Red Kite's Bump Circuit Race (Summer)

Zachary Hilton
Red Kite's Bump Circuit Race 
Livermore, CA 
Category 4's

Place: 23
Field: 31
Teammates: Nat Futterman, Luigi Petrone

Weather:  86 sunny, not windy,
Start Time: 10:00:00 am (Opted for the early start to beat the heat)

Total Time: 01:12:00
Power: 230 W avg, 737 W max,  229 W NP  

Average Speed: 20.6 MPH, Top Speed 40.4 MPH

Average HR: 167 Max HR: 190
Elevation Ascent: 1,765

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/28 for this race.  I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 32's with 25mm tires for this race.   I am carrying 2 bottles of Hammer Heed with me to the start and a 2 Hammer Gels (Espresso and Banana).  I wanted to wear the Zaavy Custom Speed suit  I've got a S-Works Evade helmet.

My goals for this race are to get some racing in these legs!  I haven't raced since last month.  I've been doing a few of the San Jose Bicycle Club Tuesday Night Crit's which help keep the race intensity.  I took some time off while camping and enjoying the summer with the family.  This race has some hills to power through, and its on part of the Wente RR course to.

We start around the building from where registration is located.  It's a nuetral start until we all get onto Patterson Pass Rd and get near the first swerve in the road.  I heard the neutral roll out used to be all the way to the start line, but that was too far away.  We are on the first gradual climb when the race starts.  It's hard to move up on this road.  That was scouted out ahead of time.  When we come back around the course and make the right on Patterson Pass Rd I will make sure to be upfront.  Reminds me of the positioning needed in Snelling RR.  The pace is like a Sunday group ride to begin.  I expected more from the Cat 4 Elite's :)  One attack went off the front as we approached Cross Rd.   They let him go, and we caught him on the downhill at Cross to Tesla Rd  We are doing 3 laps around this course.  The bump to the finish is definitely a power climb.  The roads were dry, and I was able to pass up a few who either couldn't find the right gear or were slower.  There is time for a quick downhill recovery before you make a gradual climb and then its a fast downhill to Tesla.  Still centerline is in effect and the single lane road is small with gravel/debris shoulders.  I was able to move up a bit in the group as no one wanted to work on the front and that strung us out.  You can find places to move up on Cross, Tesla, and Greenville Rd.  The place slowed as we made the turn onto Greenville Rd.  There is another power climb thats coming up, and then a fast downhill and all flat until you make the right turn onto Patterson Pass Rd.  I stayed tucked into the front of the group and moved up on the outside before we made the right turn on Patterson Pass.  Good move because now I was in the front 5 and able to set my own tempo in case the group wanted to go faster this time around.  No one came around us until we reached the start/finish for the second time.  The group got feisty and a few went off the front.  A chase ensued and I turned a few matches keeping up the pace and following different wheels as we descend Cross Rd onto Tesla.  We caught them on Tesla Rd.  It was starting to get really hot now and I was finished with one Hammer Heed bottle and a Hammer Gel.  The group was getting faster but I was able to stay tucked in and protected.  The final turn onto Patterson Pass Rd was fast...everyone was trying for positions upfront.  I was mid-pack now and feeling to surges.  I was able to stick with the group about half way up the climb and then I got dropped off the back.

What I learned from this race is that positioning is key.  I hesitated going into the final turn onto Patterson Pass Rd and that cost me some spots and matches.  I came out into the wind to try and get up front and so did everyone else!  I like this course and it suits me well.  If I had more race fitness coming into here I can do well.  I'll be adding it to the calendar for next year.  Hammer Nutrition has come out with a pre-workout drink mix called Fully Charged.  Sponsored Athletes got a chance to try it out first, and it's been getting rave reviews.  If you haven't order from Hammer before you can get 15% off your first order by using me as a referral.  Click on the link in my blog under the Hammer Nutrition 15%.

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  

Next race will be SJBC's Winter Series Prologue (Merkx ITT and 2 Lap RR) September 24th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Mt. Diablo Hill Climb TT (NCNCA Hill Climb Championships)

Zachary Hilton
Mt Diablo Hill Climb TT (NCNCA Hill Climb Championships)
Diablo, CA 
Category 35+ 4/5's

Place: 4
Field: 9
Teammates: Miguel Vargas

Weather:  84 sunny, not windy
Start Time: 10:15:00 am

Total Time: 00:32:29
Power: 258 W avg, 770 W max,  259 W NP  

Average Speed: 11.4 MPH, Top Speed 31.6 MPH

Average HR: 183 Max HR: 191
Elevation Ascent: 1,644

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/28 for this race.  I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 32's with 25mm tires for this race.  During my pre-race ride the rear 32 hub was making a clicking noise and I decided to switch it with the 46 as the rear wheel.  I wasn't willing to chance a lock up in the wheel!  Although I could have used the slimmer and lighter wheel! I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.   I am carrying 1 bottle of Hammer Heed with me to the start and a Hammer Gel.  Zaavy Custom SJBC short sleeve speedsuit is being used.  I've got a S-Works Evade helmet.

My goals for this race are to set a higher FTP (Functional Threshold Power) on the climb and go sub 30 minutes for the race.  In order to get on the podium, that's the time you need.  I am going to try and not overheat.  I have brought some frozen towels with me during the warm-up.  My start time is a bit late, and it will be 84 degrees at the start.  This mountain has no shade.

The start is a mile from the warm-up area.  Some years they have had a start ramp and someone to hold you so you can be clipped in.  This year there isn't a ramp, but someone holding you so you can get off faster.  My plan is to hold around 10W less than my current FTP for the first 1.5 miles and then once the climb starts hold a steady 260-270 W.  There are some areas of this climb that are so steep, that I will be going above threshold.  From the start it was hot, but no wind.  I'm through the first 1.5 miles at a faster pace, and not burning too many matches.  I hit the climb and feeling great.  I was catching some of the racers that started before me.  We can use the whole right side of the road.  I was cutting all the corners and taking the turns as straight as possible.  Around mile 4.2 I started too overheat, and I was beginning to slow down.  I continued to push as hard a possible, and was able to get a good effort for the final mile.

What I learned from this race is that I need to sign up for an earlier Wave!  I could have started one hour earlier.  I've been putting in the work on the bike and might have backed off a bit too much leading up to this race. I haven't been doing too much extreme heat riding and racing yet this year.  This was the first!  

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  

Next race will be Red Kite's The Bump Circuit Race July 24th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Pescadero Road Race

Zachary Hilton
Pescadero Classic Road Race
Pescadero, CA 
Category 35+ 4's

Place: DNP
Field: 33
Teammates: NONE

Weather:  64 sunny
Start Time: 09:50:00 am

Total Time: 00:29:00
Power: 233 W avg, 742 W max,  240 W NP  

Average Speed: 19.5 MPH, Top Speed 38.1 MPH

Average HR: 161 Max HR: 184
Elevation Ascent: 764

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/32 for this race.  I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 46's with 25mm tires for this race.  I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.   I am carrying 2 bottles of Hammer Heed with me,  I can grab one bottle of water at the neutral feed support. 

My goals for this race are to get over the two climbs on Stage Rd in 5 minutes and to climb Haskins Rd in 7 minutes.  Those are the times I need to stay with the leaders and get on the podium.  Turn out this year the winner road Haskins in 8:04 for the first time and 7:16 the final time to the finish line. This is usually the same...slower first time and faster second.  Drop a bottle first lap and grab a neutral bottle.  I will then drop that neutral bottle on lap two at the feed zone, and empty out any remaining fluid from my remaining bottle.  There is some water at the finish line for the ride back.

Race starts off neutral for 1 mile and I'm up front with my teammate Michael leading the group through the backside of town.  There is no room to move up if you are in the back until you reach the first descent on Stage Rd...that's because the roads are open to traffic and the moto is watching for those that ignore the center line.  I wanted to see if I could catch anyone off guard and get the sprint prime that was supposed to be at mile 2.5.  Well I was in perfect position but no one was there from the race organizers!! WTF?  By this time Dolce Vita came around me and took the lead.  They sent one guy 5 seconds up the road before we hit the first climb...he stayed out there by himself and I kept my position right behind his teammate.  The tempo was high because its a short power climb that takes 5-6 minutes.  We descend down Stage rd and of course everyone is using the entire road. Some racers were nervous and refused to get out of the way.  Starting the second climb up Stage Rd I was sitting 5th or so and we were starting the break up.  I came around someone and kept my head down for another 5 minute power climb. It then flattens out for a stretch of the big ring and we are in full fast descent mode until we hit HWY 84.  if you are not constantly trying to move up on the descent you will get dropped.  Those that don't make it with the lead group as they turn onto HWY 84 will be chasing and sometimes never catch on.  Either way, its too many burned matches when you need to save them.  I was with the top 10 for sure as we turned onto HWY 84, I took a Hammer Gel and drank some.  We had several Dolce Vita and Pen Velo racers up front and they were fighting over who's taking the lead.  I turned around and we were by ourselves, and a chase group was forming single file.  Shortly after we were two wide trying to form a pace line when we came around a right turn and the weeds were as high as us.  I was sitting in the back and boxed in...next thing I know we are 3 wide and I'm getting squeezed into the weeds on the turn.  The guy in front of me and myself both lean towards the left to avoid the weeds and both go straight into a hairline crack in the road.  All this happened in 2 seconds.  My front wheel must have dropped perfectly in the crack and ripped a small hole in my sidewall.  We were going 22 mph when it happened and luckily I came to a slow stop with no incident.  Luckily SunPower has some great people volunteering and I got a ride back from the SAG.

What I learned from this race is there is so much going through your brain and processing in a race like this.  The last thing on my mind was that HWY 84 has some hairline cracks on the shoulder and to stay away from the inside.  Next year I will read this to remind myself.  That's the main reason for these reports.  Take count to what works and what doesn't work.  Don't repeat the same mistakes.

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  

Next race will be Mt Diablo Hill Climb TT June 25th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Mt Hamilton Road Race

Zachary Hilton
Mt Hamilton Classic Road Race
San Jose, CA to Livermore, CA
Category 35+ 4's Combined with 45+ 4's 

Place: 16
Field: 22
Teammates: NONE

Weather:  76 sunny
Start Time: 09:20:00 am

Total Time: 03:47:00
Power: 195 W avg, 963 W max,  194 W NP  

Average Speed: 15.9 MPH, Top Speed 39.5 MPH

Average HR: 167 Max HR: 187
Elevation Ascent: 6,388

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/32 for this race.  I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 46's with 25mm tires for this race.  I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.   I am carrying 3 bottles of Hammer Heed with me,  I can grab one bottle of water at the neutral feed support.  I tried freezing 2 of the bottles but that only lasted till we reached the summit of Mt Hamilton.  It was a warm sunny day! 

My goals for this race are to get some intensity for the legs on a mountainous course.  This race is going to be challenging no matter what.  It's probably the hardest course of the year.  A bottle and hour and a Hammer gel every 30 minutes should get me to the end.  I'll burn some matches just to see how far I can stay with the lead group.  I'd like to stay with the group till we summit Mt Hamilton.

Race starts off neutral and we are combined with the 45+ 4's.  We are still a small field of maybe 44. We make the turn onto Mt Hamilton Rd and one guy goes off the front.  Pen Velo, CBRE, and Dolce Vita are dominating the fields in the 35+ 4's this season.  I am getting to know the racers really well and all I need to do is let them set the pace and follow.  They will be battling within each other and I'll sneak in somewhere.  The tempo is manageable and I'm sitting around 7-8th.  A CBRE guy tries to bridge up to the leader and gets a 10-15 second gap on the field.  We catch him within a mile. These are just attacks to wear us down.  At 4.5 miles of the first climb it levels off just a bit and I come up to sit 3rd wheel for the second climb at miles 4.5-7.4...the road is narrow now and we are doing switch backs.  If you don't know the course, your not sure when the downhill is approaching.  That allows you to be up front and set the tempo. At 7.5 miles you descend switch backs for 1.5 miles and then it's a straight away.  Be up front and you won't have to chase this down as we string out.  The 3rd climb starts around 9.0-12.0 miles in.  I'm still with the group and tucked in around 8th wheel.  It's a good place to be, and the tempo is harder but I'm holding on and not at my max.  We descend together and at mile 13.1 we begin the final 6 mile climb to the summit of Mt. Hamilton.  Now is the true test. We are one hour into the race.  There were some attacks 2 miles from the top and that made me hurt!!!  We were breaking up and I went off the back and had to set my own tempo.  I ended up being 6 minutes off from the leaders when they reached the top.  I caught 3 Pen Velo riders from the 45+ 4's and stayed with them to the top and descent down the backside.  We all agreed that we wanted to stay together through the valley.  I wasn't a threat to them, and I took my turns on pulls through the valley.  We caught a CBRE guy from the 45+ 4's and now we are 5 guys.  I was feeling good but wanted to conserve some energy for miles 37-42.  That's where there are two climbs and the first one lingers forever!!!   At this point you are begging for something cold to hit you in the face. I have one bottle of water and a bottle of HEED left.  Both are luke warm and it's 82 degrees and sunny...no shade back here.  Looking back on the data I was going 7 mph as I reached the summit at mile 42...dang I was cooked.  There is still 20 miles of rollers left.  On a chart it shows that its a downhill for the next 20 miles, but Mines Rd doesn't always feel like that.  Race done!  As one person stated at the finish line..."Mt Hamilton RR is like a hill climb and then a Gran Fondo after...yep! Thanks to San Jose Bicycle Club for providing all the beverages and food at the finish line.  I would have stepped right into a beer garden if I could!  I was going to ride back to the start but I hitched a ride with some teammates!

What I learned from this race is that I was more powerful than last year and got PR's all over the course. I still needed to be 6 minutes faster up this climb, while at the same time carrying all the supplies needed to race.  Which makes me a lot heavier.

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  

Next race will be Pescadero Road Race June 4th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Cats Hill Classic Race

Zachary Hilton
Cat's Hill Classic Race
Los Gatos, CA
Category 35+ 4/5's 

Seaside, CA 
Place: DNP
Field: 35
Teammates: Michael Riyanto, Yokon Maruyama

Weather:  76 sunny
Start Time: 03:15:00 pm

Total Time: 00:18:18
Power: 284 W avg, 812 W max, 253 W NP  

Average Speed: 21.8 MPH, Top Speed 33.5 MPH

Average HR: 176 Max HR: 184
Elevation Ascent: 522

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/28 for this race. There is a short hill climb that lasts average 15 seconds, lots of poor pavement, and some fast downhills. I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 46's for this race.  I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.  This race started late compared to most.  A 3:15 pm start meant that I needed to change things up a bit with the food intake for today. I ate my oatmeal mix for breakfast.  The missed a bagel and peanut butter 3 hours prior to the race as usual.  It was a family day and we went to a Chili Cook Off in Gilroy.  I am carrying 1/2 bottle of Hammer Heed.  

My goals for this race are to get some intensity for the legs.  This is pretty much a threshold race. Some times the pace slows for 10-20 seconds at a time, but someone is usually always off the front and being chased down.  I'd like to last longer than I did last year.  I made the 8 laps to go in 2015 but got pulled with 4 to go.  I'd like to have some data that shows I'm stronger and fast than last year!  I am racing my weaknesses here today.   I wanted to get a longer warm up but we were having too much fun with friends earlier in the day and arrived late.  Still got around 20 minutes.  Which turns out was just fine.

We were a much larger group than pre-reg showed.  The race starts out with a prime for the first lap...so its on!  I got despite lining up in the middle of the road in the second row I was 15th or so going into the first turn.  Not where I wanted to start.  It's big ring all the way around and then you drop it into a small ring before the climb on Nicholson.  The roads are in poor condition too.  Your brain is on high speed mode.  You have to navigate the roads, racers, changing gears, drink, and positioning.  I found myself being able to drop back and then climb my way back up to the top 10 on the climb.  But we are spread all over the road on the climb, and sometime bumping elbows when coming around.  The false flat at the top is where you go back into the big ring and then a small downhill turns right onto the top of the course.  This is a recover point on each lap that lasts a few seconds, a good place to drink for me too.  We dropped half the group on the second lap.  I was comfortable sitting near the back of this front group.  Lap 7 I was started to feel the cardiovascular effect on the body.  My legs felt great but I could tell I was loosing steam.  We were over halfway done and I went into the climb a bit wide to come around a racer.  I think I must have switched into my small ring late and hit a bump...when I went to start climbing I could tell my chain was not engaged...then I gave it one good spin and the chain popped off into the frame.  I was so out of breath all I could do was safely come to a stop and walk the bike to the top where SJBC's tent was.  I had help holding the bike up and that's when I noticed a chain link was bent!!!  Ahh man!!  Second mechanical in back to back races.  This better be out of my system now.

Scott Bales YouTube video of our race.

What I learned from this race is that I was more powerful than last year and got PR's all over the course.  I was 10-15 seconds faster in some areas.  I think I could have finished with the front group and not get pulled too.  I'll be back next year. I hear that its supposed to be freshly paved then too.  Huge thanks to Mike's Bikes in Los Gatos for letting me walk in exhausted and get my new chain installed quickly.  Some bike shops would say "we need to make you an appointment, or we are really busy"...not Mike's Bikes. They recognize that you are a racer and need to get back to racing and training!  Wonderful shop!

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  Time to go to my sisters house now for a family dinner and beer!

Next race will be Mt Hamilton RR on May 29th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Sea Otter Classic Road Race

Zachary Hilton
Sea Otter Classic Road Race
Category 35+ 4's (Combined and Scored Separate with the 45+4's)

Seaside, CA 
Place: 12
Field: 14
Teammates: None

Weather:  60 windy, sunny, but not to warm
Start Time: 03:30:00 pm

Total Time: 02:34:00
Power: 220 W avg, 816 W max, 218 W NP  

Average Speed: 17.9 MPH, Top Speed 43.1 MPH

Average HR: 164 Max HR: 187
Elevation Ascent: 4,583

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/32 for this race.  Lot's of climbing in each lap.  I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 32's for this race.  They are light and stiff enough for some 40 mph plus racing and some poor roads. I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.  This race started late compared to most.  A 3:30 pm start meant that I needed to change things up a bit with the food intake for today. I ate my oatmeal mix for breakfast. A plain bagel with peanut butter three hours prior to the race start. After Ward's Ferry RR I am now trying something new for on the bike nutrition while racing.  I am carrying 4 Hammer Gels and two bottles of Hammer Heed.  One Hammer Gel for every 30 minutes that passes.  Sea Otter Classic is awesome at providing a neutral feed zone for all the races.  They also have some cool new bottles with their logos that we get to keep.  Souvenirs on the bike! 

My goals for this race are to stay upfront and don't get dropped on the climbs.  This is the beginning of big climbing races in May and June.  Time to put this training to good use.  The course was changed this year because of construction in the area.  It's still a 46 mile course, but they made the laps shorter which means that we climbed Hennekens Ranch Rd 6 times.  There is also a short climb on Eucalyptus Rd also that we will do 6 times.  Hennekens Ranch Rd will be the deciding factor of where you will place, and that's where the Feed Zone was located this year also.  Don't forget about Barloy Canyon Rd that you need to climb up to the finish line.  We didn't get to start the race on the race track this year..bummer!  We started on Barloy Canyon Rd just next the race track and it was a neutral start till we got onto the course.

We were combined with the 45+4's and picked separately at the start line. Which made us a group of 36.  The race started neutral but the moto ref had us flying.  I got a PR on the Barloy Canyon Rd descent because it was an all out positioning point.  Moto was letting us fly and all 36 of us wanted to be at the front for the first climb :)  Of course the first time up Hennekens Ranch Rd was fierce.  We dropped several off the back.  There is a long stretch of road after the climb that had everyone stretched out single file as we approached some rollers and a fast descent.  Positioning is still a factor this part in the race also.  The pace slows down a bit as we make a left on Gigling Rd. The road has pot holes and a slight rise.   We had wind at us for most of the race except for when we made a left on Parker Flats Cut Off Rd.  Huge tailwind on the sharp left hand turn section.  Each time around we would be single file and someone would be attacking off the front.  None of the attacks created a break but they hurt, and we dropped riders who came into the turn to late.  I always made my way to the front 2-3 spots as we came around that turn and found a wheel.  The same went for Eucalyptus Rd.  We would make a hard left turn, then it was a sharp climb up, followed by a long fast descent back down to the start of Hennekens Ranch Rd.  Lap two was pretty much the same.  Lap three I was starting to hurt climbing Hennekens Ranch Rd.  I took a feed this lap also.  I was following my nutrition plan well, and no cramps coming on.  My times were just getting slower going up that climb.  4th lap I took another feed and by the 5th lap I was popped off the back on Hennekens Ranch Rd.  The rest of this race I promised myself I would chase, and not sit up.  I didn't want anyone to catch me from behind either.  I caught one other rider during the last lap and on the way up Barloy Canyon Rd to the finish a few more joined.

What I learned from this race is that less food is better for me while racing.  My pre-race meals gave me energy while not slowing my gut down.  I need race days like this to compete.  It's hard to replicate this in training.  For hard races like this I'll be using a Hammer Gel every 30 minutes, and a bottle per hour of HEED.

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  Time to go and walk the Sea Otter Festival!  Great food, drinks, and swag!

Next race will be Berkeley Hills RR on May 7th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Avery and I got to meet Ted King from Untapped Maple Syrup

Avery competed in the Specialized Kids Zone on a dirt track.

Wards Ferry Road Race

Zachary Hilton
Wards Ferry Road Race
Category 35+ 4's

Sonora, CA 
Place: 7
Field: 11
Teammates: Morris Delgado

Weather:  46 cloudy, cold, some sun, but not warm
Start Time: 08:25:00

Total Time: 02:39:00
Power: 224 W avg, 738 W max, 228 W NP  

Average Speed: 16.9 MPH, Top Speed 40.2 MPH

Average HR: 156 Max HR: 183
Elevation Ascent: 4,843

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/32 for this race.  Lot's of climbing in a short amount of time.  I have a pair for Race Rim carbon tubular 32's for this race.  They are light and stiff enough for some 40 mph plus racing and poor roads. I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.  This race started early and its a 2.5 hour drive. I started the morning off with coffee and bagel for the drive, and then a hammer gel during the warm-up.  I packed two more Hammer gels, a Hammer Bar Raisin, and one Race Cap Supreme to eat at the two hour mark with my bar.  The Hammer Gels were used at the start, 00:47:00 and at 01:30:00.  I carried two bottles of Hammer Heed.  My stomach 48 hours prior was on the fritz.  I lost my hunger drive for almost 24 hours, and was a bit nauseated after eating some fresh veggies.  I was also feeling the fatigue of the big volume of racing and training that I have been doing since last September when I started racing again.  I'm in the need of a "season transition" break after this race. The healthy balance of family, work, training, recovery, and racing starts to take a toll on me with no break.  Sometimes you need to just hop on the bike for the love of it and the beautiful bike region I live in.

My goals for this race are to stay upfront and dictate the lines we take on the descents.  The roads are bumpy in sections and after the hairpin right turn its a narrow road with twisting descents.  If you are in the back you will need to chase back on, and it's hard to keep an eye on the road and the riders.  You can pass slower and timid racers on the descent.  There is a Velo Promo feed zone and they supply water bottles each lap.  I've never done this race before or ridden the roads. At least we do 4 laps on the same course!

I got a 20 minutes warm up on the rollers and felt good.  It was drizzling now and the clouds were moving fast.  You could see some sun, but starting at 46 degrees was cold!  Only 11 guys in the field.  Alex Poloziouk of Wells Fargo Racing is on an upgrade path right now, and won Snelling Road Race this year.  Race was delayed by a tree down in the middle of the course.  Center line enforced on course and the roads are closed on Algerine-Wards Ferry Rd.  We started off neutral until we get to Old Wards Ferry Rd (where the feedzone is) and no moto will be riding with us.  The race starts and we are all in a single line.  Roads are bumpy on Wards Ferry Rd.  I found that the climbing section on this part of the course was tougher because it doesn't look that steep and someone was always pushing it hard on the climbing sections.  The first downhill we reached a few went with no brakes and I found myself chasing back on.  It was tough to find a good line when you are following the guy in front of you.  From then on I stayed in the front 4.  I was OK with taking turns up front in order to have a smoother ride and not chase off the back.  We hit the first climb with a steady average 7% grade for .8 miles.  I am sitting right behind Don from Revs Road and he's putting the pressure on for the entire climb.  No attacks from the group.  Then there is another fast descent followed by a short climb before we make a right hairpin turn onto Algerine-Wards Ferry Rd.  This was the best part of this race!  It's 2.5 miles of descending with twisting roads.  Mostly good pavement, but there was debris on the course.  The road is narrow but can allow for passing if needed.  The first time through I led us.  I kept the pace high but safe.  I didn't really take any chances.  I'm sure the last racer in our group felt like they were chasing though.  There is only one sharp left turn that you can see coming up, and it's full of soot from the rains.  We reach another shorter climb for .5 miles average 6% grade followed by a right turn on Lime Kiln Rd.  We are all back together and some are feeling the effects of the ups and downs of this course.  I'm still sitting up front and taking my turn up front.   My heart rate isn't getting as high as I'd like but my stomach is feeling good.  I'm about 10 beats per minute off where I'd like to be.  My legs are feeling good however, but I can feel the cardio isn't where it needs to be for 4 laps of this. We make a slight right onto Murphy Rd and this is the final road to the uphill finish.  It's well marked for us.  This part has some really short but punchy climbs.  We all get through together and make a right turn onto Old Wards Ferry Rd where the Velo Promo feedzone is located.  I still had 1.5 bottles left.  I didn't take a feed.  (I should be drinking more though,a nd I'llpay for that later!)  We make a right and then back on the course for 3 more laps.   Don and myself decided to make the group react and chase by creating a gap as we went through the descents on Wards Ferry.  Then we hit the climbs hard.  I was first in the Algerine-Wards Ferry Rd descent again and Don came sweeping around me.  He pushed it for us down the 2nd time.  After we climbed out Alex P from Wells Fargo came around and picked the pace up on Lime Kiln and on Murphy Rd.  I followed his wheel and conserved what I could.  He's a big draft.  As we climbed up through the finish we were down to 7 guys.  I ate a Hammer Bar, and should have grabbed a bottle as we passed through the feedzone to start lap 3.  It wasn't even on my mind though!!!  This was the hardest lap for me.  Alex P hit the first descent hard followed by a huge acceleration up the climb that was making me hurt.  I kept my head down and as aero as possible.  I was only looking at Don's wheel and we were all over the road.  Alex was attacking us.  I took a quick look behind because it was quiet and there was only 4 of us!  What What!!  That really just happened.  I'm not even sure how long that took, but I was stoked to be in this selection with these guys.  I personally was hurting and needed that descent to come quickly to recover.  On the flat and climb prior to the hairpin turn Alex pushed it again and the 4th guy was fading back.  Now it was 3 of us.  I tried to get in front of Alex to slow him down but couldn't get enough power to do that.  Slowly I was fading back also.  The top of that climb could not come quick enough.  If they make it to the descent on Algerine-Wards Ferry Rd before me I'll never catch them alone.  The 4th guy behind me gets a second wind and comes around me as I'm literally crawling on the bike!  There's nothing I can do. I reached the hairpin turn alone and went as hard as I could.  I saw them as they climbed out of the descent but they were 3 and I was 1 cooked racer.  I needed more fluid and I needed to eat more...but as you know once you blow up it's hard to come back from it.  I stayed as aero as possible through the final lap but never saw them again.  My teammate Morris Delgado caught me on lap 4 and he was looking strong.   A few more caught me as I arrived to the finish.

I learned a lot in this race.  I should have been drinking and eating more on lap 2 especially.  For hard races like this I'll be using a Hammer Gel every 30 minutes, and a bottle per hour of HEED.  It was deceiving, and this always happens when I haven't raced a course prior.  (Thats one reason why these race reports are so important.)  Its 46 degrees out and you don't want to drink to much that you have to go pee, but we are racing at elevation with lots of hard efforts and climbing.  This course suites me well, and I'll be back next year.  Smarter and more prepared. hopefully with some more teammates.

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!  Time for a Pliny the Elder waiting for me at home.

Next race will be CCCX on April 10th and Sea Otter Classic on April 15th!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Chico Stage Race #3 Time Trial

Zachary Hilton
Chico Stage Race #3 River Road Time Trial
Category 35+ 3/4's

Chico, CA 
Place: 29
Field: 36
Teammates: None

Weather:  59 cloudy, headwind, and some cross wind

Total Time: 00:27:43
Power: 223 W avg, 430 W max, 223 W NP  

Average Speed: 22.0 MPH, Top Speed 26.1 MPH

Average HR: 168 Max HR: 185
Elevation Ascent: 1,283

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized S-Works Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 53/39 11 speed group set with an 11/28 for this race.  I have tried my best converting my Tarmac into an aero bike for this race.  I'm using a front Race Rim Tubular 46's and borrowed a teammates rear disk.  I follow Hammer Nutrition's Steve Born on many pre-race strategies.  

My goals for this race are to try and beat my time on an actual TT bike from last year.  I sold it last summer, and haven't purchased another one yet.  Teammate Peter Cathcart let me borrow his rear disk and bottle cages came off.  I can get into a pretty comfortable TT position for the 10 miles without the use of clip on aero bars.  I got a warm up in on the rollers where the Crit took place and headed down to the TT start.  Its the same course as 2015.  Typically some winds also. No rain for today or the weekend!

TT started off good. It would have been nice to get clipped in for the start but they were't doing that this year.  I got into position and only got up from it a few times from the road.  The course is very well marked and not many vehicles during my start time.  I was down 10 watts or so from being tired from the events.  I kept it steady and had a strong finish.

Chico Stage Race will be on my race calendar next year.  I've learned so much and have improved.  I keep getting stronger and will race smarter in the road race next year.  Congrats to my friend Robb Herrick of Revs Road for taking 2nd in the TT and that put him 3rd overall in the GC for Chico Stage Race.  With no teammates in the race with me, it's always nice to have friends!

Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and stretch before the long car ride home.  Don't forget to recover during your sleep and take some Hammer Whey to boost that HGH.  I've also added Hammer Nutrition's Chromate, and Super Antioxidant to the recovery mix.  Both have great recovery ingredients!

Next race will be Ward's Ferry Road Race on March 12!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Nature's Bakery!

Thanks to RaceRim!

Thanks to iRC Tire USA!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!