Jules said:

Adam, do not spend ONE IOTA of energy "making things hard" there will be other fools to do that. If you want a result, save your bullet (single) for the end. Wait, wait, wait and then wait some more.

Let the odds come to you.

^ I agree, positioning is up to you, you can't expect to move up in the last 5km's you need to be in the front 12 and completely focused on holding position before that, that's when/where you guys would be smart to sacrifice Bruce's legs (or even better, have TT Bruce go solo). As Jules alluded, smart strategy wins a race like this. Sean and Adam you both have have enough pop to win this. Adam, visualize being at the winning end of the line!

I'll try to stay toward the front for as long as possible. I think in addition to Adam and Sean, Niall has been riding quite well, especially in the longer races. We'll have lots of cards to play. If we're lucky we can play them at the end. Most importantly, though, is to be in communication, so try to stay close.

Niall has been real strong the last few weeks we've rode, unfortunately he's on the homefront in Ireland

Race reports/video:

Report: http://blacktiesports.com/racing/2013/capital-region-road-race/

P/1/2 finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhugVA0BE-s
P/1/2 finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNcyrYtdpws

Something to consider. The main climbing section can be a bear, but only if the strong keep on the gas on dips and plateaus between the pitches proper. I've talked about this on group rides a bunch, and now it's time to put it into action.

So if the team is in good position on the climbs, let the climbs and the "group think" pace take care of itself. The climbs will be plenty hard, but when it starts to descend a bit, or flatten before the next pitch, that's when the motors should keep on the gas. I'm not saying attack, or burn up your whole matchbook there, but if you are already at the front, you crest the climb, then keep up steady hard sub-TT tempo, the guys further on down the line still climbing, and others trying to get back will be deep in a dark forest of suffering. While you are merely doing a moderately hard effort for a few minutes before the next pitch.

Finishing up your last lap, if you still have a nice group of KCC riders, on the rollers and flats leading up to the finishing climb, that's when you might consider going all ProTour and stringing it out leading into that rising right turn where the team's stronger climbers will just have fewer dudes to bang bars with. No sense in starting the final climb elbow to elbow with a huge mess of the field, if you can avoid it.

Jeff and Vlad, looking forward to seeing you guys tomorrow. Race strategy for us is simple. Hang on as long as possible. Keep up with drinking, avoid cramps, see where things are on the last lap.

We've got a small field, which means not a ton of places to hide. And the guys that are showing up? Ouchy. I used to find small comfort in the fact that the 50+ race with us, thinking, that at least I can keep up with them. Of course, most of them drop me too. Or that's the way it's been the last few years.

Fortunately the roads out there are nice for training, and they are usually good about placing you, even if you are way off the back. But lets none of us test that theory, 'kay?

Last year's results:

https://www.usacycling.org/results/?year=2014&id=2092&info_id=78506

Looks like the Masters were out there in the sun for 2 hours 50 minutes (winner, Cat 3?, David Taylor) and 3:26 (last placer, me).

Myles is up there with the BMW women's team. If people need a feed contact him.

Will he be feeding us paella and Albariño?

Jeffrey White said:

Will he be feeding us paella and Albariño?

It's worth asking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OhUJywiSUE

Jules said:

Myles is up there with the BMW women's team. If people need a feed contact him.

Wait, what??? Weird, okay, yeah, I totally believe Myles is involved.

Results, bros?

Race doesn't start till like 10:30.

Adam Fabian said:

Race doesn't start till like 10:30.

Bah! Results dab-nabit!

Condon and I got dropped on the first lap. Condon later than me.  Those hills are no joke. I made the mistake of trying to go with the first move. Whoops!

Hot one today. 

Cat 4 results. Fun day of racing but hot as balls. 

Getting some popcorn ready for these reports!

Great report Bruce; those hilly races are murder when it's hot like that.

Nice job guys.

I suffered like a dog out there in that steamy drek. The climbs destroyed me, leaving nothing left in the tank for a sprint in the finale. Plus I showed up like really fat. Yes, I am using the Owens defense. 

"I FINISHED!!!"

Okay, technically I also "finished" last year, by riding 40+ miles solo and coming in 40 minutes behind the winner, but this year I actually made it to the finish line with a group. Not the Roger Ashpolm/Mark Alden group, because that would be insane, and this is me we're talking about, "Mr. Incremental Gains." So you know, progress comes at a pace roughly the speed of those drip irrigation systems.

Knowing this course well, was key for me. Also my ability to ignore people telling me to pull through when I knew that would be foolish. At the neutral start I zipped up the side and got to the second row and rolled nice and easy on the flats before our first climb. I did this, because past experience has shown me that even at a slow pace, the stop and go that is natural for the back of the field is super annoying.

I was thinking about saving every watt I had for when I needed it. And so riding from 50-150 watts during the neutral rolling 3 miles, instead of 150-250 watts at the back, was step one in that process. Looked down at my Joule GPS, and saw the HR was kind of pegged already. I knew this was a byproduct of the 2 Red Bulls and 1 package of Coke-flavored Power Bar chews I scarfed down in the hour before our start time. Still, I didn't need a reminder, I switched screens so that I could see little more than ride time (this would be useful later) and VAM (a number that I don't really understand over the course of a road race with so many ups and downs, so it is of no consequence to my brain). 50/35 and a 11/28 was my gearing of choice.

As soon as we're given the green light to race, Finkraft sent a dude fast 'n furious up the road. I see Vlad go hard after the move. He's gone so fast I don't have a chance to hold him back. "It's too early, that's not the Finkraft droid you're looking for..." But honestly, Vlad has surprised me more than once with some powerful rides. I hope that today is this kind of day for him.

The climbing half of the course comes quickly, the field is feisty and no one is content to let anyone up the road. Vlad and another rider are in between the field and the leaders. Roger Aspholm moves to my left and has another rider crank up the pace even more. I start to suffer pretty badly. I'm losing ground, but still in the pack. I pass Vlad and don't see him again.

The next few miles are a painful blur. I see Condon pull ahead of me and I think, "nice, he's riding strong." We've tackled many of the climbs, and we're both still in contact. Unfortunately, the 150 degree right hand turn leading to the steepest pitches of the day is still left. We're descending at 35+ mph, grab a fistful of brakes, hang a right. I think, "C'mon, you guys couldn't sweep some of this dust away?" The loose debris have me cornering more cautiously than I would have liked. I've got ZERO momentum going into a climb that's longer and steeper than the first pitch of Ash in Piermont.

Jeff is full gas and a few meters ahead of me. I'm in a mild panic. We haven't even done one lap and I'm SUFFERING. Guys are going away. "Am I really going to get dropped again this year?" Partway up the pitch, I start to catch riders, passing them bit by bit. I want to mutter words of encouragement to Jeff as I pass, but I can't talk. This would be the last time I see him. My breathing gets heavier and louder. One guy gives me a look. "Yup, this is what an asthma attack sounds like." I haven't had one of these this season yet. Oh great. I have to stay controlled. I know I can get through this, but I have to be careful. I force out a series of loud barking coughs. This helps open the lungs a bit. I'm off the back of a group in front of me. I stay on the gas. The time to catch the group in front of you is always NOW.

The road levels out, my compact gearing allows more sit and spin recovery. I need every second. The road descends, a fast (and dusty/gravely) right left sweeping combo, leading to another short steep rise, followed by a steady 3-5% climb. I get to the top of the steepest bit of the climb. Riders still in front of me. I look down the switchback over my right shoulder and see a group of riders hunting me down. I don't/won't wait for them. Who knows what their presence will bring? On the one hand, they could be valuable allies, on the other, the time I spend waiting for them, will definitely put me further behind the group I am trying to catch. I split the difference and I ride within myself, keeping on the pressure. I catch a lone rider ahead of me, with a larger group just there ahead of us. The riders from behind catch us both a mile or so later.

Now the group, a pretty sizeable group of 6 or so riders is working to catch more in front of us. Despite some uneven pulls, hero moves, etc., we catch and now we've got a pretty big group with the leaders, the "Aspholm Group" reportedly just about 1 minute ahead. Pretty telling is the fact that we've got the follow car behind US for 2 of 3 laps. At one point, it appears we're dangerously close to the group ahead as we approach the turn to the finishing climb. Another rider utters what I'm thinking, "be careful what you wish for!" I can manage the tempo of the group I'm in, or at least I think I have a shot at that. But if I have to go "Front Group Fast" up the climbing half of the course, I might just implode and be done. I don't want to done...until it's done...you know?

Things settle a bit in my group; we lose riders both to getting dropped, and to others hammering off the front. Pace definitely gets easier. I'm starting to think I'm going to finish this thing, but there's over 40 miles of racing ahead of us, and I know that I could easily get dropped the next time up the climbs. I've got to take steps to control as much of this danger as possible.

A tall skinny dude named John Funk (not making this up) is clearly the best climber of our bunch. He gaps everyone on every climb, but gets pulled back on all the rollers and descents. The rest of the "podium" for best climber of the bunch is up for grabs though. The other guys hit the base of these climbs pretty hard. I tend to back off on the descents leading to the climbs and enjoy the momentum that takes me halfway back up through the pack on the "upswing." Then I sit and spin my way to the front of the pack. I'm not interested in catching Mr. Funk. No need. I just need to keep my group in check, keep the heroes from thinking they need to catch The Funk.

And so at the front, I dial up the watts. No attack, but I crank out a pace just high enough that I can maintain, but is going to make guys work to keep up with me. Suhweet. I cannot deny that I'm sort of pleased and a bit surprised with myself here.

Mr. Funk keeps this routine up for the next lap and a half and eventually he stays away and wins the 50+ race. Turns out this is a guy who did the Pro 1/2/3 race last year and placed 9th. So, you know, he's kind of good. Kind of...haha.

In the last 10 miles, mostly flat to descending, it's clear that I've pretty much used up my legs. I know that there's no way I can honestly tackle the last kilometer finishing climb. Because, despite all the sodium before and during the ride. The constant drinking, the beet juice, the caffeine, the on-the-bike stretching, I'm still fighting cramps for half of the race. My thermometer reads 88 degrees. I believe it.

Last kilometer I'm still with a bunch, but they are going away. Myles who graciously handed me up cool and refreshing water a lap earlier, shouts from the sideline, "Hey how about you turn down "the suck" out there?" I can sit and spin past a few from my group but that's about it. Most of the other guys are out of reach.

I finish in 20th place. Which you know, for me, at this race, is at least a solid result. Almost good even. Almost. But, I gave it my all.

Other notes:

• Big thanks to Jeff White and Jill for putting up with my non-stop chatter during the ride up to the race!
• Big thanks to Myles for the feed. (and the heckling, okay, maybe not "big" thanks for that)
• The 40+ field was mixed with 50+. And looking at the results, my group included the top 50+ guys too. On the one hand, I love that you can still be hella strong at 50+, on the other, I'm like "Damn, dudes, could you just slow down a little?"
• In fact, looking at finishing times, the group that I finished with was almost all 50+ dudes. 17th place in my race finished about 2 minutes in front of me.
  
• Winning time, Alex Weil of Finkraft, was 2:48:09, my time was 3:00:02
• Good call by Jeff & Jill to find the "Trooper Brinkerhoff" sandwich spot for eats on the way home!
• Finally knocked off one of my remaining power records leftover from 2011, when I put up a new 1 minute mark to beat. I'm pretty sure this effort came during the opening miles and I'm definitely sure it hurt like hell.
• 'Course, I still finish at the back of my race. Beating only 10. This continues my "impressive" streak of beating on average, one guy for every hour per week I spend training. I'm no economist, but I'm pretty sure the PE ratio on my stock kind of sucks.
  

Tim Wang, are you on the forum? If so, tell us how the Cat 5 race went!

@marc, your 'good' result is fantastic and makes for an excellent read. When I read someone's race report and notice my quads and core are tense, I know I am Involved And Invested. Great job!

Great job Marc. More than cracking the top 20 on a righteously tough day, you are most definitely "back" this year after your post baby "retirement."
I'm calling it a #comeback
@Yang you're next! 

Jules said:

Great job Marc. More than cracking the top 20 on a righteously tough day, you are most definitely "back" this year after your post baby "retirement."
I'm calling it a #comeback
@Yang you're next! 

You too Jules! I know a lot of you have some seriously awesome life changes and challenges, but I'm looking forward to KCC back up to full-strength sometime soon-ish!

Do this race! Fitness is rewarded for this, as is a bold start to the finishing sprint. Do NOT be *this* guy, who waited to start his sprint and watched five guys miraculously use up the entire width of the road.

Second Jules on both those points. Making this race one of my top targets this season.