Revelations on riding a bicycle, not racing. By Elif.

1- Anything I thought I knew about cycling from three years of collegiate road racing is practically negligible in the context of navigating the streets of a foreign city by bike. Ie, I'm learning how to ride a bike all over again.

2- Anything I thought I knew about a bike is practically negligible in the context of navigating Tokyo on a second hand, single speed, basket-and-rack-laden cruiser that likely weighs more than a tugboat. Ie, I'm learning how to ride a bike all over again. 

3- The point of cycling so far, for me at least, had been primarily athletic: getting into something slightly closer to race shape than the your-endurance-pace-is-me-wheezing shape I'd been in most winters. 

I've realized how drastically the reason I ride a bike has changed once I became a commuter, that getting from point A to point B has become my main goal now (okay, and maybe passing a few people with lighter bikes on the climbs). My bike, previously a tool for self-inflicted torture interspersed with scenic escapes from New Haven and the campus bubble, has suddenly become the most essential functional component of my daily routine, my means of getting to work every morning and back home at the end of every day.

Granted, the mechanics of biking are the same in either case; the number of hours I spend on the saddle are likely the same and I spend no less time thinking about the next season of ECCC races and missing the last, but my relationship with my bike and identity as a cyclist has shifted (pun maybe intended) entirely. It's a weird feeling and I like it.

4- Riding in left-hand traffic (and especially making right turns) takes a few close calls to get used to, but has ultimately tuned up my awareness of surrounding vehicles to a level of CONSTANT VIGILANCE!

5- The fact that it's legal to ride on the sidewalk in any direction, combined with the fact that most roads have no bike lanes and there is only so much space before you're riding in the gutter, results in a hectic crisscrossing of cyclists, walkers, schoolchildren and grandmas that turn Tokyo sidewalks on rush hour into a bike handling skills clinic that would make any race promoter jealous. 

6- Since my bike is now my only means of getting home at the end of the day, I've realized that any excuses I previously had for ditching bike rides ("it's raining," "it's dark out," "there's a biblical thunderstorm," "my brakes are making a weird sound," "I'm still drunk," "I haven't done laundry yet," "my handlebars aren't pointing the same direction my front wheel is," "my shoes are still wet," "I have too much homework," "I didn't eat enough," "I ate too much and now can't move," "it's 3.00 am," "when's the last time I pumped my tires?" "I can't find my gloves," "I haven't charged my garmin," etc.) are entirely invalid. If it has wheels and they spin, it's good to go. 

7- The bike I'm riding right now is worth 1/80 of the bike I currently have locked up in New Haven, is probably 80 times heavier and makes the slightest incline feel like a cat 1 climb, fits me more awkwardly than the red corduroy pants my mom got me in second grade, and yet I love it just as much, simply because it's my dependable friend and irreplaceable travel companion. 

8- I'm glad I had to give up being a road cyclist for the three months I'm spending in Tokyo and became a bike commuter instead, because I'm falling in love with cycling all over again. Riding bikes is amazing, in any form or size or shape, for any reason, anywhere on the planet.

W&M RR: Adele's report and advice for others new to racing!

The Tidewater Winter Classic, College of William & Mary, February 22

- A blog post by Adele Plunket

My first bike race ever, and I can wholeheartedly say that, of various race experiences in my life (i.e. running and triathlon), this was the most awesomely adrenaline-filled hour-ish yet. And yes, I'll be hooked and ready to race again. Why, and what was it like? For those of you who raced before, you know. And for those of you who, like me, are new to this crazy bike racing world, I will try to explain.

My mindset going into this race was to ride strong, but mostly use this as a learning experience.  Now, to recap for you, rather than describe every single glorious detail that I hope you'll experience for yourself one day, I'll at least reiterate the most useful advice that was given to me and what I learned along the way.

1. Race start. Be there at least 1+ hour before the race start time, so you have plenty of time to  register (bring your USA cycling license) and pin your numbers to your jersey, find the staging area, warm up with an easy spin and scope out the finish line.  Watch what everyone else is doing, and relax.  Thanks Mom for going along and scoping out the scene with me (and for the photo at the start)! 

2. Roll out easy with the group. Figure out who has done this before, and follow their lead. I raced with Women's Collegiate B and C, so there was a comfortable mix of experienced and novice riders.  Keep pace with the group and use the draft as much as you can.  Be attentive to group dynamics -- people will point out road conditions, call out if they are slowing or passing on the left or right.  Drink a few sips of water on occasion to stay fresh. Feel the adrenaline as you pedal, maneuver and strategize.

3. Work your way within the peloton to about 5th-10th position.  That way you feel connected with the leaders and the pack.  You'll notice when someone (or a group from the same team) is about to make a move.  Stick with them!  Especially in the final lap and then the final mile, be ready for the pace to pick up.  In the final 100-200 meters is the big sprint.  Give it everything.

3b. How does that final 100-200 meters really happen (they say that the whole race comes down to this)?  The short answer: fast!  The slightly longer answer, everyone was gradually picking up the pace after the final turn with about 1 mile to go.  You could tell that each girl in the pack had her mind set to cross that finish line first, and she wanted to get herself into position for the final sprint.  I even decided to push the limits and found myself up front for a while.  When we could see the finish line, everyone was going all out.  The only problem was that those final meters were uphill!  My quads had nothing left, and I crossed the finish line in 6th place, completely spent but really happy and with a big smile.  In retrospect, I should have practiced sprinting beforehand.  Something for next time!

4. Enjoy the chance to ride with a big group of your peers, your gender and ability. Look around you and be grateful that this is a group with whom you share a passion and a skill. Be careful, ride safely (!), and respect the sport.

If you can't tell already, this was an awesome first race experience. To the other novice Bulldogs out there, I'd love to chat more, answer questions, calm nerves if there are any. I say this because I had many questions and plenty of nerves.  Let's get together, go for a ride or spin, and get ready for a great first season! 

Pre-season racing: ECCC in the ACCC!

Two of the Bulldogs just couldn't wait for the ECCC season to start on March 8th and decided to head down to the William and Mary Tidewater Winter Classic on February 22nd. While this was technically not a club activity, as it is not a part of our conference or season, and one of our racers was being touristy in historic Williamsburg with her mom and the other one wasn't even racing for Yale, we still think it's worth reporting some awesome results and pre-season fun when our people race!

The W&M road race was the third race weekend for the ACCC, who have the privilege of nice enough weather through February to start almost a full month ahead of the snow-covered ECCC. This is to say that they've been logging real miles and are already in racing shape, while we've been slogging away on our trainers indoors. The race was a lollipop circuit course with gently rolling terrain, country roads, an uphill finish, and the only relief from the harsh wind to be found on the two minor climbs. Also in attendance were two Drexel C men and one D, two Penn State C men, and two CMU B men. Despite this clear disadvantage in preparation, the ECCC racers represented and all pulled in some impressive results!

For the Yale Bulldogs, Adele raced her first ever road race in the Women's C field. In the ACCC, WC is combined with women's B, which is perfect for a very high fitness C racer like Adele who could take lessons from the WB racers. Adele, instead of getting nervous, did what a true Yalie would do when facing the unknown. She did her homework. She found out from experienced racers exactly where she should be and when, and what she needed to do before her race: show up early, get through registration, pin numbers, kit up, warm up, scout the course and finishing line, find the staging area, relax, eat a snack, scope out the competition, enjoy the sunshine! Check out her blog post where she shares everything she learned in her first race - nobody could have said it better!

The Women's B/C race rolled out nice and easy, and Adele, studious as ever, took those miles in a crash course (not literally, thankfully!) in group dynamics in road racing. The only hiccup of the race was when the marshals asked the whole women's group to pull over and let the guys' peloton fly by.  Safety first.  She managed to stay among the top 10 riders in the pack for most of the race, and was ready to go when the pace picked up in the second lap.  The group pushed it for the last mile back into the park, with Adele taking a long hard pull at the front and causing the sprinters some real pain before the finish line. She crossed the finish line in 6th place, feeling every bit of her hard work during the race, and went away with a big smile.

Next up, Travis raced in the Women's 123 field for his non-collegiate team with one of our shop sponsors, Devils Gear. The field was combined with collegiate Women's A, stacked with category 1 racers, and essentially a who's who of the top finishers of last year's road nationals. The ACCC is notably well populated with elite women's racers, allowing for a stand alone A field.
After testing the waters in the opening miles, Travis asserted himself in the front five wheels as the field began to pick up the pace and string itself out over gently rolling terrain. After a half-hearted breakaway attempt (or, non-attempt?) gapped the field by only a few meters before being brought back, what would be the decisive break leapt at the second climb at about mile 14, and managed to stay away and increase the lead to over 2 minutes by the finish, despite the relentless wind, relatively flat and scorchingly fast course, and high caliber field chasing. Not to be shaken by each other's rapid-fire attacks and careful waiting and watching in the cat and mouse game of the last four miles, the breakaway group stuck together through the final stretch for a field sprint up the finishing climb. Travis finished a solid 2nd place to Laura Cook (Velocita, formerly of Vanderkitten), in a promising start to the season!

For both Bulldogs it was a weekend of firsts: a first race, and a first race in the women's elite field. Both Yalies learned how to navigate their new fields, what work they have left to do to up their game, and how and where to dig deeper next time. It will be an exciting season for the Bulldogs in the women's fields to be sure!


In other news, Drexel and Penn State formed an ECCC alliance in the Men's C field, with Penn State leading out a Drexel rider to take the win. The Drexel rider then apparently attempted a bow and arrow victory salute and crashed just over the finish line. We admire your style, Drexel, and we will remember to keep a safe distance in March.