Already dropped my chain and off the main group I threw a smile when my friend, Glen Phillimore (Mitchell Cycles, New Plymouth), took this shot at around the 3k mark. About the last time I smiled for the next 5 hours or so. 2016 Around the Mountain Cycle Challenge. New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. 148km road bike race.
Is it that hard to have just ONE. ONE good race?
Started with the fast group. Dropped my chain not even 2k into the ride. As a result, I lost contact with them and it was impossible to ride myself back to the fast moving peloton. After 10k solo riding I sat up and waited for the second group that started 3 minutes after us. However, there was just no cohesion in there. I did most of the work, pushing hard to keep the pace rich from 40k to 95k. Posted my fastest 40k time en route (59 minutes). Then I realized that I can't work alone so sat back and rode with the group. Then.. at the 100k mark... Bang! A dude crossed in front of me as I was just putting my water bottle back and I crashed hard. Broke my rear shifter/brake lever so I only had two gears to work with from that point on. My elbow and knee was bleeding and my ass was already in pain from the saddle I chose for this ride (Specialized Power). Pedaled by myself until a smaller group caught up to me but I couldn't hang on, lost contact for a second and it was enough to gap me. I had to ride by myself again for the last 20k. My knee pain flared up again like I haven't had enough to worry about..
Lessons learned:
1. A road cycling race is NOT an honest reflection of your cycling ability (skills, strength etc). People in the back can pedal backwards and still go at my pace when I'm up front crunching out 350+ watts.. A 60yr old lady was in the group for god's sake..
Stick with mountain biking. When you go down it's most likely your fault..
2. Do not change a saddle on race day when you have even the tiniest doubt that it'll be comfortable.
3. Take more water with you! I drank only 1.4 liters in 4.5 hrs. Second event in a row where the organizers here in New Zealand don't think riders might need water aid stations along the route.. What's up with that? I organized local 10k and half marathons and we had water stations every 5k along the course. People demand them and it's just normal to have a few along the course..
4. Don't think that cycling is all about getting in them miles. I have neglected strength training lately therefore my knee pain returned (IMO).
Basically, I paid $95 to walk away with cuts and bruises, damaged bike, ego. On the other hand I have learned a lot from this "race".
Is it that hard to have just ONE. ONE good race?
Started with the fast group. Dropped my chain not even 2k into the ride. As a result, I lost contact with them and it was impossible to ride myself back to the fast moving peloton. After 10k solo riding I sat up and waited for the second group that started 3 minutes after us. However, there was just no cohesion in there. I did most of the work, pushing hard to keep the pace rich from 40k to 95k. Posted my fastest 40k time en route (59 minutes). Then I realized that I can't work alone so sat back and rode with the group. Then.. at the 100k mark... Bang! A dude crossed in front of me as I was just putting my water bottle back and I crashed hard. Broke my rear shifter/brake lever so I only had two gears to work with from that point on. My elbow and knee was bleeding and my ass was already in pain from the saddle I chose for this ride (Specialized Power). Pedaled by myself until a smaller group caught up to me but I couldn't hang on, lost contact for a second and it was enough to gap me. I had to ride by myself again for the last 20k. My knee pain flared up again like I haven't had enough to worry about..
Lessons learned:
1. A road cycling race is NOT an honest reflection of your cycling ability (skills, strength etc). People in the back can pedal backwards and still go at my pace when I'm up front crunching out 350+ watts.. A 60yr old lady was in the group for god's sake..
Stick with mountain biking. When you go down it's most likely your fault..
2. Do not change a saddle on race day when you have even the tiniest doubt that it'll be comfortable.
3. Take more water with you! I drank only 1.4 liters in 4.5 hrs. Second event in a row where the organizers here in New Zealand don't think riders might need water aid stations along the route.. What's up with that? I organized local 10k and half marathons and we had water stations every 5k along the course. People demand them and it's just normal to have a few along the course..
4. Don't think that cycling is all about getting in them miles. I have neglected strength training lately therefore my knee pain returned (IMO).
Basically, I paid $95 to walk away with cuts and bruises, damaged bike, ego. On the other hand I have learned a lot from this "race".
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