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What Mike Z. saw:
Category: 4/5
Result: Top ten - unofficial result.
Today was wet again, but at least it wasn't raining during my warmup, race, cool down or ride back home. Everyone probably picked up a few mm of sludge on almost every surface of their bike since the roads were still very wet. I rode to the race from home again - 7 mile ride - which provides a really good initial warmup. I always prepare my entry form the night before so I don't have to bother doing it the day of the race and I rode up to the registration at 8:25. There was nobody in line so I got my number, rode over to Frank's car and pinned the number on. Frank was already into his warmup on his trainer. I had 25 minutes more to warmup and I put myself into Zones 3, 4, and finally 5 before the race.
The race was a clean race with no crashes. The guy that took the lead at the beginning was choosing some horrible lines through the corners though. Going into the first corner, he was in the middle of the right hand lane. It was a terrible line for wet or dry pavement. That continued through the next corner too, but as the race progressed, people seemed to figure out that outside - inside - outside lines are much faster. The first prime bell was rung at 13 minutes so I positioned myself near the front. I saw Frank close to or on the front for much of the lap. I picked a wheel to follow on the outside that I thought looked good. He was definitely going for the prime, but he sat up as a strong cat 5 AV rider sprinted on the inside. I went around my leadout, but couldn't catch the AV rider so for the second week in a row, I came in second on the first prime.
Some more uneventful racing followed for 15 minutes until the bell was rung for the second prime. Some teams were trying to get together for a leadout and one team had 3 guys in a row at the front of the race going into the last corner. I went wide this time and started my early sprint just after the last sweeping corner. I went really hard for 10 - 15 seconds and looked back to see how many people were on my wheel. There was nobody within 50 yards. I pedaled hard until about 100 meters from the line where I could sit up and bask in the glory of my $25 gift certificate for coaching from VeloGirls.
More uneventful racing followed until there was three to go, and just as one of the mentors complained about there being 3 to go and we were only going 21 mph, some attacks started. I've watched one of the guys who attacked the last two weeks and knew he was pretty strong, but it was still a long way to go. The attack was soon brought back and I told German and Frank to get on my wheel with 1 1/2 to go. I think both of them were there for a while.
We moved up near the front and I wasn't sure where German was. Frank must have been itchin' to be right up front because he kept moving ahead of me. The pace was picking up pretty good around corners 2 and 3. Frank and I were about 8 back around the last corner. One guy was pulling hard on the outside. I told Frank that I was coming inside after the final corner and I hit the gas. I pulled as hard as I could to about 100 m from the line and told Frank to go. He came around me and was swamped by a few others. I was happy to see that only 8 or 9 guys were left after my lead-out so I probably rolled across somewhere in the top 10.
My main goal for this race was to keep myself positioned near the front of the race, and preferably within the first 15. I would probably give myself a B or B- for accomplishing that, but I did a lot better at moving up a few places at a time, especially by taking corners wide, keeping my speed high, and slipping into the group where gaps had formed. Winning a prime and being able to really get on top of the gears at the end was good too.
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What Mike N. saw:
Category: 5
Result: Mid-pack
This was my first race.
I rode to the race from my house, so when I got there, I was warmed
up and damp.
After the mentoring session, it started to rain a bit, so the roads
got soaked again. At the start line, I saw another rider, Ranjeedt,
at the front. I couldn't get up there, but it probably didn't matter
since teamwork wasn't as high a priority as figuring out how to ride
in a pack, so I went to the back. There were probably 40 or so riders
in my group, including the older juniors.
When the whistle blew; I clipped in briskly and managed to pass a
couple of riders. I took my spot in the middle of the pack. As the
speed picked up, the wheels in front of me started to rain gunk all
over me. Bleh.
Coming into turn two was sketchy because the guy in front of me
slowed down and I ended up hitting the brakes; I heard some yelling
behind me. After a while the cornering was evening out.
I didn't set my computer to run, but everytime I looked down on it,
the speed was about 25 mph. My heart rate was an astounding 190 bpm.
When the first prime rang, there was a breakaway and I grabbed on and
the speed went to 30 mph, heart rate 200 bpm. Quite interesting
because my lactate threshold is ~175 bpm, yet I never went below that
during the race (except the start).
There were two crashes, and one close encounter. Two people were
leaning on each other for some seconds until they regained control.
One person on straight #2 crashed. Another on straight #3 crashed.
During the race, the furthest I got up front was within the top 15
coming out of a corner. I guess I have good acceleration, but I lack
the top speed to get up front.
The last lap was a fast one and I managed to cross the line behind
~20 riders. BTW, I didn't sprint because of my collar-bone fracture
several weeks ago.
After the race I saw another rider, Chris, who did well. There was
also a debriefing session, summarizing the ups and downs of the race.
Looking back at the race, it was really fun. It must have been
because of the speeds I couldn never sustain solo. I'm looking
forward to getting more experience and then start working with other
teammates.
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What German saw:
Category: 4/5
Result: Mid-pack
Weather conditions were as follow: Temperature in between 45 – 60 degree F, and cloudy. The field was wet but it wasn’t raining. It was acceptable for racing, just had to be aware of these conditions.
Arrived at around 7:45 AM with Luis Medina, and there were just a few riders warming up. Registered and went back to the car to get ready.
The cat 4/5 race started at 9:00 AM and the field was already crowded. My goal was to be in the front pack between the first 15 riders, avoid any dangerous contact with riders and most of all gain more valuable experience. The day before, I attended the EB2 mentoring, so it was time to apply what I learned from the most experienced riders.
The race started and I was able to maintain my position in the first 10, I was still checking for aggressive riders who could jeopardize the safety of the race. By turn 3, I felt more comfortable and decided to pull the front pack a few times and was able to take the corners effectively and maintained my position in the front; at this point Frank advised me to pull off the front and to let other teams face the wind instead. I backed up and stayed with him in the first 20 riders during most of the race.
First sprint came and Mike Z was able to win it, at this point, I kept my energies instead and followed the pack’s momentum, Frank also sprinted but Mike was quicker, Luis Medina was in the rear pack. There were many new riders who were blocking and taking the corners very unsafely but I stayed in the outer side to avoid friction with anybody, it actually worked out very well since I was able to keep momentum without stopping at the corners and made my race easier.
At about 40 minutes of the race, Mike came to me and asked me to stay in his wheel since he was going to attack in the last lap, I kept following him and Frank joined us as well for the last 10 minutes in which we raced together. At that point we were in the first 20 riders. Remaining 2 laps I went ahead of them on my right hand side and positioned myself in 5th place, the pace incremented more and more. Until the last lap came, I kept my position, the pack accelerated more and more and my legs were getting hotter. Remaining ½ lap, Mike goes for the attack on first place, the pack reacts, Frank and myself followed, Frank goes on Mike’s wheel, I backed up since I my legs were too hot already but continued my momentum and held a few riders from other teams and stayed in the first 20 is my guess.
For me, this race was basically to become familiar with this type of competitions and to gain confidence. I felt strong all the way but stayed safe instead. Certainly, the race gave me valuable experience and motivation for the upcoming criteriums, in which I believe I can do well later on.
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