January 25, 2014, Bike Haus Crit, Masters 55+
Chandler AZ
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to Noel Space for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)
The course is the Southernmost race car course at the Rawhide (previously Firebird) raceway complex in Chandler, AZ.
It is 1.02 miles per lap, completely flat, and a bunch of twisty turns, making it very narrow in those sections.
The surface was a little rough, especially in the final turns, so I had let my tire pressure down by 5 psi to minimize bouncing.
The temperature was about 77 at the start (increasing into the 80s) and no wind under clear skys.
We were expected to race for 35 minutes, starting at 2:00 pm.
We had a good size group and some tough competitors to watch, 23 of them pre-registered online.
After riding too conservatively last week, I was determined not to let anyone wander off the front for an easy win.
Andrew Hosterman is a good time trialist and could stay away if allowed to and has just moved into the 55+ category.
Keith Brodhagen, also 55, had entered late and would be the strong man to be likely to make decisive moves.
Thomas Katheder, also 55, just moved here from Florida and was able to knock me down a place last week with a late solo move.
David Bixby, 60, is always one that can turn in a strong performance and can sometimes motor with the best and occasionally display a decent sprint.
Steve Cullinan, 57, is smart and is crafty in a sprint and returning to racing after taking 2013 off with some surgery issues.
Joe Cunningham, 55, used to be a real strong rider and his abilities for this season were not yet determined.
We also had 3 65+ racers mixed in with us.
Starting out in front to keep an eye on things.
My feet were sweating from the heat and I had to tighten my shoes.
My main job would be to contain any attacks.
I'd hope to nullify the attacks, but would participate in a break if it looked like it could succeed.
Our first lap was very mellow, but the officials changed that by announcing a prime sprint for the following lap.
At half a lap to go, a rider got a little distance off the front, but was not screaming away, and everyone seemed content to let him have the prime.
I kept near the front to watch for any late attacks, but we pretty much crossed the line as a group just after the prime winner.
We regrouped and had an unexciting third lap and then Keith Brodhagen made a very serious attack and flew off the front just past the finish line, quickly gaining several lengths on the pack.
I immediately went in pursuit, hitting 34 mph, and caught him at about turn 3.
Lap 1, nestled in near the front.
Lap 2, rider going for the first prime.
Lap 3, Keith at the front checking out where I am in the pack (the red on my glove can be seen in the middle).
He eased up and it seemed that we would just get absorbed by the group, but then Hosterman joined us just after turn 4 and pushed the pace such that we seemed to have a 3 man escape that might succeed.
Towards the end of the back stretch, one other rider, Thomas Katheder, joined us and the 4 of us worked together to give the break a go, but the pack was keeping us at about 15 seconds.
Since I don't train for these kind of long output efforts, I was getting pretty taxed and my breathing was at it's max, something I'm not used to experiencing.
We were all taking pretty equal turns, but I'd try to keep mine short so as to not go over red line.
My hope was that we'd get enough of a lead that the pack would let us go and we could settle down to something I could manage better.
Lap 3.5, 3 away. My turn for a pull.
Lap 3.9, joined by a fourth.
Lap 4, taking a pull at the front of our 4 man break with a decent lead on the pack.
Keith was taking really strong pulls though.
I was on his wheel and having trouble holding it.
As we began lap 5 I had to let Hosterman come through early, but I took a pull on my next time through.
At the end of lap 5 Keith would still up the pace and I was on his wheel.
Shortly as we began lap 6, I could not keep on his wheel, a gap opened up and I pulled over for Hosterman to come through, but he couldn't up his pace either.
So Keith was off alone and there was little hope that we'd be reeling him in anytime in the future.
Lap 6, Keith off the front.
Lap 6, straggling behind Keith.
Lap 8, Keith in time trial mode.
So now we were in survival mode, hoping to stay in front of the pack.
Each lap I'd look behind and see that they were not far enough behind that we could relax.
Each of the three of us would occasionally skip a turn at the front as we began to wear out.
With 3 laps to go we still had a gap, but the pack seemed to be getting more animated at the same rate that we were falling apart and Keith was nowhere in sight.
Then as we approached turn 2 just after getting the 3 to go board, the pack swallowed us up and we were one big pack again.
4 laps to go, 3 still away.
4 to go, the pack not far behind.
We signal that they are still displaying 5 to go.
3 to go and the pack closing in.
Fortunately they eased up somewhat and I was able to relax as I settled into the middle of the bunch, hoping nobody would immediately attack.
There were some mild surges, but nothing real serious as the pack prepared for the final sprint.
As we hit one lap to go, I was able to position myself into a good position, sitting about 6th, but didn't have any good sprinters ahead of me.
2 laps to go, trying to recuperate.
1 to go, sitting about 6th.
Keith taking the win, almost a half lap ahead of us.
Bixby was a bit on the inside and a few ahead and I thought it might be good to get on his wheel for the initial surge.
I moved up a bit, but as we approached the tight turn 4 at the far end of the course, I was getting squeezed in from both sides.
Not wanting to risk a crash, I let them have their way and ended up in about 12th position as we exited the turn.
The next several bends are short and difficult to move up, so I didn't really have an opportunity to improve my position until about turn 8.
I started moving up on the left side as we came to turn 8 and was surprised at how fast I was passing others.
I was able to keep moving up through turn 9 and as we hit turn 10 I was in third position just as Bixby started a jump on the right side.
I increased my speed and passed Bixby, swinging to the right to take the tight turn 11.
That turn is also very bumpy and I had noticed my rear wheel skipping on some earlier laps, so I coasted through it to better maintain control.
I was only able to get up to 31.9 mph, but still drifted out a bit more than I wanted, but immediately brought it back in line to set up for the final turn 12.
I kept a good line on the inside of the final turn and kept it inside to the line, giving it everything I had left as I knew I didn't have my usual gap from a strong jump earlier.
I saw riders out of the corner of my eye and made sure I gave it a good throw over the line and was able to keep Steve Cullinan at bay by about 6 inches for second.
Hosterman came through for 4th, Bixby fell back to 6th, and Katheder faded way back to 19th.
Final sprint, coming
around turn 12.
Keeping inside, Steve way outside.
Keeping a good line.
Hosterman in green making a good effort,
Cullinan on the outside moving up.
Hitting the line about 6 inches ahead of Cullinan. Bixby on the far left.
I was pretty beat after the race, having spent a majority of the time going at a strong pace.
I was pleased I was able to recover adequately in the final laps and still able to find enough speed at the end to salvage a second.
Tucson next week.
Steve Cullinan rode the 45+ race later in the day and garnered a second.
Hosterman also rode to a 10th and Keith gave it a whirl but came in 17th.
Summary
Start
Time |
Distance
(Miles) |
Starters |
Duration |
Speed avg
(MPH) |
Speed Max
(MPH) |
| 2:00 pm |
13.3 |
23 |
32:24 |
24.7 |
34.0 |
Results
Racing page Bike page
