October 24th, 2004
So here we are, my target series is here... and I'm still trying to figure out how to train. I've done a couple of Wednesday night practice races at Edgewater. The first one was great, the second one was terrible. OK, not really terrible, just not as good as the first... The down side was the 2nd race was 4 days before the series started. So my confidence was a little bruised. OK, I'm not shooting to win the training races, my goal is to pick up at least one race win, and get the series win.
I ended up taking most the week off the bike. I only road the Wednesday race and did an easy Saturday morning. I felt like trash on Saturday also. On the bike, off the bike... it didn't matter. I did a few intervals, and mostly took it easy for the day. A short nap helped... and a nice sleep in on Sunday morning... there are advantages to 12:00 start times.
The first race was in Vermilion, OH. Yes, way west. So I loaded everything up on Saturday. On Sunday morning, I threw the bike on the back and was on my way at 9:30. I arrived at about 10:40 with the gas stop. Signed in and scoped out the course.
The Course
Sherod Park is right on the lake front. They laid out the course with about 8 switchbacks. Some of them went around trees, but most of them just did a 180 degree turn. Pretty wild and twisty.
We started near the road on the grass and did a short straight uphill start to the finish line and the main course. This was in an attempt to spread things out a little before things got tight... it almost worked. A couple of sweeping turns and we're into the trees. Three sections about 20 yards long are connected by 180 turns around 2 trees... and under some pretty low branches. Then a long loop around the front of the park. The course was probably half made up of wood chip trails. It's kind of like sand only bigger chunks, it still sucks a bit out of your acceleration, but doesn't ruin your gear quite as fast... and it makes it tough to hold the wheels down on the switchbacks.
Down past the pavilion to the start location and the first true switchback, just to add a bit to the trail. After the turn, accelerate up a 10 ft grass rise to the road and hit a sweeping right turn to the next field loop. 180 around a tree, up the hill, and then down to the wooden bridge crossing. 3 foot wide bridge, you can only do single file. Oh and no hay bails... in case you were wondering.
A quick left, another switchback onto the wood chip trail and a ridable climb. If you stayed on the chips, and stood you could make it but the rear wheel wanted to come loose. I tended to stay on the grass on the right side for traction.
At the top, we loop through the sculpture (very cool), and around and back down the hill. Through the only marginally muddy section and we looped around the third field. A short parking lot stretch led to the next descent. This one had us go through a sand pit... well, you could go through, but I don't think anyone did. There was another switchback right after the it, so it was best to avoid the sand to the right to setup for the left hand turn. It was tight considering it was at the bottom of a hill.
Climb the hill, a sweeping 180 and head downhill to the first barriers... at beach level. 2 barriers, then 10 yards to a 3 foot diameter log. Over the log and claw your way up a 6 foot climb on a set of mud steps. Then hit the off camber remount... downhill right, so the bike slides away as you hop on... 30 yards, of off camber, then a left turn to the run up. Not huge, but the turn did the damage. Some could ride it, but it was a grind. I shouldered and ran it.
Next we squeeze through a couple of tight turns (through an opening in an 8ft fence) to get to the baseball field loop. Around the fields, and head back in. Before we get to the finish, we do another set of twisty wood chip paths, and the second barrier set. This one is right before a right hander onto another wooden bridge. To make it more interesting, the bridge leads to the uphill finish.
The Pre-Race
A very interesting course. Lots of grass, lots of wood chips. 1.5 miles almost exactly... and the barriers are placed in wild locations. The first set requires you run the short beach, log and hill climb before remounting. Some guys ran the second set, bridge and hill to the finish. I decided to remount on the bridge and ride the finish hill.
I did my pre-rides at 60psi. I pumped up before the Wednesday Edgewater race to try to avoid pinch flats. That worked fine, but I wasn't sure how the sand and wood chips would effect my ride. So after the pre-ride I reduced back down to 45psi. Number one mistake of cross riders is running to much pressure, right? The course had almost no mud, so I wasn't sure what to do... last year, everything was muddy.
There were lots of people I knew there. Guys from last year, guys from Edgewater, and guys I'd met throughout the year. The first race of the year, and we have to see where everyone is fitness-wise.
The Race
19 on the line for the start of the B race. I managed to get a front line position, and try to figure out what gear to use to get a good start. The gun and away we go...
Evidently, I picked to big of a gear, and I'm 6th over the hill and onto the course. Brett sets the pace on his single speed, and we all follow along. Through the first lap, a few gaps open in front of me, but nothing huge. I gain a bit through the barriers and run ups. Things are pretty stable through the first lap... with about half the field gapped behind.
Starting the second lap, I'm around 5th when Ryan comes around me. So I've got Ryan and Brad from Spin, Brett Davis, John Reade from Honey-Stinger, and a Summit Freewheeler in front of me. Near the middle of the second, I passed Brett. I guess the switchbacks really sap the momentum advantage of the single-speed. I also pick up the Summit guy going through the barriers and run up. Fourth... not what I want, but we've got some time to get up there. Having Brett behind me is already a good sign.
3 guys ahead and I've beaten all three of these guys. Granted, I've only beaten Brad once, and that was mostly by his misjudgment of what lap we were on. Brad and Ryan are up front, then John and I. I use the rest of the lap to close the gap to John... maintaining the distance to Brad and Ryan. I'm hoping to recruit John's help to bring back the two Spin riders. As I catch John, I asked how he's feeling, and he can't answer me. Turns out he's having an asthma attack... so he's backing it off to recover. I'm in third with with Ryan and Brad up ahead.
Start the 3rd lap... and Ryan and Brad are looking pretty good. I'm actually hoping they're pushing it too hard... I'm comfortable (as you define comfortable in a cross race!), and I'm hoping I'm recovering for the final laps... oh yeah, how long have we been out here??? 27 minutes. So we're about half way there. Focus on maintaining the gap... don't let it open, but don't blowup. Heading into the second barrier section, and the Summit guy is back! I bobble the bridge remount, and he's around me as I swear and regain the course. Up and over and I'm on his wheel.
Through the trees, and we're bringing back Brad. Ryan's gone away, but it looks like Brad is cooked. On the wood chips, and we catch him... then Summit attacks him before we get to the switchback. I should have jumped there also and stayed with him... instead I end up fighting for position through the switchbacks and over the bridge... it takes the big climb to finally get him behind me for good.
Now I'm third again. Brad is fading, but Summit has opened a gap... not a huge gap but it's big enough. Ryan is looking really strong... can he hold it? I keep watching ahead, and behind. I'm pretty comfortable that I won't get caught from behind... now what can I do about moving up the podium?
33 minutes through lap 4. Nothing is closing. I'm still pretty smooth through most of the sections. I bobble the shifting on a few of the descent/climb transitions, especially the sand pit. I really should start picking up my pace.
I can still see Ryan ahead... and we've got to be getting to the bell! Pick it up... everyone will be cranking for the last lap. So you have to chase hard! But the gap is not coming down! Around the baseball fields I even put it in the 48 to try to get some more speed. Watch the path to get the best line. I am not closing. As I come around the last switchbacks, the Summit guy is through the last barriers... I'm third. OK, no mistakes... just bring it home. Through the barriers, and I ran it up the finish hill.
Finish
49:22 for third place. It's a start. Ryan came in just over a minute in front of me. Summit was about 30 seconds up. I ended up taking home some bar tape, which about covers my expenses... and it's the right color also, black! All the better.
ResultsMy average heart rate for the race was about 169... that's averaging 93% of my max for almost 50 minutes! Maybe I should figure out how to time trial! Nothing strange in the data either. Max was 177, high average lap was 171, low was 168. I was running about 8 minutes a lap. The last lap was the fastest at about 7:53, but I didn't hit the button at the end of the 2nd and 3rd... and the 1st was also a bit off.
(click for full size)
Other things to tinker with are tire pressure, and my race tactics. I felt like my rear tire was flat on the wood chips. I think I should have left that alone after the preride... or not been so aggressive and run something closer to 50-55psi. I also messed up the start with my gear change before the gun, I should have followed Summit's attack around Brad from Spin, and I should have started pushing harder on the second to last lap. It's like I'm learning to race cross all over again.
I'm hoping that I raced poorly because of how I was feeling this week. It may have been the week off the bike. Time to get back on the training... I'm hoping to improve over the next 5 weeks. Ryan has 5 points on me... We'll see how the rest of the races go. I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself to do well at these, I may do better if I just relax and have some fun. I'm content with my third place, but I'd like to do better for the rest of the series.
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