Kissena Cycling Club

When I first upgraded to race pro/ams, I figured everyone in the field knew how to chase.  Everyone got as far as they did because they had a modicum of both strength and smarts and with the pro experience, no?  And with experience, they should only be getting smarter?

I shouldn’t be surprised anymore that a large portion of the field doesn’t know how to chase or ride in the wind.  This isn’t just about chasing down a breakaway, but chasing down a field when you’re dropped.  It’s chasing when you’re dropped I want to comment on. 

My feeling is once you’re dropped, if you have any power left at all, you might as well ride as if the field is just up the road and try to chase them down.  Do this until you can’t do it anymore.  The field often sits up and you’ll never know unless you try to chase them down.  Whether it’s a one-day race or a stage race, getting back to the field matters.  For one-day events, you could get yourself back into contention.  For stage races, it could be the difference between making the time cut and going home early. 

It’s just like riding a breakaway, only no one has a reason to sit in.  Everyone is tired.  No one is in contention for the victory.  No one is riding for teammates further behind.  No one can help their teammates up front by being dropped.  The only way dropped riders can make a difference in the race or get a decent placing is by making every effort to get back to the field.  Once in the field, you can rest.  And the sooner you get back to the field, the sooner you can rest. 

The same basic guidelines apply to chasing as to any breakaway or paceline.  The bigger the group, the shorter the pulls.  Ride as hard as possible on the flats and descents and ride a pace everyone can handle on the climbs.  That is, everyone who is taking a pull.

At Harriman this year, I got dropped, and when we hit the flats, there were 8-10 guys with me.  If everyone took short, even pulls, we could go pretty fast and maybe we’d catch the field.  But only four of us were interested in chasing.  Two more guys came through so soft they slowed the chase down--and wouldn’t get out of the rotation.  We picked up a local hotshot.  He disappeared.  We picked up Matt Johnson, last year’s race winner, just as we first saw the field ahead. 

With the field in sight, even if it was a long sight, cooperation broke down.  Johnson got right in to the rotation.  One of the guys who could barely soft-pedal through a mile or two earlier suddenly started surging. 

We went around Kanawauke circle and the field was probably less than 15 seconds ahead.  And guys started screwing around, attacking, refusing to pull through, surging, refusing to pull through.  Some of those who refused to pull started attacking.  These shenanigans were terrible--We needed to reattach on this rise after the circle so we could rest on the descent to Sebago circle so we’d have enough in reserve to do the Lake Welch drive climb without getting dropped again. 

Johnson just rolled away from us and caught the field.  He had been at the other end of the group from me.  Bad on me for not thinking he had that much left.  We had to get back on as soon as we could.  I rode hard with just two other guys over the rise, hard down the other side, and we were entering the start of the turn at Sebago circle just as the tail end of the field was exting.  We were on the field’s fumes.  As we made the turn onto Lake Welch drive and faced the big hill there, the local hotshot we had left for dead rocketed by and rejoined the field.  No one else made it across and the field pulled away again.  As I’m fading out of this chase group, a Canadian pro in my group taps me on the hip and says, “too bad no one wanted to chase, eh?”

While some are going to say that we were only chasing to get dropped again, we’ll never know for sure.  It’s a bike race; if racers are not willing to dig as deep as they can, maybe they shouldn’t be racing.  Matt Johnson finished 10th.  The hotshot, along with most of the group dropped out.

And some are inevitably going to say, “That’s Racing!” It’s bad racing.  The wheelsuckers ended the race for themselves by not helping sooner.  Those who played dead then came to life might have done well by themselves on that day—if they had caught on--but it’s going to cost them in the end.  Next time they’re down, they might be with the people who pulled in this chase or teammates of those riders.  Those people are going to know the wheelsuckers tactics and it’s going to be harder for the wheelsuckers to get a free ride and it’s going to be harder for that next group to chase back on because of that knowledge.

Rockleigh is back.  Starting May 28.  Thursday nights.

www.rockleighcrit.com/

With the start of road racing season, it’s time to visit the most chaotic part of long races.  The feed zone.  Even when they’re place on climbs, they can be confusing.  When a feed is on a flat or slight descent, they can be hairy.

First, let’s start with a good post I found on the web a few years back. 

from: http://www.calcycling.org/racetips/georr.php

“Depending on the length of your race, you may or may not have a feed zone. Here you can reload on water and fuel. [Quick tip: you can close the top of your feed bottle onto the top tab of a gel. That way, it will get both “food” and water at the same time. Not to mention as soon as you tear away the gel, it “automatically” opens. Threaded bottle tops work the best.] When you cruise into the feed zone (usually up a slight incline to keep the pace sane). Toss your bottles in the general vicinity of your feeder. Don’t do the TdF “Fox1! Fox 1!” launch at your feeder’s head. Grab your bottle, put it into the cage and continute. Whatever you do, do not attack in the feed zone. There is no written rule to not do it, but it just makes you out to be a real dick weed. You can make people bleed elsewhere in the course. Don’t eat the food right away if there is a climb or some chump attacks, try to nibble on something later on a descent or flat section. As a feeder, you’re going to see some mass insanity going on in the feed zone. Do not get into the street to see where your feed is. Stay put near the side of the road and wait till you have to get out there. If not, you’re just getting in the way. What’s worse, don’t just stick the bottle out there, that really gets in the way. You could get it taken by another rider or even batted down..."Hey the bottle was out there, could have been for anybody...” or “The f-ckin’ thing was in the goddamn way!!!” The way you hand off a bottle is you firmly grab the bottle over the mouth in an over hand fasion. This maximizes the target area for the rider. Have your body facing the rider so you have your arm extended toward the rider so that as they pass, you can swing your arm with the rider (lead the rider). This allows the bottle to match speeds with the rider and makes the feed a lot easier to grab. Release the bottle as soon as you feel it start to pull out of your hand. The worst thing you can do is run toward the riders down the middle of the street, KungFuGrip the bottle by the bottom section and stiff arm it into your feed. You’ll definitely get beat for that. I’ll hunt you down like a dog and beat you myself.”

Further thoughts:
* Have an agreement of where the feeder will be before the race starts.  I like to think of the feed zone in three sections; beginning, middle, and end.
* Have the feeder wear something you can easily pick out of a crowd.  Wearing a team jersey is popular, though anything loud will do.
* Toss the empty bottle so it will land just past the feeder’s feet.  They might need to re-use bottles (pros don’t reuse, but we’re not pro yet).
* If the feeder is handing up to more than one person, give them a musette bag to wear over their shoulder so they have extra bottles handy.
* If the feeder is handing up to more than one person, don’t get picky about what you get in the bottles.  Take what’s offered and don’t complain.
* If you’re not going to take a bottle, let the feeder know as you’re passing so they’re not anxiously waiting for you after the field pass.
* If the feeder is helping multiple riders, make sure you are not immediately in front or behind another rider who is getting help from the same feeder; it is the job of the person immediately behind to realize this problem.  Being immediately behind is a good way to get nothing, and you’ll have only yourself to blame.  If you see your teammate immediately in front of you, let a rider or two get in between.
* The rider directs the feeder where they want the bottle held.  Generally, this means holding your hand almost straight out in front of you at a height you want the feeder to hold the bottle.  In slow feed zones you don’t need to be very careful, but in fast feed zones (Harriman is fast) I think it’s best to have your hand in a position so that if you don’t grab it perfectly, the bottle is likely to hit your chest, which gives you a second chance to clutch it.
* Do not take on food at the feed zone.  Carry all the food you need in your pockets; the race isn’t so long that you’ll be weighed down.
* Do not swerve in the feed zone.  People will be paying attention to so many different things, that safe riding is essential.  That swerve could take someone down, including yourself.
* Unless the next feed is 40 miles away and the day is brutally hot, do not use musette bags.  I’ve seen too many feed zone crashes thanks to musettes.
* Skip the gel packet in bottle advice from Cal cycling.  Too complex. Carry all the gels you need. And carry the spent wrappers in your pockets (littering is a violation of USAC rules)
* If you’re going to use more than one serving of gel, use a flask.  Easier to work, less mess, and you can carry up to six servings.
* Sometimes, you need to wave with bottle in hand and yell when approaching.
* Put your initials or your name on your bottles so they can more easily be identified after the race
* Thank the feeder profusely, even if they screwed up.
* Thank the promoters, even if they screwed up.  There aren’t enough long road races.

For the feeder, the big thing after making sure you’re standing in the right place, having bottles in hand, and then meeting the oncoming riders extended hand is letting go quickly and getting ready with a second bottle--most people aren’t feeding just one person in a peloton.  Have the extra bottles, if you need them at the ready on one of your hips (musette bag, or cycling jersey worn backwards), in a position where you can grab it quickly.  Don’t let the riders get picky.  It’s best if they all have the same thing to drink, though I’m sure people won’t object if they accidentally get a caffeinated drink the last lap.

For the purposes of feed zones, there are three kinds of drinks.  Water, Sugar, and Coke (better be fizz-free, or the hand up should be in the container it came in).  If you’ve got one thing in hand and one of your racers is foolish enough to ask for another, don’t give the other.  You won’t have time to switch unless you’re really good.  Jackass racers will give inexperienced feeders instructions like: First lap water, 2nd lap Cyto, third lap Gator, fourth Coke.  This is bad for everyone unless the feeder is a pro soigneur, and for the most part, these guys won’t bother with the details—they give what they think is right.  Keep it simple. 

People can feed participants in multiple races; there is usually no moment when two or more fields will pass the feed zone together.  If you’re in the feed zone, you’ll probably be asked to help others.  It’s up to the individual if they can handle it or not.  Some people want to nap, run, or read interrupted in between laps.  Some don’t want that much chaos in their lives.  Generally, the lower categories are crazier than the upper.  It’s generally because in the lower cats, both the feeders and racers are less experienced.

These intervals can do great things for your riding.  But if you overdo it, both on the interval day, or over too many weaks, it can also wreck you.  Here’s a sane suggestion from Frank Overton of FasCat Coaching.

www.saris.com/athletes/PermaLink,guid,ed091358-ffdc-430c-9933-d895db68e939.aspx

Odds are your bike has a replaceable derailleur hanger.  This is a mixed blessing. The hanger is, by design, weaker than it would be if it were part of the dropout.  But you can replace it rather than trying to straighten it out, which makes repairs faster.  If you ever travel with your bike, having a spare with you when you travel is a great idea.  You can go to your bike shop and have them order one for you.  Or, you can go to derailleurhanger.com/.

Part 1
www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2009/04/chasing-de-panne-part-i.html

Part 2
www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2009/04/chasing-de-panne-part-ii.html

Part 3 upcoming

Read this training article:
www.bikenewyork.org/rides/fbbt/images/tdfbbt_2009_training.pdf

time for me to try another road.  Enough of this riding in bad weather where it isn’t appreciated.  I’m flying to Flanders to see the roads, canals, bike paths, and pave that gave birth to so many top racers.  I’ll ride, watch De Panne, race a kermis, ride the bergs, visit the Bike Racing Museum, and then finish it off with the Ronde Van Vlaanderen Wielertouriste.  All 260k of the classic route, just with non-pros.  For the lagnaippe, I’ll take in the pro race, rally style.

If you decide register race-day for some of these early-morning events in NYC, do yourself and everyone a favor by filling out your event release form at home.  It’s available on the USA Cycling website.
[url]http://www.usacycling.org/forms/waiver.php?url=rider_release.pdf
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USA Cycling has long had a ranking system across categories, age groups, and regions.  It has been a mixed bag at best.  The highest-ranked riders aren’t necessarily the best; they happen to go to races where the officials or promoters upload the results. Also penalized are people who do well at races where lots of riders drop out. 

The following recently came in the mail.  Let’s hope it makes for a better system

“February 13, 2009

Dear USA Cycling Member,

After listening to feedback from many USA Cycling members like you, I’m excited to tell you that a new and improved Results & Rankings program is being rolled out for the 2009 racing season!

The USA Cycling Results & Rankings program is one of the valuable benefits that we provide to you as a member of USA Cycling. And so throughout the winter months, we have worked diligently to upgrade the program in order to give you a better racing experience. Several changes have been implemented to offer you a more accurate, complete and user-friendly system that tracks your progress throughout the season.

Please take note of the following changes and visit www.usacycling.org to learn more:

As a member, one of the most notable changes in 2009 is that now your 10 best race finishes throughout the calendar year will be utilized to calculate your overall ranking. This is a major change compared to years past, which only factored in your best 3 race finishes over the course of a ,rolling 0/00 365-day period.

That leads us to the next significant change for the 2009 season. The ranking period will now run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 each calendar year instead of the “rolling” 365-day window used previously. This allows for a more clear and concise end-of-year comparison to your peers.

In addition to a more complete sampling of races, the process used to calculate your ranking has been simplified. Gone are the complex algorithms and various technical factors used in determining a ranking in which a lower number was better. In 2009, your overall ranking will simply be the sum of all points earned throughout the year, meaning a higher number is better. This procedure is widely used across the sport of competitive cycling by both the UCI and other national federations.

In 2009, USA Cycling has also eliminated the minimum field size limits that were previously imposed. In the past, a minimum of 5 men and 3 women were required in any given category in order to accumulate ranking points, but in 2009 even if you’re the only rider in your category, you’re still eligible to receive points!

Another change we’ve implemented for 2009 is an updated points calculation table, which determines the value of ranking points awarded to competitors based on a variety of factors. The number of ranking points awarded and the depth of finishers that earn points vary by an event’s level. For a full look at the points tables that will be utilized in 2009, click here.

One of the most often asked questions we receive from members is why a particular result isn,t factored into their ranking or otherwise posted on the USA Cycling website. The reason for this is simply because the results weren’t submitted to USA Cycling. For example, in 2008, only 50% of road races and 65% of mountain bike races sanctioned by USA Cycling were factored into the Results & Rankings program, meaning there was a possibility your best finishes weren’t calculated in your ranking. While looking at ways to improve the program in 2009, one of the enhancements we’ve made was to create a much easier and efficient process for promoters to submit results in an accurate and timely manner. The result will be a much more comprehensive and thorough record of your achievements. It also provides a more inclusive comparison as more riders will be ranked more often.

As a participant, you are encouraged to ask your local race promoter to submit their results to USA Cycling to ensure that all results are captured and calculated.

The changes I’ve mentioned above are among the most significant to take effect immediately, however all USA Cycling members are encouraged to read the USA Cycling Results & Rankings Overview, which includes more information, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

I hope you find these new elements to be of tremendous benefit to you, and as always, if you have comments or suggestions on how to improve our service to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Steve Johnson,
CEO”