TotalCyclist motors to the Giordana Velodrome with Bobby Lea
Thad Fischer of the Giordana Velodrome gave me a call one night two weeks ago and asked if I would be the first one to motorpace at the new Giordana Velodrome. Though the track isn't officially open to motorpacing (There are varying reasons why we haven't started motorpacing and they all make complete sense) Bobby needed to be ready for the Olympics and our track provided the perfect course for the horse.
We were going to motorpace 2-4 times throughout the week. Most of the work was going to be done in 20 minute blocks. Most of it behind the scooter at 60 kph. The first session..well. It was the first session EVER on that track. My comfort in motorpacing, on a 1-10 scale usually teeters in the 8-9 range. I'm just comfortable doing it. But, this is a whole new deal. Turning on a 250 meter track at 40-50mph for 40 minutes takes a shiite ton of concentration (from both of us!)
Brian Walton and the guys at Walton Endurance dialed up a great week of training for Bobby. I just became the conduit to make it happen. Sounds simple! Well. The wind and the battle with the constant rain made it always a challenge. My job was simple. Torch Bobby!
The first sets of the 2 x 20 minutes were usually "sitting on" at speed and then the last 5 dial it up past 70KPH. Then Bobby would sprint.
The second set consisted of 20 minutes and every 10 laps he would sprint around me to the line, drop back in on the 45 degree banking and repeat. Honestly the hardest thing is keeping focused for BOTH of us for 40 minutes.
In the end it was great fun...and great training for Bobby. The last sprint on the last day I WAS NOT going to let him get by me..and thus completed toasted him. Yeah yeah..the jersey on the wall reads: I smoked the Olympian with my sprint. (Just happened to be on a scooter and I still think he got me)
I took him to a famous German restaurant for a beer and food...and to talk about.. well..everything.
Kudos to Bobby, his coaches and the Giordana Velodrome for preparing him for 2012 Olympic Games!
