Campus Dakota

Group Memberships => UND Cycling => Topic started by: Alaska Unicyclist on April 29, 2011, 02:39:42 PM

Title: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on April 29, 2011, 02:39:42 PM
any advice on the course wario? :help:
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on April 29, 2011, 02:54:35 PM
YESSSS!!!!!!!!!

 :undcc:
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: sanders on April 29, 2011, 03:13:31 PM
RR Course: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/sr/V7E74JQ6T7ZNMJSYX7DS4UOYVE

Crit Course: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/sr/UQEJLKB7ZXMJYJSYX7DS4UOYVE
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 01, 2011, 12:48:43 AM
As I mentioned on FB. The biggest thing you will take away from it is an education. Pay attention to the big schools that have dedicated cycling programs and go around and say hi and talk with some people about what racing is like in their conference. Talk about what works for their club and what doesn't, observe how they function in the peloton, and concentrate on setting a realistic goal.

In a big field event there's that fine line you need to walk between respecting the fact that you have minimal "huge race" experience, but also have the capability to make a move with someone if you want to. DON'T THINK TIME TRIAL. Think about staying WELL within the peloton and matching their speed. I would do 100% zero work on the front. If you end up on the front, simply take a short 15 second pull and rotate off. You have no reason to be on the front, no business on the front, and shouldn't be... on the front. That doesn't mean you couldn't break away or win... I'm just telling you that there will be big teams there. Let them do the work. PERIOD.

You obviously "shouldn't" start on the front because you guys are "new" to the nats scene. But, if you don't start very close to the front you might be off the back so fast that your race will be over before you realize it. If the pace at the front is too much, float back slowly and smoothly, but DON'T try to hold a pace that you can't hold or you'll find yourself in no mans land in no time.

My main point here is... stay with the peloton if you can. If you somehow think you can pull out a top 10 finish... do it, but your goal should be to finish with the peloton. You will learn so much more by doing this you have no idea, and THAT will help you BIG TIME for any future racing you plan to do.

If you drop off the back... it'd be worth considering DNFing and "saving yourself" for the next event... but I think realistically, if you ride smart, and realistic, you should both be able to finish within the peloton. Finishing the race is always better than not.

The road race will be your best bet imo. You'll see tons of tactics, and you will HAVE to use another team if you want to do anything. You'll need brains more than quads and lungs. The crit, you'll need all three. Make sure you look out for each other, communicate and try to stick together... but don't sacrifice one of your races. ie... if one feels good, don't hold back to drag the other through.

Learn learn learn, think think think, and talk to anyone and everyone. They're just as intimidated as you are... find out what works well for their clubs, find out how their clubs work, find out anything and everything and bring it back, teach the rest of us, and help UND become a better club. This in turn will ultimately lead to more riders going to nats, and eventually a shot at a title.
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 01, 2011, 12:53:20 AM
Don't forget... the two of you deserve to be there just as much as any of the other riders... be respectful, but don't give up before you get there.
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 01, 2011, 06:52:46 PM
you rock dave
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 01, 2011, 08:56:51 PM
you rock dave

Why thank you sir.
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 02, 2011, 09:15:29 AM
OK, looks like the helmet I have has several cracks in it.. I don't know how they got there, because I have never crashed with it... not that I know of at least. Does anyone have a helmet I could borrow for the trip to Wisconsin? I honestly don't have the money to buy a new one right now..
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on May 02, 2011, 10:42:42 AM
Think of the extra airflow you're getting!

I don't think you'd fit in my helmet :(
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 02, 2011, 12:02:34 PM
Might be worth hassling yost or just hitting the bike shop and asking those brodudes?

Are they cracks... or CRACKS! ? Stuff can show up from dropping the thing...

If it helps, I believe the 3rd time I got hit by a car was the last time I had my grey helmet, and that helmet had cracks in it afterwards that looked like they'd been there for a while?

Still... you should obviously have a safe helmet...
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 03, 2011, 09:30:56 AM
They are pretty serious...
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: pmp6nl on May 03, 2011, 09:31:23 PM
Congrats! :)
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on May 04, 2011, 09:50:57 AM
http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=6310

Quote
North Central (NCCCC) Director Mark Guthart adds, “Proving there's more to North Dakota than just snow and ice, Erik Sanders (University of North Dakota) has been a consistent factor all season, and could be a dark-horse for the DII races.”
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 04, 2011, 06:32:07 PM
bamf
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Matt on May 06, 2011, 07:38:15 PM
Does anybody know how they did at todays RR? I checked the USAC website and they have nothing up yet.
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 06, 2011, 08:06:47 PM
yo.. I had to drop out on the 2nd lap because my shifter busted off.. literally broke off! I was in the front pack and there was nothing I could do to fix it.... to say the least I was quite frustrated. Erik hung on until the 4th lap and had to drop. The course was brutal, there's no reason we cant stay with the lead group, so it's on for the crit fo sho
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Andrew Mills on May 06, 2011, 09:32:32 PM
That is to bad logan, but good effort gusy :)
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 06, 2011, 10:57:01 PM
Moar details/pics or it didn't happen. Like ur brifter broke off? Or ur derailleur? I'd bloody write to sram and tell them they cost you a nats title.
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on May 07, 2011, 08:45:00 AM
I think it's great that UND even gets to be on the results list at all!  Good on ya guys, take a good day today and rip it up tomorrow!

Twitter coverage of the RR was horrible, hopefully the crit is better (and it would be awesome if they put it up on Ustream like it looks like they are going to: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/usa-cycling-collegiate-road-national-championships).
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 07, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
The shifter broke off! I had to take the bike to a local shop and they placed SRAM red on it bc they didn't have any FORCE stuff in. So now I have one RED brifter and one FORCE brifter. The shop called SRAM and they said to just put the red on for free, so I get a free shifter out of it. Should I still write SRAM?
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 07, 2011, 04:55:43 PM
If you already got ur free brifter... I wouldn't bother then. You can maybe ask them how much they want to sell you that other brifter for, but I'd perhaps ask them to put full red on it. It seems silly that they would want to keep one brifter if they're going to warranty replace the broken one. I'd (if I was working in the shop) have sent them back as a set and given you the set of red. Why? Because it's going to be a PITA to ever try and get one brifter, and the shop could've sent the force stuff back as a set and sram wouldn't care. So I might write them and just mention that situation and that now ur bike is silly, but I'd maybe inquire at the shop level first?
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 07, 2011, 09:42:19 PM
The shop only had one red brifter haha! but I will definitely write SRAM
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 08, 2011, 12:18:50 AM
The shop only had one red brifter haha! but I will definitely write SRAM

I mean. Brifters are sold as a set. You couldn't even buy ONE from Sram if you wanted, you'd have to goto a dealer and convince them. Be sure that you have the shops info and the dates. Call/write them and just be a roadie. Say something like you bought a set, and it malfunctioned, but you'd either like a matching force set, or the other red brifter to go with the one you have. I dunno... whine but be smart. I'd expect to get another brifter. Then you can sell your old brifter to some hipster on ebay looking for a front brake lever for his sweet fixay.

omg. punch me in the face. please.
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on May 08, 2011, 06:27:49 AM
Some other updates at http://nc-cycling.com/
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Alaska Unicyclist on May 08, 2011, 10:20:03 PM
Tha deets are here. I took 41st overall... I got into a bad position on the last lap, but was 8seconds behind the champ!! There wash a crash right next to me and  almost took me out, then the pack took off. I had to do some serious work b/c (about two laps of catch up). Here are the results
http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?year=2011&id=169&info_id=36834
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 08, 2011, 10:44:16 PM
What happened with sanders there...

Congrats Logan! Be sure to share your experiences out on the next cruiser ride!
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Plantains on May 08, 2011, 10:44:44 PM
Congrats sanders too really. What am I thinking? You both deserve to be congrats'ed
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on May 09, 2011, 09:19:30 AM
Congrats to both of you for wearing green at nationals!  So awesome!
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Andrew Mills on May 09, 2011, 09:46:44 AM
nice work guys, you rock my socks! :-*
Title: Re: Well, looks like Erik and I are going to Nationals..
Post by: Sal Atticum on May 12, 2011, 04:48:20 PM
Crit photos: http://www.focalflamestore.com/RoadCycling/2011-Collegiet-Nationals/D2-Mens-Crit/16979289_qZFjZR#1285246955_tgBRZrM