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Post by aj1152 on Jun 9, 2009 10:37:38 GMT -8
Does anyone have a map or description of tonight's race? I don't remember it.
Thanks,
Alan
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Post by Tim_L on Jun 9, 2009 10:42:29 GMT -8
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Post by aj1152 on Jun 9, 2009 10:46:53 GMT -8
Thanks! Doesn't look like any hills in it, correct?
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Post by Tim_L on Jun 9, 2009 10:57:11 GMT -8
We rode the first bit and the last bit a few weeks ago on the sat group ride, and I know at least those parts are just rollers. Havent done the small part that goes over cheney-plaza, but from google's terrain profile it looks like more of the same rollers.
Is it ok to wear a regular jersey rather than a team one? Borrowing jerseys isnt working out so well (size, comfort etc), but I do want to wear what the race organizer/sanctioning body require.
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Post by Tom M on Jun 9, 2009 11:15:42 GMT -8
Thanks! Doesn't look like any hills in it, correct? It's actually downhill the entire way!   After about five miles, the course comes out onto the open plain and curves right while ramping up a little and passing a rusty orange water tower. Then the road dips into a broad "bowl" and you can see the first significant hill at the far side, which is about mile 6. It's a double-ramp hill. By itself, it wasn't enough to break up the C pack in the Chapman Lake Short Course race I did. However, the long course goes over that hill and continues straight instead of turning onto Pine Grove Road, over a succession of "saddles" and ramps that could be enough to thin the pack down if the pace is high enough. After a final, fairly large-scale double-ramp climb, the course descends fast for about a mile and then you'll be hanging a >90° right turn onto Cheney-Plaza road (don't overspeed that corner) and be on slightly-rolling road for maybe 1.5 miles before hitting a pretty significant hill that's too long to blitz. So after turning onto Cheney-Plaza, save up a little reserve for a few minutes of climbing. Beyond the intersection of Pine Grove Road, there's a fast descent toward Chapman Lake, followed by a second fast descent. Hang onto your bars firmly as the second descent tapers out, because there are some heaves in the road that are difficult to see, and you'll be hitting them at 30mph+. After these descents, the road ramps up to the last right-hand turn, putting you onto Badger Lake Road with no major climbs left. In the last few miles, there's a couple of gravel intrusions into the roadway from gravel driveways, so if you're at the right-hand edge of the group, these will be hazards. Maybe I'll run out there in my van and sweep those if I have time. Chapman Lake was my first road race and I did not recognize the finish line right away when I saw it (just two orange cones). First-timers, you might want to register as early as possible and then ride down to the finish line so you know what you're supposed to sprint for Looking at the National Weather Service's prediction for that area, wind shouldn't be a major factor today  |
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Post by Mike S on Jun 9, 2009 11:41:49 GMT -8
Yep, "Chapman Long" goes from the scablands out into the pallous and back. So no major climbs, but almost constant rollers in the pallous. The begining 5 miles, and the finishing 5 miles are relatively flat. The rolers are in the middle.
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Post by Tom M on Jun 9, 2009 20:02:05 GMT -8
What a nice day for the race! How did the A and C races go, guys? In the B pack, the pace picked up before we'd even reached the open plains. Kalen and possibly some others were really hammering up at the front. The pack held together, so I tried to sit in and conserve energy. When we got to the first rollers, I darted ahead to try to instigate a break, figuring the subsequent rollers would make it difficult for the pack to steamroll us. That worked OK, I was joined by Bob Fisher of Baddlands, Kalen Darling (unattached), Connor Driscoll of Gonzaga University, and one of the Forza Veloce riders. Despite all his work early on, Kalen still made some great attacks in the last leg of the race to keep things interesting In the end, the five of us were together for the finish, and this time I wasn't caught off-guard, and squeaked out 2nd place, about 1/2 mile behind that sandbagger in the car ;D ;D ;D But I'm not sure he counts, I think that's some kind of violation...? Anyway, I didn't break any bones, or lose any teeth or skin, or make any enemies, so it was a good race |
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Post by Tim_L on Jun 9, 2009 21:04:44 GMT -8
Great job Tom! Glad to hear you were in the thick of it at the end. (race stories are cool ;D) Perfect day for a race. The wind surprised me a bit on the road back, but other than that it was a great day to race. The C pack set a shockingly fast pace, I have to say. Before we hit the rollers on the way south we were in a long single paceline a few times running really quick. By the time we got to the rollers I was a bit spent by the pace, as were most of us I think - consequently the pack started getting strung out as we hit one roller after the next. I worked with a badlands rider to bridge the gap to the group in front, with some success, only to lose their wheel a bit later. Coming into the first right hander the lead pack was just out of sight, and I was by myself about 100 yards back from the small chase group. A gel pack was followed up with some renewed vigor and I was able to catch an unattached rider, and we worked together at a respectable pace for the next 10 miles or so until we caught Jeremy from baddlands with about 4 miles to go, who out sprinted me for whatever place we were fighting for (I dunno). Was only my 2nd race, and my first 'real' road race, and have to say it was great fun. My wife enjoyed it too, driving with Sarah as an official's car for the women's pack. Hope to see more SRV riders in C pack soon! We were have great conversation about the whole thing on the way home and then.... the WORST part... I proceeded to drive my car into the garage without taking my bike off the roof. A broken bike rack and a damaged roof on my new car resulted. Not sure yet about the bike. Now THAT SUCKS!   Arrrgh!! |
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Post by Mike S on Jun 9, 2009 21:07:20 GMT -8
I thought you had 1st Tom, I dunno. Unless that is, you're counting me as a rider. Nice work out there. It was a little frustrating seeing you on the front so much during the last 8 miles of the race, but in the end you out sprinted them all. Nice work.
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Post by Tom M on Jun 9, 2009 21:53:11 GMT -8
I thought you had 1st Tom, I dunno. Unless that is, you're counting me as a rider. Yeah, I was just being funny, referring to our lead car as the winner I forgot that you'd also passed us with the official's car before the finish line. My major pulls in the last 8 miles were an attempt to make somone crack, to thin things down, but no one was getting dropped, so as we got closer, I started to be more conservative. It was cool that everyone had room on the roadway to take a shot at the sprint  |
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Post by Tom M on Jun 9, 2009 22:04:33 GMT -8
Great job Tom! Glad to hear you were in the thick of it at the end. (race stories are cool ;D) Perfect day for a race. The wind surprised me a bit on the road back, but other than that it was a great day to race. The C pack set a shockingly fast pace, I have to say. Before we hit the rollers on the way south we were in a long single paceline a few times running really quick. By the time we got to the rollers I was a bit spent by the pace, as were most of us I think - consequently the pack started getting strung out as we hit one roller after the next. I worked with a badlands rider to bridge the gap to the group in front, with some success, only to lose their wheel a bit later. Coming into the first right hander the lead pack was just out of sight, and I was by myself about 100 yards back from the small chase group. A gel pack was followed up with some renewed vigor and I was able to catch an unattached rider, and we worked together at a respectable pace for the next 10 miles or so until we caught Jeremy from baddlands with about 4 miles to go, who out sprinted me for whatever place we were fighting for (I dunno). Was only my 2nd race, and my first 'real' road race, and have to say it was great fun. My wife enjoyed it too, driving with Sarah as an official's car for the women's pack. Hope to see more SRV riders in C pack soon! We were have great conversation about the whole thing on the way home and then.... the WORST part... I proceeded to drive my car into the garage without taking my bike off the roof. A broken bike rack and a damaged roof on my new car resulted. Not sure yet about the bike. Now THAT SUCKS! Arrrgh!! OMG  I am horribly sorry to hear about the car & bike!  Homeowner's insurance may help you out with the bike. If you need a bike to ride for the next races, I can lend you my Soma Smoothie ES, minus the rear rack and stuff. I think it would be somewhere in the ballpark, size-wise. In "race mode," it's pretty light for an all-purpose steel sport bike, around 20 pounds and quite sturdy. Thanks for the race report, it sounds like you enjoyed the challenges |
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Post by Mike S on Jun 10, 2009 5:48:30 GMT -8
Great job Tom! Glad to hear you were in the thick of it at the end. (race stories are cool ;D) Perfect day for a race. The wind surprised me a bit on the road back, but other than that it was a great day to race. The C pack set a shockingly fast pace, I have to say. Before we hit the rollers on the way south we were in a long single paceline a few times running really quick. By the time we got to the rollers I was a bit spent by the pace, as were most of us I think - consequently the pack started getting strung out as we hit one roller after the next. I worked with a badlands rider to bridge the gap to the group in front, with some success, only to lose their wheel a bit later. Coming into the first right hander the lead pack was just out of sight, and I was by myself about 100 yards back from the small chase group. A gel pack was followed up with some renewed vigor and I was able to catch an unattached rider, and we worked together at a respectable pace for the next 10 miles or so until we caught Jeremy from baddlands with about 4 miles to go, who out sprinted me for whatever place we were fighting for (I dunno). Was only my 2nd race, and my first 'real' road race, and have to say it was great fun. My wife enjoyed it too, driving with Sarah as an official's car for the women's pack. Hope to see more SRV riders in C pack soon! We were have great conversation about the whole thing on the way home and then.... the WORST part... I proceeded to drive my car into the garage without taking my bike off the roof. A broken bike rack and a damaged roof on my new car resulted. Not sure yet about the bike. Now THAT SUCKS! Arrrgh!! Oh my. I didn't read your post yet Tim. Well..glad you had fun at the race. Too bad about the rack. We went through some effort to keep your car safe during the race, but there's not much we could have done to protect you from that. |
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mxman
Junior Member
Posts: 7
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Post by mxman on Jun 10, 2009 8:08:03 GMT -8
Thanks for the great race reports guys! Very exciting. I have wanted to get out to some of the twilight races, and these stories are fuel to the fire!
Yeastman, sorry to hear about the mishap. Hope your bike is OK.
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Post by aj1152 on Jun 11, 2009 7:34:43 GMT -8
Tim: Lonnie V and David G both have roof racks that they're trying to sell. They might have replacement parts or the entire unit to sell you. Post something under the "For Sale" section and I'll have them contact you.
Summary of the A Pack: The race is no longer called "Chapman Lake Long", but "Gabe's Training Ride". At mile 6 he took the lead for 10 miles before looking back to see what the pack was doing. By that time, he'd simply rode the pack off and there was just five of us left. Insane speed and power. In the end it was a sprint finish of about 12 riders. Royce and Chris gave amazing support[/i] that allowed me to suck wheels until the finish line where I finished fourth.
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Post by Tom M on Jun 11, 2009 16:50:01 GMT -8
LOL @ "Gabe's Training Ride" Congrats to SRV for the teamwork in the A pack. I can only imagine what your pace must've been like out there |
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Arrrgh!!
I am horribly sorry to hear about the car & bike! 
Homeowner's insurance may help you out with the bike. If you need a bike to ride for the next races, I can lend you my Soma Smoothie ES, minus the rear rack and stuff. I think it would be somewhere in the ballpark, size-wise. In "race mode," it's pretty light for an all-purpose steel sport bike, around 20 pounds and quite sturdy.