Yesterday could have gone better. But, I’m trying to shake it off and just get on with it. I was hoping to ride 15-20 seconds faster than I did. I rode 9:18, which wasn’t even close to what I felt I should have done. I’m not sure what I did wrong. Maybe started too hard, or maybe allergies. All I know is that when I got about half way up the hill, I could hear my breathing, a little wheezy, squeak with every breathe. That kind of rattled me. But the lung burn was worse.
The morning was pretty stressful. The drive from Topeka to Fayetteville was through thunderstorm, after thunderstorm. I didn’t think I was so stressed out until I got out of the car in Joplin, Missouri and felt all twisted up. Plus, I only slept 5 hours. I was planning on sleeping over 6 hours, but the thunder woke me and I thought that I should pack up and use the extra hour just in case the driving was super slow. It was slower, but not that bad. I got here with plenty of time to spare.
I thought I warmed up good, but I must not have. That is one thing about getting older, it takes so long to get going good. I used to do some much better in the time trial when it was held after a 100 mile road race. I could ride it better, for sure, after tomorrows road stage.
That being said, I’m not really going with allergies because it had rained earlier in the day and that should have taken the pollen out of the air. So, I guess I have to go with that I don’t know how to pace myself for 9 minutes uphill. I rode pretty exactly 400 watts for the 9:16. That is the highest wattage I’ve had for that time period since I’ve had a power meter. It was 5.65 watt/kg, whatever that means.
I rode up the hill a couple times before I raced it. I rode it just medium hard and did a 9:52. I don’t understand how I can only ride a little over 30 seconds faster when I’m going as hard as I can. This sport is fickle.
I was talking to Frankie Andreu and a guy came riding up and Frankie asked how it went. He said horrible. That his power meter crapped out ride before the start and he had no idea how hard to ride. Both Frankie and I just said something like, wow. But, like I wrote above, I obviously didn’t know how hard to ride either, so I guess I’m in the same situation, just a different boat.
The winning time was 8:07, so I was 1:11 behind. I like that number, so it’s not all bad.
Today is 110 mile road race at 2:00pm. I caught up on some sleep, so I hope to be fine. I’d like to go out for a ride this morning, but I don’t really see any reason to add more miles into a moderately long day already. It is not supposed to be so hot today, just 80, so that is good. On Sunday, for the criterium on the hill, it is supposed to storm all day. That is always something to look forward to.
The numbers at Joe Martin this year might be the nicest numbers I’ve ever pinned on. I told the promoter, Bruce Dunn this. They are made of cloth and are very artsy.
Driving to the race was sketchy.
This was the corner that I fell on two years ago.
Getting ready.
Starting.
Talking to Frankie after the race. There must be something pretty interesting to see here.
Frankie for President! and Betsy, too
5.6 W/kg, I can do that for 25 seconds.
I guess that should mean your current weight is 70,8 kg.
Is that correct?
Cycling News has you 1:26 down. What’s up with that?
That would be to presidents…
lots of powah!
The Cycliost – 70,8 = 156? That is what my Strava weight is. I’m actually a little lighter than that right now. But, that didn’t seem to help much yesterday. I’m going with allergies now.
and Jimbo – I’m not sure where they got the results. Here is a link to the official results.
http://joemartinstagerace.com/Results2014/stage1/01dGC01Men_Pro_Cat_1.htm
I don’t understand the comment “didn’t know how hard to ride” without a power meter. With all the training/miles on the legs of the pro guys – and doing a 2.5 mile TT, isn’t it easy to decide how hard to ride for the 2.5 miles? Ride as hard as you freaking can right??
some can’t just can’t race without a power meter or an earpiece so their director can tell them what to do.
Ha! Same here!
156lbs only? that seems too light.
I know I’m fit when I can manage 400 whats for 10 minutes and keep on riding. I’m 54 too and I’m damn proud of that number. You should be too.
I know I’m fit when I can manage 400 watts for 10 minutes and keep on riding. I’m 54 too and I’m damn proud of that number. You should be too.
Those numbers from Champion System are great. Started using them this year in the SoCalCross Series and they lasted an entire season no problem.
Good luck in the road race.
The exact reason why power meters should be treated as an indicator tool … not ‘truth’. It’s like watching people crash into each other on the sidewalk watching their iPhones …. heads always down.
CrankPunk has an excellent article on this phenomenon
http://crankpunk.com/2013/05/22/the-power-problem-whats-with-the-obsession-with-the-watts/
steve
you rode as hard as you could and you recorded a 9:18.. good job… dont need to hear about stress and thunderstorms and alergies.. you think you’re the only guy to drive there in the rain? you the only one with stress and alergy problems?
hey mike- once again, sorry but I’ll write things about what I observe and how I feel. that is the major part of athletics. what do you want to me to write? This would be my whole post – “Drove to Joe Martin this morning. Rode 9:18. It was as hard as I could go.”
making observations and trying to avoid mistakes the next time is key to sucess in cycling. and yeah, i’m pretty sure i was the only one to drive 6 hours in the rain to the Pro race. and no, I don’t think that I’m the only one with stress or allergies.
The wheezing and whistling could be asthma. All the cement dust, wood dust, construction dust takes its toll. I know from first hand experience. Keep an open mind and check it out.
Steve, I don’t speak for the rest of your readers but please keep writing the way you do. I truly enjoy it.
You said that you mig have paced incorrectly and that ave was 400 watts.
What was 1st 10 sec ave?
What was 1st 1 min ave?
What was 1st 2 min ave?
I did some power calculations that the winner of the TT would have had to produce using your power and time as a reference. If you could have got a looksee at his power meter that would be a nice cross reference to verify what I came up with. Using the website http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm , looks like he’d have to have averaged 480 watts for the 8:07 time he put up. I used 156 lbs (your strava weight) to stay consistent with the calculations and also what Steve would have to have produced to put up that winning time. Steve would have a power to weight ratio of 6.77w/kg!!! Instead of 5.65w/kg Uhh, that’s a really big power to weight ratio…not trying to imply anything here but I assume most riders at Steve’s level are 2-3% body fat and are all riding machines weighing the regulated 15lb limit and very light carbon wheels with approximately the same rotating weight. In other words, it’s a level playing field regarding these matters. So, in conclusion, I’m highly suspect of these really big power to weight numbers these guys are cranking out. But, who knows, maybe they’re just strong as freak’n oxes…
http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm
I’m sure you would’ve beaten Frankie, Steve.
And it’s Andreu no “a” at the end!