Tim said it well: this was a rare case of the 35+ race being more fun than the p1/2. The attacks were a bit more sustained and the final couple of laps had more control.
It was Tim, Brian, and I, and we started out with good attacks and were able to get 5 out of 6 primes I think (we still haven't figured out how to share the gift certificate smorgasbord).
Though the attacks were good, nothing stuck since the wind was low. Too easy to speed things up. Specialized looked to be shutting things down, though I suspect that they would have let Metcalf go, who was registered as 35+ not the 45+ field which was also raced with us, picked separately. That mix made things interesting as there was no indication of who was who, so just cross the finish line first right? Larry let me know as I was leading out last lap that he was racing the 45+, but still....
Anyway, we had good control of that last lap. I lead it from one to go for 3/4 of the lap. Brian and Tim went from there. With Brian getting a good lead at final turn and holding it to the line! And Tim got 4th.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day p1/2
The final sign that nothing was going to stay away was when I saw Wohlberg sit up rather than
bridge to another break attempt. He knew what everyone had realized: it was a bunch sprint.
It was Tim, Vinnie, John, Brian, and me. We tried to attack but as I say: nothing came of it.
The average speed was right at 30 mph, and we hit 34+ on the backstretch every lap. Last lap I did 39.5 and I never even sprinted. Two and three laps to go was frustrating as BPG had four guys at the front but didn't speed it up even more. Riggs went to the front yelling and took some pulls. I pulled with 2 to go as well, trying to set up Brian and John.
The final sprint got pretty chaotic and as I mentioned, the final straight was really fast. John got pinched in final turn and held out for 9th, I think he would have been some spots higher. It was Hollway, Klein, Magnell, Rapinski in top four.
bridge to another break attempt. He knew what everyone had realized: it was a bunch sprint.
It was Tim, Vinnie, John, Brian, and me. We tried to attack but as I say: nothing came of it.
The average speed was right at 30 mph, and we hit 34+ on the backstretch every lap. Last lap I did 39.5 and I never even sprinted. Two and three laps to go was frustrating as BPG had four guys at the front but didn't speed it up even more. Riggs went to the front yelling and took some pulls. I pulled with 2 to go as well, trying to set up Brian and John.
The final sprint got pretty chaotic and as I mentioned, the final straight was really fast. John got pinched in final turn and held out for 9th, I think he would have been some spots higher. It was Hollway, Klein, Magnell, Rapinski in top four.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
New then Old Golden State Crit Course
For most of the day, the Golden State Crit course was new, with a nice 180 loopout added at turn one. In the p1/2 this made the race really good, making everyone work hard out of the hairpin meant that breaks were more likely to stick.
The team was truly great to ride with. Tim was attacking out of the gate. Vinnie and John added their efforts off the front as well. We were either creating, or getting in, every break up the road. I didn't feel great first 20 min (we almost missed the start due to terrible traffic). The two marked riders in the group, Hollaway and Rapinski, were getting jumped on every time the flinched, which made it also a little easier to slip away.
Tim had a good break going around mid-way. Not sure exactly who was in there, but Hollaway tried to bridge and that created a pack swarm that brought it back. That's the way things were going until about 15 min to go (Daniel asked the time, which is why I remember). There was a break with a 5 sec gap ahead with Rapinski, Justin, and a couple of others. We weren't represented so I bridged, reaching them just as they started to slow some. I accelerated and rode past them. Justin was looking back and I paused briefly to get him on my wheel and took a big pull to take us clear.
We got a pretty good gap quickly. I didn't think things would stay this way, expecting somebody to bridge. There was a chase group of four about 15 secs behind, and the pack was sitting 30 secs back. Very easy to chart your progress with the loopout.
Last two laps the gaps shrunk some, but we stayed away. We both kept working until about half lap to go. Justin was in front til the last turn. I was feeling pretty good about my sprint and jumped at 250 and was about to go by him at 150 yrds when he took me to the curb! Wasn't expecting that and slowed up. I restarted my sprint and threw my bike at the finish and came within inches, but had to settle for 2nd. Justin immediately apologized so...
Addendum:
They removed the 180 halfway through the Cat 5 race! There was a bad crash at end of p1/2 cause of a little lip at the left hand turn, guess they thought it was too dangerous. This made the Masters race even worse than it would have been: negative racing unbridled by the 180 to make it harder on those who sit in.
Tim and I attacked a bunch and finally got into a break together, but he got gapped off with Hernandez. I ended up with 8 or 9: two EMC, Fonseca, Paulsen, the parasite (who started to work after some prodding), couple others. Tried attacking them a bunch, but couldn't get away though managed to wittle it to 6.
Attacked with 1K and gapped them, but I tied up at the last turn and Holtz, Fonseca, and Paulsen came around me. I rode too hard in the break but it was the only way to make it stick I guess.
Again the team was great today.
The team was truly great to ride with. Tim was attacking out of the gate. Vinnie and John added their efforts off the front as well. We were either creating, or getting in, every break up the road. I didn't feel great first 20 min (we almost missed the start due to terrible traffic). The two marked riders in the group, Hollaway and Rapinski, were getting jumped on every time the flinched, which made it also a little easier to slip away.
Tim had a good break going around mid-way. Not sure exactly who was in there, but Hollaway tried to bridge and that created a pack swarm that brought it back. That's the way things were going until about 15 min to go (Daniel asked the time, which is why I remember). There was a break with a 5 sec gap ahead with Rapinski, Justin, and a couple of others. We weren't represented so I bridged, reaching them just as they started to slow some. I accelerated and rode past them. Justin was looking back and I paused briefly to get him on my wheel and took a big pull to take us clear.
We got a pretty good gap quickly. I didn't think things would stay this way, expecting somebody to bridge. There was a chase group of four about 15 secs behind, and the pack was sitting 30 secs back. Very easy to chart your progress with the loopout.
Last two laps the gaps shrunk some, but we stayed away. We both kept working until about half lap to go. Justin was in front til the last turn. I was feeling pretty good about my sprint and jumped at 250 and was about to go by him at 150 yrds when he took me to the curb! Wasn't expecting that and slowed up. I restarted my sprint and threw my bike at the finish and came within inches, but had to settle for 2nd. Justin immediately apologized so...
Addendum:
They removed the 180 halfway through the Cat 5 race! There was a bad crash at end of p1/2 cause of a little lip at the left hand turn, guess they thought it was too dangerous. This made the Masters race even worse than it would have been: negative racing unbridled by the 180 to make it harder on those who sit in.
Tim and I attacked a bunch and finally got into a break together, but he got gapped off with Hernandez. I ended up with 8 or 9: two EMC, Fonseca, Paulsen, the parasite (who started to work after some prodding), couple others. Tried attacking them a bunch, but couldn't get away though managed to wittle it to 6.
Attacked with 1K and gapped them, but I tied up at the last turn and Holtz, Fonseca, and Paulsen came around me. I rode too hard in the break but it was the only way to make it stick I guess.
Again the team was great today.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Scratching up results from Panoche
Was trying to piece together what happened at Panoche by going through the photos: http://www.timallenphotography.biz/. Guess Wohlberg won again. Dan Martin won the Masters.
Joel
Joel
Monday, May 19, 2008
Modesto 35+
Was really good to see Coby back in action, as well as Eric. Along with those two, Tim, Brian, and Matt, we had six guys going into the Modesto Master's race. The heat was rising but it was still bearable at the start., around 85 degrees.
Right off we had some really good teamwork. Tim, Eric, Coby, and I were laying it out there, keeping the field off balance and in control. Each break was getting a little further out, so it was just a matter of time before one would stick.
I had one about 15-20 minutes in, with five others. We got caught at turn one, and I attacked again just as we made contact, taking a few with me. Tim quickly bridged up and laid down some amazing speed on the backstretch, long section. This quickly made a gap, but Brian still was able to bridge, bringing Derdenger with him. It was Scott (TeamOakland), Derdenger and a teammate, Paulsen, the parasite in Red, and three from SPOC.
There was a lot of game playing however, as the parasite, and others weren't taking pulls. Kept leaving a gap everytime I went back after a pull. After a couple of laps of that I figured I would join in the game of chicken and went straight to the back. Derdenger left a gap with me and TO Scott behind it. I wasn't going to work for them, so we were quickly dropped. Since Derdenger is a sprinter, I feel like they gave up a queen for our rook, so it was a reasonable move. TO Scott managed to get back up to the group though.
Sounds like Tim and Brian put in a really good attack though, cause they dropped the entire group except for Paulsen. Great work... They held on for a 1st and 2nd finish!
I promise Eric, I will get better at the lead out. I feel like we should have won the pack sprint, but I didn't do the best in the last lap and Eric got 4th in pack sprint (they officially gave hime 5th, 8th overall, cause the camera wasn't working). Coby and I were 9th and 10th.
Great fun riding with this team!
Right off we had some really good teamwork. Tim, Eric, Coby, and I were laying it out there, keeping the field off balance and in control. Each break was getting a little further out, so it was just a matter of time before one would stick.
I had one about 15-20 minutes in, with five others. We got caught at turn one, and I attacked again just as we made contact, taking a few with me. Tim quickly bridged up and laid down some amazing speed on the backstretch, long section. This quickly made a gap, but Brian still was able to bridge, bringing Derdenger with him. It was Scott (TeamOakland), Derdenger and a teammate, Paulsen, the parasite in Red, and three from SPOC.
There was a lot of game playing however, as the parasite, and others weren't taking pulls. Kept leaving a gap everytime I went back after a pull. After a couple of laps of that I figured I would join in the game of chicken and went straight to the back. Derdenger left a gap with me and TO Scott behind it. I wasn't going to work for them, so we were quickly dropped. Since Derdenger is a sprinter, I feel like they gave up a queen for our rook, so it was a reasonable move. TO Scott managed to get back up to the group though.
Sounds like Tim and Brian put in a really good attack though, cause they dropped the entire group except for Paulsen. Great work... They held on for a 1st and 2nd finish!
I promise Eric, I will get better at the lead out. I feel like we should have won the pack sprint, but I didn't do the best in the last lap and Eric got 4th in pack sprint (they officially gave hime 5th, 8th overall, cause the camera wasn't working). Coby and I were 9th and 10th.
Great fun riding with this team!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sierra Pacific at Hellyer
Tim and I like to represent the team at the track at Hellyer as well. Tim got an awesome start winning at last week's Tuesday Night Points race.
I went out for the first Friday night series on May 9th. There is a series of 40+ scratch races for the season. Looks like there is a winner of the series standings at then end of the year, if I'm reading the description correctly. Got 2nd to Dan Smith of MS, so off to a good start.
I went out for the first Friday night series on May 9th. There is a series of 40+ scratch races for the season. Looks like there is a winner of the series standings at then end of the year, if I'm reading the description correctly. Got 2nd to Dan Smith of MS, so off to a good start.
Tim and I haven't been there for the same event yet, but looking forward to doing teamwork on the track, that being another new experience.
EBC p1/2 Race
This was a fun and active race for all. We had John, Tim, Brian, and I to start. Too bad the field was much smaller than the earlier Master's race where we had scored 2nd to Copeland. We only had around 50-60 for this, maybe less.
BPG had nine guys and radios, looking to come out in force again. They won week before at Cat's Hill and were to be taken seriously. Only two CalGiant, but doesn't seem to matter how many guys they actually field, still dangerous.
There were a couple of early attacks before the most dangerous break of the day formed. It was me, Rapinski (BPG), Olympic, Lombardi, some others including John (ICCC) but he wasn't working. In fact, I felt a lack of commitment to the break in general, and I didn't get a good feeling from it. Things really started to come apart after John went for a prime after saying he couldn't work for three laps! That got Rapinski up and arms and attacked the group, further tiring and slowing the others. I took a strong pull to try to get things back but all the others complained. Then John took one last, hard pull and that dumped everyone but me and Rapinski!
Damn Rapinski can pull. We got a big gap but I was getting my legs ripped off, I'm the first to admit. Been a long time since I've gotten to the point where I could barely work. Here is a picture of me hiding behind him. Felt like a soviet tank had run me over by the time we were caught. In way of excuses I will say there was a small voice saying: 'why did you race every possible Friday Night Track event last night?'.
Anyway, it's back together until Justin Fraga launched his panda attack with our Tim, around eight to go? At s
ome point Tim came back to us, but Justin was still out there. Not sure how John got up to him and the two exTO riders made a good effort, getting caught, then attacked by, Rapinski. Sounds like they could have worked together, but the russian wanted to go it alone. We chased some, me and CalGiant's Miller I saw.
We only managed to get him with less than a half lap to go, but then the speed wasn't fast as no team seemed to have ramped it up. Briggs and Bosch got to the front of the pack and Briggs was able to take advantage of the less-than-speedy finish, jumping first with two turns to go,
getting enough of a gap to hold out for the win. Bosch second, Logan (BPG) third.
It was a good day for us. Would have been good to win!
BPG had nine guys and radios, looking to come out in force again. They won week before at Cat's Hill and were to be taken seriously. Only two CalGiant, but doesn't seem to matter how many guys they actually field, still dangerous.
There were a couple of early attacks before the most dangerous break of the day formed. It was me, Rapinski (BPG), Olympic, Lombardi, some others including John (ICCC) but he wasn't working. In fact, I felt a lack of commitment to the break in general, and I didn't get a good feeling from it. Things really started to come apart after John went for a prime after saying he couldn't work for three laps! That got Rapinski up and arms and attacked the group, further tiring and slowing the others. I took a strong pull to try to get things back but all the others complained. Then John took one last, hard pull and that dumped everyone but me and Rapinski!
Damn Rapinski can pull. We got a big gap but I was getting my legs ripped off, I'm the first to admit. Been a long time since I've gotten to the point where I could barely work. Here is a picture of me hiding behind him. Felt like a soviet tank had run me over by the time we were caught. In way of excuses I will say there was a small voice saying: 'why did you race every possible Friday Night Track event last night?'.
Anyway, it's back together until Justin Fraga launched his panda attack with our Tim, around eight to go? At s
ome point Tim came back to us, but Justin was still out there. Not sure how John got up to him and the two exTO riders made a good effort, getting caught, then attacked by, Rapinski. Sounds like they could have worked together, but the russian wanted to go it alone. We chased some, me and CalGiant's Miller I saw.We only managed to get him with less than a half lap to go, but then the speed wasn't fast as no team seemed to have ramped it up. Briggs and Bosch got to the front of the pack and Briggs was able to take advantage of the less-than-speedy finish, jumping first with two turns to go,
getting enough of a gap to hold out for the win. Bosch second, Logan (BPG) third.It was a good day for us. Would have been good to win!
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