After a year of dormancy in cycling, it was time to get slowly back to form and ride more often. It did start with BBCh ITT and the my results were just as i predicted to be in the average zone. Let me tell you that that the bar certainly has been heightened as Bangalore's racing scene is hotter than ever. Team specialized, kynkyny, wheelsports, spectrum are the usual names on the podium. The ITT being the actual re-entry to cycling and the start of the new season, I managed to ride for the next 3 days to prepare for the TTT. This did wonders in the race today. Two teams formed for Cleated Warriors,
Team A:
Opendro
Deepak
Krishnan
Ganapathy
Team B:
Anantha
Putta
Chidu
Rafi
The race started just great and some cleat issues for myself, Deepak ensured a not so smooth start. But after about 100mts, we were testing the waters with the average and settled comfortably into a zone. The pace was consistent and the rotation of the lead rider was swift and well managed. Quite often there is a call out from lead rider checking to see if all are in and a confirmatory 'yes' ensured he doesn't have to slow down nor look back. Krishnan did well on the way out but post the u-turn got dropped and the distance between myself and Krishnan slowly increased. As i kept looking back the distance between Opendro and I started to increase. This stretch where this was happening was an uphill, it was a quite a feat to try and catch up, I almost did get dropped and luckily Opendro turned back and asked the Peppercorn express (Deepak) to slow down and i'm glad he did. We continued riding at a steady pace to wait for Krishnan to catch up but after a km, we were back in the race. Then a mini briefing while riding that we'll have to stick together as it has to be minimum of 3 riders crossing the finish line from the team of 4 that is counted. So I had no option but to join the suffer-fest. Opendro, the road runner managed to pull the train very well. Never has a btwin sport1 looked so good with aero bars and the non-stock wheelset. Check this:
First loop done and we were ready for the u-turn and thanks to Mayumi for capturing the video of the paceline. Lap 2 was more of babysitting by Deepak and Opendro as i was riding second and preserving energy for the return. I did manage to pull a couple of instances especially the downhills where the speeds reached 45+kph. After the u turn near Volvo plant, it was disciplined riding all the way back and lead rotations were as frequent as a minute. Deepak had to be limited due to the slowest of the riders in the group, ME :D. The last 1km i heard the familiar yell 'go all out' and so the riding became more vigorous and soon we could see the finish line about 200mts away. I slowed down a bit and dropped back for about 10--15mts as i was out of breath, but after some deep breathing for a few seconds, i felt much better and sprinted to the finish. I owe this to Deepak and Opendro as i would have had nothing left to sprint had I pulled as these two powerhouses in the second lap. My biggest concern was to not end up with a flat as I would jeopardize the team finish!! I did hit a pothole quite hard on the bannerghatta road earlier that morning while making it to the start point. During the second lap, i was yelling out names in my mind, Christoph Strasser, Jure Robic. This was weird as they are endurance gurus and I was supposed to be yelling names like Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan etc.. :D. This was the team A's experience and the team B looks like they had more fun. Here are the team standings:
I managed to see the sprint finish of team B and the timing was quite good considering that it is the first race for Chidu (aka Chidambaram), first ride with the team for Anantha and Rafi returing to racing scene after completing a few Brevets. Right after crossing the finish line, Chidu left the bike on road and lied down flat :D. Putta was all pepped-up and riding strong if only the strategy could've been a little better to align with other members. The dire need for this team to excel is consistent training and that starts with me. Deepak already has set a target for the TTT/ITT.
Learning from this TTT:
1. No off the saddle pounding.
2. Follow the leader and look only at the rear wheel and nothing else to avoid distractions. This works as long as there is no sudden acceleration/deceleration from the rider ahead.
3. The bigger the team 4-5 the better it is for pace-lining.
4. Consistent training to fare better.
Some photos from the ride:
Warm up on the service lane near emerald Isle.
Post ride nutrition. Thanks to our awesome nutritionist Mayumi San.
Post race report/results/feedback
Team A:
Opendro
Deepak
Krishnan
Ganapathy
Team B:
Anantha
Putta
Chidu
Rafi
The race started just great and some cleat issues for myself, Deepak ensured a not so smooth start. But after about 100mts, we were testing the waters with the average and settled comfortably into a zone. The pace was consistent and the rotation of the lead rider was swift and well managed. Quite often there is a call out from lead rider checking to see if all are in and a confirmatory 'yes' ensured he doesn't have to slow down nor look back. Krishnan did well on the way out but post the u-turn got dropped and the distance between myself and Krishnan slowly increased. As i kept looking back the distance between Opendro and I started to increase. This stretch where this was happening was an uphill, it was a quite a feat to try and catch up, I almost did get dropped and luckily Opendro turned back and asked the Peppercorn express (Deepak) to slow down and i'm glad he did. We continued riding at a steady pace to wait for Krishnan to catch up but after a km, we were back in the race. Then a mini briefing while riding that we'll have to stick together as it has to be minimum of 3 riders crossing the finish line from the team of 4 that is counted. So I had no option but to join the suffer-fest. Opendro, the road runner managed to pull the train very well. Never has a btwin sport1 looked so good with aero bars and the non-stock wheelset. Check this:
First loop done and we were ready for the u-turn and thanks to Mayumi for capturing the video of the paceline. Lap 2 was more of babysitting by Deepak and Opendro as i was riding second and preserving energy for the return. I did manage to pull a couple of instances especially the downhills where the speeds reached 45+kph. After the u turn near Volvo plant, it was disciplined riding all the way back and lead rotations were as frequent as a minute. Deepak had to be limited due to the slowest of the riders in the group, ME :D. The last 1km i heard the familiar yell 'go all out' and so the riding became more vigorous and soon we could see the finish line about 200mts away. I slowed down a bit and dropped back for about 10--15mts as i was out of breath, but after some deep breathing for a few seconds, i felt much better and sprinted to the finish. I owe this to Deepak and Opendro as i would have had nothing left to sprint had I pulled as these two powerhouses in the second lap. My biggest concern was to not end up with a flat as I would jeopardize the team finish!! I did hit a pothole quite hard on the bannerghatta road earlier that morning while making it to the start point. During the second lap, i was yelling out names in my mind, Christoph Strasser, Jure Robic. This was weird as they are endurance gurus and I was supposed to be yelling names like Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan etc.. :D. This was the team A's experience and the team B looks like they had more fun. Here are the team standings:
I managed to see the sprint finish of team B and the timing was quite good considering that it is the first race for Chidu (aka Chidambaram), first ride with the team for Anantha and Rafi returing to racing scene after completing a few Brevets. Right after crossing the finish line, Chidu left the bike on road and lied down flat :D. Putta was all pepped-up and riding strong if only the strategy could've been a little better to align with other members. The dire need for this team to excel is consistent training and that starts with me. Deepak already has set a target for the TTT/ITT.
Learning from this TTT:
1. No off the saddle pounding.
2. Follow the leader and look only at the rear wheel and nothing else to avoid distractions. This works as long as there is no sudden acceleration/deceleration from the rider ahead.
3. The bigger the team 4-5 the better it is for pace-lining.
4. Consistent training to fare better.
Some photos from the ride:
Warm up on the service lane near emerald Isle.
Post ride nutrition. Thanks to our awesome nutritionist Mayumi San.
Superb spongecake by Mayumi San :D
Post race report/results/feedback
Husshhh..!!! Things to do after a race :D
No no, I was in deep meditative state:
All of the race participants
