I agree, course profile is an integral part of race research and prep.

For those interested, here's the Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix profile (elevation gain = zero)

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http://www.velogirls.com/racing/meloparkcrit.php

:D

pgordis wrote:Chris:

Here's my take on the course as a pseudo-climber. The main climb is near the start of the race which means it's difficult to make a major solo move at that point in my opinion. Also, although steep in places, the road surface and narrow profile means your wheels can slip if you attack (I had that problem) and you may feel like your not getting close to 100% out of your effort. Last year, in your race time, as I recall, the pros were finishing their epic 105 mile race and were trying to pass us up the hill which our group was clogging up (the road is extremely narrow in places). This confusion also served to neutralize the climb some.

Once you're over that hill, there's some beautiful rolling country size, but the winds can be just brutal up there! If you're alone or with one or two others it could wear you down, assuming what's left of the group behind you is actually working together effectively (highly doubtful at our level...).

You then come to the last main climb nearer the end of the loop. Check it out carefully on the first lap. It's a deceptively difficult climb, especially if you're feeling beaten up by the roads. I think it would be an excellent place to put in a massive and decisive attack on the second lap, especially if you are not hell bent on descending a very rough, steep road like a complete maniac to the finish line (I was dropped on the descent both times). If you get a gap or have some breathing room by the top of that hill, you could maybe take the descent a little more sanely and cautiously and let those chasing you take the risks. After the descent (which is super fast) bottoms out, you have I think something like 1/2 mile or maybe a mile of mostly down with some rollers and the finish is on an uphill roller sort of like Ward's Ferry.

Best of luck!

Patrick Gordis, GPC

i reckon PG nailed the description pretty well. Though, i do remember that finish being pretty damn long after the final climb. le ouch.

One thing I might recommend is going with tried and true equipment. My pal, Poulsen, is a local and says there is fresh pavement on part of the 1st climb, but otherwise the roads are just hell-bent. I'm going to go with as many spokes in my wheels as I can and beefball tires.

also, (and i know this is uber-freddy) I'm going to be using my cross brake levers on my road bike (like i always do). Descending the wicked fast, brain-jarring descents on the tops is SUCH a pleasure. It takes a bit of practice, but now that I've done it awhile - it's second nature and really saves my pip-squeak upper body and pencil-neck muscles from fatigue.

i know, i'm a fred.

good luck and i definitely think knowing the profile is beneficial to race strategies. knowledge = yummy!

mhernandez

ps - great win at SeaOtter PG.

Chris:

Here's my take on the course as a pseudo-climber. The main climb is near the start of the race which means it's difficult to make a major solo move at that point in my opinion. Also, although steep in places, the road surface and narrow profile means your wheels can slip if you attack (I had that problem) and you may feel like your not getting close to 100% out of your effort. Last year, in your race time, as I recall, the pros were finishing their epic 105 mile race and were trying to pass us up the hill which our group was clogging up (the road is extremely narrow in places). This confusion also served to neutralize the climb some.

Once you're over that hill, there's some beautiful rolling country size, but the winds can be just brutal up there! If you're alone or with one or two others it could wear you down, assuming what's left of the group behind you is actually working together effectively (highly doubtful at our level...).

You then come to the last main climb nearer the end of the loop. Check it out carefully on the first lap. It's a deceptively difficult climb, especially if you're feeling beaten up by the roads. I think it would be an excellent place to put in a massive and decisive attack on the second lap, especially if you are not hell bent on descending a very rough, steep road like a complete maniac to the finish line (I was dropped on the descent both times). If you get a gap or have some breathing room by the top of that hill, you could maybe take the descent a little more sanely and cautiously and let those chasing you take the risks. After the descent (which is super fast) bottoms out, you have I think something like 1/2 mile or maybe a mile of mostly down with some rollers and the finish is on an uphill roller sort of like Ward's Ferry.

Best of luck!

Patrick Gordis, GPC

By my count I have 29 points, so I can still race as a 4. Velo Promo just posted the entries and I'm in the 35+ 4/5. I don't mean to be a sandbagger, but I'd just much rather race 42 miles at 11AM than 84 milesat 8AM.

Anyway, I'll be sending Casey an upgrade request on Saturday no matter how it goes since I already entered the Elite 3 race at Wente.

Chris

Thanks for tipping your hand, Chris! :lol:

@Mad Axeman, "the profile is irrelevant" is (no offense meant) something of an obtuse statement. If nothing else, the profile can influence equipment choices.

IMHO, there's no such thing as having too much information on a course. You'll find pros pre-riding a course the week before important races - even if they've done the race five or ten times prior. And, unless Mr Phipps upgraded this week, he'll only have one look at the finish line before it really matters.

That said, if you're in our field, you're welcome to not think and just be mystical! :wink:

You will have plenty of laps to figure out the finish.

Here's one I did on G-maps.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=77307

And to answer the 2nd poster's question, the profile is very important to me. If a person is a great climber who can't sprint well, a course with several big steep hills is to that person's advantage.

I don't have the speed or power to break away from the pack on flat ground, but I can often break away on a steep climb.

Does it really matter?
It's a race, the profile is irrelevant, especially if you already know the roads. It's not the hill that gets you, it's the pace that people go up it.

Does all that data really help you get over the top?

Too much thinking.

As a martial arts instructor once said, "don't think...DO".