Apr 26, 2007
Race Preview: Binghamton Circuit Race
Binghamton Circuit Race 2006
Sunday April 29th will be my first race of the season. I couldn’t go to the Rochester Giros, the MaxPower Racign Training series was frozen out by bad weather and I also missed out on Bloomfield last week.
I am anxious to get out to a race this year and show off the new kit. The race promises to have a large turnout from MaxPowerCycling team guys so it should be fun. The Binghamton course is a gradual loop with no tight turns and each lap is about 1.5 or so miles in length. I signed up for the Cat 4 race at 10am and the Cat 345 race at 1:45 although I am tempted to switch my second race to the Masters 35+ race at 12:30. Too much waiting around makes my legs stiff as a board and results in a quick in and out for me.
The course has a couple of small hills that can bit after a few laps. the main hill which I would guess is about 55 to 6% just before the start/finish seems to be the one that everyone focuses on, but the real tough one is the gradual almost 3% climb after that. Everyone tends to ease up on that smaller hill after not being dropped on the steeper hill just a few yards ahead.
The pack stays together for most of the race with folks dropping off the back throughout. The pack eventually whittles down to a group of strong guys and it most likely will end in a sprint up the steeper hill.
My goal will be to stay near the front for as long as possible. If there are any moves I will go with them, but the goal is to stay fresh in the main pack. The hill is tough enough to get through and if I am able to keep away from the accordion effect that happens in the middle or back of the pack then I should be OK.
The problem I have in all races is the start. I can’t get going as fast as everyone and them am stuck in the back or middle of the pack trying to move up. Last year I was floating near the back of the pack. I tried to move up, but did not have the strength or the guts to get to the front. Eventually the elastic snapped and I bagged it after falling behind on the second gradual climb. I was actually losing ground on the downhill at one point because the accordion effect brought out a quick acceleration for which I was not ready.
If I can clip in and get going fast enough and stay near the front for a few laps I will be a happy man and may end up with a good result. If I am near the back then I have to work hard to get to the front or it will be curtains for me. Anyway, hope to see some velochimp.com readers at the race or have fun where you are racing this weekend.