Sunday, June 28, 2009

HHRR results link

Here is the link to the official results of the HHRR (click here). The next two weeks begins a big block of training for me. While it won't be many long rides, it is going to be comprised of many short but super intense short rides. With only one additional weekend before the race in Union Vale NY, I am heading back to my old stomping grounds in Lancaster PA to tackle Furnace Hill for the first time this year.

Over the next two weeks I expect to log about 320 miles (including racing). I plan to spend some time in the mountains I that live near, while throwing in the additional flat workout as well. I hope this rainy weather we have had breaks soon (though the forecast for this week says t-showers every day through Friday). I just read a news report saying the enitre east coast has gotten double to triple the normal amount of rain that it normally does by this time in the year.

The worst part is that it only seems to rain after five o'clock when I can ride during the week. It will be sunny all day and five rolls around and so does the rain and lightening. It is really messing with my training. I don't mind rain (although I hate having to relube every part on my bike four times a week), but I won't go out in lightening storms.

Ride safe and sleep well!

Captain Crunch

Monday, June 22, 2009

Housatonic Hills Road Race

Finally!!!!!!! 1ST PLACE!!! It was an amazing race. The course was beautiful and played right to my strong points (aka climbing - course map here). I can't believe that I almost decided not to go the night before on account of the torrential rain we had. But the skies cleared long enough to go racing on almost dry roads.

First off I must say the competition was fierce. Of all the cat. 5 races so far this year, this was by far the best cat. 5 group. The race started out with a bang with a huge climb up to the top of the ridge we would be crossing several times that morning. Fortunately that first climb was neutralized so that the race wouldn't end in the first mile. But from the top of the climb it was game on.

Looking back I realize that I spent way too much time on the front and not at front. There is a difference. Being on the front means you are doing most of the work and pushing through the wind. At the front means sitting in someone else's draft. This led to several other riders marking my wheel and tagging me as a strong rider not to be let way. I plan on taking this new found knowledge and using it at the Union Vale RR in July to try and repeat my win (more on that race later).

A large group stayed together for the first 2/3 of the race. But on the Davenport Rd. Climb is where things started to break up, and on the final KOM climb up Good Hill Rd. is where the final selection was made.

Here's the blow by blow as I remember from Good Hill on (granted I was pushing redline so things are a bit fuzzy). Going up good hill one guy made an attack for the KOM. He got a gap on the field. At this point I was on the front and no one was coming around, so I knew I must have been setting a good pace. About 500m from the top I accelerated and caught the first rider and passed him only to be passed 200m from the KOM line.

Only two other guys had the power to go with me to the top. On the decent two other racers latched on to our group. This was the final selection. We could no longer see the main field, as it was strung out on the climb. The group worked amazingly well together and this no doubt led to our success. We all took 20 to 30 second pulls at the front allowing us to average well over 20mph plus all the way back to the line.

Now for the finish. The finish included on sharp right hand turn and then a little rise before flattening off at the line. I went through the last turn in second place. The rider in front of me jumped right at the bottom of the hill. I was able to use his draft to sling-shot me around him and open up a gap on the other racers. I'm still not sure how big it was because I was not looking back. I laid it all on the line right there and went all out. I do know I had enough of a gap to take both arms off the bars and give a victory salute (I've been dreaming of that moment for a long time:-).

I couldn't have asked for a better race. The only thing that would have made it better is if I would have gotten time to warm up. I went to the start line cold and did not like the way I felt the entire race. My legs felt stiff and dull on all the climbs - though that could be due to the 19.1 avg. speed we had - and not their usual snappy, mountain goat-like selves (yes I am referring to my legs like they are different person:-).

Again, I learned so much from this race. The importance of a good warm-up and not working at the front too early or too much. The next race on the schedule is the Union Vale RR. It is a long race for a cat. 5 at 44 miles. Having never raced this distance before it should be interesting to see how the early miles shape up. Most cat. 5 races are around 25 miles - meaning it's 100 effort the whole time, almost like a TT. But 44 miles will dictate a slower start I would imagine. It will be great to experience as the longest stage of the Green Mountain Stage Race is 60 miles!

Many of the same cat. 5 riders will also be at Union Vale, which is a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. It will be good to get a rematch when my legs are feeling good - or bad because now they have more time to think about how to win the next time.

I still can't believe I won a race this year. I was simply hoping to finish well in the ones I started, not win. Hopefully I can continue my success at Union Vale, then move on to Deodate back in PA, and then try to do well at the GMSR.

Thanks for reading!
Captain Crunch

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Houstonic Hills Road Race

I came, I saw, I conquered! FIRST PLACE!!!!!!!!!! I scored my very first racing win (and $80 too). It's late now and I am super tired from the days efforts. But I promise a full update tomorrow evening when I have the time to really write out a full race report!

Captain Crunch

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Racing Schedule Changes

Sorry it has been so long since my last post.  I have been crazy busy between work and training.  The training is progressing as planned.  If all goes well I should hit my peak around August (for the Nightmare) and hopefully hold it until September 4-7 for the Green Mountain Stage Race.  

You will notice that the schedule now reflects the change in living location.  This month I am competing in the Houstonic Hills road race in Southbury CT, and next month plan to compete in a 96 mile road race in Saratoga Springs NY called the Saratoga Triple Lap Challenge.  My race is part of a longer weekend of 12 and 24 hour races.  

Also on tap for this month is a special training ride on June 13th with some guys from VT that are also competing in Green Mountain race in my category.  This will give me a chance to size up some of the competition :-) and see if I can crash their couch for the weekend so I don't have to get a hotel room.  

Also added to the schedule is the Deodate road race back in lancaster county.  Since I need to return home that weekend it only made sense.  Even better, the start/finish is only 5 miles from my parents house so I may just ride from there for my warmup and skip the trainer all together.  Since those are my old training roads I will have a great advantage over the other cat. 5 racers, but I still plan to go out Friday night and preview the course one last time just to be on the safe side.   

It's hard to believe the season is already half over.  But it is still plenty busy with lots of big goals still left.  Another race I hope to do well in is the PA State TT at the end of September.  

Thanks for Reading!
Captain Crunch

About Me

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I got my name from a friend while playing a video game a long time ago and it just stuck. As if you couldn't tell from the picture I am a huge cycling nut, always looking for something harder.