VCL#2_Caleb_Pike#2

[JohnT]

Today it felt like some one had called “Game On”. It wasn’t an especially hard race, but all the players were there: Three or four each from IRC, Stucky Life, Vipers, Triple Shot (Ritchie, Martin and I), O2 and others (including Stephane for Wheelers) up to a total of about 25 (in the B race). The opening lap was slow and then things gradually picked-up. While there were several slow periods dispersed throughout the race, one couldn’t really let ones guard down. A few laps along three guys went up the road, two Stucky Life guys and one from IRC. The young Vipers (I called them green-meanies last week) were content to run at the front (repeating their roles from 2 weeks ago) while the remaining IRC guys taunted the pack to chase down the break.

After a couple of laps the three had about 40 seconds on us. We often lost site of them. Yet, whenever I did see them, they didn't give the impression that they were trying to escape. Eventually the chase developed, Stephane played a big role there. We made up the 40 seconds in just over half a lap. After that the A’s passed, and the B’s single-file-neutralized. Like two weeks ago, that seemed to go very well. There were two A groups, our buddies, Andrew, Kevin, Trevor, Mike D (in his PCR kit) were all doing well. It wasn’t a Russ Hayes party this week; indeed Wheelers seemed to have things under control, with one exception. Someone (the lone ranger all in black with not a word printed on his kit) soloed off the front of the A’s and managed to win from there.

The B race pace remained decent, but after the break was caught and the A’s had passed (in two separate groups) there was only about four laps left and no one took any chances. The fact that the second A group remained in our sites also discouraged a break away. Things get awkward when one group runs into the back of another, though later in the season breaking away into the back of the A race might be recognized as a cunning move – you just have to be sure you can catch them and run right passed. Too early for that now I think.

I positioned myself well for the last lap, about 7th or 8th and I held my ground. For most of the lap I was feeling good. I’d had a few tough laps in the race, but had recovered and was liking my chances. Gear choice was good, but half way up the hill I was slowed by a slowing Viper. I knew there was a bike in my right ‘blind spot’ so I didn't just jam up in the curb lane. All it takes is a couple of seconds – in the sprint you are either hammering or losing ground. I got by, but the delay meant the right gear was now the wrong gear and again it was a grind to the finish. I think I was 8th or 9th from a position that should have set me up for top 5. But, that’s the way it often goes. Stephane was able to capitalize on early season fitness today. He was just nipped at the line and ended up 3rd. Martin and Ritchie were right behind me I think.

The Vipers are a bunch of young guys that seem very disciplined. I think we'll have to start attacking them. My reading of the situation (after just 2 races) is that they aren't as fast as they look and this running at the front is a clever early season tactic to disguise that. I'll bet the whole team is under 20, which is bad. The difference between a 20 year old in April and in June is way bigger than it is for a 50 year old. If any of us are going to beat the Vipers, we'd better do it now.

And, in the same vein, the game is what makes racing fun. Our TS morning rides are a joy because they offer freedom from calculations, anticipation, doubt, and worry. You get all four over and over again in a 1-hour VCL race and learning to manage it makes it fun.

JT

[JohnT]

Results: http://ircvictoria.com/races/results?race_id=2

The oldest among the Vipers, actually spelled Vipyrs, is 16! Like I said above, the time to beat them is now. You're up by a point Stephane, but just wait until the rest of the TS team comes back from their training camp in Sardinia!

JT

[Stéphane Tran]

Good report as usual John. I have a feeling that the young VIPYRS won't be coming to the Wednesday evening VCL races. They are based in Comox, so I am thinking they won't be able to make it on a school night.

[mfarnham]

This was basically my first cycling race (I TT'ed a Masters race in Shawnigan Lake last year courtesy of the pack shelling me in the first 15 minutes). Yesterday morning I woke up looking for excuses not to go. I was nervous about riding in a pack, cornering, and getting shelled off the back. But it turned out to be easier than expected--harder than the average Tripleshot B1 ride (though I've been on TS B1 rides that were harder than this) but definitely easier than a TS A ride.

More people should turn up for these! It would be fun to work as a group. I wasn't aware of Stephane in the pack (I still don't recognize him with the facial hair!), so I thought there were only 3 of us--not enough to form a serious break. With another 3 we could spice things up a bit. Plus it's good just to see the familiar colours around you.

A nice thing about doing laps on a circuit like this is that you get to know the course over the first few laps when nothing is happening. I started the race not knowing where the finish line was and not knowing how to handle my gears in the climb to the finish. By 5 laps in, it felt like circling the box on a Tuesday ride, just with fewer familiar faces.

Come out and try it!

Martin

[Wighty]

Great race report John. I'll be out there with you in a couple weeks.

The unmarked guy from the A's was Jordan Landolt. He raced Cat 3 at the EV stage race last week and solo won the crit, won the TT (was beaten by one Cat 1/2 RH guy but beat all the other Cat 1/2 guys), and he solo won the RR. The guy is a machine. He's almost guaranteed to go for a solo break so he would be a good wheel to sit on, if you can

[John Guthrie]

Just to add a comment, the "man in black" Jordy Landolt, is Kelly Landolt's son. Kelly is a former VCL B overall winner (2011). Apparently Jordy lapped the A field Sunday? Jordy only started racing in April, so perhaps the next Anika Todd; he's already been upgraded to Cat 2. The B winner, Chris McLeod, is son of Dave McLeod, an IRC stalwart, and since he lives in Victoria we'll see more of him. Both are trained by Houshang Amiri.

Great to see solid participation from TS, and some good work Sunday by the men in argyle!

[Rolf]

Lunchtime Googling tells me that a Canadian with the same name spent almost three weeks in 2012 cycling solo around Sri Lanka (trip journal with very cool photos).

And more recently, it looks from Strava like the same fellow spent most of this past fall and winter doing monster rides in Tuscany and Spain.

Now that's a training regime I could get behind!

[EricS]

Chris McLeod is also Barbara Bialokoz's son (BB Physio) and is one of Lister's Kids. He's flying on the track too!

Eric