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Thursday, April 26, 2007

Madera Oblongata

Well ~ it's one mo' trip down Fres'belt way for the Madera Stage Race.

This year it's based on time for all the chilluns ... which could mean some hefty wait-periods to see results posted after each stage, let alone the final GC (11 months ain't bad, Bob!). The start lists look like they're a bit heftier this year than the historicals. It's still a small event ~ but, if the fields have good combinations of strength and saavy ... it can be a pretty magical weekender.

The biggest obstacle for this year's Madera is, undoubtedly, going to be the heat. Day 1 is a double-stage shoot-out and will be decided by who can regulate body temperatures best. Those who've been pedaling around in dewy 60's and 70's won't know how to turn the blast-furnace off if they don't have a plan. There are ways to drop the core body temps ... but, you've got to be disciplined and on schedule. When your stages are but a couple shourt hours apart in 90+ degree weather - every minute counts in creating the best circumstances for performance.

And that's what i love about stage racing ... that it's an all-encompassing affair. The tactics, nutrition, hydration and equipment choice. The teamwork, the solo TT suffering, the mad ups and downs of an emotional rollercoaster.


... the "real world" stops as you step foot on the stage race express. you are insulated in a traveling circus, immune to the jobly-cares and geo-political madness of modern day americana.

we just spin past, concentrated.


... there is only the race.

36 comments:

Ippoc Amic said...

we are so ready for this fun weekend...if it's too hot, let's just go swimming...

Anonymous said...

I hope Lieto doesn't show up this year

chatterbox said...

everybody is timed? even W4? if so, that totally changes my strategy!

i gots me the whole cooler-load of goodies. i plan on stocking up on the ice as soon as i roll into town.

jAndy donka-donk said...

Lieto is there.....

And Hutch is peaking for this weekend.....

I have been pouring it on for hood, but they legs should be on the OK side but not the deadly....

Luckily tomorrow we have an ice cold river next to the parking area to jump into after the finish.....

shawndoggy said...

OK, so I don't even remember what 90 degrees feels like. Hopefully my "blind them with the vampire tan" tactic works.

Ron Castia said...

Have fun, I am headed to Firestone for some fat tire fun in the dirt with the Semi Sluts.

Anonymous said...

Lieto will win the t.t.

nosajpalnud said...

finally some dang heat

Anonymous said...

"Luckily tomorrow we have an ice cold river next to the parking area to jump into after the finish..... "

Can you afford that "shrinkage"?

I do not think Hernando can....

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

any more shrinkage and it'd be inside.

Anonymous said...

"any more shrinkage and it'd be inside"

You mean it is not supposed to be?

I better get that checked - maybe a sure sign I am spending too much time in the drops!

veloandvino said...

peaking...cracking is more like it..man that wente took some life out of this geezer.

lieto+TT'z=I don't know. I've got my watts I gotta nail thats all that matters...no vino tonight..hiccup.

jAndy donka-donk said...

there are two TT's.....

And Leito popped out of those climbs last week, so we will see how he goes up one tomorrow....

With the support I have, I should throw a spineless kit on and make it a fair battle, ha.....

And I can afford the shrinkage, I have a woman that knows what it becomes once it thaws out....

Anonymous said...

ahhh Madera....hard but fun!!!
Have a great weekend out there

California Giant Cycling said...

Rest easy!! Lieto will be a DNS this week!!

Anonymous said...

I guess I should have not gone to the bar and had all those cocktails for lunch.

Damn my own sorry ass.

MS

veloandvino said...

No lee o toe? hmmmm, what should I open tonight?

sasser...tt bike with zippy's or road with the clip-on?

jAndy donka-donk said...

MH, I am having the same debate. Come early with both and we can ride it quick to make a last minute.

I did the TT bike last year and didn't win it....

Anonymous said...

For Ben Hur........its a toss up

Lots of rolly miles to start but a hard slog of a climb at the finish.

If it were me I would do reg bike Clips and fast wheels and watch my watts like a hawk.

TT bike would be faster at the start but the climb WOULD cost you big time. Plus the roads are crap.

Not that I'm one to give advice but that would be a lock if it were me.

MS

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah.......

If you see some redneck in a white rig yelling at you like he almost knows what is going on that might be me :)

MS

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

come on' boys - it's the big leagues...


bike swap at the bottom of the hill!

veloandvino said...

don't think i didn't think about the bike swap...hood tt too.

Ippoc Amic said...

recessed parts...see marseycat...

jAndy donka-donk said...

Hood TT I am putting a diving belt at the turn-a-round for the downhill....

And I will email Robert to see if he will let Johan drive behind me with my climbing rig on top of the saab.....

Gomez Family said...

I pre-rode the Ben Hur course on sunday and decided then I would use a TT bike - a substantial portion of the course is rolling and the climb is not that bad. A lot of pro men and some women (like Amber Neben who won)used TT bikes at Redlands and while Ben Hur is a lot longer, the climb is not nearly as steep. I don't think the climb is substantial enough to be standing for any length of time, so shifting won't be an issue. Also - the finish is over the top of the hill so being aero there will help also

Just my opinion after sunday, and my change my mind tomorrow, but as of today, that is what I am thinking

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

good training ... damn good training. you thinking Gila, Felicia?

not a bad race for you, sistah. or maybe you're wanting to kill it at Cat's Hill.

hmm...

Gomez Family said...

no gila or cats hill for me, training through madera (no madera RR either since 2 yrs ago the rocks in my head came loose from going over that brutal road section trying to stay on the boys' wheels - the worst vertigo ever), then joe martin to hopefully shake things up. working and getting older sucks so racing is more limited

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

joe martin ... gotta represent for the sponsors, eh?

right on.

Kevin said...

I kind of wish I was doing the pro race. Ben Hur is very cool...

Anyway, this is my take on Ben Hur.

http://www.amdmasters.com/event.php?id=6012

I haven't done it in 11 years, but I did win it the last time I was there and beat at least one person on a TT bike... Of course TT bikes now are different than TT bikes then...

But remember, there is a Watts for aero trade off with the TT bike and even in the "flat" section it's not like anybody is going to average 30mph so the aero advantage will buy you less than it will on Saturday.

But if you have a reasonable position with clip ons the zippy TT frame isn't going to help that much.

And just to make it more confusing, as a data point my 40km TT PR was set on a Trek OCLV road bike (clip-ons, disk, tri-spoke, etc.) After many attempts with a TT bike I still haven't got that fast since...

Sometimes the motor and a comfortable position is more important than the frame.

Sorry to blow my own horn so much, but I do think that the TT bike at Ben Hur is a mistake.

Good luck tomorrow and somebody report back on how the TT bike vs non-TT bikes did so I'll know whether I'm an idiot or not. :-)

Anonymous said...

Kevin

Thats what my thinking was and you have always been a much better TT man that I so here's to hoping your no idiot.

See ya on sat.

MS

nosajpalnud said...

front wheel choice for Sat TT anyone?

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

as aero as you've got.

this is a flat TT with wind on the finishing 1/2 to 3/4.

as aero as you can get, in all aspects.
- - -

looks like somebody is going for their upgrade points.

cool.

Anonymous said...

JANDY WON THE HILL CLIMB TT ON A TT RIG. Beat hutch by 3 seconds - hutch used clip-ons.

Should be fun tomorrow.

My prediction: JANDY by 10 seconds over hutch. These two will be class...

Velo Bella said...

Jonkadonk = Ben Hur

norcalcyclingnews.com said...

wow ... this is gonna be a good f'in race.

the question will be if any of the teams gang up on junkadonk and hutchy.

damn ... wishing i was there.

jAndy donka-donk said...

Full TT rig with 808 front and disk rear.......

hill... schmill.........