2009 Track Scratch Race Bs, June 17 - SprinterDellaCasa Helmet Cam

[souvla]

Nice videos of yours, keep 'em coming!

Just wondering, tough: aren't there any pure climbing races in the US

or is it just that climbs are not your type of race?

(i m asking because i see lots of uploads from crits or so by american guys,

none from a real climb race, however).

I wish you a succesful comeback in the races- from (hilly) Greece!

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@souvla Thanks! For hilly races, I don't climb well enough to make them interesting. In fact I'm so slow on any regular climb that I've had others ask if something's wrong with my bike. To see me crawling up a hill at some slow speed, that wouldn't be very interesting. I think that generally speaking you don't see many climbs in helmet/bar-cam clips since they take so long, it's hard to see the grade in a clip, and it's not tactically interesting.

[pcfxer]

@SprinterDellaCasa Get some power in those legs ;). High tension low cadence intervals for you sir! Worked wonders for me. Oh and false promises to myself (Keep the tension on this hill and you will enjoy Ben and Jerry's ice-cream, beer and wings). Of course I don't because that'd take away any benefits from the training :).

[superbubbleman]

My, my your legs are beastly. Seriously, what's your height and weight if you don't mind me asking?

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@superbubbleman The trainer clip indoors I'm about 190 lbs. The track clip I'm about 180-190 lbs, not sure. I'm 5'7" and this was NOT muscle, I was just really fat. I should be about 145-155 from what I can tell (I was 155 going into 2010). Currently 165-170; the scale says I'm 25% fat, i.e. 40 lbs of fat (2011).

[thelehmannator1]

Great jump at the end. Any chance you'll get back up in the coming season?

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@thelehmannator1 I hope to race on the track again. I haven't been to any track races since the end of 2009.

[avladescub]

Thanks, that was a good video, and congrats on good tactics and speed. I have raced crits for decades and raced 1/3 mile speedways on road bikes, but am new to the track, and your notes and comments should help me so I don't cause mayhem.

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@avladescub Thanks! You should read the comments below to help get going. I went wide (out of the sprinter's lane) in the finish - that's a no-no. Watching other track races, like real ones, I realize that's the case. Also I'm a gear pusher so I use a big gear (50x15). I tried using a 48x15 and rode myself right off the back before it got fast! The guy Brian is using a huge gear (48x14 I think) as prep for a pursuit later, hence his cadence is low.

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@avladescub oh and I've been racing crits for decades too and this was my second year on the track other than a two race excursion in the 90s. Remember that you can't coast, even a bit. I still try and "set up the pedals" which means "coast for a millisecond". The others have been kind to me and not yelled at me, but I feel really inadequate on the track. Ride your track bike on rollers - it's very educational. good luck.

[tuktaaa]

woow

[DougDiug]

50*15 gear is heavy! (at least to me) I made a 42*14 single speed to alternate riding with and that is pretty heavy on inclines.

What sort of gearing is on the stationary? and what do you recomend for sprinting like this? eg. go for a ride and sprint X amount of distance (quarter mile?) or ...what?

Any advice?

-Doug

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@DougDiug 50x15 works for me on that track - with reasonable speed approaching the finish, I knew I could jump pretty well in the bigger gear. I'm more a gear pusher anyway - 170 cranks on the bike for example, I think 175s on the fixed gear bike.

The fixed gear stationary has a 52x14 but that's irrelevant. It's more the rpms that counts. I find that my legs get sore from those efforts so it must be doing something. Track riding would be better though - repeats for 1/2 lap, etc.

[davidoffon]

very exciting, not knowing the outcome helps, the tips would be good enough for a good novice, with RR experience, to win. pumping is right.

[bikecj]

Good video it get you pumping.

[OMGuuyy]

Great job on the race and video. If you haven't already, you need to get a GoPro! : )

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@OMGuuyy You can check out some of the later clips I've posted - I got a ContourHD1080. I tried the GoPro but wasn't happy enough with it to buy one.

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@OMGuuyy Oh, and thanks :)

[camaroblackmatte]

put that in max res..and see your freakin rpm:)))

[pcfxer]

That wasn't sped up was it? Or was it low resistance?

[SprinterDellaCasa]

@pcfxer not sped up, but it is at low resistance. Although the pedals would slow on their own, I'm slowing them with my legs.

[SeaRanger311]

A single speed, as gears arent allowed on the track, neither with quick release tires.

And it would be drafting, at around 45% give or take

[JetpackSuperheroes]

Great video, and a wonderful introduction to the sport. I learned a bunch. Thank you very much. I hope to see you this summer up there.

[SprinterDellaCasa]

Thanks and I hope to see you out there too.

[trackie1957]

Nice video and play by play!

Looks like you went uptrack coming out of turn 4 during the sprint. That's the other rule of the sprinter's lane - if you're leading the field and are in the sprinter's lane, you have to stay below the white line until you cross the finish or get passed! I'm glad I wasn't moving up on your right coming around that bend.

[SprinterDellaCasa]

I didn't know that, so that's good to know. I didn't move up intentionally, I find it difficult to hold the line out of the last turn. I think most riders there find the same thing because it seems to happen frequently (I've been on the outside more than a few times in such a situation).

[aaronis31337]

That was bad ass! Nice vid. I have to try that!

[NHsolstice]

The infield used to drain and had Great Grass the whole facility look like a dump.

[daFranch1se69]

Man the final lap when you sprinted to the finish, you had to hit 30+, that was sick of you. Good Job.

[SprinterDellaCasa]

Thanks. I calculated it wasn't a great 200 meter time, but based on my other sprints (same track, same gear, etc), I'm guessing I hitting 33-34 mph (my max speed there). I'd like to be able to go faster, but I haven't been able to do it - my pedal stroke is too rough right now.

[OBXCycling]

Great vids. I saw them linked at BF and had to link a few on my site too.

What kind of cam do you have? I want to record some rides but not sure what cam to use.

Jay

[birekhu]

Great video! Please let us see, like this, more track events from inside racing and training!

[SprinterDellaCasa]

thanks for the + comment. I hope to keep this up with a wider variety of courses, some general group rides, and more track events for sure.

[kloeser]

great videos, think ive watched em all....on the edge of my seat!!!