The image is of the full day's activity, including my warmup on the course before the Cat 3 race and also the lap I did afterwards. Highlighted in blue is the race itself. When you select a part of the file with the iBike software you can either split it out of the full ride file into its separate file, or read it within the main file, which I've done here. All the data in the box in the upper left is just from the blue highlighted part - the race.
But look first at the white line before the race starts. That's speed. You can see which way the wind was blowing from the acceleration after turn 1 on every single lap. We had a nice tailwind there through most of the race.
For the race itself I averaged 27.5mph for 43 minutes, with average power of 257 watts. (NP shows up in real-time on the meter itself but I always forget to look.) When I originally downloaded the file my average power was higher. The reason is that my "Profile" used to interpret the data was based on my training setup - heavier training tires on shallower rims, and also carrying tools, seat wedge, iphone, etc. I created a new profile where I adjusted my weight downward, decreased my aerodynamic drag because I rode 58mm deep section wheels, and also decreased rolling resistance because of race tires. You're supposed to create each new profile through a process including "coast-downs" and then a 2-mile calibration ride in the exact setup you're profiling. I didn't do that. Rather, I copied my regular profile and edited it manually. Six-Sigma accurate? Probably not. But I can continue to tweak it and then re-interpret files at any time.
It was a fast race, or it could be anyway if you stayed near the front and followed or initiated attacks. I did this and tried to get into some moves, and counter others. You can see the spikes in power at about 42, 48, 52 and 53 minutes. Bruno from LSV was motivated to get one going, as were Kyle and Lance from ABRT. I didn't see eventual winner Stephen Wahl from ABRT until about 10 to go - he must have been in the back saving for the sprint. That worked out ok for him.
With 8 to go they rang the only preme. I was 20-25 wheels back at the time but surged into the top 12 or so after the first corner, improving to about 6th down the backstretch. About 100M before the last turn we were all together and I launched my patented seated jump, catching the guys in front by the surprise and opening up about a 30M gap by the exit of the turn. I got the preme, but with 7 to go I knew I wasn't going to stick it to the finish. Still, the longer I could stay away, the more someone else would have to work, saving DJ and Jorge for the sprint. Bryan Burns and someone else bridged up and then rolled past but I couldn't hang with them. I drifted back to the pack and they were reeled in within a lap or so.
A NCVC guy got away with a few to go and dangled off the front until the last lap. R1V led the chase and caught him near the beginning of the final lap. I was able to make it into about 10th coming out of Turn 2 on the last lap, and had an opening on the inside. I put my nose into the wind and moved up inside of DJ, who was sitting about 7th. I told DJ to follow and aimed to rocket to the final turn with himn in tow. Just as I launched, there was a surge on the outside. We reached the final turn 3-4 abreast with me on the inside, and getting pinched towards the curb. I had to scrub off too much speed and couldn't rev it up again before the line. DJ got past me at the line to finish 7th or 8th I think. I was one behind him.
In hindsight, I should have gone 50M - 100M earlier. Surprise is a deadly weapon, as I learned from the preme. I wouldn't have held on for the win at that distance, but either DJ would have been on my wheel and could have come around from 2nd wheel with momentum, instead of 6th wheel at a lower speed. Or if I got away alone the jump from everyone else would have started earlier, stringing things out before the turn and giving DJ a better chance of carrying speed and unleasing his formidable top-end.
Recent Comments