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Weekend at the Races 2010 Part I May 4, 2010

Posted by Lorne in Alberta, Bicycle Race, Road Racing.
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Well after a years hiatus it’s time to start writing again. I’ve made a major change in racing this year with my decision to move over to Juventus. The choice was a logical one for me as I felt I needed to join a club with more emphasis on racing. And I got what I was looking for. Riding with the more advanced riders in the club is going to be a good challenge for me this year and should help raise my overall fitness level which feels like it has been stagnating for about a year.

This weekend’s event is the Velocity Stage Race, back after a year’s break when Velocity only held a road race last year. As usual things started off with an ITT of just under 10 km. As I drove out from the city to the course it got increasingly foggier, which I thought was good sign as the last couple of ITT’s held out there have been rather windy. As I warmed the fog started to clear as was pretty much done by the time I started. The ITT went not too badly for me. My time was 00:15:17 for a 23rd or 24th place finish. Overall I didn’t feel like I was getting into the rhythm of the race until the last few KM’s. These short ones are always a bit hard to pace. But I felt good at the end of my ride and I was OK with the time for an early season race. I was passed by my 30 second and minute man but I did manage to catch my 30 second man. So it felt like a good effort overall on my part.

The crit went about as i expected, I got dropped from the main pack fairly quickly. However this time I was actually able to work with some other riders from Juventus and we put in a good effort. The only problem was at the end of the race when we got lapped by the leaders, also from our club. There was much confusion about what lap we were on and we ended up not racing the last lap as we thought we were done. I felt pretty good at the end of the race, my legs having that good feeling burn. It was great to see fellow club members taking the lead after the first two stages.

I was more than ready for the road race, unfortunately I was unable to participate due a a bit of a family emergency on Sunday. Well that was the weekend of racing. I’m looking forward the rest of the season.

Weekend at the Races 2008 Part VI July 8, 2008

Posted by Lorne in Alberta, Bicycle Race, Bicycling, Cycling, Road Racing, Roadies.
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I’m a little late in getting this out, but I’ve been busy with all kinds of stuff over the past couple of weeks.

On July 29th I rode the Cloverlawn ITT for the third time and had my best ever time for a 40km event, 1:00:08, which got me into first place for Cat 5. This time round we didn’t have the wall of wind on the last leg, although I didn’t find the wind much of a help or a hindrance on any part of the course. Another big factor for the race was the heat, with the temperature in the high twenties getting well hydrated before the race was a big help also. Lastly, this was was the first time I rode using a disk wheel, which I got a couple of days before the race. I got a good start on the race and settled into a nice steady rhythm right way. After the first turn around I caught the first of about 3 or so riders I would pass during the hour I was out on the course. I just kept concentrating on keeping a steady tempo and high cadence so I could have a some “matches” left to burn after the second turn around where the course more or less climbs for the last leg. I was passed on the last leg by a Cat 1/2 rider, but at least it wasn’t my minute man who was in Cat 5. I really upped my effort for that few km’s and by the time I got to the finish I couldn’t even yell out my number. So I had got the effort right, I was ready to fall off my bike.

As usual the Edmonton’s Masters Cycling Club had a well run event. It was also nice to has lots of fellow riders from Cycle Logic out it their best. This time we had a total of 8 riders out.

Rod Tiedemann was also taking photo’s of the riders on the course, As you can see, he does excellent work.

Laying it all on the road

Laying it all on the road

So a good weekend at the races personally. Coming up next the Speed Theory ITT and Stampede Masters Race.

Weekend at the Races 2008 Part V June 25, 2008

Posted by Lorne in Alberta, Bicycle Race, Bicycling, Cycling, Road Racing, Roadies.
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This past weekend was the inaugural Banff Bikefest consisting of a time trial, criterium and road race held in Banff National Park. As the road race was by invite for elite teams only I participated in the time trial and criterium. (more…)

Weekend at the Races 2008 Part I April 30, 2008

Posted by Lorne in Alberta, Bicycle Race, Bicycling, Cycling, Road Racing, Roadies.
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It’s finally spring here in Alberta and my race season started last weekend at the Bici Fest. It was nice to get on the road after many hours spent inside over the winter going nowhere fast on the trainer. Time to see if the effort had paid off.

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