ECNI Champs 2008

[RoadRaven]

Well, I have been umm-ing andf ahh-ing about whether or not to post about these.

The East Coast North Island Championships are an interclub competition between the Gisborne Cycling Club, and Ramblers Cycling Club (Napier/Hastings).
This year I aimed to do them - a goal being to ride all four stages.


Round 1
The first two stages were held this last weekend in Ramblers territory...
A crit on Saturday afternoon and an individual time trial on Sunday morning.

Criterium:
I was really worried about the crit... I have never ridden one. However, due to a crit course being unavailable, we rode a circuitt race - 6km per lap and three laps.

My first disappointment was that only four masters women turned up, and only one of those was in my class.
(At club level, the Masters are grouped into Masters 1 - 35-44 and Masters 2 - 45+. At National level, its in 5 year groupings up to Masters 7)
Two women who ride a grade above me in club racing (our club racing is ability graded, not age graded) didn't show and I had been really looking forward to racing against them when they didn't have men to draft off!

So, just 2 Masters 1, and just 2 Masters 2. We startedwith the 2 senior women... just the 6 of us and charged off, quickly hitting about 35kph and dropping my only competitor withing 500metres. So I stayed and worked with these women, and it was exilerating. We stayed somewhere between 32-45kph most of the time, only slowing for corners... and this was my "downfall". I am not confident on corners anyway, and was in a bad position near the end of the second lap.

Once dropped, I decided just to cruise in. I only had to finish to win as the other M1 woman was nearly a lap behind us. I thought smartly and decided instead of chasing them down, I would conserve my legs for the TT in the morning.

So I finished safely, my average was still over 33kph, my legs felt like I had used them but didn't feel wasted, and I had max points

Individual Time Trial:

Well, my fave discipline... this is one event I had been looking forward to since last years ECNI champs which I didn't enter.
And it was on one of my favourite courses - very flat, two corners, out and back, 20km in total.
I was aiming for an average speed of 32.5kph if the wind was up -thats 36.55minutes
If it was calm I wanted at least 33kph average - thats around 36 minutes. Based on an earlier performance this year, I knew 35 minutes was a possibility. (thats 34kph)

I have a new seat on my bike - the concord nosed Selle Strike I have been discussing in saddles. I thought I had positioned it right... I thought...

I felt good, legs ok from Saturday, but due to a series of things, I only got a ten minute warm-up. And at the start line I realise I am the ONLY Masters 1 woman there. That was gutting. Although I know the TT is about individual performance, I was expecting to have "competition".

About 8kms in, my right leg starts aching. The seat nose is pushing into my thigh and as I continue the discomfort increases and my speed drops. A Masters 2 woman passes me so I refocus and lift my speed. By the 10km turn around I was in extreme discomfort and all the way back the pain would slow me to about 25kph, and I would have to refocus, tell myself their was no pain and lift the speed again. I was sobbing when I crossed the finish line, and feeling silly for doing so. I hope that my usual gasping masked the fact I was actually crying.

I felt so disappointed on Sunday, but on Monday I was feeling a bit more pragmatic. You see, despite the pain (and I have a high pain threshold) I still managed to achieve an average of 32.22kph/time of 37.24minutes.

I also managed to race two days in a row with reasonable performances - this is something new to me.


Round 2: 24/25 May
The next round was supposed to held in Gisborne, however the Gisborne club has asked us to host it.
It is in two weeks time, and will also consist of two stages - this time a road race and a hill climb.

[SheFly]

Good for you! Sounds like you did a great job, despite the saddle discomfort (to which I can TOTALLY relate...). What is it about we TTer's? There is no pain...

And I think you did wonderfully in the crit as well. Corners are tough for me too, but I am getting much better at them. You know, you and I are the right build and have the right strengths to do well in crits - it's just a matter of getting over some of the psychological fears.

Good luck next weekend. Can't wait to read about your results!

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Yeah... the psychology of corners... I reckon there is a whole book in that one

I am just pleased there were no sprint laps, because to corner fast and sprint several times in a race? I would not have done so well - mind you, I would not have to have sprinted anyone as my sole competition was waaaaay off the back.

Looks like I might have to marshall for one of the final stages on the 24th/25th. Thats ok, I just have to compete in 3 events to be elegible for a place.

[RoadRaven]

Round Two:
The second two stages were also held in Ramblers territory; a road race and a hill climb.
Gisborne were unable to muster enough marshalls and suggested we should host it. Sadly again, no Gisborne riders turned up, so the whole competition was essentially between Ramblers riders only.

33km or 67km Road Race
Well, the road race distance was dependant on your age. If I had been riding I would have done the 33km distance. There were 5 masters women riding, so it would have been an interesting race.
But I helped to marshall so the race could happen. We had a reasonable turnout, and like the first weekend of competition, the rain stopped for most of the racing... pouring down while I starting the grades off (I had two men holding umbrellas over me to protect me and the race lists). But once the last grade left (all the women and girls started together as there was only about ten all up), it was dry until the last grade to arrive home - masters 3 men - were on their last lap and they were saturated.
My partner and two sons rode this race, and they were all placed in the top three in their respective grades.

Hill Climb
Well - I did this - a 3km hill climb. It took me seveteen minutes but as I was the only one in my grade, I won
I am guessing if I was racing against someone I might have been faster, but as the steepest bit on this hill is 16% and I had never ridden this road before, my goal was basically to get up.
To finish the Sunday ride meant I got the points necessary to win the champs.

Essentially I won because I turned up - to qualify for a place you needed to ride in both weekends, which I did. None of the other Masters 1 women did.

However, I am still really pleased with my cup and gold medal - I was the kid who always wrote notes to get out of anything remotely physical at school. I hopped on a bike at 40ish and have never been fitter. I deserve this and I am pleased.

What makes it sweeter is that one son got bronze in his grade, my other son got gold and a cup in his grade, my partner got bronze and his riding mate got gold. All in all a good series, even though the other club never joined us

[SheFly]

Congrats! I've been told that a win is a win, regardless! Savor the victory. Besides, just think of all of the women who didn't show up - you're much better than they are!

Woohoo!

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Yup - a win is a win... and several of the other women could have ridden (and seriously challenged me for top three placings), but because it was a championship, chose to go on a training ride instead of putting themselves out there and facing the day.

I was brave enough to have a go, and I have trained damned hard to get to a point where I had enough courage to get to the starting line.

Thanks SheFly, knew you'd understand what i was trying to say

[lph]

However, I am still really pleased with my cup and gold medal - I was the kid who always wrote notes to get out of anything remotely physical at school. I hopped on a bike at 40ish and have never been fitter. I deserve this and I am pleased.

Just gotta say, Raven, I love that attitude I was outdoorsy as a child but not fit, and truly terrible at all team sports. We do deserve that feeling of pride, for not letting that steer us into a sedentary adult life. And yep - it takes courage to commit to a race!