Results from Senior Games

2012 Senior Games at Mankato, MN  June 2-3  Arrietta Clauss

I qualified for the National Senior Games in Cleveland OH, July 21 – August 1, 2013 in the 40k RR and 10k TT.  The quantifying event in WI is September 11 and 12 in Menomonee Falls (http://www.wiseniorolympics.com/w/index.cfm). You must be 50 years or older to compete.

40k RR

Rectangle course with 3 right turns.  Basically flat with a few small rollers. Some wind, temp in 60s F. ~28 racers; only 4 women.  Men and women started together.

I had a poor start as I was in the wrong gear.  When will I learn!  The first 3/4 of the first lap was at a moderate pace (20 mph) as people were getting used to each other. Coming into the last right turn on the first lap a guy went off the front of the pack and I followed. We rode about 20 s in front of the pack for 3.7 miles, but did not increase the lead.  Finally we decided to let the pack catch us.  I rode with the pack for another lap, resting, watching, and deciding when to make another move. On the third lap, the same guy asked if I wanted to make a break on the corner before the finish leg.  I was fine with this strategy as I had decided to go at that point already.  Curtis and I went off the front again (poor move as went directly off the front and just increased our speed), took the last corner at our own pace and line, and then started to work together.  When we crossed the finish line Curtis slowed down and sat up.  I told him that we had once more lap. Curtis dropped back 5-10 yards (I think trying to figure what was happening).  I slowed down and waited for him.  We had over 6 miles to go and I thought that two people were better than solo.  Again we only had about 20 s lead in front of the pack, but the pack did not appear to be working together. Curtis and I worked together with me taking more pulls.  After the last corner on the last leg I could see a group of 3 closing on us but was confident that we could hold them off.  At this point I concentrated on beating Curtis. I had carefully scoped out the finish and knew exactly where to sprint.  I was tired, but beat Curtis by a second.   That was a satisfying finish.

 

10k TT

One lap of the same course. Start at 8:03 am the next day

I had a good warm down after the RR race and did 1 hour of yoga and had a good warm up before the TT, but my legs felt heavy.  My start was good: correct gears and clipped in.  After about ¼ mi, I knew that my legs were tired and were going to be tired for the whole race.  I wanted to do well at the TT so I muscled my way through it.  This was not a pretty race for me.  My cadence was too low, but I shifted when my cadence fell below 80rpm.  I tried to cut the corners, but I did not ride the white line.  I did not concentrate on my form: flat back, helmet touching my back, hands together.  However, on the plus side, I was mentally tough and kept myself together.  I won the TT in 14:21.

Head Games

A bunch of “head games” is how I’d describe my summer thus far as.  It all started well and I had high hopes for my first year in the road scene – indoor training began and then awesome weather lead to lots of early outdoor riding.  And I even was lucky enough to take a Trek Travel Ride Camp trip to Mallorca Spain!  But then the day before the first race of the year, I caught an edge during a group ride and sliding across the pavement I went.  Ouch.  The exterior wounds have since healed but I am still left with the internal ones.  You know… THOSE ONES.  The ones that are a bit harder to heal.  And being new to road riding in general, I was already a bit scared to draft a wheel or ride in a group.  So crashing the way I did is not helping, but I’m working on it.  It’s baby steps with the pavement and I these days...

 

That said, sometimes you just need to go back to the beginning to see how far you’ve come. 

 

I spent much of the summer of 2010 on two wheels also, but far away from the pavement.  It was the “summer of the mountain bike” I called it.  And quite a summer it was – I did my first race which lead to 7 more in the WORS series, a 24 hour race, Chequemegon 40, as well as tossing in a vacation to 3 continents, my first road ride ever after being in the business forever, and a couple of 5K’s among other things.  All that for the girl who just wanted to get better at mountain biking and to check out what racing was all about.  I’d say I did ok that year. 

 

So back to the fat tires I went this past weekend and raced WORS #3 – Big Ring Classic up in Wausau.  All and all I’d say I did not too shabby – 2^nd in my age group and 5^th overall.  Huh.  I never placed in a race before and I got me a well needed “mental boost”.  Like I said, sometimes you just gotta go back to the beginning…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

Motorpacing

Motorpacing

Now that the bike racing season is upon us Diane's turning to her 'secret weapon'-- motorpacing. Using a small moped/motor scooter as a training tool helps her work on speed and high tempo endurance. The scooter doesn't get tired, so it can maintain a high speed effort much longer than a rider. While some folks mistakenly think the idea behind motorpacing is to see how fast they can pedal their bike, the real purpose for the use of the motor scooter is to simulate having a fast rider or peloton to draft. Realistic race speeds are more useful than pedaling at 50 miles an hour. The moped can also provide a 'resting' spot' when she is practicing maintaining a high speed out in the wind. For these uses it's not necessary to have a big motor cycle; in fact, it's counterproductive. We use a small, 90cc, moped with large wheel so that the moped is roughly the same size and height as a bicycle.

A typical motorpacing workout involves bringing  Diane up to speed of about 25-31 MPH. She'll spend some time behind the moped simply staying in the draft and maintaining a constant, high, speed. This aids her ability to turn a big gear with a high cadence so she can stay with a fast moving rider or pack. As she develops the ability to do this behind a motor, she'll be able to do draft at high speed in a race for longer than her competition. Usually in our motorpacing workouts she'll also do some efforts where she pulls out of the draft behind the moped and pedals in the wind for as long as she can. When she starts to fatigue, she pulls back behind the moped and 'rests/recovers' in the draft. Another workout involves having her pull out from the draft of the moped and sprint past the moped, then fall back in behind to prepare for the next sprint.

Using a motor vehicle (never a car) to train must be done very carefully. Both the rider and the moped driver must be knowledgeable about the safety considerations. The moped driver must be familiar with bicycle capabilities and limitations. As an experienced bike racer myself, when I drive the moped I'm aware that the moped can accelerate more quickly than Diane's bike and that it can go up hills with ease that might cause her to lose the draft. I never brake with Diane drafting; first, I pull ahead, and when I have room I brake. We are communicating all the time. Both of us must be on the same page about any changes. I regulate my speed to insure she can draft safely. Our moped has mirrors set up so I can maintain a close watch on Diane as she drafts behind me. We always use quiet roads for motorpacing.

While the moped/bike combination is no different in most respects to two bikes drafting each other on the road, some drivers might not understand how to deal with the combination. While the bike rider must be in the draft of the moped, there's a low fender on the moped which would be contacted by the bike's front tire so the risk of touching wheels from behind is very low. However, both Diane and I must be vigilant to maintain safe distances, alert focus on the road and each other and anticipate problems and avoid them. Done

properly, motorpacing is as safe as drafting a bicycle.

Diane's won 8 USAC National Championships, and many Wisconsin State Championships. This year, I can honestly claim that she's riding the best I've ever seen her ride. After a severely broken leg in 2010 and at a racing age of 59, this is remarkable. I believe she's going to have a fantastic racing season for the Trek Midwest Team. One small reason for her success, when it comes, will be the hours she spends behind a moped.

Gordy

(Photo courtesy of Jackie Arendt) <<...>>

Cycling is a Team Sport

There has been a lot of team email traffic lately discussing tactics and strategies for the various races. Such discussions remind me how much fun it is to race as a team and to have teammates who are willing to work as a team (versus only for individual glory), and when a team works well together, it can really influence the outcome of a race. The team aspect of bike racing is often an aspect of racing that is unseen by the non-racer, the moment-to-moment actions and reactions, the "chess" like planning of moves, ...

Our team results so far this year (both individual and the team as a whole) have been excellent, and they are due in large part to the selfless collection of racers who comprise the team. So not only do we have the sharpest looking kits and bikes in the peleton, but we have the racing results to go along with looking so "pro!"

Looking forward to rest of the season!

WOW race report

I made the journey to Madison two weeks ago to race with my brethren in Wheels on Willy. Even though we didn't have a great race strategy for the M 3/4 race, I was simply there to test the legs since I haven't been racing much this season. You would think that I almost forgot how to race since I didn't even know it was the last lap until the last corner where I was wondering why I was heading backward so fast. Regardless of the mediocre result, it was good to be racing again. The highlight of the day was watching my 2-year old daughter in the kids race. I had put her on a strict training regimen that apparently didn't pay off since she finished last in her heat. It's entirely possible that her placement was a result of not having a Trek and being intimidated by her best friend on a push bike. I can't wait for the day she shames me on two wheels.

t. hooyer

Volunteer

1st things I did this season was volunteer for the Vo2 max study that was posted on the WCA website.  I thought it might be cool to breathe through a hose---well it's not.  The chap that administered the test was Tyler Stein who is writing a thesis titled: DIFFERENCES IN MAXIMAL EXERCISE DURING RUNNING AND CYCLING AS A FUNCTION OF MODE OF EXERCISE FOR TRAINING AND COMPETITION which really just rolls off your tongue, right?  He's looking to earn his doctorate in physiology so that he can get a cool hat that comes with the doctorate.   Currently he's helping coach the UW Whitewater cycling team, but would like to branch out.  So if you need a coach drop Tyler an email at Steintd30@gmail.com maybe you can help proof read his thesis.

 I also built my new team Madone and have been trying to make it to races where my schedule permits.  Also trying to keep my three boys in line Charlie(9), Rex(7), & Tommy(5).  Recently they've all been subjected to watching the Tour of California.  So much that Tommy suggested that I get a Cannondale because of all the commercials.  That's when I sat all three of them down and told them how a little red barn in Waterloo in the year of 1976 changed and shaped cycling forever.......and that's why we ride TREKS!

 

j.cassady

Numb

That is the word that best describes my knee after I've iced it using the Game Ready ice therapy machine some friends have so generously lent me to use. I'm very grateful because it's been a huge benefit to my recovery especially in the first couple weeks with post surgical swelling and stiffness.
It's also the word comes to mind with sitting on the trainer as part of my recovery. Though I'm so glad I can turn the pedals since it's a great sign of my progress, it's so BORING. I mean come on, it's almost JUNE and here I am on the trainer when I'd much rather be on my Madone out in the sun. *sigh*

Shelley Smith

Hill repeats out the front door

Jim Merrifield

A most unusual occurance - neither I nor my beloved were racing over Memorial Day weekend. Jan was planning on doing the General Clinton Canoe Regatta in Bainbridge, NY - seventy (yes, 70) miles from Cooperstown to Bainbridge. For better or for worse, she and her partner decided not to do it. Maybe for better - it was a low water year and she would have likely had a finishing time around 9 hours - a long time to be paddling. My racing options were few and so I suggested "road trip" - go visit some friends in Rochester, NY whom we had not had much chance to see in a while. Rochester is a very nice city near the south shore of Lake Ontario - lots to do, great food, nice riding. It is in the gently rolling section of the state. Not to be confused with the hilly southern tier or eastenr border near Massachusetts or Vermont. I brought my bike with the idea it would be a good place to do a little practicing fot the Lake Geneva RR coming up on June 2nd. My friends live near the top of one of the little ridges in the Rochester burbs. From the base of the street, a little bit away from the Erie Canal to about their front door was about a 3 minute climb in my 34 x 23. In Wisconsin, this would have been called an escarpment or the like and would have had a NAME and would have been a major feature of the Terribly Tumultuos Century or some such. In Rochester, it was just the back way to Wegman's. But it was not windy the whole time we were there!

Racing Something New

I am going to try a new racing venue this weekend: the Senior Games in Mankato MN.  The Senior Games are the qualifying event for the Senior Nationals held every other year. In 2013 the Nationals will be in Cleveland, OH.  There are 4 cycling events: 5k and 10k time trail and the 20k and 40k road race.  I am racing the 10 time trial and 40 k road race.  This is one of the few masters events for women.

Arrietta Clauss, Ph.D.

Asst. Editor, Journal of Chemical Education

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth." Mark Twain

Italy + Novecolli

dblomme
Just got back from Italy and riding in the Novecolli Gran Fondo last week Jessica and Hans. Over 12,000 racers participating. Had fun, met a lot of really nice people and gathered some great insights to take back home. Road cycling and its culture of racing was thick in the air – it’s awesome!

Was able to catch the Ferrari museum as well. The museum itself was a beautiful as the cars.

The first few minutes of this video link are fun to check out

http://www.swissretreat.com/cycling-sportives/nove-colli-gran-fondo

 

Official event site:

http://www.novecolli.it/?Lang=en