- Joined
- Dec 11, 2006
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- Mid-Atlantic US
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- www.lewlortonphoto.com
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I go to a good number of bike races and, except for the start and finish, they are pretty boring. One sees the cyclists once each loop and then they're gone again.
The neat part is that you can get close to national class athletes who are made sort of like us, no special size, no steroid muscles or height, just incredible endurance, some degree of genetic gift and great tenacity to put in the hours of work necessary to stay at that level.
(my son-in-law is a category one cyclist - the highest amateur category - and typically enters the cat one/pro races)
(if you think racing is just peddling hard you might read this blog post written by another cat 1 racer.)
This race was a criterium, a short course usually a mile or so, 39 laps, about 30 miles - and they finished in just a tiny bit over an hour. Picture the continuous effort and concentration to peddle a bike 30 miles in an hour, wheel to wheel surrounded by other riders all trying to keep us and even squeeze ahead.
It's interesting to stand at a curve like the one below and see a category four race go through and then see the difference with the cat one and pros. The category 4 field is all herky jerky as they brake, downshift and make the curve and then push up over the hill, sounding like somebody shaking a tin box full of forks and spoons. The cat one and pros go through that same curve like a metal snake, smooth and quiet - and so much faster.
Here are two shots to see and comment if you care to.
one man breakaway

girlfriends

The neat part is that you can get close to national class athletes who are made sort of like us, no special size, no steroid muscles or height, just incredible endurance, some degree of genetic gift and great tenacity to put in the hours of work necessary to stay at that level.
(my son-in-law is a category one cyclist - the highest amateur category - and typically enters the cat one/pro races)
(if you think racing is just peddling hard you might read this blog post written by another cat 1 racer.)
This race was a criterium, a short course usually a mile or so, 39 laps, about 30 miles - and they finished in just a tiny bit over an hour. Picture the continuous effort and concentration to peddle a bike 30 miles in an hour, wheel to wheel surrounded by other riders all trying to keep us and even squeeze ahead.
It's interesting to stand at a curve like the one below and see a category four race go through and then see the difference with the cat one and pros. The category 4 field is all herky jerky as they brake, downshift and make the curve and then push up over the hill, sounding like somebody shaking a tin box full of forks and spoons. The cat one and pros go through that same curve like a metal snake, smooth and quiet - and so much faster.
Here are two shots to see and comment if you care to.
one man breakaway

girlfriends
