Last weekend I began my racing of 2010. After having spent a fairly ropey winter avoiding proper training and moaning about the weather, I entered a category 3/4 road race. As it has been a good few months since I last raced, I thought it would be wise to get a crit in beforehand - to get used to riding in a bunch again and to test my fitness.
One thing led to another and I found myself at the start line of the
San Fairy Ann criterium at
Hog Hill.
I gave myself two objectives, to stay in the bunch and to follow riders with good handling skills through the corners. I got a good start and the first ten laps (out of 20, on a 2km circuit) went quickly, and all of the attacks didn't hurt too much. I even spent two laps on the front, and was riding in the first give to ten places. Hog Hill has a very steep hill (hence the name) just before the finish line, and after ten laps it was starting to take its toll. I started to lose a few laces each lap and had to waste energy to take them back (must lose about 6kgs).
However, I was hurting, but I was still holding position towards the front of the bunch, I wasn't about to do anything spectacular, but I was still in it.
With 5 laps to go (around 50mins in) I was moving up on the smaller hill, and then suddenly a bike and rider flew in the air in front of me. I started moving right to go round and another rider went into the fallen rider. Then another rider went off the circuit to avoid the melee he hit a traffic cone which shot into the bunch and took down another couple of riders - and hit me on the leg.
I stayed up and crested the hill, and started to chase the group infront, which now had a gap of about 200 metres. I caught them by the top of the steep hill, about 1.5km further on. At this point I blew up - or gave up - not sure which, probably the latter. Not a great end to the race, but atleast I managed to meet my objectives for 15 laps. My average power was 267 watts, which is about 10 watts below my threshold power, so I was riding at about the right level, however, it would be better if I was riding with a little less power (as an average) as this would mean I was conserving more energy for the finish.
The next day (Sunday), I picked up a team mate and we drove out to the
Ciclos Uno 3/4 road race (part of the Eastern Road Race League). We had 8 people in the race, and were feeling positive about a good result.
I set myself two objectives for this race too: to follow good lines through the corners (I am not hugely confident about cornering) and to pedal as little as possible (I have read that winners pedal less than most, but when they do pedal they make it count).
On these personal objectives things went fairly well, my handling was OK, I rubbed wheels once (I don't think it was my fault) and I rubbed handlebars once (pretty sure that was my fault) and I lent against another rider round a corner (that was definitely my fault). I need to improve my handling, but it is OK, and I am confident that it will come with more racing.
The pedaling was great - I managed to not pedal for 16.5% of the race! I am not sure how this compares with others, but I thought it was a real achievement. Given that the race was 50 odd miles that is 8ish miles that I got for free! I think it contributed to feeling fresh at the end of the race.
The race as a whole didn't go so well. I warmed up for 20 mins before the race, but didn't do any hard efforts and didn't work through my gears. This was in contrast to the crit where I spent 45 mins on the rollers. As a result I felt dreadful for the first couple of laps.
My positioning was awful for the first couple of laps, I was riding forward in the bunch, but when I got on the front I tried to slow the bunch down as we had a rider trying to get off the front. I think this pissed off a fair few people, and I should have just sat in the bunch quietly. After the first two laps, out of just under five, I felt much better, and could move around the bunch with a bit more confidence.
Our team tried to break away a few times in the first three laps, and then a couple of riders from other teams got away, then as they were coming back to the bunch, they were joined by two more riders (also from other teams ) and they went away. We nearly got a rider across to them, but it didn't happen. At this point we should have regrouped at the front and caught the break back - hindsight is great. Unfortunately, our strongest rider in the race had killed himself in the first half of the race, and the rest of us weren't at all organised. We did a bit of work on the front but didn't sustain it to get the break back.
With around 1.5km to go, I went to the front, and tried to string out the bunch, I noticed that I had one of my team on my wheel, so put my head down and rode as hard as I could for as long as I could. I managed to get to 200 metres to go and moved out of the way. I then blew up and watched the sprint for fifth, as I was going backwards.
What went well?
Nutrition I ate (if you can call it that) a gel every 30 mins, and drank fairly well (I know this to be true as I didn't have a headache after). I could probably have drunk a bit more, but I survived.
Lead out I was surprised by how fast I went in the last km.
Pedaling As noted above - I didn't pedal much.
What could have been better?
Positioning I was all over the place in the first three laps. I also didn't ride with the team, if we rode as a group, we could have talked and planned the race.
Warm up I have to do at least 45 mins with three or so hard efforts to get my legs ready for the start.
Handling I wasn't dangerous, but I wasn't far off!
Timing I went to the front a little early, if I had caught people by surprise, I may have got a gap that I could have had to the line.
Chasing I should have gone to the front, the moment the break moved away, and either tried to join it, or pull it back for another team member to get into it.
What do I need to work on?
- Cornering - I will do drills on the way to work
- Threshold intervals - to hold the front for longer at the end - and to be confident to get into breaks
- Planning and tactics
I have failed miserably to enter any road races until the end of April, so I will enter crits (good training for handling and top end speed).
Next race is Saturday at Hog Hill, the
spring circuit races.
Training this week is:
Monday: Recovery
Tuesday: Threshold intervals
Wednesday: Should be Regents Park but I have a work thing - will try to get something done in the gym at lunchtime.
Thursday: Hill repeats at Swains Lane
Friday: 10m Time trial
Saturday: Race
Sunday: 3 hour ride (probably out to the Paul Simon Homes race)
