Ghostman

Finally jumped in the pool today and did the Cat 5 training race at Quicksilver.

First, thanks to all on this forum who have given great advice.... It wa a huge help.

Here is the data from the race:

Duration: 29:11
Norm Power: 235
Distance: 12.047 mi

Min Max Avg
Power: 0 802 196 watts
Speed: 16 35.5 24.7 mph


Not an epic, I realize, but a nice first race.

Some observations:

1. I felt surprisingly good and never really felt under pressure. I followed everyone's advice and just followed wheels the whole time. I never rode in front and I only got out into the wind once as I moved up by going outside and into the wind.

2. I was able to stay toward the front the whole way. The last half lap I should have paid more attention because I finished maybe 15-20 out of maybe 40 (?) and I never really knew what was happening at the very front at the end. It became a blur.

3. I think this race was pretty slow and not a “real” hard race. There were no serious breakaways and no one really pushed the pace. How does 24 mph compare to normal Cat 5 pace?

4 I am sure the other shoe will drop in the next race and I will get shelled, but in this race I never felt that -- “I am about to throw up, I am having a heart attack, I want to quit, I am just a poseur, Why am I doing this?” – feeling that I get when I am at the max doing hard intervals.

5. My peak 5 minutes (last 5 minutes of the race) was at 228 watts. I think I left a lot on the table. Clearly I can put out more power than that over that time frame -- about 300 watts per 5 minutes on a good day. I wonder how I would have done at the end if I had tried to go 2d or 3d wheel and really hammered. On the one hand, I had watts to give, but on the other hand, had I done that I would have been more in the wind and maybe I would have popped.

My guess is that these races will get harder and faster over the next weeks and months as people get their legs.

Anyway, a nice gentle intro to racing and I am hepped up for more....

merlinextraligh

Good report,and congratulations!

How much do you weigh? In my experience the 24.7 mph is about wht you'd expect for a Cat 5 race.
But the 235 watts normalized power is pretty low.

So looking at just those data points, I would guess a relatively smooth, relatively quick race that wasn't balls to the walls hard for much of it.

My size may be skewing my perspective but the normalized power and and peak 5 minutes seem very low.
It may be that you did a really good job of not working.

Ghostman

I am 5'9" and weigh about 72 kg. You're right though. My max 5 minutes in training is about 300 (nothing great I know) but if I had used all that in the last 5 minutes I wonder what difference it would have made. I think maybe first race of the season people just wanted to keep it smooth and easy and upright so no one really attacked.

DrPete 

Way to go, Ghostman!!!

Sounds like a pretty standard average speed. At the Greenbelt series last season, the C race was consistently 22-24, but there's a more sizeable hill in that course.

I don't know if you want to do it tomorrow, but Tradezone's B race is open to cat 5's too, so it's a 3/4/5 race. Lots of opportunities for me to learn and get shelled. But if you want to work a little harder, it might be a good option. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Congrats again--you didn't get dropped, so that's an advantage over most people's first race!

Snuffleupagus

Given your weight, the average speed, and your normalized power I'd say you metered your effort very well. Just work on putting yourself in the right place at the end of the race.

Lithuania

I think this was about average for races around here. Staying in the pack the whole time really makes it feel a lot easier.

MDcatV

Way to go Ghostman and Riskus! Congrats for getting out and competing, also big kudos to the dude who did your race in blue jeans and t-shirt - kid attacked and went off the front at one point, shortly followed by going out the back. I hope he wasnt made to feel silly for what he was wearing and continues racing.

Lithuania

thanks MDcatV

i thought i saw a guy in jeans and a tshirt!

NomadVW 

Way to go Ghostman. Normalized power that low at that average speed is some serious energy conservation for sure.

TeamPlayers

Thanks for the report.
I'm so jealous of all you guys. I'm having such a hard time trying to find races on this side of the world.

DrPete 

Really? My perception of amateur cycling in Europe was that there were tons of races every weekend... Is that not the case?

roadwarrior

You're joking...

Check the Belgian Cycling Federation or look up the local club where you live. Where in Belgium (I used to live in Waterloo)?

botto 

you must be joking.

TeamPlayers

The biggest thing I'm having a problem with is the language barrier. Because I'm to lazy/busy to learn the language it makes it kinda hard. On good note I got a couple of addresses to a couple of the local clubs so I'm gonna head in with my French for Dummies book and just go for it. The other thing is these guys a freaking fast. When ever I'm on my solo rides and I find someone I usually get dropped really early but I'm getting better. This is the also the first year that I'm actually looking so I'm starting from scratch. But no worries people I'm trying to get out there.

Snuffleupagus

Man, a lot of us would love the opportunity to race over in Belgium. In fact, I posted a thread about taking a bike vacation a while ago and got some great suggestions.

Clicky: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=Europe

TeamPlayers

I know man, I know. I actually posted in your thread. Like I said this is the first year actually diving head first into cycling. Always been tour rider but now I wanna race.

goodall

I watched the Cat5 race Saturday, it seemed a little slow, but then again I was watching near the start/finish where everyone seemed to be taking their water breaks. You'll probably see the speed pick up, at least for the first five miles, in the combined Cat 4/5 races, where the 4's make a determined effort to drop as many 5's as possible as quickly as possible. At least that's been my experience around here, and I hear it's the plan for Walkersville.

waterrockets 

Great work. You've got the conservative side figured out -- very important. You can now start experimenting with instigating and participating in some action.

Regarding average speed, it's really not what sets the tone of the race. What will make the difference and challenge you is that one hill that they hit at 32mph. If you can ride at 24.7, but not ramp up to that 32, then you fly out the back. The nice thing is that your ability to ride conservatively will leave you with a deep well for power to handle the surges.

hiromian

It is all just a bluur even when your at the front. At least thats what i am told.

*new*guy

He had CUTTERS written on his T-shirt.