The Killington Stage Race is a three day stage race located around Killington, Vermont. The event features a 53 mile circuit race, an 11 mile time trial and a 63 mile road race. The race was revived in 2010 after many years of dormancy and has become a feature of the O/A Masters Cycling Team race calendar. Frame and Wheel joined team mates Ron Bourgoin, Steve Edwards and Neil Fitch and fifty other riders in the 40 plus category. Temperatures were in 70s and conditions were dry. Frame and Wheel tracked the event using an Android smartphone and adds labels to the maps below so that viewers can get a better sense of the race and the terrain.
Frame and Wheel forgot to turn off the smartphone after the circuit race which explains why elevation gain reads 4,340 feet. This highlights another weakness of The Internet of Bikes: it is easy to forget to activate and deactivate the device that is recording the ride. Also, the smartphone produced a maximum grade of 36% during the circuit race which is clearly nonsense and further evidence of the frailties of GPS tracking technology when it comes to measuring this statistic. Frame and Wheel had some trouble with Google Maps this time around too: for some reason, the program will not show the blue line for the time trial and the road race. Frame and Wheel is still unable to edit the data in My Tracks, but will get to that at some point.
View 2011 Killington Stage Race: Circuit Race in a larger map
Frame and Wheel includes the details of the race in the labels on the map. The main point about this stage is that a group of riders get away at the beginning of the second lap and build a one minute lead on the field. Frame and Wheel and many in the field are not expecting such a move given the wind and relatively flat terrain. A chase group forms on the gradual climb and eventually catches the break at the beginning of the third lap. This group of a dozen riders maintains about a one minute lead on the field, and gradually becomes a group of about seven. The break stays away and the finishers all have a one minute lead on the field. Paul Richard (CCB Racing) wins the day with a high speed sprint, followed by Peter Vollers (Killington Mountain School Cycling Team) and Carl Reglar (Team Danbury Audi/Pedal and Pump). Matt Seton (Rapha/CRCA) pushes through for a fourth place finish followed by Frame and Wheel in fifth place. Frame and Wheel is surprised that a break succeeded in staying away on a stage that usually features a high speed pack finish, but is nevertheless pleased with the result. Frame and Wheel is very tired from some big chase efforts on the gradual climb.
View 2011 Killington Stage Race Time Trial in a larger map
The main point about this stage is that it favors time trial experts such as Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle/Jonny Bold Coaching Service), Joe Tonon (Destination Cycling) and David Gazsi (CycleLogikRacing). A fast time in this stage can put a rider in the pink jersey and shake up the general classification. Frame and Wheel covers the 11 mile stretch in 23:36 which is some 40 seconds faster than Frame and Wheel's 2010 time, but not fast enough to win the stage, which is won by Jonny Bold (23:30). Nevertheless, it is enough to move into the pink jersey. Frame and Wheel is pleased with the result, but also very aware that had Mr. Bold had better luck in the circuit race, the outcome would have been different. Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort and heads back to the "Point of Return" condominium for some pasta and a round of acupuncture provide by team mate Dr. Steve Edwards.
View 2011 Killington Stage Race Road Stage in a larger map
The main point about the road stage is that it is really two races: there is the 85 km race to the base of East Mountain Road and there is the 5 km race up 15-17% climbs on East Mountain Road to the finish. The stage, which according to the smartphone has a total elevation gain of 6,400 feet, can produce a lot of drama, and this year was no exception. Frame and Wheel covers numerous attacks at the start to ensure that nothing gets away on the first big climb. The ten mile gradual downhill produces many attacks and finally a break gets away and builds a three minute lead. The pace picks up on the steep climbs on North Road and the field begins to shrink. The pace remains high on the following sections and the chase group is caught on the dirt road section of Prosper Road.
The attacks continue on Route 4. Finally, Jonny Bold leads a break of about seven riders and with a mounting sense of panic, Frame and Wheel watches them quickly move up the road. The chase car finally passes the field and the break is gone. Frame and Wheel then begins the loneliest ten mile ride of the year: the break is out of sight and no one in the field will take a turn at the front to chase. Frame and Wheel remembers watching this scenario unfold in the Tour de France a few years ago and regrets not making the effort to catch on to the break. There is nothing that can be done except ride tempo, drink plenty of water and get to East Mountain Road.
The field makes the turn on to East Mountain Road and the climbers float to the front. Frame and Wheel matches the pace set by David Gazsi and Carl Reglar. Reglar has a broken spoke on his rear wheel and it is making an awful sound, but he pushes on (Reglar rejects the offer of a new wheel from the SRAM car and eventually the spoke falls out). Frame and Wheel rounds the first bend and the blue flashing lights of the lead vehicle are in plain sight. Frame and Wheel is relieved. The break is shattered and mixed in with riders from a previous category. Frame and Wheel pushes on and soon after realizes that only Reglar is matching the pace. Frame and Wheel hangs on while Reglar surges for the KOM points.
Frame and Wheel and Reglar arrive at the 100 meter mark and sprint for second place. Reglar jumps, but Frame and Wheel is able to counter and sneak ahead in the last few meters and arrives in second place. The race is over. Gerry Clapper (Horst Engineering Masters Cycling Team) wins the stage with a tactically brilliant move on Route 4 followed by a great ride up East Mountain Road, but Clapper is not a threat in the general classification. Frame and Wheel is in pink again and very pleased with the result.
Frame and Wheel is very thankful for the generosity, the camaraderie and the dedication of the OA/Masters Cycling Team and congratulates all of them on their efforts and results in this race. Frame and Wheel is also very grateful to be able to compete in a category that is characterized by such fine competition.
Frame and Wheel forgot to turn off the smartphone after the circuit race which explains why elevation gain reads 4,340 feet. This highlights another weakness of The Internet of Bikes: it is easy to forget to activate and deactivate the device that is recording the ride. Also, the smartphone produced a maximum grade of 36% during the circuit race which is clearly nonsense and further evidence of the frailties of GPS tracking technology when it comes to measuring this statistic. Frame and Wheel had some trouble with Google Maps this time around too: for some reason, the program will not show the blue line for the time trial and the road race. Frame and Wheel is still unable to edit the data in My Tracks, but will get to that at some point.
View 2011 Killington Stage Race: Circuit Race in a larger map
Frame and Wheel includes the details of the race in the labels on the map. The main point about this stage is that a group of riders get away at the beginning of the second lap and build a one minute lead on the field. Frame and Wheel and many in the field are not expecting such a move given the wind and relatively flat terrain. A chase group forms on the gradual climb and eventually catches the break at the beginning of the third lap. This group of a dozen riders maintains about a one minute lead on the field, and gradually becomes a group of about seven. The break stays away and the finishers all have a one minute lead on the field. Paul Richard (CCB Racing) wins the day with a high speed sprint, followed by Peter Vollers (Killington Mountain School Cycling Team) and Carl Reglar (Team Danbury Audi/Pedal and Pump). Matt Seton (Rapha/CRCA) pushes through for a fourth place finish followed by Frame and Wheel in fifth place. Frame and Wheel is surprised that a break succeeded in staying away on a stage that usually features a high speed pack finish, but is nevertheless pleased with the result. Frame and Wheel is very tired from some big chase efforts on the gradual climb.
View 2011 Killington Stage Race Time Trial in a larger map
The main point about this stage is that it favors time trial experts such as Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle/Jonny Bold Coaching Service), Joe Tonon (Destination Cycling) and David Gazsi (CycleLogikRacing). A fast time in this stage can put a rider in the pink jersey and shake up the general classification. Frame and Wheel covers the 11 mile stretch in 23:36 which is some 40 seconds faster than Frame and Wheel's 2010 time, but not fast enough to win the stage, which is won by Jonny Bold (23:30). Nevertheless, it is enough to move into the pink jersey. Frame and Wheel is pleased with the result, but also very aware that had Mr. Bold had better luck in the circuit race, the outcome would have been different. Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort and heads back to the "Point of Return" condominium for some pasta and a round of acupuncture provide by team mate Dr. Steve Edwards.
View 2011 Killington Stage Race Road Stage in a larger map
The main point about the road stage is that it is really two races: there is the 85 km race to the base of East Mountain Road and there is the 5 km race up 15-17% climbs on East Mountain Road to the finish. The stage, which according to the smartphone has a total elevation gain of 6,400 feet, can produce a lot of drama, and this year was no exception. Frame and Wheel covers numerous attacks at the start to ensure that nothing gets away on the first big climb. The ten mile gradual downhill produces many attacks and finally a break gets away and builds a three minute lead. The pace picks up on the steep climbs on North Road and the field begins to shrink. The pace remains high on the following sections and the chase group is caught on the dirt road section of Prosper Road.
The attacks continue on Route 4. Finally, Jonny Bold leads a break of about seven riders and with a mounting sense of panic, Frame and Wheel watches them quickly move up the road. The chase car finally passes the field and the break is gone. Frame and Wheel then begins the loneliest ten mile ride of the year: the break is out of sight and no one in the field will take a turn at the front to chase. Frame and Wheel remembers watching this scenario unfold in the Tour de France a few years ago and regrets not making the effort to catch on to the break. There is nothing that can be done except ride tempo, drink plenty of water and get to East Mountain Road.
The field makes the turn on to East Mountain Road and the climbers float to the front. Frame and Wheel matches the pace set by David Gazsi and Carl Reglar. Reglar has a broken spoke on his rear wheel and it is making an awful sound, but he pushes on (Reglar rejects the offer of a new wheel from the SRAM car and eventually the spoke falls out). Frame and Wheel rounds the first bend and the blue flashing lights of the lead vehicle are in plain sight. Frame and Wheel is relieved. The break is shattered and mixed in with riders from a previous category. Frame and Wheel pushes on and soon after realizes that only Reglar is matching the pace. Frame and Wheel hangs on while Reglar surges for the KOM points.
Frame and Wheel and Reglar arrive at the 100 meter mark and sprint for second place. Reglar jumps, but Frame and Wheel is able to counter and sneak ahead in the last few meters and arrives in second place. The race is over. Gerry Clapper (Horst Engineering Masters Cycling Team) wins the stage with a tactically brilliant move on Route 4 followed by a great ride up East Mountain Road, but Clapper is not a threat in the general classification. Frame and Wheel is in pink again and very pleased with the result.
Frame and Wheel is very thankful for the generosity, the camaraderie and the dedication of the OA/Masters Cycling Team and congratulates all of them on their efforts and results in this race. Frame and Wheel is also very grateful to be able to compete in a category that is characterized by such fine competition.
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