Post by sidmcmahon on May 7, 2013 22:03:07 GMT -5
I decided to become a roadie this year and do some bike racing. This will be new territory for me after being a runner for 25 years and a triathlete for the last 5. My first race was last weekend, Calvins Challenge. It is a 12 hour race and the person that goes the farthest wins. To prepare for the race I road with a group out of Berea, Long distance cycling group. Did 4 Centuries and 4 other rides between 80-100 miles. A few of the centuries were ridden in 30 degree weather. I had no idea if I had done enough training.
The race starts at Shawnee High School near Dayton. Everyone brings coolers and lines them around the half circle that you go through on each lap. The laps are 50.5 miles. The long course shuts down at 4:30 and you are pushed onto a 7 mile shorter loop.
The first lap, I joined with about 8 or 9 people of equal ability and we had a nice pace line going. The wind was brutal, sustained 15 MPH all day with no let up. We all worked together and took turns pulling. Many times side winds tore us apart but we seemed to get back together. At end of first lap, I ate 1/2 ham sandwich, big mistake as this bothered me the entire second lap. Joined up with many of the same people for lap 2. Finished the first 101 miles in 5:30 or around 18.3 mph.
Ate some fruit at lap 2 and this was much better. Average time off the bike for the first two laps was about 2-3 minutes per lap. On and off real quick. Not sure if I came out first or last after 2nd lap but found myself alone on course. Made a wrong turn and somehow got onto the short lap. Completed one short lap and got back onto long course but was isolated with those 15 mph winds. The race director tweeted during the afternoon that the winds caused many riders to lose their will to live, I understand. Slowed down with the wind and just starting to get tired.
After a 3 minute break, pushed on and got onto the short loop. Met up and joined several pace lines but some times got dropped. I needed to refill my fluids after 3 short laps. Could not get my leg over the seat and had to really tip the bike over to get on.
At the end of the 12 hours, I had put in 200.5 miles for average mph of 16.7. Speed fell way off on second half of race. Race was a lot of fun and I definitely plan to do it again next year . Some of people I went down with are planning to do the national 24 hour challange. I will pass on this and get into some cat 5 racing.
Sid
The race starts at Shawnee High School near Dayton. Everyone brings coolers and lines them around the half circle that you go through on each lap. The laps are 50.5 miles. The long course shuts down at 4:30 and you are pushed onto a 7 mile shorter loop.
The first lap, I joined with about 8 or 9 people of equal ability and we had a nice pace line going. The wind was brutal, sustained 15 MPH all day with no let up. We all worked together and took turns pulling. Many times side winds tore us apart but we seemed to get back together. At end of first lap, I ate 1/2 ham sandwich, big mistake as this bothered me the entire second lap. Joined up with many of the same people for lap 2. Finished the first 101 miles in 5:30 or around 18.3 mph.
Ate some fruit at lap 2 and this was much better. Average time off the bike for the first two laps was about 2-3 minutes per lap. On and off real quick. Not sure if I came out first or last after 2nd lap but found myself alone on course. Made a wrong turn and somehow got onto the short lap. Completed one short lap and got back onto long course but was isolated with those 15 mph winds. The race director tweeted during the afternoon that the winds caused many riders to lose their will to live, I understand. Slowed down with the wind and just starting to get tired.
After a 3 minute break, pushed on and got onto the short loop. Met up and joined several pace lines but some times got dropped. I needed to refill my fluids after 3 short laps. Could not get my leg over the seat and had to really tip the bike over to get on.
At the end of the 12 hours, I had put in 200.5 miles for average mph of 16.7. Speed fell way off on second half of race. Race was a lot of fun and I definitely plan to do it again next year . Some of people I went down with are planning to do the national 24 hour challange. I will pass on this and get into some cat 5 racing.
Sid