March 23, 2014, Hungry Dog 55+
Phoenix, AZ 30 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
Many thanks to Noel Space for the photography.
(Images can be clicked on for a larger version)
This course is only 0.48 miles around, totally flat, and has fairly gentle turns.
We rode counter-clockwise this year (this is a course that had been used in the past, going in different directions in different years).
Another typical wonderful day for weather, with the temperature around 80 and a gentle breeze from the South.
I would be the favorite of this race, which meant it was everyone else against me.
Since I can often win a pack sprint, it's to my advantage to keep things together.
The pack would prefer to find anyone else to spoil my victory, so I would need to watch everyone that tried to escape.
With 20 riders, most of reasonable strength, it would be too daunting to close many big gaps,
so my best defense would be to immediately follow anyone that attempts to go off the front.
My main contender would be Peter Smith, who is generally a time trialist, so I could not let him escape for a long solo win.
Greg Barrett would typically be the next best sprinter, but one that I have always been able to beat.
For the first few laps, there were a few energetic soles that picked up the pace and I'd sit in the top 2 or 3 to keep near the front.
After a while, their enthusiasm wears thin and they pull over for me to take a pull.
I had no need to force the pace, so I did a leisurely pace of about 22 mph that wouldn't wear me out and everyone was content to go at this pace.
At this speed I could still conserve all my sprint energy, but it was at the risk of someone taking a flyer from farther back,
which would force me to accelerate hard to close them down.
Start of the race.
End of lap 1, staying near the front.
End of lap 3, covering every move.
Peter sticking to me.
Lap 4, still monitoring the front.
Taking a slow pull at the front.
Lap 8, watching the front.
Lap 9, again slowly at the front.
Most attacks would happen just before turn 1 and I'd usually be on them right away.
Later I'd try to sit back into the middle of the pack, to get more rest and hopefully get more riders interested in doing a decent pace.
But then the pack would leave a gap on a one or two person escape and I'd have to work even harder to make sure the pack didn't just let them walk away with the win.
On more than one occasion, Peter Smith would attack as we approached turn 1 and I'd quickly latch up to him.
Settling back, 20 minutes into the race.
Chasing down 2 escapees.
Peter Smith following me.
Hosterman put in a strong attack and it took half a lap to reel him back in.
With 6 laps to go, I was having to use up more energy than I wanted while getting close to the finish.
Next lap, Hosterman trying to get away.
Chasing down Hosterman.
Closing down after turn 1.
Trying to rest with 5 to go.
With 3.5 laps to go, a rider (white and red jersey) took off on the back stretch and then another rider went in pursuit.
I didn't think they were main contenders, so I hoped that the pack had enough incentive so close to the finish to not let them slip away permanently.
4 laps to go, solo rider away.
Bike Haus rider in pursuit.
Next lap, the pack in pursuit.
2 laps to go, the break is reeled in.
Then just after passing the line with 2 laps to go, Hosterman gives another strong attack and I jump hard to catch him.
When I close down on him on the back stretch, he immediately sits up and we wait for the pack, but it took a lot out of me.
I should have immediately assessed the whereabouts of Peter Smith, but instead I settled into the pack in about 6th place, a bit too far back for 3/4 of mile to go to the finish.
As we came down the finishing stretch for the bell lap, Peter took off.
If I went hard again and caught him, he most likely would just ease up and then I'd be depleted of sprint speed.
My best bet was to hope that there was some enthusiasm in the pack to keep him close at bay.
I was on Hosterman's wheel, as he had been showing the most strength in the race.
I was not happy with the gap Peter was allowed as we went around turn 1 for the final time,
but under normal conditions it was within my ability to close it down.
Hosterman jumped early in the back stretch popping out around the outside of the riders in front and I jumped immediately, but didn't feel my usual snap.
He then wisely pulled sharply to the left, cutting in front of the other riders and making it impossible for me to remain in his draft and I felt the slight headwind as I struggled to make up ground.
As we came around the final turn, we were still passing riders, so I could not take a good inside line and drifted too far out.
As I tried to accelerate, my rear wheel skipped off the pavement, possibly due to some bad pavement in the finishing stretch.
I could only manage 32.9 mph and it was not even enough to overtake Hosterman, who was sitting in Peter's draft, as I saw them cross the line in front of me, leaving me with a third place.
1 lap to go, Peter Smith attacks.
Sprint: Peter leading us towards the finish.
I struggle to find my usual speed.
Peter heads more towards the inside.
Peter not faltering.
Peter victorious.
Coming in at third, a bit dejected.
So the pack defeated me for this race.
We had some good aggression and it made it very interesting and rewarding.
I'd have 2.25 hours to recover before my next race in the afternoon.
Summary
Start
Time |
Distance
(Miles) |
Starters |
Duration |
Weather
(Deg F, mph) |
Speed avg
(MPH) |
Speed Max
(MPH) |
| 10:30 am |
11.5 |
21 |
28:27 |
79, S@2 |
24.4 |
32.9 |
Results
Racing page Bike page
