Valley of the Sun
02-08-18, 01:25 AM
#1
**** that
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Valley of the Sun
What's this stage race like? Any tips?
Mostly the RR I'm curious about - is the climb a big-ring affair?
I've seen videos of the crit, looks relatively straightforward.
2018 Valley of the Sun Stage Race ? White Mountain Road Club
Mostly the RR I'm curious about - is the climb a big-ring affair?
I've seen videos of the crit, looks relatively straightforward.
2018 Valley of the Sun Stage Race ? White Mountain Road Club
02-08-18, 08:24 AM
#2
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The climb is big ring-able for sure. You might get slightly bogged down on slower laps, but the top levels out very gradually and certainly will be fast enough to warrant the big ring long before it tips over and starts going down the other side.
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"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
02-08-18, 05:17 PM
#3
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The Cat 1 typically explodes (guessing due to distance). Other groups stay together more.
The course is not real shielded and wind can play a part lead to some attacks, then bunching up again. Definitely don't ride over a 50mm profile.
Try not to get passed by the juniors.
The course is not real shielded and wind can play a part lead to some attacks, then bunching up again. Definitely don't ride over a 50mm profile.
Try not to get passed by the juniors.
02-08-18, 09:03 PM
#4
Cat 2
My first year racing it this year. An old teammate hasn't told me much, just that the crit is real wide open and a good intro to the season. Lots of room to move and make stuff happen if you want to. He said the TT is a mental battle since it is so open. Just a half hour or more of your bike, and you suffering.
02-09-18, 09:30 AM
#5
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Some video of course here.
2017 P1 Crit
Cat 3 Sprint (not good video, but you get the idea)
P1 RR?
2015 17/18 Compilation
2013 15/16 RR
2017 P1 Crit
2015 17/18 Compilation
2013 15/16 RR
02-09-18, 06:27 PM
#7
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Did they just team time trial on the front the entire race? That seems so magnificently ******y.
02-09-18, 06:37 PM
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Because it's lame as hell. You're the only pro team in the field and you just sit on the front essentially neutralizing the race?
Attack, establish breaks, actually race.
Did they even win? Can't tell if Williams or whoever that was got pipped at the line.
Pretty ****ty. I guess the field didn't help, letting them do it. But really lame to watch.
Attack, establish breaks, actually race.
Did they even win? Can't tell if Williams or whoever that was got pipped at the line.
Pretty ****ty. I guess the field didn't help, letting them do it. But really lame to watch.
02-09-18, 06:50 PM
#10
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He got pipped, but they were defending GC lead, so best to play it safe, no? My understanding is that it was to practice controlling the race as well.
02-09-18, 06:58 PM
#11
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Yea. I rarely blame the teams/riders. I know the director well and a great guy and I was happy to see them riding so well. This was their coming out. The fix is limit team size/require teams to race (vs individuals). VOS is kinda a family race and more about 17-18s than anything else (my comment about P1s not being passed was real although junior talent is lower than it was) and P1 is rec. Elevate also knows they could have been smacked silly by local talent - that was not there. I think they figured out they don't belong there, although I didn't look this year.
Last edited by Doge; 02-09-18 at 07:01 PM.
02-11-18, 06:10 PM
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Let me know if anyone is coming to town for this, If I don't go to CA for the weekend, I'll be out spectating at the crit.
Late to give advice but the RR climb is big ring.
Late to give advice but the RR climb is big ring.
02-12-18, 05:04 PM
#17
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Folks should have a party and guess the poster. 1st year in 9 I won't be there. I'd be an easy guess.
02-12-18, 06:48 PM
#18
Cat 2
I'll be there. Cat sitting at a buddy's apartment near the college. Odd how it worked out, but he's gonna be out of town and I'll be in town so I've got a place to stay. Picked him up a couple of beers and a bottle of bourbon to leave behind as a parting gift. Leaving Utah around 4 on Wednesday, driving half way. Then driving straight to TT course to Pre-ride and I'll be in town racing the 3's until after the crit. I'll then drive up to see the grand canyon on Sunday night / Monday morning and get back home Monday afternoon.
Making a mini-vacation out of it! Not much to do besides legs up between the races, so if anyone wants to just chill after racing, shoot me a message.
Making a mini-vacation out of it! Not much to do besides legs up between the races, so if anyone wants to just chill after racing, shoot me a message.
02-12-18, 07:42 PM
#19
Cat 2
Anyone have any idea how big the "frame number" is? I've got a couple possible solutions for mounting it, but just need an idea of shape/ material.
02-12-18, 08:16 PM
#20
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The frame number is like roughly 4" x 6" IIRC and fairly rigid. Many people mount it behind the seatpost.
Also FYI there is a pro triathelte (Romaneko) racing the 3's that is most likely going to get huge gobs of time in the TT. We were able to shut him down on Sunday's crit but he rode off the front of cat 3 races and solo'd in at least twice last year. I wasn't there but @wktmeow was and a different teammate too who took the win.
I know first-hand how fast this guy is because it was my job to mark him last year at Ladera Ranch which is a hilly crit. I stayed with him OTF for like 5 or 6 laps until I puked in my mouth and got dropped. I thought he would slow down...
Also FYI there is a pro triathelte (Romaneko) racing the 3's that is most likely going to get huge gobs of time in the TT. We were able to shut him down on Sunday's crit but he rode off the front of cat 3 races and solo'd in at least twice last year. I wasn't there but @wktmeow was and a different teammate too who took the win.
I know first-hand how fast this guy is because it was my job to mark him last year at Ladera Ranch which is a hilly crit. I stayed with him OTF for like 5 or 6 laps until I puked in my mouth and got dropped. I thought he would slow down...
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"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
02-12-18, 09:13 PM
#21
Cat 2
The frame number is like roughly 4" x 6" IIRC and fairly rigid. Many people mount it behind the seatpost.
Also FYI there is a pro triathelte (Romaneko) racing the 3's that is most likely going to get huge gobs of time in the TT. We were able to shut him down on Sunday's crit but he rode off the front of cat 3 races and solo'd in at least twice last year. I wasn't there but @wktmeow was and a different teammate too who took the win.
I know first-hand how fast this guy is because it was my job to mark him last year at Ladera Ranch which is a hilly crit. I stayed with him OTF for like 5 or 6 laps until I puked in my mouth and got dropped. I thought he would slow down...
Also FYI there is a pro triathelte (Romaneko) racing the 3's that is most likely going to get huge gobs of time in the TT. We were able to shut him down on Sunday's crit but he rode off the front of cat 3 races and solo'd in at least twice last year. I wasn't there but @wktmeow was and a different teammate too who took the win.
I know first-hand how fast this guy is because it was my job to mark him last year at Ladera Ranch which is a hilly crit. I stayed with him OTF for like 5 or 6 laps until I puked in my mouth and got dropped. I thought he would slow down...
02-13-18, 12:38 AM
#22
Senior Member
We'll see how it goes, we have our own strong TT guy, and I'm not going too badly either at the moment, so I'm not writing it off yet @TMonk.
If anything, yesterday proved that he's not unbeatable. It will be interesting at the very least, and I'm always up for the challenge. I didn't get into this sport/hobby because I thought it'd be easy
Just gotta focus on what I can control. How fast the competition goes, in the TT at least, is completely out of my hands so no sense worrying about it.
If anything, yesterday proved that he's not unbeatable. It will be interesting at the very least, and I'm always up for the challenge. I didn't get into this sport/hobby because I thought it'd be easy
Just gotta focus on what I can control. How fast the competition goes, in the TT at least, is completely out of my hands so no sense worrying about it.
02-13-18, 01:07 AM
#23
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We'll see how it goes, we have our own strong TT guy, and I'm not going too badly either at the moment, so I'm not writing it off yet @TMonk.
If anything, yesterday proved that he's not unbeatable. It will be interesting at the very least, and I'm always up for the challenge. I didn't get into this sport/hobby because I thought it'd be easy Just gotta focus on what I can control. How fast the competition goes, in the TT at least, is completely out of my hands so no sense worrying about it.
If anything, yesterday proved that he's not unbeatable. It will be interesting at the very least, and I'm always up for the challenge. I didn't get into this sport/hobby because I thought it'd be easy
Just gotta focus on what I can control. How fast the competition goes, in the TT at least, is completely out of my hands so no sense worrying about it.My former coach had disdain for any athlete who assumed he/she would win on a given day, or for anybody else who thought the results were a forgone conclusion - "always respect the competition."
He was also a great motivator. Before one race I told him I was feeling well and told him "I might be able to get a top ten." His response stuck with me for years - "you don't think you can win? Of course you can win." I wish I could say I won that day - I didn't - but I got second place which was a massive breakthrough.
People can flat, crash, get sick... always race.
02-13-18, 09:44 AM
#24
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Yeah, sorry for being such a hater 
. It just kind of feels like poor sportsmanship to me. And some of the things he posted on Strava after last weekend struck me as less than positive as well. Still, as @wktmeow mentioned we have a strong team this year in the TT and def have a shot at the podium and even the win!
. It just kind of feels like poor sportsmanship to me. And some of the things he posted on Strava after last weekend struck me as less than positive as well. Still, as @wktmeow mentioned we have a strong team this year in the TT and def have a shot at the podium and even the win!
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
02-13-18, 12:06 PM
#25
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Yeah, sorry for being such a hater . It just kind of feels like poor sportsmanship to me. And some of the things he posted on Strava after last weekend struck me as less than positive as well. Still, as @wktmeow mentioned we have a strong team this year in the TT and def have a shot at the podium and even the win!
. It just kind of feels like poor sportsmanship to me. And some of the things he posted on Strava after last weekend struck me as less than positive as well. Still, as @wktmeow mentioned we have a strong team this year in the TT and def have a shot at the podium and even the win!