Nith River Road Race 2011 - Ontario Cup #4



Nith River Road Race 2011 - 2nd Master 3

 Patience was the order of the day today.  After being a little overzealous last week in the final at Bike the Bruce, today I was going to change my tactic and let the final play out.  The tactic worked out in the end.

The day began very early, woke up at 3am to begin my journey to Wellsley, Ontario and little town east of Kitchener/Waterloo.  Fortunately, the temperature on this May long weekend was on our side with a projected high of 16 degrees.  Rain and thunderstorms were called for later in the afternoon but there was a possibility of rain in the morning.

I arrived at Wellsley ahead of schedule.  The 2 ½ hour drive was just shy of 2 hours and it gave me plenty of time to drive and review the 16.4km course.  I was a little apprehensive of this race was I was told it was a rolling course with little to no flats.  Although my racing and progression have been going well, continuous hill efforts over 64kms left me worried.  Driving the course, I was reassured that my concerns were nothing to worry about.  If anything, the course suited my style.  The final especially was in my favour as it was somewhat technical with a few sweeping turns and undulating terrain with a slight downhill to the finish.  In my mind, I knew this race was for me!

With the registration open at 7am for our 8:30am start, there was ample opportunity to get ready which was a nice change from the previous few races.  My dilemma was the temperature.  It was cool enough to warrant a long sleeve jersey yet warm enough to forgo it all together.  If the humidity increased, I may find myself overheating yet if it rained, I would be cold.  In the end, I decided to wear the long sleeve jersey as it has a full length zipper on the front that could be unzipped to provide some needed circulation.

As I was warming up on the rollers, my legs felt tired and heavy.  It wasn’t a surprise as on Friday I assisted with my son’s Track & Field meet at school and was responsible for raking and measuring at the standing long jump competition.  What you don’t take into account when volunteering for such an event is the exertion required squatting up and down all day to take measurements.  I added some additional higher cadence intervals in an attempt to loosen them up.

By 8:15am, we were summoned to the line by the race commissarie.  The race would start from the parking lot and be neutralized until we reached Gerber Road.  With the race beginning downhill, I had a feeling the race would begin at a considerable pace.  I made sure I was towards the front.


Nith River Road Race - Course Map



Nith River Road Race - Course Profile

Nith River - Main Peloton

With the race now underway, it did not take long for the attacks to begin.  A single cyclist from Vitess went off the front in what I would consider a doomed attempt.  Although the winds were not a strong as last week, a cross wind would be felt on the majority of the course.  The peleton kept him within easy reach.  Into the second lap, a second cyclist launched an attack to bridge up to the lone Vitess cyclist.  Now with two up the road, if they cooperated, there’d be a chance they would make something of their efforts.  Obviously I was not the only one to think that and shortly, the two were soon caught.  All other breakaway attempts throughout the race were quickly neutralized which suited me well.

Mid way through the second lap my legs were again very tired and heavy just as Jeff Murphy (Team Bike-Fit) and Nick Schwertfeger (Newmarket Eagles Cycling Club) began pushing the pace.  Although I was never in any concern during the race, I could just follow.  I spent more time hydrating myself and spinning the pedals uphill to keep the legs loose and roll along in bigger gears when going downhill.  It seemed to help as into the third lap, I was beginning to feel better.

Mid way through the third lap, the anticipated rain really began to fall.  It had been spitting earlier.  Making our way down Regional Road 107 there’s a descent with a right hand turn at the base taking us onto Perth Line.  As the roads were now as slippery as ice, one cyclist slid out on the turn which alerted us all to the likelihood of more crashes.  For the remainder of the race, more caution was taken.

Into the final lap, the pace remained constant and the jostling for position began along Perth Line.  An attack was made up the left of the road and over the yellow line by Edmond Mellina (Lapdogs Cycling Club) resulting in his disqualification by the race commissaire.  A few others drifted across the yellow line but this was more a result of the switching that was taken place as positions in the peleton were being fought for.  At this point I was sitting mid way through the peleton on the left.  I had expected on the hairpin corner leading onto Gerber Road, there’d be some crashes and I wanted to ensure I was well clear of them.  In the final along Gerber Road, the yellow line rule would not apply allowing us the full use of the road.  Riding on the left provided me with ample space to set up for my sprint.  As I mentioned earlier, I was going to let the final play out and not take any risks or initiative.  That tactic worked in my favour as the sprint started well in advance of the finish line.  I was positioned well, again nicely sheltered from the crosswind and while still seated, raised my cadence and speed and quickly made ground within the peleton.  With the finish line in sight in what seemed to be less than a hundred meters, I began my sprint.  I felt as I was able to effortlessly overtake everyone and as I threw my bike at the line, with the front wheel actually coming off the ground, looking to my right I knew it was close.  Jamie Saavedra (Independent) would go on to claim first with me coming in second by less than three inches!

Nith River Road Race - Master 3 Final




Nith River Road Race - Master 3 Final

  Overall I couldn’t have been happier.  With the initial reservations about the race and course, the tiredness and heaviness I was experiencing before and during the race, and the tactic which I followed to the end, it was a great race.  If my calculations are correct, I am leading the standings in the Master 3 – Ontario Cup Standings with my 7^th at Calabogie, 2^nd at Springbank and 2^nd here at Nith River.

Master 3 Men Results - 65.6 km - Average Speed 37.5 km/h

1 SAAVEDRA, Jaime   INDEPENDENT                 01:45:01 
2 CUMMINGS, Killian INDEPENDENT                 st.
3 PITTS, Martin     RACER SPORTIF/MATTAMY HOMES st.

Complete Results click here

Bike the Bruce 2011 - Ontario Cup #3

It was not to be my day today at this annual edition of Bike the Bruce held on the roads between Sauble Beach and Wiarton, Ontario.  Having been raised Owen Sound, a near by town and at the end of my 8 week training build, I wanted to do well at the race.  With a bit of misfortune in the final I would see my hope fade within the last 100 meters.

In what seems to be a recurring event each week, the weather was not on our side again.  Fortunately the forecast for rain was wrong, but the forecasted wind was not.  30 to 40km/h winds were on tap for the race today and a cold 7 degree Celsius temperature.  My drive from Owen Sound to the start in Sauble Beach went via Wiarton as I wanted to see the course as it had been many years since I rode these roads.  The race took us from the north end of Sauble Beach, north to Oliphant and north/east to Wiarton.  A short loop on the west end of Wiarton we travelled back on the same road down to Oliphant and a 5km loop back to the start/finish.  We completed this circuit twice for a total of 64km.  As I drove, I made note the wind was from a North/East direction.  The ride between Oliphant and Wiarton would be tough with a strong cross-wind.  Any team willing to stick their nose and hammer in the wind would make the race hellish!

At the start line, I was surprised to learn they split the S4/M3 race into two distinct groups.  Apparently as I was told after, the year before the S4 hammered so hard, they spit the M3s out the back.  I enjoyed the mix category racing as it included an added element… more speed!  At 8:30am, we set off and quickly formed a group and then strung out almost single file riding into a direct head wind.  I was sitting within the first 10 of the group and noticed one lone cyclist off the front.  Someone road up to me and had said it was almost embarrassing but that we were only doing 26km/h!  Racing on my own and with still the entire race to go, I myself wasn’t about to hammer at the front.  We kept the lone cyclist in front at about 15 to 20 seconds.  He stayed out there until our return on the circuit.

Reaching Wiarton, we negotiated a small gradual climb which allowed me to stretch out the legs.  At the top, the lone cyclist was still ahead and two others surged off the front in an attempt to bridge.  I too jumped as I saw an opportunity with four of us off the front; we’d potentially have the ability to hold off the field.  I bridged to the two in front and as a gesture to show I was willing to work; I surged ahead of them and began closing in on the cyclist ahead.  Having nearly caught him, I looked behind only to see the entire peleton strung out single file about 10 meters behind.

The stretch to Oliphant was fast!  Not quite a tailwind but enough on your backside to get you moving, at times we hit 50–60km/h.  A few failed attempts to get away were made and my fear was that if a gap large enough would open and having enough riders in it, that on the second lap, the gap wouldn’t just stick but grow.  I countered every move not in an attempt to prevent it from succeeding but to catch the tail end and get away.  At one point, three BikeFit team mates were towards the front pushing the pace and I sensed they were going to try to make something happen.  I was sitting in about 5^th place when one of them became verbally upset that I was not participating in the pace making.  Racing on my own without team mates and contributing to pace making at the front of the peleton does not make tactical sense.  While I sat on his wheel, he began to drift allowing a small gap to form between him and the four up front.  Knowing what he was up to, I surged around him and joined the four in front.  Just then, I heard him yell “GO!”, a signal for his team mates to begin hammering.  To my surprise they did nothing but look back and the peleton soon brought us back.

Reaching Oliphant, we began the 5km loop back to the start/finish.  It was a winding circuit with sharp left and right turns keeping us all on alert.  The roads were especially slippery with the sections of gravel and sand likely as a result of the winter road maintenance and/or sand from the near by beach.  It was going to be a dicey finish I thought to myself.  Heading up the final straight to the start/finish line, a rider from Newmarket was hammering at the front.  Shyt he’s strong I thought to myself and I sensed the start of the second lap was going to be significantly faster!  I began moving my way towards the front.

We make the left turn to start the second lap and as in the first lap, the pace again slowed and we crawled along at a slow speed.  Unlike the first lap, there were a few instances were the speed picked up but no one took any initiative to get off the front.  For me, perhaps it’s the lack of confidence in myself or the reality that I do not have the stamina to hammer into the wind at my current state of fitness.  I know I have the acceleration and power to match almost anyone, but I am far away from the ability to go at it on my own.  I wait and stay sheltered to conserve my energy for the attacks that are sure to come in the final 15km.

A few more attacks go off the front as we head into the circuit once we reached Wiarton.  One that seemed serious was on the uphill stretch but it too did not materialize into anything.  The stretch back to Oliphant was again very fast and the only significant move that put me on alert was again that one rider from Newmarket.  He must be a time trialist I thought, very strong but fluid pedal stroke.  Bridging up to him hurt but I could see he too was hurting a little.

We reached the final circuit in Oliphant and as expected, the jousting for position began.  With a tail/crosswind combination because of the changes in direction due to the twisting nature of the circuit, positioning became difficult.  Like at Springbank where I finished second, I wanted to be sheltered for the sprint as it would be along a straight with a cross-wind from the left.  My positioning was great as we approached a sharp bend and two cyclists must have bumped or something as a section of the field had to slow and renegotiate their line.  At this point I was in a pretty significant gear and I had brake hard and then get my speed back up.  Making the last left hand turn into the finishing straight, it must have been another 600-800 meters or so to the finish line.  I was exactly where I wanted to be when I noticed a small gap forming with three riders off the front.  At that moment, there seemed to be a deceleration in the bunch and with my velocity I found myself at the front.  Shyt I thought and with nothing else to do, I jumped and tried to bridge to the three off the front.  I had a great jump and looking down I could tell no one was on my wheel.  I sat about 10 meters behind the three but I couldn’t close the gap.  With the strong crosswind, I sat between them and a charging peleton but I believed I had the speed necessary to carry me to the finish and I began to think of that 4^th place finish.  No sooner do I think that, I can begin to feel the sensation in my legs setting in.  Slowly my legs begin to feel like lead weights.  Shyt I say to myself again and I get up and try to sprint harder as the field first catches me and then begins to pass.  One… two… three… pass and I am done.  My legs give out and I am forced to sit up.  Argh!

So disappointing but at the same time I was pretty satisfied with my race.  Today place is not a reflection of my race.  For the first time this year, I felt like I was able to contribute more to the race, making a few attacks, bridging across to others, my recovery between efforts were much better.  The training I have done to date has allowed me to perform above my expectations.

No Racing This Weekend - Happy Mother's Day!

Racing today was cancelled earlier in the week and just as well for a number of reasons:

1. It provided me some time to recover from this illness;

2. Allows me to get more endurance miles in;

3. Gives me a few more bucks in the wallet as I’m not paying for race registration or gas; and most importantly...

4. I get to spend some quality weekend time with my three children and my wife on this Mother’s Day Weekend!

Training this week was just hard.  The cough as a result of the cold was at its all time worse.  Any effort put out resulted in a hacking fit that made it next to impossible to ride.  Interval workouts on Tuesday were completed but not at the same intensity as weeks prior.  On Thursday, I had to cut them short as I just felt awful.  By Saturday, I was beginning to feel better although still coughing.  I still managed a good workout on Saturday with some Over/Under intervals and a nice three hour ride on Sunday.  Weather was still cold (at 7 in the morning) but the sun was shining.

Looking forward to another block of racing over the next 3 weeks.

Springbank Road Race 2011 - Ontario Cup #2



Springbank Park Road Race 2011 - 2nd Master 3



Waking up at 5:00AM Sunday morning and checking the weather online I was pleasantly surprised that the rain was forecasted to hold off until the afternoon and there was to be a morning high of 13 degrees.  No sooner was I packing up the car did the rain start to fall.  Argh, I was not in the mood for rain today!  The illness that has bestowed me has been getting worse rather than better.  Sore throat, hacking non productive cough; I did not want bronchitis to set it.  It is what it is however and I set off for the annual Springbank Park Road Race in London, Ontario.

Springbank Park Road Race has been one of my all time favourite races in Ontario.  As a junior back in the late ‘80s I finished 2^nd and 5^th and as a first year Senior/Elite in ‘91, I won the Senior 2 category.  I gave up cycling that following year.  The race is held within the park on a rather technical course that can increase the nerves of many as there’s an off camber turn after the start/finish line, the road narrows on the back straight, a 6 inch curve surrounds most of the circuit and we are treated with a chicane within the last 600 meters of the 2.2km circuit.  A circuit you definitely have to be prepared to ride hard and aggressively.  I wanted to do well today but my health may have had the last say.

Again as the last 3 races, there was not a lot of time to prepare.  Registration opened at 7:30am and race was to begin at 8:30am.  By 8:00am I was dressed and jumped on the bike and rollers for a quick 15 minute warm-up.  I got an optimum spot at the front/right on the start line, was calm, relaxed and had good sensations for this mixed Senior 4/Master 3 race.

My start was exceptional as I did not have any difficulty snapping into my pedals.  I am notorious for fumbling with my start but today it went perfectly.  Racing towards the first off camber left turn I position myself behind two Lapdog team mates.  I hear a crash from behind and think to myself this is going to become an interesting race!  All I was initially concerned about was being towards the front to get a good look at the course on this first lap.  After all, it has been 19 years since I raced on the course and there was apparently some changes made with the addition of the chicane.  Approaching the end of the first lap, the one cyclist who had crashed was released from the pit area having served his free lap for his mechanical/mishap.  Turning and descending into the off camber turn again, I gave a little surge to pass the two Lapdog team mates and bridged up to the lone cyclist ahead.  As I passed him I was expecting him to jump onto my wheel and have a go but there was no reaction.  Too early for myself to be out on my own so I rode along and waited for the pack to pull me back.

For the most part, the race unfolded as I had expected.  There were good accelerations here and there, bumps and rubs, some (a lot of) cursing and a decent speed.  There were two primes announced during the race.  A prime is generally a cash prize for the first person across the line of the next lap.  I was prepared to have a go on the first one but was out of position.  On the second… for $30 I decided I would chance it at the end.



With two laps to go I began positioning myself for the sprint.  Knowing with a cross-wind from the right in the finishing stretch, I wanted to be on the inside (left of the pack).  A difficult proposition considering the chicane we had to negotiate in the last 600 meters.  Fortunately on the last lap, there was ample space on the inside and there was little concern and I began my sprint sheltered nicely on my right.  I shake my head when I think what happens next.  As I get my cadence up for the sprint, I go to shift down into a bigger gear to begin the sprint only to mistakenly shift up.  Now spinning out I scramble to correct only to see two others slowly make their way ahead of me.  With the correction now made I get out of the saddle to take 4^th in the bunch sprint.  With the mistake and my current state of health, I am still thrilled with the result!  Following the race I meet up with my father who shows me a video of the final.  Two cyclists crossed the finish 8 and 5 seconds ahead of the bunch!  Honestly I had no idea there were two off the front.  So end result was 6^th place in the combined Senior 4/Master 3 and 2^nd Master 3.  My first podium after 3 races and 19 years away from anything athletic.  Nice!

My progression to date has been going really well, I am very pleased and looking forward to the weeks ahead.

S4/M3 Sprint Finish - I am 4th in the bunch on the right in red