2007 Presque Isle Time Trial Results

I am such a newbie on this Blog stuff I cannot figure out how to attach the Results files, but if your search leads you here, e-mail me at kartchamp20002000@yahoo.com for the results. I have the Overall and Class results in both pdf and Word. Here are my results.

Male 40 - 44
PLACE FINISHER TIME MPH BIB CLUB
1 Ray Huang,41,Cleveland Heights,OH 28:05.56 26.70 131 Square Wheels
2 Eddie Delgros,43,Hermitage,PA 28:10.97 26.61 70
3 Stephen Marlette,43,Pittsburgh,PA 29:14.03 25.66 139
4 Peter Cummings,43,Williamsville,NY 29:37.41 25.32 52 BBC/Tom's Pro Plan 2 Peak
5 Thomas Eberlein,44,Erie,PA 29:41.91 25.25 50 Color Me Safe Racing
6 David Thornton,43,Erie,PA 30:14.84 24.80 30
7 Brad Beeson,43,Bay Village,OH 30:18.50 24.75 146 Team Spin
8 Doug Frost,41,Butler,PA 30:44.84 24.39 19 AG3R/Cannondale/ACA
9 Tom Humphrey,42,Bay Village,OH 31:36.15 23.73 185 Team Spin
10 James Graley III,40,Conewango Valley,NY 31:43.75 23.64 152 Hollyloft/Kwik-Fill
11 Criag Zonna,44,Erie,PA 32:17.75 23.22 182 Zoshow Law
12 David Hickey,41,Cranberry Township,PA 33:07.69 22.64 6 AG3R/Cannondale/ACA
13 Don Holl,41,Erie,PA 33:51.59 22.15 60
14 Doug Lyle,41,Erie,PA 34:12.62 21.92 189
15 Kevin Madzia,42,Peninsula,OH 34:21.84 21.83 147 The Black 13
16 Ralph Ford,41,Erie,PA 34:41.12 21.62 47 Lake Country Bike
17 Richard Machczynski,44,Geneva,OH 34:56.94 21.46 85
18 Mike Butler,44,Clearfield,PA 35:43.88 20.99 137

And Overall:

PLACE FINISHER TIME MPH BIB CLUB
1 Eric Hodos,38,Allison Park,PA 27:03.84 27.71 110 UPMC Cycling Performance
2 Chris Cioccio,35,Erie,PA 27:34.06 27.21 8 Indiana Med Center/Fort Pitt
3 Matthew Weeks,27,Mentor,OH 27:39.72 27.11 136 October Lake Effect
4 Scott Thor,36,North Canton,OH 27:50.00 26.95 48 Stark Velo
5 Ray Huang,41,Cleveland Heights,OH 28:05.56 26.70 131 Square Wheels
6 Eddie Delgros,43,Hermitage,PA 28:10.97 26.61 70
7 Gorman/Gorman,TANDEM,Massillon,OH 28:15.91 26.53 177 Orrville Cycle Club
8 Brian Diffenbacher,37,Broadview Heights,OH 28:18.97 26.49 130 October Lake Effect
9 Craig Nivens,47,Erie,PA 28:43.97 26.10 21 PICC
10 Glen Hance,51,Kennerdell,PA 28:47.38 26.05 89 ACA/Sette Nove
11 Andrew Rose,24,Erie,PA 28:48.00 26.04 66
12 Bob Dahl,37,Lakewood,NY 29:02.81 25.82 129 Hollyloft/Kwik-Fill
13 Skip Rogers,52,Cranberry Township,PA 29:07.18 25.76 165 UPMC Cycling Performance
14 Reese Collins,39,Fairview,PA 29:07.75 25.75 117 Hollyloft/Kwik-Fill
15 Laura Igoe,36,F,Lockport,NY 29:09.34 25.72 98 Tom's Pro Bike
16 Stephen Marlette,43,Pittsburgh,PA 29:14.03 25.66 139
17 Chris McElhinny,52,Transfer,PA 29:18.22 25.59 158 MVC
18 Doug Mehan,49,Meadville,PA 29:22.38 25.53 173 Countryside Cycling
19 Mario Mazza,26,North East,PA 29:27.15 25.46 180 Abercrombie & Fitch
20 Daniel Quinlan,28,Salem,OH 29:33.06 25.38 76 Mahoning Valley Cycling

Yessir-Time Trials still hurt!!!

Today is a day when a rider says "I had good legs.". But before we get to the good stuff, lets go back to last night. I got home late from a day function and didnt hit the sack till 10pm. I set the alarm for 4am and although I didnt toss and turn, I didnt exactly sleep solid either. So getting up, eat some ceral, pack the last few things and were on the road. Watching the sunrise (driving east) is a treat I have not had in quite some time!! I arrived early to Presque Isle (PI)State Park in Erie, PA, the location (and what a gorgeous place to have a race to boot) of todays torture test. A 12.5 mile race against the clock, nowhere to hide baby! Either lay it down or..what do you do if you dont lay it down, Lay down?? Heck, I dont know. After some wardrobe malfunctions and bathroom breaks (never fun when dressed in a skin suit (OK-maybe lets not go there)) I finally went to recon the c-c-cold course as I am a PI virgin and made it about 5 miles out when i noticed time was ticking for the first rider to go so I headed back to my car and put my bike in the trainer and took off some layers, gloves, etc. I continued to warm up till about 10 minutes before my start. I collected my thoughts, reminded myself of my goals and to not blow out of the start gate like a bat out of hell!! Number 130 GO!! I am next. I go up to the line, the guys hold my bike I clip in, 5,4,3,2,1 131 GO!! I am off and I slowly spring up to speed. I look down 26mph-good stuff!! I sit down, hit aero bars and start to ramp it up. I get to 28 to 29 mph and take stock of other data I have available to me. I notice I am at the wattage Brent said I could do theoretically!! My Heart Rate is spot on Threshold and I am not breathing too hard and legs ache, but they are just fine. My 15 and 30 second guys come and go (both on full out TT rigs no less and looking good). My 15 second guy is motivated and we switch positions all race long (but never drafting). But since I caught him, I have the upper hand, all he needs to be is within sight because at 26 mph, 15 to 20 feet isnt much. But I spend as much time in front as behind (especially as we start into the headwind home). What goes through my mind on the tailwind section is tough!! I dont actually know what I can hold wattage wise for 28 to 30 minutes and I know I fear cannot go too hard now or chance blowing up into the headwind (a disaster). So I am constantly asking myself if I can push 300 watts with the tailwind and be at 30 to 31mph or should I pace myself?? I chose to pace myself!! But this is what makes bicycle racing so amazing!! A 100 decisions over the course of a 28 minute race!! Kewl!! Well we finally hit the headwind full on and I am glad I played it conservative because the miles arent clicking by like they were and its starting to hurt and doubt is starting to hint. Doubt isnt in control mind you-but its there somewhere deep back and repressed!! So I see 23mph now and my 15 second man (Brian from Lake Effect) isnt coming around now and I am not looking back, I am hammering. I force it back up to 25 and thats about it till I see 3 miles to go. When I see the magic 3 miles to go banner, I only up the effort a bit and Brian is back by. When I see the 2.5 miles to go I am on the gas. But unlike a sprint or attack in a roadrace, all out at the end of a TT is more like a painful Grunting or mashing of the pedals. I now see 26 to 26.5 and I am holding it. Brian has the same plan and I am chasing him and its working out because i need a Rabbit right about now. We cross the line close, but with him still ahead. A great effort and he thanks me for pushing him and I say likewise!! I cool down, drink a recovery drink, BS with a guy with a sweet Felt B2 TT bike and I am off to ride the course again to spin the legs out. I am amazed as I may be the only one doing this. So for a day with a 12.5 mile race, I ride a total of 45 miles! The shorter the effort, the longer the wam up they say.

Two things strike me on the cooldown lap. First-theres a gorgeous lake you ride ride next to (never saw it) and second, the wind is strong!! I am amazed what adrenaline combined with aerodynamic body gear can do to squelch this wind.

As I roll into the parking lot Scott Thor stops me and congratulates me on a good job. Only 15 seconds behind him and in 5th OVERALL (193 starters)!! At the awards ceremony I am also awarded a nice plaque for First in the 40-44 age group!! My first win of 2007 and yeah-they still hurt like just like I remember them hurting!!

Late breaking news....LOL I am drinking beer and eating all the barbecue I can stuff in tonight!! YUM!!

Eagle and 50 cadence

I think most cyclists have a ride or a hill that they use to gauge themselves. In a way it could easily have been Fairmont heading west from Brainard to Richmond. If you know it then your thinking, are you nuts, well yes I am thank you and this is why. This darn little false flat was kicking my butt at the end of every ride home. Imagine trying to spin up that monster of an incline for weeks or months in a 36/23, Sure your thinking, Old Mill makes you want to turn around and find another way (well not anymore :) ). First signs of life was when I noticed I was in a 21, then a 19, then a 17 and on and on. But one day I happened to find a nasty little hill on Eagle. My first two times up were weeks apart (and 5lbs less body fat) and I could barely muster 50 rpm each time. It was weeks later again in unseasonably nice mid winter weather that i followed an attack by Chris Bilowich up it and when I got home and DL the Power Tap data, 85 cadance!! Now thats some progress!! I havent been up and over Eagle since January of 07 and I am thinking its time for a rematch!!

15 years off and the road back.

A few mis-tries over the last decade, a new pair of shorts or a jersey, some new Sidi Geniuses (why are they two sizes larger??) and Speedplays to replace my beloved Time mags, but nothing. Sure there was the occasional ride around the neighborhood and high hopes, but nothing. What was different about July of 2006?? I don't know but I made a big gamble and luckily it paid off (in a way-more about that later). I went to Bicycle Boulevard and bought a brand new 2006 Fuji team pro bike to replace my aging Trek 2300!! 8 to 10 speeds and at least 3.5 pounds lighter. Wow-if I only had this bike in 1990 right??

So the first few rides are what I would call typical for a new cyclist. Arse hurt like a mother and there was none of what I thought was a natural ability to ride a bike coming back. In fact, it would end up being months of training (and riding in the 39/23) before I even thought big improvements were being made. Thank goodness I hired a coach (Brent Evans-Endurance Sports Solutions) straight away. On the plus side, I was motivated like you wouldn't believe and losing weight fast. I was a 139 lb racer back in the 80's and could climb and time trial very well if I may say so. When I hopped back on the Fuji last year I was pushing 175 pounds. 165 came quickly and then later 155, but my ability to ride fast or fly uphills was slow to react. I also got a proffesional fit for the first time from Mike Vannucci (Bike Authority) called the Wobblenaught Fit and it was money very well spent.

Eventually I saw myself getting more comparable to others locally and started to hang throughout the winter club (Square Wheels) rides. This bolstered my confidence even more and this is where we are basically at. Training in a calculated and very slow progression as laid out by Brent. Also some science involved with the use of a Saris Power Tap and Cycling Peaks WKO software. Making new friends and even doing some racing finally (also more on that soon) has added a nice new dimension to my life.

Enjoy!!
Ray

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