Snake Alley Crit Report

 

Snake Alley -

Basically, launched off the line from the start and led the first two or three laps, perfectly according to plan, because after that the race becomes more about fitness and technique, and less about some of the mishaps, like getting behind a wreck or dropped chain going up the snake. 

I really couldn't believe the gap that I had at the beginning of the race, seemed like I was dreaming.  I decided to wake up from the dream, and deal with the reality that I might have toasted myself as the field regrouped and about 8 to 10 of us worked our way through the course in a break of sorts.  This is a race of attrition as the heat and relentless pain that pedalling up the Snake Alley causes eventually whittles everyone down.  Toward the end of the race, though, I was still in the front group.

As we started to catch lapped riders things got confusing.  A fifteen year old kid from Wisconsin named Jordan Cullen slipped off the front as a group of three of us became the remnants of the chase. The confusion actually may have helped us, as those behind us may not have been clear regarding the gap.

The three of us sprinted to the line, and I came in for fourth overall.  I was in the red zone to the extent that I started to head to the medical tent to see if I could get an IV.  This overwhelming feeling subsided as I rehydrated, and could enjoy a successful day in Burlington. Great race, well organized and congrats to the field that braved this tough course.

Heatin' it Up at the DICE 20k Time Trial...

All it took were some above average temps to turn up the heat on my Time Trialing engine.  I entered the 2010 Quad-Cities 20k TT, Sunday May 23rd,  and was able to post one of my fastest times ever.  I hadn't really considered trying to set the course record set by Bryce Mead back in 2008, however as I made my way past the first 5k checkpoint, I began to consider raising my expectations.  Unfortunately, I missed the course record by 2 seconds, but my time of 25:20:65 was very respectable and resulted in an average of over 29mph and the overall fastest time for the day.  This is my fastest pace to date in any official TT event...
- RESULTS-
Donnie Miller of DICE cycling does a good job of compiling stats:

20k Quad Cities TT Course Records

Year  Name Time Speed
2000 Aaron Inch    0:28:28.08        26.19mph
2002 Aaron Inch    0:27:04.00       27.55mph
2003 Paul Deninger  0:26:21.00     28.30mph
2004 Craig Gartland  0:27:23.00    27.23mph
2005 Paul Deninger   0:26:13.22    28.44mph
2006 Peter Sharis    0:26:50.00      27.79mph
2007 Jason Wagner    0:26:17.86   28.36mph
2008 Bryce Mead    0:25:18.42      29.47mph
2009 Chad Bishop    0:25:55.53     28.76mph
2010  Chad Bishop    0:25:20:65     29.43mph

Though it was very windy, they were mostly cross-winds throughout this very flat course, which I believe helped everyone's times, for the most part, as fighting head-winds can really take it out of you.  I also took advantage of the above average temps, which I prepare for in my indoor VeloDrome Complex located just south of Miikitchen, Iowa. 

Now time to top off the training this week, to create a nice peak for the Memorial Day Weekend Races.  The Melon City Criterium is right behind my house, so always nice to have the home-court advantage.

State Fair Crit Race Report

Racing at the Iowa State Fairgrounds turned out to be a rewarding experience.  The course was a roller coaster of sorts, with an uphill ascent along the back stretch that culminated in a steep pitch that nearly brought riders to a standstill.  As described by the race director: "With only about 1 block of flat in the course, racers were treated to a true test."  Well, if this was a test, I am happy to report that I passed with a solid "A".

I had no idea that there was a significant climb in this race until I took a practice lap.   This didn't really change my mentality, as I got off to a meager start and spent to the first two laps trying to make my way to the front.  It was sketchy riding in the pack, so I breathed a sigh of relief once I got the confidence to lead a few of the corners and set tempo up the hill from time to time.

I noticed that the tempo I was setting up the hill when I led was about 1mph faster than the tempo the group was setting when they led.  More importantly, I couldn't keep my cadence up in the big ring (53/23), and wasn't interested in shifting to the small ring, so I sort of made the decision to just ride at my pace and let things shake out accordingly.

I can honestly say that I didn't put much thought into a race strategy.  I never specifically attacked or sat-in, for example, just set a managable pace and tried to maximize my efficiency on the downhills and corners.

This lack of strategy resulted in a gap. Brent Mitchell posted two clips.  The first is of me starting the break:



And the second is the gap, which shows that the field never really gave up the chase:


I really couldn't justify slowing down, as I seemed to be using less energy riding solo then with the group.  The announcer called a field prime to add some drama to the chasing group as I maintained my lead.  I thought it was for me too, so nailed it... ooops.  Each lap up the hill, was very painful, with the last few pedal strokes being nearly unbearable.  Thanks to everyone who cheered me on, as I needed the encouragement.

I held on for the WIN!... awesome feeling.

I really deliberated racing the Cat 1/2/3 race later that day.  I didn't feel that I had much left in the tank after the Cat 3/4 race's effort.  I reluctantly signed up however, and was rewarded with another good result that included finishing within the pay-out.

This race had a similar feel, as I found a tempo and let my fitness dictate my pace.  Not long into the race I found myself in the lead group with some very accomplished Cat 1/2's (Dewey Dickey, Bryan Moritz, Cam Kirkpatrick, Jared Osterloh and Randy Reichardt). Clark Priebe bounced in and out of this group as well.  I was at the front of this group quite often, which was encouraging considering the potential firepower of the guys I was riding with.

I reluctantly had to shift to the small chain ring about halfway through this event.  By my calculations, I climbed the hilly portion of the course over 50 times, which was wearing on me.  Ahh, in the small ring I could sit and pedal a bit more.  To my amazement, however, I quickly ended up running out of gears in the 39/23 gearing as well... things were really starting to slow down as fatigue was setting in.

Dewey had slipped off the front somewhere towards the latter half of the race.  With 2 laps to go, however, I was still racing for 2nd place in this chase group, not bad...  Moritz and Jared turned up the heat on this lap and I couldn't respond.  Then with one lap to go, it was just me and Cam Kirkpatrick.  I sensed he was tired and crested the hill just in front of him, then shifted back into the big ring to maintain my advantage on the downhill.  Good thing, because I just made the pay-out by bettering him to the line.

Link to team RESULTS.   Also, a good write up at CyclingUpdate.com. I guess I am in the hunt for Iowa Cup points, as I am in good standing now, after dismal results in Iowa City.  I am also encouraged to be on the leader board of the Cat 1/2 tally as well, thanks to the result in my second race.

Not sure where things go from here.  That course suited me well, now the question is, can I carry this momentum into other race situations that might not be quite as accomodating to my strengths and forgiving to my weaknesses?  Stay tuned and thanks for your interest.

Just found this photo online, I will post some from this race once they are available..

Fat-Faced Time Trialing on Black Diamond Road

"Carb-Face" is defined in the urban dictionary as "A fat or puffy face".  I believe it is the end result of some poor nutrional and fitness decisions that increase water retention while bloating up the fat cells in the facial area. I diagnosed myself with this condition after realizing I had gained nearly 5 pounds in the 24 hour period between Saturday and the Sunday morning of the Iowa City TT #1.  I couldn't even look myself in the mirror, literally, due to the shame and guilt I felt.  I had spent all day Saturday sleeping, watching TV, and eating Twizzlers and sugar cookies. 

While I am diagnosing and defining, I better look into the definition of Neuroticism : It is an enduring tendency to experience negative emotional states  such as anxiety, anger, guilt, and depression. Neurotic individuals respond  poorly to environmental stress, and are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening...

Crap, that sort of fits the situation, hopefully this is more of a temporary state, then 'an enduring tendency'.  Was my fat-face really going to be a threat to my performance at that morning's TT?  Well, based on my relatively slow pace (compared to last year), I am assuming that maybe it was.  Mostly, however, times were slowed by the cold conditions that may have contributed to a bit of over-dressing combined with very brief warm-ups.  I did win the event overall, so that is never something to be taken for granted.

Pie or Beer?  Great... this is what we win at these local time trials... the two main causes of "Carb-Face".  I wish they would offer us sports bars/gels/drinks, or maybe even small cash pay-outs... as I really don't trust myself to take a pie home.  Most likely, I would eat the whole thing by myself as tears streamed down my swollen cheeks and engorged double chin... "Thanks... but no thanks".


Memorial Day Weekend Racing is fast approaching.  Below is a video page I created to help remind the locals about the race. 

The Muscatine Race has a relatively low spectator turn-out compared to the Burlington and Rock Island Crits, but we try and get the word out to the public, all the same.  I am thinking if we served beer (and pie?) we would get a little more interest from the general public.  Plenty of people around here like NASCAR, maybe if we gave them a Budwieser, that would give them something to cheer about and increase awareness/support for bike racing.

Tuesday Night Team Ride Photos

We stopped during theTuesday Night Training Ride for our annual photo opportunity.

Stick it up your yeah!

Above:  Still Rollin', Rollin', Rollin', Rollin.... (around Iowa City's Old Capitol)

Whatever happened to Limp Bizkit?  Maybe they will end up playing some sort of reunion tour at a state fair one of these days.  Speaking of state fairs, I added the State Fair Crit in Des Moines Iowa to my race calendar as Iowa City weekend didn't go according to plan and I needed to shift the master plan. This new plan also includes the designation of a theme song that I will hum to myself as part of my pre-race preparation...

I briefly questioned my motivation to race my bike after I had to endure watching the Cat 3 race conclude from the sidelines at the Old Cap Crit.  Then Frank Durst provided me with the answer... really quite obvious:

Should I be feelin bad

Should I be feelin good
It's kinda sad I'm the laughing stock of the neighborhood
And you'd be figured I'd be movin on
But I'm a sucker like I said
Messed up in the head, not!
And maybe I just made a mistake
And I should give myself a break
But my heart will ache either way
Hey, what the hell, whatchu want me to say?
I won't lie, that I can't deny
I like to race my bike, can't explain why

I did it all for the nookie, c'mon
The nookie, c'mon
So you can take that cookie
And stick it up your yeah!

Stick it up your yeah!