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Showing posts with label Bike Race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bike Race. Show all posts

Monday, April 12, 2010

2010 Hillsboro RR (finish)


[Special Note:  I have a "Music Player" gadget, 4th down to the right. You may run audio from it or the video as you see fit by pausing the music player or muting the embedded video. Enjoy!]

 Race Results
Here's the end of the Hillsboro Road Race.  I didn't do so well.  I was unable to pickup water in the feed zone and this resulted in race stopping leg cramps.  I just missed the final sprint.  I plan on trying to produce a "best of" Hillsboro race video later.

Let me just say that if you ask the guy who won, "What did you think of the race?" or "What did you think of the course?" He's going to say something like "It was great", or "It was a challenging, but a good course."  Then, if you ask almost anyone else (especially an unhappy finisher like myself or better..... someone who crashed or flatted) They would say something like this...... That was the biggest pile of shit race course that I have ever done.  I don't think they could have designed a more f'd up kind of course.  Much of the roads are so narrow that only one car  can operate on them.  All of the turns are full of gravel, the field size is so big that  staying to the right of center is ignorant or reality.  Placing cones and barricades up on an already ridiculously crowded feedzone is like begging racers to crash.  And if the cones don't get you, then maybe one of the two motorcycle operators can screw with you until you do.  Oh and to put a cherry on top, how about a local kid placing a log across the road on a turning descent!  That was NICE! You know, crashing and destroying a several thousand dollar racing bicycle and going to the hospital with a broken collar bone and concussion really isn't a big deal (or worse)

I would suggest that this race should have a rolling enclosure.  There are almost no cars out on it in the first place, the roads are narrow, the field size is large, and they already have two guys on motorcycles who could be riding ahead flagging cars over, pulling logs out of the road, or just simply alerting the field to traffic instead of badgering the field.  If the pack can dodge those two, then they can dodge a car.  It's the same concept as:  "If you can dodge a wrench, then you can dodge a ball."

Oh yeah, maybe the motorcycles could carry spare wheels so that the wheel vehicle doesn't abandon the riders behind the lead.  Just a thought.

I understand it is tons of work for the promotors and volunteers to put on this race and most people do it for free.  And I do appreciate them for that.  I also understand that they believe placing cones and baracades in the feed zone is to protect the riders (it doesn't, it endangers us), as well as the motorcycles honking and corralling the racers to the right side of the road.  I know the best intentions are meant, but in my opinion this race should either have a rolling enclosure or  not be held at all.
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April 16, 2010 Update or addendum:   I had some time to reflect and I've talked to several people about the race since I (we) did it last weekend.  I think my analysis was a bit too harsh.  I think I was suffering from sour grapes syndrome.  The course was overall fairly good and the race was certainly well organized. 

I was contacted by Rich Pierce (former Hillsboro Race Organizer) to discuss how the race could be improved.  The race has grown dramatically over the years and the organizers have put a lot of thought and care into making the race successful, safe, and basically fantastic.  There are no guarantees for rolling enclosure, but it was discussed.  Or possibly a partial enclosure on the large finishing road where the wind typically is a cross-wind that tends to put riders in the wrong lane.  Otherwise it is generally understood that most of the small roads are driven down the center (by locals) until a car is viewed and adjustments made.  Clearly a cross-wind from the left does not need any special attention for the race/racers.  I also suggested neutral wheels on the motorcycles and a tall flag for the first cone of the feedzone and no saw-horse style barriers on the feedzone.  The wheel vehicle should remain behind the main pack.  I think the field size is ok with a partial rolling enclosure.

In conclusion, I give the Hillsboro Road Race a thumbs up.  I wouldn't expect a rolling enclosure next year, but it would be beyond fantastic if they could pull it off.  Until next year!

To learn about the best video camera in the world for videoing cycling (which is the cameras that I use for my videos) click here.

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Great Forest Park Race 28Mar2010


[Special Note:  I have a "Music Player" gadget, 4th down to the right. You may run audio from it or the video as you see fit by pausing the music player or muting the embedded video. Enjoy!]

Hello race fans.  The above video is of the Masters race, which very much speaks for itself.  Cold 45 degrees, very windy and raining.  There was a  crash and happily it was limited to only 2 riders and was as minor as crashes can be.  The most notable point of the crash was that it involved Tracie Smith, who claims he never gets in crashes and only suckie bike handlers crash. (yeah, right! LOL).  I raced very hard on this and most Masters races.  I find that, for me personally, Masters racing is every bit as hard as the Pro I-II races. This is probably because I must do more work, or tend to solo more at full effort.

I did win this race.  Gary Dyer was able to draft me, and did not try to pimp me (let me do all of the work, and him take the money, via popping me for the sprint finish).  I like Gary.  I was his  teammate years ago (St. Louis Cycling Club) when I trying to get on bigger and better teams. 

That reminds me.  The last race I did for St. Louis Cycling Club was at Soulard in the rain.  It started out dry and then started raining.  Soulard is a serious criterium with many corners and isn't hard to crash on even when it's dry.  I was running Specialized tri-spokes both front and rear.  This was around 1995 and these wheels were considered "the bomb".  Presently these wheels are illegal for mass start events due to safety concerns.  Anyway I crashed twice and got 2 free laps twice (I got caught behind a crash as well).  My final crash was in turn 2 and I did not get up for a very long time.  I kept saying, "This is going to stop hurting.  This is going to stop hurting."  I had slide into a concrete curb and chipped the bone on my hip (that's what the x-rays showed).  I was bed ridden for almost a week and done with racing for the season.  From this story there are three or four important points:  1. I've riddend for another team besides CBC, 2. I know and like Gary as a result, 3. I don't like racing in the rain, 4. wheels make a huge difference.

Oh yeah, I also won the Pro I-II race as well!  Unfortunately the battery on my camera failed on the bell lap of the Masters race.  I got a partial recharge between races with my laptop, but still I was only able to video the start of the race (I've ordered spare batteries).  The last 5 laps would have been good. 

I had some really good teammates in that race.  Jonathan Schottler, Jason Ozenberger and Dan Miller.

The race split into a 10 man break-a-way that included me, Schottler...................wait a second......... STOP!  I don't think I want to discuss a race not on video.  If you want to know about the race just look up the results.

Now watch my video first and then go out into the warm sunshine and ride your bicycle.

To learn about the best video camera in the world for videoing cycling (which is the cameras that I use for my videos) click here.