Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday Report
It's midnight Saturday night back at the hotel. I've been packing because the great adventure is coming to an end soon. I need to check out first thing tomorrow because some of the NSC group races tomorrow and the session opens at 9 again. It's the last day of the 2009 National Track Masters Championships.
I probably don't have enough time tonight to tell the whole story but it has been quite successful for at least 3 of the NSC racers.
The schedule was Flying 200's and Match sprints all morning long and the more match sprints and 3 points races in the evening.
James and Ted were scheduled for the sprints and I was schedule for a 30 lap points race with sprints every 6 laps this evening between the medal rounds for the matched sprints.
I got up this morning early enough to get breakfast and make it to the track by 9 to be around for Ted's and James' races.
I felt a bit off, tired I guess and didn't really feel like eating but races tonight so eat and drink as much as possible to stay fueled.
The morning session went well.
James managed to make it to the semi finals for the sprints, Ted lost his first two rounds but won the 4 up sprint to take 5th overall. Qualifying times were very fast, 3 racers below 11 seconds at about 10.9 or slightly less. Ted did a great job of taking control of the 4 up and doing about a lap or more off the front.
I left about 11 and decided to try and eat something light and then head back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the evening effort.
I have been uneasy the whole day, not knowing how the race would play out. Would I be competitive, will I make 30 laps, how fast will it be, how sketchy, would I be able to get more than the 1 point that only Linda has been able to score in the points races so far this week.
I kept telling my self that these guys are my equals, some slightly faster, some slower but as far as I knew none who have to repeatedly race against a lot younger group of races. I was hoping that the pain I go through in Thursday Night Lights will make me strong for this race.
Here's the end result for me;
I got to the track at 4 and went through coach Chris' warm up schedule, finished with about 2 minutes to spare before the races started.
Lots of matched sprints first and then a call for my points race. 30 laps, sprints every 6, so bell at 25, 19, 13, 7 and 1. We get about a lap and a half of open warm up time and then roll to the rail for the start. I am about 10th in line. At the rail, Paul Buckles comes up to me and says hi and good luck, nice of him to be there with some of his friends.
The starter isn't real assertive about the roll off command so I start to roll off, then stop and then get passed so off I go. We bunch up and I am high on the track just off the front slightly behind and to the right of I guy I think will be fast. We pick up some speed but not much and roll around a few laps.
We make a few rounds and the pace quickens. The guy I think will be fast is taking off. Do I go with it or not? I'm off and we speed around the back, through 3 and 4 and come to the line and I'm 4th I think. Alright, tied Linda with 1 point.
The pack slows a lot and bunches up. I get up high and hide in the pack as much as I can being on the top edge. I actually start to feel a bit in control of this mess.
We roll around and duplicate the action, speeding up for the next sprint. This time I wait a bit longer and hit the gas and get 3rd I think. Good for more points. Things slow again. Certainly not the same as happens at Blaine.
Going through 1 again, I am almost at the rail, one lane away, and about mid pack as the pack slows quite a bit. Another racer comes up along the right side of me and is headed for an open spot that doesn't exist, not good. His front wheel wobbles, I hear some yells and a bike collapses in front of me. Been there, done that! I don't think, just flick slightly to the right as a hole opens before me and I hear a lot of crashing and banging of a lot of expensive carbon parts.
WOW, that was close. Only the second crash of the week and it happened right in front of me.
The race gets neutralized as the carnage is assessed. I am right behind the fast guy again who is leading a slower than good pace. A coach from below yells at us to pick up the pace, fast guy ignores it so I go to the front and make a bit more speed to keep the back guys from falling off.
About 5 or 6 laps later we get the gun with 17 to go. One of the crashers is back in, the rest are out.
The trend is the same, the bell and I hang out behind a big guy until and back straight and then pour it on, passing a few and get more points. This is getting to be fun. Chris, you are right, just a bunch of matched sprints but we don't get to come to the infield in between.
After on sprint I feel tired and drop back more than normal but still stay in a draft.
The NSC crew is great. They seem to be positioned all around the track and as I go from corner to corner I hear a different voice yelling good things to me. I get back to the efforts.
I am finally watching the pack, keeping track of when the bell laps will happen and planning when to ease up and when to pick up the pace not based on riders but based on what I need to do to get points. Now that is a new and wonderful experience.
We are closing in on the end of the race. In a lapse, I get too low and get boxed in a bit. I fight my way out on the back stretch and take off pacing 4 to 5 riders though 3 and 4 accelerating to the next guy and closing in on the finish in what feels faster than anyone ahead of me. I am over the line 4th for another point.
My lungs are burning but I feel very excited.
My total is 7 points which gets me 4th over all. That means I am on the podium and get a medal!!!
I am kind of in disbelief.
Feel nervous and crappy all day long and then escape a crash and get one of my best ever result, certainly best in the U.S.
The rest of the night is a blur. Getting on the podium, getting a medal, pictures and enjoying the results.
We pack up, head to a late dinner with Dan, Linda, Dave and Skibby and then, oh yeah back here packing and watching movies.
All right, a few pictures and then I am about done for the night. Tomorrow will come early.
I probably don't have enough time tonight to tell the whole story but it has been quite successful for at least 3 of the NSC racers.
The schedule was Flying 200's and Match sprints all morning long and the more match sprints and 3 points races in the evening.
James and Ted were scheduled for the sprints and I was schedule for a 30 lap points race with sprints every 6 laps this evening between the medal rounds for the matched sprints.
I got up this morning early enough to get breakfast and make it to the track by 9 to be around for Ted's and James' races.
I felt a bit off, tired I guess and didn't really feel like eating but races tonight so eat and drink as much as possible to stay fueled.
The morning session went well.
James managed to make it to the semi finals for the sprints, Ted lost his first two rounds but won the 4 up sprint to take 5th overall. Qualifying times were very fast, 3 racers below 11 seconds at about 10.9 or slightly less. Ted did a great job of taking control of the 4 up and doing about a lap or more off the front.
I left about 11 and decided to try and eat something light and then head back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the evening effort.
I have been uneasy the whole day, not knowing how the race would play out. Would I be competitive, will I make 30 laps, how fast will it be, how sketchy, would I be able to get more than the 1 point that only Linda has been able to score in the points races so far this week.
I kept telling my self that these guys are my equals, some slightly faster, some slower but as far as I knew none who have to repeatedly race against a lot younger group of races. I was hoping that the pain I go through in Thursday Night Lights will make me strong for this race.
Here's the end result for me;
I got to the track at 4 and went through coach Chris' warm up schedule, finished with about 2 minutes to spare before the races started.
Lots of matched sprints first and then a call for my points race. 30 laps, sprints every 6, so bell at 25, 19, 13, 7 and 1. We get about a lap and a half of open warm up time and then roll to the rail for the start. I am about 10th in line. At the rail, Paul Buckles comes up to me and says hi and good luck, nice of him to be there with some of his friends.
The starter isn't real assertive about the roll off command so I start to roll off, then stop and then get passed so off I go. We bunch up and I am high on the track just off the front slightly behind and to the right of I guy I think will be fast. We pick up some speed but not much and roll around a few laps.
We make a few rounds and the pace quickens. The guy I think will be fast is taking off. Do I go with it or not? I'm off and we speed around the back, through 3 and 4 and come to the line and I'm 4th I think. Alright, tied Linda with 1 point.
The pack slows a lot and bunches up. I get up high and hide in the pack as much as I can being on the top edge. I actually start to feel a bit in control of this mess.
We roll around and duplicate the action, speeding up for the next sprint. This time I wait a bit longer and hit the gas and get 3rd I think. Good for more points. Things slow again. Certainly not the same as happens at Blaine.
Going through 1 again, I am almost at the rail, one lane away, and about mid pack as the pack slows quite a bit. Another racer comes up along the right side of me and is headed for an open spot that doesn't exist, not good. His front wheel wobbles, I hear some yells and a bike collapses in front of me. Been there, done that! I don't think, just flick slightly to the right as a hole opens before me and I hear a lot of crashing and banging of a lot of expensive carbon parts.
WOW, that was close. Only the second crash of the week and it happened right in front of me.
The race gets neutralized as the carnage is assessed. I am right behind the fast guy again who is leading a slower than good pace. A coach from below yells at us to pick up the pace, fast guy ignores it so I go to the front and make a bit more speed to keep the back guys from falling off.
About 5 or 6 laps later we get the gun with 17 to go. One of the crashers is back in, the rest are out.
The trend is the same, the bell and I hang out behind a big guy until and back straight and then pour it on, passing a few and get more points. This is getting to be fun. Chris, you are right, just a bunch of matched sprints but we don't get to come to the infield in between.
After on sprint I feel tired and drop back more than normal but still stay in a draft.
The NSC crew is great. They seem to be positioned all around the track and as I go from corner to corner I hear a different voice yelling good things to me. I get back to the efforts.
I am finally watching the pack, keeping track of when the bell laps will happen and planning when to ease up and when to pick up the pace not based on riders but based on what I need to do to get points. Now that is a new and wonderful experience.
We are closing in on the end of the race. In a lapse, I get too low and get boxed in a bit. I fight my way out on the back stretch and take off pacing 4 to 5 riders though 3 and 4 accelerating to the next guy and closing in on the finish in what feels faster than anyone ahead of me. I am over the line 4th for another point.
My lungs are burning but I feel very excited.
My total is 7 points which gets me 4th over all. That means I am on the podium and get a medal!!!
I am kind of in disbelief.
Feel nervous and crappy all day long and then escape a crash and get one of my best ever result, certainly best in the U.S.
The rest of the night is a blur. Getting on the podium, getting a medal, pictures and enjoying the results.
We pack up, head to a late dinner with Dan, Linda, Dave and Skibby and then, oh yeah back here packing and watching movies.
All right, a few pictures and then I am about done for the night. Tomorrow will come early.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday Report
It's been a very long day. Up at 5:30, ate some breakfast and loaded up the car to get to the track so I would not have a repeat of Tuesday morning when I basically got NO warm up time on the track.
The schedule seems to morphing a bit every day, not by much but enough to keep you wondering what really will happen next.
The track was scheduled to start races at 9:30, let's try 9:00 instead.
I was the second person to arrive at the track behind another NSC racer, Greg McCrea. We both had to sit around for about a half hour before the gates were unlocked at 7.
I unloaded and kitted up and started to run through my warm up progression as coach Chris suggested. Progressive warm up laps, about 20+ minutes. One sub max 200 effort, gear switch, one max 200 effort or rather a start and then back off for traffic ahead. I slowed a bit and let some gaps form and then did a warm up gear max effort which felt good, 958 watts and 54.6 kph. It felt smooth and bit less then max due to all the traffic. Good timing, I got my race gear 808 rear wheel on and there was 5 minutes until racing starts. On the rollers for some easy spin.
Lots of good moral support from Dave Grey and James Tainter along the way.
My earlier efforts confirmed that my line from turn 2 to 3 was looking and feeling fast.
Perfect weather, hardly any wind, sunny and warm but with a hint of morning coolness.
Off comes the leg and arm warmers and wind vest and before I know it I am in the staging lane.
Like the Blaine track, we get pushed out on the back straight but only get one lap before the bell instead of two. My concentration was at it's max, I think I have played this scene in my head at least 60 to 70 times in the last month.
I'm on the bike at the edge of the track, sitting up and breathing, then in the drops, a big push and I am off. Straight up to the rail, easy now through 3 and 4, back to the rail on the home straight, easy through 1 and 2, to the rail on the back, mid way between the rail and blue line through 3 and 4, rail on the home straight and gathering speed, rail in 1, yellow mid turn line and I am out of the saddle and there is a voice in my head yelling harder, harder. I am out of 2 and focused on the yellow line the crosses the red and black line at about 180 meters. I am back in the saddle right before that yellow line aimed at the 200 meter mark, as I spot it my eyes shoot to the end of corner 4 and the Teschner dips and automatically rounds 4. That voice yells harder, faster, harder, scoop and spin as I feel like I keep the speed up to the max. Bike throw and it's over, up high in 1 and 2 and decelerate down to the blue band. During the decel I hear the announcer call the time but I only hear a 9. Damn, what's the rest! I get into the infield and then here from someone, somewhere 12.9! I feel a little shiver. My best at Blaine so far has been 13.68. The rest of the 13 heats continue and I don't think I am really aware of them. I call coach Chris and give him the news. PR for me at Masters Nationals....
Chris warns me to not get too excited because that is just the qualifier for the match sprints to come, stay focused.
I finally find the time sheets and I qualified 7Th. Top 8 come back for best of three match sprints.
9-12 do a 4 up round to determine their placing. I am guaranteed at least 8Th.
Match Sprints;
I am matched with the second fastest in our group, a guy about 5'5' with thighs bigger then the two of mine put together and a second faster 200 time.
I spend some roller time and then on deck. He draws a chip with #2 on it. I guess I'm leading this round. We get a push off and he is above and behind me on my right hip. You can ride rally slow on these corners and I was a bit freaked by how slow but now I am more concerned about keeping my eye on him. We get two laps, one slower and then the bell lap and the race is on. He is still on my hip around 3 and 4, main straight, 1 and 2. Out of two he slows and I miss it. Down and behind me to the lane. I try to respond but too late so I tuck into his draft a bit higher to try for some bank effect out of 3 and 4. I come around him in 4 and we sprint to the finish with him ahead by about half a bike. He's not that much faster.
More roller time and then we are ready to do it again. This time I get position 2. I stay up and behind, try some weak fake efforts with no effect. We are in 3 and I am accelerating over the top of him, 4, I am ahead and I here Tainter or someone yell GOOOO. Out of the saddle and accel. I get a jump and go over the top but not full on, there is more than a lap to go. I am riding at the top edge of the red line through 1, 2, back side, wiggling around some to try and make it harder to come around. Into 4 the track pushes me up and out of the lane for 10-15 meters, not good. He still hasn't come around. We sprint to the finish and he gets me by less that a wheel. Crap!
He races tonight, I don't.
I get a warning for coming out of the lane, I really didn't mean it judge, ya sure.
More rollers because I still need to do a 4 up sprint to determine 5Th through 8Th.
This should be interesting, first time for everything I guess.
James asks if I need a holder and I say yeah. Right before the race he sits me down and says stay out of 4Th place. I get it. I draw position 3.
The race starts, position 1 and 2 drop down and eschelon back to me, above and behind. I am trying to watch them as well as keep aware of the 4 guy behind me as we head to 3. As we go through 3, position one moves up and squeezes 2 towards me. We compress but I don't move up any. Where they gonna go? Guy 4 is still not in the action. Maybe waiting for the 3 of us to self destruct. Guy 1 starts to wind it up and takes off out of two and gets a jump on all of us. I get gapped, no panic, I can do this. I close the gap staying a bit above for some slight draft. Here comes turn 3, 4. I pull out higher and hammer for the finish. We cross the line with his wheel 6-10 inches ahead of me.
Medals pay out from 1-5. I am 6Th. All in all, I am excited to have 6Th. Would have been more exciting to have a medal but, next year.
The schedule seems to morphing a bit every day, not by much but enough to keep you wondering what really will happen next.
The track was scheduled to start races at 9:30, let's try 9:00 instead.
I was the second person to arrive at the track behind another NSC racer, Greg McCrea. We both had to sit around for about a half hour before the gates were unlocked at 7.
I unloaded and kitted up and started to run through my warm up progression as coach Chris suggested. Progressive warm up laps, about 20+ minutes. One sub max 200 effort, gear switch, one max 200 effort or rather a start and then back off for traffic ahead. I slowed a bit and let some gaps form and then did a warm up gear max effort which felt good, 958 watts and 54.6 kph. It felt smooth and bit less then max due to all the traffic. Good timing, I got my race gear 808 rear wheel on and there was 5 minutes until racing starts. On the rollers for some easy spin.
Lots of good moral support from Dave Grey and James Tainter along the way.
My earlier efforts confirmed that my line from turn 2 to 3 was looking and feeling fast.
Perfect weather, hardly any wind, sunny and warm but with a hint of morning coolness.
Off comes the leg and arm warmers and wind vest and before I know it I am in the staging lane.
Like the Blaine track, we get pushed out on the back straight but only get one lap before the bell instead of two. My concentration was at it's max, I think I have played this scene in my head at least 60 to 70 times in the last month.
I'm on the bike at the edge of the track, sitting up and breathing, then in the drops, a big push and I am off. Straight up to the rail, easy now through 3 and 4, back to the rail on the home straight, easy through 1 and 2, to the rail on the back, mid way between the rail and blue line through 3 and 4, rail on the home straight and gathering speed, rail in 1, yellow mid turn line and I am out of the saddle and there is a voice in my head yelling harder, harder. I am out of 2 and focused on the yellow line the crosses the red and black line at about 180 meters. I am back in the saddle right before that yellow line aimed at the 200 meter mark, as I spot it my eyes shoot to the end of corner 4 and the Teschner dips and automatically rounds 4. That voice yells harder, faster, harder, scoop and spin as I feel like I keep the speed up to the max. Bike throw and it's over, up high in 1 and 2 and decelerate down to the blue band. During the decel I hear the announcer call the time but I only hear a 9. Damn, what's the rest! I get into the infield and then here from someone, somewhere 12.9! I feel a little shiver. My best at Blaine so far has been 13.68. The rest of the 13 heats continue and I don't think I am really aware of them. I call coach Chris and give him the news. PR for me at Masters Nationals....
Chris warns me to not get too excited because that is just the qualifier for the match sprints to come, stay focused.
I finally find the time sheets and I qualified 7Th. Top 8 come back for best of three match sprints.
9-12 do a 4 up round to determine their placing. I am guaranteed at least 8Th.
Match Sprints;
I am matched with the second fastest in our group, a guy about 5'5' with thighs bigger then the two of mine put together and a second faster 200 time.
I spend some roller time and then on deck. He draws a chip with #2 on it. I guess I'm leading this round. We get a push off and he is above and behind me on my right hip. You can ride rally slow on these corners and I was a bit freaked by how slow but now I am more concerned about keeping my eye on him. We get two laps, one slower and then the bell lap and the race is on. He is still on my hip around 3 and 4, main straight, 1 and 2. Out of two he slows and I miss it. Down and behind me to the lane. I try to respond but too late so I tuck into his draft a bit higher to try for some bank effect out of 3 and 4. I come around him in 4 and we sprint to the finish with him ahead by about half a bike. He's not that much faster.
More roller time and then we are ready to do it again. This time I get position 2. I stay up and behind, try some weak fake efforts with no effect. We are in 3 and I am accelerating over the top of him, 4, I am ahead and I here Tainter or someone yell GOOOO. Out of the saddle and accel. I get a jump and go over the top but not full on, there is more than a lap to go. I am riding at the top edge of the red line through 1, 2, back side, wiggling around some to try and make it harder to come around. Into 4 the track pushes me up and out of the lane for 10-15 meters, not good. He still hasn't come around. We sprint to the finish and he gets me by less that a wheel. Crap!
He races tonight, I don't.
I get a warning for coming out of the lane, I really didn't mean it judge, ya sure.
More rollers because I still need to do a 4 up sprint to determine 5Th through 8Th.
This should be interesting, first time for everything I guess.
James asks if I need a holder and I say yeah. Right before the race he sits me down and says stay out of 4Th place. I get it. I draw position 3.
The race starts, position 1 and 2 drop down and eschelon back to me, above and behind. I am trying to watch them as well as keep aware of the 4 guy behind me as we head to 3. As we go through 3, position one moves up and squeezes 2 towards me. We compress but I don't move up any. Where they gonna go? Guy 4 is still not in the action. Maybe waiting for the 3 of us to self destruct. Guy 1 starts to wind it up and takes off out of two and gets a jump on all of us. I get gapped, no panic, I can do this. I close the gap staying a bit above for some slight draft. Here comes turn 3, 4. I pull out higher and hammer for the finish. We cross the line with his wheel 6-10 inches ahead of me.
Medals pay out from 1-5. I am 6Th. All in all, I am excited to have 6Th. Would have been more exciting to have a medal but, next year.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday report
It's about 4 pm on Thursday, time to relax again. I'm having a hard time adjusting to this relaxing thing, certainly different then being at home and work.
Ted showed up today to claim his track bike and start his weekend adventure.
We loaded up and went to the track about noon to meet up with the other NSC riders for some open training time from noon to 2.
Warm up, under gear 200 sub max and max efforts and then cool down laps.
Beautiful sunny, warm great day to be riding a track bike.
There wasn't a lot of riders out so it was easy to do the efforts. I am getting more and more comfortable with turns 3 and 4, fastest part of the 200 but seems rough/bumpy in the lane. I think I have a good line, readjusted at the end of the day, so I am hopeful of a fast ride. My max under gear effort was 53.6 kph and 918 watts. Still lower than I would like. I have a few more sub max efforts tomorrow bright and early to hone the effort and then time for truth. I didn't have anyone handy to time the efforts, everyone else was timing someone else or on the track. I will have to wait until tomorrow for a time.
The plan is to get to the track tonight and watch for an hour and then head back for an early night. I need to be at the track ready to go no later than 7:15 A.M. and need to get a good nights rest. There are some match sprint events tonight so I can get a feel for how everyone races them here.
Ted showed up today to claim his track bike and start his weekend adventure.
We loaded up and went to the track about noon to meet up with the other NSC riders for some open training time from noon to 2.
Warm up, under gear 200 sub max and max efforts and then cool down laps.
Beautiful sunny, warm great day to be riding a track bike.
There wasn't a lot of riders out so it was easy to do the efforts. I am getting more and more comfortable with turns 3 and 4, fastest part of the 200 but seems rough/bumpy in the lane. I think I have a good line, readjusted at the end of the day, so I am hopeful of a fast ride. My max under gear effort was 53.6 kph and 918 watts. Still lower than I would like. I have a few more sub max efforts tomorrow bright and early to hone the effort and then time for truth. I didn't have anyone handy to time the efforts, everyone else was timing someone else or on the track. I will have to wait until tomorrow for a time.
The plan is to get to the track tonight and watch for an hour and then head back for an early night. I need to be at the track ready to go no later than 7:15 A.M. and need to get a good nights rest. There are some match sprint events tonight so I can get a feel for how everyone races them here.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tonights Race schedule Points races
I'm back from watching Skibby and Dan Casper race points races tonight. 2 different races, Skibby in a 60? lap and Casper in a 75 lap race with sprints every 6 laps.
Both Skibby and Dan stayed in the pack riding smart races. The pace was fast as expected. Neither of our boys could muster up any points. Skibby came close on the last lap of his race. He lead the field going down the home straight with 1 to go but was overcome on the back straight still finishing with the main pack.
A few riders got off and lapped the field to take the top spots.
Dan stayed in the main pack for the complete race. The field never got lapped but a few fast riders, one ex pro took all the prizes.
Dan got a good jump towards the end of the race looking for points when two riders rode below him on the blue and should have been relegated but I guess they either didn't get points or no official saw it happen.
Two really good races under close to perfect conditions. High 60's for temps and the winds had dropped significantly.
Tomorrow, I get to sleep in again and then head to the track for warm ups about noonish for my big day of Flying 200's and Match Sprints on Friday.
Ted is supposed to be in as well so I can turn his Tiemeyer back over to him.
The Teschner is ready for tomorrow after a minor chain lengthening to allow a 51/17 gear. It now works with 51/17 through 51/15, warm up through race gears.
Both Skibby and Dan stayed in the pack riding smart races. The pace was fast as expected. Neither of our boys could muster up any points. Skibby came close on the last lap of his race. He lead the field going down the home straight with 1 to go but was overcome on the back straight still finishing with the main pack.
A few riders got off and lapped the field to take the top spots.
Dan stayed in the main pack for the complete race. The field never got lapped but a few fast riders, one ex pro took all the prizes.
Dan got a good jump towards the end of the race looking for points when two riders rode below him on the blue and should have been relegated but I guess they either didn't get points or no official saw it happen.
Two really good races under close to perfect conditions. High 60's for temps and the winds had dropped significantly.
Tomorrow, I get to sleep in again and then head to the track for warm ups about noonish for my big day of Flying 200's and Match Sprints on Friday.
Ted is supposed to be in as well so I can turn his Tiemeyer back over to him.
The Teschner is ready for tomorrow after a minor chain lengthening to allow a 51/17 gear. It now works with 51/17 through 51/15, warm up through race gears.
Wed, day off
Today is a lazy day off. I slept in later than usual, had breakfast and started to pack for the day out.
The plan, go to the track and watch Linda Sone race, head to Colorado Cyclist to see what the place looks like, drive to the Garden of the Gods and ride the loop a few times, back to the hotel and then back to the track to watch Skibby race in the points race.
So I am back to the hotel, missed Linda's race because it was taking a lot longer to get through the heats and I needed to be on my way.
I found Colorado Cyclist, fun to see, didn't even buy anything. I did find another local bike store because I needed a 17 tooth cog to match what coach Chris wanted me to use as warm up gears. I was getting close by adjusting the chain ring but now I am on track.
The Garden of the Gods is quite amazing, just north and west of Colorado Springs, not really in the mountains, just the foot hills but amazing anyhow.
Pictures will be up soon. I did the loop twice, just easy pace, stopping a lot on the first loop for pictures, second loop just to ride.
Always seems amazing to me when I connect to Chris, got the call as I was eating a sandwich sitting in the parking lot of the Garden.
Thanks for the call and advice Chris.
Time for a little nap and get some stuff ready for tomorrows training day then off to the track to cheer Skibby on.
More to come.
The plan, go to the track and watch Linda Sone race, head to Colorado Cyclist to see what the place looks like, drive to the Garden of the Gods and ride the loop a few times, back to the hotel and then back to the track to watch Skibby race in the points race.
So I am back to the hotel, missed Linda's race because it was taking a lot longer to get through the heats and I needed to be on my way.
I found Colorado Cyclist, fun to see, didn't even buy anything. I did find another local bike store because I needed a 17 tooth cog to match what coach Chris wanted me to use as warm up gears. I was getting close by adjusting the chain ring but now I am on track.
The Garden of the Gods is quite amazing, just north and west of Colorado Springs, not really in the mountains, just the foot hills but amazing anyhow.
Pictures will be up soon. I did the loop twice, just easy pace, stopping a lot on the first loop for pictures, second loop just to ride.
Always seems amazing to me when I connect to Chris, got the call as I was eating a sandwich sitting in the parking lot of the Garden.
Thanks for the call and advice Chris.
Time for a little nap and get some stuff ready for tomorrows training day then off to the track to cheer Skibby on.
More to come.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday, Race day
I am rarely late for anything, usually I am early, especially track races.
I need all the time I can get to warm up and be ready to go full on.
My down loaded schedule listed open track time from 7 to 9.
My race started at 10. One race only, a 500 meter individual TT.
I am up early, 7:00, figuring that if I am on the track by 8:45 I will have plenty of time to warm up with Chris's warm up schedule. Of course, it rained all night long and is severely overcast and in the high 50's again. The streets and parking lot are wet. I'm thinking rain delays.
Breakfast and then pack the car, off to the track.
Inside the infield, the area is mostly dry and there are people riding on a dry track. Looks like rain any minute but good for now.
I find the race schedule posted in the tunnel and find that I need 1 number on, not 2. I find a place to set up and while getting ready I here the announcer say the track will close for open training at 9, it's 8:35. How did I not understand that even though I had it high lighted in yellow on my schedule!! Races before me start at 9, of course no open training from 9 to 10.
I get on the track and roll around in warm up gear for about 10 minutes before the track is closed. Dam, did I learn something?
I get a neighbor to adjust my numbers. I change to my race gear and set up my rollers. There is a warm up cement track inside the real track so I roll around that for a bit and then get on the rollers for about 20-25 minutes. Not what coach Chris suggested and I was planning but all I can think of to do.
In between I go to the bike check area to make sure my Teschner set up is legal, it is.
The schedule works through the age categories. I am in the Men's, 60-64 group. There are 10 Heats, with 2 riders per heat one starting on the home straight, one on the back.
The good thing is I am not a bit nervous. Just being on the bike calms me down. I am in Heat 5, starting on the home stretch. I watched a few races to make sure I was aware of the finish line for me at the pursuit line on the back straight. Start is on the pursuit line of the home straight.
I do a few false starts from a roll on the warm up track and head to the bike check again and then get in line to race.
The clock reads 15, then 10, 9, tone at 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, high pitched tone and I'm off. The start is a bit slower then I would like, out of the saddle, turn 1, turn 2, back stretch, sit going into turn 3 and try to stay low through 3 and 4. Not a great line, close to the red sprinters line, very bumpy concrete surface on this part of the track. I get through it, down the home stretch, going through turn 1 and 2 I start to feel a bit stressed but get on it as best I can going to the finish, bike push and I'm done.
As I'm rolling off I hear the announcer say 42 and some odd seconds. I know I've heard others in the 39's so I know it's not great.
Back on the rollers to cool down. Eventually the first guy out who had a 37 something gets beat with a 36.9 something.
Awards are handed out and take a while. Dave, Linda and Dan Casper show up and we talk a bit before the track opens for training again.
Finally, I get to complete the training schedule that Chris has prepared for me. I feel better to be on schedule again.
I'm in a 51/15 now and warm up for about 20 minutes and then do 2 Flying 200 efforts. The first is 85% the second probably 95% full on. It's taking a while to get used to riding fast on this track, easy to ride slow but that's not what this is all about. My last effort, 899 watts at 54 kph top speed. Seems a bit weak on watts but the speed seems about what I usually do. Maybe the bigger gear is a watts limit. Seemed smoother than my 500 effort though.
After 2 efforts I'm done for the day. Time to pack and get some lunch.
Before I leave, I eventually find the time postings.
Official 42.66 and 42.19 kph speed. 15Th of 19 but 1 DNF. There is about 3 of us at 42 seconds and similar speeds. Fastest time was 36.9??? and if I remember 48+kph.
All things considered, I feel ok. I didn't really come to do a 500, I came to sprint on Friday. This is just a great training day to prepare for Friday.
Lunch and back to the hotel.
The adventure continues with a day off and a very casual bike ride in the Garden of the Gods.
More pictures to follow.
I need all the time I can get to warm up and be ready to go full on.
My down loaded schedule listed open track time from 7 to 9.
My race started at 10. One race only, a 500 meter individual TT.
I am up early, 7:00, figuring that if I am on the track by 8:45 I will have plenty of time to warm up with Chris's warm up schedule. Of course, it rained all night long and is severely overcast and in the high 50's again. The streets and parking lot are wet. I'm thinking rain delays.
Breakfast and then pack the car, off to the track.
Inside the infield, the area is mostly dry and there are people riding on a dry track. Looks like rain any minute but good for now.
I find the race schedule posted in the tunnel and find that I need 1 number on, not 2. I find a place to set up and while getting ready I here the announcer say the track will close for open training at 9, it's 8:35. How did I not understand that even though I had it high lighted in yellow on my schedule!! Races before me start at 9, of course no open training from 9 to 10.
I get on the track and roll around in warm up gear for about 10 minutes before the track is closed. Dam, did I learn something?
I get a neighbor to adjust my numbers. I change to my race gear and set up my rollers. There is a warm up cement track inside the real track so I roll around that for a bit and then get on the rollers for about 20-25 minutes. Not what coach Chris suggested and I was planning but all I can think of to do.
In between I go to the bike check area to make sure my Teschner set up is legal, it is.
The schedule works through the age categories. I am in the Men's, 60-64 group. There are 10 Heats, with 2 riders per heat one starting on the home straight, one on the back.
The good thing is I am not a bit nervous. Just being on the bike calms me down. I am in Heat 5, starting on the home stretch. I watched a few races to make sure I was aware of the finish line for me at the pursuit line on the back straight. Start is on the pursuit line of the home straight.
I do a few false starts from a roll on the warm up track and head to the bike check again and then get in line to race.
The clock reads 15, then 10, 9, tone at 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, high pitched tone and I'm off. The start is a bit slower then I would like, out of the saddle, turn 1, turn 2, back stretch, sit going into turn 3 and try to stay low through 3 and 4. Not a great line, close to the red sprinters line, very bumpy concrete surface on this part of the track. I get through it, down the home stretch, going through turn 1 and 2 I start to feel a bit stressed but get on it as best I can going to the finish, bike push and I'm done.
As I'm rolling off I hear the announcer say 42 and some odd seconds. I know I've heard others in the 39's so I know it's not great.
Back on the rollers to cool down. Eventually the first guy out who had a 37 something gets beat with a 36.9 something.
Awards are handed out and take a while. Dave, Linda and Dan Casper show up and we talk a bit before the track opens for training again.
Finally, I get to complete the training schedule that Chris has prepared for me. I feel better to be on schedule again.
I'm in a 51/15 now and warm up for about 20 minutes and then do 2 Flying 200 efforts. The first is 85% the second probably 95% full on. It's taking a while to get used to riding fast on this track, easy to ride slow but that's not what this is all about. My last effort, 899 watts at 54 kph top speed. Seems a bit weak on watts but the speed seems about what I usually do. Maybe the bigger gear is a watts limit. Seemed smoother than my 500 effort though.
After 2 efforts I'm done for the day. Time to pack and get some lunch.
Before I leave, I eventually find the time postings.
Official 42.66 and 42.19 kph speed. 15Th of 19 but 1 DNF. There is about 3 of us at 42 seconds and similar speeds. Fastest time was 36.9??? and if I remember 48+kph.
All things considered, I feel ok. I didn't really come to do a 500, I came to sprint on Friday. This is just a great training day to prepare for Friday.
Lunch and back to the hotel.
The adventure continues with a day off and a very casual bike ride in the Garden of the Gods.
More pictures to follow.
Monday at the track
I woke up Monday refreshed and ready to go to the track for the open track session.
I got there and found a few people wandering around. It was still before 9 so not much was happening.
There really wasn't anyone around to ask about the schedule so I just changed into my kit and got the Teschner ready for it's maiden voyage in Colorado.
The first half lap was nervous but I started to feel at home half way around.
Chris Ferris, my coach for the last year, prepared some routines and gear choices for me to use which worked out well.
I spent about an hour and a half on the track doing some warm up, small gear riding, tracing my 200 sprint lines repeatedly to get them stuck permanently in my head.
Great morning. The track close for a half hour to set up some timing tapes and then was open again.
About that time, Dave Grey, Linda Sone, Skibby and Tainter showed up. Good to see some familiar faces.
I did a few more laps and then called it a day for day one on the track.
The rest of the day was buying some supplies I forgot, getting dinner and mostly relaxing at the hotel.
Went to bed early after packing for Tuesdays first race.
I got there and found a few people wandering around. It was still before 9 so not much was happening.
There really wasn't anyone around to ask about the schedule so I just changed into my kit and got the Teschner ready for it's maiden voyage in Colorado.
The first half lap was nervous but I started to feel at home half way around.
Chris Ferris, my coach for the last year, prepared some routines and gear choices for me to use which worked out well.
I spent about an hour and a half on the track doing some warm up, small gear riding, tracing my 200 sprint lines repeatedly to get them stuck permanently in my head.
Great morning. The track close for a half hour to set up some timing tapes and then was open again.
About that time, Dave Grey, Linda Sone, Skibby and Tainter showed up. Good to see some familiar faces.
I did a few more laps and then called it a day for day one on the track.
The rest of the day was buying some supplies I forgot, getting dinner and mostly relaxing at the hotel.
Went to bed early after packing for Tuesdays first race.
Master's Nationals 2009
Here I am in Colorado Springs after the first day of competition at Master's Track Nationals.
Kind of feels a bit surreal, can't really believe I am here.
Outside, the mountain view to the west is bocked by big nasty rain clouds and it is pouring down rain, with thunder and hailing pea sized ice balls! The weather forcast says there have been tornados around the area.
This may be a theme for the week.
I left last Saturday, driving about 650 miles to North Platte NB. Mostly uneventful except for the down pour going through Des Moines IA. Hot, humid weather in the mid 80's.
I spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express, poured rain again on and off all night. Woke up to temps in the high 50's.
Sunday felt like a long day even though I only had to drive another 350 miles. I got stuck in a major traffic jam 30 miles from Colorado Springs for about 45 minutes, finally getting off at an exit with a gas station to have a little "rest" break, whew.
I got on a parallel road and made it to Co. Springs finally about 4 ish. My mapquest directions got me right to the track, fun to see right away. I stopped and asked someone working the track and they didn't know how to get me to the host hotel. I drove around a bit sight seeing and then called the hotel for directions and finally made it to my home for a week, the Crown Plaza, nothing too fancy but OK enough. My room is on the back side of the hotel, just below Interstate 25, walk out, main floor.
I unpacked and thought I would look for some place to eat and find the track without getting back on I25. About a hour later, finally found the track again. Next time, take I25.
Found a local guy who gave me some tour guide info. I followed his suggesting and found some dinner and a bunch of local stores in an area called Broadmore, next to some upscale residential areas. Noodles and Company invited me to dinner, I took them up on it.
Drove back to the hotel to settle in.
The traffic noise is a bit high but other wise quiet. I can carry all my gear in and out of the patio sliding glass door.
I also can and did set up my rollers to ride a bit after dinner to work out the stiffness from sitting for 15 hours and 1000 miles.
That was it for day 2 of the adventure.
Kind of feels a bit surreal, can't really believe I am here.
Outside, the mountain view to the west is bocked by big nasty rain clouds and it is pouring down rain, with thunder and hailing pea sized ice balls! The weather forcast says there have been tornados around the area.
This may be a theme for the week.
I left last Saturday, driving about 650 miles to North Platte NB. Mostly uneventful except for the down pour going through Des Moines IA. Hot, humid weather in the mid 80's.
I spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express, poured rain again on and off all night. Woke up to temps in the high 50's.
Sunday felt like a long day even though I only had to drive another 350 miles. I got stuck in a major traffic jam 30 miles from Colorado Springs for about 45 minutes, finally getting off at an exit with a gas station to have a little "rest" break, whew.
I got on a parallel road and made it to Co. Springs finally about 4 ish. My mapquest directions got me right to the track, fun to see right away. I stopped and asked someone working the track and they didn't know how to get me to the host hotel. I drove around a bit sight seeing and then called the hotel for directions and finally made it to my home for a week, the Crown Plaza, nothing too fancy but OK enough. My room is on the back side of the hotel, just below Interstate 25, walk out, main floor.
I unpacked and thought I would look for some place to eat and find the track without getting back on I25. About a hour later, finally found the track again. Next time, take I25.
Found a local guy who gave me some tour guide info. I followed his suggesting and found some dinner and a bunch of local stores in an area called Broadmore, next to some upscale residential areas. Noodles and Company invited me to dinner, I took them up on it.
Drove back to the hotel to settle in.
The traffic noise is a bit high but other wise quiet. I can carry all my gear in and out of the patio sliding glass door.
I also can and did set up my rollers to ride a bit after dinner to work out the stiffness from sitting for 15 hours and 1000 miles.
That was it for day 2 of the adventure.
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