Track Tuesday/Wednesday

TUESDAY

Goal/purpose: None. I was just so happy to be going to the track, I didn't really have a goal. Bad planning.

Race 1--30 lap points:

On the first sprint, my legs felt like jello and I got popped off the back. And then I let the mental affect me.

Between race coaching consultation: "Just pedal faster"; "It's much easier to go from track to triathlon versus triathlon to track"; "There is a learning curve to this and you need to put in the time"; "You're warming up in too big of a gear and then your legs are toast"; and "Get on your bike and ride!" Damn him, he's right.

Race 2--36 lap points:

Decided to lead out the first 6 laps and get some pursuit practice in. Sprint came and I got popped off. Then, with about 10 laps to go, the bike made a funny noise and I came off the track. Not sure what that was.

Attitude adjustment: Decided Tuesday nights will be for training only. Don't even think about the racing, just ride in the pack. Concentrate on the sprints. Told Larry that I'd help him with scoring the A races on the Tuesdays that I'm there after I ride the C races. This season is for learning.

Equipment adjustment: Going to see Nole to get another cog and put it on and move down some inches for the time being and see if that helps.

WEDNESDAY

Would you give up your flesh and blood for a teammate? Well, yesterday Nole did for me. A little 'issue' with the track whip and a tight cog and Nole was minus two fingernails. (Track can sound so kinky!) Sorry Nole!!! Hope your fingers aren't too sore.

So, what a difference a day (and 5.4 inches) makes! After being told that I was warming up and trying to ride in too big of a gear, I went from a 48x15 (86.4 inches) to a 48x16 (81.0) and what do you know, I was riding easier in the warm-up at a faster speed. I did a couple of 100 meter sprints and my legs were flying. I got in a good 30 minutes of warm up since Ashley and I left SF at 4PM and got down there in time to go get coffee and still get to the track before anyone else was there. Nice not to rush the warm-up.

Races were (1) points, (2) scratch, (3) miss and out, and (4) combined points. There were 18 C riders there, so they split us into two groups, C1--the faster C riders and C2--me, Ashley, three of the junior girls, junior Andrew and four other guys.

Goal: Try the new gearing. Don't worry about results. Pedal faster/ride my bike!

12 lap points race (pts every 3)

I started out right in the pack and hung pretty well until the sprint went. I was towards the front and didn't react quick enough, so got gapped, but not as quickly as the night before. I need to work on riding more at the back and see how that works out.

6 (I think) lap scratch race:

Started towards the back and rotated through and with three laps to go, the pole opened up went through next to Ashley and planned to sit on the front and lead her out, but junior gal stole my wheel and Ashley behind her.

Miss-and-out, 9 riders:

Goal is always: DON'T BE THE FIRST RIDER OUT.

Met goal. Ended up 6th.

Got stuck behind dude whose foot came out of the pedal (!) and his bike started wiggling all over the place and off went the first three riders and then Ashley and then dude. Note to dude: Mountain bike shoes/pedals probably aren't the best idea for the track.

Combined non-scoring B riders and all C riders 20 lap points race (pts every 5th lap):

Damn, this race was FAST!

After the first sprint lap, things just blew apart. I ended up riding the middle part of the race solo and towards the end, latched onto a group for about 3/4 of a lap, but then lost them. I then caught on with a couple of the juniors and finished up with them. My max speed during this race was 28 mph. That's fast pedaling!

Next up: Masters States this weekend!