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!

Chico Stage Race #3 TT

Zachary Hilton
Chico Stage Race #3 TT 35+ 3/4's

Chico, CA 
Place: 26  (GC Placing 24)
Field: 34
Teammates: None

Weather:  62 cold, crosswind, headwind, and crosswind, sunny
Start Time:  8:35 am

Total Time: 00:27:40
Power: No Power on TT

Average Speed: 22.45 MPH, Top Speed 27.60 MPH

Average HR: 163 Max HR: 174

Elevation Ascent: 79 ft

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding my new 2013 Specialized Transition TT with SRAM Force group set.  I ride a 53/39 11/25 for TT's.   We stayed in our same parking spot near the crit and I warmed up on the trainer for the TT.   I carried no bottles for this TT.  It's going to be windy and it's just 10 miles.  The start is about 1 miles down the street from where I am at.  I stuck a Hammer Gel under the leg of my Voler speed suit.  I warmed up on the trainer for 20 minutes in the sun, drank though a bottle of Hammer Heed and headed to the start.  The intel that I've gotten on the course is that you hit crosswinds on the first section, then a right turn into a headwind, and then final right turn into some crosswinds.  I don't have a power meter on my TT bike so pacing is difficult.  I have to base of heart rate.

The TT starts and we are given the option to be held while clipped in.  I take off and get into the aero position on the bars.  The trouble with pacing off heart rate on the TT at a stage race is that fatigue is starting to set in also.  So even though I might be pushing threshold my heart rate might not be able to get high anymore.  I tried to go out easy and consistent.  There were some strong crosswinds blowing me around.  I have an aerodisk cover on my back wheel and a 54mm carbon wheel on the front.  We are all separated by 30 seconds.  I stayed in my drops the entire time.  The right turns aren't sharp ones.  While in the headwind I tried to not push to hard to fight the wind.  My heart rate was staying the same and when it increased I just backed off a bit.  During the final stretch the the finish I was able to increase my effort and heart rate.  Especially the last mile.  I really need a power meter in the future to be more competitive in the TT.

Well that's the completion of the second stage race.  The last one was Cascade Classic in Bend, OR.  That was 2 years ago.  My next event is SJBC Team Training Camp in Paso Robles, CA.  It's more like a three day stage race.  It's a mixed group, and I plan to get a great workout from it.  I'm sticking with those that are stronger than me :)


Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Race Rim Wheels!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Voler!
Thanks to Vittoria Tires!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Post Race Meal In-N-Out for the ride home!