Monday, August 3, 2015

Random Pics from the Road Race Season

Brambleton Grand Prix
Photo Credit:  Kevin Dillard

Millers School RR
Photo Credit:  Dominion Cycling Photography
Chesapeake Criterium
Photo Credit:  Dusty McKinnon

Miller School Age Grade RR VA
State Championship

Chesapeake Criterium - VA State Senior Championship

2015 Tour of Hampton Roads Race Report

Tour of Hampton Roads Race Report
July 18-19, 2015
Newport News and New Kent, VA

The Tour of Hampton Roads is an omnium consisting (this year) of two races, a criterium located in a town center and a road race located in an area that really needed more trees.   Dan Netzer and those helping him put on a great race weekend – I wish more of MABRA would attend.


Oyster Point Criterium:
5:50 PM, W Pro/1/2/3
Field Size:  15

Although the field was small, strong women populated it.  The usual suspects from the area, such as Laura (James River Velo) and Amanda Eichert (Mermaid Winery) were at the line.  I was happy to see Ali Ingram (James River) back on her bike – she has been sidelined the entire summer because of a dog-related knee injury.  Colavita Mid-Atlantic (Janelle Hubbard and Laura Cauthers) and Artemis (Diana Chang) were also in the field.  To make things more interesting, we also had Erin Wittwer (Fearless Femme) and  Julie Kuliecza (Pepper Palace).  I was joined by Christine, fresh off a taxing W45+ race earlier in the day (sarcasm – but that is her story to tell…).

The course is about 0.80 mile and reminds me of Brambleton except you cannot look across the course and see rider progression.  Last year the course ran the opposite direction, with the finishing line on the faux cobbles in front of the all the restaurants.   While the course seems to flow better this year, the finish line is removed from the commercial area, leaving Joe Jefferson without random strangers from whom he could elicit cash for primes, etc.

At the line, I learned our race had an omnium points prime but other than that, no chance to win beer or socks.  Our race went off with Julie and Erin playing cat and mouse with each other.    Early on during the race, I thought we had a break – Erin attacked with Julie on her wheel.  As we caught them, they split on either sides of the road and Julie attacked again.  Someone gave chase and I sprinted to get to them.  We were away but the pace soon slowed.  Looking back, that was the best shot to stay away for the entire race and I wish that I had the oxygen in my brain to realize the opportunity.

The bell sounded for the prime lap and I sat on Laura’s wheel into the final turn.  As we sprinted for the line, Janelle, Laura and I battled to cross first, with Janelle coming out on top, picking up three points.  I grabbed two.  As we crossed, I thought….this would be a good time for someone to attack and sure enough, that happened.  More sprinting ensued.  The rest of the race had more cat and mouse, but we stayed together.

As we made the final turn in the penultimate lap, Julie attacked with Erin on her wheel.  I thought, “This is it.”  I could hear Chuck yelling to get out of the saddle and go.  I locked my eyes on Erin’s wheel in the distance, put my head down and caught them.  Others were behind me but not on my wheel.  I am still thinking, “This is it.  We will continue and I hope I can stay attached.”  Sadly, they slowed.  The field swarmed and I had burned a needed match.  The race ended in a field sprint, with Julie winning by a couple of bike lengths.  Diana (Artemis) was second.  Looking back, I realize I needed to take matters more into my own hands rather than leave it in the hands (legs to be more appropriate) of two very strong women.  I should have continued past Julie in that last lap and to see what would have happened.  Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

New Kent Road Race
51 miles.  Ridiculous heat.

The road race has an 11 mile loop, with a short section of gravel and a longer section of so-called chipseal.  Given the small size of our field and the Master’s Men 35/45+, we were combined into one starting wave.  We lined up behind the men and I knew that if I could stay with the men longer than the other women, I stood a good chance of winning the race.   I ignored my inner chicken, who was shouting, “Gravel….chipseal…..men’s field…..bist du verrueckt?”  My inner chicken sometimes yells in German to make a point.  Chuck attempted to calm my nerves by saying how cool it was that we could race together.

We rolled and I worked my way up the field to sit toward the middle of the pack.  I wanted to reduce my effort level as much as possible, since I knew that the likes of Tom Godfrey, Mike Stearns, and Dave Fuentes in the field meant my legs would want to soon fall off.    When we hit the gravel, I locked my eyes on Chuck’s wheel.  I knew he could stay upright and I pretended we were riding CX bikes in Wakefield.  We returned to smooth pavement and I realize most of the women’s field is gone.  Avanell (Mermaid) is to my left and we are soon joined by Laura (James River) and Alex (Bike Stop).  The race is now down to four.

As we crossed the finish line for the first time, the pace slowed for the feed zone.  Someone attacked and I am surprised to find that when the chaos slows, I am still with the group, as is Alex.  At some point before the gravel, Alex and I could not close the gap and we were off the group.  The moto informed us one chaser is about 30 seconds behind, another two are 90 seconds and the rest of the group is more than 20 minutes back.  We worked together to increase this time gap, passing some 3/4 guys who can draft off of us but cannot pull through.

Shortly, we passed a dropped 35/45+ rider, with whom we can work.  We rotated short pulls with a couple of 3/4 guys lingering in our draft.  The heat was oppressive.  I missed a feed (not by Christine) at the end of the second lap and was a bit worried about the effects of the heat on my legs.  At this point, I wondered if we had enough of a gap to be able to slow down.  Alex luckily insisted that we keep pushing the pace. 

 As we started the final lap, Christine handed me both a cold bottle and icepack, which I think saved me.  By this time, my legs felt like they wanted to cramp.  Alex and unnamed 35/45+ guy pulled while I sat-in.  We went through the gravel and came out clear.  Five-ish miles to go when Alex and I touched wheels, I overcompensated and hit the road.  Noooooo.

I sat up and yelled for Alex to go.  We worked too hard for one of us not to win this race.  The moto circled back to make sure I was okay.  I was dazed, more from the heat than anything.  He suggested that I check my bike (it worked despite a bent RD hanger) and get back on it if I did not need a medic.  I really wanted him to put me in an air-conditioned car.  Instead, I got back on my bike and thought….”Damn.  I really wanted one of those steps on the podium.  I wonder when they will catch me.”  After about a mile or so, I thought of all those stages in the Tour where the break-a-way gets caught just before the finish line. I thought of the TT in Tour of Washington County where Sue beat me by some fraction of a second.  I thought of all the intervals I have completed on Gunston Road where I visualized being in a break.  My left hand was throbbing and it hurt to breathe.  I wanted to soft pedal – everyone would understand but I would know that I had, yet again, quit.  I targeted keeping my power in high tempo and hope that would not only be doable but fast enough to keep me in second.

As the miles slowly ticked down, I wondered if I would stay away.  Just before the crash, we heard conflicting time reports….the chasing group was 5 miles back, then 90 seconds back.  I hoped it was the former.  With every bend in the road, I kept hoping to see the tents near the finish line.  Finally, it was over.  I crossed the line in 2nd.

From Dubai to Ulaanbaatar - The Roads Less Traveled.

I am a PhD economist with the State Department and provide both education and training to our diplomats.  Recently we started offering classes abroad at post – which is an amazing opportunity for me as an economist but huge challenge as a cyclist with respect to training and maintaining acquired fitness as I traverse time zones and cultures.

I found a Sea Otter at the Sea Otter Classic
Jeff Cup:After some great training in Tucson in March, I went to Dubai and Doha to teach Data Analysis and the Economics of Energy.  Traveling with my bike was not possible so I was thankful for the 24 hour gym and jet lag which meant I was awake when the rest of the UAE and Qatar was asleep.  The experiences were amazing but….after 14 hours on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha without a single open seat, I arrived in DC less than 12 hours before Jeff Cup.  More importantly….I left about 90 degrees to return to winter.  My inner lizard (named Lizzie) really does not like cold, let alone the taunting of warm weather for about 2 weeks and then cold.  Lizzie and I decided Jeff Cup was a bad idea, got on the trainer and discovered we left legs and lungs in Doha.

Sea Otter:
Liz and I targeted Sea Otter as the first race.  The weather should be good and I would have enough time to gain back some fitness.  The first race was a crit on the Mazda Laguna Seca speedway.  About 40 women were in the field and the course– two almost 360 degree turns that brought the field to a track stand.  The field stayed together.  I popped off after getting pushed into the railing on one of the turns and I just decided it was a nice day to TT instead.  My fitness was ok but I was still not pleased.  The rest of the week was spent pedaling along 17 Mile Drive, ignoring the call to tee off at Pebble.

Tour of Page County:
Road Race:  Unlike last year, where people attacked throughout the race, the pace for three of the four laps was recipe-exchange inducing.  The field had some very strong women, but only a few seemed interested in racing more than for the final sprint.  I tried a couple of times to get away as did Sue (ABRT), Michele S. (Bike Stop), Laura (James River Velo) and a few others but…it was not a race until the final kilometer.  I finished 6th.
Time Trial:  I like the TT course and had a good warmup.  The roads were wet and I found myself nervous about the handling of my bike on the wet pavement.  I thought I was ok until my 30 sec. person behind me passed me.  We usually TT around the same pace, so I decided to use her for a rabbit.  Once the road sloped down I realized I was a big chicken and backed off.  Arrggh.  8th in the TT (my rabbit was 3rd…shoulda, woulda, coulda I guess)
Crit:  Sue from ABRT mentioned her plan to jump at the start of the race, which was my plan so…she jumped, I followed and after a couple of laps we had about 8, then 6 and then 5.  The rest of the field was broken up – with an eventual chase group forming of about 8.  I popped off the pack and chased back as a preme lap bell rang…I should have moved to the very front but…did not.  I popped off again, this time for good, with about 6 or 7 to go.  Now I needed to stay away from the chasing group.  On the penultimate lap, I heard Chuck yell…they are catching you…you have to bury yourself.  Even Mimi (the chief official) cheered for me at some point when I was in no-man’s land.  As I made the turn to take the hill for the last time, I heard Chuck yelling…stand…you have to stand. Obviously, he could see more than I could, so I sprinted up the hill, safely in 5th.  Afterwards, I saw the 2000 pictures that Sophie’s mom (RC Velo…junior) took (kid you not 2000) which allowed me to see the race unfold.  Good thing I stood and sprinted….
While I was mad at popping, I was happy that my fitness seemed better.

Argyle Time Trial:  I selected the 23 mile option.  Due to the lack of a road marshal on a turn, most of the juniors and women did a TT of variable length.  Wendy (Colavita and a name you all know) also did about 23.  Sue (ABRT) choose the 30 mile option.  Since I was the only W1/2, it did not matter. 
Waiting for results was taxing...good thing I had great company with my former teammate, Wendy.


Time to fly to Mongolia.  Dulles to Bejing to 6 hours in the airport to Ulaanbaatar – 23 hours of traveling and I was in the capital city of Mongolia.  More indoor cycling.  Ulaanbaatar to Seoul to Tokyo.  At the Imperial Gardens, I saw hundreds of cyclists but it seemed in poor form to knock someone off their bike so I could ride.  More indoor spinning.  Lots of good food and great experiences but fitness dwindling every day.  Tokyo to Dulles to start the hardest recovery from traveling I have ever had.  The 13 hour time difference and 14 hours in coach…I wanted to cry when I thought about my race season.

So – what better way to reengage than…wait for it…the Tour of Tucker County?  I blame jet lag for my decision.  Not sure what possessed Chuck to suggest it. Hell must have frozen….

Tour of Tucker County:  You know it will be bad when the race director asks who is new and who has any idea of what is in store for them…56 miles with 2 climbs of note….and of course, ending on a nice ascent.  I told myself the last climb was only a Cat1…my legs have collected HC summits in the Alps and Pyrenees.  I can do this.  I did it but it was not pretty.  We rolled with the Masters men and I became reacquainted with God through a prayer during some of slight descents at the start of the race.  I soon realized that trying to maintain that pace would call into doubt my ability to finish so I slowed down and found another in my race with whom to work.  To be polite about this…she was unhappy that she would be off the podium and got into the car at the feed-zone.  Time for a 20 mile TT without water.  Once I finished, I must have been delirious for I apparently posted on FB that Mike Stearns looks good on a bike…most important lesson learned….secure cell phone in the RV before leaving for the start line….
Waiting for the start with Kelley.

Tour of Somerville:  I wish my legs had three races in them but after Tucker, I was so tired that I decided to focus on Somerville.  I want to race Masters Nats in September and thought this would be the better of the two races (Ft. Ritchie being the other).  I really liked Somerville last year, despite crashing in the final corner on the final lap and wanted to attempt to remain upright this year.  My goal for the race was to overcome my inner chicken and position myself in the middle of the group if not toward the front.  The first few laps I was again in therace had the same feel as last year – after the start/finish sprint out of turn 2 then slower for the rest of the lap.  Sue (ABRT) was also in the raceand I tried to stay on her wheel.  At one point, Laura Van Gilder attacked and found myself in a small group chasing.  The bubble thought on that pic, “OMG.  I am chasing LVG.”  Midway through the race, Sue jumped when I was on her wheel.  After a momentary pause, I gave chase and the woman behind me shouted that we had a break.  I figured I would die before I would give up getting Sue’s wheel.  I caught it, we had a little break for half a lap and we were back together.  Racing while starstruck is hard to do!  A women went off the front with about 10 to go – she was literally caught with 5 meters to go.  I managed to finish with the pack.
back…sprinting to maintain contact after the second turn.  The

Next up:  The French Fry Crit (McDonald’s Criterium) in Huntington, WV (Chuck’s hometown) Sat and Millers School on Sunday.  Hope the legs are there from Tokyo!