Mt Hood Cycling Classic

[GinnySellars]

The first of 4 stages is over. This note might be a little disjointed, as I am so cooked I can barely see the screen.

The Pro1/2/3/ women started at 2pm. The field was packed with pros including an olympian road cyclist and world cup mtn biker. I felt like a got a taste of what the road cycling scene is all about. Jen started just ahead of me, and I watched her position herself really well with the front group. It was exciting to be clipping along in a pack of 50 riders, but scary too. The course kicked up really quickly into a 14 mile climb. I worked as hard as i could to stay on, but got dropped within 20 minutes. HR never went under BP all day. It was 185 for the majority of the day. After fighting to stay with a couple other individuals that got dropped, I rode the whole thing with one girl Kerry. Thank god, or it would have been really lonely. I've never worked so hard for 3 hours in my life. It was sickeningly painful. I was a little stronger climber than her at times, but she was a train on the rollers and flats. I could barely even stay on her wheel. The descents were smooth and exciting. I've never descended that fast in a race. I had to tuck and hammer to stay in Kerry's draft at times. I'm disappointed I didn't have the experience of a 'bike race' riding in a group, but happy to be safe, and to have worked my hardest.

The course was UNBELIEVABLE. We climbed non-stop on beautiful single lane roads way up in the mtn. We went through sections with a single lane path through snow. There were multiple gravel sections, washouts, moss, tree debri. It was a truly incredible ride however you rode it.

Joel and Stephen raced smart all day. Joel did not sprint for the finish not realizing there were points to be had. He was still top 10. Stephen was 5th. Jonas crashed out on the gravel and had to wait 5 minutes for the wheel car. He worked his butt off to get back in with a group.

Jen stayed with that incredible group of riders almost the whole day. She got dropped a couple times, and actually time trialed back on.

I'm sure their stories with follow later. It's a quiet house right now.

I have NO idea how I'm going to ride for 3 more days. I can barely move....

[GinnySellars]

Did I work hard enough? Here's my polar summary:

2hr51
Average HR 175 (LBP is 165)
Max HR 190

[GinnySellars]

*Joel Posting!!!*

Hey BPR!
I just finished Stage 1 of Mt Hood and have been having a great time hangin out as a team!
The day was pretty tough with a tough pace up the first climb and a sketchy descent through the snow and gravel. ( The first crash of the day was a collision/ double front flip into the snow bank... I was lucky enough to bunny hop the chunk of snow bank on the road)

I was feeling GREAT on the second big climb and although I was still feeling sick I moved to the front and managed to keep it controlled at the front of the pack. My legs felt good and I was able to ride with GREAT coordination. My only issue was respiratory, I had trouble breathing because I was still conjested from my cold and I was coughing up alot of phlem and my resp rate was totaly out of control. At the top of the climb the race officials told us we were of the front and had 30 sec on the field... Our 15 man group worked together and me and Steve were right in there... Unfortunatley Jonas crashed out right before the break and wasnt in our group. I got to the line sitting in on the lead group at 0sec back... Steve was 5th and Jonas had a powerfull ride and made up time on our group after waiting 5min for race support. Ginny and Big Schultsy did great in a super competitive womens catagory...  But I wont spoil it

Joel Johnson

[kiwichris]

sounds super exciting down there guys - rest well and rip it up tomorrow

Chris

[MartinC]

Awesome results and inspiring stuff! Thanks for the reports guys. Ride fast and smart today!

[GinnySellars]

Day 2 of 4. Here's the description. The only thing I need to add is Stephen's description of 'ferocious' winds.

Starting at the Discovery Center in The Dalles, OR the Stage 4 Scenic Gorge Time Trial is the toughest TT you will ever see. In keeping with the spirit of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic’s challenge, this TT course will carry riders on some of the most spectacular roads they will ever have the opportunity to see. Riders will start the course with a flat 5 miles to get their legs good and warm before meeting up with their first major obstacle, the category 3 climb up the Rowena Loops. Built nearly 100 years ago as the first highway to pass through the Columbia River Gorge this 2 mile section of road winds its way up to the top of the Columbia River Plateau. Once on top, it is a gradual decent down into the town of Mosier and then back up another category 4 climb to the Historic Mosier Tunnels. From there riders will wind through the Columbia River Highway State Park’s to rolling terrain for the last 5 miles. With 18 miles and nearly 2000 feet of elevation this is one tough time trial to compliment one tough stage race. Come prepared, if the famous Gorge winds are out in force expect one heck of a head wind.

Today I didn't finish last. I gotta say being 37/47 is a bigger feat than being 1/200 at Ironman. I worked super hard, HR up in the 180s again. I did really well staying focussed and pushing the whole way. I chickened out a little on some windy corners and through a tunnel, but generally stayed aero when I could.

Tomorrow is 114km. The description is below. I'm more scared of the suffering than any race I've ever done. Not kidding. It's so hard starting a race as tired and empty as I feel. This is what I asked for..."getting out of my comfort zone", "feeling stretched", "pushing beyond what I thought possible".

Description: Epic, brutal, amazing, however you want to call it, the Wy’East Road Race will move you. Wy’East was the Native American name for Mt. Hood long before British explorers, in the late 1700’s, discovered and renamed it. Starting at Mt. Hood Meadows riders will head north on Highway 35 to FS Road 44. This is where riders will take on the first major obstacle as they precede up the category 1 climb to the top of Road 44. Here riders will sprint for the KOM and then proceed through the first of three feed zones on the day. This is followed by a long 15 mile decent down into the little town of Dufur. The landscape changes drastically as tall fir trees laden in moss turn to sage brush and high desert. Welcome to the dry side of the Cascade Mountain Range. After passing through the outskirts of Dufur riders will come to the second climb of the day the category 2 Tygh Ridge Summit. Another KOM sprint a second feed zone and into another long decent. They will descend until they hit the low point on the course at the small community of Tygh Valley. Now comes the big grind. From Tygh Valley it is a 35 mile grind up 4500 feet of elevation to the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort for the finish. The majority of this climb will roll over desolate forest service roads in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Starting from the sage brush plains of Eastern Oregon riders will climb back up into the alpine settings and finish right on the mountain’s eastern flank. Be warned the final two mile stretch to the ski resort is a grade that averages 10% and has sections approaching 12%! Leave a little in the gas tank for a strong finish.

[Andrew]

I have said in the past how proud I am of you, but this week-end deserves a special note of admiration...I knew you would recover better than some of the other women, and am not surprised you were able to move your way up the rankings. Keep up the stellar efforts, and no that you have 100% support from home.

[MartinC]

I can't say how impressive your mental strength is Ginny. You guys are all unbelieveably tough.

[GinnySellars]

The importance of TEAM

- as I write this, my team is all helping each other switch out cassettes, change tires, clean drive chains
- at any given time, one of us has had to check out for a bit, bonking etc. The others pick up the slack, shop, make dinner, do dishes
- we check in and get supportive emails and posts from team back home
- today I couldn't coach myself into feeling positive about tomorrow's race. I was petrified of suffering badly, getting dropped, and riding alone. It took Joel asking me.."so have you ever ridden 114km alone?" My 17 yr old team mate coached me to understanding that I can be nervous, but there is no point in being scared.
- these guys are VERY funny. humour is key.

BPR has many different purposes. On this adventure TEAM is bringing out the best in each of us.

[JasonK]

Great job everyone!

Ginny, I love reading your posts, especially when you use the words "cooked, painful, hammer"!!!  Sounds more exciting then "control, pacing, etc." 

[SimonC]

Ginny Rocks   ... and so do the rest of the BPR crew

Mt Hood is one of the toughest SR's in the Pacific NW. Throw into the mix that you are racing in Oregon where the weather is ALWAYS shitty ... that makes for an epic 4 days ... foo shoo ... 

You're kicking it with the 1/2's so it gonna really hurt but you are definitely holding your own ... hang in there ... the body will recover and you'll adapt and I would guess that you'll have a breakthru ride before you leave the Hood !!!

As for the rest of the BPR crew ... you guys are all bringing sexy back !!! Whatever that means ... I'm just tired from packing an unbelievable amount of junk for this Oliver half !!!

BTW ... sounds like you guys are living large in the Hood ... You guys have a house Last time I did that race I slept in my car ... 

Keep making us proud

SC

[Andrew]

As always, I will be the first to draw strength from this excitement, and suggest we gather as many BPR team mates to join in the suffer-fest in 2011. I noticed there is an "old boys" category, though the times those guys are throwing down look a bit daunting. It would mean a serious wake up call for me, and I would be willing to make that event a priority of we had enough interest to make a trip worth while.

So, to the 4 brave souls who have two more events in Oregon to contend with...keep the stories coming, keep performing to the best of your ability, be brave, be strong, and never give up.

To my lovely wife...I am so proud of you. More today for facing your fears than ever before.

I am proud to be a member of this great team, looking forward to watching the crew in Oliver, and wishing I could be in two places at once!

[Matt]

I am so excited for all the bpr crew at the Hood:)  Keep up the good work, and rip it up at the next race!!  Keep posting - it's great to hear about your efforts and results! 

[StephenU]

Hey all!

Been fixing bikes and eating!
Joel and I did a perfect first stage..  both in the lead group at the end.  Wild first road race!  That  was the most exhilarating RR I've ever done.  Windy mountain roads, fast big ring climbs, no cars, even snow on the roads.  So fuuuuunnnn!
UNfortunately Jonas got involved in a crash on a gravel section and lost 5 mins..  Broken front wheel..

Joel and I got our asses handed to us in the TT, finishing 4 seconds apart but loosing 4 mins to the winner, tumbling down the GC in the process.  It was 30km into crazy headwinds and crosswinds.  I think the wind really hammered on Joel and I.  (smaller riders).  We had problems even staying upright..  My deep dish / disc combo was throwing my all over!!

oh - ginny did rip the TT!!!!

Stage 3 today, 155 km, over 10,000 feet of climbing today, finishing at the ski resort at Mt. Hood.  Things might get ugly!!

[Andrew]

The perfect response to a tough TT, will be to hammer the big boys on a day with 10,000 feet of climbing. I love your chances on today's stage to get some time back!