Yesterday was FAST. Well there were times when it was slow but when it sped up we were at a faster level than my legs were used to. We had some racers I hadn't raced with before on the track - Kelly, Jen, Monique, to add to the already fast racing of the regulars, Amara, Tela, Christine and others. It was fun to have such a talented field to race with.
I had a smaller gear for this race which I'm not sure I liked. However it wasn't a good comparison since we also had a faster field. I just have to race more to figure everything out.
Our first race was a scratch and was fast because we had several primes to keep us from slowing down. I hung on but wasn't really contesting anything. I was on the front with two to go but couldn't match the jump when it came around me.
The next race, the miss-and-out I totally screwed up. I had this idea of starting at the front and then moving to the outside. But one of the really strong racers also was going for the front and pulled ahead of me. So then I was in a really bad position and tried to correct it but we still had the entire field in the race and they were in a single line on my outside - so I was trapped. Out on the first lap! I learned later that if you are trapped you need to slowdown as fast as is safe and get to an outlet. You can't try to do it on the last corner either. It's tough to gain experience this way but I'm hoping it will be a valuable lesson to keep me out of trouble in the future.
The last race was a 4x5 points race. I had fun going for an attack but I really didn't have the fire in my legs to contest sprints. Karen tried to give me a leadout for some points but I totally missed her signals and didn't get on her wheel. I will have to be more alert to communication that can benefit me! It is great to have someone who wants to do team stuff with me.
I am looking forward to more elite level racing!
The last race of the night was the men's cat 1-2 Madison. I watched closely to try and learn from the guys. Jen and Monique raced with them too. It is really hard to follow a Madison race and it is also hard to try and video them and watch. I took some video but then decided to just watch the rest without a camera. I highly recommend getting out to the track to watch the racing in person!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday Racing with Cat 4 Men
Last night I raced with the Cat 4 Men's field. Since I upgraded to Cat 3 I can't race with Cat 4 women but I can still race on Wednesdays if I go with the Men.
There were 45 men total (and me) so they split us into two groups. It was still probably the biggest group I've raced with. I'm hoping that riding with a big group will better prepare me for the upcoming FSA Grand Prix race at Marymoor.
We started out with an 8 lap scratch. The pace was slow for about three laps and then it really picked up. I didn't position myself well and got gapped off a couple of laps before the end, but I wasn't too far back. The next race was a point-a-lap and so the pace was much higher right away, which made me feel safer. I did a bit better but there were a lot of riders getting gapped near the end and I was one of them again. Right after I got gapped there was a crash on the inside.
On the last race - the 4x5, I resolved to try and get closer to the wheel in front of me and to try and ride with better position. I also remembered that when I raced with the men last time, I really pulled on my bars to get the acceleration for surges. One of the riders offered to pull me for a prime but I wasn't confident of my riding to follow him when he went on the inside. Especially after just seeing a rider crash on the inside. This time things went much better though. I was riding near the front of the group when my friend attacked. The field swarmed around me but I held on. The pace was fast and the field was really strung out but I was able to stick with it all the way to the finish.
There were 45 men total (and me) so they split us into two groups. It was still probably the biggest group I've raced with. I'm hoping that riding with a big group will better prepare me for the upcoming FSA Grand Prix race at Marymoor.
We started out with an 8 lap scratch. The pace was slow for about three laps and then it really picked up. I didn't position myself well and got gapped off a couple of laps before the end, but I wasn't too far back. The next race was a point-a-lap and so the pace was much higher right away, which made me feel safer. I did a bit better but there were a lot of riders getting gapped near the end and I was one of them again. Right after I got gapped there was a crash on the inside.
On the last race - the 4x5, I resolved to try and get closer to the wheel in front of me and to try and ride with better position. I also remembered that when I raced with the men last time, I really pulled on my bars to get the acceleration for surges. One of the riders offered to pull me for a prime but I wasn't confident of my riding to follow him when he went on the inside. Especially after just seeing a rider crash on the inside. This time things went much better though. I was riding near the front of the group when my friend attacked. The field swarmed around me but I held on. The pace was fast and the field was really strung out but I was able to stick with it all the way to the finish.
Fast Track/More Madison
I went out with Karen for fast track training on Tuesday. It was pretty crazy with everybody working on different stuff. Warm up was pretty organized but then it broke into smaller groups. Karen and I rode with Annette who was late and missed the main group warm up. Annette was shocked at how bad I was at riding on the wheel and worked on getting me to do better. I haven't done much riding on the track other than racing so I haven't worked on skills and it is obvious when I try to ride in a paceline.
We did a few fast laps with Annette after warm up. I felt pretty terrified; weaving through all of the other riders at high speed! It was no problem at all for Annette though.
After 8pm Karen and I started working on our Madison exchanges. We got Jen to help us out. It was good to have some practice doing the exchanges with another person.
There was a photographer there with a huge lens. I hope I can find the pictures somewhere. It's a bit funny to have someone taking pictures of your workout. I think the Madison is probably a fun subject for a photographer though.
We did a few fast laps with Annette after warm up. I felt pretty terrified; weaving through all of the other riders at high speed! It was no problem at all for Annette though.
After 8pm Karen and I started working on our Madison exchanges. We got Jen to help us out. It was good to have some practice doing the exchanges with another person.
There was a photographer there with a huge lens. I hope I can find the pictures somewhere. It's a bit funny to have someone taking pictures of your workout. I think the Madison is probably a fun subject for a photographer though.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Kirkland loop
I did a recovery ride today with some climbing. It was humid with a little rain but really warm. I didn't plan the ride early enough to have any training partners so I used the opportunity of being by myself to check out a new route. It was really fun but I should have taken Old Redmond Road instead of Redmond Way - Redmond Road was a bit busier than I like. Otherwise a great route if you don't mind the steep part up from the trail.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Kirkland-loop
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Kirkland-loop
Sprinting for the cookies
Last night was July 4th at the track but that didn't keep the racers away! We had 12 women out racing including one racer from Minnesota. Before the racing started I found 4 4-leaf clovers in the grass! I picked one and gave it to Annette because she has had more of her share of crashes this year. I picked another and put in my pocket. I left the other two in the grass. Maybe someone else wants a good luck charm?
Our first race was a win-in-out which I knew would be a fast one. I was trying to go for the second sprint but it didn't work out. I knew there would be good competition for the first sprint but there was a gap in the field and I chose the wrong wheel to be on. So I had a long way to make up and wasn't in position for the next sprints. I ended up 6th.
The next race was the Keirin, which I'd seen many times but never done before. I knew from watching videos that you didn't want to sit at the back and wait. I was last in line behind the motorcycle but I came up to the front as he was pulling off and then poured on the gas. I had just watched Annette win the heat before from the front so I figured it was a good strategy. However I didn't time my effort and died on the back stretch and all of the riders came around before the finish. Kenny told me afterwards that it was a good plan but "plan it so you die at the line and not before". The next time out was the consolation heat, my second Keirin ever! I went for the same strategy but I didn't go to the front. I wasted too much energy before the finish didn't have it for the sprint.
The last race was a 20-lap scratch. I didn't have any teammates in the race so I needed to save energy for the finish. However when they called the first "cash & cookies" prime I went for it. I took second - for the cookies. Then I tried to ride on good wheels. There were several splits in the field but I didn't panic and each time it came back together. With two to go we were all together again. I moved up onto a good wheel and suddenly I felt like I was doing my 3rd Keirin. This time I timed it right and got 3rd in the final sprint! That put me in 4th overall for the night.
They brought by my cookies prime after the race. I thought it might be 1 or 2 cookies but it was 16! I took them around and shared. They will make good snacks on tomorrow's ride.
Annette had a great final race - she got in a breakaway with Ron (a teammate) and Nick. They held off the field and Annette won the final sprint to the joy of a roaring crowd.
We enjoyed watching the fireworks on the drive home - especially going across the bridge.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Madison Practice at Marymoor Velodrome!
Yesterday was our Madison practice! Or "racing on fast forward" as Adrian called it.
I was nervous about doing the slings but the class guided us through the technique very methodically. First we practiced on the grass with our partners. We used the "double-hook-sling" hand hold method instead of a tight grip. Each partner hooked their hands and connected at the glove. This was less intimidating since you knew you could get out of it if needed. Mark described it like "a fighter jet landing on an aircraft carrier, grabbing the arrestor wire with the tailhook".
We then rode around the apron practicing the hand hold with little surges. Then we progressed to the track, first at moderate speed and then faster. At the end they pulled out the moto and did a paceline. I still have to master all of the traffic so I wasn't ready to jump on the moto yet. I think with a few more practices I will be ready to race.
There are lots of weird considerations in the Madison, and it turns upside down your concept of racing. The faster the race is, the slower you go on relief. But you are never really on relief because you have to set up for the next exchange. Also, gearing is ridiculously low. Like, the professional 6-dayers might use an 89" gear, averaging 60kpm, and sprinting at 70kph. Scoring is done old-style: first by laps, then sprint points. Each track has its own rules including Marymoor. There are lots of tricks that will give you better wheel position, and they are non-intuitive. The Madison is essentially a continuous relay and the sling is just a part of it.
The long term goal is to make Madison racing a regular feature at MV. It is very big in Europe, and fast gaining popularity in the states. The first step is to increase the number of people that are proficient in this event. So, this is a chance to get in on The Beginning.
Here is a video compilation of some of the practice slings:
I was nervous about doing the slings but the class guided us through the technique very methodically. First we practiced on the grass with our partners. We used the "double-hook-sling" hand hold method instead of a tight grip. Each partner hooked their hands and connected at the glove. This was less intimidating since you knew you could get out of it if needed. Mark described it like "a fighter jet landing on an aircraft carrier, grabbing the arrestor wire with the tailhook".
We then rode around the apron practicing the hand hold with little surges. Then we progressed to the track, first at moderate speed and then faster. At the end they pulled out the moto and did a paceline. I still have to master all of the traffic so I wasn't ready to jump on the moto yet. I think with a few more practices I will be ready to race.
There are lots of weird considerations in the Madison, and it turns upside down your concept of racing. The faster the race is, the slower you go on relief. But you are never really on relief because you have to set up for the next exchange. Also, gearing is ridiculously low. Like, the professional 6-dayers might use an 89" gear, averaging 60kpm, and sprinting at 70kph. Scoring is done old-style: first by laps, then sprint points. Each track has its own rules including Marymoor. There are lots of tricks that will give you better wheel position, and they are non-intuitive. The Madison is essentially a continuous relay and the sling is just a part of it.
The long term goal is to make Madison racing a regular feature at MV. It is very big in Europe, and fast gaining popularity in the states. The first step is to increase the number of people that are proficient in this event. So, this is a chance to get in on The Beginning.
Here is a video compilation of some of the practice slings:
Des Moines Crit
I ended up 7th at the Des Moines but it was a bit disappointing. I got pulled after about 20 minutes.
Although later when I looked at the names in the results I realized that I was the only one racing on Sunday who also raced on the track on Friday - not to mention Wednesday! So I have track legs that don't especially like inclines!
Although later when I looked at the names in the results I realized that I was the only one racing on Sunday who also raced on the track on Friday - not to mention Wednesday! So I have track legs that don't especially like inclines!
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