Psycho-Cross
posted on November 8th, 2010 in Cycling, Reviews, Ride Reports by Stephen
As if the past couple of weeks haven’t been crazy enough, I wanted to go watch Psycho-Cross at the Dick Lane Velodrome this year. I have track raced at the Dick Lane Velodrome several seasons and it really improved my road racing. After being away from track racing for several seasons, I got back down there a couple times this year and got some video .
After missing it the previous year and seeing the pictures from the Psycho-Cross race I really wanted to attend the event this year. But as the registration deadline came upon us, things get set into motion and you become pulled in different directions attempting to fit in as much as possible with the limited hours employees call a weekend.
|Photo by Ben Brian|
What I thought was going to be a simple transfer of vehicles at the velodrome turned into chaotic string of phone calls, drastic change of transportation, spastic organization, and directionally challenged, hang it all out, let’s Party event!
After finalizing my ride with Geoff, Eddie informed me that we were heading to A.T.S. to grab my Mt bike – I would not be spectating, but indeed racing – whichever race was still available once we got there – luckily the Master’s had already started, and I registered for the B’s race.
Once there I got dressed, grabbed the wallet, headed to registration, got signed up, back to Geoff’s car – and it’s locked…. back past registration, search the sea of spectators, find Geoff, back to the car, drop off wallet. Get water – no bottles.?! No time! I grab a quick outfit for the event & race back to the start line where I have about 30 seconds for them to say “Go!”
It is a nice easy uphill start to the event then into some switch backs that is Great to thin the pack out right away. I started near the back, and things were not to get much better for me, but the fun hadn’t even started yet. After the first “there is no way they could better utilize space” of a course, switchbacks, the cotton-mouth was driving me crazy, and I had no water bottle to drink from, it’s warm for October and a far stretch from the 50* and rain of this time last year.
You come out of the top switch backs, down over the curb onto the asphalt that leads you into the velodrome, dropping into the infield for a suicide lap (right hand turns). After making it through turns 3/4 of the drome, you go through a chicane on the back stretch then back onto the grass for some switch backs that loop you back around to the backside field for the only set of barriers – this was cool, because you could now see who was behind you as you double back. Next you get onto the inner track of the velodrome, then onto the ‘run-up’ to the parking lot, through some more switchbacks -remember use of space here! – then onto the grass area switchbacks then onto the asphalt back to the velodrome again…. if it sounds easy, it wasn’t. It was pretty tough! Some guys were making the run-up this year, last year only 1-2 people did the whole day.
Finally by the end of the 2nd lap I knew I wasn’t going to be in contention for anything but the “lantern rouge” (last finisher) so I called out for not just any drink – the drink of mythical creatures, the drink that turns bar wenches into Angels – BEER! Interesting how during a cross race, it is not only appropriate, but almost expected for those racing to consume this liquid beverage.
|Photo by Peachtree Bikes|
Beer was indeed quickly handed out by several spectators that seemed to take pity on my suffering and willing to add quantities of fluids to wash away said cotton-mouth. Nervous at first of racing on hops and barley, I swigged gingerly, and did a lap. No problems except for the cotton mouth rearing it’s ugly head again.
|Photo by Ben Brian|
After a couple rounds of Psycho-Cross and refreshments from the Fans, the hairpin turns started to be smoothed out, I used my brakes a little less – whether I was more relaxed in the turns or not going as fast is debatable. But 1 thing for sure, the Fun was in Full effect!
|Photo by Ben Brian|
I couldn’t tell you where I placed in the race, and really I don’t care. I had a Blast, raced a solid effort (maybe I should say I got some solid race-pace efforts), and nearly drank my entry fee worth of beer < — that alone is a great reason for you to get out and try a cyclo-cross race this winter! BUT the main reason that you should try doing cyclo-cross is not about winning, it isn’t about how well you do. Cyclo-cross is truly about bike handling skills – mounting, dismounts, carrying, and steering through terrain variations. Oh, and having Fun while getting in a great workout that your body probably isn’t used too.
leave a comment (1)
No US Pro Race Radio
posted on September 19th, 2010 in Cycling, Ride Reports by Stephen
I was at the 2010 USPro race in Greenville, SC. While I was there I found out that the officials did not allow race radios. So the team directors could only talk to a rider if the rider slowed down so their team car could pull up beside him, or the driver was able to pull up beside the racer along a section of road.
Normally the team directors have instantaneous communication with their team members and direct information from race officials about time gaps, and where team members are along the road – besides this, they will also get information about upcoming obstacles and odd situations that the racers may encounter.
During the 2010 USPro race a young up and coming cyclist Ben King racing for the Shack, was in a 3 man break almost immediately, and on the 3rd lap, almost as soon as the climb started up Paris Mt. King pulled away from his break a way companions. It would be the last time he would ride with another cyclist that day. He climbed up Paris Mt, then through downtown Greenville, SC. Up Paris Mt again, before starting the final 3 laps on the finishing circuit in a Time Trial position.
I was chatting with different people and everyone seemed to agree that the pack would start to heat up, and a team would come to the front and reel King back in. I saw BMC come to the front. BMC had what appeared to be 4 riders in the next break, including George Hincapie, and Levi Leipheimer. Several teams kept the pace high in attempts to reel in King, including BMC, Kelly Strategies, Garmin Transitions – yet they were unsuccessful in reeling in the solo break-a-way rider King. In fact King seemed to hold his 2 minute lead around most of the downtown circuit.
King held a 2 minute gap against riders from 3 different teams. Would race radios have changed this?
Most USCF racers are not allowed to use radios, citing ‘too distractive’. Is this a sign of future racing – No race radios? Will this make for more exciting races?
leave a comments (0)
Mens Racing Category
posted on August 24th, 2010 in Cycling, Cycling Tips, Reviews by Stephen
There was a question asked many times, about road racing categories and which category should a beginner cyclist join to attempt their first race? Hopefully, this will clarify some of these questions for beginners as well as give some racers a better idea of what to expect from teams and team strategies for racing in higher categories.
While this may seem like a basic question to the common racer, it is a often asked question from outsiders of the cycling racing scene.
I can only write about things that I have seen and experienced from racing in the categories and some USPro races in the South Eastern US.
Here in the US we have USA Cycling Federation that creates and enforces most regulations of ‘sanctioned’ races.
But as I look over their website, it seems based for riders that are into racing, not riders that are looking to get into racing. So, I thought I would compile the basic categories and some info on what to expect in each.
MEN Categories are as follows:
Beginners = Category 5, nearly all racers must start in this category. There will be 1st time racers as well as some folks that are used to doing group rides and are now starting to get the hang of what it is like to ride steady and finish a race.
Upgrading 5-4:
To’upgrade’ from this category you Experience in 10 mass start races. Mass starts are groups starts – IE. criterium or road races. NO Time trial starts will qualify.
Category 4 = These riders have competed in a minimum number of cat.5 races. There will be riders here that are still getting their feet wet, and some riders that like racing in this category and can win many races.
Expect the pack to roll along usually together, and chase most attacks from other riders, but usually no counter-attacks, Therefore, most races in this category will come down to a sprint finish.
Upgrading 4->3:
20 points in any 12-month period; or experience in 25 qualifying races with a minimum of 10 top ten finishes with fields of 30 riders or more, or 20 pack finishes with fields over 50. 30 points in 12 months is an automatic upgrade
Category 3: These racers are really starting to get strong. These riders are usually frequent group riders. They will have fairly good bike handling skills. Some racers will want to stay in Cat3′s and not upgrade – for a variety of reasons.
Expect these races to be often aggressive, but many still only attack the climbs, then keep a steady tempo, and chase any attacks. Therefore, many races may come down to sprint finishes.
Expect to see some team tactics, both failed and ones that work well. This is where team strategies will start to play a factor in the outcome of ‘some’ races.
Expect more climbers to show up at hilly races & more sprinters are flatter races.
Upgrading 3-2:
3-2: 25 points in any 12-month period
40 points in 12 months is an automatic upgrade
Pro1,2: These races are where the racing really hits the fan!
These are the guys that have ridden 100-200 miles each weekend over the winter. Some maybe moto-pacing. On group rides, they are the guys that are either chatting at the back of the group (because they know they won’t get dropped) or on the front, pushing the pace. These guys can ride tempo on the front of a group at 20 mph and still hold a conversation with you about drinking last night.
Upgrading:
2-1: 30 points in any 12-month period**
50 points in 12 months is an automatic upgrade
Attacks are the norm for this category! expect most races come down to a sprint – a sprint of who is still left in the break! Sometimes, the break gets shattered and the riders will come-in 1-2 at a time due to the speed, attacks, heat, terrain. Sometimes chaotic, sometimes controlled, the pace will vary based on who and if any Pro’s show up that weekend.
The pace may slow down just in time for you to breathe, but usually before you actually recover, someone will be flying off the front again!
Expect team-mates to be organized and team-members that are not afraid to be a sacrificial domestique for their team leader & chase anything down that they don’t like.
Master’s categories: In most Master’s races you can expect a steadier pace than in a Pro1,2 race. The attacks are there, but usually not quite as aggressive – these guys all know they have to go to work on Monday – they usually have families and don’t take some of the chances that the lower categories may try. The racing team tactics can be fierce! Expect the pace to be only slightly slower than a Pro1,2 race.
Some fields require a Master’s fields have 2 requirements:
A) ‘racing age’ over the category. So, if you are turning 35 in December or earlier you racing age for that year, then your ‘racing age’ is 35.
B) to be a cat4 or higher (no cat 5′s) but each race may have different rules.
I hope this helps clarify the questions about where to start off as a new racer, and a little of what to expect in each of the categories, and the differences to expect once you upgrade.
leave a comments (0)
StrongerCyclist.com is the site of Stephen Carhart, personal trainer, author, and cyclist.