Tonight was awesome. I felt completely relaxed coming into the race, just a little lonely since I don't know anyone yet.
We had about 40+ riders this time in the Cat 4/5 group.I'm not sure how this happened, but I ended up on the front of the starting line at the beginning of the race. The group tends to start easy as everyone clips in. This I clipped in easy on the first go. Next thing, I'm out with the front 6, 7 riders and almost immediately a rider comes up from behind and attacking hard. So the front group speeds up and starts pulling away. Since I am here, I figure, "what the hell" and I try to grab a wheel. And while he is slipping away, I wasn't paying attention and the first turn was in my face.I ended up going more straight than turning as I wasn't prepared with my countersteering technique. (ask me if you need me to explain that) and so I get squirrely, but pull it back in line.
Now I am in this awful limbo between front riders I can't catch up to and the peloton somewhere behind me. Of course, the peloton catches me and riders are passing. I accelerate hard to get back in, but the riders are not letting me. They keep passing to my left very close to my bike. I still have no idea how I got back in, but I managed to squeeze in behind a wheel and propel myself from there. At this point we turn again and are into the headwind, but the course is slightly downhill on a long straight. Finally back in the pack, I can ease up some and rest my legs.. just for a few seconds.
We hit the next turn and a guy inside goes a little wide pushing me out a little, but in this part of the track, there is another turn coming up fast. We managed to stay together and I am keeping up quite snug in the middle. We cross the starting line and everything feels good. At the sharp turn again, that first one, I nailed it with everyone else. I can't help but think to myself that we are going faster than the last couple times I rode this.
I hung on through another lap, working hard, but feeling pretty good. I'm actually pretty amazed at myself at this point. Gosh, if I can just keep with the group. When we crossed the starting line again, they rang the bell announcing the 1st prime. I didn't hear it or was not paying attention because I didn't know what the bell meant. Not until later after talking with some of the riders after the race. we round the sharp turn again and I notice I am falling back in the group. It's at this point that I feel my legs just petering out. Although I was pushing hard, I could feel I no longer had it in my legs to maintain the pace.
After I dropped from the peloton, I took a moment to refresh my legs, then continued for the remainder of the hour.
I have been listening to everyone's advice on the forums. I am downshifting right before the corners and accelerating hard after the first 1/3rd entering the turn. And then quickly up-shifting back to a harder gear. I am pretty much staying in the drops unless we are coming up on a turn or I'm accelerating too close into the riders wheel in front of me. I also adjusted the stem to it's proper position last weekend (I had it upside down before) which lowered my grip position a little. As far as food, I had a cliff bar 1.5 hours before the race and drank water throughout the day.
I pedaled hard throughout the remaining time and finished with a hard sprint in the last 200 meters or so. I fought hard, pedaled hard, finished hard... and now my legs are tired. Overall, I am content with my performance today.
Going into the race today, I was uncertain how my legs would perform. I rode 33 miles with Team velocity on Saturday. The ride was intense and definitely good for me. I did another 32 miles on my own on Sunday, moderate difficulty. Did a little swimming on Monday, then nothing on Tues or Wed. I guess a little rest is a good thing.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read my post. Sorry it's such a novel. Again, thank you for posting your feedback after reading as well as providing any helpful tips or experiences from your own races.Your feedback has been great motivation for me.
We had about 40+ riders this time in the Cat 4/5 group.I'm not sure how this happened, but I ended up on the front of the starting line at the beginning of the race. The group tends to start easy as everyone clips in. This I clipped in easy on the first go. Next thing, I'm out with the front 6, 7 riders and almost immediately a rider comes up from behind and attacking hard. So the front group speeds up and starts pulling away. Since I am here, I figure, "what the hell" and I try to grab a wheel. And while he is slipping away, I wasn't paying attention and the first turn was in my face.I ended up going more straight than turning as I wasn't prepared with my countersteering technique. (ask me if you need me to explain that) and so I get squirrely, but pull it back in line.
Now I am in this awful limbo between front riders I can't catch up to and the peloton somewhere behind me. Of course, the peloton catches me and riders are passing. I accelerate hard to get back in, but the riders are not letting me. They keep passing to my left very close to my bike. I still have no idea how I got back in, but I managed to squeeze in behind a wheel and propel myself from there. At this point we turn again and are into the headwind, but the course is slightly downhill on a long straight. Finally back in the pack, I can ease up some and rest my legs.. just for a few seconds.
We hit the next turn and a guy inside goes a little wide pushing me out a little, but in this part of the track, there is another turn coming up fast. We managed to stay together and I am keeping up quite snug in the middle. We cross the starting line and everything feels good. At the sharp turn again, that first one, I nailed it with everyone else. I can't help but think to myself that we are going faster than the last couple times I rode this.
I hung on through another lap, working hard, but feeling pretty good. I'm actually pretty amazed at myself at this point. Gosh, if I can just keep with the group. When we crossed the starting line again, they rang the bell announcing the 1st prime. I didn't hear it or was not paying attention because I didn't know what the bell meant. Not until later after talking with some of the riders after the race. we round the sharp turn again and I notice I am falling back in the group. It's at this point that I feel my legs just petering out. Although I was pushing hard, I could feel I no longer had it in my legs to maintain the pace.
After I dropped from the peloton, I took a moment to refresh my legs, then continued for the remainder of the hour.
I have been listening to everyone's advice on the forums. I am downshifting right before the corners and accelerating hard after the first 1/3rd entering the turn. And then quickly up-shifting back to a harder gear. I am pretty much staying in the drops unless we are coming up on a turn or I'm accelerating too close into the riders wheel in front of me. I also adjusted the stem to it's proper position last weekend (I had it upside down before) which lowered my grip position a little. As far as food, I had a cliff bar 1.5 hours before the race and drank water throughout the day.
I pedaled hard throughout the remaining time and finished with a hard sprint in the last 200 meters or so. I fought hard, pedaled hard, finished hard... and now my legs are tired. Overall, I am content with my performance today.
Going into the race today, I was uncertain how my legs would perform. I rode 33 miles with Team velocity on Saturday. The ride was intense and definitely good for me. I did another 32 miles on my own on Sunday, moderate difficulty. Did a little swimming on Monday, then nothing on Tues or Wed. I guess a little rest is a good thing.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read my post. Sorry it's such a novel. Again, thank you for posting your feedback after reading as well as providing any helpful tips or experiences from your own races.Your feedback has been great motivation for me.