Kush's semi-training thread
- Thread starter kush
- Start date
For full disclosure.. Ilya is on the list of the top 5 bike destroyers of all time. This bike is magic. Even Jim loves this bike and Jim likes very few bikes. I would almost go as far as to say that the bike is an unfair advantage.. (not to detract from your success).
I love letting super bike snobs ride mine because it usually ride better than their 10G bikes and it costs 1/2 as much. One dude on a Pinerello looked like he was going to cry..
I can only add that you need to look into the new Sram red brakes. They play much better w/ the wide fire crest rims and they really work better.
I love letting super bike snobs ride mine because it usually ride better than their 10G bikes and it costs 1/2 as much. One dude on a Pinerello looked like he was going to cry..
I can only add that you need to look into the new Sram red brakes. They play much better w/ the wide fire crest rims and they really work better.
merritt
Well-Known Member
+ 1 .... Take a look at the 40+ times...Nice job by the way, congrats
kush
Active Member
2012 Killington Stage Race
http://www.killingtonstagerace.com/
Sat – Stage 1: 55mile Circuit race, 3 laps. Sprinters' paradise
Sun – Stage 2: 11 mile uphill TT and into the wind
Mon – Stage 3: 62 mile hilly race. Finishing climb is a 4 mile 10%+
We decided to make a very long weekend out of it, and the whole family came with.
Our condo is in Sunrise village, just off E. Mountain Dr, and we have it 100% to ourselves. Almost spooky. But man, it's nice, even the bikes have their own room. It’s on the mountain close to all the starts and finishes, and 1km from the ultimate hill-top finale.
I did a few races since bkill to mixed results. I felt strong in Tour of Dragons, another stage race, but crashed in the crit. I did crap in Hunter Mountain, midpack. I mechanicaled out of Colts neck. I yellow-lined another race. I did well in bkill, SSAP, and Cherry, as well as the Jerseyman triathlon.
So I didn't and still don’t know how good my fitness will be, I haven’t really been training since b-kill, and Ben says not to raise my hopes up too much. In fact, I’m back to base now. After 2 stages, I still don’t know. My 20min power is pretty good, so I’m ok with TT results. My sprints are ok, been working on it with Ben.
At bkill I could climb anything as fast as anyone, but here, over a month later, it’s a different story. So Stage 3 will tell the tale. I have low expectations, but mostly due to Hunter, that really messed with my head. Though at Hunter, I guess I can point to that did too much work trying to split the pack, and paid for it.
STAGE 1 - CIRCUIT RACE
This race has 3 sprints at the finish line (1 per lap), and 3 KOM sprints on the highest climb. There isn’t a lot of climbing on this race though, 2,500’ total. So this is a test for the sprinters. The only time bonus sprint that counts however is the one on the last lap at the finish. The other points if you win KOM or Sprint points lead overall pays 1 deep. So the strategy here is if you’re not in it, don’t bother burning matches.
The start is uneventful, and I compete for 1st KOM, taking 4th (only 1st 3 count). Then I contest the first Sprint point, and do manage to get 2 points by being 4th across the line. The other sprints I try half-heartedly and don't get
My family is on the KOM point where the FZ is, cheering.
The finishing sprint is a huge ugly mess with a crash somewhere behind me. The road opens at 500m, and the wind-up is like a sprint. Most guys are already done by 200m. I cross the line 17th out of 70. 60 out of 70 get the same time assigned (need 1 second separation). The first 5 guys across the line get time bonus points, so they’re the “GC”.
After, we chill in the pool, jacuzzi and sauna, and head to Rutland for early dinner at a place called Roots. This is almost the best restaurant I’ve been to outside of NYC, and I can’t believe it exists in central VT. Small, but man so so good on many different levels.
I like this pic, my wife does a great job with the camera
This is the guy who was on the podium at bkill with me.
My kids are the best
STAGE 2 - TIME TRIAL
A few weeks ago I got a time trial bike, and wheel covers so I look totally pro. At least I would have that going for me.
The course is just an out, but goes up steadily for about 400’ start to finish without any real downhills to recover. Also there is a headwind.
I go off at 9:15 and my family paces me for a few seconds in the minivan (roads are open but with a huge shoulder). In order not to get penalized I shoo them up the road.
I try hard to pace myself at the beginning, and then punch it when elevation starts. I pass 3 people, don’t know whether I could’ve gone harder. My NP is 319w, a bit below my pre-Battenkill -FTP.
Turns out I got 5th, with the top 5 guys separated by 39 seconds. Could’ve gotten paid, oh well.
I throw on compression socks and we visit two farms and a nature center. Then hit the pool, and the day is done.
TT Results (5th)
GC results (5th)
STAGE 3 – HILLS
To be continued.
http://www.killingtonstagerace.com/
Sat – Stage 1: 55mile Circuit race, 3 laps. Sprinters' paradise
Sun – Stage 2: 11 mile uphill TT and into the wind
Mon – Stage 3: 62 mile hilly race. Finishing climb is a 4 mile 10%+
We decided to make a very long weekend out of it, and the whole family came with.
Our condo is in Sunrise village, just off E. Mountain Dr, and we have it 100% to ourselves. Almost spooky. But man, it's nice, even the bikes have their own room. It’s on the mountain close to all the starts and finishes, and 1km from the ultimate hill-top finale.
I did a few races since bkill to mixed results. I felt strong in Tour of Dragons, another stage race, but crashed in the crit. I did crap in Hunter Mountain, midpack. I mechanicaled out of Colts neck. I yellow-lined another race. I did well in bkill, SSAP, and Cherry, as well as the Jerseyman triathlon.
So I didn't and still don’t know how good my fitness will be, I haven’t really been training since b-kill, and Ben says not to raise my hopes up too much. In fact, I’m back to base now. After 2 stages, I still don’t know. My 20min power is pretty good, so I’m ok with TT results. My sprints are ok, been working on it with Ben.
At bkill I could climb anything as fast as anyone, but here, over a month later, it’s a different story. So Stage 3 will tell the tale. I have low expectations, but mostly due to Hunter, that really messed with my head. Though at Hunter, I guess I can point to that did too much work trying to split the pack, and paid for it.
STAGE 1 - CIRCUIT RACE
This race has 3 sprints at the finish line (1 per lap), and 3 KOM sprints on the highest climb. There isn’t a lot of climbing on this race though, 2,500’ total. So this is a test for the sprinters. The only time bonus sprint that counts however is the one on the last lap at the finish. The other points if you win KOM or Sprint points lead overall pays 1 deep. So the strategy here is if you’re not in it, don’t bother burning matches.
The start is uneventful, and I compete for 1st KOM, taking 4th (only 1st 3 count). Then I contest the first Sprint point, and do manage to get 2 points by being 4th across the line. The other sprints I try half-heartedly and don't get
My family is on the KOM point where the FZ is, cheering.
The finishing sprint is a huge ugly mess with a crash somewhere behind me. The road opens at 500m, and the wind-up is like a sprint. Most guys are already done by 200m. I cross the line 17th out of 70. 60 out of 70 get the same time assigned (need 1 second separation). The first 5 guys across the line get time bonus points, so they’re the “GC”.
After, we chill in the pool, jacuzzi and sauna, and head to Rutland for early dinner at a place called Roots. This is almost the best restaurant I’ve been to outside of NYC, and I can’t believe it exists in central VT. Small, but man so so good on many different levels.
I like this pic, my wife does a great job with the camera
This is the guy who was on the podium at bkill with me.
My kids are the best
STAGE 2 - TIME TRIAL
A few weeks ago I got a time trial bike, and wheel covers so I look totally pro. At least I would have that going for me.
The course is just an out, but goes up steadily for about 400’ start to finish without any real downhills to recover. Also there is a headwind.
I go off at 9:15 and my family paces me for a few seconds in the minivan (roads are open but with a huge shoulder). In order not to get penalized I shoo them up the road.
I try hard to pace myself at the beginning, and then punch it when elevation starts. I pass 3 people, don’t know whether I could’ve gone harder. My NP is 319w, a bit below my pre-Battenkill -FTP.
Turns out I got 5th, with the top 5 guys separated by 39 seconds. Could’ve gotten paid, oh well.
I throw on compression socks and we visit two farms and a nature center. Then hit the pool, and the day is done.
TT Results (5th)
GC results (5th)
STAGE 3 – HILLS
To be continued.
Last edited:
kush
Active Member
KSR - Stage 3
Long story short, I finish the stage race 9th overall out of 80
These two pics pretty much sum up the day - PAIN
I started the day 51 seconds back, in 5th place in GC. A good TT makes a difference
We started slow. There was a two man break that put 1:10 on the field. No one wanted to work to catch them. I wanted to save my matches too, but took some booster pulls regardless. we did catch them mid-way.
The course had 2 major climbs. One at 25 miles, climbing 30 minutes from 468' to 1,528', and another at the end, also a 30 minute monster climbing from 1100' to 2300' to the base of K1 gondola with some gut wrenching steep sections. A true mountain top finish.
The first climb I was able to stay with the lead group. But it was already apparent that I was hurting, and Battenkill fitness was mostly gone.
There was about 30 of us left, out of 70 or so.
I had a feeling of dread and doom in the pit of my stomach. The top contenders were pretty light and strong. Fortunately the yellow jersey got dropped like a rock on the first climb.
We made a turn onto E. Mountain road, and it became a sprint up a 10 percent grade. WTF. I picked a solid Kissena wheel, and just internalized the shit out of the pain all the way through. If I didn't latch on to someone, I would slow down to half speed.
The 30 of us were strung out like Lindsey Lohan on a Saturday night.
A momentary reprieve as we made a left onto Killington Road, to make the final 500 meter climb up to K1. My kids are there, my wife is there, there are words written in chalk for me but I can't see anything straight.
I make a final effort, and stagger across the line in 19th place, 3:04 back. I am almost falling off the bike, and have to go spin some loops in the parking lot.
This puts me into 9th overall, 3:38 back (pity they pay 8 deep!). Overall, I'm satisfied. I never had the illusion of making the podium here.
I am happy with the time trial, where I was seconds from the podium. I took some sprint points. I am ok with the climbing. I know that if I build a peak, I can climb with the best of them in my cat.
So the next B race is the Green Mountain Stage Race, a 4 stage race over labor day. I will be in slightly better shape then. I may do Tour of Catskills again just to practice, but that might burn too many family matches, and its too close to DH40.
Long story short, I finish the stage race 9th overall out of 80
These two pics pretty much sum up the day - PAIN
I started the day 51 seconds back, in 5th place in GC. A good TT makes a difference
We started slow. There was a two man break that put 1:10 on the field. No one wanted to work to catch them. I wanted to save my matches too, but took some booster pulls regardless. we did catch them mid-way.
The course had 2 major climbs. One at 25 miles, climbing 30 minutes from 468' to 1,528', and another at the end, also a 30 minute monster climbing from 1100' to 2300' to the base of K1 gondola with some gut wrenching steep sections. A true mountain top finish.
The first climb I was able to stay with the lead group. But it was already apparent that I was hurting, and Battenkill fitness was mostly gone.
There was about 30 of us left, out of 70 or so.
I had a feeling of dread and doom in the pit of my stomach. The top contenders were pretty light and strong. Fortunately the yellow jersey got dropped like a rock on the first climb.
We made a turn onto E. Mountain road, and it became a sprint up a 10 percent grade. WTF. I picked a solid Kissena wheel, and just internalized the shit out of the pain all the way through. If I didn't latch on to someone, I would slow down to half speed.
The 30 of us were strung out like Lindsey Lohan on a Saturday night.
A momentary reprieve as we made a left onto Killington Road, to make the final 500 meter climb up to K1. My kids are there, my wife is there, there are words written in chalk for me but I can't see anything straight.
I make a final effort, and stagger across the line in 19th place, 3:04 back. I am almost falling off the bike, and have to go spin some loops in the parking lot.
This puts me into 9th overall, 3:38 back (pity they pay 8 deep!). Overall, I'm satisfied. I never had the illusion of making the podium here.
I am happy with the time trial, where I was seconds from the podium. I took some sprint points. I am ok with the climbing. I know that if I build a peak, I can climb with the best of them in my cat.
So the next B race is the Green Mountain Stage Race, a 4 stage race over labor day. I will be in slightly better shape then. I may do Tour of Catskills again just to practice, but that might burn too many family matches, and its too close to DH40.
kush
Active Member
Watermelon Crit
Cat 4/5, 7th out of 32 finishers
The melon course is on Rutgers campus, and has 3 turns. It would be super simple except that the 2nd turn might as well be unpaved. It has this huge crater running across the entire road going right into the left-hander, and then there is just crap pavement across the turn.
Then, this turn leads into a 200m uphill section into the wind, and then there is another left-hander with 200m to the finish.
I'm feeling pretty good. Norm, Eric are there. We try to put a gap at the bell, but doesn't stick. Rest of the time I'm usually paranoid about the broken up 2nd turn, given my propensity to crashing, so I usually jump in front ahead of that.
There is a pineapple preme sprint, and I really want to get it. Part of it is that I'm working on my sprint form, as it's hard to win races without a good sprint. And I'm not genetically a fast-twitch guy so I'm trying to compensate.
A few other guys jump, with one guy in clear lead and I pull to within a bike length of him with 150m to go, but no closer because I want to accelerate into his slipstream in order to go around. It's just me and him. This strategy works, and I pull around him, we're literally photo finish across the line, with him getting me just by a hair. Many people including the organizer guy thought I had him, but camera doesn't lie.
Anyways, it takes me two laps to recover from that effort, meanwhile Eric and Norm take turns attacking, and I don't go with them. They put some meaningful gaps on the field, too. Oh well.
In the last lap, I attack on the backside stretch heading into the broke turn mostly to avoid being stuck in a pileup which statistically is 80% likely to happen in that turn, and string out the field. I'm 3rd around the last turn latched to a good six-cycles wheel, and then sprint to 7th. It is what it is. I'll continue to work on it, but at least it's more upgrade points.
Then babka with the team, and I'm still feeling good enough to do the 35+.
Avg 25.3 mph, AP 280w
Cat 35+, 14th/22 finishers
This is more serious. Maurice is in this field. He half-jokes that he will hurt me (or the field, not sure). Says stick to my wheel. Yea, ok.
It's pretty cool actually to race with Maurice. He's like a cat, all spring-loaded and ready to break at any opportunity. There are a few mini-attacks that he goes and I go, but those aren't serious, though the pace and accelerations are a bit ouch.
Then I think on 2nd lap, he and another guy jump hard and I can't follow and no one else can either. It's too sudden and fast. I wish there were guys like this in Cat 4, but I guess that's why I'm trying to get the upgrade points 🙂
Maurice winds up dragging this guy who I think wins outright around the course for most of the race, and then we gobble them up with 3-4 laps to go.
The pack in the middle of the race is going a bit nuts, there are accelerations and attacks all over the place. If you're at the front, you're expected to work, and I'm surprisingly in the mix still though legs are turning to jelly. It's 100% work.
When we finally catch Maurice, we settle down a bit and then accelerate again in last two laps. I do stick to his wheel all the way until the last lap. He is not attacking any more, but runs down anyone who tries.
On the last lap, before the last turn two things happen, my glute muscle in my left ass cheek feels like it snapped, and my legs just are screaming in general. I sit up not in any contention, and feel pretty good about the effort.
Then I spend the rest of the day putting ice compresses on my ass, and hanging with the family. We watch Hugo (great movie), and then the playoff game. I eat lots of stuff. Hopefully my ass recovers. My kids make donkey jokes (ass, get it?)
25.9mph, AP 274w
Cat 4/5, 7th out of 32 finishers
The melon course is on Rutgers campus, and has 3 turns. It would be super simple except that the 2nd turn might as well be unpaved. It has this huge crater running across the entire road going right into the left-hander, and then there is just crap pavement across the turn.
Then, this turn leads into a 200m uphill section into the wind, and then there is another left-hander with 200m to the finish.
I'm feeling pretty good. Norm, Eric are there. We try to put a gap at the bell, but doesn't stick. Rest of the time I'm usually paranoid about the broken up 2nd turn, given my propensity to crashing, so I usually jump in front ahead of that.
There is a pineapple preme sprint, and I really want to get it. Part of it is that I'm working on my sprint form, as it's hard to win races without a good sprint. And I'm not genetically a fast-twitch guy so I'm trying to compensate.
A few other guys jump, with one guy in clear lead and I pull to within a bike length of him with 150m to go, but no closer because I want to accelerate into his slipstream in order to go around. It's just me and him. This strategy works, and I pull around him, we're literally photo finish across the line, with him getting me just by a hair. Many people including the organizer guy thought I had him, but camera doesn't lie.
Anyways, it takes me two laps to recover from that effort, meanwhile Eric and Norm take turns attacking, and I don't go with them. They put some meaningful gaps on the field, too. Oh well.
In the last lap, I attack on the backside stretch heading into the broke turn mostly to avoid being stuck in a pileup which statistically is 80% likely to happen in that turn, and string out the field. I'm 3rd around the last turn latched to a good six-cycles wheel, and then sprint to 7th. It is what it is. I'll continue to work on it, but at least it's more upgrade points.
Then babka with the team, and I'm still feeling good enough to do the 35+.
Avg 25.3 mph, AP 280w
Cat 35+, 14th/22 finishers
This is more serious. Maurice is in this field. He half-jokes that he will hurt me (or the field, not sure). Says stick to my wheel. Yea, ok.
It's pretty cool actually to race with Maurice. He's like a cat, all spring-loaded and ready to break at any opportunity. There are a few mini-attacks that he goes and I go, but those aren't serious, though the pace and accelerations are a bit ouch.
Then I think on 2nd lap, he and another guy jump hard and I can't follow and no one else can either. It's too sudden and fast. I wish there were guys like this in Cat 4, but I guess that's why I'm trying to get the upgrade points 🙂
Maurice winds up dragging this guy who I think wins outright around the course for most of the race, and then we gobble them up with 3-4 laps to go.
The pack in the middle of the race is going a bit nuts, there are accelerations and attacks all over the place. If you're at the front, you're expected to work, and I'm surprisingly in the mix still though legs are turning to jelly. It's 100% work.
When we finally catch Maurice, we settle down a bit and then accelerate again in last two laps. I do stick to his wheel all the way until the last lap. He is not attacking any more, but runs down anyone who tries.
On the last lap, before the last turn two things happen, my glute muscle in my left ass cheek feels like it snapped, and my legs just are screaming in general. I sit up not in any contention, and feel pretty good about the effort.
Then I spend the rest of the day putting ice compresses on my ass, and hanging with the family. We watch Hugo (great movie), and then the playoff game. I eat lots of stuff. Hopefully my ass recovers. My kids make donkey jokes (ass, get it?)
25.9mph, AP 274w
kush
Active Member
Zeppelin Crit
Cat 4/5
2nd out of 40 or so
This is a good technical course with kind of chicane combination, right, left, and then a really sharp right. Also a kind of short sprint distance to the finish coming out of a turn that has a manhole in the middle. So some stuff to keep things interesting.
Norm, Eric and I this time don't strategize about anything at all.
With 9 laps to go, coming out of the "chicane", I look back and see I have some space, and take a flyer. I put about a 10 second gap on the field for 2 laps, and then I get caught. It's possible on this course to keep away as 35+ proved, but there were I guess 3 guys interested in reeling me in, which works and I save matches for later.
Rest is regular stuff, I wait for someone to jump, one guy does, I draft him, go hard inside the "manhole" turn to the sprint finish, one more guy goes hard and gets in front, another on my wheel, I have a bike length to make up, I jump into his slipstream, he's cooked and is already sitting down. If the finish line was 2 feet further, I would have had him.
I also win a preem, some tires. Oh, and $50.
I’ve been working with Ben on sprints, and integrating sprints into most workouts. Some improvement noted.
Then I do 35+
This is always a ton of work. Most guys are cat 1s and 2s. Only 2 cat 3s, and 4 cat 4s. Which keeps it interesting, as you have some proper attacks and tactis. But dammit it's work, specially after the first race.
I'm actually in a very good position coming into the finish, I latch on to a guy who leads out the train, I'm in 2nd position around the turn, and then the pack swarms, and I just don't have the legs left. Finish in pack.
Why Hutchinson tubeless are NOT race tires
I figured it out. Tubeless is great for training, but not for racing. Technology is not there.
I broke two frames in my racing career (last two years). Supersix, and EVO. Cost a lot of money, and lots of lost skin. Both in crits where I thought I was too aggressive into the turns. Both times were on Hutchinson tubeless. Usually I race on my tubulars, Zipp 303s. First was last year in Riverton, and for whatever reason I didn’t have my race wheels, so I raced the training set with Fusions. Rear slid out in a high-speed left hander.
Second time was some weeks ago in the Tour of Dragons, rear slid out in an uphill right hander. This was on new wheels, Firecrest 404s. I asked J to set it up tubeless. He did a great job, with 8 layers of tape and a cloth middle. Looking back at it, this has to be an unnatural act , they are not made to be tubeless. In the crit, the wheels were “walking” all over a high speed right. Like skipping around. I thought it was just the speed and surface.
Before this Zep crit, I took off the tubeless, and replaced it with the Zipp recommended Tangents, “open tubulars”. It was like night and day. Handled on rails. Super stable, super sticky, super fast.
Maybe it was still user error, but I think the most part was that tubeless is not meant to be raced at high speeds. Not yet. Great for training though, no flats in 2 years.
Father's day
I did close to 9000 feet of climbing in a Lebanon 78 mile route. That was kind of hard. wanted to load up before a rest/travel week.
Then I was supposed to have a flight at 7pm to russia and then london, but I happened to glance at my russian passport, and it expired 2 days ago. Fck. I guess I'm just going to London.
Oh, and we moved houses, and I'm just about ready to give up. There is just too much crap to unpack.
Cat 4/5
2nd out of 40 or so
This is a good technical course with kind of chicane combination, right, left, and then a really sharp right. Also a kind of short sprint distance to the finish coming out of a turn that has a manhole in the middle. So some stuff to keep things interesting.
Norm, Eric and I this time don't strategize about anything at all.
With 9 laps to go, coming out of the "chicane", I look back and see I have some space, and take a flyer. I put about a 10 second gap on the field for 2 laps, and then I get caught. It's possible on this course to keep away as 35+ proved, but there were I guess 3 guys interested in reeling me in, which works and I save matches for later.
Rest is regular stuff, I wait for someone to jump, one guy does, I draft him, go hard inside the "manhole" turn to the sprint finish, one more guy goes hard and gets in front, another on my wheel, I have a bike length to make up, I jump into his slipstream, he's cooked and is already sitting down. If the finish line was 2 feet further, I would have had him.
I also win a preem, some tires. Oh, and $50.
I’ve been working with Ben on sprints, and integrating sprints into most workouts. Some improvement noted.
Then I do 35+
This is always a ton of work. Most guys are cat 1s and 2s. Only 2 cat 3s, and 4 cat 4s. Which keeps it interesting, as you have some proper attacks and tactis. But dammit it's work, specially after the first race.
I'm actually in a very good position coming into the finish, I latch on to a guy who leads out the train, I'm in 2nd position around the turn, and then the pack swarms, and I just don't have the legs left. Finish in pack.
Why Hutchinson tubeless are NOT race tires
I figured it out. Tubeless is great for training, but not for racing. Technology is not there.
I broke two frames in my racing career (last two years). Supersix, and EVO. Cost a lot of money, and lots of lost skin. Both in crits where I thought I was too aggressive into the turns. Both times were on Hutchinson tubeless. Usually I race on my tubulars, Zipp 303s. First was last year in Riverton, and for whatever reason I didn’t have my race wheels, so I raced the training set with Fusions. Rear slid out in a high-speed left hander.
Second time was some weeks ago in the Tour of Dragons, rear slid out in an uphill right hander. This was on new wheels, Firecrest 404s. I asked J to set it up tubeless. He did a great job, with 8 layers of tape and a cloth middle. Looking back at it, this has to be an unnatural act , they are not made to be tubeless. In the crit, the wheels were “walking” all over a high speed right. Like skipping around. I thought it was just the speed and surface.
Before this Zep crit, I took off the tubeless, and replaced it with the Zipp recommended Tangents, “open tubulars”. It was like night and day. Handled on rails. Super stable, super sticky, super fast.
Maybe it was still user error, but I think the most part was that tubeless is not meant to be raced at high speeds. Not yet. Great for training though, no flats in 2 years.
Father's day
I did close to 9000 feet of climbing in a Lebanon 78 mile route. That was kind of hard. wanted to load up before a rest/travel week.
Then I was supposed to have a flight at 7pm to russia and then london, but I happened to glance at my russian passport, and it expired 2 days ago. Fck. I guess I'm just going to London.
Oh, and we moved houses, and I'm just about ready to give up. There is just too much crap to unpack.
