After a good 2013 season it might seem strange that I am completely changing course for 2014, but there are many reasons. 2014 is the season I am finally committing to an all-out pursuit of my strengths in racing.
Why my 2013 season wasn't a full success:
My podium appearances at road races were in the less-competitive Masters Category 3 and 4 circuit races at CCCX. I am still not podium material in the real contests where I have to compete against talented and experienced Cat 1 racers. Years of training for this haven't changed things for me much. My placings in the other road races (usually Masters Cat 1/2/3), criteriums and even mass-start track races I entered this year weren't spectacular; even though I did consistently finish near the front I could never seem to sprint much.
When I tell people I am a pure sprinter they immediately think of guys like Mark Cavendish or Peter Sagan... they are not pure sprinters at all, but what I would call "road-race sprinters." They can ride for hours at a high speed, then sprint hard out of the huge mass of riders, something I have never been that good at as I am usually too tired from the high typical speeds. While it's true Cavendish has twice won world championships on the track it was in the "Madison" race, not track sprints at all. The more I know myself the more I know how different I am from guys like them.
Why I should change course for 2014:
My two silver medals from the 2013 Masters State Track Championships follow the bronze medal I won in 2012; all of this was in pure track sprints. This is far more telling to me; I did well without even doing the very specific training required for these races. Well, that is all changing...
What I am doing about it:
I am still a big believer in "riding lots," to improve in bike racing, but I am ramping down my cycling with just shorter, easier rides filling in the gaps as I feel like it... I do love riding and these moderate rides sure are a pleasant change from the pain of my old workouts. Conversely I am now starting to ramp up my gym workouts, even going so far as to pay my teammate Ed Price, a Certified Personal Trainer, to help me.
Strength training seems to be the accepted training for track sprinters (though I am still researching this topic). Currently I am doing lots of lighter weights with high numbers of reps (repetitions) to build up my strength gradually as I enter the 2014 season. Recently Ed started introducing slightly heavier weights with lower reps, and plyometrics (dynamic jumps and such) into my weekly workout with him. So far I am actually really having fun and look forward to these 2-hour sessions, much to my surprise! Who knew gym workouts could be fun? Ed's energy sure helps too.
Another step I took was to buy a new track bike, though it's actually a slightly used bike. My 2010 Felt TK2 was a nice, solid bike, but not as nice as the carbon Serenity Marvel I bought. The TK2 also had a nasty shimmy (speed wobble) from the front wheel during maximal sprints that was frightening; several adjustments didn't fix it and I was told a larger frame would help. Buying used equipment also allowed me to upgrade to a much higher level than buying a new bike would have allowed within my budget.
My Serenity Marvel has a larger frame (57 cm vs. 53 cm) and is much stiffer (full-carbon vs. aluminum). And with the money I saved buying a used bike I was able to buy a Zipp carbon wheelset with tubular tires: a 2006 808 front deep-dish wheel and a 2005 900 rear disk wheel. Plus, the guy who bought my TK2 didn't want its wheels so I got to keep them as spares, perfect for warmups too!
One hiccup occurred early on: Shortly after I bought the Serenity I started testing it at the Hellyer Park track and I was still getting a bad shimmy during all-out efforts at high speeds (over 35 MPH). That was frustrating as that was one of the reasons I sold my TK2, and here was that same problem resurfacing. Fortunately Jeff Solt, who has coached me a little in the past, was available to help me sort the new bike out and after changing the handlebars and stem my position on the bike was what he called "...pretty much perfect. There are many sprinters who have worked a long time to get as good a position." That reassures me that if I can do everything else right I will get as close to realizing my full potential as can be expected in this imperfect world.
My 2014 season schedule:
I plan on racing just about every single track sprint race at Hellyer that I can manage, including match sprints, team sprints, 500 m time trials, and perhaps even an occasional Keirin just for fun. Then on June 7th and 8th I will try for gold again at the 2014 Masters District Championships. And since the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships are in Redmond, Washington this year, I will try to race there too, even if just for the experience.
I must admit that I have been moving in this direction with some reluctance, because my heart is still fixated on the glorious image of epic road racing over vast distances, up and down mountains. But I also must admit that I love to win, or at least feel like I have a a chance, and the track is far more inviting to me for that reason. And the more I explore track racing the more fascinating it is.
Now I just have to keep training properly and keep my mind aligned. Exciting stuff!
Why my 2013 season wasn't a full success:
My podium appearances at road races were in the less-competitive Masters Category 3 and 4 circuit races at CCCX. I am still not podium material in the real contests where I have to compete against talented and experienced Cat 1 racers. Years of training for this haven't changed things for me much. My placings in the other road races (usually Masters Cat 1/2/3), criteriums and even mass-start track races I entered this year weren't spectacular; even though I did consistently finish near the front I could never seem to sprint much.
When I tell people I am a pure sprinter they immediately think of guys like Mark Cavendish or Peter Sagan... they are not pure sprinters at all, but what I would call "road-race sprinters." They can ride for hours at a high speed, then sprint hard out of the huge mass of riders, something I have never been that good at as I am usually too tired from the high typical speeds. While it's true Cavendish has twice won world championships on the track it was in the "Madison" race, not track sprints at all. The more I know myself the more I know how different I am from guys like them.
Why I should change course for 2014:
My two silver medals from the 2013 Masters State Track Championships follow the bronze medal I won in 2012; all of this was in pure track sprints. This is far more telling to me; I did well without even doing the very specific training required for these races. Well, that is all changing...
What I am doing about it:
I am still a big believer in "riding lots," to improve in bike racing, but I am ramping down my cycling with just shorter, easier rides filling in the gaps as I feel like it... I do love riding and these moderate rides sure are a pleasant change from the pain of my old workouts. Conversely I am now starting to ramp up my gym workouts, even going so far as to pay my teammate Ed Price, a Certified Personal Trainer, to help me.
Strength training seems to be the accepted training for track sprinters (though I am still researching this topic). Currently I am doing lots of lighter weights with high numbers of reps (repetitions) to build up my strength gradually as I enter the 2014 season. Recently Ed started introducing slightly heavier weights with lower reps, and plyometrics (dynamic jumps and such) into my weekly workout with him. So far I am actually really having fun and look forward to these 2-hour sessions, much to my surprise! Who knew gym workouts could be fun? Ed's energy sure helps too.
 |
| My trusty, but sold, 2010 Felt TK2 |
My Serenity Marvel has a larger frame (57 cm vs. 53 cm) and is much stiffer (full-carbon vs. aluminum). And with the money I saved buying a used bike I was able to buy a Zipp carbon wheelset with tubular tires: a 2006 808 front deep-dish wheel and a 2005 900 rear disk wheel. Plus, the guy who bought my TK2 didn't want its wheels so I got to keep them as spares, perfect for warmups too!
 |
| My new-to-me Serenity Marvel, with Zipp wheels |
My 2014 season schedule:
I plan on racing just about every single track sprint race at Hellyer that I can manage, including match sprints, team sprints, 500 m time trials, and perhaps even an occasional Keirin just for fun. Then on June 7th and 8th I will try for gold again at the 2014 Masters District Championships. And since the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships are in Redmond, Washington this year, I will try to race there too, even if just for the experience.
I must admit that I have been moving in this direction with some reluctance, because my heart is still fixated on the glorious image of epic road racing over vast distances, up and down mountains. But I also must admit that I love to win, or at least feel like I have a a chance, and the track is far more inviting to me for that reason. And the more I explore track racing the more fascinating it is.
Now I just have to keep training properly and keep my mind aligned. Exciting stuff!
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