WTF Sprint Patterns
My mind has been on patterns. Pedaling a bike is nothing more than creating a pattern. I wrote before on my cycling being a practice, and one facet of that is the patterns I create on and off the bike. I've been thinking of what a good pattern or a bad pattern might be. Or whether patterns are binary or something more gray-scale that over time no longer serves us well. While I don't know the answer to that quandary, I know I'm seeking to grow and improve the patterns I create now, or learn new ones along the way.
Ive taken to more mirrors in my training room. I've slowly been seeing the value in self coaching. I watch my my elbow position and the insides of my rotator cuff muscles and lats to try. I want to tell the right parts of my body to move. On the bike, I've found a good angle to see my left foot through the pedal stroke. The view allows me to coach how I push the pedal through the shoe and I can try and make the flat pedal I seek.
But some things are harder to find in the mirror. I may find the improvements to my patterns, the improvements in the muscles in my shoulders, or even the changes in hair and body composition as I transition. Each change bringing a little more joy. But sometimes we need others to help us see the changes we need. We need someone else's perspective and advice. With that in mind, I joined a group of fellows femmes and thems for a bit of practice of a different pattern. Sprinting.
Organized by the TBD Women's squad, and spearheaded by Leah Goldberg and Shane Ferro, our squad for the day met up on a chilly Sunday to link at the end of the first Verge Series race in Prospect Park. Once racers and other participants were assembled, we made our way for Floyd Bennett Field. With fairly light traffic, we made use of the time practicing our group riding, forming side by side pace lines when feasible, and flattening out single file as necessary. In no time, we were crossing the Belt Parkway with the old airfield in sight. I had never race or ridden out at the airfield. My stoke was high.
Making our way through the obstacles of some other organization setup at the airfield, we found a clear runway near the back of the park with easy bathroom access, and a solid cross wind to battle in the middle. Leah and Shane kicked of introductions, and then Shane dropped some tips for our sprints. The advice that stuck with me most was a cue for the hips to help with positioning. She suggested we drive our hips forward, and with some much focus on my glutes off bike, I quickly looked to put this to practice. The cue helped pull out the off bike practice as I found myself doing early practice sprints.
Our first activity was just a bit of warm up and form sprints. Our goal was to feel out the form without doing too much work and to get a feel for the area we were riding. We did laps of the strip in groups of 3 and 4, lining it out horizontally to take space to try our form. After a bit, we moved into some head on sprints, again lining it out, and then trying to time our effort to see who could cross the imaginary line first. I saw my winter's work paying off, and could pull ahead of all but one of my group.
Next, we regrouped to work on our sprint train. With riders from Bad Pony, Continental-Ostroy, Kruis, and TBD, we largely paired off with our teammates in hopes of building a bit of cohesion for races to come. There was a nice cross section of runway, with a wind coming out of it for us to practice a sprint out of the final corner on the flame rouge. Our captains coached us on how to manage our pace line and about the front rider leaving a lane open in the corner with enough room for our train to come through. Ideally we would block out our competition in the process. Our group rotated through positions and I largely found myself as our sprinter. The wind was brutal to rush into, but with a few solid efforts, we made for the more calm sections of the main runway for a bit of more focused on practice.
The group was feeling the efforts of our practice and riding at this point. We agreed it was time for a final bit of fun before our journey home. The coaches called for a mini group race with a new finish and as one large peloton coming for a sprint finish. The plan was a lap of the field at a moderate pace, and then look for the line out past the intersecting strip, and make for it. The group got going, and I quickly looked to find the positioning I wanted, our teamwork maybe a bit forgotten. We rounded the first bend where I had gotten myself to the right outside front. I watched the other riders and noted who seemed to be moving up. Continental was ready to make their move. As we came out of the third and fourth corners towards the line, I made for my position. I saw the Continental riders start making a break. I sucked my core in, got my hip back and tried to focus on that push from my hips, as I made to wind up my sprint. My nemesis and I were off the front all of a sudden, but the line was closing. I was still seated, not ready to make the full effort. The line was coming and I knew I couldn't hit it any harder if I came out of the saddle. Second again. Seems like more practice is in order.
With fresh pattern practice under our belts, we made for snacks and goodbyes. Flatbush would take us home, albeit a bit more chaotic in Sunday afternoon traffic.
