tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post1528039290096035467..comments2023-06-07T02:46:55.679-07:00Comments on cycling in seattle: Spectating at the Volunteer Park Criterium 2009matt mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714669646251289155noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-38630044318561049322009-12-01T10:02:54.019-08:002009-12-01T10:02:54.019-08:00oh, volunteer park is a 'B' event for me t...oh, volunteer park is a 'B' event for me this coming season... are you targeting it as your 'home crowd' race?Ian Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757526226643872661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-79711509683854447892009-12-01T10:02:54.018-08:002009-12-01T10:02:54.018-08:00hey matt - the weekend rides over thanksgiving wer...hey matt - the weekend rides over thanksgiving were pretty great, I hope you are recovering!<br /><br />I just ran across this post from way back... are you still thinking about doing some racing? ;-)Ian Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757526226643872661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-24596791088815692132009-04-16T01:22:00.000-07:002009-04-16T01:22:00.000-07:00You can do pacific raceways, flat course.
It is li...You can do pacific raceways, flat course.<br />It is like road race on the race track, wide, open and safe.<br /><br />http://www.buduracing.com/pdf/courses%20for%202009.pdf<br /><br />As for your FTP etc. Just do 20 minutes all out effort and multiply by 0.95 That is your ftp. Sweet and easy. Just make sure you are rested and have warmup before.Dessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171103825773885278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-30360582891825117152009-04-14T22:13:00.000-07:002009-04-14T22:13:00.000-07:00Nice blog - fellow bike pal pointed it out to me. ...Nice blog - fellow bike pal pointed it out to me. Looking forward to checking out past and future posts.<br /><br />Mountain bike racing is a great way to try racing. Super friendly folks, can race at your own pace without getting dropped, and crashing on dirt hurts a little less then pavement.<br /><br />Check out http://www.indieseries.com for some local races. First race of the season was last Sunday. Fun stuff.Dan Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609122101907983132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-86346278388466680312009-04-14T14:05:00.000-07:002009-04-14T14:05:00.000-07:00And as I approach a turn in the pack, I should jus...And as I approach a turn in the pack, I should just close my eyes and hold on for dear life, right? Wait, all of that <I>plus</I> jam on the brakes.. <br /><br />OK, got it! Look out Seward, here I come (next Thurs. that is)matt mhttp://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-60735528993323919752009-04-14T13:43:00.000-07:002009-04-14T13:43:00.000-07:00I think I read somewhere that the key to not crash...I think I read somewhere that the key to not crashing while racing is grabbing your brakes early and often.<br /><br />You're welcome.Robert Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02005511573396996974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-5008278686642821742009-04-14T12:57:00.000-07:002009-04-14T12:57:00.000-07:00Ortolan, another option for STP is to swap out the...Ortolan, another option for STP is to swap out the fixed cog for a freewheel and singlespeed it. <br />I saw quite a few people ride it singlespeed last year on the one-day option. (Helps with sections like those expansion joints, or just to give your legs a break once in a while on the rollers between mile 100 and 150.)<br />If you're willing to ultralight it, camping out around (I think it was) Vader, 30 miles past the college looked like a good option. If the weather's good, I'm willing to say nothing more than a lightweight sleeping bag is necessary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-1579741184425063062009-04-14T10:51:00.000-07:002009-04-14T10:51:00.000-07:00Seward Park (on a dry day) is probably your best c...Seward Park (on a dry day) is probably your best choice for a first-timer. Corners are wide and not that sharp (except for the hairpin at the top). Another option is the Pacific Raceways weekly series on Tuesdays down in Kent (www.buduracing.com).Random Menacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03195382788728128861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-19305078617656664502009-04-14T10:13:00.000-07:002009-04-14T10:13:00.000-07:00Believe it or not, this old slow guy raced for abo...Believe it or not, this old slow guy raced for about 6 years back in the stone age. You might not want to jump into a crit before the fleche. When you crash and Robert punches you in the nards, I'll hand him a Silca pump to finish it off. <br /><br />We can have a long chat about how to race without crashing much. <br /><br />Joe PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-31230259757631591132009-04-14T09:09:00.001-07:002009-04-14T09:09:00.001-07:00Mike: Check out the WSBA schedule here.
Anon: Tha...Mike: Check out the WSBA schedule <A HREF="http://www.wsbaracing.com/schedule" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<br /><br />Anon: Thanks for the tip - unfortunately RR's seem to be scheduled less frequently, and also tend to be farther away. But I would like to try one of those as well some day.matt mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-34245409653552511702009-04-14T09:09:00.000-07:002009-04-14T09:09:00.000-07:00— Right on, my gear ratio is set to a 46x16... I h...— Right on, my gear ratio is set to a 46x16... I have no trouble climbing Pine or Pike from the water front to Madison (well, I should say that I stop sometimes for a break), hopefully I'll fair ok. Thanx so much Matt, yer a helpful man!Aaron Edgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08533342501794858701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-75759694149080242132009-04-13T22:59:00.000-07:002009-04-13T22:59:00.000-07:00I would recommend starting off your racing career ...I would recommend starting off your racing career with a road race, it gives you the experience of riding in a pack at speed while cornering and such,with less crash potential.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-85292608701587724572009-04-13T22:15:00.000-07:002009-04-13T22:15:00.000-07:00Nice pictures, how do you find out about these eve...Nice pictures, how do you find out about these events?Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12314871452278017683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-37480620285648526462009-04-13T19:43:00.001-07:002009-04-13T19:43:00.001-07:00^^
Uh, oops, that was me btw.^^<br /><br />Uh, oops, that was me btw.matt mhttp://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-19294792145276616742009-04-13T19:43:00.000-07:002009-04-13T19:43:00.000-07:00Ortolan - when we did the two day STP we had a hot...Ortolan - when we did the two day STP we had a hotel room, and these days I do it in one day; so I don't know of good places to stay. The gym/school option is definitely there, not sure if that's first-come-first-server or what.<br /><br />If I did it on fixed again (which could happen some day), I'd probably gear down slightly from the 40x14 (~77") I used back then. Of course the gearing depends on you mostly, but towards the end those "rollers" really took their toll.<br /><br />For doing the two-day option, definitely make sure to train your body to do back to back rides, e.g. do 50 miles Saturday then 50 miles Sunday.<br /><br />Also be careful in pacelines on the fixed gear! Since they slow down way differently, sometimes faster sometimes slower, it can be a little dicey, and pacelines on STP are already dicey. We did fine in pacelines with geared bikes, but looking back it was a little dangerous. I'd wait for the crowds to clear out after 40 or so miles, then find people to ride with, if you're looking to do that.<br /><br />Oh, and coming down the Lewis & Clark bridge at the OR/WA border there are expansion joints that startled me a bit since I couldn't coast over them or hop.. I don't think they're big enough to take you down, but if you're doing 30 mph+ on fixed and see that, it could throw you for a loop. Just take it easy on that part.<br /><br />Have fun!asdfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-22956533234729860192009-04-13T18:36:00.000-07:002009-04-13T18:36:00.000-07:00— I'm doing the 2-day STP on a fixed-gear this yea...— I'm doing the 2-day STP on a fixed-gear this year, might you give me some advice on a good midway place to stay (as all the hotels have filled up)? Should I stay on a floor at a church/school/etc? Also, I use a front brake and only skid 'round on flats, I imagine since you did it, I'll be ok... I'd love to hear about things you'd have done differently and any advise in general that you might have for a first year rider. Thanx in advance!Aaron Edgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08533342501794858701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-26353042911784563412009-04-13T18:22:00.000-07:002009-04-13T18:22:00.000-07:00Yeah luckily the Seward Park thing is weekly, so I...Yeah luckily the Seward Park thing is weekly, so I can always crash some other time..matt mhttp://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996512539454415045.post-64793092751001176352009-04-13T18:01:00.000-07:002009-04-13T18:01:00.000-07:00I will personally punch you in the nards if you wr...I will personally punch you in the nards if you wreck the day before our flèche. Just say no!Robert Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02005511573396996974noreply@blogger.com