Berkeley Hills Road Race

Zachary Hilton
Berkeley Hills RR 35+ 4's

Orinda, CA 
Place: 27
Field: 34
Teammates: Giles Douglas

Weather:  59 little wind, sun
Start Time:  8:00 am

Total Time: 02:42:00
Power: 224 W avg, 704 W max, 242 W NP  

Average Speed: 20.0 MPH, Top Speed 45.2 MPH

Average HR: 162 Max HR: 190

Elevation Ascent: 4,826 ft

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 11 speed group set with a 53/39 11/28 for this race.  I have a pair for Race Rim Tubular 32's that I wanted to race by the rear wheel wasn't lining up in the derailer.  So I have my 32 on the front and a 46 on the rear.  Not a bad set up for this race.  You want to be light for the climb, and it provided a bit of aero for the flats.

The race begins at the boat ramp and is neutral until we get up on San Pablo Dam Rd.  I have done this race for the past 3 years.  Each year I am improving and staying with the group longer.  Giles and myself are alone with some other stacked teams.  The plan was to lay low, stay in the pack, and conserve energy for the climbs.  We immediately started a pace line as we hit San Pablo Dam Rd.  No attacks that I can remember.  The wind wasn't a factor this year.  I stayed protected and conserved energy for the climbs.  The group stayed together for most of the race until the last climbs.  We might have dropped some throughout the race, but no one went off the front that wasn't caught.  I began to drop of the front group as we summited Mama Bear for the final lap.  The year before I only made it with the lead group till the second time up Mama Bear!  Stoked and mission complete.  Normally my reports would be longer, but May this year has been stressful and my focus just hasn't been there.  June will be a turn around for me.  I'm still getting some good training miles in.

I used two bottles of Hammer Heed , an Oatmeal/Apple Hammer Bar, Race Caps Supreme, and two Hammer gels.  Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.

Next race will be Mt Diablo HC TT on June 27th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Voler!
Thanks to Vittoria Tires!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Cat's Hill Classic

Zachary Hilton
Cat's Hill Classic 35+ 4's

Los Gatos, CA 
Place: 12
Field: 17
Teammates: None

Weather:  79 little wind, sunny
Start Time:  3:00 pm

Total Time: 00:26:11
Power: 237 W avg, 832 W max, 216 W NP  

Average Speed: 19.2 MPH, Top Speed 32.8 MPH

Average HR: 173 Max HR: 183

Elevation Ascent: 794 ft

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 11 speed group set with a 53/39 11/28 for this race.  I am using my Race Rim Tubular 46's.  I arrived early and warmed up on the trainer for around 50 minutes. Katie and Avery joined me at the SJBC tent at the top of the hill for great views of the race and a warm-up.  I carried one bottle of Hammer Nutrition with me.  This race is going to be quick for me!

The race started with 17 of us.  The pavement was pretty rough all around the course.  My plan was to stay with the group long enough to either get pulled by the officials or finish with them.  This course doesn't suit me well, and I'm here to challenge myself.  The climb isn't the hard part by any means.  It's not long, but the hard part is that there is no time to recover once you hit the top on the false flat.  It's a small ring climb, that I switched into before the climb started.  Once you hit the top you are challenged to quickly switch to the big ring for some more hard efforts before you reach the only downhill portion of the course.  I stayed with the group for 10 laps and led one of the laps early on.

Exactly what I needed to feel for some early May racing!  Next race is Berkeley Hills Road Race.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Voler!
Thanks to Vittoria Tires!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!