Jim Kuphaldt, Wente, 45+ 4/5

Wente Vinyards Road Race 45+ cat 4,5

Warmed up and went to the line with Nelson F. and Darin S. One other
DBC rider was at the line who I had not met that I'm told was Hal Slone.
Went out with my usual plan, ride towards the front to get in any break
that develops. I might rethink that strategy after this race. This
turned out to be the toughest ride I have ever been on. Did not realize
I could get my heart rate so close to my maximum for that long and still
keep going.

We rolled out easy as expected before the climb with Hal Setting much of
the early tempo. I was not expecting the first trip up the climb to be
very hard, but I went above threshold the first time up the steep part
for a bit then settled back in towards the top.

I was just following wheels at the front letting others set the pace.
Ended up being 4-5 of us off the front at the top but we were caught
somewhere on the flats by a large group of riders including Nelson and
Darin.

We set a pretty good tempo with some guy who wasn't even in our race
driving the group on the whole flat stretch. The second time up the
steep section I was within 8 beats of my max and was still loosing
ground to the leaders. We were all strung out up that part of the climb
and I continued well above threshold the rest of the way up the climb as
I got back in with a group of 9 or so riders with two still up the road.
Nearly crashed on the long descent at the hairpin left when I was
rotating past the rider in front and he cut me off on the apex forcing
me onto the bot dots at 40+ mph. the bike jumped about 3ft outside and I
barely saved it almost going off the road. As I accelerated back onto
his wheel I had a few choice words for him, but as I look back on it,
probably was not the best time to rotate through.

As we rolled through the flats we got a pretty good pace line going
finally after many failed attempts on the gradual decent. We caught the
other two riders just before the start line area, now there were 11 of
us as we headed into the 3rd climb. I knew we had some serious climbers
in our group when a 4 man break from the Pro race came by right after
the underpass at the base of the gradual climb, and they only put about
150m on us by the finish line with one to go. By the feed zone we were
all strung out again with 8 in front and 2 behind. Once again I was
redlining as I did on the steep stuff every lap. I began picking off
guys one by one on the more gradual climb after the line. At the top
there was a group of 4 still ahead about 70 m as the main group of the
pros went by. My son Taylor asked me if I was leading and I pointed to
the group ahead as they breezed by me. The last of the string of about
35 Pros went by me right at the top and I stayed about 20m behind all
the way to the bottom, where I caught the 4 leaders of my race. I
struggled to hang on in the small climbs but figured at this point I was
going for top 5 because I could not see anyone behind us.

I burned so much energy to get back on that I was just sitting on the
back on the descent. We didn't form a pace line until just before that
first right turn, and I had recovered enough to help out by that time.
The pace line was pretty erratic which made it difficult to find my
rhythm. These guys kicked my a@# up the climb every lap so I figured I
was riding for 5th when much to my surprise a group of 4 riders caught
us right after the underpass. Now there was 9 and I was starting to
cramp bonk and otherwise feel like s#@%. Once we hit that dreaded steep
section three guys attacked and I was determined to go with them, which
I did for about 150m, until I ceased up and began dropping back like a
rock. The whole group passed me before the feed zone and I made a feeble
attempt to catch the last couple in the group but had to settle for a
distant 9th. No a painful cramping, wheezing, most I have ever hurt on a
bike, 9th. Nelson F. rolled in a very respectable 19th and Darin was
about 40th. I didn't see Hal come in so I'm not sure what happened to
him.

Lessons learned. Eat right before the race and bring gels food or at
least sport drink for a road race. Water alone does not cut it. Don't
pass on a descending corner. Be patient, don't chase all the early
breaks down. Work with the big group for a while on a tough course like
Wente. I can't climb with the big dogs on the steep sections. Maybe that
guy at Sea Otter wasn't superman on the steep section last week. Or did
I just race against 8 more supermen.

Still it was rewarding to push my body to the limit time and time again.
Was a very satisfying to know I could not have pushed myself any harder.
I sure can learn to ride a lot smarter though. Next up for me is
Berkeley Hills. Sounds like more of the same. See you there!

Jim Kuphaldt