Minuteman Road Club

Saw this on the MRC Strava page http://app.strava.com/clubs/559

Matt Mitchell has commented on the Minuteman Road Club page.

Cratty challenged the MacGregors to a TTT after viewing our assault on Nashawtuc this morning. We're in - whenever, wherever. all equipment goes - including your recumbents. rules are 8 riders, all in team kits with instagrammed evidence at start, time measured in 5th fastest rider. Race need not be same time... just needs to be strava segment. let the chatter begin.

Fun!

Where's Nashuatuc?

Sudbury/Concord Road, runs south from 117 through Nashautuc CC. Pretty sure I've seen that you've been on it already.

I think I remember seeing a helmet cam filmed assault on that segment on youtube a few months back. Anyone have a link?

Yep, definitely done that a few times. My time is actually solo on a TT bike. No wonder he suggested that segment. He and a few guys just really threw down there yesterday. Their 5th guy was 4:45, which is 30 seconds faster than me solo on a TT bike. So it is definitely fast.

Oooh I'm all over this. Willing to break out the TT bike even. What direction is the seg? Start or finish at 117?

Start at 117, which makes it nearly all downhill.

Yes I may have challenged him. And yes I may have had a few beverages at the time. Still I think we have the depth to overcome their possible advantage of high end natural ability (or EPO). I don't think we actually have to do Nashautuck, I think we can pick a segment of our choice. I was highly considering Taylor Road Return Trip, but if we can win Nashautuck even better. With that said we need 8 guys who are willing to suffer on command, and since I made the challenge, its my command. Rusto will be required for FOTO purposes. Otherwise the 8 guys probably know who they are, and will be hearing from me shortly. Also, we'll need a traffic cop at 117, since I expect we'll be hitting that intersection at approximately 32.7mph.

Some other notes:

1. You can now thank me for demanding Shoe Covers. Every second counts
2. Skin Suits
3. TT Bike (sorry I sold mine) or clip ons a bonus
4. If you can't put out 500 watts in the saddle this might not be a challenge for you
5. Smudger will buy beer afterwards
6. I propose we do this on Aug 6th (tues). A relaxed ride from Stow Plaza, win the TTT, then have a few beers at the Ginger Chinese place.

Stay tuned.

Aug 6 Aruba. Amazing length I'll go to avoid buying beer

We are Ricky Bobby. They are Jean Girrard. They have their fancy bikes, shaved legs, lattes, and sparkling water. We have our big hairy American racing machine. Oh....crap. We have fancy bikes, I am the only one hairy, we drink lattes, and some of us aren't even American. Screw it, let's take them on. At least we have our beer regardless of the result. As the late great Colonel Sanders said, "I'm too drunk to taste this chicken."

Let's bring it. We need Smudger (for organization & power) and Rich (pure power). Of course we need Chris and Jeremy, as well as Stefan. Myself and a few others can fill out the team. 5 minutes of pure gut wrenching effort if we do Nashutuc. I kind of like Stow return trip idea.

My 2 cents worth of suggestions
If the target time is 445 (or ideally a little better than that) with 8 guys, then you want to do about 35-40 seconds of work per man.
Don't forget that the first pull is for getting everyone up to full speed by the time you reach the segment start. (on the fly)
Some of you guys can hold your top power for at least 40 seconds. Someone like me would be better at doing 2 twenty-second pulls.
Each guy should figure out how they want that type of breakdown to go. Guys doing 2 short pulls go first and then go again at the end. Guys doing one longer pull would start at the back of the line and do their pulls in the middle of the segment.
Guys without serious TT bike experience should be wary of using a TT bike in a tight paceline. The TT bike has no advantage except for when you're on the front. You're better off just keeping a tight formation until the final 40 seconds or so. If you split off a few guys at the end that's OK if #5 stops the clock.

I'm no time trialist but two bursts for 20 seconds of power is a different story. Let me know if you want or need a number 8.

We need Smudger so he can yell out unintelligible commands in Scottish. Perhaps we do this on a WNR later in August. I agree with Coley on the TT bikes, most don't have them and they probably wouldn't help us that much anyway. We'll go for the pure power approach.

WNR sounds good, just not the 7th (witches cup). I'm definitely a 40 second-er, but the more important questions might be

How long can you hold 600 watts steady?
Will you be able to kick again to catch back on the train?



For filming? 2 words -- HELMET CAM

Spoke with Michael Cole about the TTT this morning. I would be happy to join you guys with Road or TT bike, if you want or need another MRC "Time Trial-er". Tom

Hell, I'm not even a MRC club member but will help you on your quest to glory if needed! My FTP is 356W and definitely can pull strong on anything other than steady up.

scottc wrote:Hell, I'm not even a MRC club member but will help you on your quest to glory if needed! My FTP is 356W and definitely can pull strong on anything other than steady up.

With those kind of numbers you need to post your weight in KG to establish your PWR bonafides. also.... wow.

Saw a bunch of 545 guys on top of Middlebury Gap yesterday. They mentioned this. I'm in.

I very rarely ride this in that direction, so I did this morning. I don't know who said it's downhill...but it's clearly not. I put a reasonable effort in, just to see how bad it's gonna suck. I did it in 5:32, and it sucked. As did my effort. We should wait until there's a tailwind or something. Or perhaps we could get on the draft of a Box Truck. Seriously, though, the hardest part is going to be getting through the stoplight with a head of steam. And then the second hardest part is going to be getting on back of the train when you're done with your pull. All I have to say is: "Smudger isn't going to be the guy pulling after me..."

Oh yeah...and I'm out of town Aug 3-10 and Aug 17-23.

onegeardoug wrote:Seriously, though, the hardest part is going to be getting through the stoplight with a head of steam.

Just make sure you are coming east on 117 so you can take a right onto the course. Getting across 117 involves a dead stop 98% of the time.

I looked at the segment on strava and it appears that out doesn't start right at 117, but a little bit down the road.

carlshimer wrote:

scottc wrote:Hell, I'm not even a MRC club member but will help you on your quest to glory if needed! My FTP is 356W and definitely can pull strong on anything other than steady up.

With those kind of numbers you need to post your weight in KG to establish your PWR bonafides. also.... wow.

188 lbs or 85 kg for 4.17 W/kg...

Sounds like fun. In if I can help. Scheduling might be difficult though.

I ride that segment pretty regularly commuting home from work. There is almost always wind in the afternoon, you are exposed to a cross wind going through the golf course, then a headwind after that. Notice that they did it in the early morning.

-Chris