Regalado RR report-Cat 4 45+ from Tom Rice (Chicken Dinner!)

Tom Rice's Winning Report
Where – Regalado Road Race in Oakdale, CA

When – March 25, 2012

Race - 45+ Cat 4 - 22 Racers

Stats – 54 miles in three laps on country roads

I am the only CoreTechs rider in this race

I always worry and fret during the days before a race. So I spend some time on Friday making sure my bike is ready to race. When I turn in for the night on Friday, I feel like everything is ready for the race on Sunday. Then, on Saturday morning, I realize, that no matter what, it is going to be a very wet race and probably raining. Also, there is a one mile long dirt road segment on the course that we have to complete three times. It is likely to be muddy, slick and very rough... I also always try to get the best advantage that I can from my equipment. To that end, I always race on very light weight tires on my most aerodynamic wheels. These wheels are very strong, stiff but still light weight. My race tires are narrow and are very low volume. This is NOT the combination for rough, pot-holed dirt roads, especially in the wet.

It was the last minute so I called around, got some advice and mounted up a pair of Conti GatorSkins in the 25mm size on my clinchers. This gives me air volume for pinch-flat protection, some compliance and the GatorSkins are super durable. Okay, panic averted, now I'm ready.

Note: My plans for the race are to ride with the pack, make sure I stay near the front, cover any serious breakaways but mostly, I'd like to see how I do coming to the finish line with the pack in a sprint finish.

Kate came with me for this race so we get up early, have a good breakfast, jump in the truck and head to Oakdale. The weather looks heavy to the east but there are some clear skies over the bay and I'm optimistic about the weather. As we cross over the Altimont Pass, it is dry but a little chilly (41 degrees). When we get to the staging area, it is not raining and it looks like we'll actually have pretty good weather for the race. Awesome!

I have a quick chat with Andrew and Mark Foster, then register and get ready to race. I don't really have time to warm up properly but I expect a slow start to the race so I'll warm up then. We line up at the start, get the briefing from the referee and we're off. The bonus for me is the first few miles are neutralized so we trundle along at about 15mph. Even once we get to racing proper, the initial pace is still pretty slow. This gives me time to get well warmed-up before things get hectic.

Remember I said there was a one mile dirt section? Well, it sure got hectic there! Some guys were really fast and comfortable in the slick conditions and others just were not. I'm an old mountain biker so I actually like the dirt but it is easy to get gapped if you're behind the wrong riders... The pace amps up immediately upon reaching the dirt and I have to work to get myself well positioned. There are some sections where you can find dry hard-pack but there is plenty of slick mud, big potholes, small potholes, badly rippled sections and huge mud puddles. It is rough! I'm very glad I have tires meant for these conditions! I'll also note here that I decide that this section is a good place to launch an attack.

We get through the dirt and about a third of our racers get dropped. This section is very tough. After that, a few attacks are attempted by my competitors. One guy in particular is very animated, making numerous attempts - so many attacks that he's practically an inferno of burning matches. Still, nothing seems too serious and the breaks get chased down pretty quickly.

Through the first lap and a half, I do my share of leading the pack but I don't really work too much and I make sure I'm one of the first three riders on the second time through the dirt. I'm trying to stay behind the front riders but following anyone in the muck is difficult and so many guys are not taking good lines. I get frustrated and launch an aggressive attack about half way through the dirt section.

I get a good gap, settle in for some hard work and watch behind me to see if anyone will bridge. Soon enough two riders make it up to me. They both seem strong and I think we could hold the pack off if we all work together. Nope. One rider won't work at all and the other is "Inferno Guy" and he is simply too wiped out to make long pulls. But, we still try. After we pass a small group of riders from a different race, I make room for one of the others to pull through... nobody's there. I've somehow dropped the other two and now I'm on a solo breakaway with a substantial gap. (Crap. Mark always tells me, "Don't do a solo break!")

There is a long way to go and I already know the pack will almost certainly chase me down. I put in a medium effort so at least they'll have to work for it. I'll get caught but I hope the chasers will get worn out. By the time they catch me, it's been almost a whole lap and I join the pack for our final run through the dirt.

This time, the pace through the dirt is pretty mellow. The race has been fairly hard with lots of chasing and it seems everyone is settling in for a group sprint at the finish. So, while I'm planning my sprint tactics, a rider from Team Polli Veloce - Paul Wren (my nemesis at the Copper Town Circuit Race) comes up to the front riding fast. He exclaims to our front group, "I had a mechanical and I've been time trialing solo for two laps to catch you guys!". Then he goes to the front and amps up the pace. I come up next to him, "You really chased for two laps to catch us? Man, you've still got a lot of motor left!" I go to the front for a brief pull but Paul takes over again almost right away. He doesn't seem to want me on the front. Fine with me. There are three Team Polli Veloce riders in the pack and maybe he's leading them out for the sprint. I take up second wheel.

I've decided that I need to surprise the pack in order to do well in the sprint. To that end, just before the 200m to go sign, I jump. I sprint as hard as I can. I know my move is a surprise but I have to assume that they are right on my wheel so I just put my head down and go. Just before the finish line, I see a wheel coming up on my right... I must not let up... the wheel fades back.

I win!

I would do some sort of celebration move as I crossed the line in first place but I'm so out of breath and so hypoxic that I can do nothing but coast down the hill. I get congratulations from my competitors but I can't even respond. 100% of my consciousness has been focused on effort and the finish line. It takes a minute or so before I can even talk.

It has been a great day and it didn't even rain!

All of my competitors are beyond gracious, everyone of them giving me a pat on the back, a fist bump or a hand shake in congratulations. Team Polli Veloce, who were parked near me, searched me out after the race, came up to me and gave me their synopsis of the sprint and said I deserved the win. This is one of the joys of bicycle racing. It is an endeavor where good sportsmanship always seems to bubble to the top. I am humbled by it.



Tom Rice

Bicycle Racer

CoreTechs Cycling Team

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Regalado RR-45+ 1/2/3 Report (great race-crappy end)

Regalado RR, 45+ 1/2/3…3 laps with 1.5 miles of dirt each lap


Déjà vu all over again…

I'm pissed and don’t have a lot to say…well, check that, I always have a lot to say, so say it I will. I'm pissed.

Dumping rain hammers my house all day Saturday and through the night. I call Mark Foster; "you still up for racing?" Response: "well, why not?" Why not? How about those buckets of rain? Ok, whatever, wet is wet. I'm in too.

4:30am and I am up and moving. Rain has ceased. We load the car and move out. No rain for the two hour drive out. Let me digress here. Why the hell are we up at 5am and driving two hours just after a major rain storm to ride our bikes for 54 miles? I say we have a problem. There is some sort of psychological issue that we obviously both have. I mean really, couldn't we have chosen another hobby? I am sure model train collectors are not up at this hour and driving two hours to a model train convention. It is Sunday for God's sake.

Race starts and no rain. 30 or so racers line up. Did you all just read that? It is 8:30 in the morning. 2 hours from civilization and we just had a major rain storm. There are 30 guys lined up in the 45+ age group? Come on guys, get a life!! Wait a minute, I'm here too, oh man, I have to seek some counseling. I digress no further; Race is going along at a reasonable pace when we hit the dirt section. What? A dirt section? Just after a major rain storm?? ON a ROAD BIKE?? Are you freaking kidding me? Ok, I knew there was a dirt section, but really, this is silly.

Dirt section is made up of pot holes filled with water and small ponds in the middle of the road. This goes on for about 1.5 miles. The pace is at full gas. The problem with this is the rider in front will be hammering and then suddenly veer right or left to avoid said pot hole or pond. That leaves you with little option but to ride through said pot hole or pond. I did. I got wet. We finally exit the dirt and head up a small incline. Soaked and shaken we ride on, though five or so of the gang decided to stop for a fishing break, or whatever…they are no longer attached to the group.

Lap two we hit the dirt again. Hammer time. Soaked again. Pot holes and mud everywhere. We are down to 20 guys.

Lap three we hit the dirt again. Get the point? The dirt is where the race happened. We would be cruising at a reasonable pace when we hit the dirt. Then it was full gas through the mud and water. I sat 4th wheel in the dirt. Come out of the dirt feeling awesome. We have about four miles to the finish from the dirt section. We are down to 10 guys at this point.

Clark Foy, who won the CCCX solo a month ago, jumps and I jump with him. We get a gap but he lets up so we come back to the pack. Man, this is fun, I am feeling chipper and in a great mood. A mile from the finish line I start to think about who I want to sit behind for the final sprint. A dark cloud passes over us. I get a funny feeling. The feeling turns out to be a flat front tire. 53 miles done, one mile left and my brand new tire goes flat.

I am done. I pull to the side and watch the nine other guys (including Mark who was doing great) ride by and leave me to ride a sad, angry mile alone. I would tell you how frustrated I am with this, but I can't adequately do justice to my frustration in writing. In fact, just writing this is pissing me off. Oh hell, I'm going to find a good model train convention. Anyone want to buy a few sets of wheels that don’t hold air? Cheap??

Andrew

CCCX March 11th, 2012 45+ 1/2/3 race

It is just like drugs. Really, ask anyone. Get in a winning break once and you want that stuff again. It is like smack. You know its not good for you, you know it will probably kill you, but you just can't help yourself. You need it, you need it bad! And so it was that I started my fourth race of the year at CCCX.




We had 28 riders line up (of which 5 were in the 55+ cat). Two of the riders wore the CoreTechs kit (Daryoush and myself). Also racing was CCCX yoda, Steve Heaton and SJBC Cat 1/former pro Eric Saltzman. Listen, I may not be the smartest bike rider, but I know I don’t want to go into a sprint with these two. So, couple this with my love of being in a winning break and I knew what I needed to do…get in a break!



Oh, if only it were that easy. Of course, when you are sitting in a parking lot prior to race start, it seems easy. How could you not make it happen? Keep reading.



So the race starts kind of strange. A rider I don’t know, Joe Foster (Knarlube) takes the front and starts hammering. He pulls for a full lap for no real reason we could figure. He does keep any attacks from going though as the pace was pretty high.



Lap three (could have been lap four-hard to remember). Daryoush goes to the front and gives an attack. No one goes with him and he is brought back. When they catch Daroush I counter attack. No dice, they jump on me about a second after I launch.



Lap five and I think it is time to go again. I go hard. I get caught relatively quickly. I wait about a minute and do it again. This time I get some distance. I put my head down and go hard. I have three guys jump across to me. Ok, now we have it! None of those three pull through, but I am ok with that for now. I pick up the pace a bit and keep hammering. I glance back and see that the pack is chasing hard, led by Heaton. I keep going hoping that he sits up before catching on, but come on, that was not going to happen. He catches and brings the whole field together again.



Well, I am pretty spent, so I drift back and rest in the pack.



Lap six, final lap, I come to the realization it will be a bunch sprint. That sucks. As we crest the final hill into the fast downhill, I get my first glance of Rick Morgan (SJBC) in the race. He comes charging by. I know what is up and know that he is going to try and lead out Saltzman (both are SJBC). He is on the other side of the field though and I can't get across. In back of them is Heaton. I figure my race is done right there since I can't get over to them. Then I spy Andrew Nevitt (SJBC). I know Andrew will sprint to the finish and most likely will try and get on Saltzman's wheel or in front of him to help with the lead-out. Nevitt is stuck on the wrong side too though. He goes wide on far left and eats a bunch of wind. I am tucked nicely behind him. He never does catch Saltzman's wheel but he leads me to a good position. Mid hill I sprint past him to take the fifth spot (thanks Andrew!). Heaton wins and Saltzman gets second.



What could I have done differently? Not really sure. If no breaks were allowed, I was stuck dealing with a pack sprint. I supposed I could have made a better effort to get on Heaton's wheel earlier, but if I had to judge my abilities honestly, would not made much of a difference. So there you have it. Another race, another day as a bridesmaid. I need to find a better supplier! Love this stuff though!

CCCX Race Report - 3/11/12-Tom Rice

Where – Central Coast Circuit Race at Fort Ord, CA


When – March 11, 2012

Race 1: 45+ Cat 3/4

Race 2: 35+ Open (report below)



Stats Race 1 – ~22 miles at almost 23 mph

Finish Race 1 – 18th out of 40+ racers

In Race 1 - CoreTechs teammates Mark Foster and Alan Takahashi



Race 1: I'm well warmed up and ready to race. The weather is awesome with just a little wind. Mark, Alan and I have a brief tactics discussion before the race and, somewhat tacitly, decide that a break is required to assure a good finish. To that end, I plan to cover anything dangerous that happens early and, if there is no break earlier, I'll attack on the third lap near the back side hill.

We start at the whistle. Almost right away, the pace is pretty quick and I'm settled in the pack, about 8 riders from the front. A few half-hearted attacks are made during the first two laps but every time, the pack, especially Mark, Alan and I, respond quickly. Even so, as planned, with three laps to go, I make a vicious attack before the backside hill. I get a good gap but it doesn't last long before the entire pack chases me down.

I'm surprised but I've got a couple more of these "matches" ready to light so I settle back into the pack. Alan tries an attack with another rider but it is quickly chased down. Then, with two to go, I make another aggressive attack on the rolling hills that I call The Steps... this time, Rick Morgan from SJBC comes with me. Now, I think we've got something. Rick is strong and we get a decent gap. I lead over all of the rollers on The Steps and Rick leads through the right hand turn and down the hill to the finish straight. We're going fast but, again, the entire pack has chased us down. They are not letting a break go today.

Even so, I plan to make one last attack on The Steps before the descent onto the finish straight. But the pack is antsy and my position on the right edge of the road is a bad one and I'm completely boxed in. Numerous riders are forced to push through the brush that encroaches on the road just to hold their positions. I even have to bash my way through a bush just to keep from tangling with the rider next to me.

As we descend down to the right hand turn onto the finish straight, I am not well positioned. I'm dramatically slowed by a rider in front of me as we go through the turn, I sprint as hard as I can but I can't get any momentum dodging the slower riders coming up to the line.

18th place. I should have done better and I needed to adjust my tactics to a very spirited pack. I contemplate my lessons on the cool down ride back to the pits and get ready for the next race.



Stats Race 2 – ~27 miles at 21.3 mph

Finish Race 2 – 5th out of 20 or so racers (17 are listed in the results but I'm not sure they are complete)

In Race 2 - CoreTechs teammates Andrew Adelman, Christian Parker, John Wilde, Daryoush Paknad and Mark Foster



Race 2: For me, this is a different race. I'm a Cat 4 in the waning stages of the 45+ masters class. This is a 35+ open race with some very fast guys in it and many of them are much younger than I am. I've already raced pretty hard today but that was almost two hours ago. I actually feel pretty good and I'm ready to go again. Especially since, CoreTechs has six team members in the race and we plan to dominate!



As a prelude, remember this from Andrew's Book of Tactics, Rule Number 1: A CoreTechs rider covers every attack.



We start at the whistle. Right off the line a rider from Iron Data/Thirsty Bear, Duane Coughlan, kind of just drifts off the front in a very slow breakaway attempt. All of us CoreTechs guys (and the pack) sit in and watch Duane gap the pack by about 50 meters. I'm near the front and Andrew charges by, admonishing me, "We cover every attack!" Andrew covers this one. (I need to learn to be less timid at the start of the higher classification races.)

Andrew knows he has lots of teammates in the race so he doesn't need to burn a bunch of matches to cover the break and he comes back to the pack with Duane still out front. I don't want to get in "trouble" again and I want to do my share of the work. So at the moment when the pack regains contact with Andrew, I make an aggressive attack to join Duane for the breakaway. I'm ready to burn a bunch of matches for the team and I quickly catch Duane and move in front for a hard pull with Duane on my wheel. We have a pretty good gap so I settle in to work with Duane. I'm going to try but I don't really think we have the horsepower to hold off a strong pack for six laps.

On the second lap, I take a quick look back and I can see two or three riders trying to bridge up to our breakaway with about five riders behind them in front of the remainder of the pack. It looks like we're going to get caught. Then, an incredibly strong Doug Hall (Michael David Winery Cycling Team) joins us towing Mark Foster and Christopher Brown from Team Don Chapin. This is really good news. Now we have enough riders to possibly hold off the pack - especially with our CoreTechs teammates in the pack to cover any bridging attacks.

We begin to circulate in a classic pace-line but Mark is completely worked from hanging onto Doug's wheel during the bridge, Duane is getting gapped anytime we come to a hill and can't really do his pull and Christopher is also recovering from the bridging attack. Doug seems a little frustrated and lets Mark and Christopher know, "I towed you up here now you have to pull!" Neither one of them can even respond. They are worked and some recovery is required. For the next two laps, Doug and I do most of the pulls and our gap grows to about a minute and a half. With that gap and two to go, we can relax just a little.

Doug is by far the strongest of our five man group. He tests us at the hill on the back side with two laps to go to see who is strong and who isn't. We cover his attack pretty easily but the trouble is, my quads are starting to cramp. I can still peddle hard while seated but I can't stand. I do my best to hide this (Doug tells me after the race he knew I was cooked.)

Now that he is recovered from the bridging work, now Mark and Doug are doing the lion's share of the pulls and I can try to rest and get my legs working again. I start to feel a little better. BTW, it is obvious that Duane is also feeling better.

It's the final lap and we're on the back side hill, I'm in front making a longish pull (this was a mistake) and Doug attacks from the back of our group. I have nothing left and cannot respond. Mark, Duane and Christopher chase after Doug. I have to meter my effort in hopes that they will slow at the steps and I can catch back on but to no avail. I'm dropped.

I keep my pace as high as I can so I don't get caught by the pack and I cross the finish line alone for fifth place. A great finish for me! I race way above my level with younger guys and I'm on the podium. It is a good day!

I very grateful to my CoreTechs teammates who I know were working the pack to keep any chasers at bay and to assure that our breakaway was successful. There is no way I would have been able to make this breakaway work without their help. It is amazing to see how well the team works together to get two guys in a break and do an epic job managing the pack. My job now is to build up by strength and endurance. The next time I'm lucky enough to make the winning breakaway, I'll be there at the end to sprint for first. Racing for CoreTechs Cycling Team couldn't be more fun and couldn't be more rewarding!

Daryoush reports from Merco 3/6/12

Daryoush reporst from Merco!


Race: Merco Classic Hilltop Ranch


Class: 45+ Cat 1,2,3


Riders: around 88


Teams: CoreTechs (1), Morgan Stanley (7), Wells Fargo Team (4), Colavita Racing-Norcal (3), Echelon Gran Fondo (3), SAFEWAY/GA(4),Sierra Nevada(6) and bunch of other teams with 2-4 riders


Distance: 72 miles (3X24)


A beautiful day in Turlock's rolling hills with temperatures around 72. Amazing number of teams and riders at this race. Every other car on hwy 580 to Turlock had a couple of nice racing bikes on it!

The course is a 24 mile loop of rolling hills (you are either going up or down) - half of the loop had decent pavement and the other half which led to the finish line had very bad pavement (really need to make sure your dentures are glued well before doing this race). The longest climb on the course was on the bad pavement with 10-15 miles/hr headwind. This climb was long enough to get you out of the saddle and make your legs burn a little the 2nd and 3rd time up. The finishing stretch was right after this climb with a couple of short rollers, a little longer hill and may be 20 feet of slight down hill.


I had good legs and felt pretty good during the warm up. My strategy was to create a brake with a couple of strong riders or follow brakes with more than 3 guys in it that included Dirk or one of his strong team mates (Echelon Gran Fondo), a Morgan Stanley rider and a Sierra Nevada rider.


Break attempts started fast and early - must have covered more than six or seven on the first lap and also tried to brake away a couple of times myself hoping that Dirk would join. All break attempts were reeled in. At the beginning of the 2nd lap Dirk took off by himself and rode solo in front of the pack for almost 20 miles. I new his team mates would attack as soon as he was caught -- which is exactly what they did. Cale and Hunter and two other guys jumped a few minute after Dirk was caught. I found myself in front with a couple of Morgan Stanley guys on my wheel. I made a short attempt to close the 10 foot gap that was openend but hesitated to go all the way since I was dragging the whole pack. As soon as I slowed down, a Morgan Stanley rider jumped from the back and joined the group up front.


They now had the perfect break recipe - 2 of the strongest guys in the field with a Safeway, Morgan Stanley, JSBC and ArtCycler.com group. Before the smaller teams realized that these guys were up front the gapped increased to 100 yards or so. This group went on to complete the top six list in the race.



Our group which still consisted 60 or 70 riders still kept the intensity high but the efforts were not consistent. (1) Teams would go to the front, pull really hard until they exhausted themselves and the rest of the group. (2) The pace would drop for a few minutes and then back to (1). Of course the six guys upfront got into a nice steady consistent tempo.



2K to go right after the rough section Dirk made an effort to break, I shifted into my 53/11 and went after him. In the middle of the last uphill section I caught him and had a pretty good gap on the pack. Passed Dirk, still in my 53/11 on the drop bar; I am losing rpm; 200 feet to go; don't have enough time to move my hands up to shift down; still losing cadence; tried to shift but there is too much tension on the chain to shift; I can hear guys behind me; got to the flat part but I am going backwards now; six or seven guys ride by me.


This was one of the best races that I've done and would definitely do it again. With CoreTechs' talent pool we can dominate this race next year.

45+ 1/2/3 CCCX Report-March 4th 2012

This is two reports in one. Devon's Race report followed by Andrew's version: Devon Joos Race Report from CCCX 45+ 1/2/3 Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 4:03 PM Subject: [coretechscycling] Race report 45+ cat 1234. CCCX Monterey. Andrew blocked for me. Got 2nd Andrew's Version: Devon, being a man of few words, can write a report like this. Me, being a man of many words, often to complete dismay of those around me, can not let a report like this go without further comment. Thus, comment I shall! My wife, Wendy, decided to take a "girls trip" to Vegas. Of course, not sure why it was with a guy named Rahul, but I digress. What the trip did was leave in my responsible hands my three kids. A seven year old and twin five year olds. I figured what better way to entertain them then taking them to beautiful Monterey, CA to watch bikes go in circles, which of course prompted my five year old boy to ask; "Daddy, why do bike riders like riding in circles?" (this is true by the way). It was a hard one to answer too! Race starts and I know going in I have no sprint. Did a number on a rib of mine three weeks back while sledding and it still does not like it when I violently shake my handlebars. So, knowing this I thought I would try to get in a break. Three minutes into the race one guy goes. I bridge up. Then one other joins us. We have three now, but I don’t know these guys. Not sure what they have. Turns out one of them (alto velo dude) had no clue what he was doing. Kept letting gaps go and then would pull through at a snails pace. We lasted a full lap, but then the pack was back in sight. I did not think this was a good break. A minute later, Clark Foy(SJBC) came riding up to the three of us and went right to the front with a "let's go". I had already given up on these other two guys and did not think Clark was a TT guy, thus not a great guy to be with alone. Of course, he climbs OLH in 16:11, but I thought this was not a climbers course and the wind would not serve him. I let him go and slipped back to the pack. Clark rode on alone. Come on, one guy with four laps to go (20 miles) on a windy course. Silly really. Another break goes a lap later. I bridge up. Nothing; caught again. Another break of three goes. This one looks promising. Devon is at the front and I am on his wheel with the pack behind us. I yell to Devon to "go". He does. He bridges the gap and is on the break. I have a twinge of regret as I think that break will stick. Well, that is bike racing and I have a teammate to help. I ride at the front of the pack and keep the pace steady, but keep an eye on the four in the break and watch as they get incrementally further away. Steve Heaton (winner of the 35+ 1/2/3 race) goes to the front and tries to pull the break back. I sit on his wheel. He goes for at least a 1/4 lap and gives the elbow. No dice, I don’t come around. He sits up and we all slow down. Final downhill and I don’t have a great position. I am second wheel going over the top of the last hill and into the final downhill. I figure the guy in front will fade or move over and that leaves me in a poor position. Well, he did, it was and the peloton (down to about 8 or 9 guys) breaks to the right side. I go around on the left, catch back on and ride to the finish. By this point I am sitting fourth/fifth in the pack and that is where I roll across the line for 8th or 9th place. Clark (SJBC) by the way? He soloed the entire race and won. Man…if only I had just sat on his wheel. Well, if, if, if. Next race I will know about him! Give that guy some credit though. That is very impressive! Fun race, good to offer what help I could. Devon has an amazing sprint, just sorry I could not been in the break with him to watch it. He easily out sprinted his break mates and took home a solid Second Place! I would call that a good day at CCCX for the CoreTechs boys. Andrew