Tuesday was my last official day on the track. I started the day off with a bang and went for the AM road ride at 5. It was still dark when we started riding and really didn't lighten up enough to turn off the lights for another 15 minutes. The ride is called the angle and is a big triangle. After we took the last turn we started a pace line and the speed really turned up. I am happy to say I was one of only 3 other guys who were consistantly able to put down the hammer at the front, the other 10 guys rotated in from time to time. I think that the track training gave me some speed in the legs as well as some stamina. The first time I did this ride after 1 month off the bike, I was dropped half way home on the last leg.
So, not having had enough pain for one day, I went to the track in the afternoon. It turned out to be the last practice of the year. It had some fun riding up and down the banks and savoring being out on the track for the last time. By the end of the session my lags were completely dead. But that was expected. At least I will not have to keep swapping my pedals from bike to bike anymore.
Showing posts with label Track. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Track. Show all posts
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Increasing Speed
Well, it finally stopped raining here in CQ (central queensland). We have had 3 weeks of straight rain, which has meant that I have had only one training session on the track in that time. That one lasted a 25 lap warm up before the sky let loose. Monday the rains stopped and we were able to practice. Our sessions are geared for towards the junior national championships in the middle of March, I will not be competeing, just missed the age cutoff (19). But Alex will be and as it is only her and I who show up this late in the season, we do work outs designed to help her medal.
The highlight of monday was a 2 lap motor paced sprint where by the 3rd repeat I was able to hold 55.8 km/hr and I reached a sustained speed of 60 km/hr on the last 1/2 lap. Tuesdays excitement was for the flying 200 meter sprint, I broke my previous best time by 8 tenths of a second to 13.08. My leg speed is finally getting there. By the end of March I may be able to call myself a trackie.
The highlight of monday was a 2 lap motor paced sprint where by the 3rd repeat I was able to hold 55.8 km/hr and I reached a sustained speed of 60 km/hr on the last 1/2 lap. Tuesdays excitement was for the flying 200 meter sprint, I broke my previous best time by 8 tenths of a second to 13.08. My leg speed is finally getting there. By the end of March I may be able to call myself a trackie.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday Night Sprints
Well my personal photographer took some pictures and video for me to share with you.
Here is a video from the week before, but it is all about the same.
This week a few more people showed up, it made for some faster races as there were more A grade racers and the A and B fields were combined. We had 4 races on the night and they went really quickly. This was really good as the mosquitoes were out in full force and every time I sat down they were biting me through my spandex.
I did well in the elimination race again, finishing 3rd. We also raced 2 scratch races and a unknown distance scratch race. I did better in the later races than in the first one. I seem to get better as the night wears on and my legs get warmed up. I still have to work on my strategy, I often get caught behind people in the last lap which makes it hard to contend for the finish. We will be racing on the track through March, so I should have plenty of time to practice.
Here is a video from the week before, but it is all about the same.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sat night at the Track
Things are starting to wind down at the track now. All but one of the A grader's have quit for the season. Most of the people racing are getting ready for Nationals or the states. I however am just out there to have some fun and learn more about track racing. The closest velodrome to our upcoming new home in Charlottesville, VA is in Lehigh Valley, PA. Unless we move back to Long Beach, then there is one just up the road in Carson.
Anyway, the night consisted of a 8 lap scratch race to get the blood moving, a flying 200 meter solo sprint against the clock, a 3 lap match sprint (more on that later), and finally a 15 lap scratch race to finish the evening. Actually to finish the evening we went to Mackers (McDonalds) to grab a hot fudge Sunday to take home. Almost nothing is open in this town past 9PM.
Okay, we will get some video footage of the races up later, but the scratch races were not too exciting, I got beat by faster people. Although in the last one I was pushing the pace out front a bit to try and tire out people. And I actually thought I was going in a good position into the last lap when the guy in front of me just pulled off, which screwed me.
The 200 meter sprint was okay I bested my fastest practice time by 3 hundredths to an okay time of 13.79 secs. This matched me up with the silver fox himself (the nickname for an older racer who is smart and fast). I figured as this was my first race and I would get beat out in the tactics I would just try to out sprint him early. The race usually works by the 2 racers watching each other for 2 laps then sprinting the last lap. I took off with 1.5 laps to go hoping to catch him out, I got a good 10 meter lead on the jump. But I was unable to hold him off, he eventually got into my slipstream, and got to even as we came into the final straight. I went as hard as I could go, but he just edged me out by a wheel length.
Anyway, the night consisted of a 8 lap scratch race to get the blood moving, a flying 200 meter solo sprint against the clock, a 3 lap match sprint (more on that later), and finally a 15 lap scratch race to finish the evening. Actually to finish the evening we went to Mackers (McDonalds) to grab a hot fudge Sunday to take home. Almost nothing is open in this town past 9PM.
Okay, we will get some video footage of the races up later, but the scratch races were not too exciting, I got beat by faster people. Although in the last one I was pushing the pace out front a bit to try and tire out people. And I actually thought I was going in a good position into the last lap when the guy in front of me just pulled off, which screwed me.
The 200 meter sprint was okay I bested my fastest practice time by 3 hundredths to an okay time of 13.79 secs. This matched me up with the silver fox himself (the nickname for an older racer who is smart and fast). I figured as this was my first race and I would get beat out in the tactics I would just try to out sprint him early. The race usually works by the 2 racers watching each other for 2 laps then sprinting the last lap. I took off with 1.5 laps to go hoping to catch him out, I got a good 10 meter lead on the jump. But I was unable to hold him off, he eventually got into my slipstream, and got to even as we came into the final straight. I went as hard as I could go, but he just edged me out by a wheel length.
Monday, February 1, 2010
5K of Pain
Today I got around to riding up to the top of Mt. Archer. It is the best climb around here, I have been meaning to ride up there for a while now, but today became the day when I went to the track and no one was there. I guess they were scared away by the threat of rain.
I don't have the official numbers, but I was told that it is 10-11% grade. It was almost exactly 5K from the base to the top. This was one hell of a climb, I am pretty sure I have not climbed a mountain this long at this steady of a grade. When I cycled through Colorado, I defiantly did longer climbs, but never this steep. It was a narrow 2 lane road, reminded me of the roads you see on the tour de france. I knew I was screwed when I clicked into my lowest gear and I was still having trouble turning over the pedals. I wished I had taken off the 11-23 cassette and switched it over to a 11-25 or 11-28 prior to leaving CA, but those are all in a box somewhere in storage.
So I slogged on up the hill, it was the presence of a guy behind me somewhere that kept me going, otherwise I think I may have turned around a few times on the way up. I was sweating so much (I do live in the tropics) that I was having trouble holding on to my wet handle bars. As I neared the top I came into the cloud cover and some rain. It was sort of neat to climb out of the sunshine and into the clouds. I finished in just over 30 min, not bad considering the fastest time up the hill was 24 min (the other cyclist told me this, not verified).
I realized how steep it was on the way back down. The roads were now slick because of the rain so I kept my speed down, I didn't really want any broken bones. My hands actually hurt holding onto the brake levers. I was able to use my new HR monitor for the ride and I averaged 168 on the way up, not bad. I am looking forward to trying the hill again next week. I am going to steal the cassette off Laura's bike first though.
I don't have the official numbers, but I was told that it is 10-11% grade. It was almost exactly 5K from the base to the top. This was one hell of a climb, I am pretty sure I have not climbed a mountain this long at this steady of a grade. When I cycled through Colorado, I defiantly did longer climbs, but never this steep. It was a narrow 2 lane road, reminded me of the roads you see on the tour de france. I knew I was screwed when I clicked into my lowest gear and I was still having trouble turning over the pedals. I wished I had taken off the 11-23 cassette and switched it over to a 11-25 or 11-28 prior to leaving CA, but those are all in a box somewhere in storage.
So I slogged on up the hill, it was the presence of a guy behind me somewhere that kept me going, otherwise I think I may have turned around a few times on the way up. I was sweating so much (I do live in the tropics) that I was having trouble holding on to my wet handle bars. As I neared the top I came into the cloud cover and some rain. It was sort of neat to climb out of the sunshine and into the clouds. I finished in just over 30 min, not bad considering the fastest time up the hill was 24 min (the other cyclist told me this, not verified).
I realized how steep it was on the way back down. The roads were now slick because of the rain so I kept my speed down, I didn't really want any broken bones. My hands actually hurt holding onto the brake levers. I was able to use my new HR monitor for the ride and I averaged 168 on the way up, not bad. I am looking forward to trying the hill again next week. I am going to steal the cassette off Laura's bike first though.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Race Night
I am starting to get the hang of cycling on the track. Last night was another club race, I raced 4 events in the B grade. My legs are getting faster when spinning up the pedals and I am learning some of the race tactics. We raced a scratch race, a 2 lap handicap, an elimination race and finally another scratch. The handicap was an exercise in pain, I just went for it from the gun as I was almost at the front with the start. I took the lead quickly and just buried myself. I was holding a 10 meter lead with 300 meters to go, but at about 150m to go I felt my leg speed coming down, and I was just about out of gas. In the final corner I was caught and the race blew by me.
The elimination was my best race, I manage to do pretty well in these races, even though sprinting every lap is painful. I rode the race from the back and tried to do only as much as I had to to be ahead of the one rider that was eliminated. One time I was boxed in on the sprint line and had to punch my way up through the center of the group. After that I made sure I had room to go around up on the outside of the track. When it got down 3 of us left the sprint was full out and it took a lot out of me, I managed to stay alive for the final lap, but was no competition for the end of the race.
The final scratch race was fun I think we did 18 laps. I finally felt like I had some power in my legs and I was able to jump on attacks and stay in the race. I was in poor position for the finish sprint, but I still came out in 5th place. I am already looking forward to next week.
The elimination was my best race, I manage to do pretty well in these races, even though sprinting every lap is painful. I rode the race from the back and tried to do only as much as I had to to be ahead of the one rider that was eliminated. One time I was boxed in on the sprint line and had to punch my way up through the center of the group. After that I made sure I had room to go around up on the outside of the track. When it got down 3 of us left the sprint was full out and it took a lot out of me, I managed to stay alive for the final lap, but was no competition for the end of the race.
The final scratch race was fun I think we did 18 laps. I finally felt like I had some power in my legs and I was able to jump on attacks and stay in the race. I was in poor position for the finish sprint, but I still came out in 5th place. I am already looking forward to next week.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Cup on Wheels Day #2
Saturday AM I decided I had better spin my legs a bit to get some of that lactic acid out. I set up some rollers that I borrowed and gave them a go, this was my first real experience riding on them, so I planted myself between a door jam for balance. It did not take too long to get the hang of them and I managed to get my legs loosened up.
The races went a bit better today, my legs had more go in them and I was prepared for the speed of the race. Laura found a nice place to watch the races from (left), although she quickly moved to a spot out of the sun (and closer to the bar.)
The first race was a 1000 meter handicap. I started out in the middle of the handicap at 65 meters with the furthest out guy at 120 meters. I was slow on the start and when the guys behind me went by, I really never got on their wheels. I finished somewhere near the end.
The next race was an elimination race, I finally found my legs with this race, I have just not trained myself to go 0 to 60 without any build up in the sprint races. I think we started out with 18 people in the elimination and I lasted through until there were 8-9 people left.
Next up was the Cup on Wheels (the main race for the night) heat, a 1600m handicap sprint. I started out as I wanted to this time and swung up onto the bank to let the guys behind me come underneath so I could draft off of them. I was happy with my position, but I ended up towards the back of the pack as we came into the last lap and was unable to make the top 8 for the final.
The final race was a points race, with sprints for points every 6 laps of the 24 lap race. With the sprint at 12 laps to go I ended up in a group that was gapped by the mainfield and there was not enough firepower in the group to catch back on. I ended up chasing the group until the next sprint, when they pulled away from me and that was it for the night.
The first race was a 1000 meter handicap. I started out in the middle of the handicap at 65 meters with the furthest out guy at 120 meters. I was slow on the start and when the guys behind me went by, I really never got on their wheels. I finished somewhere near the end.
The next race was an elimination race, I finally found my legs with this race, I have just not trained myself to go 0 to 60 without any build up in the sprint races. I think we started out with 18 people in the elimination and I lasted through until there were 8-9 people left.
The final race was a points race, with sprints for points every 6 laps of the 24 lap race. With the sprint at 12 laps to go I ended up in a group that was gapped by the mainfield and there was not enough firepower in the group to catch back on. I ended up chasing the group until the next sprint, when they pulled away from me and that was it for the night.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Rocky Cup on Wheels
Wow, this was quite an event. The races started out on Friday night around 6:30PM. When we arrived the track was transformed from what had been when we were training. They had bleachers set up all around the track, a bar at one end, and the track had been scrubbed clean. All the racers were set up on the north side of the track. Where there were a bunch of tents and plenty of rollers set up along the fence.
There were 3 races for me on Friday night, a scratch race, a 2333 meter handicap race and a Keirin race. I was moved up to the B grades for the race, so things were faster than I was used to in my previous 2 races. I think that I finished last or 2nd to last in the handicap, I was just not ready for the speed of people coming by me and I never was able to jump on their wheels. Same for the scratch race, when they started sprinting in the last lap, I just went backwards, my legs were just not there.
The Keirin (explanation here) was a neat event. I had never raced one, so it was new for me. We had a false start the first go around, but the second start was clean. The race was for 6 laps, when the motorbike pulled off with 1.5 laps to go, I thought I would have a go at jumping the bunch, that didn’t work too well and I finished at the back of the pack and did not advance to the finals. With my races over, we watched the rest of the events and then headed for some ice cream to end the night.
There were 3 races for me on Friday night, a scratch race, a 2333 meter handicap race and a Keirin race. I was moved up to the B grades for the race, so things were faster than I was used to in my previous 2 races. I think that I finished last or 2nd to last in the handicap, I was just not ready for the speed of people coming by me and I never was able to jump on their wheels. Same for the scratch race, when they started sprinting in the last lap, I just went backwards, my legs were just not there.
The Keirin (explanation here) was a neat event. I had never raced one, so it was new for me. We had a false start the first go around, but the second start was clean. The race was for 6 laps, when the motorbike pulled off with 1.5 laps to go, I thought I would have a go at jumping the bunch, that didn’t work too well and I finished at the back of the pack and did not advance to the finals. With my races over, we watched the rest of the events and then headed for some ice cream to end the night.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Win #1
Won my first track race tonight. An elimination race. (Each time around the track the last rider across the finish line is eliminated from the race). More to follow...
Monday, January 4, 2010
Moto Pacing
Had a great time on the track tonight, there were 5 of us and a coach. We did speed work which consisted of being motor paced behind a motorcycle. Very cool (except for the exhaust.) For the speed work we did flying 330meters x 3, one lap to speed then one lap at speed, I was turning over at around 55km/hr. Next we did flying 1km, same format, except coach really didn't slow down the bike, I was in the mid 50's for each one. The first one started after a break and my legs felt like rubber I could not get them turning fast enough, I lost the bike after 1.5 laps. For the second I stayed on the track and rode around, then dropped behind the bike. I was determined to stay on his wheel and bumped the roller a few times (allows you to get super close to the bike.) I made all 3 glued to the wheel. For the final one i didn't have much left only the determination not to get dropped. I made it to the final turn before coach took out 5 meters on me I thin he was challenging me to speed up, but I was wiped. An awesome experience. It was fun to work with a coach, I liked the motivation and motor pacing is fun, you should try it. I will have to get Laura to take some picts at some point.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Track Race #1
So last night was my first race on the track. Kurt I will not hold you in suspense, I finished 2 2x and 3rd 3x, no international win yet.. At first I didn't think I was going to be able to race. I went to renew my USA cycling membership and get an international license. Usually you just print out the membership after you have paid. But for the international they wanted my to sign a waiver and submit a copy of my passport. Turns out they are pretty chill at the races, it is just basically a club race, held every weekend. I explained to the woman what was going on when I signed up and asked about buying a day license, she just told me to fill out the day form, but that I didn't have to pay. If I crashed I could pay the money so I would have the insurance. So we are off. I then managed to get on the track for a few warm up laps prior to the racing starting.
The way they run the races here is they have 5 different races for each class. There are young kids, then a E/F class of slightly older kids , then a D class of slower teenagers and adults, then a C class (which I rode in) with masters and junior racers, B class which is prob like cat 3 racers and finally the A class which had the top guys (and Chadwick from Rock Racing). This format means there is a bit of downtime between races.
The first race was a 2 lap sprint, actually we started on the backside of the rack came through the finish line and the bell rung for last lap. I was just trying to see how things would go, one guy came flying by at 200 meters to go I jumped to try and catch him, I got out from the field, but was unable to catch the leader and got second. The next race was a 2 lap handicap, I started on the 35meter line with the guy who won the race on the scratch line (0 m), the rest of the field was spread out ahead of us. I was a bit slow getting going from the start (you are clipped in and someone holds you up. The guy behind me came by pretty quickly, but I bridged up to the group fairly quickly and started to get my legs, I was a bit wide on the track as we came towards the finish (the closer to the black line on the inside of the track the shorter distance) going around the group, but had good speed, another few meters and I would have won. As it was I finished 2 by a few cm.
The 3rd race was my favorite. It was a elimination race, which means that after 1 free lap, the last person across the line is out of the race. Like the missing out race we did at the last CBR race. The pace was not that high and I was able to come over the top for the first few laps. When we got down to 4 racers left I was kind of boxed in, so I just charged through a gap in the middle of the racers and hit the line ahead of everyone else. I actually gaped what remained of the field and at 150meters to go I looked back and one rider was on my wheel and another was gaped. I figured I would have an easy ride to the finish as that 3rd rider would be out. What I didn't realize was that she was sprinting hard to catch up with us and all of the sudden t riders shot by my. I sprinted then, but didn't have enough time to make up the ground and I was out by a wheel length. Too bad, because I was definitely a stronger and could have won the sprint and race if I had been paying attention.
The 4th race was another handicap. This time 3 laps. I started at the 15m line. I was starting to run out of gas for this one and just didn't get up to speed quick enough I finally worked my way towards the front with good speed, but I was on the outside again and the distance killed me. I ended up finishing 3rd or 4th. The final race was motorpaced (riding behind a motorcycle), 20 laps with the pace picking up each lap. This served to drop off the weaker riders as the race went on, by the time the bike pulled out at 2 laps to go there were only 4 of us left. I thought I was in good position at 2nd wheel as we came to the 200 meter line, but the guys behind me got a jump on me and I didn't have enough to get around them. I finished 3rd.
The whole race took about 3 hrs. I think it will be the last time that laura comes for the whole thing. Next week we have a race friday night and then the Rocky cup is the weekend after that which should see more racers.
The way they run the races here is they have 5 different races for each class. There are young kids, then a E/F class of slightly older kids , then a D class of slower teenagers and adults, then a C class (which I rode in) with masters and junior racers, B class which is prob like cat 3 racers and finally the A class which had the top guys (and Chadwick from Rock Racing). This format means there is a bit of downtime between races.
The first race was a 2 lap sprint, actually we started on the backside of the rack came through the finish line and the bell rung for last lap. I was just trying to see how things would go, one guy came flying by at 200 meters to go I jumped to try and catch him, I got out from the field, but was unable to catch the leader and got second. The next race was a 2 lap handicap, I started on the 35meter line with the guy who won the race on the scratch line (0 m), the rest of the field was spread out ahead of us. I was a bit slow getting going from the start (you are clipped in and someone holds you up. The guy behind me came by pretty quickly, but I bridged up to the group fairly quickly and started to get my legs, I was a bit wide on the track as we came towards the finish (the closer to the black line on the inside of the track the shorter distance) going around the group, but had good speed, another few meters and I would have won. As it was I finished 2 by a few cm.
The 3rd race was my favorite. It was a elimination race, which means that after 1 free lap, the last person across the line is out of the race. Like the missing out race we did at the last CBR race. The pace was not that high and I was able to come over the top for the first few laps. When we got down to 4 racers left I was kind of boxed in, so I just charged through a gap in the middle of the racers and hit the line ahead of everyone else. I actually gaped what remained of the field and at 150meters to go I looked back and one rider was on my wheel and another was gaped. I figured I would have an easy ride to the finish as that 3rd rider would be out. What I didn't realize was that she was sprinting hard to catch up with us and all of the sudden t riders shot by my. I sprinted then, but didn't have enough time to make up the ground and I was out by a wheel length. Too bad, because I was definitely a stronger and could have won the sprint and race if I had been paying attention.
The 4th race was another handicap. This time 3 laps. I started at the 15m line. I was starting to run out of gas for this one and just didn't get up to speed quick enough I finally worked my way towards the front with good speed, but I was on the outside again and the distance killed me. I ended up finishing 3rd or 4th. The final race was motorpaced (riding behind a motorcycle), 20 laps with the pace picking up each lap. This served to drop off the weaker riders as the race went on, by the time the bike pulled out at 2 laps to go there were only 4 of us left. I thought I was in good position at 2nd wheel as we came to the 200 meter line, but the guys behind me got a jump on me and I didn't have enough to get around them. I finished 3rd.
The whole race took about 3 hrs. I think it will be the last time that laura comes for the whole thing. Next week we have a race friday night and then the Rocky cup is the weekend after that which should see more racers.
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