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
Leesville Gap RR
Jul 5, 2010 Road Race
Leesville Gap RR
Result: 11th
My initial plan was to try and stay with the leaders on the major climb and hopefully make it in subsequent break. A few minutes before the start Hans asked me if I would join him in an early break to get through the worst road sections ahead of the field and hopefully stay away long enough to make the climb and perhaps even better. He figured if two of us went someone else would probably follow improving our changes. Hans was in the front and immediately after the neutral start he took off. I was blocked by the front row so I couldn’t follow him. He made a good gap and was quickly out of sight. I could hear VOS talking and Rick said if someone else goes he would follow. As soon as I had a chance I attacked from the right. It went perfect. Within a minute Rick had caught up to me then we turned right and caught Hans in another few minutes. We were clear of the field. The three of us worked together through the potholes and gravel but were caught by a dozen or more just before the major climb started. I don’t think it was the entire field.
Even though we got caught it was a good plan. I was too tired to try and stay with the leaders for the climb but I did well enough to be in a chase group with four guys ahead. Two VOS and two Olympia guys. Hans tried another attack after the feed zone but the gap did not last. Of course VOS had no interest catching the break so there were only about eight guys rotating. This race can be hot but we had winds keeping it cool. Getting closer to the finish we turned right with a tailwind. Hans said he would attack after the final left turn coming up where we would have a crosswind and the field would slow down. This was another good plan to avoid being out sprinted at the finish. After the turn it was only a couple of miles to the finish. Hans attacked hard and I was right on his wheel. We passed a rider on the right which messed up my rotation. After I did a pull I did not think I had enough to keep up that pace. When I rotated off I saw Rick on my wheel with the pack behind him. A gap formed and Hans was quickly off on his own. He stayed away and got within 10 seconds of catching the break, which was less one VOS rider, taking 4th place. I was not able to give much of a sprint so I ended up with 11th place.
Even though the last attack did not work out for me, I was happy to try new things and experienced a good place to attack on two occasions. It was worth the effort and better than sitting in the field to watch the better sprinters take the top positions.
Bill
Pescadero RR
Jun 19, 2010 Race report, Road Race
Race wasn’t go as i wanted first at all we came late with just a few minutes from the start,went running to pick up my number and come back to the car to put my number on my jersey and changed shoes by this time Gonzalo was there too in the same situation as me,we don’t have time to warm up because the referee was calling our group to the start line Gonzalo and I we already talk about the game plan which was trying to stay together within the pack but I was trying to grab the sprint prime @ stage rd. which I lost because as soon the Marshall give us the to go whistle I hit the gas on trying and thinking i was able to get a gap from the pack but it wasn’t as I though (whole pack was behind me,ouch),by this earlier time from the start my legs was feeling heavy and I start to get some cramps on my inside tight made slowing me and getting pass from the whole pack as soon i was on my own knowing i was the last rider of the pack I went on both climbs of stage rd. wondering if i can catch some others to has been dropped for the fiercy group lady luck wasn’t on my side today; as i turn into the highway 84 i didn’t see any other rider just me and that’s it again my hopes was to catch some company at the Pescadero rd where was the neutral feed zone and again i was by myself .
My last hope was at the Haskins hill and when turn right i ask the road Marshall how long the last person was there and they told me like 4 minutes ago so my expectations to catch will back again and hoping to found another’s riders went all the way up Haskins hill without saw anyone when i was at the finish line i ask the referee how long the group was passing by and told me about 10 minutes ago with this info i decide to drop out from the race since there was no point in chasing nothing and just getting wasted, i get disappointed with myself because i got a good training for this race but things didn’t came as i planned too bad for me it’s my first time i quit a race,but for all the bad of this mess up i learn 2 valuable things:
1-Never come late to a race need to be there at least 1 hour before to get time to warm up on the right way.
2-Never go full gas on the 1st pedal stroke specially without warming.
Alex Cortez
Panoche RR
May 24, 2010 Road Race
This race was 180 deg change from last year. We’ll actually about 40 deg since temps were in the 60′s this time. We had strong tailwinds out and headwinds coming back. Really this was a very strange race. It started out with about 35 racers. Missing were a couple VOS guys that generally set brutal paces on the climbs. VOS had one representative who broke away before the turn-around. Larry was also there without any team mates. The going out half was good. The climbs were not too hard and as the pace line strung out approaching the turnaround I made sure I was close enough to the front to not get dropped like last year.
To my great surprise the pack practically stopped after turning into the wind letting VOS and someone else develop a nice breakaway. If Morgan Stanley had someone in the break we probably would have never caught them. I think Larry was the first to try and get the group going but no one would pass him to pull. He nearly came to a stop before the pack would pass. Too funny. From there out it was surge real hard then go real slow. At times I thought I might get dropped then it was slow again. Since there was no organized chase it became a series of attack and respond. At one point I heard go Bill, must have been Larry, so I grabbed the wheel on an attack. For a while I thought maybe this could work but then came Larry and the pack. Worked in a couple more attacks which proved to be a good workout as my legs were very tired last night.
With 4k to go the race was stopped for a crash and a helicopter transport. We were just about to catch the break so they got a short lead on the restart. This gave everyone a change to rest for the upcoming sprint, which Larry won. I came in 11th. Definitely need more sprint practice but one mistake I made was not jumping soon enough or hard enough. Overall I was glad I stuck with the lead group.
Bill
Berkeley Hills RR
May 10, 2010 Road Race
I was looking forward to this race then I realized it was on Mother’s Day. Not a good way to earn race points with the wife. Oh well I got a nice card and said I’ll be home by 1:00. My race started at 7:35 AM. I arrived early and got a good 30 minute warm up on the trainer. As soon as I rolled out I felt the incredible speed and lightness of the carbon fiber tubulars I got from Jeff. Now I know what the rave is about. The first two laps went well and I had no problem keeping up with this pack of E3s. Third time around I started to feel sluggish and noticed I was slipping to the back. There were 5 guys in a break. Then came the three bears and by the third climb I was off the back. Turning onto San Pablo Dam Rd the pack was gone and there were three others about 10 seconds ahead. I should have been able to bridge that with no problem but I was having a hard time. There was a head wind and my wonderful new tubular no longer felt super light and fast. I wondered if I might have a flat. Next thing I know another guy catches me and wants to work together. He doesn’t pull very strong and we watch the three ahead disappear. Turning on to Alhambra Valley Rd we catch a women’s race and stay behind them until Bear Creek Rd. Then we pass and the final climbing starts and I realize I can’t even keep up with my new friend and another guy we caught up to. Then the women pass me. By this time I wondering what is wrong with me. Is this just a bad year? Perhaps my new training plan is not too good. On the third climb I realize my front tire is nearly flat. I make it to the finish with 20 psi then find someone with a floor pump. With 150 psi suddenly my bike would move. It was a relief to realize I had a slow leak all that time. Perhaps I’m not as bad as I thought. Now on to learning how to fix a tubular.
I watched a few Youtube videos on tubulars. What a chore these things are. One video demonstrates a three day process to replace the tire. No wonder races have follow vehicles with spare wheels.
Bill
Wente Vineyards Road Race
Apr 25, 2010 Race report, Road Race
I went into this race kinda rushed and got dropped to mid pack on the first hill. Through out the race I worked with many groups to gain ground and stayed busy to the final climb and placed 37th. Not where I wanted to finish, but finished in 2:08.
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Erik Camacho
Spring Hell RR
Apr 11, 2010 Race report, Road Race
I went to this race with the expectation on finished on a better place than my last one (Warnerville which i finished 24th) I car pooling with Gonzalo and his Family such nice persons btw,so when we get there the rain it wasn’t that hard but you can feel the cold we pick up our numbers and we meet on the registration desk with Bill and Mike.
Our Field was the cat’s 5 group A and we have to complete 2 laps of 44 miles (my garmin data say it was more than that) when we started people got crazy and go full gas on the very first climb i held on the middle of the pack and saw Gonzalo he was going with the earlier break so i decide not to go because i was hauling others riders on my wheel;they gain about 2/3 min gap and i went back and sat to the second/third wheel and let others to work ,strong heads wings hard rain and a freaking cold all mixed together is a bad combination, there was a part on Chileno Valley rd we got crosswinds and very heavy rain when we got into Tomales rd we catch another riders from our category they been dropped from the breakaway and we start to work a little bit but again the weather wasn’t cooperating with us by this time we almost complete the 1st lap and many of the guys on our group was asking each other if they was going to continue on the race,you can saw the disappoint on their faces when we hit the bottom of the first climb to get into the finish line many of them quit,and while i was thinking about it another 4 racers they drop me and it was really painfully for me to get into the finish because on my second lap the rain it was so hard i can’t feel my toes on my foot.when i hit Chileno Valley rd it was a strong crosswing and i expend lots of energy there to kept the line at Tomales rd I saw a lonely rider and think on him as my target to shred some time on my group; i catch him just to know he wasn’t from my group he was from cat’s 4 he try to get my wheel but i dropped him on the rollers and finally at the descent when i get to Spring Hill rd I catch another rider this 1 from my category.With this i know i wasn’t the last rider from my group but i finished really tired wasted soaked and cold .
But what the hell this is bike racing and @ the end the only thing is very important to me is “I DIDN”T QUIT” Cheers to all my team mates who attend this American Version of the Hell of Petaluma (North) and i will see you later.
ALEX CORTEZ
