small gap form between myself and the other two. My legs argue for a brief minute and catch back on but it is futile. From deep in the cave I watch as Pasco and Heaton ride away from me. I am alone.
Now what? I have one and 3/4 laps left to do in the race. I take a step out of the cave and look around. I can not see anyone in either direction. My two tormentors are out of sight ahead and the chasing pack is nowhere to be seen behind. I contemplate just riding off the course and licking my wounds. Instead, I reason that I will go until the pack catches me. After 3/4 of a lap, still no pack in site. Well hell, I am still in third place and already visited the cave once. Another visit would not kill me. I put my head down, take a step back into the cave and go. I hold on for the full lap and cross the line. Race over, pain over, senses return. I get third place. Heaton won and Pasco took second.
I have signed up for one more race. I do end up racing, but that is another 15 minutes of whittle time, so that story will have to be told latter.
AA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)