Rund um den Henninger Turm 2008

or - How it all worked out.

What a day. After all the planned, training and more planing the big day has come and passed. The first big "A" race of the year is over and it was a goodie.

Getting Ready

I got up at 5am as my start was scheduled for 8:50am. I needed to eat a few hours before the start as to get the initial energy into my system and have time for it to settle. All this was planned and researched over the last few months. I also wanted to be at the race before 7am as there would be a traffic problem around the starting area and I didn't want that extra stress.

Chris and I had decided earlier that they would stay at home and watch some of the events on TV as it would be a really long day for them with little to actually see so I was on my own schedule:

Coffee at 5:25, cereal at 5:30, pack the car at 5:50, visit the restroom at 6:15 depart at 6:25. Weird I know, but it made me feel better to known the plan. I got to the parking lot near the race at just around 7am. First task of the day was done.

At the parking lot I finally had time to relax, time to think about the day and also enjoy the atmosphere. There were 100s of other cars arriving with many more riders and their "gear". We all were quiet. Unpacking our cars, slowly getting dressed. Occasionally saying "morning" to each other but more often just nodding in an understanding that we both were out for a challenge.

The day was starting off beautiful. Driving into Frankfurt I had to pull the shade down as the rising sun was passing without the clouds to shade it. It was cool, almost cold - around 5°C or just over 40F. I had spent the last 2 days studying the forecasts to get a better feel of how the day would turn out. A week out there was rain scheduled and about the same temps. I had told a few people that I was actually happy if the weather would be that way as I had spent 4 months training in it and that would be my advantage. I was chatting with a cycling buddy in Norway the evening before the race, do I wear long tights if the temps are only 10°C or try the shorts. Since there was still a good chance of rain towards the end of the race I opted for the long/long tights and jersey. It turned out to be a beautiful day.

The Plan

I had been assigned to starting block "E". There were 6 blocks and I was towards the end. I really didn't care where I was going to start but I had one goal I wanted to achieve; beat the cutoff of 2h20 and ride the long course up through Frankfurt. I had registered back in January for the 64K course up through the hills north of Frankfurt. During the last few months I began thinking that maybe the longer 100K race might be a better challenge. There was the one deciding factor, one must pass the 58K mark in 2h20 or else. Reason was that the pros were out on the same course and coming in after the amateur races were over. Anyone slower would just get in the way. Not too uncommon here when mixing pro and amateur races.

In order to make the cutoff I needed to maintain a 28kmh (16mph) pace over the hills which make up the first 2/3 of the course. 28 is not a problem on the flats but there are a couple of hairy climbs to get over here first. Starting in block E meant I was behind many of those who were going for the cutoff too - about 1000 of them. I knew if I were to make the time limit I would need to find a fast group to pace along with to get me the time advantage during the bit of flatter periods. Starting where I was meant a bit more work.

I went to the starting blocks at 8am, exactly when they opened up. I wanted to be near the front of the block and have a chance to catch a faster wheel from on of the proceeding groups. This meant I had to stand there waiting almost 50 minutes for the start after I had already warmed up for 30 minutes. So much for the warm up.

The Start

The start is what they called a warm start. There is not neutralized start but once the gun goes off it is race time. I was about 1000 people back from the front and it took me over 5 minutes to cross the starting line. This was 5 minutes from my goal to beat 2h20. As soon as there was a bit of space and everyone was clipped into their pedals the riding began. This was not any fun ride, this was going to be a race. Immediately I found myself in a group of at least 50 riders cruising down the streets around the town where the race started. This was a really nervous time as there were too many people around the the chance of crashing really high. I had a moment to glance at my bike computer and saw we were riding along at 48kmh (28mph). And I wasn't really working hard yet either. This was just the warmup of what was still to come.

The course could be broken down into the following sections; 20K warmup to Eppstein, the Schulberg, Glasshuetten, Ruppertshein and the cruise through the second 50K. All the climbs are in the first half of the race, Schulberg is only 500 meters long but comes right after the cobblestone section of the old town of Eppstein. I don't remember much of the old town but the cobbles had me shaking. Once of them there were suddenly many spectators along the course for the first time. I guess I knew why.

I had recon'ed the course 2 weeks earlier. I wanted to use a bit of my home field advantage. I needed to know a bit more of what the hills were like in order to prepare myself mentally for what was coming. I had skipped the Schulberg on purpose during that ride. I rode the others that day and determined that I was going to have to install the smallest gearing I had in order to make it up the hills. The ride up to Ruppertshain had me stop twice that day as I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. But back to the race.

1st Climb

Schulberg was lined with people. Some carrying banners. One read welcome to the Schmerzberg! Schulberg means "School on the Hill", Schmerzberg meant hill of pain and they were not kidding. When I got to the bottom I could see up the road where other riders had climbed down from their bikes to push them up the side of the road. 17% grade is what the average is. Short but sweet I guess. I was determined I would make it up the 3 climbs without walking and make the cutoff. That was my goal. Up the road in my smallest gear, 34x27. I was wishing I had a triple crank on the front as many others had. Still they were struggling up this steep incline.

I made it to the top and felt relieved. I had made it up the first hill. I had my first look at my heart rate monitor to hit the lap button - 193. Total red zone. I felt it too. It took the next few minutes to get my breath back but there was no one passing me either. Everyone was red faced and dazed. Even the pros don't ride much anything as steep. Longer yes but not much steeper. I needed to get back to a good rhythm in order to hit the next climb which is much longer in a good time.

2nd Climb

The climb to Glasshuetten is about 4K long (2.7m) and has an average grade 8% so nothing as steep as the one before but takes much longer. I had ridden this one before and was not really to dazed by it. I found the right gear and just kept rolling upwards. This took us to the highest spot of the course at over 500 meters. When I was here 2 weeks earlier I was riding through the frozen fog an the sweat was cold on my skin. I had learned in school that temperatures drop about 1°C for every 100 meters of elevation. We were climbing 400 meters so a loss of 4°C was to be expected from the start. This had all gone into my planning for the race including my choice of clothing.

It was 8°C at the start and I had watched others in short/short shiver. But now at around 10:30 I had expected it to be about the same as the start with the warming action going on. It was warmer. 14°C at the top of Glasshuetten and I was feeling it too. My long/long was getting warm. I grabbed a water bottle from the helpers at the top and down it quickly. Another gel with it and the first crazy decent began.

I knew I was pretty good at descending. I had seen it last year in the race at Wiesbaden where I would race by many others on the way down to town. This decent is over a mile and a half and had me going speeds over 75kmh (45mph). Tears running from my eyes on the way down but this felt a lot better than the climbing I had done. At the bottom of the decent the roads quickly turns into the climb up Ruppertshain.

Final Climb and Big Tactical Moment

This is one of the climbs the pros ride on later and already was lined with lots of spectators. About 1,2K long and 110 meters means it averages around 10%, which is a whole lot of pain. I made it up without stopping this time. But there was not time to look at the heart rate this time. Ruppertshain meant the final major climb. I needed to get back to the final objective of making the 2h20 cutoff.

I was passed by many people on the climbs. There is a formula which measures the power to weight ratio and this is really important when climbing hills on bikes. I carry a bit too much weight for the power I can generate. But that weight becomes an ally when descending. Watch a big rock roll down a hill versus a small stone and you will know what I mean. Heading down the first section of the long descent from Ruppersthain I saw part of a group I had been riding with going into the hills. They were a few hundred meters ahead of me and looking at their riding positions I knew they were enjoying the downward journey also. I was all alone, no one anywhere near me. I needed to make a decision quickly. Either wait for the next group to come by (how long might that be) or try to catch the quick group I saw ahead. Not knowing how my time was compared to the cutoff I decided to attempt to bridge across to the the group ahead.

I shifted to the big ring and dropped my hands to the lower bars and started pedaling as hard as I could. There was a slight decline and no discernable headwind (who can tell as 40kmh+?). I was riding my 50x13 or so and kept saying, "I hate my compact crank, I hate it!". Had I been riding my 53x13 I knew what I could be doing, but this mountain gearing was just not doing it. I kept my head down and concentrated on the chase. I felt that if I missed this break I would not make the cut. This was my mini Tour de Something experience. 3 minutes later I was on the wheel of the tail rider of the group I was chasing and had a chance to finally catch my breath.

Once the roads straightened out our speeds were between 45-48 and our group of 12 or so was really cruising along. Sooner then I had expected I saw the signs showing the route for those riding the short course. An announcer on the side of the road was pointing it out also. "Riders to Frankfurt straight on, riders on the short course to the right.". I had made the cut. Looking at my watch I saw that it was 10:50, 20 minutes ahead of the cut. Loads of time to spare.

Making the Cut

I had met all my objectives. Rode the hills without pushing, made the cut for the long course - now just need to ride another 40K to the finish. This was supposed to be the easy part; no more hills to fight with. I was exhausted. I had begun to feel it just before the decision to head to the short finish. One of my calves had a short cramp. It went away but I knew I was done. I was hot and had sweat too much through the warm clothes. I kept drinking when possible but this is tough when riding in a tight pace line with people you don't know. So probably I missed some of my fluids. At 80K we got to ride up the finish line of the pros, the Henninger Turm. 1000s of people and TV cameras lined the road. Barricades on both sides to keep the crowds back from the oncoming riders. This was to be the coup de gras for me, real lagniappe. While climbing the road to Henninger Turm, both calves were cramping as well as both hamstrings. I had my right hand in the air to indicate to following riders that I was in trouble, so go around. I was almost ready to hold onto one of the guard rails to stop and work out the cramps but I did not know what to do. How do you handle all these cramps on a small road with no where to lay down or stretch out? I kept pedaling to the top and around the corner, finally downhill again.

I was able then to find a gear I could pedal through but I did not have much left. I could not keep much pressure on the pedals as the tank was empty. I had pushed the red line too much in the hills. I only needed to make it another 20K to the finish and go home a winner. Everyone was tired by now. I was probably much more than many others but I just tried to keep up with the final group of the day I had met up with. Our speeds were now only about 28kmh but that was enough. My concentration was letting off and watching the wheel ahead was getting harder. I passed a guy who had just gone down with a few others. He looked OK but was crying. Almost to the finish line. The final 10K.

The Finish

My legs ached. I was afraid to drink as I might miss braking and run into the bike ahead of me. The roads were curvy and kept us constantly busy with braking and sprinting out of the corners. I saw signs for the shopping area where the finish was, I knew we were close.

Others sprinted to the finish, I held back. Usually, this is a fun part but I had already won my race. I had met all my challenges. I had spent all the months on the bike, readying myself for this and making the cut....I had won. I had won.

The Numbers

Here the numbers: 100KM & 1056HM in 3h10. Beat the cutoff for the long race by 20 minutes.

Thanks for reading this really long entry. I will be back. This was really a fun experience.

Parrothead