RATL Recap

Spring has sprung, and the annual RATL series has now come and gone. The Team Spin Masters races represented well throughout the series. Here are race summaries for each week of the series:

Week 1: Cold and wet. I hate 40* and rain for training, probably the only weather I don't like, however that was what we had for this race. We had Tom Humphrey, Derek Wilford, Tom Keller, Jeff Kompa and John Ehrlinger in the field of 23 masters, only 4 of these in the 35-44 age bracket. With some numbers, I figured I could be a little agressive, so I covered moves, and accelerated up the climb a few times to hurt some legs. Tom Humphrey soon joined in (even though he questioned being able to finish) and we marked the front. Tom lead it out for the first prime, and though I tried hard, I could not get over the wheel to win it. A few more attempts, and with the race half way done, Jim Gilmore from Lake Effect rolled off the front. Tom jumped across, and it looks good for our team. The rest of us marked moves, though mostly Lake Effect set a comfortable tempo for everyone. The wet and cold had an effect. With 8 to go, the gap looked comfortable. With 5 to go, it was questionable if they would go the distance, however, it opened back up, and with two to go it was clear the race was for third place. Heading up the climb the last time, Derek lined out the field to (slightly) control the sketchiness. Tom Humphrey took the WIN!!! Keller ended up fourth in the 45+ with Jeff in 7th and Derek and I rolled in near the back of the field.

Week 2: Cold again, but at least it was dry. Derek Wilford, Tom Keller, Jeff Kompa and John Ehrlinger again. 25 in the field, with 9 youngsters this week. I again played the agressive role. Lake Effect was also agressive, and we tried a few moves. It was quickly apparent to me, that I had left my legs at home. The team worked well with Tom, Jeff and Derek covering for me. I tried in the first prime again, and this time Carbon's Tom Frueh left me way off his wheel. I pulled the field over the top, when Derek went clear with Rudy from Lake Effect. Jeff went with Chris Riccardi to bridge across, they made it, though the effort cost Jeff. He came back to the field after a lap or two. Into protect mode, we covered most of the moves until late in the race. A group of three got away without us, then another group of three again without us. I attempted a bridge, was brought back, then Tom got across. The third group was swallowed again before the finish. We ended up with Derek taking third, Jeff in 7th and Tom in 10th.

Week 3: Finally some better weather. Derek, Tom, Jeff, John and Pete Scacheri joined the field of 38, 12 of these in the 35-45 field. The goal was again to be agressive, since we had numbers. Pete and I patrolled the front, but nothing was getting far this week. Derek, Pete and I all tried to get away with varying levels of success. With 6 to go, I got off the front with Lake Effects Glimore hoping for a repeat of week one. I tried to roll that away from the field, but Jim was completely cooked and really couldn't help much. We stayed away for almost a lap, when a small group caught us including Derek and some big guns from the field. I thought that may be the race, but they sat up and we were reabsorbed. I attacked again with two to go, got a gap for a half lap before things came back together again for the final sprint. In the end Tom took 4th, Jeff was 5th, Derek 6th, and I was 10th with Pete taking 10th in the 35+ field.

Week 4: Slight change up in our master's field, Jeff and I were joined by John Bodell and Matt Bockbrader, who had just completed the Cat 4 race. 23 in the 45+ and 15 in the 35+. With a different make up, I figured I would play it a bit more conservatively, though we planned to get onto anything dangerous looking. Lake Effect had some numbers, and Stark brought out a pretty large 35+ representation. So as long as they were both in, we had to cover. Lap 2 Lake Effect sent someone, and he held out for a couple of laps. Then Stark sent one for a lap. We patrolled. Matt was a stud, covering moves, though nothing with numbers got very far. Finally with 8 to go, I figured it was time to start the end game. I attacked hard up the hill, hoping to bring some teams out, instead I was alone. Stark brought it back before we got to the parking lot. Next time up the hill, Frueh and Rudy attacked up the hill, and took a Stark with them. Jeff was ready, and jumped across. And that was the race. Jeff worked the break, and ended up taking third. I patrolled the front, and stuck in there for 7th, with John coming in with the field. I don't know where Matt finished yet, though his work was a huge help.

Overall, we had a very successful Masters campaign, with most of 45+  finishes in the top 10, a podium nearly every week and one win (Congrats Mr. President!). I'm looking forward to more agressive Masters racing over the remainder of the year.

I'm back... Mid-Ohio

Back into the thick of things, I went to race the Mid-Ohio race course on Sunday. My hope was to get some "good sensations" in the legs, and perhaps remember what it feels like to suffer. The mild winter means I have been out quite a bit, so I was optimistic, hoping not to go here.

So Dave, Pete, Scott and I drove together and met Jason, Joe and Aussie for our 7 Spin. The field had 19 including the regulars, well those that did not do Barry-Roubaix the previous day. RGF had four, including Braumberger, Baldesare and Pendalbury. Batke and Weeks from Carbon assorted others.

I felt pretty good. Rolled out reasonable, and when a move went through the corners on the second lap, I was in position to follow. I guess I dug pretty deep and the counters went from the bigger guys... I was found lacking. Off the back by the end of lap two. I chased for two laps, again optimisism of getting back was crushed before the cat 4-5 field caught up to me. I attached to the back end and figured I'd practice riding in a group for the remainder.

After a lap with them, we pulled in Proppe from Lake Effect, and I chatted with him for a lap, mutually deciding to drop off the B field, and rejoin the A group. To ensure that we could hang onto the end as they came by we stopped at the top of the course to wait.

The lead group of 4 came by with Jason shortly after that, then the second group at 30 seconds with Aussie and Joe... and after another minute, the remainder. John and I jumped in, and I reported the situation to Dave... who already knew that and was deciding it was time to chase the second group back since it seemed Aussie was not having a good day and might be able to use some help. Three Spin and smatterings left in this group, the pace picked up immediately.

The good news is I did end up sticking with this group for another three laps before becoming dislodged on the hill and again not able to chase back on. I ended up racing against getting lapped again with two to go, and then pulling back the end of the B field, and getting around them in the last lap.

Not pleased with the result, though I guess it is the first time I've been out seriously since last August. A little bit more conservative racing, and I should have been able to stick it out a bit longer, though it appears I have some work to do to stay with the 123 fields.

The field ended up nearly bringing the second group back, at about 200m by the finish. The team ended up with Jason in third and I think Joe ended up fifth.

Good training though, on a fun course. Now I just need to do some work to REALLY get back.

Playing with the new blogger interface, I figure it's a good time to repost a photo of the new ride. With the snow we've been getting. I've been spending some quality time with the X-Fire... on the rollers. I may have to find some trails behind the house to see how this handles off road, even if that means a snowy off-road.

Lakewood Criterium - Master's and the free lap rule.

The Lakewood Criterium was on Saturday 7/30. A really nice course, closed to traffic. I had it just over a mile long. Events running from 1:00 until 7:00 had the area in party mode. The course is mostly flat, with a minor hill leading to the start/finish straight on Detroit. There is a head wind leading to and on Sloane. Aside from that, the races were made hard by the racers themselves.

Being on the sponsor team I did some work before lining up in the Master's field with Zak. Not a lot to tell about, being a 45 minute race, so I'll use this post and the story to describe a bit on the Free Lap Rule... as I have come to understand it.

So... this is the first time I have raced a crit with a free lap rule. The idea is that the course is so short, and bad things happen, so a rider can recover from a flat, mechanical or crash, taking one lap out and rejoin the field without penalty. The eloquent Charles Howe has a nice section on the free lap discretion. It's all up to the officials.

And the race: At the whistle, John Sell (Cleveland Clinic/RGF) goes hard... like a cyclocross race start. For the first five laps, we average about 26. During the fifth lap, a group of three gets away. Chris Riccardi from Lake Effect, Rick Parr from StarkVelo, and my team mate Zak from Team Spin. Then Lake Effect takes the front with a Stark and myself sitting just behind to let the gap grow. John Sell jumps across on Sloan and in 15 minutes the winning break is gone.

A few guys try to bring the break back, but it's not happening with the numbers protecting team mates up the road. There are still 30minutes to go though... so the pace drops to about 24.5 while the break is established.

Now for the free lap rule. Somewhere near lap 10, the field (now down to about 10-15) comes through the start/finish and John Sell rejoins. He flatted out of the break, grabbed a wheel from the wheel pit and rejoined the race. He was allowed to rejoin the break, but I guess didn't make the timing. So the official had him rejoin the field.

Now I'm thinking there is a break of three, and John will ride with the field. So I continually wait for him  or his team mate to either attack the field... and my plan is to follow that move, or (unlikely) for them to pull the break back. Neither happens. We continue along, and at some point, I realize John is not with us anymore. K, I still think there is a break of three up the road.

Meanwhile, Nate and Joe from Lake Effect are on the front about ALL the time. OK by me, since it's work I don't have to do. I sit in the top 5 or so, and wait. We're going slower and guys that were dropped keep coming back to the field.

Timing get a little weird here, but I think with 6 to go, Nate has a mechanical of some sort at the turn onto Sloane. We go through the start/finish and they announce 5 to go... and the end of the free lap rule.

At this point, I figure the break is long gone, so we can start racing bikes again. I hoped with RGF or Lake Effect would start the fun, but they didn't. So, I attack on Sloane and get a gap. It takes about a lap for Joe from Lake Effect to bridge up, and I think we have a chance to make up the next two spots. With three to go we lap Nate. Though it's a bit confusing. First, we caught him after the first turn... so he wasn't entering the course at the "right" spot for the free lap. So when he came up on me, I asked him to work... thinking it was now two against one in the second group. I got some complaints, and some talk from Joe as well. Either way, with the confusion and chase effort we were brought back by the remaining field with two to go.

I had a lap or so of "recovery", and tried another attack on Sloane on the last lap. Lead the field into the final straight, got passed by a couple and sat up figuring all the paying spots were taken... we had someone in the top three... and I might jump into another race. Lots of thoughts to have during the final 500m.

So, what did happen on the free lap?

John Sell dropped off the main field and rejoined the break, effectively taking a free two laps. He handled everything well, probably drove the break more and won the sprint but was relegated to fourth for the extra lap.

Nate's magnet slipped into his spokes. He stopped on the spot and fixed it, and did a rolling free lap. He did not stop at the wheel pit to request a free lap. Which I now know is required. He would not have been given one by the rules anyway, so he was a lap down. He could work for the team, but is not allowed to contest sprints or primes, if I understand this all now.

I don't know if Nate's handling of the rule would have made a difference on my race. I don't really know how close the field was, or if we were getting anywhere. It didn't feel like Joe and I were working all that well together, so I'm guess the result would have been the same. I'm using it to learn about what to do if I need to use the rule.

Zak ended up third after John's relegation. So a good result for the team. For the data nerds (like me), my Master's race ended up at 21 miles in 50 minutes for an average of 25.2mph. I ended up 11th, which is a bit frustrating only because I sat up. The payout was 8 deep. Second lesson... sprint for placing, and think later.