NorCal Cycling News

Snelling Road Race … where all the kids play

With well over a thousand participants already registered for this event, there are some pretty significant issues of logistics that surround a race like Snelling, and they’re worth talking about and sharing.  So please feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section and spread this discussion around to your club&teammates.

Road closure?

While the course is advertised as closed, we must remember that these are farm roads used by locals who sometimes don’t share the love of bike racing that we all do. In this part of the state, we’ve seen everything from tacks to manure dropped on roads in protest of racing … not to mention the occasional crazy driver who just won’t be stopped from coming on the courses.

So, bottom line - even though it’s a closed course, please keep your head up, eyes open, and wits about you at all times.

The best way to stay safe, have fun, and be the most effective on the bike is to be always aware of what’s ahead up the road.  The more aware you are, the more you’ll see, and the more time you’ll have to choose the right course of action - be it crash avoidance, preparation for a crosswind, or playing the course to tactical advantage.
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Crosswinds … suffering in gutters

While the Snelling course is considered by most as flat … it does have some powerful rollers on it that will sap the snap out legs faster than a tae bo workout. But really, it’s the crosswinds that make most of the pain and separations out in the central valley.

The keys to successfully racing in wind are:

• knowing the course so you can be proactive and preemptive in positioning yourself well for wind changes
• being willing to put yourself in the wind to hold/gain position
• understanding how to use the echelon
• ‘protecting your front wheel’ with good decisions & bike handling skills
• remaining calm and looking ahead

Keyes Road has a mean kick in it after the finishing line for riders as they start laps 2 and beyond ~ but, it also has some very, very fast sections on it afterwards that can cause gaps to form like teeth on a hillbilly.  It’s rare that gaps aren’t closed on this road, but with such high speeds possible … it’s a serious waste of energy to have to cross a gap at 30+mph.  But, for the most part, Keyes road is a packriding road that meanders up and over rollers often protected a bit by wind.

The right turn on Olsen Road can often be mayhem … and positioning one’s self near the front can be difficult and cost a lot of energy.  Many riders get caught out by this turn because the long section of Keyes Road can lull one into inattention … it can be difficult to remember when/where the Olsen turn occurs.

If there is wind, it is likely to cause serious suffering on Olsen Road.  The wind often punishes riders by demanding high speeds against sharp winds from the right side of the road.  If you find yourself pushed into the left gutter, dodging road debris and praying for just that little bit more draft, you must be prepared to endure bucketloads of pain.  But it is those riders who keep their wits about them who will often see opportunities to gain or keep position in the pack.  For example, it is common that there will be small moments of respite where riders in the front of the pack turn off the gas, allowing for a slowing of speeds and swelling of the pack - this is not the time for rest, it’s the time for action!

Immediate action when a slowdown occurs can yield tremendous benefits in positioning one’s self in the pack.  10 or 15 pedalstrokes in the wind the moment the pack begins to slow down may be momentarily excrutiating, but the dividends of rest and better positioning yielded by the short effort may be what keeps you in the race, or positioned better to make the winning breakaway.

And lastly, think about keeping the deep dish wheels at home, spendypants.  Go with the lower profile stuff if you’ve got it.  If you don’t, just remember that wind will push a deeper dish front wheel around quite a bit.  Which leads to the concept of ‘protecting the front wheel’ …

It is common wisdom that the vast majority of crashes in bike racing occur because of over-lapping wheels.  But of course the question is … how does one NOT overlap wheels while racing in crosswinds?  The answer is … you do overlap wheels in crosswinds.  However, you do so with heightened awareness and focus on protecting your front wheel.

When overlapping wheels to maintain the draft during crosswinds, it is absolutely imperative that you visualize and act as a flock of birds, or school of fish.  If there is movement laterally in the flock, they all move in harmony.  It is those who do not act in harmony with the group that will touch wheels and fall down.  And so, the keys to protecting one’s front wheels in crosswinds are:

• heightened awareness and focus, look ahead but know that your front wheel is in danger and only YOU can keep it safe
• stay relaxed and fluid, move in harmony with the riders as they move laterally
• try and make no quick or unpredictable movements yourself

Create multiple echelons? … oh, what am i thinking.  2nd and 3rd echelons being formed is something i’ve just never seen done in NorCal racing.  Well, maybe one day …
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Racing in Rain

This year’s edition of Snelling promises moisture at some point during the day, with the early start waves likely to see more of it than the afternoon.  Regardless, water WILL be an issue for racers to deal with, either from the clouds or on the ground.

We have to remember that rain does more than just muddy our kits and soak shoes … it also creates and hides the dreaded pothole.  This is especially true for central valley roads that have low-grade construction materials and lower-grade fill materials.  So please, please keep yourself and others safe by pointing out holes when possible and ALWAYS calling them out!

Remember, just because you heard ‘hole’ doesn’t mean that riders 10 back did … so, please ~ repeat the call for road hazards, even if it seems redundant or retarded.  You could, quite literally, be saving somebody’s face from a cheese-grater experience.

Here are some quick tips on racing in rain:

• Fenders, if safely installed, can be a very good way of making friends and keeping one’s back and front a bit less dirty.
• Lower tire pressure ~ I race on 110-115 psi in the best of weather, but for wet conditions will go down to 90-100 psi.  For tires like Vredesteins that rate up to 130-145 psi maximum … I’d race dry @ 120 psi, and wet at 105-110 psi.
  The reasoning for lower pressure?  Improved bike handling.  Even though it’s a road race, there are still lots of turns and bumps through the Snelling pastures … and having your bike skip and skiddle over the roads can toss you out of a race faster than a centerline violation.
• Start warm and bundled up, but remember that the scorers need to see your race number.
  Vests, rain capes, jackets …  if you haven’t practiced taking yours off while on the bike … well, dammit you should have been.  The temperatures for the morning starts are quite brisk, and you’ll want to be well protected.  Some folks favor the use of skin warming embrocations, while others get by with correct layering.
  Likely a rain cape will be the best strategy for most who start in the wet.  As the speeds pick up, the cape can be pocketed with just a couple of jerseys and arm warmers on for protection.
  Tip: food in side pockets, jacket folded in middle.
• Remember to eat and drink!  Bonking and cramps are very common out at Snelling because of the lack of speed endurance in legs for many in February and the perceived lack of need for nutrition intake.  Do yourself a favor and down food every 30 minutes and take constant little sips out of your bottles every 15 minutes.

Lastly, please remember to keep your eyes up the road and absorbing what is happening.  It’s especially tempting to stare at the wheel in front of you when the rain and wind are making things miserable … but, the safest thing you can do is look through the rider in front of you and keep your mind attentive and anticipating.
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Potholes, gravel, dead squirrels … oh my!

Again, it’s absolutely essential to the safety of all to point out road debris when safe to do so, and always call out road debris.  And the key is to remember that if you hear a hazard called out in front of you, to CONTINUE calling out a hazard for those behind you.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen the front few riders of a pack point or call out a hazard, and then 20 riders back someone crashing right into it because they never heard word or saw signal.  Please ~ endure the silliness of the repetition and continue the communication of hazards throughout the entire pack.

The Figmond Avenue section of the Snelling Road Race will be all kinds of Roubaix this year … so, be ready to commit to not only suffering through possible crosswinds on this section, but be ready to have bottles pop out of cages and hands bump off bars from the crapfest road conditions.  Stay in the drops, breathe deep, and do your best to remain calm and relaxed when the fit hits the shan.

Tip: pointing out a pothole may be unsafe. If you end up crashing, or causing one because you hit/swerve something … well, there’s little to do but kick yourself in the butt over it.  Again, the best thing you can do is call out “hole” or “cone” or whatever it is that’s going to be coming up and blocked from view for riders behind you.

Be safe, be kind, have fun.
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Passing, or being passed by other fields

This is one of the most challenging aspects of Velopromo road races.  The organization attempts to offer as many racing opportunities for all levels of rider … and this has inevitably ended in fields passing one another during events.

Please be aware: there may not be a moto-official to conduct a safe passing of fields … and there is the possibility that a moto-official will make a poor decision as to when a pass takes place.

These are your responsibilities as riders:

• A field that is being overtaken by a faster group MUST NEUTRALIZE AS FAR TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD AS SAFELY POSSIBLE.
  “Neutralization” means that ALL riders in the pack slow down.  I recommend VERY slow - 12-15mph.  If you are worried that a breakaway will gain time on your pack as it is neutralized … simply think of the math.  If you slow immediately, you will allow space for the overtaking field to pass you safely and get a safe distance ahead of you, allowing your pack to regain speed and initiate chase sooner, loosing less time.
• A field that overtakes a neutralized field MUST REMAIN AS FAR TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD AS SAFELY POSSIBLE, FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
  Do not swerve to the right just because you have passed a neutralized field - you will cause riders behind you to swerve into the neutralized field and increase the chance for accident or fields combining.
  Never, NEVER attack just before a field is going to be overtaken.  This is the ultimate in douche-baggery.  Do not be a douche.
• ANNOUNCE and communicate that your field is overtaking, or being overtaken by another field.

Basically, take care of each other.
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Clear the Finishing Straight

And finally - here’s a nice little golden rule for all to remember and live by:

“Even though your race has ended,
doesn’t mean the racing has ended!”

The Snelling finish is on a narrow road and it is always the case that folks want to watch finishes or chat after their own finish.  Please remember to keep the road clear by getting COMPLETELY off the finishing straight at all times.

Just some good ole’ fashion common sense and common courtesy.
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Be safe, have fun, ride fast!

The Bay Area Super Prestige cyclocross series is set to start this Sunday at San Francisco’s McLaren Park, but the festivities actually get started this Thursday at Sports Basement in the Presidio with a season kick-off party. It’s the perfect way to reunite with old friends, talk cyclocross and win cool ‘cross stuff. The event features free beer,  a big prize giveaway, and a cyclocross panel discussion featuring Vanderkitten pro Barbara Howe, series promoter and cyclocross legend Tom Simpson, and the editor of Cyclocross Magazine, Andrew Yee.

The grand prize up for grabs is a Jamis Supernova cyclocross frameset with an Easton EC90X fork - the same frame and fork ridden by cyclocross pro and seven-time National Champion Jesse Anthony.

The fun is free and starts at 6:30 and goes through 8:30 p.m on Thursday, October 1st.

Sports Basement - Presidio
610 Old Mason St
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 437-0100

Driving directions

[Before we get to the matter at hand, a little local loving. Today is the last day to help remedy the sponsor-default snafu that hit the Menlo Park Grand Prix this year. The total bill Velo Girls were stuck with was $4000 to the City of Menlo Park. So far 75% of the bill has been raised, but there’s still $1000 to go. If we all forgo our lattes today and pitch that $5 toward a fantastic, well-run local race then I bet we could make a dent in that remaining $1000. Click to donate.]

It’s been a while since we’ve had a post about training and tactics, hasn’t it? Well, I’m here to help everybody out with what is quite possibly THE most important part of your race: the warm-up. Specifically, we’re going to discuss the most important part of any warm-up.

That’s right. Today, we will focus on the warm-up soundtrack.

Now, some people argue that the warm-up soundtrack is a highly personal thing, comprised of songs (perhaps even the odd spoken word piece or Gregorian chant) that have the utmost emotional significance to the individual listener.  These people scour their oversized music collections for an hour’s worth of songs that have enough meaning to earn a spot on the all important warm-up playlist, which inherently represents the very life force of the listener and must be approached with the reverence and awe due an idol of its spiritual magnificence.

These are the same people who refuse to write race reports because it gives their competitors too much insight into their tactics and their infinitely complex psyche. In other words, they are the emo wankers. Don’t pay any attention to them.

A truly effective warm-up playlist does two things: A) gets your body moving and loose; and B) keeps your mind occupied with fluff so that you don’t overthink your race before it starts.

Many genres of music can provide the fuel for mindless booty-shaking, but few are as effective as horrendous pop music. Think about it — when Kelly Clarkson or Christina Aguilara sings, you shake your ass and you sing along with the chorus (don’t try to deny it, we’ve all seen you singing in your car on the way to races). That level of embarrassment is exactly what we want to harness in an effective warm-up. So close your eyes, take a deep breath, and sack up. Winning requires sacrifice. We’re going there.

The best thing you can do to improve your own warm-up is to figure out what one-hit wonders float your boat. What are your guilty pleasures? Now is not the time to pretend you have sophisticated, cutting-edge taste in music - you don’t. Now is the time to embrace whatever shameful secrets you have been trying to cover up. Bust out your Christina, your Kelly, your Britney. Play every album in your InSync collection. Blast the Backstreet Boys, take those Spice Girls down off the shelf, and break it down.  They’ve been waiting patiently and this is their time to shine.

With all of this in mind, I’m going to let you in on my own secret weapon:

seabiscuit’s warm-up playlist

1. Under Pressure - David Bowie and Queen
2. Oh L’Amour - Erasure
3. Big Time Sensuality - Björk
4. Dangerous - Roxette
5. Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite
6. Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
7. Like A Prayer - Madonna
8. Boys Don’t Cry - The Cure
9. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
10. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (don’t judge me, you’ve got it somewhere, too)
11. Train in Vain - The Clash
12. Rock You (Like A Hurricane) - Scorpions
13. Runnin’ With The Devil - Van Halen
14. Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey
15. Livin’ On A Prayer - Bon Jovi

Now that I’m standing here in my virtual underwear, I want to know: what crappy music do you warm up to?

REMINDER: USE #CALCUP OR #HELLYER TAG FOR POSTING NORCAL RESULTS

Even though I promote the track i actually like to race cross.  I dunno why - the season is short, the races are closer, the weather is sunny and temperate - with a dash of mud, each race series (and race) has a different character ( i love the Surf City Halloween Psycho Cross and Pilarcitos races) - and the Belgian races are great internet TV.  Rumor is DJ Snead has started to show up for some local crits which signifies the start of cross season training.   NorCal is one of three official “Cyclocross Centers of Excellence” in the United States right next to Portland/Seatle corridor and New England.   The NorCal scene is like Switzerland - we are so good we don’t need to join the European Union.   Anyways…. August and September are clinic time…here are

a few that I’ve seen coming across my desk.

• Velo Girls Bike Skills 103 September 26 - LLL always gets a turn out and is beginner friendly.  The class is going to be taught by John Funke who is threatening to retire.  Funke has been talking retirement for the last year at least… i think everybody just needs to show up with “John 3:16″ signs  to show him some love and cure what ails him my miracle if need be.  We can’t lose a guy with that kind of passion to the Pro Bowling Tour.

• Sterling Sports Group has a camp and a training series going in September. Matt’s pretty intense, and well versed in training details, so this is a good one for the information- hungry-engineering types.  He’s even got a webinar scheduled for 8/27… Go Internet Man!

• Clark Natwick - The master, the myth, the man who brought it all home to NorCal has a few clinic’s rolling.  Clinic dates are 8/29, 9/5 & 9/12. Click here for more details. Clark Natwick Coaching.  For those that don’t know Clark was an early US Cross Champ… for some reason i get stoked seeing he’s teaching locals.  Its like the gods have descended from mount olympus and started handing out magic spears or something.  Anyhooters - YEA CLARK!

• The Alto Velo leprechauns usually hold a few early season low key clinics.  Right now they are planning their get togethers for  September 10 @ Byxbee Park, and September 24 @Arastraderro.  6 PM start time…and that’s loose.  Keep an eye on the Webcor/Alto Velo email list serve for details.

• During the season there are a couple of options.  Las year Roaring Mouse put on some clinics for racers before Pilarcito’s Bay Area Prestige races and Velo Bella does a star studded clinic before the pscyh cross.   Shoot them some emails and let them know you are interested early on.

•  Livermore Series - Even though its not a clinic Shane Huntoon’s Livermore series is a great way to start racing cross since they get rolling on early September 5th.  Cool courses and kids under six race make this a great family event.  Nothing says family like cross!

I’m missing all the good stuff going on in the East Bay, Marin,Sacramento and other cool NorCal spots but i don’t think they have put up any announcements yet.  I don’t know if it is in NorCal but I’m sure Rodney Cox will be doing a cross race every other day out in Chico - that man is a one man wrecking machine!  I want to go there just to see if those races are real or some kind of facebook joke.  Put up anything i’m missing in the commnets section…

(Mike handed me a set of keys for the NorCal car, so I’m gonna try to back it out the driveway without knocking over the trash cans…spot me, OK???)

Been hearing too many reports about crashes and squirrelly moves on the race course lately, so thought the following that came across courtesy of Bicycle Trip-mate Joe Platin, might be of use to some of us:

Hello All -
My name is Bruce Hendler, owner of Athleticamps up in Rocklin. AthletiCamps is a premier provider of bike coaching, testing and camp services in the Northern California area.
I work with Joe Platin (coach) and I asked him if I could send a quick message to invite the team to our AthletiCamps Race School which takes place July 18-19th up here in the foothills.  We are offering a team discount of 10% if 3 members attend together.  So the cost would be $300 per athlete (versus $325.)
I started the Race School back in 2003 and then took a break from it, bringing it back this summer.  I really feel that there is a great need for this type of information in the NorCal racing ranks.  Most of your race training is “on the job” and there are few opportunities for a dedicated weekend where many different aspects of bike racing are taught.
It would be especially useful for team mates, as it offers a great opportunity to learn this stuff together
I am fortunate to have both Larry Nolan and Kevin Metcalfe as instructors for the school.  There aren’t many racers as experienced as these two and are willing to share it.
Please feel free to check out the website at:
http://www.athleticamps.com/cycling/training_camps/race_tactics
And of course, if you have any questions, I am always available.
Ride safe,
Bruce

longtime sufferers of the hernando-blather will call me out on this one ~- - -Mind’ervals The lunch workout can be such a bitch, especially when fatigue is setting in, or maybe breakfast wasn’t anything but caffeinated chocolate ~ or maybe the nite before saw one or three too many margaritas.or worst of all, perhaps the will is simply waning …- - -But, form has to be built, training has to be done, results have to be earned … so, dammit ~ turn the screws to it.  Turn the screws.-And so, when the repeats oppress like a looming, dooming mountain to be scaled - and when the back is tight and twisted from too little ab-work and the evils of crooked, hooked, age ~ that is when we must gulp, we must push through with one foot forward, blinking eyes that sigh and a brief mantra of, “ok … two more … just two more.”Just Two More is digestible ~ it’s realistic.  And though a bail-out of what might be optimal, it’s still better than nothing. And no matter how blown or shattered or disgusted i feel with myself after an interval … i know that i can do at least one after that … so, looking at the mountain, it’s…”ok … just two more.”- - -Up the hill, knees in violent revolt, shoving daggers and screaming jihad at every muscle, every ligament.where is your breathing?turn the pedals over, it’s only two more.  but, the first is agony, shattering glass.- - -The top is reached, and thankfully the hinges find just that hint of lubrication, the shoulders drop and teach the back to relax that little bit and … another time up the hill is possible.Turn and start.I know I can make it up one more time, and then it’s the last one. I’ll be done and the pain will stop. Just make it up this hill … do what needs be done.”two more, just two more.”.Turn and start again.- - -- - –And this time, i think we can do it. Come’on bicycle, let’s accelerate mid-way through this repeat … that’s what the workout called for, right? And now, you can do it. I mean, we’ve only got two more, just two more … the body has woken up and the suffering has changed from ripping cloth to lightly pounding hammer … we can do a couple in the right form, the right effort, the right mold.Hit the big gear …yes, feel the circle, distribute it evenly … efficiency is there under the dust. you can find it.”two more, just two more.”- - -- - –Everything, pour it into this one … everything. This is the winning move … this is the training. Yes, at least this is the right pain, the building pain, the pain that brings rewards.Shake with effort at the top, breath rasping, eyes bloodshot. Turn down the hill, get down for the next one … “just two more.”Sprint, don’t just accelerate … is that the 19t? …. make it to the 17. Burn, BURN, get back on that saddle and force the speed to remain after that attack. Let them chase, make them chase, put everything into the pedalstroke.”just two more.”.just two more~turn and start again.

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TIPS FOR HOLDING POSITION IN THE PACK

No doubt about it - holding position in a pack is definitely one of the more advanced skills we can learn in bike racing. It’s difficult and takes quite a lot of concentration and … sometimes … effort.

But, the more you practice and incorporate a few easy tricks into your everyday riding and racing - the less energy you’ll end up using and the more it will become instinctive, 2nd nature, effective.
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Where to be in the pack?

Personally, i live by the mantra - near the front, but not at the front.

Meaning ~ i love to ride in the top 1/3 of the pack so as to get the energy saving benefits of the tucked-in and protected draft, yet also free enough from the confines of the pack to be able to shoot out and cover attacks … or maybe make my own.

I don’t like riding at the back 1/3 of the pack … it is MUCH more physically difficult and that grates heavily against my naturally lazy demeanor. When in the rear of a pack, we have to accelerate harder out of corners and there is little ‘wiggle-room’ to slide back in the pack if there is a hard section of riding (climbing or crosswinds, for example). Once you’re out of the protection of the pack in those circumstances … it’s usually a gawdawful push to get back to the protection of the peloton, or it can mean a long, lonely solo effort to the finish.

So, my goal in a race is to always try and ride in the top 3rd of the pack and if i fade back a bit, not to stress about it … but instead to make the conscious decision that I MUST move up.

How to move up in the pack?

The big, meaty chunk of time you’ll have racing will be spent exercising the skill of moving forward using as little energy as possible to get the job done. Here are a couple of good ways to do so ~

1. Speed differential ~
   When you see a slowing in the pack, this will be a golden opportunity for you to NOT hit your brakes, but instead ~ safely slide up and around the growing mushroom of riders.  The keys to this glide are 1) make your initial lateral movement out of the pack predictable and relatively slow so that if there is a rider behind you desiring to do the same thing, they have opportunity to recognize what you’re doing and adapt their action. And, 2) be absolutely relaxed and watchful of each rider you pass, trying to predict if any of them will scoot out in front of you. And lastly, 3) know EXACTLY what the terrain is ahead of you. If there is a sharp turn coming up, that may not be the best time to use this tactic to move up in the pack … because you might just lose all those places passed in the pack as you brake awkwardly to set up for the turn.
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2. Pedal through the top of a hill ~
   Often, the few meters right after a small climb offer an excellent place to move up in the pack. Riders will often lay off the gas at the crest of a climb and the speed will drop as they recover and look around at the damage done. A handful of seconds of continuing the same effort you had up the climb as you top over it will often push you past many riders in the pack without using a huge amount of excess energy. There isn’t much downside to this tactic as it is often safe AND it can sometimes be a bit intimidating to competitors who see you spinning smoothly and quietly past them after a hard little kicker.
   >..
3. Pedal the end of a descent ~
   Many times the group will slow down at the end of a descent because someone at the front has to pedal hard to keep the speed up (instead of just coasting along). This is often the easiest way to move up in position because you can pedal at a moderate amount of effort to maintain a much faster speed than those continuing to coast. However, this calls for an increased awareness of what riders are doing around you. You’ll want to concentrate hard on predicting what riders will do … making yourself aware and in the moment - able to react in a relaxed manner to any sudden movements of riders as you move past them.
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4. Riding the wheel ~
   Often this is the most efficient way of moving ahead in the pack while the speeds are still high. And it can also be the trickiest.  When you’re in the pack and you see someone riding strongly through the wind … why not hop on their wheel and take the draft they provide?  Let them tow you to the front!

   However, this is an advanced skill and one that must be practiced, over and over again.  A rider passing you may have someone already in their draft and there is a very delicate art to negotiating with that rider to allow you “in the draft.”  If you begin to move slowly towards taking the draft of the rider passing you, the rider right behind them may let you in, or may ‘fight’ you for the wheel. This is a decision for that rider to make … and the best negotiating point you can offer is to signal to that rider that you are a smart, smooth wheel, and he or she will lose nothing by giving it to you.

   If you see daylight, don’t hesitate - go ahead and slowly take the wheel, all the while increasing your speed to get in the draft of the rider just after they completely pass. If the rider behind that wheel doesn’t let you in, KEEP PEDALING, and then try the same tactic behind that rider.  Again, it’s a tricky business … however, this is a skill that, if practiced, becomes the bread and butter of keeping position in the pack. You’re always looking for wheels to slide on to to move you forward.

Now that you’re at the front, STAY THERE!

You’ve done it, you gotten to the front of the pack and happily see yourself riding 10th or 12th wheel with no problems. And then … dang it! … one of the riders at the front doesn’t continue a pull or there’s some other reason for a slow down … and before you know it, swooosh ~ 20 riders just swarmed past you and now you’re in the butt-end of the pack again.

All in a few seconds.

What to do?

Here is the thing to burn into your consciousness … swarms are predictable.

1. Slowing at the front is visible. Anytime the string of riders becomes more dense, billows out, mushrooms - that is the time you must INSTANTLY look to move up. If it’s not safe to do so, so be it. But, the key is to make it 2nd nature that you are always looking for such opportunities. EVERY TIME.

   The key to holding position in the peloton is that your automatic response to a drop in speed must be to look for ways advance in position. You can use any of the above tips … sliding around the pack, riding a wheel … whatever, just keep moving forward (safely).
   .
   

2. Feel the swarm from behind.  Anytime you feel riders moving up from behind … it should be a warning signal. When you feel riders swarming around the pack, it needs to be an automatic reaction to try and squirm your way into that line of riders, safely and quickly.

   The key is to pedal. You must match the speed of that swarm and move your way slowly into the path of their advance.  Maybe the first few riders won’t let you in … but, if you don’t try, none of them will. And to move up in position .. you must try. This is most evident in sprint finishes and … really is one of the harder skills to develop.

Which leads me to my final point - moving up and keeping position in the pack takes EFFORT. The goal is to minimize that amount of effort. And, the more experience and practice you have, the less energy you will have to use to keep position near the front of the pack.

The keys are: recognizing that you must move forward, deciding you will move forward, and committing the energy required to move forward.

In a finish, it doesn’t mean anything if you’ve saved energy and yet aren’t near the front to use it. Being at the front of the race costs energy. Spend it. Spend it over and over again … because eventually, you’ll learn how to do it efficiently.

gotta go, bye!
m

Conversation ~

20’something rider: “are you doing intervals?”

vanderpoop: “yes, i hate myself”

- - -

Scene ~

the campus hill, exposed … but softly. warm breezes accompanying trees doing their windy waves and ocean vistas twinkling ‘hi’ at all the hikers passing above and below.

bottom of the little hill, turning to start another … perfect time to get paused and chatted up by bus stopped bystander ~
- - -

20’somth’un: “how many do you do?”

vanderpoop: “uh … ”

20’sumfin: “do you use heart rate, or power? what’s your rest? how long does it take you to get to the top? where do you stop?”

vanderpoop: (scratching head and looking squinty to withstand the onslaught): “well, ya know … i start here at the bottom. i hit this little button on my watch that counts down from an hour. i ride to some place up there and come down, and do it again. i don’t stop till that watch beeps at me.

… and if i’m lucky i won’t look at that stupid thing ’til it does.”

- - -

and so it goes.