You are here: San Ardo Road Race 2010 E4
Aug 24, 2010 Race report, Road Race
Last Saturday was the San Ardo Road Race. San Ardo is a little farming town off of Hwy 101. Just a little further south than bumf#%$k Egypt. Tony Dzoan met me at my house around 4:45am and we headed out after loading up. Stopped in King City for coffee, along with about 100 other racers and pulled into San Ardo around 7:00am. Being a TTE Garry had a sweet spread laid out for the team. Got reg’d and kitted up then went to the usual long line for the bathroom. The Velo Promo guys let everyone know about the prevalence of goatheads all over the place. I was extra careful and luckily didn’t puncture. Erik, Jorge, and I were the Team Fremont dudes in the 4′s and we had 7 other guys in different categories. Nice team showing. Did a 5 mile or so roll to warm up then lined up and waited for the start.
The 4′s were slated for 3 laps of 23 miles plus one more trip up the short feed hill to a left turn and then the finish. All told 70 miles. Race was sold out with a decent waiting list so I figure we rolled out with close to 65 riders. We headed west out of town across a narrow bridge and onto the feed hill. Under the freeway and out into the fields and vineyards. The roads are awful. I remember some bad sections from last year but this year it seems like the whole course was jacked up. The pace was down right mellow at first. The first few rollers felt like a social ride. After a bit Erik got bored and went to the front. He raised the pace and people started grumbling in the pack. Jorge rolled up at asked him to ease off a bit. I was comfortable either way, just happy to be out on my bike. The course continues north paralleling Hwy 101. The first half is rolling but pretty easy, all big ring stuff. Once you cross back over 101 there are one or two short climbs then it is flat back to town. Oh and the road still really sucks. First lap was pretty boring. A small group went off the front. Erik tried to bridge but stalled out in no man’s land. They were all brought back in short order. We rolled back through town as one big happy family. On the feed hill I got a textbook bottle handup from Brian. Much thanks! I went to the front to keep an eye on things. Chased down a few break attempts and tried to stay active. Faster pace on the second lap but not hard by any means. Once again came through San Ardo gruppo compacto. Jorge was out though due to a puncture. As we enter the feed zone for the last time some numbskull puts in an attack and gets a gap. Talk about a bush league move. A few other guys bridge up to them so we have a small group off the front. One of the guys Andreas from Bicycle Planet was riding strong so the group decided to chase. Not very organized I might add. With all the groups on the road it is difficult to tell who is who. The moto told us the break had 30 seconds on us. The pace goes up and we are clipping along on Cattleman Rd pretty quickly. Finally swallow up the guys on the front but no Andreas. He was still off the front never to be seen again. Coming into town for the third time was a little hairy. A lot of people in the road and guys doing goofy crap in the group made it interesting. We cross the narrow bridge all bunched up. We were rolling pretty mellow and some dude in the back goes nuts. Screaming and yelling to pick up the pace or make way. Ummm I think you new what was coming and should have positioned yourself a bit better for the finish. He finally stops crying and passes on the left. Guess the center line rule didn’t apply to him (from same team as feed zone attack guy). Whatever, we hit the hill and the hammer drops. I get out of the saddle to move up and my legs said “SIT DOWN!!”. Nuts. Grind up the climb seated. Try again to make a move just before the turn and legs say ” Sorry mate race is over for you”. Oh well. Cross the line midpack in 33rd position. Better finish than last year but not enough long rides in my legs lately. I like this race but the road conditions are terrible. I may not be back next year for this reason. Like to give a big thanks to all the team support we had . Brian and the rest of the Duncan family, Dave G and of course Gaz. I heard a few envious comments about the setup Garry had out for us. Also props to all the racers who made it down there even if your day didn’t go as planned. Gotta give Ziggy his due also. First race of the year for him was 92 miles with the P12 hammerheads, nice ride man.
Mike Baxter
Dunnigan Hills RR
Aug 14, 2010 Road Race
M45+ 1/2/3
Full field
1 lap 48 mi
This was a sprinter’s race so my only hope was to join a break but this did not happen. We had three crashes. The first was in a right turn and I don’t think anyone was too hurt. There was a small break but they made a wrong turn ending their fun. The pace was high enough for most of the first half discouraging attacks. Shortly after the second feed zone there was a bad pile up. VOS was face down moaning. Those remaining upright neutralized themselves then the pace was pretty easy. On the final stretch the pace was too slow. We strung out for a few minutes but it did not last. I started thinking this will not be good for the finishing sprint. The finish is about 200m after a right turn and an I-5 overpass. We were bunched up for the right turn and before the top of the bridge there was another bad crash to the left of me. A small group was already sprinting ahead. I finished without being passed but at that point I’m not sure how much racing was going on behind me. It was crazy having so many crashes. I hope no one was seriously hurt.
Bill
TIMPANI CRIT SANTA CLARA
Aug 1, 2010 Race report
Took 1st at the Timpani Elite Cat 5 race Sunday morning. Short race, only 35 min long and flat and not too fast, the average was about 23.7 per Polar cycle computer. I stayed in the front for most of the race keeping an eye on the San Jose Race Team that was well represented. Also kept an eye on the laps board this time to verify the final lap. Last lap I dropped into my new 11 tooth cog and waited for a break. A Palo Alto rider sprinted just before the 4th corner on the outside. I bolted, looking for a wheel to grab to the finish but ended up passing everyone. Made it to the finish by a length in a half and flew my arms up way after the finish line, a little bit in disbelief. Reached a new max H.R. at 179, won a metal, and validated to my wife and son all the training. I’ll bring the gold to the next meeting. Hope everyone is doing well and I am looking forward to the next ride..
Berkeley Crit Masters 4/5
Jul 18, 2010 Race report
All and all a good race, not too hard core but dominated by the lime green team Taleo???? Don’t know where they come from but they were 9 deep.. Stayed in the front through most of the race, and kept up with the green leaders for most of that time. They tried a few breakaways early on but were reeled in.. Lots of chatter and shouting over what I thought was normal racing stuff. Only saw one crash might have heard two. In the end I took 5th, I miscalculated the finish and thought there was one more lap, when the final turn came up I realized the sprint was on and jumped too late…….. Bummer! Won some stuff that made it worth it. I would like to thank our team leader for the support, thank you Gary. Hope the rest of the team had a great weekend.
Downtown Lodi Cyclefest E-4/5
Jul 12, 2010 Race report
2nd take at the same race, which was a lot slower. I had a good showing and had a breakaway going with a previous breakaway buddy. With 3 to go 5 spokes broke on my rear wheel when I was taking a quick drink. Ouch.
Downtown Lodi Cyclefest M35,M45,4/5
Jul 12, 2010 Criterium, Race report
First of all let me say that 4 categories in one race is probably not a good idea… As far as the course the roads were in good shape with only a few wholes in the asphalt. The course it self was a figure 8 that was kind interesting with a long straight section on the backside, with the inner parts of the course being refered to as coblestone like (its brick). The brick sections were not slippery but they were on the inner sections of the course and they were also more narrow than the rest of the course and with the mixed group caused a lot of unneccesary slow down. So if you were not in the front you were geting left behind because of people slowing into the corners. So when racing this course be sure to stay in front 
While racing I got a flat in about the 10th lap and I recalled the announcer saying that Williams was offering neutral wheel support and Icould get into the race up until the 7th lap. So I hopped, slipped, and slided over to Williams and got a wheel put on and jump back in at the last possible second. After 1 lap as back at the front trying to find someone to work with but other seemed to be looking for someone’s wheel to hang on so I dropped back a bit and got blocked on th last lap on the long straight section and ended up pulling in 17th. I liked this course but the turns were pretty narrow and the parking stalls along the street were pretty distracting. I seen a rider get pushed of the course and bunny-hop onto the the parking stall divider and onto the sidewalk. I also wish that they would have pulled riders from the field when they were out of contention.
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Erik Camacho
Registration is still open
Jul 10, 2010 Race report
Hey folks the registration is still open for our next TTE in Albany/Berkeley Criterium so far is only Chris Menicou and I.
Here is the link:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/Register.asp?EventID=11138
Atwater “Big Creek Lumber Criterium” M35+4
Jul 6, 2010 Criterium, Race report
Race 2 of the day and some more familiar faces. The pack did not seem interested in working and Carl from IC3 decided to jump, I took off with him which we soon joined by the same TVV guy. From Lap 5 to 20 the pack never even came close. Idid not realize until after the races but I had just changed mt cleat and had broken a 3 of my mounts on my shoe on my lead leg. I knew my sprint was affected but Iwas still able to spin. We crossed the finish line unchallenged 1,2,3
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Erik Camacho
