Pace Bend Women's Open
Great job out there in the Women's Open today at Pace Bend ladies! Kim wrapped it up with a podium finish!
The Walburg Classic Road Race 2012, registration closes tonight at midnight! Get details! #WalburgClassice
The Walburg Classic Road Race 2012
The Walburg Classic Road Race, February 25, 2012
USAC Permit # 2012-15 – Texas Cup-State
* Field limits of 100 racers, except 50+ may be limited to 75. Cat 5 A/B men are limited to 50 riders each and Cat 4 women are limited to 75 per USAC regulations.
* Cat 5 racers cannot enter the 40+ or 50+ field. 60+ Cat 5 racers are strongly encouraged to enter the Cat 5 or 35+ 4/5 races.
* Junior restricted gear ratios will be in enforced per USAC regulations. A second follow vehicle will accompany the Junior10-14 race.
** Cat 5 Men--there are 2 races at different times! Make sure you know which one you enter online beforehand! This category fills up fast so pre-register ASAP!
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Registration: PRE-REGISTRATION only on www.bikereg.com will close on Friday 2/24 @1 a.m. EST. (Thursday night, Central time!) Online pre-registration fees apply. Packet pick-up will be held at Bicycle Sports Shop, 517 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin TX on Friday 2/24, between 4-7pm (no race registration will take place).
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Directions to Walburg: From Dallas take I-35 South to exit 268 (FM 972) 3 miles north of Georgetown go east on FM 972 4 miles to Walburg. From Austin & Houston take I-35 North to exit 268 (FM 972) 3 miles north of Georgetown go east on FM 972 4 miles to Walburg. Parking: 1/2 m south of 973 on 1105.
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Course Description: 24-mile rolling course with hills, false flats, likely wind and an uphill finish in the German town of Walburg. Race rollout from parking, racing starts at Walburg Mercantile restaurant at left turn connecting FM 972 / FM 1105. FM 1105 out of town to Theon, continuing to Schwertner. Take a right turn at Schwertner on FM 487. Next turn is on FM 301 heading south/right. Take a right turn on FM 972 back into Walburg. See course map below:
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All USAC rules are in effect. Wheels will be neutral. Event held rain or shine. Unlicensed Riders will be required to purchase a one-day license ($10.00). This is a TXBRA-endorsed State Cup Series Event where State Cup points are calculated. ***Riders holding foreign licenses must present a valid 2012 UCI license in order to be eligible to race. Expired licenses will not be accepted. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the race director no later than February 18 for verification.***
Contact: James Ezell, walburgclassic@gmail.com, 512-619-5750
Mineral Wells Stage Race Report by John Dodge, Cat 35+ 4/5 @RideTBi #MWSR
Mineral Wells Stage Race Report by John Dodge, Cat 35+ 4/5
Race is 3 stages: Saturday morning crit, Saturday afternoon 7 mile TT, Sunday RR.
This years weather: Saturday: pouring rain the entire day, mid forties temp. Epic. Sunday: 45 degrees and overcast, changing to sunny.
The Crit: .75 mile course in downtown Mineral Wells. There are six 90 degree turns on the .75 miles...which means you go around a lot of turns in the course of the race. One straightaway which is the only nicely paved part. The other half is patchy asphalt and concrete patched road surface. Off camber turn at the bottom of a hill, curbs, ravines that cross the course, etc. It would be incredibly tough when dry. This year 3 of the turns were completely under water, 3 inches deep flowing across the road. The finish line had water rushing across it. The off camber downhill turn was slick and potholed. At one point there is a water gully that cuts across the road that was full of water. Most people in my race (35+) rolled out slowly in protest, or in self preservation, and rode at their own pace. About 8 guys put it on the line and raced...the other 42 of us got pulled within about 15 minutes. I ended up 35th out of 50.
At this point I dried off in the car, tried to get warm for the next 2 hours, then got back out in the rain to warm up for the TT. When I showed up at the TT line, they were pulling cones...it was cancelled. It was still pouring, I was soaked a second time, and a little upset they cancelled at this point. I was actually ready. The TT course is really nice rolling country side, think Bee Caves with longer rollers, scenery and no cars.
It was all in all a miserable day on the bike. I tried to put it behind me.
Sunday RR: The course is incredible really. No cars (as in zero the entire course), big shoulders and smooth pavement, rolling enclosure so no yellow line rule. Really a great course. There is one big climb where they have KOM points about 20 miles in. Personally, I made a small logistical error and thought my race was 24 miles (one loop) when it was actually 48...oops. Found out at the start line...had one and a half water bottles and no gel, sports drink, etc. So I went with every break, had some fun, and did one lap. I get the stupid unprepared racer award for Sunday. No idea how I misread that. No big deal - I considered this a B race because I just happened to be in Dallas for the weekend.
Net: If you like crazy epic crits then this is one for you. If it's raining, I can't imagine anything more insane - closest thing is the ATT crits in downtown Austin a few years back when it was raining. I actually saw a guy hydroplane on his back after going down in a corner (he was fine and laughing about it fortunately). People went down at the staging area because it was 3 inches under flowing water...crazy. That said it is all worth it to make it through the crit for the awesome Sunday RR, or the TT if it's nice weather and not too windy. They have a ton of volunteers, and they do put on a good race.
-John
Alsatian County Omnium Race Report by Grant Woolf, Cat 4 Racer. @HOLLANDRACERS
Alsatian County Omnium – Cat4 Race Report by Grant Woolf.
Saturday Circuit/Crit: I’m not really a crit guy, but I thought it would be a good course for me with a longish drag uphill to the finish. Goal was top 10. I was hoping for a break-away, but the winds were low and it wasn’t really a good course for a break. I followed an attack early and tried to create something late, but nothing materialized. I got stuck behind a big wreck on the last lap and had to stop (I shouldn’t have been back there). I rolled in 30th, at least I avoided the wreck. Stephen Spess finished a bit ahead of me.
Saturday TT: The course was only 4.8 miles, but it had a couple hills and the wind had really picked up in the afternoon. It was my first attempt at a time trial and I didn’t have any aero stuff, but figured I’d just pedal hard and try to stay low. My goal was to not get passed by my 30 second guy and get into the top 20. I figured an 11 minute time would get me there given the distance. I struggled getting into a rhythm and felt like a human sail in the wind, but I gave it my best shot. I ended up 30th (again) with a time of 11:29, 25mph, but I didn’t get passed! Adir posted a good time and was just out of the top 20. The winner was under 10 minutes and over 29mph average, yikes. I talked to him on Sunday and it was his last race as a 4 (he won every event).
Saturday Dinner: Good company and good food, but I ate too much. Ask Chuck about the biscuits.
Sunday morning RR: It was a good course for me without any major climbs, but enough grade and crosswinds to allow a break in the first half of the race. My plan for the day was follow everything, initiate attacks, or blow up trying. Jeff from Velossimo and one other guy rode off the front just a couple miles in. I cruised up the side and slowly rolled off after them (stealth attack mode), nobody bothered to follow me. I figured I'd just warm up the legs a bit. My legs were very warm by the time I caught them, they were picking it up and putting a decent gap on the field. The 3 of us got in a rotation for a few miles and then a couple small groups bridged up. We had 9 in the group and a nice cross wind killing the pack (and us). Everyone was working hard in a rotating pace line and we got out of site from the pack within ~10 miles. It was impressive organization for a bunch of Cat 4’s.
The first 40 minutes of the break was pure suffering, particularly the last third. My extra pounds were killing me up the constant grade and cross wind. For the data junkies, I averaged 275 watts during those 40 minutes, with normalized power of 291 (probably a bit above my ftp right now). I almost got popped and hung on the back for a minute, legs starting to cramp. Once we made it "over the top", I was good.
One guy got a flat, another dropped a chain, and another blew up. There were 6 for a while, still working well together. The strongest guy in the group pushed the pace hard a few times to get rid of a couple others and it was 4 of us with ~12miles to go. He popped me with ~2 miles to go and I rolled in by myself, 4th place. I was elated, pure joy for a guy who can't sprint. It was my first top 10 finish and I couldn’t have scripted it any better. It was a truly enjoyable day of suffering on the bike.
