Monday, October 8, 2012

Making Progress




I'm very happy with the way the CX season is unfolding for me. I'm making steady progress and chipping away at my goals each race.

Elite Men Race Results so far...
- Kings CX (Non-OVCX): 7th
- Hubers Apple Cross, OVCX #1: 26th
- St. Mary's, OVCX #2: 13th
- Caesar's Ford, OVCX #3: 5th (taking the size and quality of the field into account, this is my best CX result to date).

Goals:
- Learn to pace myself early in the race to avoid late race leg detonation.
- Look for perennial performers and hang with them through out the race.
- Be prepared and on time for everything I need to do on race day.

Ideals:
- Consistent Top 10's (getting there)
- A few top 5's (one in the bag so far)
- A podium or two (working on it - also depends on who turns up).
- Finish a UCI race without getting pulled (5 chances to do so at UCI 3, and Derby Cup USGP)

Races:

Hubers:



So I thought I had learned my lesson at Kings - don't go out too hard or you'll blow up and be ineffective late in the race. I got a great start and settled in comfortably behind the BRM train. I was the first non-BRM rider in the mix and I honestly thought the pace was pretty reasonable. Man was I wrong.


Sitting on wheels with team mate Steven Gordon setting a demanding pace.


My first lap was blistering, then I began to feel it. I fell back and regrouped, rode a few laps suffering on wheels, and fell back to the next group, and repeated. With two laps to go I was dreaming of sugar, I had no fight left and I probably dropped over 10 places back to 26th. Now I really learned my lesson.

A few things I took from the race; the disc braking was really helping, I'd loose a wheel on a fast straight and gain the gap back going into a hairpin turn by braking late. I also had more modulation through the tight  sections. Know your opponents and their strengths and weaknesses - just because I can start fast doesn't mean I can hold it, racing at this level usually gets faster or stays at the same pace as the race goes on.

St. Mary's:

I had to line up at 30th place. My prep was terrible, I got carried away cheering on team mates in the Cat 3 race and totally lost track of time. I barely got a warm-up in before staging.

I got a good start, but nothing opened up in front of me so I was forced to fall in line. It helped me stay calm and ease into the race. A big line formed and I was relaxed because I was in the top 15 - 20 but connected to 3rd place in the line. The group was flowing well and I knew that I could move up if I kept my HR from getting crazy too early.

Riders started dropping off and I was still feeling good. Some of the casualties were strong riders, so it was encouraging. I focused on the wheels in front, trying to figure out where I needed to be careful and where I could rest.



Things were going well when the wind blew the tape into my bars and caught on the shifter. I kept going, hoping to break it, but it took me down and I hit the ground hard. It took me a minute to get my head straight and straighten my bike out. I lost about 10 spots in the process and was rattle for the next lap.

Photo

I got my head back into gear and found my rhythm and I started to go faster and faster, picking off riders in front of me as I went. I made sure to pass with speed so I didn't take them with me and it seemed to take the fight out of them as I would look back and seem them with their heads down.



I clawed my way back and regained most of what I lost by the finish to salvage a 13th. I was pretty happy with my performance in that I could get my rhythm rolling again and that I finished strong and didn't blow up.


Coasting across the finish, content with my performance.

Catch the video here:

St. Mary's Video courtesy of Cyclingdirt.org

Caesar's Ford: OVCX #3

Feeling relaxed with a strong list of Masters on the front line; (left to right) me, Mike McShane, John Gatch, Chad Tieman, Nolan McQueen, Andy Messer, Keith Lucas, Frederick Rose, Ray Smith, Rob Kendal, and Shawn Adams - all riders I feel honored to race with.

 
I had a second row call-up this time. The course was fast and flowed well so I knew this was no place to be caught in no-man's land. I got a great start, clipping in cleanly and a hole opened up right in front of me. I moved right into 3rd through the first few turns and tried to calm down and ride smooth.

OVCX #3 Caesars Ford Men's elite start - photo c Velocity Image


















People were fighting me for position but I let them through as I didn't want to waste energy. I was more worried about my overall pace and energy use.



I fell back to 10th through the first lap but things were still connected, until the run-up. This was where the groups started to form. I made sure I was in the right mix; the Mitchell Kersting, Bob's Red Mill turned up the heat and I knew that staying with him was unrealistic, so I stuck with the riders I knew and marked them well.



We had a great group of seven setting a solid pace. I think we were starting to reel in the front group which was breaking up early. I found myself getting stuck behind riders who were overly cautious through the turns. I figured out the lines I liked best and where I felt comfortable and planned my move.



I went to the front and told Rob Kendal, Papa John's (last year's OVCX series winner) to sit on my wheel and work with me. I put on a steady pressure and really railed through the turns. Half a lap later I looked back and we had exploded the group behind, and Rob took over.

 Photo

We traded off back and forth for several laps, the extra effort started to take its toll with two laps to go. We had chasers coming fast and Rob needed to up the pace. I couldn't hold on so I decided to let him go and hold my position. I knew I was sitting in a good place so I went on the defensive, tried to keep it smooth and rest when ever I could, and go fast through the sections I was better at.

 Photo
Maintaining position over the last few laps - sucking wind and stretching my back.

I held the chasers off and kept Rob within sight. I finished 5th, giving me the best USA Cycling points I've ever earned.

I'm super excited with this result and I can feel the endurance and rhythm coming back into my racing - it usually takes me a few races to get things going. I'm hoping i can continue to have good luck with my bikes and starts and maybe I can build on these results in the races to come.

Podium Insight write up here:

http://www.podiuminsight.com/2012/10/08/ovcx-3-waffle-dollar-hand-ups-tempt-kersting-arnold/


Gun Club is up next - a technical and demanding course that should suite me if I can put it together.

Gun Club Video