Did my first race yesterday, the real thing - numbers on your back, refreshment stops,
voiture-balai, "La Charly Gaul" was supposed to be 175km with 1.3km of climbs, but my computer made
it 180km and 2.3km ascent. It was some experience, in a mass start of 714 riders, the buzz of all
those freehubs. Being near the back I wasn't able to keep up with the Peloton as they took off up
the first hill, but teamed-up with a more experienced, less fit rider, and we took it in turns
wheel-sucking and managed to catch-up with the tail-end of the peloton. I eventually left him on a
hill, and pursued a tactic of chasing a rider in front, taking a breather in his shadow, and moving
on up. That worked well for a while, but after 4.5 hours I was getting knackered, and I think a few
I had passed were able to repass me (there is a lesson about pacing in there I think). I got home in
6:48, whereas it was won in 4:58. Room for improvement, but enjoyable all the same: next stop,
L'etape du Tour.
UK and Europe · Public discussion
My first race
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- UK and Europe
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- 23 September 2003
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- Rory
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Congrats on your first race; I wish I had the courage, at 48, maybe the vets beckon!
"Rory" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...Quoted message said:
Did my first race yesterday, the real thing - numbers on your back, refreshment stops,
voiture-balai, "La Charly Gaul" was supposed to be 175km with 1.3km of climbs, but my computer
made it 180km and 2.3km ascent. It was some experience, in a mass start of 714 riders, the buzz of
all those freehubs. Being near the back I wasn't able to keep up with the Peloton as they took off
up the first hill, but teamed-up with a more experienced, less fit rider, and we took it in turns
wheel-sucking and managed to catch-up with the tail-end of the peloton. I eventually left him on a
hill, and pursued a tactic of chasing a rider in front, taking a breather in his shadow, and
moving on up. That worked well for a while, but after 4.5 hours I was getting knackered, and I
think a few I had passed were able to repass me (there is a lesson about pacing in there I think).
I got home in
6:48, whereas it was won in 4:58. Room for improvement, but enjoyable all the same: next stop,
L'etape du Tour. -
(Rory) said:
... they took off up the first hill, but teamed-up with a more experienced, less fit rider, and we
took it in turns wheel-sucking ...Hi Rory
Congrats. I've often wondered. Is the holding a wheel on a hill more
psychological than anything else? ISTM that unless you're a pro and riding up a hill at an alost
inhuman speed, you cannot get a great advantage from a slipstream.Just curious. James
--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse. -
"Niv" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Congrats on your first race; I wish I had the courage, at 48, maybe the vets beckon!
Go for it: I'm 43 and "just" a commuter. Oldest guy was 66, and plenty older than me got home
earlier. Its true though, you really get carried along with the flow, I'd never move that fast by
myself: the first 4.5 hours my HRM showed an average of 85% MHR. -
James Hodson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...Quoted message said:
(Rory) said:
... they took off up the first hill, but teamed-up with a more experienced, less fit rider, and
we took it in turns wheel-sucking ...Quoted message said:
... Is the holding a wheel on a hill more
psychological than anything else? ISTM that unless you're a pro and riding up a hill at an alost
inhuman speed, you cannot get a great advantage from a slipstream.I'd agree with the psycho view: it's more like "argh! please don't leave me!". But I'm def gonna fit
a triple chain wheel before next time, although I didnt't get out of the saddle, some of the hills
could have been managed better in Lance-mode
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