May 14, 2008
Opus 5
We had a bigger group this evening than last week, due to the fact that the rain held off and the roads were dry. The temps were a bit cool at 53 F, but it made for a fast race. There were three MN Gopher racers out tonight who kept things exciting. Every time the group started to slow, one of them would go off the front. There was also a guy from Synergy that was strong and two Silver guys (Ben and Wally?) that kept the race exciting too. Cobra was out in force tonight, but our 4's race is pretty lean from a Loon perspective.
My goal was to take it easier through the first couple of sprints and save my energy for the last two sprints. Well I took it easier in the first two sprints, but failed to take it easy enough. As the first sprint ramped up, I was near the front and found myself in a position to take 3rd without too much effort. In the second sprint, I found myself in a similar position. I saw Cobra just ahead of me and he was starting to fade a bit. I got on his wheel and just started yelling at him to go, we did a 2-3 across the line, with Ben taking first I believe. On the 3rd sprint I was following wheels and found myself sitting fourth. As my lead out guy started to go, I realized that if I wanted to have enough left in the tank for the final sprint, I should back off, which is what I did. I then found myself doing some chasing in the last two laps which softened the legs.
Going into the final sprint, I was sitting 3rd behind the Synergy guy (1st position) and one other rider. The Synergy was nervous and started to slow a bit and look back. Instead of going, I was nervous and also was waiting for someone to jump. In the mean time, Cobra came up the outside like a bullet and easily took the sprint. I faded to 7th or so across the line. With 2 points to my name for the night I came in 6th on the race. Fun racing, my tactics still have a ways to go, but I am happy that I have scored points in 4 of the 5 races and I am psyched for Cobra and his 2nd place tonight.
Posted by kermisch at 7:32 AM
May 6, 2008
Opus 4
As I was heading out from work to the race it was raining cats and dogs. I assumed the field for the 4's would be much smaller than normal, but when I got there the registration lot was pretty empty. The rain was coming down hard and I was actually really excited for the race. Cobra was the only Loon-mate to show for the 4's, but the rest of the Loon crew who do all the hard work running the race and the officials were there so race on! As Cobra and I rolled up to the start, there were only 4 other guys on the line. Our race was cut from 12 laps to 9 which was fine with everyone as the field was small and the rain was still coming down. From the gun a Carleton College guy took off of the front. The pack stuck together and as we entered the first sprint lap we caught Mr. College and I was in second position. I went first from the bottom of hill and got out kicked at the line and took my proverbial second in the first sprint. The pace slowed quiet a bit for the next two laps which was good for me so I could recover. As we entered into the second sprint no one in the group wanted to take to the front so we all pretty much came to a stand still at the bottom of the hill. Soooo..... I went first again. This time I got enough of a jump to hold onto first (my first sprint win!). It was a long sprint for me and I was toast after it. A Silver Cycling guy took a flyer off the front and two others went to chase and I tried to go, but really struggled. I hung for a bit, but once the hill came around again I pretty much lost contact. I rolled over the finish totally spent but did take 3rd in the race. Yeah so, there were only 6 guys, but 3rd is 3rd. I did learn that no matter what when I put in a strong sprint effort I need time to recover. if I can recover I can sprint all out again. When I can't recover I die quickly. I think I might switch up my tactics next week and try something new.
Posted by kermisch at 9:56 PM
Marty RR - Windy, Windy, Windy... Hard!
O.K. the Marty RR was windy and hard. The group got off to a slow start as Jens and another guy went up the road from the gun. I was sitting back in the pack, just trying to warm-up and get my legs spinning. The wind was a major factor as the whole group was fighting for wheels. As we turned toward the penultimate climb on the course I was keeping pace with the front group. About 1/2 up the hill I found myself in the gutter and pedaling in grass. I had to wait until just about everyone passed me to safely get back on the road. By that time the front group was off. I hooked up with a few Loons for a while and it looked like we were going to chase back on, but after the decent as we came onto the back of the course, I looked around and I was by myself (not smart). So I put my head down and kept pedaling. I came upon a lone rider, who simply did not have any legs to help. I got within a few hundred yards of the group and was starting to lose steam so I sat up and waited for the broader chase group to catch me. As I was caught, I immediately started working in the front of the group. When we made the right hand turn into the wind, about 4 of us (with 3 Loons) pedaled hard and fast and found ourselves with a small gap. We kept pushing forward, but one by one we dropped off. It was left to Jens and I for a short while, and I simply could not keep pace. I told Jens I was dead and I sat up again and waited for the group to catch me.
The chase group had about 8 riders and in that group where Cobra and Skibby. It was good to see some Loons. i entered into the rotation and was completely on the Rivet. Over the course of the next lap as we fought the wind the group worked well together. I started to recover and felt good going over the hill the second time. It looked like we were within a 1/2 KM to the main group and maybe if we had better organization over the hill we would have caught them, but it was not to be. As we entered the 3rd lap we kept about the same gap to the main group as the prior lap, but as we hit the hill the third time, the main group accelerated away from us. The final lap I was starting to cramp pretty bad. My back and hamstrings were really starting to hurt. I knew that there was one guy who still looked strong who I expected to take the sprint for our group. As we went up the hill the final time that guy and another guy broke off. Cobra helped me chase back on and we were on the final stretch. Cobra and another guy joined up with us. As we neared the finish line, the one guy I thought would take the sprint went, Cobra was next and I chased cross-eyed to grab Cobra's wheel. Cobra sat up just before the finish and nodded me through for 23rd. It was nice that Cobra let me lead across the line, though we all deserved a great finish. Thanks to Cobra and Skibby for keeping me motivated in a hard race. I think Marty was one of the hardest races I have ever done. The wind took its toll hard. Racing in the 35+ 3/4 group was faster than I had experienced in the past and the teams more organized. The Loons have been bantering back and forth on what our strategy was for the race. We definitely have some room for improvement, but it was still a fun race.
Posted by kermisch at 9:44 PM