Monday, February 27, 2017

Cantua Creek RR

Zachary Hilton
Cantua Creek RR
Coalinga, CA 
Category 35+ 4
Place: 9
Field: 9
Teammates: None
Weather:  49 partly cloudy, tailwind going out and massive headwind coming in, some cross winds
Start Time: 8:40:00 am 
Total Time: 02:40:00
Power: 206 W avg, 824 W max,  202 W NP  
Average Speed: 18.6 MPH, Top Speed 42.2 MPH
Average HR: 161 Max HR: 190
Elevation Ascent: 1,450


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 46's with 25mm tires for this race.   I am carrying 2 bottles of Hammer Heed with me to the start and a 5 Hammer Gels to refuel every 30 minutes.  I've got a S-Works Evade helmet.

My goals for this race are to practice positioning in the peloton.  This race is going to be a challenge because it's mainly flat, fast, windy, with an uphill finish.  I wanted to take pulls up front and then give everything I have until I blow up.  Practice conserving energy for the right times

We start right near registration and then ride neutral for maybe a mile to the finish line.  We will be doing two laps, or 4 legs of this course.  Two out and two back.  It's a two lane road and center line is enforced.  There is a single cone at each end of the course and you do a 180 degree turn around it.  If you are in the back of the you better be ready to not get dropped as you make it around the cone.  Especially at the one at the finish line.  That one has a tail wind and downhill as you come around it!  We are a small group and that leaves hardly any room to stay protected without looking like the guy that won't take any pulls up front.  No one had a teammate to rely on.  The first 13 miles were pretty easy.  You could feel the tailwind, and we stayed as a group.  No one attacked, and we mostly stayed in either a pace line, or a disorganized group.  I kept to myself for most of it in the back.  On the return from mile 13-26 we hit a pretty hard headwind.  I continued to stay protected, but also took some fried turns at the front.  We were 1K from the finish line and it's uphill.  Some were hitting it pretty hard, and I was able to match it.  It's a little more wind protected in this last 1K also.  I came into the 180 degree turn sitting 6th place.  I could see that a Revs Road racer took the turn fast and was already starting to try and create himself a gap.  I was able to catch the group and stay on the back of it.  It took a few seconds to reach them though.  I also burned some matches!  Mile 26-39 I spent on the back holding on.  Multiple attacks were now going off the front and Rev Road racer was creating a gap on the group that no one could match.  We spent the entire 3rd leg of the race chasing him down.  Finally around mile 36 I started to blow up.  I gave it my all, and that final leg of the race sucked in that headwind alone!  It took me forever from mile 39-52!

What I learned from this race is that positioning is key of course.  I'm struggling to find other lessons learned.

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 Snelling RR on March 4!

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!

Friday, February 17, 2017

Red Kite Bump Circuit Race (Winter)

Zachary Hilton
Red Kite's Bump Circuit Race (Winter)
Livermore, CA 
Category 40+ 4/5
Place: 13
Field: 31
Teammates: John Moore
Weather:  45 partly cloudy, not windy at all 
Start Time: 8:00:00 am 
Total Time: 01:13:00
Power: 259 W avg, 747 W max,  236 W NP  
Average Speed: 20.3 MPH, Top Speed 39.9 MPH
Average HR: 160 Max HR: 185
Elevation Ascent: 1,827


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).  You could go with one bottle if you wanted to lighten your load.  It's not that hilly of a race though.  The finish line is several miles away from the start.  I like taking the long way home and complete another lap.  I am wearing the Zaavy Custom Speed suit and I've got a S-Works Evade helmet.  No pockets in the speed suit, so I tucked two gels under the power band on my legs.  Fits perfect!

My goals for this race are to get some racing in these legs!  My last race for San Bruno Hill Climb.  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.   Pen Velo has 6 racers, and CBRE has 4. We are on the first gradual climb when the race starts.  It's hard to move up on this road.  Last time I raced this I got too frisky and came around the front on the left side before we made the turn onto Patterson Pass Rd just to be up front.  This group wasn't going anywhere, so I opted to stick it out in the back and be protected.  No attacks were made until the final K.  I was able to pretty much stay at the back for the entire race.  The group would surge on some hills, and then completely back off.  There was never even a counter attack.  I could stay in my tempo and make it back to the group each time.

The group was getting faster by the last lap and we dropped several on the third climb up to the bump.  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.  At this point Pen Velo was launching attacks for just like 10 seconds off the front and everyone was chasing.  At 1K to go the front 5 started to separate, and I tried to follow but didn't have the juice!  I tucked back in and hoped to catch a few before the finish line.  No one passed me up, and I came up a few spots.

What I learned from this race is that positioning is key.  This is a great short course to practice positioning and attacks.  I think that if I train for this race I can podium here.  There's enough climbing that it hurts weaker climbers.  I will be back for the Summer version.

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 Cantua Creek RR on February 19!

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!