Vuelta de San Jose

Zachary Hilton
Vuelta de San Jose

Morgan Hill, CA 
Place: 5
Field: 21
Teammates: SJBC Club Members

Weather:  83 Sunny and warm

Total Time: 01:24:00
Power: 230 W avg, 790 W max, 224 W NP  

Average Speed: 21.6 MPH, Top Speed 36.4 MPH

Average HR: 169 Max HR: 193

Elevation Ascent: 1,588 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 46's that are perfect for this race.  I've been hooked on my current breakfast for a while now.  Trader Joe's Multi-Grain oatmeal cooked in egg whites, peanut butter, berries, and maple syrup.  Yum and full of energy to start race day right.

My goals for this race are to get some great quality racing for the legs in a short distance and climbing race.  I registered for the B group.  I am not in any shape for the A's right now.  We were set to do two laps around Uvas Rd.  There were also KOM points each time around on the top of Sycamore.  Scoring would be omnium style.  I wanted to take the KOM points and try to create  a breakaway somewhere during the race. There was a time trial the morning of but Katie and I did the 5K at a vineyard down the street.

The race starts with a nice group of 21.  It's mixed of guys I know and some I'm unfamiliar with.  Staying up front with this group is key.  We are all at different levels of racing.  Riding in packs and paleness is newer to some.  During one of the pace line attempts around mile 6ish there wss a touch of bikes...no bueno.  I witnessed that from the back also...where I shouldn't have been anyways!  Max Hudson kept the pace high by being on the front for most of the race.  I was trying to stay tucked away around 2-3rd wheel until we approached the KOM.  The pace was tough and Max went off the front a few times.  He just seemed frustrated with the pace, but thats how he rides :)  We all stayed together and I moved up front as we approached Sycamore KOM.  Its a short steep climb thats over in less than 00:01:30.  I was sitting 3rd wheel and Max comes around on my left and takes off.  No one else attacks and I let him go out a bit.  Hal way up I attacked and settled into a good tempo coming up right behind him and keeping quiet.  100 meters to go and Max appears to be slowing down.  I came around his right side and took the KOM and 3 points.   We were now a group of 12 as we made the right turn on Watsonville Rd.  That KOM damages the groups each time.  Time to recovery just a bit before the final 1K up to the finish line.  One lap down and one to go.  Hammer Gel time.  Max is still on the front pushing the pace as we come around the start line.  I just stayed tucked away like the first lap.  I don't think anyone was dropped as we made our way around Uvas and turned right onto Oak Glenn Ave.  This is when the race started to get interesting and I noticed the pace line would be on fire and then slow up.  I was feeling good and decided to try attacking the group and see if I could get a breakaway started.  The trouble with that was that we are all club members and I knew no one would block for me if I went away.  Who cares!  I have to try something out here besides just sitting in the group till the end!  I went off the front during my pull with Chesbro Reservoir on my right side.  The group responded and we were single file.  I moved over to the left and the group came through, but of course no everyone came through.   I came back to the front and attacked again as we approached the right turn to continue to Oak Glenn Ave.  I led the group around the turn and this is a natural area to get ahead.  The group needs to go around these sharp turns slowly.  No cutting corners for the back but I was taking these turns hard and fast.  I was off the front with a maybe 5 second gap.  Time to take a Hammer Gel now.  I tried to create more separation but just ended up stringing the group along and I was doing all the work.  Not what I wanted to happen!  I backed off and stayed second wheel.  After we cross over Edmundson stop sign I was going to attack again.  Peter C. pulls off to the left and eases up..I go full gas down the winding turns and don't turn around...I've got a gap and its growing.  As we approach Sycamore for the right turn I was 10 seconds off the front and they were charging.  I was hoping some disorganization was going to happen.  I had one guy with me and I didnt even know he got a free ride!  He was quite until we reached the base of the climb...not to long into it the group surged behind me.  I was gassed and just had enough to reach the top of the KOM in 5th.  That wasn't my plan.  I wanted those 3 points!  I had nothing left.  I stayed with the group on the back.  There were just 5 of us now.  As we turned onto Uvas I knew I was in trouble when my calves started to pop.  I was cramping and fresh out of time and fuel.  I stayed with the group and then watched them sprint away with 1K togo uphill to the finish!

That really bummed me out but this race was the first road race I've competed in for months.  Yeah my expectations were met. I tried something new and it worked.  It cost me, but I dis accomplish the first KOM and blew this group up!

I used two bottles of Hammer Heed, Race Caps Supreme, and two Hammer gels.  This race was over in less than two hours, so no Hammer Bars were needed.  Time to recover with Hammer Nutrition's Recoverite and get a good night sleep.  I always take Hammer Whey Chocolate with 8oz of water before bed....get some extra HGH boost!

Next race will be Low Key Hill Climb (Alba Rd) on October 17!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Voler!
Thanks to Vittoria Tires!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Prize Bags for the Vuelta

Pre-Race Dinner

Fremont Peak Hill Climb (NCNCA's Hill Climb Championship)

Zachary Hilton
Fremont Peak Hill Climb

San Juan Bautista, CA 
Place: 4
Field: 4
Teammates: In Other Categories but grouped together (Alexander Komlik, Andy Crews, Alan Weatherall)

Weather:  85 Sunny down below and the warmest on the hill, especially miles 6-8!! No wind..just sun!
Start Time:  10:20 am

Total Time: 00:54:52
Power: 235 W avg, 632 W max, 251 W NP  

Average Speed: 10.8 MPH, Top Speed 35.7 MPH

Average HR: 179 Max HR: 187

Elevation Ascent: 2,365 ft

Training Peaks Data

I'm riding a 2015 Specialized Tarmac with Ultegra 6800 11 speed group set with a 53/39 11/32 for this race.  I have a pair for Race Rim Tubular 32's that are perfect for this race.  I've been hooked on my current breakfast for a while now.  Trader Joe's Multi-Grain oatmeal cooked in egg whites, peanut butter, berries, and maple syrup.  Yum and full of energy to start race day right.

My goals for this race are to try and salvage any racing effort I have after Mt Tam and get back on the podium.  Last year I set a PR of 45:09.  That's 9 seconds off from getting a free beer from the promoter at Jardine's Mexican after in San Juan Bautista!  I am not in the same shape as last year though :(  I'm still showing up and giving it my best.  There is a huge need to support these races.

I went to bed way to late the night before.  We were hosting a party and staying up late with friends we hadn't seen in a while, and you can't say no to that.  I still managed to get 8 hours of good sleep.  I woke up tired and the weather was starting to heat up again.  I got a great warm up in the shade, but the average temp is 87 now!  Not great weather to do a hill climb in for me.  Making me feel more out of shape.

We started off at the whistle and quickly formed a two by two formation that lasted for several minutes.  At around mile 2 we were starting to break up into smaller groups.  I followed the leaders until mile 3.5 when the rollers came.  At mile 5 I started to drop back and settled into my own tempo.  Miles 6-8 are the toughest and also most exposed to the sun.  I was by myself now and hoping to pick some others off.  I hit mile 7 and started to loose power and felt like I was going backwards.  Not a good feeling but I kept on pushing through it.  At mile 8 it begins to level out with some rollers and then the final mile is the best.  It's a technical and fast final 1K!  If you know the course well, you can take risks.  I crossed the finish line 9 minutes over my PR.  What a bad feeling, but it's what I deserved for being out of racing for so long.  The second and third place guys were at 49 and 50 minute marks.  That was even more defeating because I wouldn't even have to PR in order to get on the podium.

Overall this only make my will to come back stronger!  I'm racing SJBC's Vuelta, Winter Series, and some Low Key Hill Climbs.  I plan to be stronger than last year this January for the 2016 season openers.

I used one bottle of Hammer Heed no need to carry any more for this short race, 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 Vuelta de San Jose on September 27!  That morning my wife Katie and I are running a 5K together in San Martin.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Voler!
Thanks to Vittoria Tires!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!

Mt Tam Hill Climb

Zachary Hilton
Mt Tam HC

Stinson Beach, CA 
Place: 16
Field: 24
Teammates: None

Weather:  64 foggy down below, and warm on the hill
Start Time:  09:55 am

Total Time: 00:53:36
Power: 260 W avg, 640 W max, 251 W NP  

Average Speed: 13.6 MPH, Top Speed 41.9 MPH

Average HR: 173 Max HR: 192

Elevation Ascent: 2,280 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 are perfect for this race.  I've been hooked on my current breakfast for a while now.  Trader Joe's Multi-Grain oatmeal cooked in egg whites, peanut butter, berries, and maple syrup.  Yum and full of energy to start race day right.  I'm playing a big catch up game with racing.

My plans for this race were to get a current FTP on the climb, get some hard racing on the legs, and enjoy being back racing!  I got a great 45 minute warm up on the trainer right next to the beach.  Stinson Beach is a great destination!  Golden Gate Velo always makes it worth the trip.  This year they gave away bottle, socks, and banana bread!  I was feeling well rested this week and took two additional days off the bike to recover.  I registered with the Elite 4's because the only masters 4 categories started at age 40+.

Race starts at Stinson Beach and mile 1-4 are flat on Highway 1 before we make a right turn onto Bolinas-Fairfax Rd.  The first 4 miles you need to be near the front.  Sometimes there are attacks and sometimes just a nice pace line.  I got to the start line early and was sitting 4th wheel.  The pot holes on this stretch of the road are brutal when not called out.  Mile 1 there was an attack of the front and everyone let him go.  The headwind was moderate and no way he was going to stay out front with us charging for the next 3 miles.  An attack came from behind with 3 from different teams and all of us at the front jumped on for a ride.  At mole 2.5 we were all back together and another solo attack went off the front.  We let him go and he started the climb on his own.  He was caught by everyone on the climb.  I stayed on the wheel of a tall rider until we made the right turn. My legs were feeling it from the surges, but I'm used to that at the start of the race.  We were only 8 minutes into this race and already attacking each other and covering them too.  I settled into a good tempo and power for myself like I do on all these hill climbs.  There is no good reason to blow up early.  You will always catch people that do that.  I knew this climb well and planned to use that to my advantage.  There were three of us together now with me just following a wheel.  I wasn't planning on attacking until some of the areas where it flattens out around mile 7.5.  We caught 4 others and now were a group of 7.  I came around to lead the group into the flats at mile 7.5.  At this point I never looked behind me!  I kept my head down and breathing steady.  It was starting to get hot and I was sweating down my face.  I didn't want to show them any of that.  No one ever came around me so I just settled into my own tempo, and led us into the "dark woods".  I wanted to be the first one through the dark woods before you get to the seven sisters.  So many obstacles on the road and no room for mistakes.  There are potholes and tree roots that can throw you off your bike.  I led us through all of the sisters.  Right as we approached the final one I didn't hear as many riders behind me anymore.  Two of them were talking to each other and trying to figure out how many miles were left.  I knew they didn't know the course.  I had to try and shake them now.  Around mile 11.5 you can get into the big ring and just let it ride.  I knew this course well enough to drill it around the corners tight!  My S-Works Tarmac takes corners like a champ!  As we crested before the final sweeping left up to the finish one rider came around me...it was me and him....I was going to follow him down and sprint around in the final meters...he hesitated as if he didn't know what to do and I had a quick decision to make.  Come around him on the inside and punch it or wait for him to make the move.  I didn't know how far back the others were, but looking a pictures they weren't far back.  I decided to cut him on the inside of the turn and go full gas (41.9 mph to be exact)  This is such a fun finish!  He never came around!

I didn't PR on this ascent but I didn't expect too.  Last summer when I did this course I was peaking.  I did however set the same FTP that I had at this point last year.  That's a great way to go into the final race of the season and the Low Key Hill Climbs Series.  I can build off that number, and be ready early for the 2016 season.

I used one bottle of Hammer Heed no need to carry any more for this short race, 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 Fremont Peak Hill Climb (NCNCA's Hill Climb Championship) on September 20!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition!

Thanks to Voler!
Thanks to Vittoria Tires!

Thanks to SJBC Race Team!