Tomorrow I'm going to forgo the team ride in the interest of recovery. Today I was sore as hell my right quadriceps (more specifically, my rectus femoris and vastus mediarus) felt tight this morning along with my knee (patellar tendon/rectus femoris) area. And as the day wore on, my foot (plantar fascia) started feeling stiff, too. Tomorrow will consist of an easy ride, and next week I will reduce my training slightly.
Two Ferry Century 23 Days and counting....
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Team Warfare
Last night was the final race in the East Hartford Training Criterium Series. After much discussion, Henk decided to have the riders in the 'B' Race (Cat 4 and 5, and myself) on CVC practice strategy and moving through the pack.
The plan was to launch a series of attacks and counters. The purpose of an attack is to quickly advance one of your riders up the road, ahead of the main pack. They can be used to create smaller packs up ahead of the clutter of 50+ riders, making a victory more likely, these typically take place later in the race and are very often unsuccessful. Or they can be used earlier in the race to wear out opposing teams. The other teams will chase to prevent the aforementioned scenario. And when an attacking rider is caught, if he has teammates at the front of the main pack, they can counter. They attack and start the process all over again.
I volunteered to fall on my sword and launch the first attack. Henk gave me a few possible scenarios and what to do during them.
1) A rider from a rival team catches up; Sit in his slipstream and let him do most of the work
2) No one chases; hold the pack off as long as I can. (A pack of riders can move faster than a single rider due to the aerodynamic advantage)
We decided that the first attack (me) would go 1-2 laps after the first prime (pronounced preem). When the pack would rest after a leg busting sprint for a can of coke.
The race begins, I'm sitting on the back of the pack with a few of my teammates, and because my rear wheel was slightly out of true, my bike was not handling as well as it should have been. I took a corner a bit too wide and bottled up the back of the pack. At the same time, the rider two wheels(two riders) back dug his pedal causing a CCNS rider behind him to crash. The rider was okay, his bike went on to a gravel road and the was able to tumble across the grass safely. I was sure the crash was my fault, Karen, one of my teammates, was marshalling the course in that corner and told about the event I described above. In short, it wasn't my fault.
A few laps later, the marshall at the start/finish line rang a cowbell, signalling the official race start, I thought it was my signal and I moved up through the pack of 50+ riders. After 1 and half laps, I accelerated out of corner 3 and charged past the remaining 10 riders in front of me. I screamed as I jumped out of the saddle building up a gap. Over the next two laps, I rode so hard I thought my heart was going to explode. I forced myself down into an almost ski tuck, for aerodynamics, and moved my pelvis further forward, to engage my quadriceps and deliver even more power to my pedals. After rounding corner 3 again, I looked back and watched the pack leaders just making it out of corner 1. As I crossed the line, the marshall rang the cowbell again, meaning that the next lap was preem lap.
I had left too early, it didn't matter I was still doing my job. As I came out of corner 3 again my lead had been diminished, there was a rider from a rival poised to get his free can of coke and one my teammates was chasing. With my legs cramping, my lungs burning and my heart trying to escape my rib cage, I dug deep one more time, but I didn't have enough left to hold him off. He passed me 30 yards from the line, it's okay I don't drink soda anyway.
I was caught. My eyes crossed as my body tried to shut down. As I drifted back through the pack comments ranged from, "Ballsy move, kid," to "Soon you'll be able to stay away for the whole race." In my semi-delirious state I couldn't get back up to speed, and was off the back of the pack. I tried to accelerate to catch them, but I had nothing left in the tank. Twenty minutes later I was back in the pack after being lapped, and falling back through it as the pack geared up for the finishing sprint.
The paradox of racing in pack is it's easier to ride at the front, in the back accelerations are magnified. Meaning that riders on the back need to overbreak and charge back up to speed repeatedly, it gets worse the farther back you go. Riding at the front is not easy either, you have to ride very fast with no one in front of you to catch the wind.
Me, a teammate, and the CCNS rider, Chris, who does training rides with CVC, got spit off the back of the pack. We helped each other limp to finish line, that's what teammates are for.
A day later, I'm still sore, I went over my limit for the good of the team. From the impromptu team debriefing, my attack and catch set off a chain reaction of counterattacks from my team and the final sprint was slower than it usually was, meaning we had succeeded and tired everyone out. Unfortunately, we forgot to designate someone to stay in the pack go for the kill in the finishing sprint. Nonetheless it's a good way to end our criterium series.
Now, I can fully focus on the, non-race, Two Ferry Century(100 mile ride) and the Jamestown(,RI) Road Race on Columbus day, which is the last sanctioned race on the calendar.
The plan was to launch a series of attacks and counters. The purpose of an attack is to quickly advance one of your riders up the road, ahead of the main pack. They can be used to create smaller packs up ahead of the clutter of 50+ riders, making a victory more likely, these typically take place later in the race and are very often unsuccessful. Or they can be used earlier in the race to wear out opposing teams. The other teams will chase to prevent the aforementioned scenario. And when an attacking rider is caught, if he has teammates at the front of the main pack, they can counter. They attack and start the process all over again.
I volunteered to fall on my sword and launch the first attack. Henk gave me a few possible scenarios and what to do during them.
1) A rider from a rival team catches up; Sit in his slipstream and let him do most of the work
2) No one chases; hold the pack off as long as I can. (A pack of riders can move faster than a single rider due to the aerodynamic advantage)
We decided that the first attack (me) would go 1-2 laps after the first prime (pronounced preem). When the pack would rest after a leg busting sprint for a can of coke.
The race begins, I'm sitting on the back of the pack with a few of my teammates, and because my rear wheel was slightly out of true, my bike was not handling as well as it should have been. I took a corner a bit too wide and bottled up the back of the pack. At the same time, the rider two wheels(two riders) back dug his pedal causing a CCNS rider behind him to crash. The rider was okay, his bike went on to a gravel road and the was able to tumble across the grass safely. I was sure the crash was my fault, Karen, one of my teammates, was marshalling the course in that corner and told about the event I described above. In short, it wasn't my fault.
A few laps later, the marshall at the start/finish line rang a cowbell, signalling the official race start, I thought it was my signal and I moved up through the pack of 50+ riders. After 1 and half laps, I accelerated out of corner 3 and charged past the remaining 10 riders in front of me. I screamed as I jumped out of the saddle building up a gap. Over the next two laps, I rode so hard I thought my heart was going to explode. I forced myself down into an almost ski tuck, for aerodynamics, and moved my pelvis further forward, to engage my quadriceps and deliver even more power to my pedals. After rounding corner 3 again, I looked back and watched the pack leaders just making it out of corner 1. As I crossed the line, the marshall rang the cowbell again, meaning that the next lap was preem lap.
I had left too early, it didn't matter I was still doing my job. As I came out of corner 3 again my lead had been diminished, there was a rider from a rival poised to get his free can of coke and one my teammates was chasing. With my legs cramping, my lungs burning and my heart trying to escape my rib cage, I dug deep one more time, but I didn't have enough left to hold him off. He passed me 30 yards from the line, it's okay I don't drink soda anyway.
I was caught. My eyes crossed as my body tried to shut down. As I drifted back through the pack comments ranged from, "Ballsy move, kid," to "Soon you'll be able to stay away for the whole race." In my semi-delirious state I couldn't get back up to speed, and was off the back of the pack. I tried to accelerate to catch them, but I had nothing left in the tank. Twenty minutes later I was back in the pack after being lapped, and falling back through it as the pack geared up for the finishing sprint.
The paradox of racing in pack is it's easier to ride at the front, in the back accelerations are magnified. Meaning that riders on the back need to overbreak and charge back up to speed repeatedly, it gets worse the farther back you go. Riding at the front is not easy either, you have to ride very fast with no one in front of you to catch the wind.
Me, a teammate, and the CCNS rider, Chris, who does training rides with CVC, got spit off the back of the pack. We helped each other limp to finish line, that's what teammates are for.
A day later, I'm still sore, I went over my limit for the good of the team. From the impromptu team debriefing, my attack and catch set off a chain reaction of counterattacks from my team and the final sprint was slower than it usually was, meaning we had succeeded and tired everyone out. Unfortunately, we forgot to designate someone to stay in the pack go for the kill in the finishing sprint. Nonetheless it's a good way to end our criterium series.
Now, I can fully focus on the, non-race, Two Ferry Century(100 mile ride) and the Jamestown(,RI) Road Race on Columbus day, which is the last sanctioned race on the calendar.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Green Mountain is off the calendar
It's official. I will not be racing in the 2008 Green Mountain Stage Race.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Green Mountain in the air, Team meeting on the Horizon
After much debate my participation in the Green Mountain Stage Race is up in the air, the reasons are mostly financial, and since I'm still in High School I would be missing a day of school. Financially, I'm in tough shape. Working as a painter part time, is enough to keep me where I am, but I can't get too crazy. The GMSR entry fee alone is $155, never mind all the other stuff, like food, a place to stay, etc.
Hopefully most of this will be addressed during the monthly team meeting tomorrow night. I'm not looking for a free ride, but if I can get one, or any type of deal worked out, I'll be in Vermont on Friday morning.
The reason I'm trying so hard to go this year is because, It's my last chance to race as a junior. Next year I'll be in College, and if I get into the one I'm very fond of, I won't be able to leave for the race. This means I'll be thrown to the wolves in the race the next year.
It would also put me in a tough spot for licensing next year. So far I have 11 of my required 15 participation points to upgrade to Cat 4. Each day of GMSR would be one point. Therefore, I could appeal for an upgrade in the offseason and receive it. But if I don't make GMSR I have two options.
1)Buy a Cat 5/Junior license next year and upgrade, when necessary and pay upgrade fees
or
2)Race my first 4 races unlicensed to get my points (having to buy 1 day licenses for each race at $10 a pop) and buy my license later on.
I will be racing the final Tuesday Night Crit this week.
Hopefully most of this will be addressed during the monthly team meeting tomorrow night. I'm not looking for a free ride, but if I can get one, or any type of deal worked out, I'll be in Vermont on Friday morning.
The reason I'm trying so hard to go this year is because, It's my last chance to race as a junior. Next year I'll be in College, and if I get into the one I'm very fond of, I won't be able to leave for the race. This means I'll be thrown to the wolves in the race the next year.
It would also put me in a tough spot for licensing next year. So far I have 11 of my required 15 participation points to upgrade to Cat 4. Each day of GMSR would be one point. Therefore, I could appeal for an upgrade in the offseason and receive it. But if I don't make GMSR I have two options.
1)Buy a Cat 5/Junior license next year and upgrade, when necessary and pay upgrade fees
or
2)Race my first 4 races unlicensed to get my points (having to buy 1 day licenses for each race at $10 a pop) and buy my license later on.
I will be racing the final Tuesday Night Crit this week.
Power Thumbs
The other day I shredded my rear tire on a rock I could have used to shave with, guess I gotta pay more attention. So right after I got back from my vacation I bought a new tire. I was busy all afternoon and didn't get a chance to put it on.
My Bonty Race rear wheel (a.k.a. the wheel from hell) is notorious for it's pinch flats and it's ability to make folding beads tight as hell. Tonight I managed to solve the problem.
Step one: Slightly inflate tube, I put enough air in it to where it was pliable yet would hold its shape, and it would also let me know if i had ruptured it.
Step two: After getting the first bead on I went around the wheel and I put the tube inside the side of the rim, this meant that I would avoid pinching it when the bead got tighter.
Step three: Power Thumbs!, I somehow managed to force the last few inches of the bead with out a tire lever. Now, I'm not such a weakling that I need to use a tire lever, with this wheel, a down hill mountainbiker couldn't get the tire on WITH a lever.
My success was confirmed when I fully inflated the tire with my trusty air compressor to 105 psi and there was no hissing.
My Bonty Race rear wheel (a.k.a. the wheel from hell) is notorious for it's pinch flats and it's ability to make folding beads tight as hell. Tonight I managed to solve the problem.
Step one: Slightly inflate tube, I put enough air in it to where it was pliable yet would hold its shape, and it would also let me know if i had ruptured it.
Step two: After getting the first bead on I went around the wheel and I put the tube inside the side of the rim, this meant that I would avoid pinching it when the bead got tighter.
Step three: Power Thumbs!, I somehow managed to force the last few inches of the bead with out a tire lever. Now, I'm not such a weakling that I need to use a tire lever, with this wheel, a down hill mountainbiker couldn't get the tire on WITH a lever.
My success was confirmed when I fully inflated the tire with my trusty air compressor to 105 psi and there was no hissing.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
CVC Team Ride
This morning there was CVC team ride. The rides leave at 9 am, so I have to wake up early for them.
Today, I felt more fatigued this morning than I usually do, so I flopped down on the couch while I was eating my breakfast and didn't get back up until 8:40. The ride leaves out of Starbucks, 6 miles across town. And because of my late start I was hustling around trying to get ready, which set up problems later in the day.
I managed the leave at 8:45, I don't know how. And due to my knowledge of the back roads of Glastonbury, I was able to charge across town and get there at 9:03. I guess the ride got a late start, or Henk(Team President) and Max(The team's best rider) were waiting to see who else showed up.
After about ten minutes of intensely discussing cyrptozoology the five of us set of. The ride consisted of me, Max Henk, a CCNS rider I'd met before (I'm bad with names) and another CVC guy who's name I didn't catch.
We set off north down Main Street crossing into East Hartford while dodging monster pot holes. We turned away from the sun and paraded through Hartford. It's amazing how 10 miles makes a difference, from Isolated Orchards to Bustling City.
Nonetheless, we crossed the bridge over the CT river and rode through Constitution Plaza. I don't what it is about biking through the city, but it's so humbling. I never get the same feeling walking or driving. Weird.
We left the city and rode through Farmington to Plainville. In Plainville we did some recon of the criterium course there. Every spring for about six weeks there is a criterium series there. I missed out this year, but next year, I will race full time. This year I was just getting my feet wet.
After our quick recon session we headed west and looped back around through Avon and into Windsor. About this time I felt like my legs were dragging. Because I didn't have enough time to make any food, usually on long rides I'll make a sandwich or something of the like, something with a little protein. But today, I just grabbed a handful of granola bars, all carbs. So I didn't have any 'snap' in my legs later in the ride.
This caused major problems, the guys would speed up, I would get dropped and have to dig really deep, practically sprinting, to catch back up. I was so relieved when we crossed back over the CT river and into East Hartford and returned to Glastonbury. The guys stopped at Daybreak, but I was dying to get home, so I said goodbye and chugged home. And that's when things got really bizarre.
I was on 17 and I was making the left to head up to the Orchards. The car in front of me was travelling very slowly. I was coming up behind said car to pass it, when all of the sudden the old woman driving slammed on her brakes. I hit her rear bumper with my front tire. Right as I hit it I thought, 'Oh, shit, there goes my $200 front wheel' and 'Bye bye, Trek 1000." My bike did an endo but I managed to keep from flipping over onto her trunk. She pulled up and stopped again, as I went by she told me, "You really need to watch where you're going."
I got her good though, My front tire kept spinning for about half a second and left a big black stripe on the back of her white car. It even took some of the paint off. All I ended up with was a few scuffs on my tire and a story to tell. Nothing else, no injuries, I didn't wreck my front wheel or fork, just a few scuffs and paint chips on my tire. I guess I really lucked out.
The rest of ride was an uneventful 10 minute climb to my house. Even though I was exhausted, I seemed to float up the hill.
Well, nine hours later my calfs still hurt, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep and a moderate tempo ride tomorrow on my own.
BTW, if any one sees CVC riders, or me, out and about, take a pic and post it in a comment. Also, if anyone has any questions, fire away.
'til next time.
Today, I felt more fatigued this morning than I usually do, so I flopped down on the couch while I was eating my breakfast and didn't get back up until 8:40. The ride leaves out of Starbucks, 6 miles across town. And because of my late start I was hustling around trying to get ready, which set up problems later in the day.
I managed the leave at 8:45, I don't know how. And due to my knowledge of the back roads of Glastonbury, I was able to charge across town and get there at 9:03. I guess the ride got a late start, or Henk(Team President) and Max(The team's best rider) were waiting to see who else showed up.
After about ten minutes of intensely discussing cyrptozoology the five of us set of. The ride consisted of me, Max Henk, a CCNS rider I'd met before (I'm bad with names) and another CVC guy who's name I didn't catch.
We set off north down Main Street crossing into East Hartford while dodging monster pot holes. We turned away from the sun and paraded through Hartford. It's amazing how 10 miles makes a difference, from Isolated Orchards to Bustling City.
Nonetheless, we crossed the bridge over the CT river and rode through Constitution Plaza. I don't what it is about biking through the city, but it's so humbling. I never get the same feeling walking or driving. Weird.
We left the city and rode through Farmington to Plainville. In Plainville we did some recon of the criterium course there. Every spring for about six weeks there is a criterium series there. I missed out this year, but next year, I will race full time. This year I was just getting my feet wet.
After our quick recon session we headed west and looped back around through Avon and into Windsor. About this time I felt like my legs were dragging. Because I didn't have enough time to make any food, usually on long rides I'll make a sandwich or something of the like, something with a little protein. But today, I just grabbed a handful of granola bars, all carbs. So I didn't have any 'snap' in my legs later in the ride.
This caused major problems, the guys would speed up, I would get dropped and have to dig really deep, practically sprinting, to catch back up. I was so relieved when we crossed back over the CT river and into East Hartford and returned to Glastonbury. The guys stopped at Daybreak, but I was dying to get home, so I said goodbye and chugged home. And that's when things got really bizarre.
I was on 17 and I was making the left to head up to the Orchards. The car in front of me was travelling very slowly. I was coming up behind said car to pass it, when all of the sudden the old woman driving slammed on her brakes. I hit her rear bumper with my front tire. Right as I hit it I thought, 'Oh, shit, there goes my $200 front wheel' and 'Bye bye, Trek 1000." My bike did an endo but I managed to keep from flipping over onto her trunk. She pulled up and stopped again, as I went by she told me, "You really need to watch where you're going."
I got her good though, My front tire kept spinning for about half a second and left a big black stripe on the back of her white car. It even took some of the paint off. All I ended up with was a few scuffs on my tire and a story to tell. Nothing else, no injuries, I didn't wreck my front wheel or fork, just a few scuffs and paint chips on my tire. I guess I really lucked out.
The rest of ride was an uneventful 10 minute climb to my house. Even though I was exhausted, I seemed to float up the hill.
Well, nine hours later my calfs still hurt, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep and a moderate tempo ride tomorrow on my own.
BTW, if any one sees CVC riders, or me, out and about, take a pic and post it in a comment. Also, if anyone has any questions, fire away.
'til next time.
Friday, August 15, 2008
...And For The Future
I'm not new to blogging.
I used to have a blog on myspace, it was just a weekly post about dumb stuff that happened that week. Well, only so much dumb stuff goes on and eventually it ran out of steam.
So, learning from my first attempt, I'll keep the blog strictly to a focused topic, cycling. I will cover training that I'm doing. I'll even do a few quick product reviews of any new equipment I pick up along the way.
I used to have a blog on myspace, it was just a weekly post about dumb stuff that happened that week. Well, only so much dumb stuff goes on and eventually it ran out of steam.
So, learning from my first attempt, I'll keep the blog strictly to a focused topic, cycling. I will cover training that I'm doing. I'll even do a few quick product reviews of any new equipment I pick up along the way.
First Blog 2008 Season So Far
Here I sit watching the rain come down. Fortunately, I was able to skip out on a short training ride today. I did cornering drills today around a circuit in a neighborhood near my high school.
This season is my first full season as racing cyclist. I am currently racing on the CVC/Subaru of New England Team centered in Hartford. This year I've mostly been participating in training races, but here are my major results.
Nutmeg State Games Criterium- 19th
Keith Berger Criterium-9th
Mount Ascutney Hill Climb-1st in age division(30th overall)
Hopefully this year I'll be able to get to the Green Mountain Stage Race, but it's up in the air right now. My parents aren't too happy about me missing school
This season is my first full season as racing cyclist. I am currently racing on the CVC/Subaru of New England Team centered in Hartford. This year I've mostly been participating in training races, but here are my major results.
Nutmeg State Games Criterium- 19th
Keith Berger Criterium-9th
Mount Ascutney Hill Climb-1st in age division(30th overall)
Hopefully this year I'll be able to get to the Green Mountain Stage Race, but it's up in the air right now. My parents aren't too happy about me missing school
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