AZ State Crit
Santa Catalina Omnium
The UofA crit course was pretty fun, long and fast save one very tight, very technical corner. Early in the day, when it was cold, the paint in the crosswalk there was super slick, 7 separate crashes in race #1!
I went out to try some different ways of breaking away to see if one would stick. I’m just trying to learn and develop some skill and instinct really. So if I don’t crash and I learn to be a better racer, it’s all good!
Nobody got away in my race, myself included. After reviewing the race I now know how I could’ve won. Whoever was first into that tricky corner, which is the last corner on the race, was first to the finish line. I should have slammed past everybody on the front half of the race on the last lap and just buried it on the back half. If they all followed my wheel, no matter, because once you’re approaching that corner, there’s no passing and so much speed is scrubbed in that turn, that whoever is there first has a huge jump.
As it turned out, I was 7th overall and 4th in my group. I made my hardest move in the 2nd to last lap and it didn’t stick, so I just chased down people that were in the omnium competition on the last lap. I let one slip away, I didn’t realize he was up there.
It was nice having Rich Horn there cheering me on! I’m looking forward to racing with some teammates tomorrow in Oracle. If I win the race I win the omnium. But, twice up that cat2 climb is a tall task. Should be fun.
Rubber side down and GO!
Here’s the footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
-Philip
USAC Nat’l Hill Climb
Aggressors:
This inaugural event was my only significant objective for 2016 so I did set up and try to follow a training regimen to prepare for it. Since the race was to be 20km up Pikes Peak with a start line at 9,380 ft and a finish line at 14,110 ft I included altitude acclimation as an integral part of my preparation. I researched several training blogs and concluded that about one month at altitude was the optimum acclimation period. If one cannot do that, little or no time at altitude is the next best approach. Most of my training effort was put in between 4 weeks and 1 week before the event. I took 2 days off shortly before the event and did a wake-up ride with a few pushes the afternoon before the event.
Weather for this event was forecast to be lousy until the afternoon before at which time the forecast changed to clear and sunny. In the end, it was clear, sunny, calm and cold for the race.
The format was a staged mass start in waves. My scoring group comprised about a dozen riders (MM70+) and left the line at 0703. The first mile or so was deceptively flat and all of us enjoyed a bit of respite before the grind. The grade then ramped up to about 10% and was relentless with very little easing. Our peloton quickly fractured and soon Durward Higgins and I were alone off the front. I have previously raced against Durward last October at the Huntsman World Senior Games where he beat me in 4 of 4 events. Halfway up he bumped the pace 1 km/hr which I could not match, although I felt that I was performing well, and slowly but surely rode away from me. I continued to be functional to the summit and was actually able to increase my own pace slightly the last 3 km. I am admittedly a bit disappointed with my 2nd place finish, yet I feel that I performed about as well as I could, free of strategic or tactical errors, and without any equipment issues during the race. Durward is simply stronger than I. After summiting, I took some time to enjoy the views, which I reckon were 50+ miles in any direction; truly grand.
Given that this was a US National event, my feelings about how the event was run are ambivalent. The choice of venue was a profoundly wonderful challenge and would test the mettle of virtually any rider. However, the extreme altitude should favor those who are already living at altitude. Yet, having said that, it did not turn out that way for my group; 3 of the top 5 are living at low altitude. Of course, for other groups it may well have been different. Surprisingly, there were mistakes in posting of results; I was initially not even listed in the results, and I know that other riders also had issues. Fortunately, I had a “receipt” which I had obtained at the finish line listing my exact finish time and my finish position among those who had finished in my group; a neat feature, I thought. Perhaps the most frustrating issue was the limited timing window; cutoff shortly after 0900 with riders starting between 0630 and a bit after 0730. The road was opened to the public at 0900 and a steady stream of cars was nearing the summit by 0915, intimidating a couple of the racers in my group into giving up and turning around to avoid the press of vehicles in close proximity. The Pikes Peak hgwy is city owned and I speculate USAC was simply unable to negotiate a reasonable closure window with the city. As usual it was likely about the money.
Rick E.
State Road Race
Howdy, esteemed Aggressors!
First off, congratulations to those that raced, you guys all represented Aggress well! Tim, two years after shattering his femur, killed the field. I was more excited to see him win than had I won myself! I did a dance of pure joy when he told me! Rich, Shane and Rich and Cathy (who I just met), all raced well and had great results.
For me, I’ve never been less relevant in the outcome of a race. Yet, I can only think of one race where I was more proud of the outcome. I’m literally in uncharted territory regarding my recovery. There was hope I’d be “here” by December.
As Tim mentioned, the race organizers lumped together all masters under 50 years old in one group. I believe that was 35 total men. I was nervous, which is very unusual for me. No matter what happened in the race it was to be a surprise, and I don’t like surprises during a race. Just before the race, out of nowhere, my wife showed up and hugged me. I really needed that! She drove 6 hours the night before and stayed at our friend’s cabin! I had no clue. It was the best surprise I’ve ever had! Thank you Tim for helping pull that off!
As for the race, mine wasn’t much of a race. On the first real climb, about 18 miles in, I got dropped. I tried to position myself up front before the hill so I could drift back and catch on, but I have a negative V02 max… I did drop back, but did not catch on.
I found my own pace up the hill, and started catching and passing a bunch of other guys who also got dropped. As normal, they were all surprised because I look more like a beer league softball dude than cyclist. I went by them all hoping they’d catch up and we could work together to catch back on. We eventually formed a small group of about 10 or so. They tried to form a pace line but frankly, they sucked and were really slow. I was upset to be with such a group. When we made the series of right and left turns pretty quickly where there were a few houses around mile 22, I went to the front. I didn’t attack at all, just gradually lifted the pace hoping to flick the clingons off the back. Well, all 10 of them were clingons. So I rode from there to the finish by myself. I did just enough to keep them at bay. I had about 43 miles of solace. It was a great time. I really wasn’t hurting, kept my heart rate around 155 most of the time, and just stayed as aero as possible.
I had some problems on the ride with my feet and hamstrings, which isn’t unusual still, but I knew how to keep it in check. I kept looking back to see how close the chasing group was. On the big rollers to finish the race I could them, so I stood up to make it look like I was attacking those hills even though I was just going a steady, relatively easy pace. Anything to break their spirits! From reading Strava accounts they were trying to catch me, and were upset they didn’t. I thought they’d given up really.
I’ll continue to take things one day at a time, but this was a big victory for me. Not a result I’m used to, but I’ll take it!
-Philip
Mt Evans HC
Aggressors:
The weather for this year’s edition of the highest road bike climb in North America was the best yet for me; sunny, warm (sort of), winds light and variable. At least half a dozen other Tucson riders, including Aggress Sandbagger Rich Horn, were also there to give it a go. Six were registered in the MM70+ group but at our start (0715) there were only 3 on the line; Herb Johnson, Michael Raber, and myself. Within the first 3 miles Michael was gone and it was down to Herb and I, as usual. I knew going in that I would be more or less at the minimum point on the altitude acclimation curve (5 days at altitude) but it needed to be scheduled that way to give me a month at altitude before the Nat’l climb up Pike’s Peak. I mostly followed Herb as we got close to Echo Lake (approx. halfway point) and I must concede that he was better able to maintain a good pace during his “stand and deliver” segments then I expected. As we approached Echo Lake I began to suffer significantly and shortly realized I would have to let him go; dang! My race was basically over at that point and it was henceforth a good training ride. I pushed but did not bury myself and in the end finished 2nd, 8 min behind Herb and 13 min behind my own PR, set when I was fully acclimated.
The consensus in the training blogs seems to be that when racing at altitude one should arrive at altitude either the day of the event, or more preferably at least 2 weeks prior to almost fully acclimate. 3-4 weeks are required for full acclimation; 4-6 days at altitude is the low performance point on the curve. I guess I will know for sure if that was the difference in this case after Pike’s Peak.
The Summiting credential is attached, Jim A.; GOATS!
Rick E.
State ITT
TBC 2016
Aggressors:
The weather was great, and the race was well attended, although my age group was bereft; there was only me and J P Holloman. Stage 1, Prologue. This 3 mile TT is likely more important to race outcome than it should be. A 20 sec advantage here will frequently be insurmountable; the RR and CR time bonuses are not enough to overcome it. I chose to ride my road bike with my Reynolds MVT32 climbing wheels and I am comfortable it was a good choice. Although I beat JP by half a minute, I was not adequately warmed up; I only had 14 minutes on my rollers before the start. I need at least 30 to be fully functional. Oh well… I got away with it.
Stage 2, RR. We did 2 laps around the Sahuarita course in a combined field of 65+ (9 riders). Lap 1 was relatively uneventful; a few attacks on the uphill pitches shelled the two 75+ riders. Reg Dowdall took off as we entered the feed zone to begin lap 2 and all except JP (my competitor) managed to hang on, so now we were 6. Several attacks by Reg and Steve Worley from Boulder proved useless, and we were still 6 for the coast down Helmet Peak Rd. As we turned onto La Canada I looked back to see if JP was visible, and he was not, but our pace seemed slow enough that I was getting a bit anxious so I went up front and picked up the pace down La Canada to Duval Rd. As we turned onto Duval, I took a good look back up La Canada and JP was not be seen, so I knew my race was in the bag. The finish sprint started with Steven Worley at just under 1km to go, with Reg and Curtis on him. I did my best to respond but my sprint sucks and by the finish the gap between me and Curtis had grown to 10 sec. Reg won it and I gained another minute+ on JP.
Stage 3, CR. The action here began on lap 2 going West up the Anklam hill. Curtis Ingle was in front with me on his wheel. Reg and Steve came around at speed and I expected Curtis to jump on their wheels. Nothing! I hesitated just a sec or 2 expecting him to stand and deliver any moment. Finally, I realized he was going to let them go and I went around and began hammering up the last of the hill. One other rider, Ken Starke, tried to go with me. Reg and Steve got over the summit 30 m ahead of me and the gap immediately began growing. I got on the toptube and managed to keep the gap fairly stable down to the Speedway turn. Ken came around me just after the turn and we began alternating pulls to close the gap. The closest we got was up the Anklam hill on the next lap; it got worse after that and we rode together to the finish; 3rd for him, 1st for me.
Rick E.
Nice job out there, Rick.
I’ve given in to the fact that my fitness has been less than desired this season, but that hasn’t stopped me from having the busiest race season to date.
The prolouge was a bit on the warm side with a moderate W-NW wind to knock me around a bit on the downhill. I couldn’t get comfortable or produce the power I wanted on the downhill so I hung tight and tried to stay calm before the climb. As I hit the first hill a Team Winded rider came past me, which signaled to me that it was time to start making it hurt. I stayed in the saddle, in the big ring (brandishing a new 53t Rotor Q-Ring this season), and slowly started to increase my power output. Over the rollers I took the slight downhill sections to increase my speed rather than take a breather. Then the big climb approached, and I got out of the saddle to lay more power down. I quickly overtook the Team Winded rider that I’d kept in my sight after passing me, and found what I had left to finish the TT as strong as possible. Official time was an underwhelming 9:49, but given my fitness and the wind I was happy with anything under 10 minutes.
The road race was a slug fest from the start line. The first lap was frantic as the pace would go from fast to faster with the occasional immediate slow down. It was apparent that multiple factions at the front of the pack were vying for control of the pace with little resolve. As I’d done last year I spent most of the race trying to hang in and chill out for as long as possible, but the pace proved to be quite demanding no matter where I was in the group. By the final lap the pack had dwindled significantly from an inital 55 or more to under 30. I was also starting to become noticeably dehydrated, and began drinking more as time permitted. Somehow we were still hammering away. I started to begin to position myself further forward in the group (no breakaways at this point), and tried to eat a little extra for a big finish. As we rounded the corner from Duval Mine to La Canada I got out of the saddle to close a gap caused by our rubber banding around the corner, and the inside of my left leg cramped up from hip to heel. Struggling to stay in the group I tried to keep pedaling, but my leg wouldn’t have it. I quickly slipped out the back of the pack. Sitting in the saddle and drilling it proved less painful, but it was too late. I finished the rest of the race solo. I was pretty upset about not being able to finish in the pack as I’m a big fan of sprint finishes.
I have come to love the TBC circuit race. It hurts a lot, but it’s over before you know it. The pace, again, was set very high and remained very high the entire time. Laps flew by as I sat in reflecting over my underwhelming performace the previous two days. By the fourth, I’d convinced myself that I had nothing to lose, and to just focus on kicking some ass today, here and now. I started to poke and prod my way forward in the group, which proved difficult due to the size of the group. I commited to sneaking up the right side of the group whenever there was a lull in the action, and by the sixth and final lap I’d made it up to Michael Hast who was sitting quietly letting everyone else do the work. He was comfortably 3rd in the GC so I thought he might be a good wheel to follow to the line. After the final corner Hast swung from right to left and I followed him. We swiftly cleared most of the pack with 10 or 15 riders up the field. I realized Hast wasn’t going to do anything drastic so I rode off his wheel, and took a sprint clean down the (open) left side of the road to finish 9th for the day. It was a nice and reassuring finish to an otherwise frustrating weekend at the races.
I’m looking forward to finishing out the main thrust of my road season with Marana Heritage Crit and State Crit Championships. After that I’ll be training for the Whiskey Off-Road.
JA
Save The Cord Foundation
Have you noticed the Save the Cord Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit) on our shirts? We would like to take a minute and explain why we are so proud to wear this logo. Our good friend, Charis Ober, started the foundation after meeting two extraordinary children who had received life-saving cord blood transplants. One child won a battle with leukemia and the other with sickle cell anemia. They are both living happy and healthy lives thanks to cord blood. It was then that Charis decided that no more cord blood should go to waste.
Through the years, we have followed Charis on her quest to educate parents about the amazing natural resource. Did you know that over 95% of cord blood is just thrown away as medical waste? True and sad. This a valuable natural resource that is not controversial because it is something that is simply thrown away unless the parent chooses (and often has to insist) that it be saved either publicly or privately.
When a couple is expecting a baby, they are overwhelmed with information about baby buggies, cribs, nursing techniques, etc. However, we feel like parents really need to get the facts on cord blood like the fact that it is actually being used RIGHT NOW to treat over 70 different diseases. Even the State of Arizona has acknowledged how important it is and they have set up the Arizona Cord Blood Program for public donation of your newborn’s cord blood. If you are expecting, visit Save the Cord Foundation’s website to get unbiased and non-commercial information on cord blood. You can even sign up for a FREE BABY SHOWER REGISTRY and get a free year’s subscription to PREGNANCY MAGAZINE.
Depending on your family’s needs you may choose to donate it or save it privately. You choose but please don’t throw cord blood away.
We support Save the Cord Foundation in their mission to educate expectant parents! Thank you Save the Cord Foundation for also supporting us in our endeavors.
McDowell Mountain
Aggressors:
My group went off at 2pm which was nice for a change. I followed Dick Snyder off the Start line; I didn’t view any of the others as credible threats. I stayed on his wheel until the start of the climb and then moved forward. My plan was to work him every hill climb and try to drop him on the last lap so I would not have to pathetically sprint to the line with (sic “behind”) him. To enhance the plan, I rode my climb bike. I decided the downhill risk was worth the uphill advantage. No one even noticed my drive train and for once the plan worked virtually perfectly. I coasted the downhills, occasionally on Dick’s wheel, occasionally in front. I worked him as hard as I could without standing on the next to last lap and he pretty much stayed with me but he was breathing hard at the top and I was comfortable. On the last lap I stood and delivered at the base of the hill, and by the turn he was out of sight. I relaxed a bit and cruised on down to the Finish line for my first victory of the season.
-Rick E.
Tucson Bicycle Classic 2014
After reading Bryan’s exciting Shoot-out report, this is going to seem pretty dull!
The weeks before TBC, I was undecided about racing, because I felt unprepared, but I thought, “what the heck, I need to do this, it’s in our backyard”. I had been off the bike for six weeks, due to traveling and surgery on my shoulder and hip and didn’t have high expectations.
TT – Doug wanted me to buy a TT bike, but I am frugal, so I settled for TT bars. I practiced on them the Monday before the TT and felt pretty comfortable.
The day of the TT, the ladies had good conditions, with some windy gusts here and there. I had my best TT time ever (according to Strava) and finished in 8th place out of 15.
On a side note, it was a lot of fun, hanging with the team at the Brown picnic area. Pretty cool that we have an age range of 19 years old, up to 70! There was a flurry of activity with racers coming and going. Thanks to Bryan Schlegel, who provided a TT warm-up, that was enlarged by Doug and taped to wall for the racers to follow!
Road Race – In my prior years of doing TBC, both times, the field was only three racers. This year, we had 15 women in the 55+! Amazing! We were in a combined field with the 45+ and 65+, 70+, so there was a big group. I was able to hang with the lead group for the first lap and over the railroad tracks and then the pace picked up, I was hanging on and my left calf starting cramping. It continued to cramp and I started to drop back, further and further away from group. I had to unclip and pedal with my right leg only, it was miserable! The cramping got worse, but I managed to finish, but dropped to 10th place.
Circuit Race – The leaders started off with a bang and we passed the Cat 4 women, who had started two minutes before us, dropping seven of the women. I was able to hang with the leaders for two laps and then fell off, with two other women. We were working together nicely, and then another woman dropped on the climb. It was down to two of us, chasing the leaders. I learned the woman I was working with, had won the very first TBC back in the 80’s! When we turned on to Greasewood on the final lap, I kicked it up and went as hard as I could. I ended up in 5th place.
Overall – I finished in 8th GC, taking 17 minutes off my 2012 GC time!
It was a hard, but fun weekend. After looking back at everything, I saw I hadn’t done enough long, hard training rides.
Public thanks to my honey, Doug, who not only has to prepare his bike, but mine too – I’m so blessed, I just have to get on my bike and ride!
-Liz
Overview:
The senior masters categories all raced together: master 65+(my group), 70+, and 75+ … we were scored separately. In the master 65+ there were nine entries, in the master 70+ five entries and in the master 75+, three entries.
Stage I – time trial:
In preparation for the prologue, I rode the 3.2 mile course about 10 times in the two weeks prior to the race. On Wednesday before the race, my time was 8:45. My best time ever. However, on race day after coming down the ramp and making the first right turn, I was met with the first drops of rain and a strong headwind. It did not let up, but only increased, at some points being a driving rain and probably headwinds of 15 to 20 mph, and gusts even stronger. Terrible conditions to match my terrible time of 10:00. However, conditions were the same for everyone in our group and I came in second, 18 seconds out of first, and 14 seconds ahead of John Conahay who was third.
Stage II – road race:
At the start of this stage, my plan was simply to ensure no one got away and I held my 2nd position within the GC. On the first lap nothing happened, however, on the second lap, Franz Hammer took off and was quickly followed by Roy Quade. Our GC leader, Randall Maddox, and I discussed what level of threat this was to us. My assessment at that time was that it was nothing too serious, since Franz was 77 years old, and not in our group,and I didn’t feel Roy would have enough strength to stay away. However, they built the lead to perhaps 25 to 30 seconds ahead of the peloton. Randall and I decided to pursue them. Although we were gaining, it became apparent without a very hard effort, they would not be caught. At that point, I put my head down and buried myself to catch them prior to Helmet Peak. We were successful in doing that, and as we made the turn, I was in the front. It might be interesting to read Randall’s excellent blog report of this, so I’ve included a link to that here: http://teammaddog83.blogspot.
Stage III – circuit race:
Unlike VOS, when I had my position of second in the GC pretty sewn up at the start of the final stage, today was very different. With Conahay so close, I really wanted to win the bonus time on the sprint lap. Randall and I talked about this and we devised a plan where I would round the corner on Greasewood first and Randall would position himself second. Randall would slow the pace of the peloton as I sprinted ahead. However, I couldn’t muster a sprint for the kilometer. Conahay won the sprint lap and got the three second bonus, Randall got second and I got third. Conahay and I were now only two seconds apart. I needed to win this stage to keep my second place in GC. As we approached the last lap, Randall and I discussed our strategy. Randall was very thankful for the work I had done for him in the road race, protecting his yellow jersey, (and my position in the GC). He was willing to sacrifice himself to preserve my lead. This time, as we turned onto Greasewood, Randall was first and I was second. Randall motored up that first climb and buried himself on the downhill section. I clung to his wheel. As we approached the 200 meter mark, I gave it my all and powered past him for the final sprint. This time, I did have good sprinting legs and won the stage, securing my position of second in the GC six seconds, 13 seconds out of first. During the final sprint, my power peaked at close to 900 watts and averaged almost 700 Watts, for the final 20 seconds. Not bad for this old guy’s legs.
Conclusion:
This was probably my best racing weekend ever and not just because of the finishes of first in the circuit race, second in the time trial and second in the GC. But because of the wise counsel received from BrYan and the teamwork that Randall and I were able to have during this race. Although Randall and I aren’t teammates, we worked extremely well together and developed effective winning strategies.
Looking forward to my remaining “A” races: State crit championship and state time trial championship!
Doug (The Wheelman)
P.S. Just to keep my nickname solid … I went to check my wheels on Thursday night and found that I had a flat on my Enve 60mm that I was going to use in the TT (fortunately this was just a loose valve) AND a flat on my Enve 25 front that I was going to use in the RR and Circuit Race … Fairwheel was able to get me setup fast with a new tubular on this wheel for Saturday’s race! I really am “The Wheelman”!!
-Doug
Saturday’s road race started off with a hard effort. Horn, in crazy but typical Horn fashion, went to the front and drilled it. I would say it was pretty uncomfortable trying to keep pace with the group. The group turned the corner on Duval Mine, over the tracks, and settled down in a grove up the climb. The group rode steady with maybe one have hearted attack. It was difficult to really put any distance in on the climb due to the head wind. The wind will make for weak and half ass efforts because the group will just ride any attackers down. However, the wind played a huge role on the descent. The first time heading down Helmet Peak Road was fast. With a semi cross wind and sometimes a tail wind, this made for some fast riding. Between Helmet Peak and La Canada the first time around the average speed was 29.8 mph. This was just the prelude to what was to take place the second time around. Duval Mine Road had some cross wind, but not as bad in previous years. There were some attacks, but they were quickly shut down. We turned and started the climb. I looked over and Mr. Scott was right next to me. I asked him how he was feeling. I don’t remember the response, but I had a feeling he was fine. Near the top of the climb a little attack went off and formed a break-a-way. I don’t remember if it was 3 or 4 but they worked well together. This seemed to spark the interest of San Tan Racing and they put a few people on the front. I was wondering if the break would make it to the corner of Helmet Peak before we caught them. As the group closed in on the turn, I knew the speed was going to be silly going down Helmet. I moved to second wheel before the corner. This was a very good choice because it became very fast. We came down Helmet Peak at 37.4 mph. If anyone was caught out they were pretty much out of the race. On La Canada, we stayed around 30 mph with people trying to bridge up to the break-a-way. The first attack on La Canada put me over 1,000 watts. I counted 8 times people trying to bridge up to the break-a-way just on La Canada. The wind had picked up at this point and Duval Mine was pretty difficult. There were 3 more attacks with some slight gaps. We were all back together except for the break-a-way by the turn to the climb. Now not being a great climber this is going to sound odd, I was glad to be on the climb. There was a sense of normalcy. At this point, I looked around for Tim and crew and did not see them. Rich Goedel was asking, “What are you looking for?” I asked him, “Where is the rest of my team?” His response was something like, “They didn’t make it.” Oh crap! At this point, I was bound and determine to finish in the front group. San Tan Racing began chasing hard down Mission. They were asking for help and Flagstaff Racing lent a hand. Flagstaff also was setting J Carnes and teammate up for an attack to try to get to the break-a-way. I have seen J do this before with some success. Once we turned on Helmet Peak… away they went. Once again, we went down Helmet Peak pretty fast (37.2 mph) and cut into the break-a-way. Carnes and teammate managed to get to the break-a-way, but they were doomed at this point. We were within about 10 seconds of them when we turned on La Canada. As we caught the break-a-way, I moved to the front of the group to be somewhat of an opportunist. The attacks came and I just surfed from one attack to the other. One thing that puts me into great difficultly is being on the back when attacks like these come. It’s just so much work to stay with the group riding that way. The group turned on Duval Mine and it was a drag race to the finish. People were surging by me. I had to keep riding around people who couldn’t handle the pace at the end. Out of the 35 people who made to the front group on the second lap, a dozen fell off on Duval Mine. I had to sprint with Tim Miller just to finish at the back of the main field. I should have fought harder to maintain my position. However, I am glad to be with the main pack at the end.
-Jeremy
