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Faster Gran Fondo - CycleRoad Race


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Scottsdale, Arizona
United States
Faster
80F / 27C
Sunny
Total Time = 6h 03m 13s
Overall Rank = 71/122
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 17/24
Bike
  • 5h 48m 54s
  • 97 miles
  • 16.68 mile/hr
Comments:

This course kicked my ass. We started out with some very strong cross winds and alot of climbing in the first 20 miles. After the first timed climb there was a great downhill section through Cave Creek and then the headwinds picked up going on Happy Valley road. Winds were at least 15-20 MPH steady and gusting to maybe 25. Parts of Happy Valley road were at 8-9 MPH. Then on the down hills, you had to work to keep moving. The temps climbed pretty high for this late in the year and the 2nd timed climb had a section of about .3 miles long with an 18% grade. My left hamstring started cramping like mad just before the start of the 2nd climb. I stretched it out and kept going. On the 18% grade, I literally had to make s-turns back and forth across the road to keep moving. This was killer. Probably the single hardest bike ride I've ever done.
What would you do differently?:

Swap out my cassette for a lower geared cassette. Carry more fluids with me. I hadn't consumed my bottles by the first aid station (~30 miles) but I was in conservation mode by the 2nd aid station (65 miles).
Post race
Warm down:

Refilled my water bottles, grabbed a few orange slices and then jumped into my car so I could catch the end of my daughter's soccer game.

Event comments:

Heat, wind, climbing...this was hard. Although I did get to ride on Bob Roll's wheel for a few minutes.

Garmin Data:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/237677345





Last updated: 2012-08-27 12:00 AM
Biking
05:48:54 | 97 miles | 16.68 mile/hr
Age Group: 17/24
Overall: 71/122
Performance: Good
AVG HR was 165. Max HR was 190 on the big climb.
Wind: Strong with gusts
Course: Winding course north of Faster around the McDowell mountain/Cave Creek area. 5000' of climbing. (P.S. it's not a race. Had to stop at all the lights, stop signs, course was not closed to traffic).
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 86
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2012-10-29 12:29 PM

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Veteran
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, Arizona
Subject: Faster Gran Fondo


2012-10-30 11:24 AM
in reply to: #4473745

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Faster Gran Fondo
That sounds like a really tough race. Nice work Smile
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