Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Copper Town Report-Just the Facts-Woof!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Cherry Pie Crit-John T.'s 35+ Cat 4/5 Report
Cherry Pie Criterium
Master 35+ 4/5
Napa, Ca
Coretechs riders - just me
It was a beautiful day up in Napa and about 60 deg by the time I raced @ 11:40. I asked how many were in the group at registration and the guy told me 74 riders. So this will be the largest group I've ever raced with and with a lot of Masters Cat 4's..so be it.. I had no idea what the course was like other than the riders I asked and the 6% climb I could see that lead to the start/finish. I was told I couldn't take a lap around the course, but that I could walk it. I only gave enough time for warm up, so I opted for a good warm up. Within In 2 minutes of the start I will know most of the course anyway. Kind of like my old ski racing days...inspecting the Slalom course from the chairlift on those freezing days!
I was dripping sweat by the time I got to the line. I was a little late and was about mid field. We take off, starting on the downhill. My plan is just to sit in and try to be near the front, but not sure what to expect from all the Cat 4's. The pace is pretty fast but nothing crazy. I could hardly see anything with all the racers in the first lap but do my best to get a feel for the course. A short fast downhill, right hand 70 deg, sweeping left, road tightens up with cones to the right, then a 90 deg left, another 90 deg left, right hand sweeper, into an easy but narrow chicane and then the climb to the 180 deg at the top and we do that about 17 times.
I find very quickly that this is a technical course and I had a hard time figuring out how to move up. There we so many turns and narrow areas that it was difficult for me. I am in the front 3rd most of the race, which is still in the mid 20's somewhere. I keep looking out front to see if there are any breaks. None, ever! I spent most of the race trying to figure out where to move up without being reckless. I found out that the 6% climb to the finish was perfect for me. With 8 to go I tested a hard effort up the hill up the right side gutter, I move from about 30th to 7th as I take the 180 deg very wide. I hold my position down the hill, but the pace now slows into the sweeper and the narrow section. I feel fine, but all of a sudden I'm in the damn 20's again. Like a sock turning inside out!! The sides surged pushing the middle slowly farther back. I did know about this but had no idea how to avoid it. I felt blocked most of the time on both sides. I am pretty focused on the wheels near me as every corner was 3 to 4 wide. I had 2 guys bump and crash right in front of me, as the guys crank got stuck in the other racers front wheel. There were a lot of spokes breaking. 2 to go, I hammer up the hill again in the right gutter, and move to about 8th. I try to hold the left gutter in the left hand sweeper this time, I lose a few spots and am now in the mid teens. 1 to go, I hammer up the hill up the right gutter again, but only gain a few spots if any!. Everyone had the same plan! Duh! Everyone scrambling in the turns and chicanes. I am not close enough to do anything at the finish so I just ease in about 150 meters behind the winners. Pack finish.
This was a good race for me. I would have liked a better result, but it was not my main goal for this race. I wanted to race in a big group with the 35+ 4's. My fitness is getting better and my comfort in the pack is a lot better. I think I can start looking for results now.
I highly recommend this race for next year. It is technical but actually makes it pretty safe. Racers are a little more focused. The climb at the finish is great for power riders. The 180 is very safe since it is right at the top of the start/finish climb. This course enables prepared teams to do well. I watched team Specialized control and win most of the races I saw. The 45+ 1/2/3 had a 3 man break stay away the whole race. Some masters national road race champion won. (Craig Roemer?) Larry Nolan and more specialized members sat near the front of the main group and controlled the race making sure to discourage anyone from bridging.
cheers
--
John Tsamasfyros
Master 35+ 4/5
Napa, Ca
Coretechs riders - just me
It was a beautiful day up in Napa and about 60 deg by the time I raced @ 11:40. I asked how many were in the group at registration and the guy told me 74 riders. So this will be the largest group I've ever raced with and with a lot of Masters Cat 4's..so be it.. I had no idea what the course was like other than the riders I asked and the 6% climb I could see that lead to the start/finish. I was told I couldn't take a lap around the course, but that I could walk it. I only gave enough time for warm up, so I opted for a good warm up. Within In 2 minutes of the start I will know most of the course anyway. Kind of like my old ski racing days...inspecting the Slalom course from the chairlift on those freezing days!
I was dripping sweat by the time I got to the line. I was a little late and was about mid field. We take off, starting on the downhill. My plan is just to sit in and try to be near the front, but not sure what to expect from all the Cat 4's. The pace is pretty fast but nothing crazy. I could hardly see anything with all the racers in the first lap but do my best to get a feel for the course. A short fast downhill, right hand 70 deg, sweeping left, road tightens up with cones to the right, then a 90 deg left, another 90 deg left, right hand sweeper, into an easy but narrow chicane and then the climb to the 180 deg at the top and we do that about 17 times.
I find very quickly that this is a technical course and I had a hard time figuring out how to move up. There we so many turns and narrow areas that it was difficult for me. I am in the front 3rd most of the race, which is still in the mid 20's somewhere. I keep looking out front to see if there are any breaks. None, ever! I spent most of the race trying to figure out where to move up without being reckless. I found out that the 6% climb to the finish was perfect for me. With 8 to go I tested a hard effort up the hill up the right side gutter, I move from about 30th to 7th as I take the 180 deg very wide. I hold my position down the hill, but the pace now slows into the sweeper and the narrow section. I feel fine, but all of a sudden I'm in the damn 20's again. Like a sock turning inside out!! The sides surged pushing the middle slowly farther back. I did know about this but had no idea how to avoid it. I felt blocked most of the time on both sides. I am pretty focused on the wheels near me as every corner was 3 to 4 wide. I had 2 guys bump and crash right in front of me, as the guys crank got stuck in the other racers front wheel. There were a lot of spokes breaking. 2 to go, I hammer up the hill again in the right gutter, and move to about 8th. I try to hold the left gutter in the left hand sweeper this time, I lose a few spots and am now in the mid teens. 1 to go, I hammer up the hill up the right gutter again, but only gain a few spots if any!. Everyone had the same plan! Duh! Everyone scrambling in the turns and chicanes. I am not close enough to do anything at the finish so I just ease in about 150 meters behind the winners. Pack finish.
This was a good race for me. I would have liked a better result, but it was not my main goal for this race. I wanted to race in a big group with the 35+ 4's. My fitness is getting better and my comfort in the pack is a lot better. I think I can start looking for results now.
I highly recommend this race for next year. It is technical but actually makes it pretty safe. Racers are a little more focused. The climb at the finish is great for power riders. The 180 is very safe since it is right at the top of the start/finish climb. This course enables prepared teams to do well. I watched team Specialized control and win most of the races I saw. The 45+ 1/2/3 had a 3 man break stay away the whole race. Some masters national road race champion won. (Craig Roemer?) Larry Nolan and more specialized members sat near the front of the main group and controlled the race making sure to discourage anyone from bridging.
cheers
--
John Tsamasfyros
Tom's Knights Ferry RR report: 45+ Cat 4 Field
Where – Knights Ferry Road Race near Oakdale, CA
When – February 4, 2012
Race – 45+ Cat 4
Stats – 54 miles, ~3 hours, 21mph average
Finish – 4th out of 37 racers
I was the only CoreTechs rider in this race
It's 7:15 AM and I load up my great big pickup truck and begin the 2 hour 15 minute drive out to Oakdale. It is 40 degrees out. By the time I drop into the tule fog outside of Manteca, it is 38 degrees out and I'm starting to worry I don't have the proper clothing for this race. I shouldn't have worried. When I arrive, it is an hour before my race and it must be at least 65 degrees – time to break out the summer kit! (Note to self: Do a better job shaving legs if you're gonna ride in shorts.)
It is good to see the racer pals from last year, so after some hellos and good-to-see-ya's, I get registered, suit up and join my friend, Jeff Andruss from MVV, for a short warm-up. Then I head over to the start. After a short briefing from the race referee, we're off.
A short course description: The course is all on one road where we ride out in one direction in the right lane, turn around and ride in the other direction, riding past the finish line but in the reverse direction, then, turn around again and ride back towards the finish line, again, all on the same road. No crossing the center line. Our race is two laps of this course. The road is what you'd expect on country lanes. Also as you might expect, the turnarounds at each end of the course are simply chaos. This is the first time I've ever had to unclip in the middle of a race – just to get around the turnaround safely. It is best to be at the very front of the pack at these turnarounds. Nonetheless, the course is good, the roads are decent and, with the elevation changes, fairly challenging.
I get to the start a little later than I should have so I'm lined up at the back of the pack, but I'm ready and we start at the whistle. The lane is narrow and our large pack makes it difficult to move up to the front of the pack. So, I call on my mountain bike skills and ride up the right edge of the road, past the bulk of the pack. And, by "edge of the road", I mean the gravel, weeds and broken pavement on the edge of the road. It is rough but I get to the front of the pack where I want to be. I wipe my tires and settle in at third wheel.
I feel the pace is way too slow. So, I make a long strong pull at the front and try to shame some of my competitors into helping speed up the race but to no avail. I try again and again but no one wants to work. Well, I'm not gonna pull the whole pack around this course for 54 miles so I settle back behind the front 5 to 10 riders and we trundle along at a conversational pace.
After the first turnaround, a couple of other guys make some attempts at creating a break and I feel this is good news. So, with a gentle tail wind and about 40 miles to go, I make an attack knowing full well at least one of these guys will join me. I sprint to create a gap then put my head down for a long hard pull. As I slow for what I hope will be a good long breakaway, I look back… there is no one there and I'm way out in front. I've unwittingly gapped the whole pack by about 45 seconds and I'm all by myself. Now what?
Prior to the race, Mark Foster offered this advice, "Whatever you do, don't do a solo break!" But, I'm way out in front so I'm thinking that maybe, if I get far enough out, they'll forget about me or they won't be able to organized a chase. Silly me.
I get a big enough gap between me and the pack behind me so I can no longer see them. So, I'm hopeful that my move will net good results However, I've been by myself for a long time and I know I'm weakening. As I'm heading towards the second turnaround, I see teammates Christian, Andrew, Devon and Daryoush heading the other way as they've finished their respective races. Christian gives me an encouraging yell but I can read Andrew's (the "Boss") mind, "What is Tom doing out in front by himself?!" Just before the second turnaround, I look back again and the pack is gaining. At the turnaround I'm only about 30 seconds ahead so I relax, slow down and let them catch me. As they make the catch, with Mark's advice ringing in my ears, MVV Jeff chides me, "Welcome back Tom, did you miss us?"
Some more good natured ribbing and I settle in behind the front 4 or 5 riders for a good long rest. We still have 20 miles to go and I need all the rest I can get if I'm to do anything at the finish. But, the pack is still taking it too easy. A couple of the stronger guys are trying to organize a decent pace line but cooperation is intermittent. After the third turnaround, I go to the front for a fast pull hoping to amp up the pace or at least tenderize the pack somewhat for the final attacks at the hills and the finish.
As we approach the final turnaround there are two fairly challenging hills to get over. A Fightin' Bobas rider makes a hard attack as we start the second climb. It is a good attack but I'm able to match it and I'm right on his wheel. We get a small gap but soon most of the pack is right on our tails and the attack peters out. After the turnaround, I make an attack descending to the flats before the finish. I'm with another rider but he does not have enough strength left to help and I certainly have burned almost all of my matches so again, most of the pack comes back together.
The finish line is at the top of a short 5% grade so I know the sprint is going to be hard. The Fightin' Bobas rider makes a great attack at the base of the climb with about a kilometer to go. I'm a little boxed out to the right so I yell at the rider in front of me, "You gotta go! GO!!" He speeds up and I get around him and give chase. I start my sprint in earnest at about 250 meters (otherwise there is no chance to catch the leader) and I'm in second with a Taleo rider going peddle stroke for peddle stroke with me. It is a hard sprint and my legs are screaming! We get passed by two others but I hold off the Taleo rider for 4th!
It was a great day for me and I've had fun. I get a prize, a huge confidence boost and I've relearned a few lessons which will certainly pay off as the season progresses. I am looking forward to the season!
Thanks for reading.
Tom Rice
Bike Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team
When – February 4, 2012
Race – 45+ Cat 4
Stats – 54 miles, ~3 hours, 21mph average
Finish – 4th out of 37 racers
I was the only CoreTechs rider in this race
It's 7:15 AM and I load up my great big pickup truck and begin the 2 hour 15 minute drive out to Oakdale. It is 40 degrees out. By the time I drop into the tule fog outside of Manteca, it is 38 degrees out and I'm starting to worry I don't have the proper clothing for this race. I shouldn't have worried. When I arrive, it is an hour before my race and it must be at least 65 degrees – time to break out the summer kit! (Note to self: Do a better job shaving legs if you're gonna ride in shorts.)
It is good to see the racer pals from last year, so after some hellos and good-to-see-ya's, I get registered, suit up and join my friend, Jeff Andruss from MVV, for a short warm-up. Then I head over to the start. After a short briefing from the race referee, we're off.
A short course description: The course is all on one road where we ride out in one direction in the right lane, turn around and ride in the other direction, riding past the finish line but in the reverse direction, then, turn around again and ride back towards the finish line, again, all on the same road. No crossing the center line. Our race is two laps of this course. The road is what you'd expect on country lanes. Also as you might expect, the turnarounds at each end of the course are simply chaos. This is the first time I've ever had to unclip in the middle of a race – just to get around the turnaround safely. It is best to be at the very front of the pack at these turnarounds. Nonetheless, the course is good, the roads are decent and, with the elevation changes, fairly challenging.
I get to the start a little later than I should have so I'm lined up at the back of the pack, but I'm ready and we start at the whistle. The lane is narrow and our large pack makes it difficult to move up to the front of the pack. So, I call on my mountain bike skills and ride up the right edge of the road, past the bulk of the pack. And, by "edge of the road", I mean the gravel, weeds and broken pavement on the edge of the road. It is rough but I get to the front of the pack where I want to be. I wipe my tires and settle in at third wheel.
I feel the pace is way too slow. So, I make a long strong pull at the front and try to shame some of my competitors into helping speed up the race but to no avail. I try again and again but no one wants to work. Well, I'm not gonna pull the whole pack around this course for 54 miles so I settle back behind the front 5 to 10 riders and we trundle along at a conversational pace.
After the first turnaround, a couple of other guys make some attempts at creating a break and I feel this is good news. So, with a gentle tail wind and about 40 miles to go, I make an attack knowing full well at least one of these guys will join me. I sprint to create a gap then put my head down for a long hard pull. As I slow for what I hope will be a good long breakaway, I look back… there is no one there and I'm way out in front. I've unwittingly gapped the whole pack by about 45 seconds and I'm all by myself. Now what?
Prior to the race, Mark Foster offered this advice, "Whatever you do, don't do a solo break!" But, I'm way out in front so I'm thinking that maybe, if I get far enough out, they'll forget about me or they won't be able to organized a chase. Silly me.
I get a big enough gap between me and the pack behind me so I can no longer see them. So, I'm hopeful that my move will net good results However, I've been by myself for a long time and I know I'm weakening. As I'm heading towards the second turnaround, I see teammates Christian, Andrew, Devon and Daryoush heading the other way as they've finished their respective races. Christian gives me an encouraging yell but I can read Andrew's (the "Boss") mind, "What is Tom doing out in front by himself?!" Just before the second turnaround, I look back again and the pack is gaining. At the turnaround I'm only about 30 seconds ahead so I relax, slow down and let them catch me. As they make the catch, with Mark's advice ringing in my ears, MVV Jeff chides me, "Welcome back Tom, did you miss us?"
Some more good natured ribbing and I settle in behind the front 4 or 5 riders for a good long rest. We still have 20 miles to go and I need all the rest I can get if I'm to do anything at the finish. But, the pack is still taking it too easy. A couple of the stronger guys are trying to organize a decent pace line but cooperation is intermittent. After the third turnaround, I go to the front for a fast pull hoping to amp up the pace or at least tenderize the pack somewhat for the final attacks at the hills and the finish.
As we approach the final turnaround there are two fairly challenging hills to get over. A Fightin' Bobas rider makes a hard attack as we start the second climb. It is a good attack but I'm able to match it and I'm right on his wheel. We get a small gap but soon most of the pack is right on our tails and the attack peters out. After the turnaround, I make an attack descending to the flats before the finish. I'm with another rider but he does not have enough strength left to help and I certainly have burned almost all of my matches so again, most of the pack comes back together.
The finish line is at the top of a short 5% grade so I know the sprint is going to be hard. The Fightin' Bobas rider makes a great attack at the base of the climb with about a kilometer to go. I'm a little boxed out to the right so I yell at the rider in front of me, "You gotta go! GO!!" He speeds up and I get around him and give chase. I start my sprint in earnest at about 250 meters (otherwise there is no chance to catch the leader) and I'm in second with a Taleo rider going peddle stroke for peddle stroke with me. It is a hard sprint and my legs are screaming! We get passed by two others but I hold off the Taleo rider for 4th!
It was a great day for me and I've had fun. I get a prize, a huge confidence boost and I've relearned a few lessons which will certainly pay off as the season progresses. I am looking forward to the season!
Thanks for reading.
Tom Rice
Bike Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Andrew's Knights Ferry Road Race Story
Knights Ferry Road Race
3 laps of 27 per lap (finish was 8 miles before start line, so about 72 mile race)
Cat 45+ 1/2/3: 22 riders in race
CoreTechs Riders: Andrew (me), Daryoush, Devon
The 2012 season has officially started for me and you know what that means (for you new to the team, you will realize soon enough that these so called race reports are really just an exercise in time miss-management in an effort to avoid child care duties or work duties; depending on what duties I am avoiding at that moment). It means a report full of introspection, self aggrandizing, sometime self loathing and a fair does of belly navel picking. So, you have been warned if you feel the need to read this full story, let the picking begin.
I leaned against the doorway in a bit of confusion. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror I looked paler than usual, and yes smartasses, that certainly is very pale. The internal debate raged; should I use the toilet with my top end or bottom end. Top end won first followed soon after by the bottom end. Leaning that close to the toilet, it also occurred
to me how disgusting a seven year old boy and five year old boy can be. Do they actually ever pee in the toilet, or just get as close as is reasonably possible while still being in the bathroom?
It was now 3pm on Friday and the thought of any food would send me scurrying back to the bathroom to resume my debate. Not a great way to do race prep. Oh, I should mention, I signed up for the Knights Ferry Road Race the next morning at 8:00am. I had a rough time even looking up. I crawled into bed. I laid there till about 7. I was in misery. Chris Scheetz stopped by about 7:30pm. I could only sit hunched over staring at the floor. I made my way over to the computer and sent a cryptic message to the boys racing with me the next day…"I'm out".
I wake at 4:00am. Hmm, I actually feel pretty normal. Sure, my stomach feels like it had a workout, but no nausea. There is a chance! I venture to the kitchen and take a drink of juice. I contemplate my navel. The juice stays down. I try a piece of toast. That too stays where it belongs. Ok, back in business. I can make it! I throw a bunch of stuff in my bag, put air in my tires and throw the bike in the car. I'm off for a two hour drive to attempt an 80 mile road race. Sure, I have not eaten (other than two slices of toast) since noon the day before (and all of that I put nicely back in toilet), but I do feel well rested.
Four paragraphs in and I still have not gotten to the race story. Ok, let's get to it.
It is cold. It does not look cold from inside the confines of a well heated car; it looks awesome! Sun is out, no wind blowing, just perfect. But I reiterate, it is cold. I guess about 31 degrees to start the ride. My teeth are chattering. I warm up quickly though as the attacks happen early and often. The 1/2/3 races have a pattern to them. In most races that have some element to break them up, i.e. distance, rollers or a hill the first 10 to 20 miles are attack after attack. Once the two or three largest teams have a member up the road in an attack, they muck up the chase. The break then gets enough time for the pack to almost give up and the pace drops to very slow. Then riders do their best to bridge. The teams with riders in the break sit on those bridging riders wheels. The bridging rider, not realizing that the guy on his wheel has a man in the break, signals for the guy on his wheel to come around and help. When the rider does not come around, the chaser gets discouraged and pissed and sits up to yell at the guy on his wheel; "why don’t you #$$%$ help?" The answer of "sorry, I have a guy in the break" usually does little to mollify the rider, but this is bike racing. They then drop back to the peloton and start the process over.
It is fun to race for a teammate, but I do have to admit it is hard mentally. You are sacrificing your chance for a top five by just sitting in the pack and letting the race get away up the road. Still though, I like these guys and it is fun to play team games and pretend that we are big time and to race as a team. So race as a team we did. Break attempt after break went in the first mile of this race. Devon, Daryoush and myself covered all of them. Finally Dirk (Team Echelon, well known noon rider, and a teammate of two others in the race who are both very strong), went and Daryoush was on him. One other rider joined and the three were away. Devon and I went to the front. We, along with the two teammates of Dirk (Cale Reeder and Hunter) did our best to muck up any bridge attempts. We either covered every break or we did not pull through on the front. The break gained enough time for most in the pack to concede.
The course is an out and back of 27 miles per loop. We did the loop three times. On each end of the out and back there are a series of rollers. The finish is 2.5K from the turn around. On lap two, just before the rollers (these rollers are comparable to the "climb" on Arstradero) a VOS rider takes off. I know this rider and know he is not a threat, so I drift to the mid pack and let others chase if they want. This was the mistake of the race! I did not pay attention to Dirk's two teammates. They launch a vicious attack on the hill and get a decent gap on the field. The pack chases, I am relieved that the pack is doing Devon and I's work for us. We head down the back side of the hill and I see Hunter. Phew, that was close but at least we caught them. We ride another few miles and Hunter rolls next to me. "You should have gone with Cale." Oh man, you mean we didn't catch ALL of that break. Turns out, Hunter hammered himself to help get Cale away and then slid back to the pack. Well crap.
Since you can see the break coming the other direction, I see that Cale and the VOS rider caught Daryoush's break. Now there is five in the break and we are all racing for sixth. This sucks!! Man did we blow it by not paying attention. Well, nothing we can do now. One thing about being sick before a race; it gives you lots of mental excuses. I had a lot of self talk going on about how weak I was feeling, this was nothing but a training ride now, blah blah blah. It is all just excuses and softness creeping in. If you are going to race, then race.
We are on the third lap now and about 1k to the rollers/hill. One rider breaks, but again, I don’t worry about him. Then Hunter jumps across. Well, not again, I make the jump from the peloton. I am gaining, but my gaining is slowing down. I may not make the bridge! Then from behind I hear a comforting voice. "Come on buddy, we got this." It was Devon riding by and taking a pull. He too had made the jump and it was just he and I. We worked together to make it up to Hunter and the other rider. Once we caught them, the four of us worked hard. We knew the pack was chasing with all they had left.
We crested the hills and headed for the 180 degree turn around. 2.5K to the finish, 74 miles in and the pack is within 300 meters. The finish is on a climb. It is not super steep, but it goes up for 1.5K. We hit the 1k to go and Hunter attacks us. I got a good jump and caught his wheel fairly quickly. He then apologizes and promises not to do it again if we all work together to the finish. This was our second mistake. We had dropped the fourth guy and it was just Devon, Hunter and myself. So two against one. What should have happened is I should have attacked and Devon should have sat on Hunter's wheel. When Hunter jumped to catch me, Devon would then be poised to jump and pass Hunter to take the sixth place we were fighting for. I say should have happened because none of that did happen. Instead, I think we were all pretty worked by this point and we all ended up waiting till about 100 meters to go. It was then a slow, uphill sprint and Hunter nipped Devon and I got to trail in just behind them. Devon got 7th overall and I got 8th.
Turns out that Dirk sat up in the break to wait for Cale's approach. This left the only two guys working in the break, Daryoush and the other original breakmate. This sapped Daryoush of his strength, but he was able to make sure that the break stayed away. He ended up with a 5th place. Great result for our first race of the year. CoreTechs places all three of our riders in the top ten. Some good lessons learned and room to improve. I do have to say, it sure is fun to have good guys as teammates. They are good riders and good guys. Great start to 2012!
Next up is Copper Town in two weeks. Look forward to seeing many of you there. Now if only I can get the kids to actually pee in the potty all will be well with the world.
Andrew
3 laps of 27 per lap (finish was 8 miles before start line, so about 72 mile race)
Cat 45+ 1/2/3: 22 riders in race
CoreTechs Riders: Andrew (me), Daryoush, Devon
The 2012 season has officially started for me and you know what that means (for you new to the team, you will realize soon enough that these so called race reports are really just an exercise in time miss-management in an effort to avoid child care duties or work duties; depending on what duties I am avoiding at that moment). It means a report full of introspection, self aggrandizing, sometime self loathing and a fair does of belly navel picking. So, you have been warned if you feel the need to read this full story, let the picking begin.
I leaned against the doorway in a bit of confusion. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror I looked paler than usual, and yes smartasses, that certainly is very pale. The internal debate raged; should I use the toilet with my top end or bottom end. Top end won first followed soon after by the bottom end. Leaning that close to the toilet, it also occurred
to me how disgusting a seven year old boy and five year old boy can be. Do they actually ever pee in the toilet, or just get as close as is reasonably possible while still being in the bathroom?
It was now 3pm on Friday and the thought of any food would send me scurrying back to the bathroom to resume my debate. Not a great way to do race prep. Oh, I should mention, I signed up for the Knights Ferry Road Race the next morning at 8:00am. I had a rough time even looking up. I crawled into bed. I laid there till about 7. I was in misery. Chris Scheetz stopped by about 7:30pm. I could only sit hunched over staring at the floor. I made my way over to the computer and sent a cryptic message to the boys racing with me the next day…"I'm out".
I wake at 4:00am. Hmm, I actually feel pretty normal. Sure, my stomach feels like it had a workout, but no nausea. There is a chance! I venture to the kitchen and take a drink of juice. I contemplate my navel. The juice stays down. I try a piece of toast. That too stays where it belongs. Ok, back in business. I can make it! I throw a bunch of stuff in my bag, put air in my tires and throw the bike in the car. I'm off for a two hour drive to attempt an 80 mile road race. Sure, I have not eaten (other than two slices of toast) since noon the day before (and all of that I put nicely back in toilet), but I do feel well rested.
Four paragraphs in and I still have not gotten to the race story. Ok, let's get to it.
It is cold. It does not look cold from inside the confines of a well heated car; it looks awesome! Sun is out, no wind blowing, just perfect. But I reiterate, it is cold. I guess about 31 degrees to start the ride. My teeth are chattering. I warm up quickly though as the attacks happen early and often. The 1/2/3 races have a pattern to them. In most races that have some element to break them up, i.e. distance, rollers or a hill the first 10 to 20 miles are attack after attack. Once the two or three largest teams have a member up the road in an attack, they muck up the chase. The break then gets enough time for the pack to almost give up and the pace drops to very slow. Then riders do their best to bridge. The teams with riders in the break sit on those bridging riders wheels. The bridging rider, not realizing that the guy on his wheel has a man in the break, signals for the guy on his wheel to come around and help. When the rider does not come around, the chaser gets discouraged and pissed and sits up to yell at the guy on his wheel; "why don’t you #$$%$ help?" The answer of "sorry, I have a guy in the break" usually does little to mollify the rider, but this is bike racing. They then drop back to the peloton and start the process over.
It is fun to race for a teammate, but I do have to admit it is hard mentally. You are sacrificing your chance for a top five by just sitting in the pack and letting the race get away up the road. Still though, I like these guys and it is fun to play team games and pretend that we are big time and to race as a team. So race as a team we did. Break attempt after break went in the first mile of this race. Devon, Daryoush and myself covered all of them. Finally Dirk (Team Echelon, well known noon rider, and a teammate of two others in the race who are both very strong), went and Daryoush was on him. One other rider joined and the three were away. Devon and I went to the front. We, along with the two teammates of Dirk (Cale Reeder and Hunter) did our best to muck up any bridge attempts. We either covered every break or we did not pull through on the front. The break gained enough time for most in the pack to concede.
The course is an out and back of 27 miles per loop. We did the loop three times. On each end of the out and back there are a series of rollers. The finish is 2.5K from the turn around. On lap two, just before the rollers (these rollers are comparable to the "climb" on Arstradero) a VOS rider takes off. I know this rider and know he is not a threat, so I drift to the mid pack and let others chase if they want. This was the mistake of the race! I did not pay attention to Dirk's two teammates. They launch a vicious attack on the hill and get a decent gap on the field. The pack chases, I am relieved that the pack is doing Devon and I's work for us. We head down the back side of the hill and I see Hunter. Phew, that was close but at least we caught them. We ride another few miles and Hunter rolls next to me. "You should have gone with Cale." Oh man, you mean we didn't catch ALL of that break. Turns out, Hunter hammered himself to help get Cale away and then slid back to the pack. Well crap.
Since you can see the break coming the other direction, I see that Cale and the VOS rider caught Daryoush's break. Now there is five in the break and we are all racing for sixth. This sucks!! Man did we blow it by not paying attention. Well, nothing we can do now. One thing about being sick before a race; it gives you lots of mental excuses. I had a lot of self talk going on about how weak I was feeling, this was nothing but a training ride now, blah blah blah. It is all just excuses and softness creeping in. If you are going to race, then race.
We are on the third lap now and about 1k to the rollers/hill. One rider breaks, but again, I don’t worry about him. Then Hunter jumps across. Well, not again, I make the jump from the peloton. I am gaining, but my gaining is slowing down. I may not make the bridge! Then from behind I hear a comforting voice. "Come on buddy, we got this." It was Devon riding by and taking a pull. He too had made the jump and it was just he and I. We worked together to make it up to Hunter and the other rider. Once we caught them, the four of us worked hard. We knew the pack was chasing with all they had left.
We crested the hills and headed for the 180 degree turn around. 2.5K to the finish, 74 miles in and the pack is within 300 meters. The finish is on a climb. It is not super steep, but it goes up for 1.5K. We hit the 1k to go and Hunter attacks us. I got a good jump and caught his wheel fairly quickly. He then apologizes and promises not to do it again if we all work together to the finish. This was our second mistake. We had dropped the fourth guy and it was just Devon, Hunter and myself. So two against one. What should have happened is I should have attacked and Devon should have sat on Hunter's wheel. When Hunter jumped to catch me, Devon would then be poised to jump and pass Hunter to take the sixth place we were fighting for. I say should have happened because none of that did happen. Instead, I think we were all pretty worked by this point and we all ended up waiting till about 100 meters to go. It was then a slow, uphill sprint and Hunter nipped Devon and I got to trail in just behind them. Devon got 7th overall and I got 8th.
Turns out that Dirk sat up in the break to wait for Cale's approach. This left the only two guys working in the break, Daryoush and the other original breakmate. This sapped Daryoush of his strength, but he was able to make sure that the break stayed away. He ended up with a 5th place. Great result for our first race of the year. CoreTechs places all three of our riders in the top ten. Some good lessons learned and room to improve. I do have to say, it sure is fun to have good guys as teammates. They are good riders and good guys. Great start to 2012!
Next up is Copper Town in two weeks. Look forward to seeing many of you there. Now if only I can get the kids to actually pee in the potty all will be well with the world.
Andrew
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