July 22, 2008
BC Superweek
A series of races collectively known as BC Superweek offered the opportunity to race eight times in ten days in nearby southwest British Columbia. The phrase "Superweek" comes from a three week cycle of long road races and 90 minute criteriums -- each separate events -- that take place on consecutive days for about three weeks each summer in various towns throughout Wisconsin. The BC variant on this theme is centered around the Tour de Gastown criterium in downtown Vancouver, which this year took place on Wednesday, July 16. The Tour de Delta kicked off the festivities on the previous weekend, the Giro di Burnaby followed hot on on the heels of Gastown, and the Tour de White Rock brought BC Superweek to a close this past weekend.
I had been planning to do at least a couple of these events since I got my upgrade to cat 2 at the end of last season (only two of the eight races are open to cat 3s), since they're nearby, are very well supported, and, I figured, the brutal pace set by the contingent of seasoned North American pros -- seeking their piece of the $70,000 up for grabs -- would offer me a small enough dose of humility to still be healthy. I decided I'd give the Tour de Gastown a shot, and then take the opportunity hop across the border to scenic White Rock for the three day omnium, with Stewart and Micha'el.
The famous Gastown criterium has only three turns, and each is -- by itself -- sketchier than any other turn in any other criterium I can recall. The first is a 150 degree hairpin on bricks. The second follows after a fast, wide downhill section, into an off-camber transition from asphalt to bricks again, the entrance of which was guarded with manhole covers as bunkers guard a golfing green. The last corner, alas, was also on bricks laid in a geometric pattern that seemed to cause me hallucinations as I was cornering on them in oxygen debt. None of the turns could be approached with any speed, and so required a big acceleration to get back up to speed on the exit. Luckily for me, I didn't need to accelerate out of those corners too many times, since I lost contact with the front two-thirds of the 116 rider field after a big split opened before ten laps were completed, and us stragglers were quickly mopped up by the front in a few more laps. Back to the safety of the sidelines, I joined the estimated 40,000 spectators to watch Chris Horner try to single-handedly duke it out with the Symmetrics hot shots. Symmetrics got the better of him, with Andrew Pinfold (who graced our presence last year by winning the criterium in Fairhaven during the State Championship Omnium, and also won Ryan's Cyclocrazed race at WWU a couple years ago) stealing the victory in a furious sprint. I counted five other riders from Washington at the start line, and only one of them made it to the finish.
Next up was the Tour de White Rock Friday night, which kicks off with a short hill climb. Stewart, Micha'el and I drove to Blaine and cycled across the Truck Crossing into Canada to represent the only Washington-based team in the race. On the way into town we spotted Chris Horner, and Stewart caught up to him for a chat and photo op.
This hill climb event is unique in my cycling experience. Cyclists are paired up, dual slalom style, only the course heads up the 10% hill. 700 meters later (in about two minutes) you feel like someone just emptied a few rounds of birdshot from their muzzleloader, pointed in your direction. The top five finishers in time have their efforts rewarded by being required to sprint up once more: against each other in a five-up rematch. Lady luck struck once again for me, by seeing to it that I was well out of the top five (in 40 something place), and sparing my lead-pellet ridden body yet more holes. I'm sure Stewart and Micha'el felt similarly fortunate.
Saturday night was the criterium, on a fast course with a steady hill on the back side. My luck ran out this time, as I somehow found the fortitude to suffer through all 60 (SIXTY!) laps of the criterium. The field was evidently towed around by Chris Hormer for the majority of the race, though I only saw him once, at the very beginning, before assuming my position on the tale end of the field so as not to get in anyone's way. 70 minutes later, I was a shell of a human, wondering how I was going to make it back to the car, much less rouse myself from sleep and make it to the early morning start of the road race the next day.
The queen stage of the Tour de White Rock is the road race, closed to traffic, which takes in two loops on each side of Marine Drive, with a out and back on this main drag connecting the loops. While the scenery is beautiful, taking in the seascapes of the Georgia Straight, Mt. Baker, and the San Juans, the 10K loop dished out plenty of punishment to go with the views, with about 450 of climbing per lap: as much as the North Shore course, but with 3/4 the length. Ouch. My legs said no right away, and after a couple laps I perched myself in a chair at the feed zone. Stewart and Micha'el found the early pace to be too hot for their liking as well, but Stewart at least took advantage of the opportunity to pedal around such a scenic closed circuit to get a good workout, and logged more than 50 miles before the leaders lapped him up.
For the finale to BC Superweek, Horner had his revenge on Symmetrics -- who were 4/4 in the previous events -- by setting a relentless pace up the climbs in his big ring, and finally decimating the last two of his hangers-on the final climb. With that we dragged our sorry selves back home, looking forward to the opportunity to try again next year.
-bryceroni
|July 11, 2008
Mid Season Motivation
There's still lots of racing to do for those who have paced themselves through the season and have the continued motivation. Given the way the northwest racing crowd so eagerly plunges into the season each March and, lacking a sense of balance and pacing to get to the nice summer weather and long days around the corner, disappear from the start lines, this time of year can be a great opportunity to rack up some results. The summer criteriums, including Redmond Derby Days (tomorrow), Whale of a Crit in Silverdale, and the new Kirkland Criterium ... and the three Lake Washington Velo circuit races are all short evenst on nice courses in typically nice weather. With the season's accumulation of miles, you don't need many long rides to keep in shape for these events, just some easy mid-week rides and maybe one weekly day of intensity in addition to any racing.
I'll be headed to BC for two of the "Super Week" races, including the Tour de Gastown on the evening of July 16, which supposedly attracts 40,000 spectators lining the course and a Pro 1/2 field size of 130 competitors for this 60 km criterium.
Don't forget we also have the rescheduled North Shore Circuit Race coming up in mid-August, and the exceedingly popular Mt. Baker Hillclimb marking the end of the season in early September. Speaking of which, Charley gives discounts for advance registration, so if you're planning to do Ride 542, the earlier the better for signing up.
Hope to see you all out there.
-bryceroni
|July 10, 2008
Skagit Valley Omnium
Thanks to all Fanatiks who helped out putting on the Omnium over the weekend, especially to Stewart for working tirelessly in the days and weeks leading up to the event and for passing up the opportunity to race to keep things running smoothly. For those of us who did race, nice going. Looks like we added to our collective list of palmares. Amara snapped lots of photos of the criterium; check them out at Wheels in Focus.
-bryceroni
|June 18, 2008
Busy Racing = Light Posting
Check the Results page to see where we've been. Check the calendar to see where we're going.
The Skagit Valley Omnium is coming soon! The venues are fantastic! Don't miss it!
Cold, the theme all season save for a few all-too-short breaks, continues to hang around. We hope this June-uary cold spell will spell the last of it so we can finally put our arm and leg warmers back in the closet until fall. See you on the roads!
-bryceroni
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