The Internet of Bikes: 2012 Lake Auburn Road Race

The Lake Auburn Road Race is a regular feature on the calendar and this year it was characterized by rainy weather. Frame and Wheel raced the 123 race which must have had some 50 starters. The race was shortened because of the wet weather. The main feature of this race was the break that got away in the last ten miles. The break had riders from all the teams present so the field did not chase. A field sprint of sorts and a shorter drive home. The amusing thing about this race is that it actually goes around Taylor Lake, not Lake Auburn. 

The Internet of Bikes: 2012 Killington Stage Race

The Killington Stage Race is a three day stage race held in Killington, Vermont. The event features a 72 mile circuit race, an 11 mile time trial and a 63 mile mountain stage. Frame and Wheel entered the Category 2 race this as there are no team mates in the 40 plus category. The Category 2 race features a longer circuit race and a much younger and larger field. Temperatures were in 70s and conditions were dry and calm. This is the first stage race on the Ausrto-Daimler Superleicht Di2 Carbon. The bike has been running very well. It has a new Cane Creek 110 Series head set and it is set up with sample FOS carbon tubulars. Frame and Wheel tracks the event on Strava.

The circuit race features a long gradual climb, a very fast half kilometer down hill and a gradual descent.  The race begins mid day. Right after the first lap four riders get away and build up a three minute lead. It is windy and the field is very big; the four man break has a long way to go and the field has a lot of momentum on the descents. Frame and Wheel sits in and concentrates on conserving energy. Soon enough the pace picks up on the climbs; the field is interested in closing the gap. This happens on the 3rd lap when the entire race is neutralized because of a crash in a previous category. Everyone pulls over and takes the opportunity to use the woods and even freshen up bottles. Once the race is restarted, the break is down to only 50 seconds. The break is caught at the KOM. The field plunges down the fast descent a final time; riders throw commons sense out the window and use the left lane to try and gain some kind of advantage. This does not work out for at least two riders who plunge into the ditch at 40 miles an hour. The EMT car passes the field for a second time in a single day. A lone rider finished the race 30 seconds ahead of the field. Frame and Wheel finishes with the group, unscathed and very rested. 

All done with the circuit race

The time trial features a gradual uphill, followed by a flat straight section and concluded by a winding and rolling section. The race starts early afternoon. The wind has picked up and become a head wind. Temperatures are in the 70s. This is the fourth time trial on the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon. The bike is running very well and it feels very comfortable. Frame and Wheel concentrates on staying on top of good gear and staying aerodynamic. The climb section goes by quite quickly and almost feels flat; Frame and Wheel makes good time here. The flat section seems to go on for ever. Frame and Wheel pushes hard over the short sharp hill at the one kilometer mark and tries hard to keep up the intensity to the line. The drool is begining to advance. Frame and Wheel hits the line with a time of 24:13 (2011: 23:33) which is fast enough for third place. Michael Reidenbach of the Hydromax Cycling Team is in second place (23:58) and Steve Perezhula of BikeRay USA is in first (23:35). Frame and Wheel gets some podium time for the effort and cannot help but observing that the combined age of the first and second place finishers is less than the age of Frame and Wheel. 

Going up Route 4 on Austro-Daimler tt Carbon

KSR Stage 2 ITT  Podium (Cat 2) 

The mountain stage features a long descent, some tough climbs mid way through the race, dirt roads and the final three mile climb up Eastern Mountain Road to the Killington Ski Resort. The race starts early morning. The weather continues to be fine. The Austro-Daimler Superleicht is holding up well and so are the Pellegrinos. These wheels have great acceleration and the braking is fantastic. Unfortunately, Frame and Wheel forgets to activate the GPS so that the race can be tracked on Strava (a minor iTronski). There is a break up the road but the field does not seem worried. Frame and Wheel sits in and conserves. The pace accelerates sharply on the climbs at the mid way point, but the field does not break up. After some dirt roads and a long grind up Route 4, the field comes charging into the base of Eastern Mountain Road and the second part of the race begins. Frame and Wheel moves up and is soon with ten riders laboring up the first steep. There are two riders up the road; they are soon out of sight. The chase group pushes on to the KOM and soon after two more riders get away. Frame and Wheel is not in a position to chase. The group enters the molasses zone, where time and space become slow and sticky. Frame and Wheel tries to move up a bit in the last 500 meters but no real progress is made. Frame and Wheel finishes in tenth place, which is good enough to secure fifth place in the General Classification. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result. Frame and Wheel thanks the organizers for putting on a well run race and congratulates OA / Cyclemania riders in the other categories on their results. 

The last 500 meters of Eastern Mountain Road

Austro-Daimler Superleicht Carbon Di2 with FOS tubulars

Heading home

The Internet of Bikes: LL Bean Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #3)

The LL Bean Time Trial is the third race in the Maine Time Trial Series. The race is held in Freeport. The course is an 18 mile loop that features straight rolling sections, narrow roads and short steep climbs. Temperatures were in the 50s and conditions were dry for the first time in recent memory. About 80 riders start the race. This is the third race for Frame and Wheel on an Austro-Daimler tt Carbon. Frame and Wheel sets off at 8:10 am. Route 1 is rough in sections, but traffic is light so there is room to avoid the obstacles. False flats are the feature here. Frame and Wheel concentrates on gearing, position and maintaing speed on the uphills and through the corners. The road is resurfaced on the back stretch. This makes a huge difference as in previous years this section of road is capable of shaking loose handlebars. Frame and Wheel loses speed on the last turn on to the very rough and uphill section into the finish line. The drool is flying and the legs protest but the finish is just up the road. The race is over. Frame and Wheel’s time of 40:03 (2011: 40:12) is fast enough to win the day, but well off of the sub forty times routinely posted by Tim Mitchell (CB Racing ) and Dean Philips (Fit Werx). Regardless, Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result. Frame and Wheel  congratulates everyone who turned up to race and thanks LL Bean and the organizers for putting on a great time trial.

Frame and Wheel races an Austro-Daimler tt Carbon

Frame and Wheel is shown here racing an Austro-Daimler tt Carbon at the Portland Velo Club / Cyclemania Time Trial in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The bicycle features Shimano 7900 drive train (mechanical), TRP brakes and brake levers, 3T Brezza II base bar with straight carbon extensions, 3T ARX alloy stem, Adamo saddle, Zipp Disc 900 tubular rear wheel and Zipp 404 tubular front wheel. Fit Werx 2 in Peabody, Massachusetts did the fit and the build; Don McEwan took the picture. More information about the frame set and availability can be found at the Frame and Wheel website. 

The Internet of Bikes: Cyclemania / Portland Velo Club Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #2)

The Cyclemania Portland Velo Club Time Trialis the second race of the Maine Time Trial series. The race is held in Cape Elizabeth. The course is a 13 mile double loop that features long straight sections, long gradual climbs and winding sections. Temperatures are in the 50s and conditions are dry and calm. About 50 riders start the race. The main feature of this race is navigation. The course has a shorter loop within a larger longer loop. It is very easy to become confused or to forget to make the turn onto the inside loop, even though it is clearly marked. The course is in Frame and Wheel’s back yard, and it is still difficult to remember navigation details. The other feature of this course is the long straight sections on Route 77 that riders must complete twice. This is the second race for Frame and Wheel on an Austro-Daimler tt Carbon. Frame and Wheel sets off at 7:30. Traffic is light and there is little wind. Frame and Wheel makes the first right turn successfully onto Fowler Road. The section is rough in places and very flat. The second time down Route 77 seems to go on forever. Frame and Wheel makes the second right turn onto Spurwink Road successfully. The two steep climbs here bring out the drool and the rough road makes it hard to concentrate on maintaing speed. The last hill into the center of town has the legs burning. Frame and Wheel makes the sharp right turn into the school and goes for the line cautiously as there is another right turn that follows soon after. The race is over. Frame and Wheel completes the course in 29:43 (2011: 30:05) which is fast enough to win the day (One rider has a time of 25 minutes, but it later becomes clear that he missed the first turn and completed just the outside loop). Frame and Wheel congratulates all riders on their results and thanks the organizers and volunteers for putting on a great time trial.

The Internet of Bikes: Penn Bay YMCA Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #1)

The Penn Bay YMCA Time Trial is the first race of the Maine Time Trial series. The course is a 16 mile out an back that features gradual climbs, fast descents, long, open straight sections and strong winds. About 50 riders turn up for this race. This is the first race for Frame and Wheel on an Austro-Daimler tt Carbon. Frame and Wheel sets out soon after 9 am. There is a tail wind on the out bound section, but it is hard to notice. Frame and Wheel concentrates on the road, position and gearing. The road is rough in sections. The climb up to the turn around is as challenging as in previous years. A strong head wind greets all riders after the turnaround. The climb at mile ten brings out the drool and the following wind swept straights torture the mind. The Reduced Speed Ahead sign means that the finish line is 500 meters up the road at the end of a gradual climb. The race is over. Frame and Wheel’s time is 33:21 (2011: 33:45) and fast enough to win the day. Frame and Wheel congratulates everyone on their results and thanks the organizers for putting on what is a classic time trial race.

Frame and Wheel joins Doug Chaisson, Nate Smith and Nate Davis for a post race ride around Searsmont, Lincolnville and Hope. A great route that features some impressive vistas and the climb up the suitably named Hatchett Mountain.

The Internet of Bikes: Quabbin Reservoir Classic Road Race 2012

Frame and Wheel joins Eric Larrson and Eric Weinrich of the OA / Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team for the Quabbin Reservoir Classic Road Race in Ware, Massachusetts. The race is a popular and legendary race that features 4,000 feet of climbing, fast downhills and extraordinary vistas of the Quabbin Reservoir. Temperatures are in the upper 30s at the start and conditions are dry and clear (a wild improvement over 2011). About 80 riders line up for the 62 mile route in the forty plus category (Frame and Wheel almost misses the start to this event due to a Bike Talk-induced navigational Tronski that added an extra one hour to the drive).

There is an early and dangerous break that quickly gains one minute and the wheel van. Frame and Wheel is in no position to chase and rationalizes that there is a lot of climbing to be done and the wind is strong. Additionally, the field has many strong riders and it picks up a lot of speed on the big downhills. Frame and Wheel sits in. The race at times begins to feel like the Portland Velo Club Saturday morning ride: relaxed but brisk, unofficial but serious. Frame and Wheel is well-hydrated and well fed. 

The break is in view on the straight sections outside of Ware. The pace is high on Route  Nine; the break is out of sight but not far up the road. The field enters the park road and riders jostle for position. Finally, there is a genuine attack that strings out the field. Frame and Wheel joins in and gets to the front. The break is now in view and it looks tired. Frame and Wheel bridges over and gets to the break at 200 meters and from there goes for the finish. A glance under the arm reveals that there is a gap. There is a shout of encouragement from a single by stander. The line finally arrives and the race is over. Frame and Wheel makes brief salute, hoping that there is Graham Watson apostle covering this event who will immortalize Frame and Wheel’s first victory on an Austro-Daimler Superleicht in twenty-eight years (no such luck).Frame and Wheel congratulates team members and competitors on their performances and thanks the race organizers for putting on a great race.