Velochallenge

Happy New Year!

With the 2008 season behind, I’m looking forward to begin a new season of road and track racing. Being a first time parent did not leave me much time for racing, so I am definetly looking toward 2009.  My goals for the coming year are rather basic:

• Ride 100-150 miles a week
• Minimum mid-pack at races
• Cat 2 on the track
• Compete in Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge (AVC)

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year.  Now go out and ride!

Saris has announced that will introduce four wireless, Garmin-compatible units this fall, ranging from the $999 PowerTap Elite+ that features a steel axle and freehub body. The top of the link hub will be the $2,099 PowerTap SLC+ which has also added another hot feature which will have a 15mm-wide axle with ceramic bearings. The other models listed in Saris’s lineup will include ta $1,999 Pro+, which has an aluminum shell and weighs 475 grams (hub only) and the $1,599 SL+, which features a carbon shell and the wider 15mm axle and weighs 416 grams.

You can read more about it at Velonews.

I know what I’m asking for xmas!

Pain is the name of the game when it comes to Time Trials. So I decided to volunteer my legs to my 4/5 teammates and head down toward Corvallis for the OBRA Team Time Trail Championships.

The team component is a huge challenge with learning to ride cleanly with no brakes in a pace line, signaling, pacing efficiently and effectively. These items are key things we worked on, but with only one practice run two days prior to the race, not much improvement could be made. But, team time trialling is a discipline which requires a lot work and time comment to be effective. Even though the four of us were under-prepared our main goal was to have fun and enjoy the race.

On race day, we meet up at the staging area in Tagent early since both Jay and Alex’s had sons racing in the Junior race. So while the two dads assisted their kids, I set up my trainer to warm-up. We were scheduled as the 1st 4/5 team to go out of 11, going off at 12:46pm. Each team thereafter would start in one-minute intervals.

Walking around the parking lot gave you a good idea who the dedicated Time Trialist (TTs) were….all the latest go-fast gear was on display as people unloaded their cars and set up their warm-up areas.

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From my good friend who puts on one excellent track event in memory of a former “Rose City” Team member.

Top Ten Reasons to Race Track at Alpenrose:

10. Your lost powertap computer can be found on the track apron.

9. Team Astana has never heard of Alpenrose.

8. No worrying if your wheel change is a 9-spd, 10-spd, or where the
supportvehicle is. Or where you maybe left your spare wheels.

7. There are no hills.

6. You never have to turn right.

5. There is a bell to remind you when to sprint.

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