my take on it all...

we agreed that Perlberg and I were to be the early break guys. We peed right before the race. Mike was out first and ended up at the head of the race. I ended up at the rear. Note the port-o-lav humor...

so, starting from the back meant moving up on roads that were yellow line ruled... I finally made it to the front in about 8 minutes into the race, now my thoughts turned to bridging to Mike. Not going to go it alone - that's likely to start a chase, but when a guy in black goes, I jump across to him and we have a gap. I work with him even as he is in trouble. I let him know that he's either committed or well, what is he doing here? I drop him on the first climb and am making my way across to Mike, but the pack catches me. I struggle up the climb as my legs felt horrible.

As I crest the climb, I am with some other guys and we begin chasing through cars and other riders and regain the pack before the next climb (there were 3 per lap). Safely back, I went straight to the front to check in on William. All was fine, so I dropped back a bit and continued. But then we turn left , right an up again... Ugh. Made it with the group and then the second part of the climb begins. I go at my pace and am alone at the top. Descend fast and as I come through the feed zone, some others come by, so I chase and the pack is in sight. We eventually catch.

Back to the front - William, what can I do? Wojtech needs to not work. OK, I go to him and send him back.

Climb time again - I come closer to making it up with the bunch, but am a few seconds behind. As I am cresting the climb, I see three Kissena's together up ahead and I am screaming to them to chill for a bit because I know we can catch on the descent. They don't hear me, so I am chasing them solo. Norm is the first catch, then Perlberg, then David just as I am getting to the back of the field on the second climb. Ugh...

Left, right and up... I am with the group until the second part of the climb - sound familiar? This time I made it to the top and I could still see the pack, so I flew down the descent and knew that I would catch. Got my special coke and gatorade bottle for the last lap and continued to chase solo and was gaining ground. Then about two miles into the third lap, I was just - done.

I wasn't catching in part because my legs just died, but also because the guys, including Perlberg, were chasing...

Turned around and rode back with Norm and David.

So, some post race analysis of my power numbers - all way down. Had I rode like I did in the hills on Wednesday, I would have easily been there at the finish, but my 10 minute power was down about 50w and my 5min over 60w yesterday. In other words, what was wrong? All other measures of difficulty had my Wednesday ride as harder than yesterday's race, except TRIMP points which allow you to measure the difficulty of a ride based on HR. My TRIMP points were much higher in the race - basically, my HR was up and stayed that way. My power down, HR up made for a painful race that in theory wasn't all that hard.

Ugh...


Great team job in being at the front, off the front and protecting its riders. Setting up the finish was something that we didn't do so great at, but we know that for next year and next race.

See you again hills, you may have won this time, but I lasted longer...

I've got a few decent pics from the day I'll post them up later.

I started the 35+ race well and was top 8 going into the climb. I managed to hang for most of the climb, but to do so I had to go pretty deep:
1min - 484W
2min - 418W
5min - 376W
10min - 324W
320+ is my VO2 range so near the top, when the pace went up a little more I got popped.
On the flats and descents I felt strong and was able to catch a couple of riders and then a further group of about 5. On that long draggy climb with the truck crawler lane John caught on.
Everyone shared the pace, but in typical cat4 style with people doing too long turns and others surging through.
I must of blocked that 3rd climb out of my memory from last year because I was convinced there was only the big hill and the draggy thing. So when the hideous reality of my forgettfulness reared up before me like a really steep #$%@ hill I was somewhat crestfallen and hence got dropped by our group.
However I chased throughout the start of the 2nd lap and caught back on before the first left turn.
The group worked OK, but as JohnM says it blew apart on the big climb. I was one of the first to go as I didn't feel good at all, but I drained a bottle, maintained a good pace and started to close up on the group a little towards the top.
Lots more chasing later ... I go past riders I recognise as being in my group who have been dropped on the draggy climb and I go up the final steep climb a lot better this lap (I stomped a bigger gear out of the saddle).
As I crested the rise to the finishing straight - JohnM and co. were through the finish and coasting.

I enjoyed this a lot more than last year. My plan for next year is to be 60Kg and not 70Kg !

William - looking so hot! Is that cologne I smell?

@ Ian - I was thinking about my weight after the race too, seeing this 20-yr old kid in our breakaway zip off the front on every climb...ach.

@ tito - You can do something about the weight but perhaps the 20-yr old thing also plays a part.

As for me, I beat my last years time by 5 seconds! Progress.

Results are up:
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2011/07/10-Pawling-Road-Race.asp

@ Marc Betucco. "Old-school ball-buster" what an honor.

@ John Sanderson - I feel your pain. I also flatted on the first lap, just ~9-10 miles in.

WTF Cat 5 35+ is the only race that doesn't get a finish photo? I want to see how exhausted I looked.

Looking at results, and surprised to see that the Cat 4 35+ race was faster than that Cat 4 35- race......who said old guys are slow!

Still not able to stay with the strong 50+, but I'm closing in, they were a couple minutes away. So few races for 55+, I have to be able to climb faster (on the flats/false flats/descents I'm doing allright). Some regrets (I should have done this, I should not have done that...), one satisfaction: Bruce Townend (2nd), strong rider, shook my hand after the race and told me "good race".
How to see the glass half full: I have done so many things wrong during the race that I see there is much room for improvement:)
Ageing? The winner in our race, who is over 50, was faster than the masters 35+ race winner.

@David

I'm not surprised, our race was very jumpy. Slow between climbs but hard on them - I set a 10 min power record on the second lap, first climb.

Also we only had 40 guys in our race.

Congratulations, Jeff C!

Jorge, hope you're feeling better soon!

Jeff, that's an awesome finish. Congratulations.

Nice race reports, guys, and nice job riding a team race.

Thanks all. I just upgraded to Cat 4, so should be joining a bunch of you now.

Pawling Mountain RR, July 10, 2011.
A few shots of the afternoon fields on the second climb:
http://jmalcolmson.viewbook.com/album/pawling_mountain_rr_2011

Norm, Ragot, Vollback.

BUMP.

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15273

Haven't reg'd yet - waiting for some funds to clear - but definitely doing it.

I just signed up for this.

It is July 8th.

Anyone who wants to do it should sign up NOW. There are only 100 spots for the Cat 4, NY state championship race, of which already 39 spots have been filled and the race is not for another 3 months.

This year there is no 3/4 field. Just Cat 3 or cat 4. There are 2 cat 4 races, one for the state championship, one not for the championship. Would seem stupid not to have a punt at the jersey, no?

I'm in.

reg'd

love this race

want revenge after 9th 2 years in a row

Including last year when Tito and I ended up in a 12 man selection last year and we just didn't kill it enough to shake some of the bigger guys; ended up 9-10

Careful, Ryan - your posts are starting to creep dangerously into WDC faux-e.e. cummings territory.
Keep capitalization and punctuation alive. For the children.

And yeah, I reg'd - Paypal, I can't wait for you.

Let's DO THIS.

uh...in three months.

Duly regified.

Yes! Norm!

reg'd

i want blood!

Guys I'm gutted; same date for NYC Triathlon; wife is racing it.

I did my time - see "fat boy" picture below

1. go to her triathlon. each wife sports event attended buys you at least 10 husband sports events.

2. please please please take that picture off the forum.

That pic is incredible. You being chased by what I assume is a one armed woman, while hiding your junk with your race number. I'm not saying there's a connection. You also don't really look fat. Look at that bicep rippling. Oops...

ginger monster from the black lagoon

although i do like how your heart rate monitor is circumscribing your gut

srsly though . . . do not race, just attend (repeat: DO NOT RACE A TRIATHLON!!!)

bring orange slices and hammer gel and such

mad brownie points

Ginger Monster indeed! Moobs, busted ass stride getting run down by a one-armed lady.

We all have our moments of milk-crate glory and... this.

Circle of life baby, circle of life.

Couldn't find a thread for this so apologies if this is a repeat. Pawling RR is just a couple of weeks away (July 8) so figured might be helpful to see who's going, start to work out rides, etc.....

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15273


Reg'd 4's:
Todd McLoughlin
Christopher Conde
Norman Swygert
Jeff Condon
David Stearns
Patrick Grehan
Matthew Arlyck
Jeffrey White
Adam Naguib

I have a car w/room for 1 bike in the boot and a rear-attaching bike carrier that can take 1 more comfortably.

Have been feeling much stronger in the park races, and I'll be riding hills in western North Carolina from June 30-July 5 (a little mid-season hill training camp!) so hopefully will be coming in to this with some better form to improve on my shite performance last summer.

Or to put it another way - I'm willing to be cannon fodder/domestique for teammates with podium aspirations for as long as I'm around.

Jeff W is in!!!

Yeah, that was what officially ended my day  - but I was already off the back when it happened....I was in "just finish the damn ride" mode way too early, and then pfffffft.