Title 167

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>REI Austin Cycling Team</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="REI Austin Cycling Team"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Race and Ride Reports"><U><B>Race and Ride Reports</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Race and Ride Reports"><U><IMG SRC="03b0e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>   <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">     <A HREF="id195.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 167"><U><IMG SRC="02f0e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>  <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 167"><U><IMG SRC="0300e0e0.gif" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <B>Superweek #7</B></div> <div> <B>... David James</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Dear Friends,</div> <bR> <div> The course:</div> <div> -----------</div> <div> Today returned us to the beautiful Lake Front course, but with a different</div> <div> route. The Cat 4/5 race was to involve 15 laps at 2.3 miles each, with 80</div> <div> feet of climbing per lap. Each lap started with a 0.3 mi, 4% grade, 60 ft,</div> <div> S-curve climb. (This section was used as a descent on the Lake Front Long</div> <div> Course earlier in the week.) Right after that climb is a false flat. I felt</div> <div> good today and held good position at the front. I'm glad I did because</div> <div> there were three separate consecutive crashes all in the first lap, thanks</div> <div> to a tricky spot before the downhill. The actual downhill itself was safe</div> <div> enough as we cruised at about 30 mph under a canopy of trees. (This</div> <div> downhill was the uphill from the Lake Front Long Course earlier in the</div> <div> week.)</div> <bR> <div> The mechanical:</div> <div> ---------------</div> <div> Unfortunately, after 6 laps, I had the same mechanical problem that bothered</div> <div> me last weekend. After the downhill, as I resumed pedaling, both of my feet</div> <div> came unclipped out of my pedals. Instinctively I put them on the ground to</div> <div> stabilize my bike and I slowed from 30 mph to 0. My chain was off and my</div> <div> cleats were sandpapered off. I had to abandon since I lost two much time</div> <div> and my cleats were shot. Again, as Superweek has taught me lots of</div> <div> patience, I didn't get angry. I saved my energy so I would be strong for</div> <div> tomorrow.</div> <bR> <div> I don't know exactly what happened, but I know that it started when I</div> <div> torqued the pedals hard. My shifting probably hesistated. (I had a</div> <div> thorough tune up that morning with Pedro's Racing Service and had a new</div> <div> chain put on. Jose the mechanic told me that my rear wheel and/or cassette</div> <div> are showing noticeable some signs of wear.) I'm guessing what happened next</div> <div> was that my cleats (only 3 months old) came unclipped. How I dropped my</div> <div> chain off my front derailleur I still don't know. It makes me realize that</div> <div> since this happened without clipping a pedal today, that last weekend was</div> <div> probably just the same.</div> <bR> <div> Equipment is so important to bike racing! I've since installed new pedals,</div> <div> cleats, and a relatively new rear cassette. Along with the new chain, I</div> <div> hope this fixes my worries -- otherwise I may be in the market for a new</div> <div> rear hub/wheel and possibly a new drivetrain. I've had my share of shifting</div> <div> problems and really don't want to worry about it anymore.</div> <bR> <div> I'm racing tomorrow in Whitefish Bay, close to Milwaukee! Wish me luck --</div> <div> its my last race here at Superweek.</div> <bR> <div> P.S. Aaron Busche (the older son of the host family) got 2nd in the field</div> <div> sprint and so placed 5th today. Eric Warnsman placed 12th today in the CAT</div> <div> 3 race. Even more impressively, Eric won 1st place yesterday on a cheeky</div> <div> solo breakaway!</div> <bR> <div> David</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Race Summary:</div> <div> -------------</div> <div> Race: Lake Front Short Course (RR)</div> <div> Location: Milwaukee, WI</div> <div> Date: 7/27/2002</div> <div> Distance: 15 laps (approx 25 mi)</div> <div> Course: About 2.3 mi per lap. 85 ft of climbing per lap. One tricky</div> <div> corner!</div> <div> Weather: about 80 F</div> <div> Duration: ??</div> <div> Riders starting: 70+</div> <div> Riders finishing: ??</div> <div> My placing: DNF</div> <div> Notes: Rode well for six laps - up front and out of trouble of the many</div> <div> crashes behind me. After downhill, came unclipped and dropped chain while</div> <div> doing 30 mph. Put feet down and came to a stop; my cleats were all but</div> <div> destroyed. Abandoned after one more lap.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>