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What Tim saw:
Category: E4
Result: 35 of 71
Teammates: Oscar
I started the race at the back of the field and stayed last wheel to
conserve energy for the finish. With such a strong head-wind on the
finish straight and wide course it was easy to conserve energy.
With 5 laps to go I started to wiggle my way to the front. With 4 to
go I was sitting top 10, but that is when the surges started to
happen. I kept riding the surges making sure that I was in the top
10-15. With one to go I was in the second row. On the back side of
the course, more surges, and going into the final corner I was
probably 4th or 5th wheel. Another surge came just before the slight
left before the run to the finish. Unfortunately, I was too tired to
get on that train, and I had to sit up. Race over.
Just a bit more fitness and weight loss (5-10lbs), and I should have
enough to contend the sprints.
Thanks for reading.
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What Richard saw:
Category: E3
Result: Back of pack
The goal for today was to get in some speed work at criterium pace with
some close-quarters pack riding. Well, I succeeded!
I got a nice front row starting position and have finally worked out how
to get my foot into the pedal first time successfully at the start of a
race. My technique - start on the small ring! This meant that I got
rolling in the top 10 at the start of the race which gave me some clean
riding round the early corners. Of course, I got swarmed towards the end
of the first lap, but I was already a lot more comfortable than at Stage
One of the Ronde.
Not much to report save avoiding the big crash on the back side. I am
not sure how reliable my source for the cause is, so I won't repeat it
here without first checking.
I followed some wheels up to 15-20 on the inside at 2 laps to go, but
then found that I didn't have the legs to defend my position and drifted
backwards. Into the final corner and I am in the back part of the bunch.
Those that could sprinted out of the corner - I was one of those that
could not and rolled in with the stragglers at the back of the pack in
48th spot.
It was fun chatting with Del while watching first the 4's (with Tim and
Oscar - German, didn't you confirm mid-week that you would be there?)
and then Carl in the M45/55. Mark King turned up at one point to say hello!
After that it was time for a nap and then a second warm-up to prepare
for my second race:
Category: 35+ 1,2,3
Result: DNF
Teammates: Brian
Brian Meiers joined me in this race!
This was a fun, hard race. The comparison with the E3 race is night and
day. The Masters are much quicker, smoother and, as a result, fun to
race with as cornering is much more predictable. A lot of time was spent
in grovel mode - hanging on to the wheel in front working like a bastard.
I was paying particular heed to some of Ziggy's advice regarding
criterium riding - find the biggest bugger you can and shelter behind
him. Generally this means people sticking behind me, but this time I
found a couple of guys who are bigger than I am and latched on to them
when possible.
The hardest part of the race for me was the surge after the final turn
where we turned into the wind. The race would fan out and it was
difficult to get good shelter.
At what turned out to be 6 laps to go, I was on the verge of loosing
touch but dug really deep to stay with the group. The pace really wound
up on the run-in to the finish - we were in a long, long line - the full
field of 100 strung out into a ribbon. The pace took its toll at the
back and with 3 to go the tail of the ribbon was in tatters. I popped at
the final turn approaching 2 to go and rolled in to watch the finish.
The average speed of the 3s race was ~25 mph and the M35+ was close the
27. Just what the body needed!
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What Oscar saw:
Category: E4
Result: 27 of 71
Teammates: Tim
Tim and I lined up and off we went. I stayed in mid-pack the
entire race conserving energy. Tim mentioned maybe contesting for a
prime. I thought that I might help if I was able to go. No primes.
Anyway, the field moved at times around 25.5-28mph. I averaged
26.6mph for the entire race. Tim made his move with a few laps to go.
I tried to catch his wheel or at least get as close as possible. I
was about 5-6 bike lengths back. The last turn before the sprint was
getting a little hairy when one guy swung way left to right scaring
the #@!% out of me. Killed my momentum trying to latch on. I really
loved that course. I wished German and Keith were feeling better so
we can spank out there. A bigger team with more weapons. And how the
HELL did Tim got up so quickly is a mystery. I must learn from him.
Oh, and no hills!! This Tim guy is smart.
Thanks to Del for letting me drag him out and watch, Don for the
cookies and beer. As well as Keith's beer. Richard's advice about
the chicane and headwind that follows. Will work on moving around in
the pack. Go Carl!!!
thanks for letting me ramble
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What Brian saw:
Category: 35+ 1,2,3
Result: DNF
Teammates: Richard
The short story ends in a DNF. But it was the most fun on two wheels I've had in a while. And the reason for the DNF was simply me being a dork and not following my plan.
My "plan" was to sit in, follow wheels and finish the race. This was my first race since last years' Fremont Crit and my first race with the Masters 1/2/3's. With work, my training going into this race consisted of two rides, so I didn't have too high of expectations. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I figured, dive in and see what happens...
Showed up in time to get a good warm up. I'm not a big fan of trainers, so I hit the road for about 50 minutes. I found a nice over pass and did repeats up and over at race pace with recovery between intervals.
Once the race started, I followed my plan and found a spot in the end of the group. Found a couple of bigger guys and followed the draft. This is were I started getting a little stupid...
I felt good and moved up a little- mid pack. Another lap, still felt good, well within myself and decided to move up a little more. *my plan was starting to unravel.
There was a move up the outside and I jumped on it and we ended moving up toward the front of the group. Sitting around 20th for another lap, I was amazed at how smooth the pace was. The racing line was perfect and the bunch just flowed easily. Coming around for the next lap a prime was announced and stupid thought number two entered my mind "let's give it ago."
Followed another move up to the front and was sitting in 10th with half a lap to go for the prime. The field was completely flat out in a long line with AMD, Safeway and Morgan Stanely on the front. Coming into final left/right combo, a rider moved up the inside and hooked my wheel as we exited the turn. For a second, everything got all "matrix-y" and I thought I was going to hit the deck. My left foot unclipped and dragged on the road, but I kept it up right. The negative, though, was I lost most of my speed and had to re-jump to catch back up. I realized how big the field was (100) when everyone started coming by me. LOOOOONG line. I got back up to speed and was just off the back of the bunch by 15 feet or so coming into the finishing straight. I was in the wind and gased from my re-jump just as the field was sprinting for the prime. I popped and couldn't close the little gap. Someone said I should have taken a free lap, but that wouldn't have been the right thing to do.
The field went right and I went left into the parking lot. I recovered fast and still felt good, but didn't have that little extra to close the gap going into the wind.
So, goal not accomplished, but it was FREAKING FUN!!!!! I'm looking forward to Cat's Hill and Berkeley Hills RR.
Thanks to Richard for the company. Sorry I wasn't out there longer. LOL
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