OH MY GAWD! SWEET ALPENROSE!!!
WOW! So I left early in the morning, with a few personal delays, to get to Jane's house in Seattle. I picked her up, loaded my car and Jane and I left Thursday morning around 9:15 to drive down to the Sodo district to get her more kit pieces. She has joined a new team this year - Starbuck's - so she was wanting to pick up more pieces to take with her to Alpenrose. Then we were off. We were on the freeway just south of downtown by 10 am. We drove straight down there (1 gas stop in Milton, one rest stop spot near Tumwater, and one near Vancouver, WA). We arrived - thanks to the BIB in my car - at Alpenrose around 1:30. A bit behind schedule but only 30 minutes! We drove up and we were like OH MY GAWD! Jane's jaw dropped. I was laughing and just figuring out where to park, focused on going to the bathroom again and wanting to just get on the track. We were advised by one of my team mates NOT to look down over the rail but rather to just take all your belongings and go down there. I went to the bathroom and when I walked out I see Jane's hanging over the rail. Dropping some F* bombs and OH MY GAWDS!!!! We were just laughing.
Quick note about statistics between Alpenrose vs. Marymoor. Per the OBRA/Alpenrose track website:
Alpenrose Velodrome is one most exciting tracks in the United States. At 268.43 meters around with a 16.6 meter radius and a 43 degree bank, Alpenrose is also one of the steepest velodromes in the country. The steep banks make races on the velodrome interesting to watch and just plain fun to ride. Alpenrose is still home for the only North American Six-day race.
Because Alpenrose track is not your typical 25 to 33 degree banked track (it is between 42 and 43 degrees on both banks according to one grade meter), so at least one or two training sessions are recommended before venturing out for a mass start race. You especially want to get use to riding the short radius corners although the upper transitions have been improved for safety.
Compared to the Marymoor Velodrome is 400 meters with a 25 degree bank. It is known as the 'concrete monster' as it is so large.
Our goal is to go up this winter as well to Burnaby, located in Vancouver, B.C., which is 200 meters, 43 degree banking and a wood track. Much smaller and faster than Alpenrose. One day perhaps Victoria's Juan de Fuca Velodrome as well which is 333.4 meters with 30+ degree banks and concrete.
So we got our stuff together, got changed and headed down to the track. We first had to check out the 'track record' board. WOW! Amazing what speeds. Hey and we recognize some of the names of those we have rode with such as Jennie Reed! Oh my goodness! It was so odd. Then we had to walk down to the rail and get down to the track. We had to use a 'ladder', or as Jane called it a "SUBMARINE LADDER" to get DOWN to the track. We were having to carry the bikes, our bags and everything. HOW BIZZARE was this!? It was very odd for us as on Marymoor you just jump a rail and you are on the track. All level on the ground. So we are just looking at this track in awe. How small it was, how steep it was and how we were like - we're going to ride this?! AH ok... let's do it. As we're riding around the apron it felt like we were riding against a wall when we were in the 'turns'. Turns 3 and 4 felt 'pinched' so as you were riding around it, trying to gain speed, you lost your 'line' and kept going towards the wall. Jane was the first one to venture out on the track. Seeing her do it made me realize I had to do it so I went out. Ok.... got to stay at least 15 mph (although others told us 12 for 'contact' and others said AT LEAST 18 to feel safe) to stay on this track. I started cruising at 17 or so and stayed upright for a few laps. I then felt tired and got back down on the apron. Turns 3 and 4 were not as 'centrifigual force' like for me as most talked about. I imagined it would get worse on higher speeds but even later it still felt more like I got pushed DOWN rather than the usual UP.
So Jane and I went out a couple more times. I think my third time I decided to venture above the blue line. Jane was quite impressed by that and tried it herself. It was so exhilirating and awesome and scary at the same time. So then we went over to talk to a gentleman that worked for OBRA and picked his brain a lot about the track, speeds, starts and so on. We learned they do rail starts. HUH?! You had like 20m to get up to speed. DANG! OK! He told us many times they start the race and they drop down to the apron to catch 'speed' around the turn and get up on the track on the back straight. We were realizing that this track, unlike Marymoor, has no little 'vacation', 'catch your breath', 'rest', 'unwind', 'hold back' type areas. You were ALWAYS on for this track. We also learned that their 'points races' at the end of the season are BIG! Like 40 laps or so. The men were like 55 or so. UGH! Ok. We did a few more efforts, took a few pictures and then had the BIB take us to town for a restaurant. It was quite entertaining as we tried to go to 2 different Thai restuarants but they seem to be closed between 3 and 4:30 and it was 3:30. We had to be back at the track around 5 for a 6:30 race start. We finally gave into Mexican, in the Highlands area, as we sat and talked about how we were feeling to race. Both of us felt physically drained of any energy, being the end of the season, and weren't sure we wanted to race. We felt like if it was 40 laps or so we would not.
We got back to the 'drome and hung out for a bit as no one was really there but the volunteers getting ready to work. One gentleman, Dean, was cleaning up people's bikes. Lo and Behold Alan K., from Broadmark, showed up from Seattle. We see him on Marymoor all the time. WOW! Ok... now Jane and I are feeling we can't back down... good thing! :) So we signed up, got our stuff and went to the infield. Some guy, in the stands, showed me how to use the rail area to set my bike down - on the rail - as I crawled down the 'submarine ladder'. Later, another guy showed me how to use the other rail to get the bike out. Now I know the secret of the locals. :) We did a warm-up. I jumped into a 'pace line' of 2 younger junior girls. They were going pretty fast and we did about 12 laps or so and then I pulled out. It was tiring to be going so fast so long. It just felt different. Although, I now have a new goal to not 'sleep' so much on Marymoor and to treat it more like it is a small track - to build up speed, strength and endurance.
We were the first race. Field of 7. 35 laps. UGH! (35 laps is almost 6 miles as about 6 laps = 1 mile on their track. That was about 2 miles more than in any one race we ever raced at Marymoor. Also - it would be at higher speeds CONSISTENTLY.) They started us at the rail and Jane and I were at the back. I realized, as we took off, these girls were NOT dropping to the apron. I quickly wound my legs up to get to speed as I worried about sliding down the track in the turn. I later found out that since our field is so small they don't necessarily drop to the apron in those circumstances. GREAT! I was able to stay with the pack for about the first 5 or 6 laps - the first sprint and then some... then I dropped.... completely off. I was lapped 3 times the whole race. OH MY GAWD! NEVER have I been lapped before; nonetheless, that many times. It was humiluating. Jane was off the back, but ahead of me, and was able to pretty much stay much closer to the field then I ever was. She was only lapped 1 time. I was in the 'sprint' lane knowing they were coming around but even though I was going 19-21 I didn't feel I had 'energy' or 'leg strength' to go up above the blue line. I stayed low. Laps 22 to 21 I realized I need not look at the lap board so much but I did. I also kept thinking - just pull off, no don't pull off, no one is here to be humiluated in front of, no don't pull off, you'll be stronger, it's a good workout, so don't pull off. I kept going. The 2nd and 3rd times I was lapped I finally went above the blue line realizing I was ok. After the last sprint I was kind of feeling a 2nd wind and felt bad one of the girls that stayed in the main pack was off. I kept thinking I could find enough oomph to pull her up and then peeter off but I just couldn't. We didn't think we could do it - but we DID! We did it and we are better off for so many reasons because of it!! WOOHOO!!!
Jane and I continued to socialize with others, watch the races and cheer on Alan. He was on his way down to LA for nationals. NICE! We hope he will do well! He did awesome out there - scoring points - for his first time on that track. Everyone was so sweet down there, so informative and so friendly. It was funny to hear how many have never been to another track which is very common for those that race at Marymoor as well. It was just quite interesting. We invited people up and told them they really need to try it and that we hope to get down there more next year! SWEET!
We left and made the BIB tell us the short, but semi-long, way to the hotel. We LOVED the hotel. It was awesome, very high quality and we were able to use my entertainment book coupon to have a $110 room for 1/2 price! NICE! We quickly unloaded and then enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi for awhile. Relaxing and talking. We were both pumped with ideas (like wow - did you hear the paint crinkling under your wheel? Yeah! I imagined a paint chip loosening and sliding my front wheel down the track), workout info, goal info and so on. We talked about our coach, others that we race with and so on. We are pumped and managed to find our passion for track again. We then turned in for a good night's sleep.
We woke up on Friday morning and packed up to leave, check-out and go for breakfast. We got a bit of a late start but no worries. So we used the BIB to find a breakfast place. We found a perfect named place - Sisters of the road! Awesome! Sweet and so appropriate! So we were on our way. It took us through the Hollywood section which we were quite impressed by and then down to the 'Old Town' section of Portland. Ah yeah! Ok... it was like the 'pioneer square' area of Seattle. It was - as I stated at the time - "Scary Seattle". Ok... so we being the 'princesses' that we are decided to go back to "HOLLYWOOD". We found a place called "Biscuits Cafe" on "Sandy Blvd". We really enjoyed it. Such a quaint, nice, clean and quiet little cafe. The food was SPECTACULAR! It was great!
We were just a block away from "Bike Gallery" so we walked up there to see it. Jane saw they were very into mountain bikes and decided to ask about some 'chain tensioners'. SCORE! She got some for her bike! On top of that, we spoke to this guy - Dean - who races for Team Rubicon. He also came up to Marymoor for the FSA Grand Prix. Jane totally remembers him and his "Orbea" bike. So we had a long discussion with him about the Alpenrose track. Again, such sweet people! He even looked up their 'recorded' sprint times that different women (and the men) had. Now Jane has even more goals as they usually do timed sprints on Friday nights. Jane's found a nitch and she wants to pedal with it! :) Hee hee She'd need to have a 200m around 13 seconds and a 500m around 42 seconds to really be competitive with their more 'top end' people that showed up this year.
Off we went and returned back to the velodrome. We did another hour workout there. There was a gentleman, Tim Luther, that was out there. He was giving us some tips about sprinter's type cleats/straps for Jane to look into purchasing. He gave us tips about how to use the track banking, jumps and so on. On Thursday we were just in awe to be on the track, feel the track under our wheels, feel the speed and so on. We didn't have the guts to do jumps. Now we wanted to do jumps. So we did. I did the first one although I didn't have enough guts to stand up. I just took the line. It felt so odd to be against the rail, although I didn't get as close as I normally do on Marymoor; nonetheless, be looking DOWN the track as such a steep bank. YIKES! Jane was right behind. Jane did 3 and I did 4. It felt good. Jane looked really good up there and I could tell she was feeling more comfortable to stay above the blue line. It took a LOT more effort to stay UP in speed PLUS climb the "HILL" of the banking and keep that speed up. OY! Our legs still felt toast but it felt sooooooo good to be out there, on a different track, experience different things and learn different things. It was odd because as soon as you gained speed you were thrown into the turns and had to maintain that speed and fight the centrifugal force and not so smooth turn transitions. Afterwards, Tim asked me if we wanted to do a cool down with him. I said sure and got Jane to join us. We did 15 cool down laps at 17-21 mph. It felt really good. Jane said I looked really smooth out there. She looked really awesome doing jumps out there. I think if she got to ride that track more she could really kick some butt out there and on Marymoor! She was in her element! She looked strong! I want to see her succeed out there - on the track - with her sprints. We thanked Tim for talking with us and helping us out. WOW! We were so impressed by everyone and how sweet and open they were. The area - Alpenrose Dairy Farm - that the velodrome is located is just so special in its own way. It was truly an awesome experience. We took pictures of us laying against the track and sitting against the track just to show how easy it was to be on it. I mean look how easy it is to 'perch' against it.
Jane and I had a lot of fun and we really enjoyed talking about the passion we have for track as we ventured back home. I dropped Jane off around 7 pm and on my way home - having just enough light - I decided to stop and get pics of the velodrome, as I did with Alpenrose, with nobody on it. I couldn't take it though... I almost didn't do it... but I was there... I had to know... what does it feel like after riding that short track? I thought - oh you can wait til Sunday to venture out but my legs wanted to immediately feel the difference. So I quickly through on my helmet and shoes, wearing my street clothes, and took my bike out there.
WOW! What a difference to be out there! My legs were fried - FRIED - but I could tell the difference. The "uphill" didn't seem so "Uphill" anymore. I was able to maintain at least 17-18 mph on the turns and easily pick up speed of 19-22 on the flats. I even tried to do a few jumps and couldn't maintain it for long but felt like oh my god this is so long!!! The turns so flat, easy, smooth and effortless. I even played with going into turn 1 and 2 at 11 mph. It felt slow as molasses and odd to hold that knowing that 12 was the straight away sticking point for Alpenrose. WOW!
So many things to think about and do to get us up to speed for next year! My passion is back for the track!
Also, Jane recognized the name Tim Luther so I did some research and this is what I found. Needless to say, we feel very special that we got the chance to ride with such an Alpenrose Legend. WOW! It is incredible the people we 'run into' on the track, ride with, talk with and race against. AWESOME!
Excerpt from the bicycle paper, see link below.
http://www.bicyclepaper.com/bp/issues/Aug06/bp1.htm
The Olympic Sprint, which showcased a breathtaking
display of high-speed coordination, saw a trio of
exceptionally well-muscled and powerful lads from the
Burnaby Velodrome in British Colombia give a clinic on
cohesion, execution, and speed. They won their third
consecutive title in this event, in 54.36, only a half
second off the track record. Keith Bruneau, Barlee,
and Matt Chater (Fast Twitch Cycling) are so well
matched that only 0.01 of a second separated their
flying laps times! Locals Stephen McLaughry and
Copeland brought Alpenrose legend Tim Luther out of
semi-retirement and earned silver in 55.46, while Team
Rubicon's Dean Tracy, Steven Beardsley, and Abers took
third.
http://rogue.northwest.com/~velo/tr98spr.htm
http://rogue.northwest.com/~velo/tr98stg.htm
This is partial result information for the 1998 State Games
STATE GAMES OF OREGON
ALPENROSE VELODROME - JULY 12, 1998
Portland, Oregon
OLYMPIC SPRINTS
CANADIAN COMP TEAM 57:32
JOE HAILEY, TIM LUTHER, DON GILMORE
http://www.obra.org/track/records/1998.html
Dean Tracy, from the bike shop, is awesome in his own right as well! He did great at our FSA Grand Prix at Marymoor for Team Rubicon.
http://www.fsagrandprix.com/FSA_GP_Results.pdf
http://app.obra.org/results/racer/5960
http://www.butlerpress.com/cycling/2003/six_day/six_day_1.html
http://www.velonews.com/race/trk/articles/6602.0.html
http://www.cyclingforums.com/showthread.php?t=29215
http://www.cyclingforums.com/showthread.php?t=29215
Oregon riders at US Track Nationals
August 15th, 2005
Local racers claimed a whopping 13 medals at this year’s U.S. Track National Championships in Los Angeles.
Here’s the rundown:
Silver
U23 Pursuit; Walker Starr
Bronze
Sprints; Heather Vanvalkenburg
Pursuit; Walker Starr
U23 Kilo ; Dean Tracy
Team Sprint; Jen Featheringill
posted by Seattlebiker @ 9:09 PM
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