Thoughts on Road Racing

After training and racing seriously for several years, I decided to scale it back after Masters Nationals a year ago to focus more on family and work. The plan was to continue to ride but in a less structured way, and get back to more riding on the dirt. I’d jump in a few events and try to maintain enough fitness to help the team on the few occasions where I could race, but the plan was to take training much less seriously. I wasn’t sure how I'd feel watching my fitness slide over time and how’d I’d feel watching my team mates race but I was excited to try out the new trend in cycling, gravel racing. As it turns out, I have enjoyed riding much more over the last year as mountain biking and gravel riding have replaced intervals and I can use group rides more to get in some intensity. But the most challenging part was this spring as everyone’s fitness started to return and I was just maintaining. It sucked to not be able to hang, or even attack like I used to. But I’ve known I was going to do the San Rafael Sunset Crit for a while so it was time to try to get some form back. Part of that prep was needing to dust off the race legs and I found an opportunity last weekend at the Brisbane Criterium. Our team had a decent turnout as did the rest of the field so it was a good test. Maybe it was the time off from racing or just one of those reflective days, but the experience gave me some clarity around why road racing is so rad and why there’s nothing else like it. 

Over this last year, I’ve done some “alternative events” like grasshoppers, the Lost and Found Gravel Race, and one day of the Haute Route. All very hard and very fun events but races where you can finish just about anywhere and still have a good day out. But there’s just no other style of racing that matches road racing. The teamwork, intensity, tactics, split second decision making and talent of the NorCal masters scene separate this racing style from all others. We like to joke that it’s like playing chess while at your physical limit. And while I get the draw of fondo’s and gravel racing, it’s just not the same. Yes, road racing is harder, and you have to put in more work in order for it to be fun, and getting dropped sucks. But when you’re fit enough to be up in the mix and participate in the racing rather than hanging on for dear life, there’s no better competitive experience on a bike.

But what really separates road racing from other styles is the post race get together. Maybe not all teams do this but our post race gatherings are one part race recap, one part top notch beer tasting. And yesterday was no exception. It certainly helped that Dana won and we didn’t have to dwell on what we did wrong, but I was struck by the experience and how it differed from the other events I had done. Those alternative races are generally a series of individual stories and it’s certainly fun to swap them around the campfire or over a cold beer. But with road racing, it’s a shared experience. We spoke about what we saw each other doing, and explained what we were thinking when we did what we did. We asked questions about what was happening in the break or back in the pack. We had all been in the same race but had different thoughts and experiences within the race. Our competitors would stop by and we’d chat with them about how the race played out. All of our stories were interwoven and made up the entirety of the race. And that’s what really makes road racing so special and unique. You experience it with others and each of us out there impact and contribute to the experience of the rest.

I’m a huge supporter of the new trend in racing and I love that these “alternative” races are so inclusive and can help introduce the competitive aspect to cycling or rekindle the fire in a retired racer. But I hope road racing never dies and maybe these new events will help newer riders catch the competitive bug. I can’t wait for San Rafael, my favorite race of the year. Now just need to get some intervals in...

Wente Vineyards and Berkeley Hills Road Races

Wente

I didn't plan on doing Wente. 10 hours in the car returning from Utah on Friday and Cat's Hill Saturday weren't optimal prep, but when the new Mr. Cameron Mitchell (just changed his name there, sneaky huh?) said he wanted to race, I felt I had to be supportive. And how convenient, his race started just minutes after mine and we'd only have to get up at 5am to make it. 

Sadly, the women's P12 field has shrunk to a tiny version of its once mighty self, so there we were, just 6 of us lined up to take the start at this awesome NorCal classic. Marissa had Ivy and Christina joining her, making it a trio from JLVelo. Tanya was doing some training for her World's qualifier so she was there for Thirsty Bear. And then Brooke Danaher was a new face, having recently moved back to the Central Valley from Seattle. 

We rolled out along the flat start and already the wind was ripping. With such a small group, there wasn't going to be anywhere to hide. Plus it was cold...in Livermore! We rode tempo the first time over the climb and immediately reduced the group to 3: Tanya, Brooke and me. Two more laps riding around in the wind and I did a little attack after the hard left that leads to the Bump climb. You know the one where you have to slow down and try not to hit the dots, then it goes into a slight uphill. We lost Tanya there, so then it was just me and Brooke. She preferred to sit on, which is slightly annoying but ok. I took some digs on the climbs, testing my legs and seeing if I could tire her out a little. I couldn't remember the last time I'd ridden 60 miles so I wasn't sure that trying to ride away was the best tactic. Then again, my sprint isn't legendary, but I took my chances. We cat and moused it in the last couple Ks leading to the finish, but once the line was in sight - and I heard Mr. Cameron Mitchell yell GOOOOOO - I unleashed my almighty burst of speed and took the win. Afterward, I told Tanya what happened, about how I'd really put down the watts with my blistering sprint, to which Todd added "said Amy never." Thanks honey, I love you too.

Berkeley Hills

The best-laid plans of mice and men...and Mike's Bikes women...well you know the rest. It's bike racing, and things change faster than you can say "gravel in a corner." 

We lined up with a strong squad ready to lay down some serious tactics and set ourselves up for a 1-2 podium at Berkeley Hills Road Race. This wasn't unrealistic considering we comprised almost half the field and have been on a roll this year. All I could think was "this is going to be fun!" What could be better than 70 miles of aggressive, hilly racing with Diana, Sara, Zanna and Mel?

Our best-laid plans went awry early on, as a patch of gravel less than 10 miles in claimed various carbon bike parts and large swaths of skin from Mel, Zanna and Diana. Sara kindly stopped to assist with cleanup, and that left me (lucky and feeling the need to avenge the gravel) rolling on with the now seriously-reduced field, after a quick brake caliper fix. 

Almost everyone else was solo, and I knew attrition was going to be the name of the game from there on out, so my tactic was just to ramp up the pace over each climb to see who we could snap off. On such a windy day, no one was going to be able to re-attach. After 3 laps of this, I was left with Brooke and Eleanor, both of whom seemed pretty content rotating through until the last time up Mama Bear, when I went to the front again to wear them down a bit before the final climb. I felt good, and fairly confident in my uphill sprint, so figured that unless one of them decided to go early, I'd wait until I hit those finishing cones and then hard charge for the line. And that's how it went down. Both waited on me, I chose my spot and sprinted for the line to take it.

The big lesson: bike racing is unpredictable and you often have to do a quick change of strategy. I would have much rather raced with my teammates but it was nice to get the win for them. Many thanks to the Berkeley Bicycle Club and all of the volunteers who put on this beautiful race. Also, the prizes were legit - I won some new wheels! 

Bike racing is serious business

Cat's Hill Classic

Cat’s Hill Classic Criterium - Words by Kortney Parman

It was early in the race season when one of my brothers, Brock, told me he wanted to come see me race my bike- his first time. I was really excited to learn he would be coming west from Atlanta, and looked at the race calendar- I wanted to choose a race which would be spectator friendly with a good turnout. Cat’s Hill is sponsored by Mikes Bikes and is a team race, so I knew it was on my schedule. I’d never raced it before, but I knew that as a crit, it would be spectator friendly.

I did some course recon the morning of, watching my boyfriend race the Cat 3 field, explaining to Brock the race basics and tactics. I lined up with the field, assessing who was there.  I was riding without teammates this race, and I decided who I needed to pay attention to, including the NCNCA Cat 3 Woman leader, Jennifer Wilson of Razzle Dazzle. The race was off and I settled in. The first part of the course is a false flat to approach the famous Cat’s Hill, which was the unknown for me as I’d never ridden it. I shifted into any easy gear and got out of the saddle to take the climb. It’s not an easy effort, but just short enough that I still felt I could punch it.

Early in the race a strong rider from Specialized Muscle Milk, Jamie Erickson, picked up the pace and invited me to join- her goal was to see if she could cause some separation in the field. I pushed with her, but the field stayed together pretty well. Then she had a mechanical, which ended up taking her out of the race.

Haley Nielsen of SheSpoke is a strong sprinter and she went for early primes, which was fine with me as I didn’t want to burn too many matches early on. But in the middle of the race, when I realized that no matter where I was positioned in the peloton at the base of the climb I was capable of summiting Cat’s Hill with the front riders, I decided to put some pressure on the field and pushed the pace a few times, even maintaining a break for half a lap with a few laps to go. I took two mid-race primes.

On the last lap, I was first up Cat’s Hill. My plan was to push really hard on the descent and subsequent small hill, trying to get as much of a gap as I could, and then prepare for the final sprint. Arielle Little of SunPower crested just behind me and then made a well-played attack, which I followed. I felt as long as I stayed with her and was at least 3rd wheel going into the final stretch, I was doing okay. As she, Jennifer, and I came around the final turn, I sprinted. Thankfully I was able to hold my pace to the end and crossed the line first. It was my first win of the season, and I was so thankful for Brock to have been present for it. If he didn’t appreciate my crazy cycling before, I think he does now.

TMBW Early Season Round Up

Words by Melanie Wong

I’m never quite sure how it happens, but time seems to be something that constantly escapes me. It’s like a slow leak - you wake up every morning with a firm grip on the road, but throughout the day you start getting flat to the point where it’s time for bed and you’re still desperately trying to make it to the finish on a ruined rim. Okay - maybe that was a little over-dramatic - but in an effort to make up for lost time, here’s a recap of Team Mikes Bikes Women’s racing.

Land Park Criterium - In which Diana executes to perfection

The field at Land Park was stacked with some of the fastest ladies in Norcal, including sprinters from JL Velo, Jakroo and Specialized Cyclesport. From the gun, it was active with Jakroo raining down attacks and Specialized countering. We wanted to make sure we had a representative in each likely move, but didn’t want to consume too much energy until we had the right composition. Diana and Kortney did an amazing job reading the race and putting in the effort when it really counted. On the final lap, Diana put in a perfectly timed attack to keep the pace high and I muscled my way into 3rd wheel. Rounding the last corner, I popped the clutch and sprinted around for the win.

Bariani Road Race - In which I test the waters

With a new course that included a few short climbs and a field stacked with three riders from Cyclesport Specialized, I knew Bariani was going to be a tough race. Early in the first lap Diana got a flat, so I was left to my own devices, along with a smattering of strong single riders including Ellie Velez, Marissa Axell and Casey Myers. Leading up to the first hill, the Cyclesport Specialized riders started to attack leaving me with no other option but to jump and chase. With the hill approaching I chose to counter-attack one of their moves, which ended up dropping two of the Cyclesport riders and leaving only one rider left from each team - a much more level playing field. All 5 riders worked together for the next couple of laps, pushing to keep the pace up. On the final hill, Ellie jumped and I followed. As we approached the crest of the hill, I attacked around her and pushed through the downhill. With no one on my wheel, I gunned it and finished solo, followed by Ellie and Casey who battled it out for second and third.

Santa Cruz Classic Criterium - In which Kortney attacks and it starts to hail

Santa Cruz is another one of those classics that is on my “must do” list for the season. With a kicker hill and a tight 180 turn, it is a course that has a lot to do with good timing. Although we had clear weather all day at the startline the heavens opened up and it started to rain - no matter, we are made of tougher stuff.  As usual, the Jakroo girls started firing attacks fast and early. My hope was to reserve some energy for the latter half of the race, and Kortney and Diana did a good job covering - even throwing down an attack or two themselves. It started to hail (no really - it was crazy!) and the race went on. By the mid point we had shed about half of the group and I was taking pulls with the remaining single riders. I knew positioning into the final hill would make or break the race so on the final corner I took the inside line and was the first to power up the hill and jumped into the sprint. I could see Evie from Jakroo coming on my outside so I kicked a gear harder and gave it everything I had to power across the line first.

Copperopolis Road Race - In which I practice time trialing

Before this year, I’d only done Copperopolis road race once before in my first year of racing...and I absolutely hated it. With little fitness and less than stellar bike handling skills, I remember getting dropped on the first hill and barely making it across the finish line without crying. While I’ve grown as a rider since then, I showed up to the race expecting a tough day - especially since I don’t really count myself as a climber. On the first hill, Ellie Velez put in a strong attack, which I countered. The field split, but even with 4 riders it was clear there wasn’t much motivation to work together this early in the race, so we regrouped. On lap two, Diana put in a surprise attack on the first hill, which I once again countered. I drilled it to the top of the climb and was surprised to see no one with me. As I started to descend I resolved to keep pressure on the pedals and ride a strong tempo, secretly hoping someone would bridge to join me. However, as the miles wore on - particularly with all the turns and bends in the course - it started to become clear that I needed to settle into time trial mode and prepare for the long haul. I knew if I could reach the final hill solo, I would be in good shape to finish by myself. The miles ticked on and I ate all the food I had, drank copious amounts of water and chased rabbits until I crested the final hill. Rolling across the finish line, I felt exhausted, but triumphant that I had turned the tables on the Copperopolis Road Race.

On the horizon is Redlands and some of my favorite epic Norcal races. See you on the road!

Red Kite Crit (E2/3)

In the photo: Travis Mceuen

Written by Travis. 

Plan: Ingmar, Travis K, Mikal and Arnaud would be the aggressors in the race and try and force a break. The main person to watch was Robert Skinner as he has solo’d the last 2 RKO’s he has been in. Tom and I would try and stay fresh if it came down to a sprint but if a move happened that we could follow we would go for it.

Race: First half had some attacks but nothing able to stay away. Shout out to Mikal and Ingmar for riding on the front and discouraging attacks. Right at the 30 min mark Robert placed a well-timed attack. I was at the front but had just been brought back from a short move and hadn’t fully recovered. Zane from Gooby followed but after a lap or so got popped. Everyone in the field knew that Robert could hold that effort.

Low and Emmitt from Terun attacked and I attempted to bridge to their move. A lap went by and I was just about to latch on when I see a pack of people coming up (I assumed it was the whole field but was actually a group of 8). We all joined together as a group of 10 or 11 and started working fairly well together. Eventually no one wanted to pull through and we stopped seeing Robert after corners…

Fast forward to 2 laps to go our chase group knew we were racing for 2 nd place. Travis K came up to me and said he would make a move and he did. He was able to put a gap on the field and force the other teams (Sun Power and Low) to chase. He was caught as we came through for the final lap and Low and Sun Power were on the front trying to lead it out. Luckily I was able to see this and slotted into third wheel and sat tight waiting for a launch. Sure enough after turn 3 Amain attacked on the right and I was able to follow putting me 2nd wheel into turn 4. I stayed on his wheel out of the turn and came around
him to win the bunch sprint.

Today we showed we were able to put a plan in place and execute. Killer work from all the boys today, especially Tom, Mikal and Ingmar who raced earlier and went 1 and 2 (Hell yeah Mikal and Tom)!

Thanks to our sponsors: Mike’s Bikes for keeping my whip game on point, Equator Coffees for waking me up in the mornings, Toyota Cycling, Capo Cycling always keeping me flossy, GU Energy for giving me ALL THE CARBS, and Absolute Black Chainrings for helping me spin efficient.