Conference noted::bicycle

    30-second intervals between categories?!

>>        Junior (14-18) * Senior (19-34) * Veteran (35+) <- Unfair


	Why is this unfair???

    
    re: .2 & .3
    
          Let me guess...
    
          If I recall correctly, this means that Chip will be one of
       the old codgers in this category and he'll be racing against
       the youngsters. 8^)
    
          I'd double up on the Geritol if I were you, Chip.  8^)
    
    
                                         Steve (who has two more weeks
                                                until 30 falls further
                                                behind...)
    
          
    

    
    
    	Any advice for someone who has never rode up a mountain before?
    I have been riding for four months now. up until a couple weeks ago,
    i was doing a few 20 mile rides per week with plenty of hills. Now
    that it's getting dark early I have been working indoors on the
    exercise bike etc... and riding once or twice per weekend.
    	How many miles up Mt. Watchusett? I'm sort of itching to try
    this but I dont want to be the last one to reach the top.(in the
    dark)haha
    
    Paul

    I think the best way to train for Wachusett is to do it.  That will
    prepare you for the grades and the rests (of course the last time I
    raced it they had changed the course).
    
    Take a ride around Princeton to warm up before you actually climb the
    mountain.
    
    As for how long is it, the earlier note said 6.1km, which is under 4
    miles.
    
    Oh, and, ignore the "speed limit 20" signs, everyone else does.
    
    ed

    I've got entry forms.  If you'd like one, please send me mail at
    MCIS2::NORTON and include your mailstop.
    
    Kathy

    The first mile is the most difficult, then after a short rest
    (Downhill), there's another steep section.  After that it's not too bad
    except for the end, but your adrenalin will get you over that.  Best
    times 3 years ago (or was it 2):
    	~15 min Men
    	~19 min women.
    
    The best times were actually in the citizen race, I believe.
    
    Range of times 15 - 40 minutes.
    
    

    Definitely climb Mt. Wachusett this weekend, if you intend to 
    race the following weekend.  Preferably twice! Every mountain's 
    different, and the strategies for getting up them quickly vary
    widely.  
    
    The hardest part of the Wachusett climb is the first 1/2 mile
    or so up from the ski lodge to the park entrance. It is a steady 
    10+% grade, and it is easy to "burn" your thighs going up it too
    fast.  Things flatten out and even go downhill for a short while
    afterwards -- as you pass the park gate, there's the famous "speed
    limit 20" sign, and you can easily hit 25+ as you pass it.  
    
    After 1/4 mile, it's back to a steady approx 6-7% grade for another
    1/2 mile.  You pass the "race control" mid-station of a ski slope,
    and enjoy(?) a commanding view of the countryside to the East.
    This section is the crux of the ride for me.  If I'm going to 
    blow up, it usually happens here.  If I'm feeling good,
    I know I can push hard all the way to the top.  
    
    The road continues to circle the mountain, flattening out as you
    get on the north side.  Now comes the tricky part: there are two
    alternative roads up -- one direct, the other descending a bit
    to a hairpin before coming back up to join the shortcut.  One
    of these two roads is always blocked off; which one seems to be
    at the whim of the rangers.  I think it's more interesting with
    the downhill, a screamer that can chill your sweaty muscles for
    about 30 seconds.  
    
    After the roads rejoin, the climb becomes briefly steeper -- I'd
    guess 12% -- turns right, and then gradually becomes flatter
    along the West side of the mountain.  This steep section is fairly
    short, so I usually hammer it, and then pant my way through the 
    flat.  
    
    Finally, there's a sign pointing left to the summit.  You leave
    the main road (which heads straight back down from that point
    along the South face), and head up a very short, bumpy "wall"
    of a road to the gravel parking lot on top.  You should be 
    pushing hard enough to see stars at this point.
    
    That's it.  I like Wachusett for its variety and lack of
    traffic.  It's not really long enough to get the true "Alpine"
    feeling John Lee talks about, but you can't just pound over it
    like other Eastern Massachusetts hills.   During racing season,
    several trips up are mandatory to keep "climbing legs".  
    
    MATT
    
    PS - The descent past the ski lodge is a favorite local bicycle
         land speed record test site.  You can easily top 45 mph
         just coasting.  Beware of doing the same down the access
         road from the summit, however:  there are some NASTY, nearly
         invisible bumps, sharp blind corners, and unwary hikers on
         the road.
         

    The speed limit is 20 mph on the road to the summit. As stated before,
    there are some sharp corners and bumps. Be very careful on the descent.
    There was a bike accident last year on this road. The person (a doctor)
    is now paralyzed from the waist down. I am thinking of trying the climb
    this weekend to see if I can do it. I want to make sure I won't
    embarrass myself if I do enter the race.
    
    Dave Dufort

     ANSWERS:
    
              1 - YUP, 30 seconds between categories... That's within
                  the citizen's category and then within the licensed
                  category. The licensed folks won't go off until the
                  citizens are done.
    
              2 - YUP (again)... I'll be in the old codger category. But
                  really, 35 year old guys bangin up against 55 year old
                  guys (not counting the exceptional 55 year olds) is a
                  little hard for me to swallow. P.S. I'm 37... ;-)
    
    I riden Mt. Wachusett every week (except two) at least one time since
    the first week of May this year. I've been using a 12x20 with a 42 in
    front. I won't use this for the race. I'll go to 14x28 with the 42 in
    front. 
    
    As mentioned, the mountain is easy. Mile High Road can be a cooker. A
    full mile (very steady and steep) without a break. You can actually
    rest on the mountain itself. Also, as mentioned, please be careful
    coming down the mountain road. It really bites. Mile High is a cruiser.
    I've hit 53 coming down that by myself.
    
    You'll need to really ride it in order to develop a strategy. My
    strategy? Well... show up and find out!
    
    I think it is a stretch calling it a TT though...
    
       Chip

    
    
    	Thanks for the responses, I think i just may try it and find
    out for myself. I can think of one more question, should an aerobar
    be considered for this event ?
    
    Paul

     Funny you should ask: The statement on the application reads,
    "All USCF rules apply". What's that mean?? It will be a mass 
    start by category, so that could disqualify aero bars. However,
    they're calling it a TT... Hmmmmmm. My  opinion would be not
    to chance it or call the information # I included in the first
    note. 
    
     I did think about it, because it will offer more positions than
    the standard set-up, but I'm gonna pass.
    
     BTW, wear 'em if you got 'em (DEC jerseys tha is)
    
      Chip

    In preparing for the Mt. Washington race I went to Mt. Wachusset one
    evening and did the climb three times.  The second and third times I
    actually felt stronger than the first.  This indicates to me the im-
    portance of warming up properly for an event like this.
    
    If you're not warmed up at the start, your legs will feel like lead
    before you get to the park entrance (approx 3/4 mile).  I did this
    race my first year of competitive cycling and I noticed several people
    in the parking lot had brought wind trainers to help them loosen up.
    I'd bring one if I weren't baby sitting for four toddlers (my two
    plus two others) that weekend!
    
    Alas, bike racing and family life don't always mix too well.  Have fun;
    I wish I could be there.
    
    Phil
           

    re: .11       (1 - YUP, 30 seconds between categories...)
    
    I don't know, Chip.  I just looked over the registration form again,
    and it says "30 second intervals between racers by category".  I think
    we'll be going one at a time.
    
    Kathy (who'll be hiding at the back of the 35+ crowd since it doesn't
           look like they'll be having a separate women's race)

    You'll see many of the best riders on race day climbing the
    whole mountain just before the race.  It's a good warm-up, at 
    training speed -- plus it gives you a fresh picture of the course.  
    
    For gearing, I've used anywhere from 42/19 to 42/22 as my lowest
    gear during training rides.   But if you read Charlie Schnare's race
    report in one of the very first notes in the CYCLE_RACING conference,
    you'll see that some killer TT riders actually do this in the BIG ring.
    
    
    MATT

    Re; .15 - OOOPS... You're right Kathy, sudden outbreak of dyslexia!
    
              It is 30 sec. between RACERS... I hope they have a good 
              timing system set-up since they won't be able to determine
              a winner by who is crossing the line in what order!
    
              Also, puts another twist on the aero bar issue...
    
      Thanks for clearing my head :-)
    
    
           Chip

RE>-1

Yep, It's a TT. as in 30 seconds between riders starting times. This, I was
told by the manager at the mountain ski-market, will make a safer race. I am
guessing it will make it a tougher race for the winners. The strategy for past
mass start races up this hill seemed to unfold the same way. That is, the top
riders blasting up Mile Hill and then whomever was left now played a cat and
mouse to the top, pacing each other and saving something in case of a sprint
finish. Now your going to have to pace yourself, which is a very hard thing to
do on a race up a mountain. Especially if you've never ridden up it before.

Do it before race day.

Tom

   Does anyone have results from the Wachusett hill climb this past Sunday?
I was not able to make the start of the race but did the climb with a friend
later in the day.  I stopped at the Ski Market around 2:00 but no-one at the 
store knew anything about the race results.

   I (Sr III) did the climb in a 16:41; my friend (Public 35) in 19:20...
how would we have placed?

   Thanks,  Steve

     Winning licensed rider time was a 15:50 and second place
     was a 15.51 ... OUCH!
    
     CITIZEN's RESULTS:
    
     Junior/Women - (?)
    
     Sr. Men was 18.(?) - it was low in the seconds
    
     Master Men was 16.(?)
    
     I ended in 3rd in the Masters Men but my time was most embarrassing
    so I won't share it.
    
     The highest number I saw was 53 (size of the total field)
    
     Not a bad day... wet. The sun came out halfway through the climb.
    
     PRIZES:
             1st Place (all divisions): Castelli polka dot jerseys
    
             2nd   "     "      "     : $25.00
    
             3rd Place   "  divisions : $15.00
    
       Chip 
    
     

    
    	Now that notes are back.......
    
    		I'm Glad i did Mt. Wachusett. I had never done a race
    or a time trial before. That first mile was definately tough. the
    second mile was the next toughest mile, after that it wasnt too
    bad.
    	Maybe next year I'll go for speed. I'm not sure what my time
    was though, i waited for around 25 minutes or so back at the base
    then left.  I was # 30 if anyone has the times.
    
    	Paul

     Hi Paul, It's Chip... It took them over an hour to come with the
    finishes... Then there weren't copies available for anyone to
    keep. I kept an eye out in the local papers and the Worcester
    Telegram (Worcester Road sponsored it), but nothing.
    
      Chip

    
    	Hi Chip, I'm glad I didn't stick around any longer. I was 
    satisfied with how I did and how I felt after so I guess my official
    time really doesn't matter. It was nice to meet someone from dec
    there. maybe we'll meet at some events next year. until then
    see you in notes.
    
    	Paul

    Re; 23 I'm usually at most of the local citizen's stuff so I'm sure
    we'll be seeing more of each other. I just hope they keep adding
    races like they have been.
    
      See ya Paul...
    
                 Chip

     Hmmmm... It defintely was a Worcester based club (at least according
    to the flyer). I can't recall the name...
    
      Chip

    FWIW: They've been making snow for the last couple of nights.
    Be a real damn shame if it melted before Saturday.  -kb

>They've been making snow for the last couple of nights.

does anyone know if the summit road is still open this time of year? i heard
that the weather was supposed to be really nice on wednesday and might try to
take one last ride up the mountain before the snow really flies.

regards,
karol

    Yup, it's still open.  They've made snow down by the lodge only.
    The gate is closed (with the corners nicely blocked by rocks; too
    bad the gate's center is sooooo high...), thus you own the mountain.
    I still wouldn't recommend going up the "down" road, but if you're
    *REALLY!* careful, this is about the only time of the year you can
    do it, and it saves a few minutes.  That section is so bumpy now
    that you need to brake on the way down anyhow.  -kratz  

>>                            -< Road still open??? >-

>They've been making snow for the last couple of nights.
  
No, it was closed when they started making snow. The trail that they open first
crosses the road. It still is a good ride up to the ski trail if you want to go 
around the gate. I've done it in the past and no one seems to mind. I'll ride
up to the snow and watch the skiers.

Tom

     You can still go up and down the "down" road. The "up" road has
    snow across it...
    
     Chip

    Oops...  last weekend I went up the "down" road and never made it to
    where the snow actually does cross the "up" road.  At least Chip knows
    what's going down... (up?)  -kratz