Dispatch from the Sonora road race.
This past Sunday, Kevin, Maestro, Billy and myself made it out to
Sonora for their first annual road race. Aside from a slightly
smaller than ideal field (roughly 30), it was a great time and we
represented pretty well.
The course was a 13 mile loop that featured a few short climbs,
generally rolling terrain and no significant flats. The roads
were wet but the rain held off (at least at before we rolled out).
And we started off with a bang: some dude from another team
led the field the wrong way during the promenade and
succeeded to tack about a mile extra onto our neutral section.
Thanks, man.
Once we got going, it was climb, descend and repeat. About two
miles into the first of our four laps, a few people went down on
some wet railroad tracks (45 degrees to the road).
No messengers surveyed considered them a problem. The only
other technical sections were two almost identical bridge crossings
that featured a quick, shortish descents followed by a two sharp 90
degree turns and power climbs. Most people were being pretty
timid given the wet conditions, and Billy bore the brunt of it on the
first lap. Crossing over the first bridge, another rider lost control on
one of the sharp turns and ran into him, causing him to slide out.
No major reprocussions, but Billy pulled out after soloing for two
laps on a gimpy wheel hoping to catch on to the group. Damn.
A few other incidents reduced the field to a core group of about 15
and it stayed that way with Maestro feeling strong and pushing the
pace through a at-times steady rain. A couple others shared the
workload, but he consistently opened up small gaps on each descent
and found himself on or near the front when things inevitably came
back together. Not that we didn't try to keep him away. More than
once, Kevin and I attempted to block when the few chasing Maestro
would form up with him into a group of three or four. We were
quickly sniffed out each time. I took a few turns pulling, but mainly
Kevin and I hovered mid-to-front pack during the middle of the race.
A steady pressure from the front broke a few more guys off, and it
was about 12 or so heading into the last lap.
And on that final lap the pace quickened. With Maestro in control
and commanding everyone's attention, it was going to be hard to break
him off the front. No real opportunities presented themselves, and he
was on the front with about 2K left. After hanging back a bit with Kevin,
I decided to work my way up to Maestro. My plan was to give him
some rest for a bit and then lead out before the start of the final climb,
which picked up with about 1K to go. Hopefully, a few guys would
follow my early move off the front and tire out, which would set up
Maestro in command of a well-timed chase group. So a bit before the
base of the climb I got in front and started to push it pretty hard,
but without any obvious or sudden snap. I zoned out for a bit as the
climb started before I looked back - and saw no one close.
Apparently, after I started my move, Maestro quietly soft-pedaled for
a bit, allowing a rather-substantial gap to form. By the time anyone
noticed, I was too far up the road and the climb was hitting them
hard. Halfway up the hill, I looked back and didn't see anyone
gaining. So I put my head down and didn't stop. I guess the field
was paying close enough attention to the guy hurting them throughout
the race that they missed his teammate going off the front. Yeah.
Final results:
Jim - 1st
Maestro - 5th
Kevin - 8th
Billy - DNF (but self and bike are ok)
-Jim
Mixing it up in the P,1,2 - Cat's Hill 2009
A report on my third P,1,2 race...
Well... it could have gone worse. It wasn't terrible, but I would have been nice to finish. I was close. Completed 55 minutes, which is longer than the last 2 races. I think if it were not for a couple mental errors, I would have finished in the field. There were 105 starters and I believe I out lasted at least 40 of them.
Despite the crazy staging for this race and the LGBR call up of 9 team riders, I managed to get a good spot at the line. Unfortunately I let the nerves get the best of me and didn't get clipped in the first attempt...or the second. Lost about 40 spots going into the first turn. However I was able to move up through turns 1-2 and a bit on the first climb. Without too much panic I gradually moved up further, and after several laps I was situated pretty well in the top half. I was feeling really strong on the climb, never falling off pace and actually passing guys on the hill almost every lap. I think the toughest part for me was moving up on the top of the course before the descent, which would have been ideal. Sometimes I could move forward on the descent, but mainly I would use it for recovery. The wind was a factor on the start/finish straight when it was really strung out and the front was on attack. Only one or twice did I have to fight to stay on a wheel. There were
not any big breaks or anything. A few guys here and there were off the front but not with much distance. I thought I was good once the pace finally slowed down after 35 minutes, but I failed to take all my chances to move up at that point and just fell too complacent with where I was at. Then of course, it started to speed up. It would have surely taken an attack like effort to get past more than a few guys and I guess I wasn't thinking of it. Before it would register that I should do such a thing, I realized that my position that once was the middle of the pack was now towards the back. From then on I had to deal with riders fading a bit on the hill, which left more ground to close at the top and so on. I didn't think I was going to get dropped since my legs were still good on the climb and better than the others hanging out at the back with me, but with 9 to go I climbed the hill and just ran out of gas on the top section and couldn't hold a wheel before the descent. Got gapped and stuck in the
wind by the flats. Did one more lap solo and called it. I feel not having any gel/gu shots to take after 40min. of racing was a mistake. It seemed like a quick sugar rush could have pushed me through it. Definitely learned a little more about the pace and how much more thought goes into making a good move or staying attentive. Overall I felt good and a bit stronger. I'll just have to tighten up my game next time. I'm confident my DNF streak has come to an end.
B
Well... it could have gone worse. It wasn't terrible, but I would have been nice to finish. I was close. Completed 55 minutes, which is longer than the last 2 races. I think if it were not for a couple mental errors, I would have finished in the field. There were 105 starters and I believe I out lasted at least 40 of them.
Despite the crazy staging for this race and the LGBR call up of 9 team riders, I managed to get a good spot at the line. Unfortunately I let the nerves get the best of me and didn't get clipped in the first attempt...or the second. Lost about 40 spots going into the first turn. However I was able to move up through turns 1-2 and a bit on the first climb. Without too much panic I gradually moved up further, and after several laps I was situated pretty well in the top half. I was feeling really strong on the climb, never falling off pace and actually passing guys on the hill almost every lap. I think the toughest part for me was moving up on the top of the course before the descent, which would have been ideal. Sometimes I could move forward on the descent, but mainly I would use it for recovery. The wind was a factor on the start/finish straight when it was really strung out and the front was on attack. Only one or twice did I have to fight to stay on a wheel. There were
not any big breaks or anything. A few guys here and there were off the front but not with much distance. I thought I was good once the pace finally slowed down after 35 minutes, but I failed to take all my chances to move up at that point and just fell too complacent with where I was at. Then of course, it started to speed up. It would have surely taken an attack like effort to get past more than a few guys and I guess I wasn't thinking of it. Before it would register that I should do such a thing, I realized that my position that once was the middle of the pack was now towards the back. From then on I had to deal with riders fading a bit on the hill, which left more ground to close at the top and so on. I didn't think I was going to get dropped since my legs were still good on the climb and better than the others hanging out at the back with me, but with 9 to go I climbed the hill and just ran out of gas on the top section and couldn't hold a wheel before the descent. Got gapped and stuck in the
wind by the flats. Did one more lap solo and called it. I feel not having any gel/gu shots to take after 40min. of racing was a mistake. It seemed like a quick sugar rush could have pushed me through it. Definitely learned a little more about the pace and how much more thought goes into making a good move or staying attentive. Overall I felt good and a bit stronger. I'll just have to tighten up my game next time. I'm confident my DNF streak has come to an end.
B
Merco Credit Union Grand Prix and Foothills Road Race
The first big double header of the season is now in the rear view mirror. Good bye Merced, good bye Pine Cone Mongolian Grill parking lot. We'll see you again, real soon.
What can I say about the races? Exciting as always.
What can I say about Merced? America... F#@k Yeah!
What can I say about the races? Exciting as always.
What can I say about Merced? America... F#@k Yeah!
-DAY 1-
From what I saw of the cat 4 race there was a large field. I could only see the mob flying by in the distance since I was on the trainer warming up for the cat 3 race. From what I heard over the loudspeaker...Godspeed Courier was on the front! There is something about having your name blasted to the public as you accelerate past the S/F line that gives you visions of stardom. Or is it just stars you're seeing from being on the rivet and losing oxygen to your brain? Either way, it means you are a bad ass when they read your name off the start list and then try and say something cool about your team name.
Great job to ALL the 4's who mixed it up at the front of the pack for a bit and an especially good job to Godar for his lead out attempt with 3 or 4 to go. He also got to practice his victory salute with one to go! I heard there was some sort of neutralization of the field after a crash towards the end of the race which may have caused some confusion with the lap count.
Happy to see everyone stayed upright after the last crash on the final lap.
The cat 3 race was certainly not a full display of fireworks for the spectators, yet Deuce and I made our presence known in the field with his success in winning a prime and my early leg stretching drill of flying off the front through the s/f section. More air time for team GS.
My legs felt good after the practice so I sat up and fell back to my position of sitting in for the final sprint, 24 or so laps still to go. After placing 3rd in this race last year, I was looking to give it my all for another podium finish. As it wound down towards the end, I started to move up and held my position well with 4,3,2 to go. There had been a couple of late attacks from riders looking to get away, which was good for keeping the field stretched out, but they were pulled back by the bell lap. I was in an OK spot going into the first couple turns and maneuvered through the sketchy turns well enough to stay up front. Approaching the second to last turn I had moved up a bit more on the right side, which would end up being the wind side on the section before the last turn. Unfortunately no one was on the go in front of me and I had to stay out on the outside and in the wind coming out of that second to last turn. At that point I could not wait for a wheel to open up behind the 3 or 4 riders on my left or risk getting swarmed into the last turn. So I was unable to take the shorter, inside line, and went around the outside and just had to go for it with no draft. It was hard to tell but I think I was like 5th out of the last turn, and I'm sure there were riders further back who had more momentum on the inside. I had moved behind dude from Z Team during the sprint and felt like I could be pushing harder but just couldn't spin faster. I really could have used an 11 tooth cassette. My bad for not being prepared. I fell like I could have been spinning an 11 just as fast as the 12. Now I know I have the power to do that, I'm looking forward to the next crit. Anyways, I couldn't hold on for the points and got passed by a few other guys right before the line. Good for 9th.
Deuce was not far behind as he was able to pick his way through on the final straight for 11th.
-Day 2-
Happy that it was not raining Sunday morning. I'll have to say...I had a quality breakfast at the Quality Inn. Waffles came out perfectly! After packing up and leaving the room I chuckled over the 24oz cans of Bud Light laying on the ground behind the Pine Cone. Dried up puddles of puke not far from them. The night before we experienced a terror of noise from the popular Merced lot. It was a good ol' night of "my crotch rocket is louder than yours", after last call
at the infamous Mongolian BBQ/Night Club. Next time I'm bringing ear plugs.
Well the cat 3 road race went pretty much as expected, however I did not think the early breakaway would be as large as it was. I told Deucey I would work for him and he should just follow my wheel and let me do all the positioning until the end. If I were to get in a breakaway, he would just sit in as I would not do any work to make the break stick. I jumped out on a couple early moves within the first 10 miles, but it seemed like the field was prepared to chase everything down. So, I fell back a little and decided to start eating my Cliff Bar. That is when a group of 9 got off the front. Immediately Fusion sent guys to the front to block and before we knew it they had a substantial gap. I jumped across with a few guys trying to bridge but we only got half way before the field reacted and came up to us and stopped the chase. No one else wanted to keep it going and I'm sure many riders hadn't realized Fusion was blocking. So I went again to try and bridge and at least keep the field moving fast enough to hold the break at a safer distance. Finally a couple riders from Roaring Mouse started to help the chase and a dude from Sexual Camel also hit the front. I had to recover a bit before making my next push and that's the way it went for the next 40 miles. Only 5 or 6 out of 70 riders would do the work to chase and almost that many Fusion riders thwarting the chase by not pulling through at the front. I was a bit stressed to say the least. I should have been more attentive on the first lap and been in a position to make it in the break. Since we had to worry about the chase for so long I was not thinking about talking with Deuce about what the plan would be if we caught them. I just kind of assumed he was clear as to when to assert himself at the finish. On the last lap, I took a huge pull through the feed zone and down into the first roller section. I was starting to feel the effects of my work and tried to recover again. When we made that first hard left off Keyes, Mike was now towards the front and was helping with the chase. Travis T from Metromint was also up there now and we started to see the break come a little closer. I went back up to the front and took a few more hard pulls. My last effort brought the break back close enough for the rest of the chasers to finish it off in one or two more pulls, and at last we caught them! I had to take time to recover after all that and fell towards the back to sit in for the final miles before having to move back up for the last 2 Kilometers. As we started to approach the biggest hill that leads into that fast descent before the hard left (and onto the Snelling course section) I started to move back up and was trying to reach Deuce so we could reconnect before the finish. I should have made it up sooner, cause he was starting to feel frisky and pushed to the front just before I got to him. He made it to the top of the hill first and decided to keep it going on the descent and got a gap going into that left turn. It would have been a good move on the next hill (Snelling feed zone) or even a bit further down, but I think Mike thought the finish was a lot closer at that point. When he got caught he was still able to stay near the front, but there were a lot of guys who sat in the whole race who started to move up. I was a bit tired and tried to get up there, but once again it started to get wild within the last 2k and I could only make it up so far before getting stuck behind dudes who were blowing up. The last 1k of that race is always crazy and so easy to misjudge the distance before the line. Mike was able to finish in the top 16, while I sat up after getting stuck behind 2 riders who quit on the rise before the finishing straight. I think we still did well considering there were only 2 of us. Fusion had a bunch of riders, had someone in the breakaway and pretty much controlled the field and still did not manage to get a top 10 placing. We were able to play a big part in shutting down Fusion and that in itself was a good achievement.
All around I think team Godspeed performed very well. The cat 4's were also at the front of the race in the final miles on Sunday. I think we just need to work on our timing a little bit and have a more detailed plan for different race situations before the race begins. Everyone who came out has shown good form and I am looking forward to the upcoming events.
See ya's
B
Early Bird Crits
A few of us made it out to Fremont yesterday (1/18).
Kevin and Billy went out for the 4’s. I saw them speed by on their last lap as I registered for the Advanced Skills Clinic and the Pro,123 crit. I think Kevin got 5th.
We all participated in the clinic, which focused on attacking and chasing down breaks. They had to spend most of the time showing people how to pace line, which could have been a separate session. Regardless, we all got upgrade points for attending.
In the pro,123 crit we were lucky enough to have the presence of “fast freddy” Rodriguez. Rocking the R&R kit, it was hard to miss him. There was like 60+ riders in our field.
Lot’s of attacks.
I got into a couple moves that were short lived and chased down Freddy a couple times too. He eventually got in a move with Roman Kilun, a Health Net rider (formerly on McGuire) and some Webcor guy. They got away after about an hour of the 75-minute race. The field nearly brought them back on the last lap. I kept my eye on Jamiel Danesh, JD Bergmann and the other sprinters as we wound up for the finish.
I was quite surprised that I was able to get up there with those guys and ended up passing JD in the last 100m. I got in around 8th or 9th in the field sprint. It looked like Jamiel took it. Not sure if it was Freddy or Roman who won the race, but it is still January and no one was really fighting for it too hard.
Saw Jim after the race getting ready to earn a couple more upgrade points of his own. I left before he finished, but he was looking pretty good.
All in all, a good workout.
B
Kevin and Billy went out for the 4’s. I saw them speed by on their last lap as I registered for the Advanced Skills Clinic and the Pro,123 crit. I think Kevin got 5th.
We all participated in the clinic, which focused on attacking and chasing down breaks. They had to spend most of the time showing people how to pace line, which could have been a separate session. Regardless, we all got upgrade points for attending.
In the pro,123 crit we were lucky enough to have the presence of “fast freddy” Rodriguez. Rocking the R&R kit, it was hard to miss him. There was like 60+ riders in our field.
Lot’s of attacks.
I got into a couple moves that were short lived and chased down Freddy a couple times too. He eventually got in a move with Roman Kilun, a Health Net rider (formerly on McGuire) and some Webcor guy. They got away after about an hour of the 75-minute race. The field nearly brought them back on the last lap. I kept my eye on Jamiel Danesh, JD Bergmann and the other sprinters as we wound up for the finish.
I was quite surprised that I was able to get up there with those guys and ended up passing JD in the last 100m. I got in around 8th or 9th in the field sprint. It looked like Jamiel took it. Not sure if it was Freddy or Roman who won the race, but it is still January and no one was really fighting for it too hard.
Saw Jim after the race getting ready to earn a couple more upgrade points of his own. I left before he finished, but he was looking pretty good.
All in all, a good workout.
B
Early Bird Road Race Course
The Early Bird is about as simple a course as you can get, out and back. I did find a site that had it mapped out according to mile markers, and you can check out other features such as topographical information as well as view an altitude gain chart. I haven't looked yet to see what other rides or courses there are mappings for.
January Training
 |
| Chris Stevens, left, and Jim Riley at the top of Seven Sisters during Saturday's Alpine Dam ride. |
A January team ride is just the thing to gauge ones fitness. Road blocks leading up to Seven Sisters from Alpine Dam seemed daunting at first, but the debris on the road and sections of maintenance work were easily passed. Gusty winds on the exposed rollers and sections of gravel did, however, make it interesting.
2009 Road Season
A new season is upon us and I know many of us are eager to get out there and take some names. Props go out to all the people who went out for cross, bringing home some impressive results.
The road season is off to a great start with Jim winning his category at the San Bruno Hill Climb followed up by a win at his first crit. Deuce is coming off cross with some great finishes and I’m sure that momentum will keep the pressure on the competition in the coming months.
The 3’s ended last year in top form and another member in the ranks could make for a powerhouse squad. The 4’s have the numbers to really develop some team tactics. The 5’s wont be 5’s for much longer.
In the upcoming season some of us may be shooting for rank points, a podium finish or maybe even an upgrade. Whatever it may be, I wish everyone a great season. One reminder is that most of the races now have online registration and they do fill up fast. With that said, plan ahead and lets go out there as a force to be reckoned with.
The road season is off to a great start with Jim winning his category at the San Bruno Hill Climb followed up by a win at his first crit. Deuce is coming off cross with some great finishes and I’m sure that momentum will keep the pressure on the competition in the coming months.
The 3’s ended last year in top form and another member in the ranks could make for a powerhouse squad. The 4’s have the numbers to really develop some team tactics. The 5’s wont be 5’s for much longer.
In the upcoming season some of us may be shooting for rank points, a podium finish or maybe even an upgrade. Whatever it may be, I wish everyone a great season. One reminder is that most of the races now have online registration and they do fill up fast. With that said, plan ahead and lets go out there as a force to be reckoned with.
San Bruno Hill Climb Cat 5 Winner
 |
Congratulations to Jim Riley on his first place finish. With an impressive winning time of 16:54:05, Jim bested former Godspeed Courier and cat 5 second place finisher, Peter Taylor by 24 seconds. Jim is new to UCI racing and the race team, but is a veteran Godspeed messenger who consistently takes top placings at allycats and messenger events. Way to start the new year.
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