Sweltering temperatures make for tough riding
I turned up in Dallas for the oldest criterium race in the State of Texas and since the race was held at 2pm for the pro 1,2 field, it was the hottest part of the day and during the race a high of 100 degrees was recorded (38 degrees Celsius) and this proved to be too much for a lot of riders, including myself. There were 46 starters and only 22 finished the brutal race. The course was almost like a figure eight with one 180 degree turn, a wide sweeping corner and four additional sharp narrow corners. Given the nature of the course it was always going to be better to be at the front of the peloton or in a break, otherwise riders will find it energy sapping to ride at the back. I thought the race was going to be 70 minutes but I was shocked to find out that in fact it was 90 minutes and I was riding to get through the 70 minutes and I dropped out at the 75 minute mark. By this point almost half the field had already been shelled out. I finished 25th. The race started at a ballistic pace with one rider jumping up the road to ride solo for the first 30 minutes before it was all back together. Initially I was feeling pretty strong and stayed near the front and whenever there was a lull in the pace, I would use the momentum to get me higher up. This was working well for me but after 50 minutes I started to feel the heat and was running low on fluids. I had two full bottles of Leppin Enduro booster and that was not enough. A number of riders had designated people to splash them with cold water in the ‘splash zone’ to help keep them cooler. I would get a few drops here and there from the spray but it was not enough to cool me down. My face was bright scarlet red and I felt like I was being cooked! For the last 15 minutes I was in the race, I was at the very back of the peloton, where I should not be as the ‘rubber band’ effect was much more profound here and I eventually ended up with dead legs.
When I pulled up to a stop, I was shaking with the exertion that I had to use my bike for stability. I quickly made for the shade under the tree and proceeded to drink two cans of ice cold cokes (felt like heaven!) and also drank five 750ml bottles and lay there for a good 20 minutes before I started to feel better. My heart took along time to actually start beating normally. I think I came very close to getting heat stroke and the amount of fluids I consumed after the race probably prevented it. Another factor that did not help me during the race was my new custom made Shimano shoes. These were US$330 shoes that were supposed to fit perfectly to your feet, and I have been using them for 3 weeks now… and they have been giving me more feet problems than my old Pearl Izumi shoes. In fact, during the race my whole right foot became numb and my left foot was in extreme pain right in the ball area. I was glad to get out them right after the criterium. So, I will need to talk to the bike shop again about these shoes. This criterium was my first taste of what Texas hot weather can be like, certainly hotter than any other race I have ever done.
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| | July 2008 | * Simon Kennett - Sat, 05th
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 05th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
* Simon Kennett - Fri, 04th
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* Simon Kennett - Wed, 02nd
* Simon Kennett - Wed, 02nd
* Simon Kennett - Tue, 01st
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| | June 2008 | * Lisa Morgan - Mon, 30th
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 30th
* Kieran Bennett - Mon, 30th
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 30th
* Simon Kennett - Mon, 30th
* Lisa Morgan - Sun, 29th
* Simon Kennett - Sun, 29th
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* Simon Kennett - Wed, 25th
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* Simon Kennett - Tue, 24th
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* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 23rd
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* Lisa Morgan - Mon, 23rd
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* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
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* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
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* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
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* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
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* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Samara Sheppard - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Sat, 21st
* Simon Kennett - Sat, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Tue, 17th
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| | May 2008 | * Kieran Bennett - Wed, 28th
* Kieran Bennett - Mon, 26th
* J Dog - Mon, 19th
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| | April 2008 | * Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Thu, 10th
| | March 2008 | * Samara Sheppard - Fri, 07th
| | December 2007 | * Lisa Morgan - Wed, 26th
| | November 2007 | * Daniel Carruthers - Thu, 08th
| | October 2007 | * Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 09th
| | September 2007 | * Kieran Bennett - Wed, 19th
* Geoff Acethorp - Mon, 17th
* Holly Kernonhan-Smith - Thu, 13th
* Kieran Bennett - Wed, 12th
* Olivia Johnston - Mon, 10th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 10th
* J Dog - Sun, 09th
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* Mark "Punter" Johnston - Sat, 08th
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* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 03rd
| | August 2007 | * Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Mon, 27th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 21st
* Kieran Bennett - Wed, 15th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 14th
* Olivia Johnston - Fri, 10th
* J Dog - Mon, 06th
| | July 2007 | * Kieran Bennett - Tue, 31st
* J Dog - Mon, 30th
* J Dog - Mon, 30th
* J Dog - Mon, 23rd
* Daniel Carruthers - Sun, 22nd
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* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 17th
* Olivia Johnston - Thu, 12th
* Cameron Cole - Wed, 11th
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* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Fri, 06th
* Mickey Fan - Wed, 04th
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* J Dog - Wed, 04th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 03rd
| | June 2007 | * Grant Herbert - Thu, 28th
* Kieran Bennett - Thu, 28th
* Olivia Johnston - Tue, 26th
* J Dog - Mon, 25th
* Harriet Harper - Thu, 21st
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Tue, 19th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 19th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Tue, 12th
* Mark "Cabin" Leishman - Tue, 12th
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* J Dog - Mon, 11th
* J Dog - Mon, 11th
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* Olivia Johnston - Sun, 10th
* J Dog - Sat, 09th
* Jazz Apple Cycling Team - Sat, 09th
* J Dog - Sat, 09th
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* Olivia Johnston - Fri, 08th
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* Cameron Cole - Tue, 05th
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| | May 2007 | * Mark "Punter" Johnston - Thu, 31st
* Kieran Bennett - Wed, 30th
* Geoff Acethorp - Tue, 29th
* J Dog - Mon, 21st
* Geoff Acethorp - Mon, 21st
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* Grant Herbert - Fri, 11th
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| | March 2007 | * J Dog - Tue, 20th
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* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Tue, 11th
* Cameron Cole - Wed, 05th
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* Junior DH Development Squad - Sun, 02nd
| | June 2006 | * Kieran Bennett - Thu, 29th
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* Bob + Chris - Sat, 24th
* JohnnyC's OE Race Reports - Thu, 22nd
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* Bob + Chris - Thu, 15th
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* Bob + Chris - Fri, 09th
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| | March 2006 | * Robyn Wong - Wed, 22nd
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