|
What Brian M. saw:
Category:
The McLane Pacific RR was the first of our Team Targeted Events for the season, and as such, was the first event that I provided our team with race support.
It was great to see Jorge, Donn, Richard and Garry at the race. My daughter Audry came along and helped me set up and keep the team area tidy as well as getting bottles to the riders. She wants to eventually try racing and has caught my bug for the sport, so having her join me at the race was great treat.
After staying the night in Merced, Audry and I drove out to the race venue early Sunday to set up for the team. I tried to get a spot in the pro staging area, but without a pro rider in the race, the organizers wouldn't let me do it, so I had to settle for a spot a few hundred meters from registration.
The weather forecast for the race was cold and windy with a chance of rain later i n the day. Getting up in the morning I could see that the wind was going to be a be factor in the days outcome. Anyone not prepared to fight it out in the wind and keep good position was in for a long day. There were a lot of dnf's in all the categories because of the wind. Once people were gapped or OTB, the race was as good as over them unless they were super fit. Some dropped riders soldiered on for saddle time and miles, others packed it in early.
The freed zone was about a quater mile from the finish area on a slight rise, but it was right after a downhill section which meant that the riders would be coming through with a lot of speed. Cold hands, fast speeds and nerves made for some tricky feeds for everyone.
I had prepped about 18 bottles for the team, which left me some extras so I helped other teams out too. Handing up bottles is actually pretty easy, thou gh it does take some getting used to, especially when the group is tight and travelling fast. I suggest that we practice it on one of our Saturday rides so that when it's time for our next targeted team race (Wente) we'll all be ready and not have any missed feeds.
Nuts and Bolts:
There was only one dropped bottle on our team but a couple of missed feeds because of positioning going into the feed zone. This is were it gets tricky because, at times, you may find yourself racing through the feed zone and out of position to receive a bottle or musette. If you're in a race and you know you're going to be needing a feed, try to position yourself to the right of the group before you get to the feed zone. I'll do what I can to get your feed to you.
Also, listen for me to call out your name or "FREMONT" if you're in group. I'll usually be at the last 3rd of the feed zone, so expect to find me there. I'll also be wearing something that will be easy for you to spot, either my FFBC vest of red wind jacket.
All in all, it was a good first outing for me as the FFBC soigneur/team manager/cheerleader. I really enjoy helping you all as we get out there and represent our team. It was also cool to help out other riders as they made their way through the feed zone. Not everyone had support, so I helped out whenever I could. Having people come up to me after the race saying "thank you for your help" made me feel good and hopefully made our team look good.
Back to top
|
|
What Richard saw:
Category: 3
Result: Back of pack
How to get caught out by the wind...
...or, the McLane Pacific Road Race.
We all know that the McLane Pacific RR course has one tough section - the
rollers on Cox Ferry and Keyes Roads. There is one caveat which needs to be
applied - if there isn't a strong southerly wind.
Yesterday there was a strong southerly wind, so when we turned onto Bledsoe
Road from Keyes Road, the 3's race turned instantly into a grovel-fest. I
was caught out as my plan for the day was to sit in for 2 and a half laps
before getting to, and staying, at the front for the final time up Cox
Ferry Road and the run in to the finish. So, instead of a nice easy time at
the back, I had to hang tough and power past people who were getting
gapped. It was hard work which didn't really let up until we made the turn
onto Turlock Road.
Going through the finish & feed zone combination, I drifted to the back to
get a feed from Boner. The speed was high through this section as a break
was going off the front at the time. My grab of the bottle was not clean,
but this time my rugby instincts were working a little better and I caught
the bottle in the crook of my elbow. Given the Snelling experience, I only
discarded my old bottle when I had obtained the replacement.
Lap 2 was similarly tough along Bledsoe as I was still stuck towards the
rear after the feedzone. Going onto Cox Ferry Road, I got myself up into a
better place in the bunch in preparation for the rollers and was in the top
20 of the bunch going through the feedzone a second time. There was a lot
of blocking by AV riders going on, so it was only reasonable to assume that
there was at least one AV rider in the break which had gone up the road at
the end of lap 1.
I maintained this position into Bledsoe on lap 3. We were taking it easier
along Bledsoe, or maybe this was because I was near the front and it ws
easier up there? By this time the reports from the moto referee were that
the break of 10 was now 1m20s ahead. Were we going to let them stay away?
As if in answer, there was one truly mighty surge along Bledsoe which
lasted a couple of minutes and opened gaps at the front of the bunch. I
closed one and then had to sit up and recover as riders passed and slotted
in after sliding about 15 places.
And then we were along Turlock for the last time, and we began closing on
the break. I had got myself established near the front of the bunch and was
now maintaining my position reasonably, and was well-placed up Cox Ferry
Road. We could see the break ahead and it was beginning to unravel - would
we catch it in time?
The first drag was ok, the second one got me a bit and I slid some places,
but was able to recover over the top and the descent to Keyes. Along Keyes
and there was a surge up the Snelling feed hill and I maintained my
position. The right turn and then the left and the final run-in was
commencing. Over the bridge and that was it - the legs were not up to it
and I slipped backwards. I was popped going up the second to last roller,
saw the bunch charge up the final one and rolled in as part of the
stragglers.
That was hard work!
Back to top
|
|
What Donn saw:
Category: 4
Result: Off the back
I was looking forward to this race as I was curious to get some
measure of my fitness. My hope was to finish with the pack. My hopes
were crushed at the first turn into the wind. Coming out of the
corner, a bike-length gap immediately became two-bike lengths. Some
guy passed me so I jumped on his wheel knowing it was do or die. I
couldn't hang on and fell off. Race over.
I continued hammering solo with some crazy hope that the peleton would
get neutralized, or perhaps a giant herd of deer would force them to
stop for a while...no luck. It's not a race until I get a nose-bleed,
and sure enough, while I was plowing along solo I got the obligitory
gusher. Near the end of the head-wind section I finally caught someone
and we chatted a bit and worked together to the end of the first lap,
where he headed for the cars.
I kept going, and blazed through the feed-zone fast enough to miss the
hand-up from Brian. Why was I in such a hurry? I have no idea. Anyway,
I ran into Ruben and we chatted a bit, at the same time spotted a red
and blue figure lurking behind. Well that was Mr. Birch attempting to
deliver my dropped bottle. Thanks Garry! Ruben rode away, I felt
obliged to try to keep up, but it was no use.
On the second lap head-wind section this song echoed through my
obviously empty head (to the tune of George Thorogood's "I Drink
Alone"):
I race alone
Yeah, with nobody else
You know when I race alone
I prefer to ride by myself
I finished the race, but I guess the scorekeepers had gone home by
then because I didn't make it into the official results.
My problem was tactical. I know I'm not strong in the wind so I should
have positioned myself better before that first fateful windward turn.
Back to top
|
|
What Garry saw:
Category: 3
Result: Did not finish
Last week, when we met at Bay Street coffees to collect the 2006 team uniform, all was well. The banter was up to the usual standard and I was thinking that maybe a 06 uniform may be an incentive to loose some weight and race. Little did I know.
So Coble offers me his entry in to the race, RB encourages me with talk about Cat 3 pride and inter cat points, and Ziggy is his usual caustic self. So I left the meeting saying I would, but thinking I wouldn't.
But, come Saturday night, and there I am cleaning the bike, fresh lube and a kit bag full of food, drinks and race uniform. I was still in two minds, but the journey down with Richard was good and before I knew it I was "prepared to do my best", changing in the back of his car and slapping on some leg goop.
Full field of 120 lined up, the morning was chilly and windy and there are a lot of thin looking dudes ready to roll. Just after the appointed time, we roll out and the racing get's under way. We are barreling along and I am comfortable. I begin to daydream of doing a complete lap, heck, maybe even a complete race and my ability to maintain, or god forbid, even move up in the pack made the morale soar.
And then we turned left.
And that was about it for me. The hammer went down as we galloped into a block headwind. I was in the last quarter of the field and it was a long, long, long line of guys groveling in the gutter ahead of me. Dreams soon disappeared as my grim reality dawned. I am not fit, I should not be here, what the heck am I doing, can it really be so painful. Why are my legs white all year around. Gaps started to appear ahead, and I am sure behind. I actually closed one gap (my lungs still have not recovered), but it was all futile. I dropped back with another guy, waved on the riders behind me and completely went to mush. My race lasted about 5 miles and maybe 15 minutes before it all stopped working, and I mean all, coz the computer gave up as well.
So now it is just training and I bumble along and then surprisingly a couple of guys come past. Heavens above, how unfit are they then? So a paceline for a lap, stop at the feed to chat to Boner and Audrey and then Donn comes thru and drops his bottle in the hand up, so I shove it in my back pocket and chase after him. I am closing, not fast but fast enough. He gets within yelling distance, I call out and he looks back, and HAMMERS away. Bloody ungrateful, that's what I say. Still, now I have ammo for him all year.
So I do one more lap for training and finish my day with 50 miles in the tank. That brings the total for the last 3 months to 250 miles. Sweet.
Thanks to Boner and Audrey for there efforts in manning the FFBC feed zone and there encouragement. Next time I should do better (but no promises).
Back to top
|
