Predict your Caesars' Head Time 2010 Edition

[Chris Helwig]

Alright, so I admit I like to plan ahead. Winter will soon be upon us and motivation to train will only be helped by some good natured trash talk.

So here it is, lets start predicting our time up Caesar's Head for March Camp 2010. For some background for those that may be new to camp. Caesar's is a 10km climb at about an average grade of 6.5% There are steep pitches of around 10-12 percent, but it starts off easier at around 4%. The Official confirmed record belongs to Graydon Raymer at I believe 30 minute and 30 seconds. I think last year Jason Evaarert did the fasted time at around 31:30 or 32:00. Most M1 or Senior 1/2 riders can do it in around 34-36 minutes. The fastest women are around 40 minutes with most M2 or M3 riders in the low to mid 40's.

I will have to check my time, but last year was my fastest time in Modern i.e. not when I was a 1/2 history. Pretty sure I did 43:45 or so. My goals for next year are modest to go at least 46 seconds faster and break 43 minutes. What I found last year since I have power data from other years is I really didn't produce that much more power than previous years, but I was a few pounds lighter. Caeasar's is all about power to weight ratio, more motivation to keep the body weight in check. If I can have a decent winter of training and have my weight down to around 195 lbs I should be good to go for under 43 minutes.

Now tomorrow we will see if posting trash tonight makes me ride outdoors in the rain:eek:

[Chris Helwig]

Alright, checked my Polar file from last year. Went a bit faster than I thought with 43:01. Saying 42:30 sounds kind of lame, so I will go with breaking 42 minutes and taking at least 1:02 of my time from last year.

[Jackattack]

Last year I started my climb on Palmer's wheel but that didn't last. I finally caught up to him at the top finishing a couple meters behing Greg ~39 min. (43 min. the year before). I was one of the 1st who started the climb last year & I remember getting passed by alot of people. Guys like Marty, Jason & Andrew(Gorilla man) flew by me on the 1st half. I remembered from the previous year to hammer hard at the half way point where it gets relatively flat for 1km & that saved me some time. After that it gets steeper & that's when you need to dig deep. I'm going to try for 38 min. for 2010, I'm hoping Palmer is there again.

[Mel Bernier]

I would like to try for 40 to 42 minutes. I didn't go to SC last year so I am not sure what to expect by comparing my time of 2 years ago. I think it was 44 or 45 minutes.

[Chris Helwig]

Last year I started my climb on Palmer's wheel but that didn't last. I finally caught up to him at the top finishing a couple meters behing Greg ~39 min. (43 min. the year before). I was one of the 1st who started the climb last year & I remember getting passed by alot of people. Guys like Marty, Jason & Andrew(Gorilla man) flew by me on the 1st half. I remembered from the previous year to hammer hard at the half way point where it gets relatively flat for 1km & that saved me some time. After that it gets steeper & that's when you need to dig deep. I'm going to try for 38 min. for 2010, I'm hoping Palmer is there again.

Greg won't be at SC Camp next year, but don't worry, he will be doing lots of climbing as he is going to Tucson to train with Ted V. There will be lots of riders to chase doing 36-38 minute times of Caesar's.

[Chris Helwig]

I would like to try for 40 to 42 minutes. I didn't go to SC last year so I am not sure what to expect by comparing my time of 2 years ago. I think it was 44 or 45 minutes.

I will try to stay with you as long as I can Mel. Lori Caruso is coming again next year and I think she did around 41-42 minutes last year. Can't wait for Camp :)

[mann83]

I've always been in the 34-34:40 range. This will be my 4th attempt up that sucker and I know what my body can do. I'm quick, but by no means a "climber". If I start too hard I blow up, which I found out last year trying to stick with Jason wheel for the 1st km. I find if you get into a rythm right away and monitor the effort you can actually gain on the climb and catch the fading people as you go. Right below your lactate threshold is the key with a couple of efforts slightly above on the steeper stuff.

Looking forward to camp and all that climbing, so we'll wee what the numbers look like afterwards. Chris can you give us a run down of the people coming and what the groups might look like. I think you did a little anayisis last year like that so everyone had a bit of a target as to who they should look to for pacing.

See you at camp everyone. Man that was too nice for "trash talking", so that said catch me if you can:D.

[Chris Helwig]

OK, here goes. At the risk of offending some people, here is who is coming to camp and what I expect they should be able to do.

In the 33-35 minute group it is a smaller group than years past. I expect Marty and Leo St. Germain to do times in this range. If Trevor Dickenson recovers from his concussion he should be in this group.

36-38 minutes will be a decent group including Joel Cash, Todd Hoover, Gary Sewell, Tim Friesan, Jacques Bernier and Brent Campbell.

39-40 minutes should include Woody and Karim Marrouch, John de Boer and Tom Dell.

40-43 minutes should include myslelf, Melanie, Lori Caruso, Kory MacKinnon, Ted Mooney.

Everyone else I would expect to be somewhere between 44-49 minutes.

There are a few other people that are staying off site for camp that would slot in there somewhere as well.

[Chris Helwig]

Here is a link to a pic of George Hincapie on top of Caesar's Head:

http://twitpic.com/tmves

Cool pic. I need to drop 10 lbs by Camp to get close to my goal for the climb. Too bad Christmas season is going strong......

[McRae]

Great pic.

I'm stoked to check out the new movie "A Ride with George Hincapie", in which this guy in a car follows George on a ride around Greenville and up Caesar's Head, interviewing/heckling him the whole time. Kind of scary that George can ride up Caesar's Head faster than pretty much all of us, while giving an interview at the same time.

http://www.aridewithgeorge.com/

[Wheels]

Ok I am still trying for 30 minutes(31:30 last year).....I will be lighter this year so we shall see....Very tough goal for sure but I like to set the goal hard and work like hell to improve. I believe I have improved my time every year so if that trend continues I will be happy. Going hard like that early in the year just hurts that much more:cool:

[mann83]

Jason,

All I can say is good luck man. How much lighter are you going to be? I think this year I'm coming in a little under form so not sure what to expect. Don't get me wrong I'm going to hammer. I also think riding to Furman on day 1 will be better for me than Saluda was last year. Remember how hard we went on the climb into Saluda J? I was definitely tired going into Ceasars. I would be happy with 33-33:30 up that sucker.

That said we're almost out of time to talk. Anyone else getting stoked about camp? This winter has sucked for riding. Bing on the hills and some decent weather.

[Wheels]

About 10Lbs lighter.....should make a difference I think.....but we shall see. I used to put a lot of stock in how I went up that climb....but ......with experience I have learned that it is training and that is all. We do not need great form at camp.....we need great form for our races....sure it is a good indicator ....so it is what it is. I would love to try that climb in season.
If anyone is interested I have started a blog jasoneveraert.blogspot.com I will try and keep it up to date and then if people want they can follow the trials and tribulations of my move to Elite racing/ Coaching and Juggling it all with Family. Should be kind of interesting. haha

[Chris Helwig]

I am hoping to be close to last year, within 1 minute would be a good goal. Based on testing and my Florida Camp I am only a little behind last year. Weight wise about the same. Last year was a PB time up Caesar's, so anything close would be good.

Wheels, the official camp record is 30:30 by Graydon. 30:29 would be a good goal to own the CC camp record. Weight is a huge factor on that climb.

[mann83]

Jason, how did you manage to lose 10lbs? My god man, you're gonna fly up that thing this year.

[Wheels]

Jason, how did you manage to lose 10lbs? My god man, you're gonna fly up that thing this year.

More calories out than in......fruit and veggies for snacks and smaller portin sizes for meals......I think I am at about 8% body fat....sooo I am not sure I want to go to much lower. I am not like crazy strict either....I still have the occasional cheater snacks and meals.

We will see how fast I get up that sucker....It will be fun thats for sure!

[Chris Helwig]

A week from today most people will be making the drive down to SC. A week from tomorrow and we will all be heading for Furman :)