I'm Back For More

Often times when you start racing January 1 by the time July comes you look for ways to not get burnt out from the sport you love.  This year was a bit different because in April we decided to look for a home to purchase.  This home was going to be the forever home for the three of us.  Suddenly my focus on the bike and racing was sidelined and I went full time into finding a home and financing.  Anyone that has been through this process understands that timing along with being aggressive is everything in the housing market, and in return you will come out a winner.  This also means that no doubt when you are training you will get contacted for some piece of paperwork that needs to be signed or you need to send in.  The process seems never-ending, and the strong do survive in the end.

We have been in our new home for one month now and things are finally settling back down.  I picked up the training two weeks ago and found some races to complete the season.  The best part of living and cycling in the San Francisco Bay Area is that you can leave the sport for a few months and pick up right where you left off.  There are three races that I will be competing in.  All three are USAC races and then this fall I will take part in the Low Key Hill Climb Series!  I focused on a few of these races last year.  It was a great way to spring me into the beginning of the season.  The series is exactly what its named.  A group of races that enjoy hill climbs and charity.  All proceeds each week go to a local charity of the organizers choice.

University Road Race August 23
Mt Tam Hill Climb September 12
Fremont Peak Hill Climb (NCNCA District's Hill Climb Championship) September 20

I am really enjoying being an Athlete for Hammer Nutrition in 2015!  Everyone knows I'm constantly talking about their products and I always have extra Hammer Gels on me.  Hammer Heed is consistently in my bottles.  Strawberry has been my goto choice for months now.  Hammer Chocolate Recoverite fuels my body for the next day.  This has been especially true since I just jump started the training again for the second half of the season.  I am taking premium insurance cap daily to fight off getting sick and staying strong.  Race caps supreme daily before training, during, and after.  Clear Day is my choice each morning to fight off the allergies in the San Francisco Bay Area heat.  Hammer Bars are in my pockets for when I reach my two hour mark on rides and need some protein.  The great thing about Hammer's new Pro Gels are that they contain protein now also!  Each night I take a scoop of Hammer Chocolate Whey and mix it with water 30 minutes before bed.  All this allows me to push my body to the limits each day.

You will see me around the SF Bay Area in my Hammer Nutrition kit or my SJBC Racing kit.  I am looking forward to some final altitude training in Truckee before University Road Race.

For me this year getting over the hump of the mid season was simply some forced time off the bike during May-July.  We shall see how this pays off!

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!