View from the Saddle: San Ardo Road Race

Yes, is says %101 of max heart rate. I guess I have to increase my MHR to 199 bpm on my HRM.

Distance: 46 miles (2 laps)
Category: 5
Field: 50
Placed: 6th
Time: 2 hrs 7 min.
Average Speed: 22.2 mph
Average HR: 154
Terrain: rolling north, flat on the way back
Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees, Light WNW Wind

I did this race with fellow teammates from Velo Club Monterey Duane, Ernie, and Josh. Our goal was to help a local Monterey racer Sean (VOS) finish near the front. Sean not only finished near the front he WON! But I am getting ahead of myself.

The course is 23 mile loop run clockwise with a small hill just after the start then rolling hills for 10 miles or so then a right turn near San Lucas across the Salinas River then a flat 10 miles back to San Ardo.

We rolled into San Ardo shortly before 8:00 AM. Our race started at 9:20 so we had plenty of time to get our race number, use the restroon, and get in a nice 20 min warm-up. The race started on time but I immediately lost 20 places as I missed clipping into my right pedal. My right pedal came back around and hit me in the chin (OUCH!) I think I used a different word. After leaving San Ardo the field crossed a narrow bridge across the Salinas River and began climbing for about 1.5 miles. We would come up this little climb two more times. The finish line is about 200 meters after the climb followed by a left turn.

The pace through the rollers was a little brisk as most had some nervous energy to burn off. The pace settled down after about 20 minutes. Around mile 8 Ernie flatted so his race was done. At the top of the course as we crossed a narrow bridge across the Salinas River a couple riders near me started grabbing breaks, swerving, and basically everything you dont want to do in a group of 50 riders on a narrow road with no way out. I took note of these riders and made it a point of not to ride behind them. The 10 miles back was flat and fast with an average speed of 25 mph.

When we reached San Ardo to start our second lap I began to make notes of where the best places were to move up since the road was so narrow it did not leave much room to pass. While crossing the narrow bridge out of San Ardo starting the last lap I knew I wanted to be near the front the next time across because it did not leave much room to pass before the final 1/2 mile to the finish. The next 10 miles over the rolling section was uneventfully with plenty of time to eat and drink. Once on the flat section a few accelerations happened as riders tried to get gaps to form. Each time the pack came back together. With around three miles to go I started to look for opportunities to move up into the top 20. The whole field was spread out over the entire lane with no room to move up. A rider in front of me started looking around for a place to move up as well so I decided to watch him and when he made his move I would move up with him. Less than a mile later he started moving up on the debris strewn shoulder. I could follow him and move up and risk getting a flat tire or stay where I was and try to move up later down the road. I decided to take the risk and move up with him. By the time we finished we had moved up a good 20 positions into the top 10. We were now only about a mile away from the town of San Ardo and the narrow bridge then the small hill to the finish. While rolling through San Ardo the group bunched up so I took the opportunity to drive to the front. As I neared the front I passed Sean (the one we wanted to finish near the front) While I did not want to tell him to grab my wheel I slowed down enough for him to see I was here. With the bridge in sight I shot to the front and got onto the bridge first with the whole field behind me. I knew I could not keep the pace up for long so I eased up just enough for two riders to pass me so I could get a draft to the base of the hill to the finish. Once on the hill I kept the pace high until I hit the left turn to the finish. At this point Sean passes me so now I'm racing for myself. I could feel a rider on my left coming up close, WAY TOO CLOSE. We brush shoulders ala Robbie Mcewen with a bit of adrenalin now flowing I put all I had into the pedals and pipped him on the line to finish 6th.