Today was supposed to be an easy day, a 6 out of 10, 65miles look at the vineyards and enjoying the scenery as we ride through 4 canyons: it was an 8. There were 4 big climbs, really 5 but whose counting, including the race up the first climb. I am using the zipps and they are considered heavy for climbing but they are killer on the flats and the descents. The only problem is that they need 18-20mph to be effective. More on that later.
As I mentioned that I had been moved into a faster group and can truthfully say I could not hang with them on the climbs. Climbing is all about power to weight. My max power in an ideal setting is 200 watts for 40mn. That is a power/wt ratio of 3:1. Most of the people in the group are 3.5:1 or better. On climbs they will always win barring a mechanical.
I was last in my group for the race. I rode with the group until I blew-up while climbing at my max. I then rode at my supermaxI was closing on another person and would have passed him but I ran out of mountain. I am happy with results. For me to get faster I need to work on the weight in the equation. I think if I drop 5 pounds I will be a bit more successful. However I honestly will not be able to compete with most of these people for the present. That’s ok, to quote Popeye, I yam what I yam.
So you ask if I am out classed on the climbs how did I keep up? I descend like a stone and the zipps are killer at speeds over 20mph. On the shorter climbs I was able to make up time on the descents. Most of the time I was last on the climb, aways behind but I was able to bomb down the hill and join the lead group. Like I said the zipps are killer.
Now for the numbers: Miles 65.6, ave speed 15.6 max mph 42.6 (yikes). 1865kjs, ave pow 122 max pow 542 Norm pow 154, that’s pow with the highs and los averaged. My feed plan was 1 gel 45mn then 1 double gel 45mn later. Then an hour later repeat. I was drinking 1 bottle every 1:15. In review I was not drinking enough and probably should have had an additional gel. I bonked hard at 50 miles but recovered after a sag stop.
The conditions today were not ideal for the zipps. It was very windy, 10-15mph, and it was hot with the wind and cold into the wind. We were constantly adding to taking off different types of clothing.
To say the least I am beat. As I mentioned I was toast at the 50mile mark and dropped to the second group. They were not slower but allowed me time to recover. I also was paced to my group several times by one of the coaches. It is much easier to ride faster on someone’s wheel. The coach would come back and collect all the stragglers. I am also better about telling the leaders if I am going to crack. They would listen and slow the pace. Several times late in the day I asked if they would slow the pace, and others asked as well. Having a group of mixed abilities is a compromise.
My feeling is that I rode well, I am totally out classed but I have a ton of heart. This group is a stretch. I do not expect to win any more races but I do expect to have an awesome time. I will stay tucked in the group and will not pull long. If I am in trouble I will open my mouth. That is the only way I will survive. As for the 50+ results I am still tied for 2nd. However the competition is stiff.
Tomorrow is another long ride, 65 miles. Wish me luck.
