Sounds Like Now
A blog by saxophonist Brian Sacawa
Archive for Race Report
April 12, 2009 at 6:22 pm · Filed under Blog: Spring 09, Cycling, Race Report
I think starting this race report with a quasi-cliche novel opening would be fitting: It was a cold, rainy, and miserable day. Yeah, that about sums up the conditions. According to the weather report, the rain was supposed to cease sometime during the race, but that never happened. The plan du jour was to stay at the head of affairs for the first 2/3 of the race, while keeping the pace high for the field on the difficult sections, which on this course meant driving it up the steep climb about halfway around the loop, and then go for a break when things seemed right towards the end of the race.
From my standpoint, nothing exciting happened in the beginning of the race. Just the usual halfhearted attempts to go way, way too early. The only thing I noticed was that with each successive lap of the course, I got much, much wetter and much, much colder. Seriously, when I’d get out of the saddle it felt like my biceps were going numb. The action picked up a bit the third time up the climb, when I pushed the pace (maybe a little too much at that point in the race) and got a gap on the field. I was joined by a wily little guy who seemed to have good threshold power as we pushed the pace on the flat following the short descent. I wasn’t sure I wanted to fully commit to this move being that it was only about halfway through the race, but I put some work in as we rotated pretty good. After a bit, I looked back and saw the field charging after us. Since the guy seemed strong, I told him to shut it down and that if he wanted to have a serious go at a move like this, to be invisible on the climb the next time and then be ready to go with me on the last lap. He agreed. So I reintegrated and just started biding my time and conserving energy until that last time up the climb. (Though not before being chided by Kyle for showing my hand a little early.)
Here I am freezing and soaking wet at the end of the race.
Fast forward to the approach to the climb on the last lap. I’ve positioned myself perfectly for the pounce about 4 wheels back. We get to the climb and I hit it full gas and didn’t look back (you know, for that psychological effect) so I’m not certain how much I gapped the field with the initial burst. On the descent I pushed the watts before settling into TT mode on the twisty flat that followed. After a few minutes, I shot a glance back and didn’t see anyone. Sweet. It was still a ways to go but I was happy to time trial. I didn’t feel completely supple though probably because of the cold. Anyhow, a little more than 2K from the line, I look back and see a group of 5 charging hard at me. I gave the attempt just a little more to see if I could snap their resolve, but decided to sit up after that didn’t work. I tacked on to the back of that group and hoped that I could find something in the reserves quickly for the impending sprint. No dice. I burned out the turbo boosters with that attack on the climb and finished in 6th place at the back of the group that caught me.
If only the finish was 2K closer. If only the chasing group didn’t have so much firepower. What if I waited to attack on the shorter little rise before the turn to the finishing straight? Ah, whatever. I put in a committed effort at a part of the course that played to my strengths and ended up making the race, which was pretty sweet. And between the awful terrain last weekend at Fawn Grove and the horrible weather at this race, I feel ready for whatever’s thrown at me at Battenkill next weekend.
April 5, 2009 at 10:57 pm · Filed under Blog: Spring 09, Cycling, Race Report
I went into this race with zero expectations since I was just coming off a good five-day stretch of no training thanks to a lovely upper respiratory infection. But I finished my antibiotics a couple days ago and was feeling pretty good, especially in my race prep ride, so I decided to give it a go.
This was a hard course. I’m glad I got there early enough to drive it and scope it out. Each 13.3 mile lap had 4.2 total miles of dirt, gravel, and rocky (like loose rocks) roads. Some of the gravel sections were ultra sketchy—think: the ball room at Chuck-E-Cheese—especially this one particular descent. Needless to say, this frightened me more than a bit since I’ve never ridden on terrain quite like that but thought it was a necessary evil, and some darn good training, for Battenkill in two weeks. Actually, I first became concerned about the day’s possible outcome when I signed in and got my number: 444.
Anyway, the race started and since I knew that the first “pave” section was pretty soon after the end of the neutralized rollout, I drilled it up the climb before the downhill to the turn onto dirt/rock section #1. Probably the only thing that went in my favor all day. As I correctly assumed before we started, the race was going to splinter on this first section between the guys who could handle the dirt and those who couldn’t. It did and I was in the front group. After a short trip on some real roads, we headed into “pave” section #2, which was pretty long. About 1K into it, I flatted. I watched the entire field roll by as I waited 3 minutes for a wheel change. I seriously just wanted to turn around right then and there. But then I thought about BJ lecturing me if I did, so I decided to chase. (As it turned out, it might have been good for me to be one of the first to flat since there was a limited number of wheels in the neutral service car.)
As I began my long chase, my spirits started to lift a bit as the sides of the road were littered with guys who had flatted. I chased hard for 10 miles to the start-finish line and was definitely making headway, passing many riders. But I still hadn’t caught up to the main group. I continue to chase. At the end of the second lap, I had formed a little group with 3 other guys and we worked well together and made up some good time. Passing the start-finish for the second time, I stopped and filled up my water bottles, letting the three go. I started lap three and caught and passed all of the three guys I was work with before. That felt good. Okay, that felt really good. I caught a few more but never saw the front group again. At the end, after my little 37-mile time trial, I managed to save a 13th place. I wish I hadn’t flatted. Oh well, that’s racing, I suppose. I will exact my revenge next Saturday at Mount Joy.
Things that sucked:
- I flatted three miles into the race.
- My PowerTap rim is in bad shape.
Things that didn’t suck:
- I didn’t say, “Fuck it,” and pack it in after it took 3 minutes for a wheel change and the field was long gone.
- I caught and handily dropped many, many riders during my chase.
- I didn’t crash.
- I am really confident in my ability to ride and handle the bike on dirt/gravel/rock roads now.
- I rode a 37-mile time trial and got some great training in.
- By not throwing in the towel, I saved a 13th place, which looks way better than DNF.
March 22, 2009 at 10:46 pm · Filed under Blog: Spring 09, Cycling, Race Report
An unusual concert cancellation today allowed me to get to Boston to do the Wells Ave Cat 3/4 race. 30 laps on a fast, flat course. The first half of the race was pretty uneventful; the usual attacks and catches. I stayed attentive on the front. There were a lot of primes during this race though which would shake things up slightly though nothing really stuck. On lap 16 there was a prime and I decided to test my legs out and counter after the prime sprint. After 2 laps, I’d built up a 15 second gap and was feeling really good so I was happy to park it in TT mode and enjoy the ride. Shortly after, two guys bridged up to me. They were both strong and we worked a nice little rotation together. Two laps later 3 more bridged up though they must have paid for the bridge effort because they were taking some firepower out of the move. A prime two laps later woke the field up and they ended up catching us not too long after. It was a good move though and my legs still felt great.
In the dwindling laps to come there were some halfhearted attacks, none of which lasted more than half a lap. With 2 to go, one team (Cambridge Cycles?) started to organize and drilled it on the front. They must have given up the ghost a little too early because with half a lap to go, the field was definitely dogging it and everyone started to queue up for the sprint. Not me though. I didn’t want to do a field sprint today and as we came around the last sweeper with a 750m straight shot to the line, I threw down a Haussler/Cancellara-style attack. I didn’t look back but I’m sure I caught the field sleeping since nobody reacted when I jumped out. I got pipped (Cavendished?) on the line by two guys, but managed a strong 3rd place. Woof. Here’s my power file from the race finale:
March 22, 2009 at 9:54 pm · Filed under Blog: Spring 09, Cycling, Race Report
Though I’m currently on the road touring with the band, our schedule has been such that I’ve been able to get some racing in. Last weekend with a day off in Providence, RI, I drove out to my friend Wayne’s house in New Windsor, NY and on Sunday we hit up the third installment of the Bethel Spring Series (Tour de Kirche) in Bethel, CT. I did the Cat 4 race in the morning and jumped into the 3/4 race in the afternoon.
The course isn’t anything special save for the serious power climb up to the line each lap. I liked this immediately. The Cat 4 field was lazy from the start. I was first around the first corner and flabbergasted (yes, I said flabbergasted) that as I coasted down the down the downhill that nobody came around me. I wasn’t even pedaling! Anyhow, the general malaise in the field continued for the next 3 laps and I was getting pretty bored so I attacked up the hill on lap 4. First lap off the front: 5 seconds. Second lap: 10 seconds. Third lap: 10 seconds. Fourth lap: 15 seconds. Then some dude bridged up to me but ended up carrying the field with him. Oh well. It was a fun move. I just wanted to try and shake things up.
The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. My legs were feeling really good (even after coming off of a rest week). With about 4 to go, some guy attacked and dangled off the front until the bell lap when the field really wound it up. I had good position so I was just waiting to pick the spot where I’d jump. I decided that going right at the bottom of the climb would be a bad idea; didn’t want to lose any steam at the end of the sprint. I probably should have though because I uncorked the sprint about halfway up and had much more in the tank when I crossed the line in 5th place.
There was a bit of a long layover between races—like 4 hours. Since I wouldn’t be as fresh for the 3/4 race I decided I’d conserve for the first 20 laps (the race was 30 laps) and then try to get into a good move later in the race since I didn’t think I’d be able to contest the sprint after a long day. With 8 to go and a break of 2 up the road the guy who got 2nd in the Masters race just before went all out on the climb. I got on his wheel and we bridged to the pair up the road. The field shut us down with expediency a lap later. So I picked my move and it didn’t work. Ended up like 20th in the sprint or something like that. Good day of racing though and a nice result in the Cat 4s.
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