Chapel Series - Race 1

Thursday night began the first of a three race series hosted by The Chapel of Green. Having done this race the past two years, I looked forward to coming back out for a bit of good training as knowing where my fitness level is at, I had no ambitions other than working on raising my overall FTP. This race is a lot like the TOP series that I described in my last blog in that with a cheap entry fee, everyone seems to ride a little more relaxed and a little more tactfully. If nothing else, everyone knows that at least they’ll get a good picnic dinner at the end of the series for all of their hard work.

As has been my experience, the race usually consists of a majority of the peloton having riders from the three local teams, Stark Velo, Orrville and Rainbow Inks (Summit) with a handful of independents and first time racers sprinkled in there for good effect. Thursday night was no different with these three teams making up the majority of the field. Because three teams essentially control the race, the pattern has typically been in the past that somewhere during the first few laps (the race is 30 minutes + 5 laps) a break occurs with riders from all three in it which allows the field to settle down to let the break establish. I figured that would be the case once again for this race but I figured incorrectly. This race became a race of attrition where it was a fast and furious pace from start to finish. I was doing my best to keep myself upfront and attentive, trying to join moves, when I saw them happen but in no way was I going to initiate them as I that burns a whole lot of matches. I knew I was in trouble for the evening when I was trying to follow Paul Kinney’s (Orrville) wheel and I was struggling not to open up gaps. He kept looking for me to come around and help out but all I could do was shrug my shoulders, it was an effort just to stay in his draft. Man, how far had my fitness really fallen? With a soon to be small gap opening up in front of me, Doug Williams (Rainbow Inks) asked if I had anything left in the tank, and not having enough left to close it, I said no and moved over so I wasn't forcing all the guys behind me to burn unnecessary matches to close it back up. I think this came between 20 and 25 minutes of racing. We started the race with I believe 33 riders (some of those where riders who would be competing in the ‘A’ race who wanted to use this race to be noncompetitive and to warm up) and when it came time to contest the finish, I think there was only 6 left. At the time I fell off, I counted 9 other riders in front of me. If I could finish the race with nobody passing me, at least I could say I came in 10th pace…whatever good that does me. Although I didn’t finish with the group, I got out of the evening exactly what I wanted….good training. I’ll keep focusing now on my training which will hopefully get me a little closer to the finish line next week.

brian

Here's the data...

Duration: 40:05
Work: 620 kJ
TSS: 62.7 (intensity factor 0.969)
Norm Power: 281
VI: 1.09
Distance: 15.414 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 1002 258 watts
Heart rate: 96 205 168 bpm
Cadence: 32 141 98 rpm
Speed: 2.9 28.7 23.1 mph
Pace 2:05 20:59 2:36 min/mi
Hub Torque: 0 320 75 lb-in
Crank Torque: 0 948 225 lb-in