Race Report

Well as strange as it is to say it in December, the racing season is here again. Everyone back home is probably packing up the bikes and packing on the lbs for the winter, for me its freezing cold races, and time on the trainer. Not sure if it is the lack of fitness for everyone else, or I just ride better in the cold, but just like last year things seem to go well for me in the winter. So Hillingdon was on the schedule for today, not sure if there is even going to be races at Hog Hill this winter, but will have something to do till mid feb regardless. The weather was just ok, the sun seemed to keep getting stronger during the morning, but unfortunately so did the wind. Probably about 50 degrees, partly cloudy, and a 10-15 mph wind. Maybe the weather convinced some of the fair weather riders to come out, because the fields were sold out. I went on-line at about 11 last night to check out the start time, and there were only 9 spots available so i pre-reged to make sure I had a spot. Quite a difference from last winter, when the fields were only 25 or so guys. That meant 50 of us lined up, with another 50 cat 4s racing right behind us.

It was pretty relaxed, for the first 30 min or so, nothing really got much traction off the front. I took a couple of trips up the road to kinda see what would happen but was never quite the right mix. The course and the wind mixed combined to make it about a 27 mph race all day. The headwind came on the downhill, and the tailwind helped out on the uphill to the finish. I recognised a couple of guys from last year, and when a Kingston Wheeler came past during a lull in the action I jumped on and we were off. Just the two of us for a couple of laps and then people started to come across in ones and twos. Finally 6 of us got together and started putting in some real time on the rest of the race. Not sure if we had teammates blocking for us back in the group or we were just fast, but either way put a couple mins into the group and it was pretty much over.

There were clearly some guys faster than others in the break and I wasn’t one of the fast ones. It was pretty much just survival for me for most of the time. We caught the 4s (who were racing 10 mins shorter than us) when they had two to go, and sat in on their race for a bit, to take a breather. One of the guys in our group thought we were finishing at the same time as them and sprinted, both hands in the air victory celebration, only to find out we still had 6 laps to go. It was about this time that I had my second heart attack, and my left hammie started to cramp. So I couldn’t breathe or pedal, it didnt’ look good for the sprint. Everything was pretty relaxed for the last couple of laps.

1 to go.........

Nobody had enough to go it alone, and nobody wanted to really lead things out. In the sprint I did nothing but confirm that I can’t sprint, in reality would have probably been better off, getting off my bike and trying to run, since my leg was worthless. Ended up 5^th, so pretty successful. I am sure I will be excited about it in a couple days when I can walk and breathe again but for now, but want to take a nap. Just under 25mph way to hard for the first real efforts in months.

Race Repot 1/29/11

Unfortunately the same story as you have heard before as far as results, but overall I am happy. Went to Hillingdon today even though I had written it off two weeks ago, I needed to talk to a guy about riding on a new team. Weather Channel mobile told me that it was going to be 40 even though I left the house at 34. I wore alot of clothes on the ride out, and it was downwind so I was pretty warm when I got there. (This wouldn't be the case 1 hour later) Since it was supposed to warm up and I was already warm I decided to race with just leg warmers and two undershirts.

The race was as per usual, still can't understand how so many people seem to be able to follow wheels with absolute ease, but nobody in the race can make it split. After last Saturday's debacle I decided to take the week off so I actually felt really good today. I did a number of attacks that nobody wanted to follow, and since I didn't want to try to go solo for any length of time I kept pulling the plug on them. One held promise though, I had attacked and a Junior racing for Ralpha Condor Sharp (they are kinda like the Jelly Belly of the UK) came across, and we went about sharing the work for the next couple of laps. Unfortunately for me, the wind was blowing from the opposite direction as previously, which made the back of the course too fast for the Junior I was away with. He was spun out of his restricted gearing so he couldn't really help, and then he would hammer away as the wind changed, wasn't the smoothest working escape in the history of cycling, that is for sure. It was all together with two to go and my last ditch attack was quickly put down by another the Junior who had won two weeks ago. The sprint to the line went as expected, and I coasted in mid pack. 24.9m in 1h:01m:20s. Average speed 24.4mph. I would be really interested to see my HR data from the race but I inadvertantly loosened the strap on my monitor instead of tightening it. Ended up wearing it around my stomach for the entire race. Stangely enough it doesn't quite work there.

A lap or two to cool down and I started to realize that I was completely frozen. I guess the race kept me focused on other things than how I was feeling but as soon as the Adrenalin was gone, the pain set in. Could barely take off my gloves, and even after I got all my clothes on and had a cup of tea, was still shivering. One of the promoters even came over and offered me a blanket, which I promptly declined, as that would have been admitting I was to stupid to dress myself. I must have looked really awful as she came back and asked if I wanted to go sit in the first aid room by the heater. I scoffed that I was fine and forced back the shivers until she left. Stupid Weather Channel Mobile said it was 36 with a wind chill of 25 after the race was over. Hope everyone in Tulsa enjoyed wearing shorts today! Its been 10 hours now and 9 of 10 of my fingers have feeling back so that is a good sign. I am headed to bed. Good Night.

Race Report 1/16/11

Another race today, but really not much to report. Super windy again so I thought things might end up split up, but for the most part it was business as usual, alot of hiding from the front, and a big sprint at the end. The one highlight, which strangely enough was the lowlight of the race my ill-fated attack, sounds like a broken record huh? This time I blame its failure, on the officials. Let me set the scene...they ran our race simultaneously with the women's 123 race, so we were lapping them throughout the race, but they were scheduled to go 10 minutes less than us. So with 7 to go I attack up the rise to the finish, and only 1 other is able to follow, as we roll through the finish line, with a good 50 meters already, all the officials yell 'race is neutralized don't catch the women'. I couldn't believe it, how bad of timing could you get! We sit for 2 laps while the women clear the course, and then get going again. And wouldn't you know it, two guys go up the road. The fear of the wind was like the plague, and they held 15 to 20 seconds till 1 to go. One of the guys got dropped leaving a lone rider out front. I came through with half a lap to go to see if anyone else wanted to give it a go, but no response. Soon the sprinters came by and ended up within 50 or so meters of the winner. Who turns out to be some 16 year old who races for the national team. Looks like someone missed their mark on that one. Super unlucky for me, but not that bad. Legs were heavy and tired from the wind and the constant attacks up the hill to the finish. 1 hr 23.5 mph. Going to Hog Hill next week for sure.

Race Report 1/8/11

When I went to bed Friday night I knew I wanted to get a ride in but the forecast called for rain early, so things were a little iffy. Good news was if the morning ride was rained out, there was another race at the Imperial Winter Series in the afternoon. So when I woke up this morning to pouring rain, it made my decision alot easier. Hit the snooze button and race in the afternoon. Surprisingly the weather man got this one right and it cleared up after morning rain, but brought with it a stiff 15-25 mph wind, that reminded me of home. You know that wind where you stand in the garage and say 'oh its nice out' but then as soon as you step foot in the wind, you change your mind and want to get a blanket and lay on the couch.

Anyway, I guess I got sidetracked or just didn't plan well because a rolled up to the circuit exactly 11 minutes before the race started. The only good thing is that by riding to the race you are already dressed and ready to go. I had to off road it a little bit to get around the cat 4s who were going to be racing behind us, (and with us, and in front of us, and generally in the way most of the day, but that is another story), and got to the line literally as they said GO!! No worries though, as it was another big field and although we were pretty strung out for a couple of laps, stayed nicely together. My whole goal for the race was for it to not finish in a group sprint. So I was going to attack early and often. I really didn't care if I took people to the line as long as there wasn't 30 big dudes just sitting in all day long.

So not long into the race off I went, attack 1, I was joined by 2 or 3 others who only seemed mildly interested, and we were back in the group in no time. Attack 2 held more promise, or in retrospect maybe more blind ambition. I went away solo this time, and there was no reaction from the group. I would like to think my lightening fast acceleration nobody could follow but I highly doubt it. The gap opened up pretty quick maybe 15 seconds or so in a lap, and that is where I was doomed. I had caught the 4 race which I mentioned earlier, and as I passed them I think they saw it as a good opportunity to A. get a free ride, or B. get in a break themselves. Soon there after they were strung out behind me, and it was that much easier for the rest of the 3s to close down the gap. All in all I was probably away for 7 or 8 minutes, but since I am still not in shape, it felt like ages. Right after I was brought back and we had shed the pesky 4s, my plan worked to perfection. Well I guess not perfection since I wasn't part of it, but perfection in the sense that the race didn't stay together. First a single rider went off, then he was joined by two more. I think there was some confusion whether or not they were 3s or 4s, but none the less they were gone. Their lead hovered at about 20 seconds for 10 minutes or so, then one of the three got shelled, and I guess everyone thought they were all back in the group, and just shut it down. The two of them rode off into the distance never to be seen again. Again it was strange to see the teams with multiple riders not really working together to bring things back or control the race, almost like every man for himself. With 5 to go the sun finally broke through and seemed to wake everyone up. Compared to the majority of the race the last 10 minutes or so was super fast. With the speed and cross winds, maybe half the field got dropped, but we still came into the last lap with a big group.

Unfortunately for some of the guys because apparently they couldn't handle themselves in the sprint. The chicanes leading to the finish result in people getting pinched off the road, and the finish was just carnage. We came around the last corner and opened it up, maybe 30 guys still left in the group, and it was wheels and bikes everywhere. 3 or 4 guys on my right got together and I think collectively broke every spoke on all of their bikes, and then another guy crashed and slid across the road on his butt. Looked as if he was going to need an ass transplant. No incidents for me though, I guess it helps when you don't care about sprinting for 15th. I can't seem to understand why people try so hard for the lower placings, can't be worth rebuilding a wheel or not being able to sit down for a week. I would say it was a moderate success today. Legs are getting better, and so is the weather. 26 miles in 01:05:40.  Average 24.3 mph.  Enjoy your 20s Tulsa!

Me lapping the 4s. 

Race Report

Consider this my introduction to bicycle racing in the UK. By no means a master class on the subject, but a full immersion in a short time. From what I can see you can pretty much pick your discipline, crits, cross, TTs, road race, specialize in that and race year round if you want to. Obviously different from what we are used to but keeps the competition going so not all bad.

Within 10 miles of our place there are two purpose built cycle circuits where they run series of races pretty much year round. Seemed the easiest to get to was west of our place, so off to Hillingdon I went. The series was supposed to start the first week of December, but had been snowed/iced out 3 of 4 weeks, thanks to the coldest December in something like 120 years. The facility is pretty nice, a clubhouse with a locker room to change in, snack bar, and obviously closed roads to race on. The only thing a little strange is the double swithbacks in the middle of the course.

As you can see other than that its pretty straightforward, slight rise to the finish, and downhill down the back stretch. Real crit skills are not needed and there really isn't anything to split the races. I can imagine that for everyone from London it is a bit like doing the Tues night crits, same course, same people, but for me at least its still new and exciting. I guess there is always Hog Hill once this gets old.

Woke up New Years Day to familiar cloudy skys, but an unfamiliar43 degrees got the blood pumping. All my hopes and fears were based on the race. I hoped I wouldn't get crushed, but feared I would. Since I had only ridden on the road 4 times in 3 months, and there was no way spin class was going to replicate real racing I was completely unsure of what to expect. As I rode out to the circuit the clouds turned to fog, and even got a little misty as I arrived. If I would have know what was to come I wouldn't have even left the house. A good sized group, or at least so I thought, 20 or so toed the line, and as we set off the mist turned to drizzle. We set off fast, north of 30, for the first couple of laps, but then it became clear that those setting the pace weren't going to be able to manage it for long. I can imagine all those guys setting new year's resolutions to win a race by soloing off the front, but those were more of dreams than resolutions. There only only two or three teams with more than one person in the race and it seemed that nobody was willing to take big risks. There were only 5 or 6 guys that ever tried to attack, but the mix never ended up right I guess as it kept coming back together. Since I had no real ambitions I spent alot of the time on the front just setting tempo, while the rest of the group hid from the wind. The persistent drizzle didn't really affect the racing, but made for the dirtiest bike ride I have ever been on. Think that stage of the Giro this summer, yeah close to that. I've seen cyclocross races, with cleaner bikes and kit. With 1 to go was sitting 3rd wheel, but with no desire to mix it up with the sprinters, and there were alot of them, I just kinda let the sprint happen. Still ended up top 10. 25.5 miles in 1h07m at an average of 22.8 mph.

While everyone in the States toiled away at work we had Monday the 3rd off, and what better excuse for another bike race, than a holiday. (don't complain we don't have Thanksgiving) Now personally, I thought that Monday's weather was worse than Saturday, high of 36, and 10-15 mph winds, but I must have been the only one. Kristen even looked at me funny, as to say 'man up' when I complained about the cold. I figured if this race was like Monday, and I actually raced with a purpose I might be able to manage a result. Not sure if it was the precipitation or hangovers that kept people home on New Year's day, but those reservations were long gone. 55 guys lined up just after noon to try their luck. Throughout the race it seemed that every feeling or observation I had had about the race two days ago was magnified. I couldn't believe how negative the racing was. I think a third of the field just wanted to survive, another third just wanted to wait for the sprint, and the rest just wanted to keep the group together. Nobody seemed willing to make a full-hearted attack, but everyone was willing to shut down the slightest acceleration on the front. We had a stiff head wind on the backstretch and tail wind as you climbed toward the finish, so everyone was flying uphill, where it would have normally strung things out a bit. On Saturday I kept thinking to myself that the sprinters (big guys) had to feel a little ashamed to let myself and another skinny guy set the pace, but on Monday I figured out just how wrong I was. I think that half the field had to been over 180. I guess it makes sense, with all the cold dark nights, beer, and meat pies, its easy to put on a few extra lbs. I felt like I was in the big and tall store trying to by size 30 pants. Everyone just kinda looked at me funny as if to say get out of my way. And damn were they willing to bump elbows and handlebars for position. I politely rode in the wind on a number of occasions to exclude myself from said festivities. In the end the a couple of failed attacks, and some pointless tempo, and then the big boys bashed each other all over the finale. 24th 26.1 miles in 1h05m at an average of 24 mph.

Considering the amount I have been riding, I was pretty pleased with the weekend. Hog Hill has, you guessed it, a hill which maybe more to my liking for the spring and summer, but for now I will keep lining up at Hillingdon, someday something will stick.

Aftermath of the dirty New Year's day race. I had been rained on for 10 miles on the way home and was still dirty. No, its not a beard.