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NSC Velodrome
You're receiving this email because you've been a participant or have expressed interest in participating at the NSC Velodrome. We invite to see what else is happening at the National Sports Center. |
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Thursday Night Lights Results
June 25, 2009
A perfect summer evening at the NSC Velodrome: mid-80s temperature, not much humidity and the fastest bike racing in the Twin Cities. Over 160 spectators showed up to enjoy the show put on by forty five racers. This week we'll highlight the racing in the women's peloton
WomenThe women's field started out with a 10 lap scratch race. The first three laps were spent looking at each other to see who would jump. That turned out to be Barb Harrick (Birchwood). Things stretched out but were bunched up again with 5 to go. With 3 laps to go Jenifer Fischer (Behind Bars/LGR) accelerated but Melissa Dahlmann (Flanders) attacked drawing Elena Dorr (Verve) and Heidi Dahlmann (Gopher Wheelmen). Despite furious pedaling over the last two laps, this was the finishing order with Linsey Hamilton (Synergy) taking 4th. The women's Miss and Out was held just after the Cat 3 Win and Out, ridden by the Dahlmann sisters. They were eliminated early in the Miss and Out. Harrick took 4th place when she faded off the pace. Ditto for Hamilton to take 3rd place. Sandy Gress (Synergy), in just her first night of racing, led Dorr up to the bell for the final lap but speedster Dorr attacked and took it home for the win. A 30-lap scratch race closed out the women's schedule. The riders were content to ride together and leave the contest to the final sprint. The routine was upset a little with 16 laps to go when the bell rang for a $25 Penn Cycle gift certificate for the first rider across with 15 to go. Heidi Dahlmann decided that was for her and rode off the front to win the prime. The pace stayed high for another two laps but then settled down to a watch and wait. With 8 laps to go Melissa Dahlmann went to the front and upped the pace leading the group for the next 6 laps. With 2 laps to go Dorr, who had been shadowing Melissa, rode over her. This was the signal for Heidi Dahlmann to attack with Dorr chasing. Heidi held on to win over Dorr by a nose at the line. Gress took 3rd over Melissa.
Place Rider Club Points
1 Elena Dorr Verve 7 2 Heidi Dahlmann Gopher Wheelmen 5 3 Melissa Dahlmann Flanders Cycle 3 4 Sandy Gress Synergy 2 5 Linsey Hamilton Synergy 1 Click here for the complete race report.
Click here for race results. |
Sponsored Race Feature: Salsa King of the Sprints-Keirin
 The season-long Salsa King of the Sprint competition in the Men's Cat 1/2 peloton continued this week with a Keirin. Two preliminary heats pared the field down to six riders. In the Keirin final, James Tainter (Silver Cycling) took first position behind the motor from the pole starting position. When the motor left the track with 2½ laps to go, Tainter kept up the high pace, keeping the other riders behind him. Tainter and Andy Frye (Loon State) got a small 5 meter gap on the others, but, at the bell, Chris Ferris (Sub 11) and Brian Crosby (Speedfix) went over Frye. Tainter used his speed and racing acumen to hold them off until the final turn. In the home stretch, however, Ferris accelerated through the center to win a three-way photo finish over Tainter and Crosby. Last year's King of the Sprint Ferris gets his first KOS win of 2009. |
Lauren's Training Advice - Avoiding Knee Pain
Lauren Loberg, our Emergency Medical Technician, spends her days as a Physical Therapist at OSI Physical Therapy - the Official Physical Therapists of the NSC Velodrome. As part of her support for the racers each week, Lauren offers regular advice on training, fitness and cycling performance. This week she talks about knee pain and ways to avoid it.
Knee pain is one of the most common overuse injuries in cyclists. A main location to this pain is under or below the knee cap, termed patellar femoral pain. There are three main causes of this pain in cyclists: bike fit, anatomical factors, and training errors. Bike causes can be a seat that is too low or positioned too far forward and poorly positioned cleats. Also a float that allows a poor range for foot rotation can increase knee strain. Our body's anatomical factors relate to poor biomechanics, usually created from muscular imbalances. Weakness in the abdominals, gluteals, hip, and back muscles can negatively effect the alignment of the lower extremity. In addition, our natural foot and ankle alignment can impact the angle of our knee. Commonly, if you need orthotics off the bike, special attention should be paid to inserts or wedging of your bike shoes and or cleats. Thirdly, training errors alone or in combination with the above can lead to injuries. The body needs time to adjust and accommodate to changes in training, including a change in surfaces, speed work, hills, and miles. Too many hills too soon and too heavy of a resistance are biggest training culprits to anterior knee pain.
 If you are experiencing anterior knee pain, reflect on the above three areas to identify which may be leading to your pain. If you have received a professional bike fit, keep in mind that both season-to-season and fitness level changes may require you to have additional adjustments or fittings. If anatomical factors are an issue, a physical therapist can help identify and correct these. Finally, if training errors are an issue, a training log or consultation with a coach can help in making correct workout progressions.
Lauren Loberg DPT
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Track Racing 101: Team Sprints
The Team Sprint matches two teams of three sprinters against each other and against the watch. Each rider of a team takes his or her turn leading the group for a lap at maximum effort. After the completion of lap one the lead rider pulls up and out of the race leaving the rest of the team to continue. After the second rider completes his lap at the front he also pulls up and out of the race allowing the third rider to complete the race. Often this race is run through heats advancing to a final. Sometimes as a time trial where the fastest time wins.
What to watch for: A fast, well-coordinated start is important. Riders must get underway as fast as possible. The second and third rider must quickly get positioned closely behind their lead rider in order to gain maximum draft so as to go fast and conserve energy and be as fresh as possible for their own effort at the front. Watch for gaps opening between riders. Compare the effort between teams as they start across the track from each other. | |
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Upcoming Events Calendar
Thursday, July 1, 7 PM
Thursday Night Lights, featuring the Penn Cycle Points Race.
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2009 Introductory Track Classes
Session Three: June 30, July 7, 14, 28
Session Four: August 4, 11, 18, 25
Classes start at 6:30 pm |
Latest Track Updates
Call the track hotline at 763.785.5651 for the latest updates about the track, including any weather related delays or cancellations.
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