Ravin' on... Racin' Goals

[RoadRaven]

tprevost, KSH, VeloB...

Thanks for the admiration - will be sure to tell them when I head out this morning...

Do I prefer one over the other... oh... hard, hard question...

The EMC is certainly the prettier in terms of colour and paint job...

They both feel comfortable to ride, but of course I could ride the EMC far longer because of the position...

But the Giant is fast...

Unfair question!!! Thats like asking which of my five children is my favourite... they all are my favourite!

[RoadRaven]

Bear with me while I post the remaining posts from the "waaah, look at me" thread I started... Just this (Ravin On) is one of the threads I keep a hard copy of and I'd like to have the comments handy to take out and read to my bikes

[RoadRaven]

ShubieGA: The EMC really pops, and the Giant looks like she'd blow you off the line standing still! Nice stable.

MissyMaya: Hey Ravin'
I haven't been on too often due to work and trying to fit time into to ride. Those bikes are hot and look fast, so I could only imagine how quick you are while riding them I was looking into a time trials bike but decided to get a competitive road bike instead (new purchase yeah for me), so I know the feeling of new stuff and upgrading. Awesome bikes

MimiTabby: Persons who are amused by looking at cool bikes might not think to find them under race results!
You'd be better to post them in their own thread (like this one)
nice shots

Lisa SH:
Originally Posted by RoadRaven: 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...
Just get a few extraneous lower ribs removed and you'll be good to go....

Jiffer: Very nice! I'd like to do a race in my future, but I don't know about time trials. A whole 'nother world to think about, plus the very interesting looking bike to buy!
It's nice to have a bike you can be excited about, huh? Or in your case, two. (Well, we have the tandem, so I guess I have two. Hubs has the MTB in addition to his road bike, so he has three. Then there's the kids who each have their own bike. Our garage looks like the LBS!)
Have fun with your beautiful bikes!!!

KiwiGirl: oooh - my 2006 Fem Equip 5 http://www.emc2bikes.com/index.php/p...il/bikemodel/8 is jealous of your Etape's better bits

SouthernBelle: Nice. I have a Giant. different from yours though!
Maybe we should have a special section for bike porn. Everybody can have their own thread where we take sexy pics and post them. Sorta individual bike porn blogs.

Meg McKilty: This could be bad if one of the bikes lies about it's age, though.

BikerHen: Oh my gosh! I feel dirty just looking at those sexy bikes!
Very, very nice! bikerHen

Smiling Cat: Hi RoadRaven, I thought I had posted my comments of your bike. You've been giving me lots of good advice for my TT bike so I thought I did... If I forgot in the excitement, I am really sorry.
I do love your bikes. They are gorgeous.
meowmeow
Smilingcat

ShellyJ: Hi RoadRaven, those are some nice bikes that you have. Thanks for showing them to us. The TT bike is gorgous, well they both are but I do like that Giant.

DDH: Love the bikes!!! I'm very impressed with you and racing both TT and road races.
I can't believe you want to get down lower on that bike, are you going to be riding upside down? LOL Just kidding!!

Python: Aww. Poor bikes feeling sad and lonely
Cheer them up. Tell them they are absolutely gorgeous
What's your top speed on them?

Artisan:
Originally Posted by RoadRaven: 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...
Your bikes shouldn't feel sad because they did not go unnoticed...you have awesome bikes and I wish I had your wheelset.
It's funny, I never thought I had a belly until I got my TT bike and my leg started bumping into something I thought was nonexistent. Sigh...reality slapping me in the thighs!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there folks - really appreciate everyones replies!
Its really strange, having responded to so many of you on your bike pics (when the pics load for me), to now be on the "receiving" end.

Mimi... I was just trying to be economical with the number of threads I start... and it made sense to me to pop them in the thread where I talk about all my rides and training and racing goals.

But point taken, my bikes believe they are due adoration and have instructed me in the future to create their own special thread where everyone will notice them!


LOL DDH, you know, being upside down might not be such a bad notion... if I could get so low I could fit under the top stem, maybe have my legs shortened so they don't stick out sideways.... LOL, sorry, just playing with the image...

Maybe it would be easier to just get a few ribs removed... good suggestion Lisa!!!

Python... top speed? Well, downhill in full tuck position on the EMC2 my top speed (this is a straightish downhill mind you, with a long stretch of straight flat at the bottom) is 72kph.

EMC2 Top speed on the flat with a tail wind is 46kph, top speed on the flat in a racing bunch, 38kph (but I can't sustain that for too long - about 2-3km and then I fall off)

Giant - my top TT average is 32kph over 25kms, mostly flat but unhelpful wind. Top speed, pushing a big gear, on the flat, no wind (but again not sustainable over a TT distance) is just under 40kph.

Jiffer, sounds like a nice stable - we've got a few too - partner has 4, son 1 has 3, son 2 has 2, son 3 has 2, son 4 has 1, I have 2 (all road bikes) plus 3 mtn bikes, a bmx and my daughter's city bike which we are buying today. We're contemplating building a bike shed/workshop, because our cars are living outside!

Artisan... the wheel set is awesome. My partner bought them for me a couple of weeks ago - he'd had a root canal and felt sorry for himself, so to cheer himself up he bought me those Vipers! The back wheel is 1/3 lighter than his HED disc. I have yet to ride on them because the only nice weather we have had has been while I have been at work in the office! There is a TT Saturday week and I am really hoping for nice weather as I want to use the front wheel. (I need to lose a bit more weight before I can use both of them - great motivation, huh?

MissyMaya, congrats on the road bike - I can't remember if I have seen it or not. But you really need a TT bike too... Really, you do...

Kiwi! Aren't EMCs sweet to ride? I got it and it was just so clean, and smooth and comfortable and just felt like a part of me - and such a purty colour. Eric really knows how to design a niiiice bike. I reckon you made a good choice!!!

Shubie... Belle... BikerHen... Cat... Shelly... thanks all for your comments... when I walk past them this morning, I'm sure my bikes with purr and preen when I tell them what has been said.

LOL, Meg... my bikes? Lie about their age? Never! They always give the age of their most recent upgrade!




And then Zen had to have the last (most amusing) word...

ZenCentury: Originally Posted by RoadRaven... my bikes? Lie about their age? Never! They always give the age of their most recent upgrade!
With that reasoning, Joan Rivers is ten years old

[RoadRaven]

Well conditions were pretty severe... forecast for hurricane winds, turned out to be only severe gale gusts!

Still, we had only 57 turn up to the previous race, and for this one there were 125 riders...

Only about 15 of the women rode in the women's only grade, but it was a good race. However, the organisers cut most of the rides short and our race ended up only being 25.5km long...

Partner and I wondered why - I mean, its either safe to ride or its not, right?

Started well, the controlled start remained controlled with us not getting above about 27kph til we got round the corners and over the bridge... then the pace went on and thats when I got a bit peeved... came round the corner onto Swamp Road with the bunch and then three girls (literally - about early-mid teens) sat up, 3 abreast...

By the time a couple of us had got around them the front bunch were way in front of us. We kept pace with them for a long time at about 33-34kph, but I just couldn't lift it anymore to close the gap, the head and cross gusts were rageous at times and the Caro began to really feel it as she has had a few weeks off her bike. So I did most of the work into the wind as we closed the gap to a woman in front.

So Caro and I picked up the woman infront, a visitor for the day (whom neither of us had met before) and a young woman, Ash caught us so all four us worked well worked well along the next two roads as we wound our way back to the start.

We came in together and the Ash sprinted round me as we came up to the finish, and then the visitor and Caro zipped past me too - I couldn't be bothered, there were no p[oints to be gained (every one in the women's race got 5 points).

It was an excellent workout and a good race and alot of fun to work with others and not come in on my own.

We had an average of just under 29kph, which is not bad considering it was cold and blustery and we didn't have the benefit of the bunch.



This coming Saturday is a time trial (YAAAAAY!) over a hilly course(WAAAHHHH!) .... should be a most excellent workout if nothing else. I am still focused on losing weight so do not expect a "stella" performance...

[Eden]

Hey Raven - where are you! It's been nearly a week since we've heard from you. Hope you're just on vacation or busy and all is well.

[RoadRaven]

Thanks for asking Eden. Its nice to know that in this very busy forum I was missed.

The last two weeks have been a study break – but for my students, not for me or the teaching team I work with.

We have had a conference to attend, assignments to mark (for me nearly 60 individual essays, reports and portfolios), assignments for our own study to write or complete (for me a 5000 word lit review), course books to write for the new semester which starts this morning and of course lesson plans to prepare. On top of this I want quality time with my partner and children (who are on their school holidays and the youngest grumpy that I can only swing 2 days to work at home) and of course I HAVE to fit in training and race days!

So yes… busy, not unwell, but thank you (again) so very much for asking.

Will come back to this thread with a couple of race updates… I’ll just check out the rest of TE first…

[RoadRaven]

Well, today is "Once round Apley". This is a reasonably hilly course... a tough one for me... its only 26kms but the fastest I have done this ride has been with my partner and I did it in 1hour 28mins... in a race situation I hope to do a PB...


My last two races... on 30th June I did a 25km hilly TT. I did it in 52mins, and was pleased with that. I am not a hill climber (yet, she says hopefully) so I was pleased with the time. I also know where I lost time over the two women I hoped to come close to or beat - those hills. On the flats I would gain seconds, and on the climbs they would stretch away from me again. I am really looking forward to the next FLAT ITT!!!

Last weeks race, again I came in at the end of the bunch over the 20km moderately hilly course. I came close to my PB, and again felt very satisfied - It was the best ride I have done over that course, and the reasoning behind that is there were strong gusts blowing straight off the mountains covered the previous night in snow.

My speedo read 6-7'C (42-44'F I think). Despite warming up at home on the spin bike, and before the race, and putting warming up oil on my thighs and calves, my legs began to stop work about 10km before the finsih. I could have done better for body - I forgot my arm warmers and my windproof vest. I wore shorts, not long legs. I actually raced with a supermarket bag inside my shirt and tied to my crop-top to stop the cold. Badly dressed, bad weather, dropped by the main bunch after about 7kms and I still came close to my PB. It was a good day.

So... Apley here I come... Its a circuitt I know well and the sun is shining today - so far no wind. Think I'll wear my "long legs" today though anyways

[RoadRaven]

1:04:14

[RoadRaven]

A good race, I gave it everything I had. I was still coughing the following day from the intensity, with aching shoulders and neck muscles still, I am very pleased with myself. I gave it everything I had.

The day was clear, virtually windless and promisingly sunny, a nice change from the past few race days though still cool at 12’C. F grade had seventeen starters. The usual suspects were there… the ones who would set the pace… the ones I tried so hard every week to stay with on the flats. Also a couple close to me in ability… my goals were set as we waited for our count-down:

1. Stay with the bunch until the first climb (350metres at 10&#37
2. Stay ahead of #14 and #31, and try and stay with #12
3. Beat my previous PB set in June.

The controlled start round the first two corners stayed controlled for only the first corner. Round the corner and onto a slight rise and we were suddenly doing 28kph. #31 fell off the back as we climbed the rise, I tried to call encouragment as she slipped back but all I could manage was a grimace.

Down and round the second corner over 40kph, and then we settled into a steady 35kph along/up the false flat for the 5kms before the hills began. I took a couple of turns on the front, but as the pace lifted to 38, I just stayed on the back, sucking wheels for all it was worth.

We turned the next corner to the first pinch - #14 and I brought up the rear… I hung on til we hit the short but nasty 10% climb. I was at the back, watching #14 in front of me, and the leaders disappearing over the crest but at the top #14 had blown his legs and I caught him before the next climb began. About 20 metres in front of me I could see #12 who had lost touch with the main group also, so I focused on him, determining to catch him so we could work together, and not be caught by #14.

The next 7km is a steady climb of averaging about 5-6%. I did not manage to catch #12 (however I did maintain a steady 20-25 metres behind him), but I did increase my lead on #14… YES! I didn’t want to work with him, because we are too close in ability. I knew I could descend more quickly than him but he is strong on the flat. One of my personal goals whenever he races is to beat him… so I am better to be in front on hills, “breaking his spirit” than working with him.

By the time we crested Apley Road and turned onto Puketitiri Road, I had increased my lead and changed up a couple of gears as the incline eased. A short descent and another slight incline before a solid kilometre at about 7%. This is the apex of the circuitt and this is where I lost touch with #12. He descended faster than me and was well gone by the time I reached the bottom.

However, I also descended well and had increased my lead over #14 to nearly 600metres.

Into time trial mode and I didn’t drop below 30kph all the way along the last flats, staying mostly at 33-4kph into the breeze... sometimes lifting to 37kph. Unbelievably I made ground on #12 and saw him turn onto Puketapu Road… but he was nearly 1km ahead of me now, and I would not catch him before the finish line.

Coming into the second-to-last climb before the finish, I looked behind and see that, as I feared, #14 has made ground on me. Panic mode… not now, not after staying away for so long… how can I find more? My head aches from the intensity of the climbs, my lungs burn from the heavy steady breathing of the flats. I have been watching my heart rate all the way, trying to stay above 158bpm on the flats. I glance down again…

Incredibly my heart rate has dropped to under 150bpm… my legs may be saying one thing (STOP!!! PLEASE!!!) but my monitor tells me I can do just a little more. So I try and lift the intensity, focusing not on the aching burn in my thighs but on the numbers on my monitor. 155bpm… 158… 160… yes, but more… I can do better… I reach the last climb… its only about 400metres at about 5%… watch the monitor, make the numbers climb, c’mon, you can do it… 161bpm … glance behind, can’t see him, 165bpm … glance up… half way there… glance behind, think of the break-aways in the Tour glancing back to see chasers, or sprinters as they come up to the line… reach the last corner just before the crest… glance over my shoulder again… gonna make this… he’s only half way up… dig it in.

Change up a gear, and another… get ready for the final descent down to the finish… only 350metres to go… glance behind as I crest… no sign of him, dig it in girl, dig it in… glance behind, look back to the finish, glance behind, no sign, dig it in, 169bpm… 170… finish line… glance behind as I slow down, glance again, and again… see him finally charge down the hill, glance at my speedo as he crosses the line… 54 seconds behind me… YES…

What a race… I loved it. I came in 8 minutes behind the winner… but 8 minutes is achievable… I lose my time on hills, and THAT I can improve. It makes such a difference to be in a race and not dropped off the back and riding on my own.

I couldn’t think to eat when I got home, threw burger patties and mini hot dogs in the oven and then sat down and left everyone to fend for themselves. I had 3 mini hotdogs and went and soaked in the bath – when my partner called out to me I realised I had fallen asleep in the bath! A very good day.

[Trekhawk]

WOOOHOOO!!! Well done Raven. What a race and as usual I feel drained just reading that.

Oops nearly forgot love the bikes.

[SheFly]

Nice job! I loved reading that you kept a 33 - 40 kph pace on the way back - sounds like you were rockin'!

Hills stink . I have finally started coming OUT of my aero position to climb the one significant hill on our course - helps to open me up and breathe better, and provides leverage when I get out of the saddle to climb the hill...

Congrats on a great race!

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Thanks SheFly and Hawk, I still feel really good about this race (though SheFly, I meant 33-34kms, not 33-40kms... I wish...)

Still perfecting the way to climb on bullhorns and aeros... on my RR bike I go into the drops or stand... but the TT bike handles a bit different and am still getting used to it.

I used my new Viper on the front (I'm still too heavy to risk both Vipers yet) and I don't know if it made a difference (though it is lighter than my training wheel) but I FELT fast

This Saturday is a 34km race but with three small hill climbs... haven't done this one before - well, not in this direction. So based on other times i have looked up from past races, I'm looking for a time of 1:15 to 1:20... time will tell.

[SheFly]

Hey Raven - how did you do on Saturday????

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Hmmm... how'd I go Shefly? Thanks for asking!

As far as the race goes? Well, I sucked - Lanterne Rouge AGAIN
Think I need to paint those words on a plain red jersey!!!

However, til I was dropped I did some really positive things, like dragging 2 riders who had also been dropped up to a fourth rider and then we all worked well as a team.

These three dropped me on the first hill... ssssooo funny though - Ivan kept looking behind and waving me forward - I just called back as loud as possible "haha, very funny!"

So from there on in it was time trial mode... whew... time to dig deep and suck it up on the remaining hills.

So I get over the first hill and whistle down the other side 50-60kph (getting better and better at cornering downhill) and manage to pull myself to within about 25metres of them before the next hill... and then I lost them completely. Dropped my chain near the top of this middle hill (losing 30secs or so as I had to stop to sort it out) and by the time I got over and down, they had disappeared from sight.

Another flat so I slipped my hands over the top of my shifters and flattened my forearms, trying to get the best aero position possible.

Last hill, and after dropping my chain again (think I was kicking it off somehow...) I really tried to drag everything I could out of my thighs, kept my heart rate above 158bpm all the way... caught sight of one of the three I had been riding with - he'd lost touch with the other two, and that gave me the incentive I needed to keep myself under pressure... unfortunately I never caught him, but it was good to have someone to chase.

I was pleased with my time... 3 (for me) significant hills, a fair ammount of mild head wind, about a minute lost to getting the chain back and riding without the benefit of others...

1hour 18minutes... one of the women I aspire to ride like did it in 1:06 2 years ago... so I'm well on track - she has cycled for some time and is smaller and younger than me.

I'll get there... and I just have to accept that this was not my course - but wow - what a fantastic training workout!

(Despite not winning one race and regularly being eligible to be Lanterne Rouge... and because I have turned up every week this series... I am 12th on the points table out of 31 riders in my grade!)

This Saturday is a Team TT... I have two other women to ride with so far, we are of similar ability and strength and have ridden well together in road races... we just need to find one more. It should be much better than my last experience