I've raced this course, Texas Research Park, since 2005. Feel free to browse past posts where I recount epic battles. But if you eschew that, a brief history: I take the two hour drive down, race, return home, and drive back the next day. The course is a two and a half mile loop with a real long upgrade on the back-side. Until recently the loop was for University of Texas Medical Research buildings and a few residences (I think for employees). On the week-ends it was traffic-free, making an ideal location. Sub-divisions have crept in and lots of houses going up, so this year we didn't have the loop to ourselves. That resulted in some race changes, more on that later.
In the past I've rolled out of bed at 5:00 am and was on the road at 6:00 and ready to race at 9:00. This year Marilane's departure to China/Tibet coincided with the race, so I dragged my body out of bed at 2:37 am and left for the airport at 3:05. Apparently we just missed a hail storm. Even stopping for breakfast at Whataburger, I drove into the parking lot at 6:00. Tried to nap but that didn't happen.
What did happen was a cold front, with a stout NNW wind. That meant a head-wind going up the back-side hill. The temperature wasn't all that bad, but the wind made things uncomfortable. Around 8:00 I began warming up in tights and my rain jacket, since I hadn't brought my cold-weather jacket. The 10k Time Trial came first, to be followed by the 20k road race shortly after the end of the time trial. I managed to also leave my Garmin at home, so there is zero data for Saturday's races.
In previous iterations the 10k consisted of one full loop, then half-way around and back to the finish line. The construction and traffic constrained us to two loops then a short loop to keep us off the back-side road. Time trials with multiple U-turns are intensely disliked. I doffed the rain jacket but kept the tights on for the race. The longer time trials are my specialty, so to speak, and I usually come in first. But the wind on the hill had me dropping to the small chain ring, and having to do it twice really cut into my time, like about a minute slower than previous years. As it turned out, I was eight seconds out of first to my soon-to-be team time trial partner, Bob.
After the race I went back to the car, switched out bikes and jerseys, then sat in the front seat and re-hydrated and ate a Clif bar. There were only five of us (in our age group) doing the road race. Unlike Dallas, the two strongest racers had not shown up. Had they been there, they would have left us on the hill to battle for third. As it was, the strong wind meant there would be no breakaway.
A short aside. In USA Cycling rules, riders may not join a different group. But Senior Games is more relaxed and has devolved into being able to tag onto whoever you can. Thus, when a faster group passes, if you have the speed, you can draft along with them. They don't care since you are no threat to them. The slower riders in your group care, since you can leave them behind.
Now, we were just noodling along with the intention of trading off leading and Jaime was the fastest, Bob was the strongest, Dean the most experienced. But no one that much stronger to be able to leave the rest behind. So, we just took our time waiting for the final sprint. As it turned out, on the second of five laps, a group of three younger females who started behind us came by. But Bob, who was leading at the time jumped onto their train and sat on. The rest of us did the same. Truthfully, I feel we abused the ladies and should have let them go, but I wasn't the one who did it. They led us around for the rest of the race.
We rounded a corner about 800 meters from the finish. The wind was behind us. The ladies jumped, Jaime and Bob jumped, and I was third. With about fifty yards to go I accelerated and had a clear line to the finish. Jaime and Bob paid for hanging with the ladies and had traffic. I came in first by a couple of bike lengths. My new bike really makes a difference.
After the awards I drove home and prepared for the next day. My start time for Sunday was 9:57:30 am. No need to get there early, so I slept in until 5:00. The 38 degree temperature insured I packed my cold weather jacket. Today would start chilly but with only a light wind and a clear sky. In San Antonio at 8:00 the temperature had already climbed to the low 50's and would be low 60's by my race time, the 5k time trial. I warmed up in tights and jacket, but determined I would go with just arm warmers for the race and had switched out, leaving the tights on until just before starting.
But about 9:30 I wandered up to the start line (about a quarter mile away from the car), to see how things were progressing. It seems the start times were thrown out the window, and the director asked if I were doing the time trial (about half the folks on bikes were just warming up for the 40k road race), and when I said yes, she said get in line. Only four folks ahead of me. We were being chip timed, and the computer could sort everything out, but this was disconcerting to say the least. So I raced with tights on.
Much better than yesterday. We were able to do an out-and-back course, three-quarters up the hill. Without the wind in my face, I did it in the big ring and kept a good, steady pace, and after the turn-around was able to boost the speed up to 30.8. I pushed through the finish and did a quick cool down and went back to the car. Because I was unsure of when the road race started, I wanted to get the bike set up before resting/refueling. Leaving the computer at home yesterday made switching bikes easy, just pull it out of the car and transfer the number/chip. If I wanted data today, I'd have to change out the Stages power meter. I was just finishing up that chore when the race director came into the parking lot calling for 88 (that's me). She was in a panic, in that the computer did not register my finishing. Pook!
My guardian angel was really looking after me. What with the crazy start, I hadn't done my usual thing with the computer of starting it ten seconds before my time. Instead, just before he said "go" I hit the button. And, rather than take a few breaths before hitting the stop button after finishing, I hit it immediately. So, I pulled up my results and we subtracted 1.7 seconds to round it off at 9:43. Bob finished at 9:48. I just looked at Garmin Connect and it has my moving time at 9:41. It also has the length at 3.4 miles. My average speed of 21.1 mph is 1.3 mph faster than last year.
That crisis attended to, I prepared to stretch and relax. Then came the announcement the races would start at 10:45, not 11:00, about a half hour away. Still, no rush, plenty of time. I went to the bathroom, rode around on the bike to make sure it and me were operational, and came back to the car. Ate a Clif bar, had water, IsoPure protein drink, pickle juice. I've been 98% decaffeinated for years. But I had a package of caffeine Gu in the car for energy emergencies. I felt it necessary to use it. Directions indicate take 15 minutes before your start. I dutifully followed directions, including taking water after, and diddled around a bit before heading to the start line.
Then came the announcement. The race would be delayed. It seemed a small plane had crashed in a nearby field. Emergency vehicles would be coming and wanted the road clear. About an hour later we were given the all-clear. So much for last-minute pre-race preparations.
Another aside: I dislike wheel-suckers. You know, those guys who sit on for the whole race, then unleash their sprint. I understand this is a race and tactics are part of winning. But really, we are just a bunch of old guys having fun. We know each other (most of the time), have a pecking order, and while competitive, are mostly gentlemanly about it. I don't necessarily dislike those who only show up for the 40k race. As a matter of fact, until recently I did the time trials and 40k, but skipped the 20k so I'd have decent legs. But I would also take my turn at the front. Hey, when you lead the group, you can go at your own speed and they can either draft or take it away from you. If you show up for only the 40k and refuse to help out, I have a dislike.
We had such a guy for our race. He did the same in Dallas. There, about half way through, he was last of five guys, with me in fourth. I intentionally let a gap form and he didn't immediately recognize it. The guys put the hammer down and he had to expend a lot of matches to bridge up. I think he knew it was on purpose, in that he wouldn't let me get in front of him again. The only time he was behind me in San Antonio was when I was leading. But when I dropped off, he did too.
Today, there were no ladies to draft. Again there were only five of us. But without the wind, we were setting a decent pace. Again, on the second lap, with me leading, a group of faster guys passed just before a ninety-degree turn. I accelerated and jumped on their wheels, leaving my group expending lots of energy to track me down. Once they caught me, about a half mile of trying, I sat up and let the faster guys move away. That was fun. Then it was back to doing laps. We left one guy behind, so three out of four of us took turns at the front. Another group of fast guys passed us and again I jumped on and the others had to struggle to catch up. We finally shamed Fresh Legs into taking a half lap lead, but by now we were setting up for the finish.
The timer was calling out laps remaining, three, two, last lap. Unfortunately, since we were lapped by the young, fast guys, he was confused. Our last lap was only nine of ten. Didn't matter, if he said last lap, we treated it as the last lap. As it turned out, I was leading up the back-side hill.
I don't mind bragging, I can take that last turn faster than any of the others. But, unlike yesterday, when you made the turn you have the wind (not as strong as yesterday, but still significant) in your face. In the previous eight laps I determined I wouldn't be the one leading out of that turn. As it happened, that decision was wrested from me.
About 200 meters from the turn, Mr. Fresh Legs attacked from the back. Jaime yelled out "Go, Go!" and I started to accelerate. Of course, he was by me and had about twenty yards as we hit the turn. Another fifty yards and I was on his wheel. You've got to be really strong to attack in a headwind. Unfortunately, I hesitated just a second, long enough for Jaime and Bob to pass on the left. I hit it again and easily distanced Fresh Legs but couldn't get to the other guys.
Jaime told me afterwards that he didn't hold my wheel out of the corner, but was really motoring once he came off it. Bob was on his wheel but couldn't pass. I was happy with third. Had I the confidence to do another gear and not hesitate it might have been a different ending. But medals aren't really why we (well, me) race, it is to have fun.
Dean puts his medals in a box, I display mine. But the medals are only a representation of the commitment you have to the sport. When you retire, you cannot sit around waiting to expire. I put a lot of time and energy into cycling. I even put some time into writing about cycling. There are worse things in the world to do with your spare time.
Up until I turned around I had no difficulty staying with the group. But drafting is a very important element and I took full advantage. At one time Dan dropped back and in doing so gave an example of proper drafting. So, unless they tell me to find another ride, they can expect me to give it another go.
