Pescadero
RR Pescadero, CA (35+Cat 4)
Field
Size: 40
Placing:
30
Start
Time: 9:45 am
Teammates:
Andy Crews, Christian Mauri
Average
Speed: 19.1 MPH, Top Speed 40.3 MPH
Average
HR: 162 Max HR: 189
Elevation
Ascent: 4,006 Ft.
Weather:
61 degrees avg. Drizzle and mild wet roads at the start, back side of course
was sunny.
This is my 2nd time
racing Pescadero RR. Last year we were
combined with 35+ 1,2,3’s and did an extra lap.
This year we are alone and doing 1.7 laps. Got a great night of sleep and pre-race ride
the day prior. I carried two bottles of
drink mix and there is a neutral water zone as well. I changed up my morning eating routine and
added some multigrain oatmeal to the mix.
It wasn’t too much at all, actually something that I will be doing now.
The race starts off neutral for just
under 2 miles and then when you turn onto Stage Rd it on! We had a field of 40. The 1st and 2nd place
winners of Mt Hamilton RR Piers Barry of Thirsty Bear and Morgan Reins of Team
Bicycle Trip/Symantec were there. Team
Oakland had the most guys at 5. They
finished 3rd place. The pace
was heated up for the Sprint Prime which Piers Barry took. We caught up with him and all climbed
together up Stage Rd. This is pretty
much the point where I popped last year.
It was on the final climb out of Stage Rd. The moto ref was not at all enforcing guys
coming up on the far left side of the road to the front. There is no centerline on Stage Rd, but also
had to be aware of oncoming traffic and cyclist. The Sequoia Century was taking place and lots
of riders would be climbing Stage Rd the opposite direction of us. No attack off the front on Stage Rd, but the
pace was steady. I managed to stay up
front and on the left side of the road. I was constantly trying to move forward
and follow those that came around on my left.
I always had someone to draft off of.
We made the right on HWY 84 and all stayed together. A few surges at the front, and it was pretty
easy to match them. I was again always
moving forward and never got boxed in on the right side of the road. I only finished about 2/3rd’s of
my first bottle by the time we made the right turn into the feed zone. It was a cooler day and I wasn’t overheating
at all. I decided not to grab a water
bottle, but instead stayed on the left side of the road and move up to get near
the front for the climb up Haskins http://app.strava.com/segments/614445 I went into the climb 10th place or so. Piers and Morgan were already attacking each
other and the group followed. I stayed
with the front group all the way until we hit the 1K sign. I started to just fade back off the group and
couldn’t go any faster. Then a truck
decided to play leap frog around us that scattered off the back. This would end up hurting us in the chase
group on the downhill back to the start.
I managed to catch up with Harish from Leopard-Sapporo and one guy from
Cushman & Wakefield as we hit the top of the climb. The groups had probably 30 seconds on
us. The three of us started the descent
and got stuck behind truck for at least a minute before he was nice enough to pull
over for us. There was traffic coming up
the other direction that prevented us from going around him earlier. About half way down. Christian Mauri SJBC and one guy from Core
Tech joined us. The 5 of us did an awesome
job in a pace line trying to catch the field of around 28 guys. When we were at the bottom of Stage Rd’s first
climb we could see the group at the top.
We timed it and they were about 2:30 away from us. We dropped the Cushman guy on Stage Rd. I think he was taking too long of pulls up
front for no reason. A couple times he
was told to pull off. You’re of no use
if you get worn out. We were a group of
4 just keeping the pace high and I began to try and conserve a little in order
to try and win the climb between the four of us up Haskins for the finish. Harish is a good climber and an even match
for me. Christian Mauri SJBC is an
AWESOME lead out man! I had no idea
about the Core Techs guy. I dumped my 2nd
bottle at the neutral zone, and dumped out some from my first bottle. I didn’t need a lot of fluid for this
race. I was pretty well hydrated and the
weather was playing nicely. We took it
pretty easy through the feed zone and Christian led us into the turn up
Haskins. It was Christian, me, Harish
and Core Techs guy. Christian and I
didn’t even have to talk about it…….he performed the best lead out for me. He kept it steady up Haskins and I was right
on his wheel waiting for the right moment to attack. Chad Rosser and I talked about making a move
at the 500m to go sign. I was also
listening for Harish to either switch gears or breathe different. That’s how in tune I was. Christian was putting the hammer down. Harish came along side of me at the 1K sign,
not sure why…maybe to show me he was there or he tried to attack and then
backed off. I was ready for him to go at
any time. Just after the 500m we were
coming alongside another rider on the right, and I decided to attack through
the middle. Hoping to startle the other
guys and maybe use this rider as a block.
I was off and digging deep. I
didn’t hear anyone behind me, and kept my body and head low. I was pretty much staring at the road and
staying in the middle. I began to spin
too fast and thought first to drop the gearing down one cog. That move actually made me stand up a little
earlier than I wanted to for my sprint.
I could see the line and Harish came around me off his saddle and riding
fast. Beat me by a few bike
lengths. I learned that I got away from
him initially and did catch him off guard, but I think that if I was in the
right gearing I might have kept the momentum.
I think I slowed a little when I stood too early!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finished riding down to the start with
Harish and Christian. Both really good
competitors.
I learned a lot from this
race. I lasted a lot longer than last
year, and got to be in the position for me to practice being in a lead out and
attacking on a climb. That’s what I
enjoy and want to get better at. Katie and Avery joined me for this race also! We went and had lunch with our good friends Hanns D. and Sahar in downtown Pescadero after the race. Fresh wood fired pizza never tasted so good.
My next
race is Mt Diablo Hill Climb TT June 22!
Thanks
to SJBC!
Thanks
to Christian Mauri SJBC!
Thanks
to Chad Rosser SJBC for the pre-race chats!!
Thanks
to my Teammates!
Thanks to my beautiful wife!
Thanks
for reading!
