Zachary Hilton
Red Kite's Bump Circuit Race
Livermore, CA
Category 4's
Red Kite's Bump Circuit Race
Livermore, CA
Category 4's
Place: 23
Field: 31
Teammates: Nat Futterman, Luigi Petrone
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)
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
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
Elevation Ascent: 1,765
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%.
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 SJBC Race Team!
