Walkersville and Tysons Weekend

Hoping for a snappier title? I'm saving my energy for the sprint.

• We focus a lot here on how to train harder, mentally prepare better, eat smarter, race faster. But one vital aspect of the race day experience has largely been overlooked - until now. The Granfalloon, perhaps in retaliation for getting mooned last weekend, points out how not to park on race day.
• On the topic of etiquette, Kazane Racing reminds us, "After the race is over you go back to your normal identity, and calling a stranger a punk in a parking garage is no way to start a conversation. You can say whatever in a race and chalk it up to adrenaline, but afterwards….."
• Haymarket's Bryan of On Cycling has a photo of the Tysons Cat 4 sprint finish, as well as a race report.
• Compare your Cat 4 Tyson's power numbers with Battoowoo Greekgreek.
• From the Flamenco Chuckwagon's recounts of both Walkersville and Tysons, it sounds like the Cat 4 races around here are evolving from quick tempo rides preceding a mad gallop into, well, races. Anybody else noticing the change?
• Brian at Racing and all that Other Stuff points out, though, that even the 1/2/3 races don't feel like they've evolved too much: "Next week I'll have my race wheels, so I'll have to attack. prediction for next week, I'll sit in a few laps to warm up, go with couple moves that get 10 seconds, then it will come together and i'll "sprint" for 50th. that describes 90 percent of bike races."
• Le Amateur Domestique has an inside-the-peloton view from the 3/4 race at Tysons.
• As does Bryan, who doubled his 3/4 day at Tysons up with the 1/2/3 race as well. Uncharacteristically, his Tysons post is absent power data. You'll have to go to his recount of the 30+/40+ race at Walkersville for your numbers fix.
• There's at least one every week - someone who sprints for the win one lap before the finish. Congrats to 1km2go for his pyrrhic victory.
• Nick Mulder scored an actual victory in the Juniors event at Tysons - his first of the season.
• velochicken is cutting her beak in the Women's 1/2/3 fields this year. Read about how the women rolled at Walkersville and Tysons.

You want the photos? You can't handle the photos.

But if you can, you'll find:

• SuePerSeven's Walkersville pics here.
• And Jim Wilson's Tysons snaps look like they're on their way to this page.
• Any more photo albums you come across, send them my way and I'll link them. (And if you have a few pics of your own, why not throw them up on Flickr or something to share?)

Comments

[not the bike doctor guy]

re the kazane kid. it's true..i saw it. the bd guy called the kid a punk after the race but that kid was all over the place with no regard to other riders and calling people pussies during the race isn't cool either. so..i guess the kid's a punk. so what?

[Mike May]

If the kid was a punk, I guess it couldn't be helped. Still, "You've got to learn to hold your line. You almost took me out, Punk," would probably be more constructive than just "Punk."

[yeagermeister]

What? No love for the Dragon?

[Kyle]

Hey Mike how did you finish?

[Mike May]

DNF. Flatted just before the final turn on the last lap. I was sitting pretty, too - I would have ended up in the top 23 for sure.