Miles gets 2nd in the CCCX Mnt Bike Cat 3 race

Where- Fort Ord, Monterey CA


When- June 24th 9am

Race- 45-55 CAT3 mens

Stats- 3 laps, 5 miles each, 15 total

Fire roads, double and single track.

Team mate- Dave T in the race after me. (Nice 3rd place finish!)

My race was at 9am, so I left MP early to make sure I had time to sign up and warm up. I had time to pre ride about half a lap and felt pretty good at the start.



The race starts on pavement and funnels into single track pretty quickly. Starts are key, being in the back of the pack when you funnel onto the single track makes for a tough time passing.

As we sprint down the road to the dirt section I make sure I am in a good spot. I end up 3 wheel and follow my competition. I visually mark the two in front of me and don't let them out of sight.

There is a bit more climbing than usual, and I think to myself that this will be to my advantage. Towards the end of the first lap we come up on slower racers from the race in front of us.

I bobble a bit and have trouble getting around a few of these guys since I came up on them in tight single track with not much room to pass. I start to loose track of 1st and 2nd place ahead of me.

Finally I get by the slower riders and look up the trail now and then to see if I can see my competitors. I've lost them for now. When we come around the finish line area for the first time

the timer shouts 3rd place. I had my work cut out for me if I wanted to advance. I wasn't sure how far ahead they were but I decided to hammer the middle lap and then hopefully back it off a bit at the end.

Within the blur of the next lap, passing slower riders, and concentrating on not going down in the deep sand sections, I guess I passed 2nd place and didn't even notice. The next thing I know,

I'm going through the finish area and they shout 2nd place! What? are you sure? I think to myself. OK, I'll take it, but I needed a rest so I backed it off for just a few minutes to recover, being careful not to

let 3rd get close. Into the last lap, things were clicking for me and I felt good, so brought it back up to normal race pace. At about that point I caught a glimpse of 3rd place coming up behind me.

If I wanted to keep my well earned 2nd place spot I would need to wick it up to max for the rest of the race. Great, not what I had planed, and not what my body wanted to hear, but it was do or die.

I thought to myself, I didn't skip golf today with my buddies to get caught and passed on my last lap! OK, off we went. I had him on the climbs and he would catch me on the descends, the flowing flat stuff was

pretty even. I decided on the last climb that I would give it all I had and with my weakness ahead of me, then try and hang on to the finish. Once I got to the top of the climb I had pulled a bit of a gap

on him, so I really concentrated on going as smooth and as fast as I could the rest of the way. I definitely pushed it the last few miles. I had a few close calls and just tried to keep it fast and on two wheels.

On the last descend into the finish area, I could hear his bike chattering behind me, maybe 5-6 bike lengths behind. The next thing I heard was Dave T screaming at me at the top of his lungs (thanks Dave!).

In fact it scarred me, because i was in concentration mode at the time. That gave me the extra umph to give it one last hard effort to the finish line, although I had to be careful because there was a sketchy

off camber turn just before the last straight a way. I made it cleanly through everything and got across the line 30s behind 1st place and 6s in front of 3rd.



I felt good about holding on to my position, and pushing it through the end, and I have the poison oak to prove it!



Thanks for reading

-Miles

Andrew has a one night stand in Burlingame

A crit is to biking as a one night stand is to a 22 year old. It all sounds so fun as you are gearing up for the event. Then you focus on the task at hand and enjoy the fast pace and scary moments. You just hope you don’t catch anything that will take too long to heal. Afterwards you are left with hazy recollections of the event and slight feeling of regret. Of course, this all fades with time and you soon find yourself entering the next event with the same anticipation.

As I write this a day after the event, things are indeed hazy and I am left with a mild bit of regret. The party was being held at downtown Burlingame. The crowd at this party was my age when I first walked in. I would say at least 45+. The party picked up quick though and things did get hazy. A few highlights of what I can recall:

• Lots of curves and turns, some oohhing and aahhing and a bit of moaning

• I gave a very hard effort towards the end that left me gasping for breath. I had two others with me. I thought this was my fantasy, but in the end, one jumped away and stayed away and my other partner gave up on me. The lights came up and they played last call. The two of us knew this was going nowhere so we went back to the party.

• With the lights up and the music off, I tried to find my friends to take me home. Could not find them so decided to leave the party with everyone else.

I decided to hang around and see what else this place had to offer. Turns out that when the old dudes left another party was just getting started, a much younger one! I thought I would try hanging with this bunch. Figured they would be lively and who knows, I may have a shot of getting something really pretty. I went to the front and asked for a dance, but a few songs later realized my dance partners were a bit too sketchy for me. I was starting to feel like "that guy". You know, the one the kids point too at the club and ask, "why is the old dude here? Kind of creepy." So, realizing I was a bit creepy, and happy not to catch anything, I just hung near the back till the lights came up and I could see my way out.

And so it was, my biking one night stand ends. Might go back to the party at some point in the future, but for now, I am looking to get more serious. Looking for a long term relationship.

See you soon!

AA

Pescadero RR - E4 report from Kenneth Spencer

Kenneth Spencer: What happened during the E4 race at Pescadero
Cat 4


2 laps, 47 miles

70+ riders, 8th place

Many of you know that this is my favorite race. I've done it enough times to know how things play out. And given my increased mileage and climbing gains as of late, I felt really good about my chances. Here are the key takeaways:

It played out as in the past .... no breaks. A few folks tried, but no one prevailed. The climbs are not long enough and the flats are too windy. It's not worth even attempting. I just stayed near the front on the climbs, was careful on the descents (= passed by a few crazy people) and rest of the time I stayed off the back.

...until chaos ensued... we were neutralized 2nd time up stage road by the moto. he wanted the lead group of p1/2 to pass us. Well, they did. But either then or when we later caught up with them there were some Cat 4s that were 'down the road' (or at least we thought). It's really unclear what happened here. We leapfrogged the p1/2s and vice versa maybe twice on 84 on the lead into the final climb up haskins. Again we were neutralized (and still thinking a few people in the mix at the front of the p1/2s.

...and then began haskins...I was #3 turning up haskins. This time moto man neutralized the p1/2s and I hammered (as I told myself I would). Lungs felt great. Confidence felt great. Hey, I can win this once and for all.

...and there went my legs ... my quads were on fire but the rest of me still felt great. I can't explain it. It's how I've felt since I gave blood 2 weeks ago. Stupid, I know (now). So, I'll blame getting passed by 7 guys on my blood donation.

...but what about the guys who were off the front?...even when we started haskins someone told us that some guys has 1:20 on us. I'm not sure who those guys were bc I'm pretty sure that I was 8th out of our main group. So, either there wasn't anyone off the front, or I passed someone while I was sweet talking my legs, or I simply can't count.

...so in the end...I'm very very disappointed (in myself for donating blood 2 weeks ago). But, the 2 points for 8th give me exactly 20 in past 12 mo, so I've submitted my upgrade to Cat 3. :)

Thanks for reading this nonsense,

Kenneth

John Wilde's PGE 35+ 1/2/3 write up

Who: John Wilde (35+)



What: PG&E Criterium in Pleasanton

Result: I finished 16 out of about 50 riders

It seems the CoreTech-ites may have used up their race passes down in Monterey because only Dave and I showed up in Pleasanton for a 60 min hot, dry, fast 4 corner crit. Incredibly, Dave's computer was reporting a post-race temp of 110! I sat mid-pack most of the race, making an attempt to bridge to a 2-man break about 40 min in. My attempt failed but put me in a good position to latch on to a group of 6 guys who were trying the same thing. After a few laps our group gave up and the break stayed away. The infamous Dirk (Ed note: Dirk is 50-winning the 35+ race-impressive!) took the win (and 2nd in the next race to put an exclamation point on it). Maybe he trains in an oven? Oh right, it's called the noon ride.

I think the heat was a big factor and next time I would carry 2 bottles and pack them with ice. The hot-tea-like liquid I was forcing myself to swallow wasn't pleasant.

Todd Freiermuth Reports from E5 at PG&E (Ouch!)

Todd Freiermuth (bro of Scott) reports from the E5 race at PG&E Crit. Another reason to upgrade fast!

My work schedule finally allowed me to do yesterday’s PG&E Crit. This is the 4th crit I've done this year, and each time I learn something new.

With the weather forecast showing a high of 103, I was happy with the 0800 start and only 80 degrees!!! Arrived early, registered and warmed up on the trainer. They announced the course opened for practice laps, so off I go to preview the course. Nice smooth pavement and sweeping turns!

We line up at the start, get our pep talk about riding smart, protecting your front wheel, and to NOT do anything stupid!!!

The whistle blows and we’re off. The pace out of the gate isn't too bad and we tackle the first few laps without incident. Everyone seems to be riding fairly smooth so far......

After 10 minutes we go into the first sweeper and the carnage begins. Three guys go down on the inside. Before the wreck I heard guys yelling about someone cutting on the inside and to hold there line. The race gets stopped while Fire and Paramedics tend to the wounded ( 2 confirmed broken collar bones and 1 walking wounded).

After 15 minutes of waiting we are off again for our "last 5 laps" of the race. Every one is riding smooth and I’m hopeful all will stay "upright." And then you guessed it, more Cat 5 carnage with 2 laps to go; a tire blew mid turn and 4 more riders went down. I escaped the obstacles and kept going. Everyone was spread out at this point, so I put my head down and decided it was safer to get ahead of the group I was riding with. The last 2 laps I was in between the lead group and the chasing group.

I finished 29th out of 52 starters, and left with all my skin and bones in tact! It was a fun race, I learned more regarding race tactics, and have another race under my belt towards upgrading.

Looking forward to the Foothill Circuit!

Thanks for reading

Rick reports from his 2nd place CCCX (6/9/12)

Written by Rick Adams
45 +, 55+ (1-2-3)


Teammates: Ricky, Andrew, Super Dave, Allen

I like this course – especially when windy. It is similar to racing in Flanders, except the roads are twice as wide in Monterey.

Goal – ride conservatively, wait to see if any 55+ guys go up the road and sprint. With a few super human 45+ riders in the field, I will leave being in the break up to Andrew

Sure enough, a break happens and Andrew is in the move. Ricky does a fantastic job of covering the attacks that attempt to bridge. Ricky displayed some awesome power and tenacity in chasing down many riders — wow!

With 3 laps to Chris Black (very strong 55+) attacks and several other 55+ bring him back. Chris attacks a few more times and I and a few other 55+ are very attentive. Finally on the last lap, Chris Black attacks again and he takes 3 other 45+ with him. They are only about 10 seconds up the road – I am confident the group would bring them back because 5th place for the 45+ is still on the line. But no one takes responsibility to bring them back and they stay away.

Down the hill to the finish, I move all the way to the front and sure enough 2 other guys would rather be in front of me going 100%. As they die, Allen appears on the front going hard. I jump on his wheel. What a perfect lead-out. Thanks!

I win the field sprint giving me 2nd in the 55+ and 9th overall.

Great fun once again with CoreTechs.

Rick Adams

Tom Rice reports from CCCX-35+ open race (June 9th 2012)

Written by Tom Rice:

Pic by Tim Westmore

Where: Central Coast Circuit Racing, Fort Ord, CA
When: 9 July, 2012
Race: 35+ Masters Open
Course: 75 Minutes, 6 laps on a rolling 4.3 mile circuit on a beautiful sunny day on the Monterey Peninsula

Teammates: Andrew Adelman, Mark Foster, Rick Adams, Dave Puglia, Mike McLaughlin, Ricky Lucero

(Some of the other guys should pipe-up to fill in the gaps in my report!)

Mark Foster and I carpool together down to the venue. We get an early start so we have plenty of time to setup the CoreTechs pit suite near the podium in anticipation of a great day of racing. I even bring a couple of new camp chairs to make sure that, between races, the team has a good place to sit and tell the requisite tall tales of daring done! And, I have enough time to screw up the most difficult challenge of the entire day; pinning my numbers correctly. (I only had to re-pin twice to get three different numbers pinned correctly, an average success rate of 60%.)

Mark Foster, Mike McLaughlin, and I had already raced in the 45+ 3/4 race. Rick Adams, Andrew Adelman, Ricky Lucero and Dave Puglia had raced in the 45+/55+ 1/2/3/4 race earlier in the day. So, we were all well warmed up!

This race was going to be different than last week. Last week the race started with 17 riders and 10 of them were from the CoreTechs horde. This week, the race starts with 23 riders including 7 from CoreTechs with one major difference, this week, three of the strongest northern California age 35+ competitors are in our race... we have our work cut out for us!

Still, we know that Duane Coughlan from Iron Data/Thirsty Bear will attack from the start... and he does. This break is quickly subdued by the pack with substantial coverage by the CoreTechs horde. Immediately, a second attack takes off. Mark Foster covers this attack and a small gap forms. A chase group tries to bridge the gap and I cover these guys. Quickly, the pack reels us all in and the whole group is together again. This leaves me at the front of the pack when I hear the third attack coming from behind me - I accellerate. Matt Carinio and Kevin Klein are going for it! I jump on their wheels and soon the three of have a big gap. For those who don't already know, both Carinio and Klein are national class Cat 1 riders who are insanely strong. (Carinio's license number is only four digits and starts with a "6" for crap's sake!)

In this breakaway, I ride well above my "station" and I do my pulls but these guys are fast. After about one and a half laps, I can't hang... On one of the hills on the backside of the course, Carinio accelerates and I get popped.

Now, by myself, I'm thinking, "Well, I still have a good gap and I'm in third place. So, if I can keep a fast pace, maybe I can hang on." I go for it but, I'll admit it here, I was worked!

I'm paying attention behind me and I soon realize I'm going to get caught by a chase group. Apparently, Steve Heaton (a particularly strong Cat 2 rider) is not satisfied to sit in the pack to race for 4th place. So he decides, with 4 others, to bridge up to the front group - that is, me. (I'm not sure how this happened but this is my assumption.) Heaton, Derek Johnson, Benjamin Albracht, Blake Reed, Joe Amon, with Andrew in tow, bridge up to me. Andrew played this perfectly... he just sits in on the bridging attempt to get pulled up to me. I know they're coming so I rest enough that I can join this group as they catch me. This is awesome for me because now I have a teammate to help do the work of trying to reconnect - to no avail - with the front two riders. Matt and Kevin have a huge gap and we're seven guys racing for third place.

Andrew and I are kind of in the catbird's seats - these guys are all really strong and are working hard (except Reed, Carinio's teammate) to catch the front two. I'm doing my best to save some mojo for the finish. So, while Andrew and I take our pulls and do some of the work, the others are doing the lions share. Then, in one of the most bizarre moves I've seen in racing, as we're passing through the start/finish area with two laps to go and Heaton says, "Okay boys, have fun." He lets a huge gap form in front of Andrew and me and just drops out of the race.

What the heck?? Now, we have to close a gap, on three strong guys going very fast, to stay in the running for a podium position (one of the other guys in our group had been popped earlier.) So, we bury ourselves to get back in contact. We get back on but unfortunately, one of the guys accelerates on the backside hill and I can't hang... Andrew and I get gapped.

Andrew and I take a couple kilometers to rest and get ourselves together hoping the acceleration will slow. It does and we give chase - deep in the pain cave - but we cannot close the gap. Still, we need to keep our speed up so the pack does not catch us. We're racing for sixth and seventh place, a good finish given the talent in this race. As we race down the last hill coming up to the right hand turn onto the finish straight, I look back. I can't see anyone so it seems like we're in good shape to finish off the front of the pack. As we come up to the finish straight, there is a rider that I think might be from the breakaway group in front of us. I give chase hoping one of us can get on the podium. But, he's too far out and there is not enough time remaining to catch him. We cross the finish line with me in sixth place (thanks Andrew) and Andrew in seventh place.

After the race, Mark Foster tells me that the pack was gaining on us and could see us coming up to the finish. It's a good thing we kept our pace as high as we could!



This was a great race for me! It was incredibly hard, I'm completely wiped out but I had fun. Even though I didn't get on the box, I feel this is one of my best efforts to date. The competition was top notch and I get two points towards my next upgrade.

I have to thank Andrew in particular for his help in this race along with the rest of our team who helped keep the pack in control while we were off the front. What a great team! I love riding for CoreTechs!

Thanks for reading.



Tom Rice

Bicycle Racer

CoreTechs Cycling Team

Mark Dames Reports from CCCX (Funny!)

Written by Mark Dames

Where: Central Coast Circuit Racing, Fort Ord, CA

When: 9 July, 2012
Race: 45+ Cat 5
Course: 60 Minutes, roundybout the former Ord Military Base.

Teammates: Dave Tripier

Saturday morning. The dilemma .


A) Sleep in,

B) Mow the lawn,

C) drive 1 ½ hours to Monterey, and propel my body into hypoxic overload in the hopes that I’ll recapture my misspent youth.

With no competing family events, no work deadlines looming, no triathlons scheduled, option C rose to the top of the list.

The bike was in good shape, the rider had been newly fitted to it, and I was rested. Excuses not to go, were not materializing.

And the Venerable 45+ Cat 5 category needed some team representation.

At Monterey, the weather was perfect. Slightly cool, but warming in the Sun, windless, beautiful.

This could be a good day.

I signed up and then warmed up taking a few runs down the army base road towards the ocean. What a view.

I meet up with Dave T who is in the same race. We take another warm up lap and then hit the starting line.

There are about 20 entrants between two divisions, 35+ and 45+ Cat 5 racing together. Big Jeff Anders from MVV is there. I take note. He’s gone off the front and stayed away the two prior times I raced this event. I’ll have to watch him. If he goes, I commit, I’m going.

Whistle blows, were off at a blistering first lap pace of about 18 mph. This is a warm up lap to get the old bones working again I guess. Dave T. chats me up for some strategy, and I disgorge my interpretation of Andrew’s race wisdom. Stay in the draft. Conserve energy. Stay near the front. Don’t chase a single breakaway. If a 2nd guy goes, go with him.

Lap two speeds up, and I start to get near my limit going up the back side stepped ascents, but no one is interested in going kamikaze. On the descents I coast past most of the peloton while they are still pedaling. Hmmm. Can I make that work to my advantage? Lap Three is more of the same steady pace, but I don’t feel so winded on the back hill climbs. I try and stay behind bigger guys for more draft. I do note that coming off the long down hill to the last turn I don’t want to be on the inside, so I don’t have to pinch the turn to the finish. Note to self. Stay left.

Third lap, a guy goes off the front on the back side straightaway. After a couple of minutes, big Jeff motors away to bridge up to the breakaway rider. I’m about halfway back in the peloton and not particularly well positioned to jump his wheel. I consider bagging it and riding with the pack home. I remember Andrew’s counsel, “If you let a break go, you blew it”. I’m reminded of the Great Cat Fives who have come before, Merckx, . . . Foster, . . Indurain, . . . Rice. To heck with it I’m going. I surge off the front. As far as I know, no one follows. I get 100 then 200 yards on the peloton. I close to 30 yards on Big Jeff and the other guy. They are working together and I feel like I’m crossing the Sahara solo. It’s desolate out here. I’m working, working, working, but not gaining on the leaders. Lap 4, and I’ve still got a good lead on the peloton, maybe I can stay away. As soon as the road starts rising again, I give up that delusion, and coast back to the pack. At some point on the back side Jeff is done using his breakaway companion and discards him like an old shoe. Alone he flails wildly to stay away on his own, but comes back to the pack. This looks better now. Another spot on the podium is up for grabs. I get a minute to rest and the stair steps start again. For the first time I have to down shift out of the big chain ring. Bad sign. I’m drifting back, now. Now I’m off the back. I go anaerobic trying to get back on and after I crest the hill I force myself to power down the other side hoping I can hook up again. While the pack coasts I catch back on. Down the final hill I’m coasting up through the pack, I maneuver to the left, I should be able to finish mid – pack. I carry some good speed around the final corner, and drift a few more spots up the pack. I look up to the finish line and there’s Big Jeff in the distance and a half a dozen guys in front of me. Some of these may be catchable. Should I expend all that energy? (I read somewhere that its bad form to pass someone just to get a non-podium spot.) The Great Ones beckon me onward. What the heck. I spin furiously. I pass two or three guys before the line and finish what I think is a probable third or fourth. Dave T. is close behind me.

I learn later that I got second amidst the 45+ group, and get a medal for the effort. My first hardware in a bike race!

A good day.

Congratulations to all the CoreTechs riders, especially Alan and Rick for their First and Second finishes!

Cheers.



Mark A. Dames

Mark Dames Triathlon Report-Reservoir Tri

Triathlon Report by Mark Dames
Race: 6/3/2012 Reservoir Olympic Distance Triathlon

Location: Uvas Reservoir Morgan Hill
Race wave: Mixed Relay Division
Place: 4th out of 9 teams

While you folks were attacking the CCCX, my daughter Amanda and I took a shot at the Uvas Reservoir Triathlon in Morgan Hill.

Being that Amanda is coming off finals and the end-of-school year, graduation press, we decided to do this as a relay so she can ease back into competition.

Plan was for her to do the front and back/swim and run, I’d to the bike leg in the middle.

We arrived, set up in transition, said hello to a few friends and headed out for a warm up run along Uvas road. A twenty minute loop and we were ready.

She suited up in the wetsuit and we got to the beach for the line up. She goes in for a swim warm up about 15 minutes before her wave goes off.

Her stroke is looking arrow straight, and efficient, I feel she’s going to do well on this leg. I usually get around in 30 minutes, and I’m hoping she’ll do the same although she hasn’t had much swim training lately. Unbeknownst to me she’s swimming with triathlon goggles I bought her in 8th grade. She’s now a high school senior and apparently they don’t fit so well anymore. She has to turn over several times during the race to clear them from leaks, but she gets around the course in 31 minutes.

It’s a gratifying sight to see Amanda sprinting up the boat ramp which from the swim exit right on schedule. I get ready to strip the timing chip off her leg and transfer to mine. Task done, I jog my bike out of transition to the mount line and I’m off. The course is rolling hills with several significant climbs and some technical descents. I get up to 25 mph and try to keep my heart rate even for the first couple of miles. 151 bpm is my Olympic distance threshold, but I’m bouncing up to 159 at times and have to throttle back. On the first descent I discover that my brakes are not working on the carbon rims too well, and I am in imminent danger of losing it! I get through the first descent, and come to a right hand intersection with a flag man waving me right. Only problem is I’m going over 30 mph and the brakes have the aforementioned problem of reining this TT bike in. I approach the intersection and the brakes are not slowing, not slowing, not slowing, rear disc lock-up! A holy shit moment ensues as the rear skids out to the left, which happens to point me in the correct direction for the right hand turn. Luck or instinct causes me to let off, the rear straightens and I get around the corner. Wish I had a video of the corner worker’s expression. I get back on the gas as I figure there’s a 50/50 chance I’m going to crash in this race. Oh well. No caution now, I’ve got to get that timing chip back to my partner. I pass everyone I come upon and no one passes me. This isn’t saying much because the relays started dead last behind all the age group waves, but I figure at least I’m not having a bad day, . . . yet. One more technical descent comes along, I take it pretty slowly, my brakes are screaming like scalded cats, but I figure an unintentional dismount will cost me even more time. Last five miles to the barn I try to up shift and put the hammer down. This causes almost immediate muscle fatigue, and I have to shift back down and keep the cadence up. I pass numerous people who look to be pedal mashing at a sub 60 cadence. I spin by them at 90-95. Somebody give those poor souls the message. At around 22 miles I’m still sub one hour. I’ve been hovering at LT for an hour with numerous forays into the red zone. My record in the 24 mile bike leg is 1:05. I’m thinking team Dames may get a PR today. At mile 23, my legs start failing. I’m experiencing an alarming drop off in pace going up the rollers. I realize I forgot to eat anything. My goo pack is still taped to my top tube. Too late now, I push through and let the heart rate go ballistic. I enter the bike finish chute in oxygen debt wheezing like a Marlboro addict.

In transition #2 Amanda is waiting, she strips the timing chip, we high five and she’s off on the run. After catching my breath, I note other relay runners still waiting for their bike riders to arrive. Good. Let them wait. Their teammates didn’t go to the pain cave like I did. Maybe we’ll have a shot at the podium.

About three minutes after Amanda left, and small guy in a Stanford kit comes into transition with his bike. A big African American dude is waiting for him. This guy is football big up top, track and field build waist down, and he’s wearing those “I’m serious about this” compression sleeves on his legs. He takes the chip and literally sprints, knees high, arms pumping, out of transition. He looks like he’s doing the 100 yard dash. I think, “either that guy doesn’t know what he’s doing and will blow up, OR one of the podium spots is gone.” I’m hoping Amanda can go 48 minutes for the 10K run, an 8 minute pace. The hills however, prove to be a challenge. She’s pulls in at 52 minutes but has sprinted the last mile and looked like a rocket in the finishing chute. I’m proud of her. We end up one spot off the elusive podium, but have a lot of fun and a great father/daughter experience. My bike leg was a 1:09 for the 24 miles at about a 20 mph average, on a course with some steep hills climbs and twisty descents. I’m 4 minutes off my PR, but I didn’t crash. A good day.

Cheers.

Mark A. Dames

Tom Rice Reports from CCCX-45+ 3/4 (June 4 2012)

Where – Central Coast Circuit Races at Fort Ord, California

When – June 3, 2012
Race - 45+ Cat 3/4
Stats – 60 minutes (5 laps on a rolling course - 4.3 miles each)
Mark Foster and I are the CoreTechs riders in this race
Finish - 13th out of 20

I packed the night before so I could have a nice relaxing breakfast before heading down to Fort Ord on the Monterey Bay to setup for the race. So, at about 7:45, I jump into my truck all packed and ready to go. Mark Foster and I have two races (along with the rest of the CoreTechs Horde), and we'll need a nice shady place to hang out and tell lies. So, I stop on the way and pick up my canopy, jump back in the truck, punch in the "All 70's All the Time" XM radio station and have a very nice drive down to the venue.

I find Mark Foster is already there. So, with plenty of time to get ready, we get our numbers pinned then get our bikes on the trainers so we can warm up. Mark and I discuss race tactics during our warm-up - we decide that we'll save as much energy as possible during this first race. No unnecessary breakaway attempts, just sit in, cover any dangerous looking attacks and make sure we're well positioned to try for the podium. Mark is the better sprinter between the two of us so my job is to make sure he's delivered to the finish straight with a good shot at the line. I'll do what I can to, hopefully, get on the podium with him.

On the first lap, two riders, including Scott Leahy of SJBC, get a gap on our field. While these two are able to hold off the pack for most of 4 laps, with some moderate effort and some not so subtle cajoling of the pack, we keep these miscreants in sight... They would open a gap of about 30 to 45 seconds, the pack would close the gap to about 15 seconds and the chase would wither and die. Then, the breakaway would again open a gap of about 30 to 45 seconds, the pack would close the gap to about 15 seconds and the chase would wither and die. Then we'd repeat that cycle.

Finally, on the last lap before the first hill, I'm thinking, "Okay, either Mark or I need to bridge up to the breakaway or we're gonna lose this race." So, I move to get next to Mark, so we can have a discussion, when Mark jumps to bridge the gap. "Sweet!" It's a good move so I go to the front to cover for him. Mark is catching the breakaway when another rider (I think it was Justin Eatinger of Audi) jumps to bridge. So, I jump onto Justin's wheel and go with him. We end up exciting most of the rest of the pack and soon there are a dozen or so all together at the front.

Mark and I are well positioned as we come down the hill into the final right hander onto the finish straight. I decide to go wide at the turn in order to position for the sprint and I get pushed a little wider than I want. Unfortunately, the next guy I'm passing also pushes way wide and I get vectored off course onto the walkway on the wrong side of the cones (still on the pavement, so I'm not in jeopardy, but I'm off course and it would be unsafe to sprint from there). So, after an expression of frustration, I sit up and coast in to take 13th.

I'm not too excited by my finish but I feel we've raced a very smart race, we both had a shot at the sprint and I have lots of energy remaining for the much more difficult 35+ Open race (report to follow). I still need to work on a good finish when the pack comes to the line all together but it has been a good race and, of course, I get yet another good lesson!


Tom Rice
Bicycle Racer
CoreTechs Cycling Team

CCCX 45+ 1/2/3 on June 3rd 2012

Quick report from CCCX by Andrew A. Race date is June 3rd 2012. Race was the 45+ 1/2/3's. Teammates were Devon, Daryoush and Super Dave.

I think I have done this race close to 250 times. The course feels like home now. Even with all this, it still manages to kick my ass each time. I forget that those little "bumps" hurt to get over. I was reminded quickly.

Somehow I manage to get in a break of six guys within five minutes of starting the race. The problem though is none of the "big dogs" were in our break and we had five or six big dogs barking back in the field. I rotate through in our break but not at full measure. We have 20 miles of rolling terrain ahead and I am about 10% confident in this break surviving. Lap two comes and suddenly we have 7 in the break. Turns out one of those big dogs bridged. Kevin Klein (ex-Rock Racing and Yahoo! pro rider) is up with us and working. Ok, now I think we have a 50/50 shot of surviving. I know Devon, Daryoush and Dave are working to protect the break in the pack, but I also know Dirk and Heaton are back in the peloton too. They will not sit idly by and let us ride away. Now I commit to the break and put in full pulls at full effort. We still have 15 miles to ride.

Final lap starts and Klein bolts out of the group. He takes along with him Chris Wire (SJBC-Cat 1). I am close to full on anaerobic and just can not follow. About two minutes later, Chris comes back to our group. Klein just rides away from all of us. Nothing we can do, he can just do that. So now our group of six is racing for second place. Coming into the final downhill I'm fourth wheel. We take the right to the finish and the sprint starts. I manage to pass one rider. I close on the next guy but he holds me off by half a wheel. I get third in the field sprint and fourth overall.

Some of the best fun started after the race as we sat around and rehashed the day. Was good to get out with the boys, do some racing and some trash talking. Great day! Thanks to Daryoush, Devon and Super Dave for protecting the break so well!

Congratulations as well to the rest of the team in our other races. Good group of guys! Will be fun to do this again next week.

Andrew