Ravin' on... Racin' Goals

[RoadRaven]

Thanks, my Hawk-feathered friend
It was an interesting day.
There were three other crashes (that I know of) yesterday - one needed ambulance attendance.
And yes, great to have a new cycling friend, and hopefully, if we can work it, and occasional training buddy.

[RoadRaven]

Well... I am knackered (she says graciously) and restless.

I rode hard today, the race was a 39km out and return course over rolling hills and in gusty, very strong winds.

We started well, 32-34kph paceline, rotating the lead and I was feeling alright - just doing very short moments in front.

But at 8kms out, the pace cracked on, and we were up over 36 and I could only maintain that for 2kms before my legs went lactic. So I drop rapidly off the back as my legs decide to ignore what I am telling them to do and tootle along between 12-17kph for the next 3kms trying to disperse the lactic acid.

Suddenly, my legs remember that we are racing and they start to respond to me, so I shelve ideas of turning back and continue on. I knew I would have to do this on my own, only two other women had been dropped before I had been.

It was a battle, but I put myself into time-trial mode at the turn-around/half-way point. My average at the half-way was below 25kph, and by the finish line I had lifted it to nearly 29kph.

I feel absolutely exhausted - I have Pursuiters Cough (and a headache now from the coughing!), and despite a nice soak in the bath I am still walking 'funny'. This tells me I gave it everything I had.

I feel very satisfied despite the comprehensive caning from my grade, because usually they drop me after about 5-6kms... I hung on twice as long.

I am anticipating next week despite the hills...

[Trekhawk]

Well... I am knackered (she says graciously) and restless.

I rode hard today, the race was a 39km out and return course over rolling hills and in gusty, very strong winds.

We started well, 32-34kph paceline, rotating the lead and I was feeling alright - just doing very short moments in front.

But at 8kms out, the pace cracked on, and we were up over 36 and I could only maintain that for 2kms before my legs went lactic. So I drop rapidly off the back as my legs decide to ignore what I am telling them to do and tootle along between 12-17kph for the next 3kms trying to disperse the lactic acid.

Suddenly, my legs remember that we are racing and they start to respond to me, so I shelve ideas of turning back and continue on. I knew I would have to do this on my own, only two other women had been dropped before I had been.

It was a battle, but I put myself into time-trial mode at the turn-around/half-way point. My average at the half-way was below 25kph, and by the finish line I had lifted it to nearly 29kph.

I feel absolutely exhausted - I have Pursuiters Cough (and a headache now from the coughing!), and despite a nice soak in the bath I am still walking 'funny'. This tells me I gave it everything I had.

I feel very satisfied despite the comprehensive caning from my grade, because usually they drop me after about 5-6kms... I hung on twice as long.

I am anticipating next week despite the hills...

WOOHOO - well done Raven. I feel a little worn out just reading this.

Good luck on your next race. I will be heading off next weekend for three weeks holiday so I will have to wait until I return to hear how it all went.

[RoadRaven]

Thanks, Hawk - body is feeling a bit better this morning - I slept from 10pm til 5am without waking - I very rarely can sleep THAT long - and then I went back to sleep til 6:30!!!

Have a fab hol... are you able to bike there? Will it be waaaarm?

Enjoy your break

[Trekhawk]

Thanks, Trek - body is feeling a bit better this morning - I slept from 10pm til 5am without waking - I very rarely can sleep THAT long - and then I went back to sleep til 6:30!!!

Have a fab hol... are you able to bike there? Will it be waaaarm?

Enjoy your break

No room for the bike Im afraid with 5 bodies and all our cr*p. Its a road trip so we will be doing lots of miles (just not on the bike ). It is Summer here now so yes it will be warm/hot.

[RoadRaven]

I last rode this very hilly course on March 10, a sunny autumn day... I was spectacularly dropped that day but was very pleased to have finished. My time then was 1:31:30.

So today... the temperature on my speedo read 6', the wind felt like snow, and it hailed at my house while we were over at the race (eldest son who didn't ride today took pics and it looks like snow! youngest son proudly showed us a bowl of hail he had scooped off the trampoline!).

By some good fortune, the sou'easterly squalls ran around us - or we biked in between them and although bitterly cold, we stayed relatively dry.

Today I was again spectacularly dropped, but improved my time - today it was 1:23:00. So - worse conditions, better time. I am very pleased.

As a side note, my partner won A grade, my 16 yearold won B grade (they both raced 49km) and my 13 1/2 yr old who has just gone up to the grade above me came second. All in all, a very successful day... I was very pleased to come home and hop straight into the bath eldest son had run for me.


EDIT: Just worked out the averages for each 10km section of the race... this demonstrates how hilly the first half is.

1-10km.... 44 minutes, av speed 13.64kph; very hilly, mostly up, very few "downs"
11-20km... 21 minutes, av speed 28.51kph; a couple of sharp descents, but also climbs and false flats
21-30km... 18 minutes, av speed 33.33kph; some gentle descents, but also false flats

[RoadRaven]

I actually just meant to pop in to post the brief race report above... but I have been meaning to show pix of my bikes, and my partner took pix of them this morning.

The EMC2 is my road race bike and the Giant TCR is my time trial bike.

I have said in several threads that I will pop up pix of them both for comparison in terms of seat height relative to how low I drop the front end.

My next step is to flip the stem over on the Giant and lower the front end more so I can get lower - I'll probably do that closer to summer...

I don't race with the bottle cage on the Giant, and the seat bag is missing from my EMC2 because I don't race with it on - too dangerous - and I raced on it today.

[HillSlugger]

Probably many of you have the thread I am about to discuss on your ignore list, because a significant number of women here are not racers or interests lie elsewhere...

But my lovely bikes are feeling sad because no-one has noticed them...
I don't have the Race Results section on "official" ignore but I don't frequent it, either.

Your bikes are gorgeous. I'm sorry that they feel ignored.

Do you have problems with crosswinds with the deep aero wheels?

[Wahine]

Those are very pretty bikes. The thing about TT bikes is.... they look fast even when they are standing still. I love the look of TT bikes. I've been surfing ebay for one myself for triathlon. Hmmmmmm. Maybe one day I can have a TT bike as pretty as one of Raven's.

[RoadRaven]

I love the term "chuffed". Just for that, I checked out your pics. Are those concave tubes on the EMC2? That's pretty cool!

And TT bikes always trip me out. They look so substantial and heavy, though I know they're probably light as a feather. That's one seriously high seatpost you've got there, Raven.

They both look like they're ready to win some races!

Yes, they are concave tubes in the EMC... makes the colour flash so prettily!!! Seriously, they look very "sexy" and the whole line of EMCs have very sweet lines to them.
High seat post cause of long legs on a smallish frame... still have to get that bladed though (the seat post) though the rest of the frame is aero.


And MD... I have a confession to make. Those wheels were a gift from my partner a week or so back, and the weather has been so bad since he glued the tubulars on that I havn't had a chance to try them out... besides, they have a 90kg weight restriction on them, and I have to drop another 9kgs before I can use them in a race...

Wahine... I like the way TT bikes look too... something almost intimidating about them. Looking forward to hearing about you having success with finding a tri bike for yourself

Thankyou, Kali, MD and Wahine for posting
We (my bikes and me) appreciate it

[RoadRaven]

Oy.
You want to flip that stem on the Giant to get even LOWER!!
Ohh, my back hurts just thinking about that! Are you made of rubber?


I felt the breeze from those speedy bikes just looking at them. Pretty hot looking. Nice.

I don't often read the race results thread. I don't ignore them. I just don't usually go and read them, either.

Thanks Regina - they are hot... I really like 'em...
Yep, wanna flip the stem, want to get just a tad lower at the front... but I need to completely shed my belly first cause otherwise its too uncomfy when my thighs hit my tum...

[RoadRaven]

Those are bikes I only can dream of having...awesome. Do you race a lot? I own a brand new Giant OCR3 (lowest end of the Giant, but works for me). I've had it for 6 months now and love it. I can just imagine owning one of those you have.

Thanks Violette... they are not top end bikes... more middle I guess as far as money goes... I race every Saturday, and a couple of organised events over Summer. Next year I'm going to get a licence so I can race outside of my club and have a go at some new things.
My partner and 3 eldest sons all race too...
Giants do make nice bikes - glad to hear you have one too.

[tprevost]

Road Raven.... those bikes are gorgeous! The Giant looks fast just sitting there!!! I haven't been on TE as much lately so I didn't see them at first... just beautiful!

[KSH]

Pretty bikes Raven. I love the TT bike the best!

[Velobambina]

While both bikes are lovely, I like the blue one better! Do you prefer one over the other?