Monday, January 28, 2013
Teenager Tramatization Article Paragraph Response
That is one big title. Good thing I have this enormous document to go with it.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The "Criterium Race"
In road cycling there are three types of races. A "road race" is usually on a semi-closed course that is large, and the race covers anywhere from 35-180 miles (at the pro level) and can have long climbs and long open flat roads exposed to the wind. Road races are the races like the Tour de France. Another type of race is the "time trial," A time trial is a race against the clock. Usually raced on one's own (sometimes there are team time trials, where a number of racers can be used), and it is purely a race against the times of others competing on the same course. Drafting, riding in the slipstream of another rider to reduce wind resistance and save energy (up to 40% less energy is used in some cases), is not allowed in these types of races, so the stronger and more aerodynamic riders do well and set the fastest times for the course.
And then there is the "criterium." Think Nascar, but on bikes. I'll explain my past few races in hopes to show how a criterium race works, and what makes some riders more fit for them.
I started training for cycling races this January by racing in the Early Bird Crit series in Fremont. every Sunday I would drive to a less-than-booming business area and along with many others, take advantage of the newly paved roads and course set up by the mentors and race officials. A criterium is a fast paced race based on laps. Criteriums are usually races on courses not much more than a mile or so in length, and the race is based on time. A blog that has a few good examples of criterium courses is right over here. I've been racing twice each Sunday, once as a Cat 5 racer, and once as a Junior (under 19) racer. The Cat 5 race was 40 minutes (give or take 5 minutes), and most recently we averaged 24.6 mph. The Junior race was shorter and less organized, averaging only 23 mph. Because Criteriums are shorter than everage races they usually have the highest average speeds, and range from a pretty easy course to a very technical one.
Criteriums are intense, action-packed races where the riders are constantly jockeying for position in the peleton (pack of riders). As this page will explain, criterium racing is close quarters and fast; it's easy to get boxed in by other guys in a corner or during a sprint, so it's critical to always know where the riders around you are. Criterium races are fast and filled with adrenaline, and favor riders who feel comfortable bumping shoulders with others in a pack and who have a lot of brute force.
Brute force? I've been riding for awhile, and can pump out a decent 750 watts in a sprint (yes, I am aware most people have no idea how to gauge that effort), but I'm a lighter guy. I like climbing a lot more than I like flat courses against the wind. The bigger, stronger guys do well against the wind, and do better on flatter terrain where a weight-to-strength ratio doesn't matter as much. Because of this, I have to change up my tactics in order to get a chance at placing in any of these races. If the pack is altogether at the finish, a field sprint will ensue, and the stronger riders will battle it out. But, if I manage to break away from the front group, in a "breakaway" (I know, aptly named), I may only have to sprint against a few other riders. In my first junior criterium I initiated a break with four laps to go, and stayed away from the main group until the finish with four other guys. I got third, mainly because I worked too hard on the last lap, but it was really fun and a great learning experience.
And then there is the "criterium." Think Nascar, but on bikes. I'll explain my past few races in hopes to show how a criterium race works, and what makes some riders more fit for them.
I started training for cycling races this January by racing in the Early Bird Crit series in Fremont. every Sunday I would drive to a less-than-booming business area and along with many others, take advantage of the newly paved roads and course set up by the mentors and race officials. A criterium is a fast paced race based on laps. Criteriums are usually races on courses not much more than a mile or so in length, and the race is based on time. A blog that has a few good examples of criterium courses is right over here. I've been racing twice each Sunday, once as a Cat 5 racer, and once as a Junior (under 19) racer. The Cat 5 race was 40 minutes (give or take 5 minutes), and most recently we averaged 24.6 mph. The Junior race was shorter and less organized, averaging only 23 mph. Because Criteriums are shorter than everage races they usually have the highest average speeds, and range from a pretty easy course to a very technical one.
Criteriums are intense, action-packed races where the riders are constantly jockeying for position in the peleton (pack of riders). As this page will explain, criterium racing is close quarters and fast; it's easy to get boxed in by other guys in a corner or during a sprint, so it's critical to always know where the riders around you are. Criterium races are fast and filled with adrenaline, and favor riders who feel comfortable bumping shoulders with others in a pack and who have a lot of brute force.
Brute force? I've been riding for awhile, and can pump out a decent 750 watts in a sprint (yes, I am aware most people have no idea how to gauge that effort), but I'm a lighter guy. I like climbing a lot more than I like flat courses against the wind. The bigger, stronger guys do well against the wind, and do better on flatter terrain where a weight-to-strength ratio doesn't matter as much. Because of this, I have to change up my tactics in order to get a chance at placing in any of these races. If the pack is altogether at the finish, a field sprint will ensue, and the stronger riders will battle it out. But, if I manage to break away from the front group, in a "breakaway" (I know, aptly named), I may only have to sprint against a few other riders. In my first junior criterium I initiated a break with four laps to go, and stayed away from the main group until the finish with four other guys. I got third, mainly because I worked too hard on the last lap, but it was really fun and a great learning experience.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Newer Generations on Airline Security
No, I don't have any memory of pre 9/11 airplane travel, racial profiling, or national security. I was still at the age where I thought airplanes dropped people off in front of their houses, and flew away based on magic. The most prevalent thing I have learned from these essays is simple; to me, the racial profiliing, national security, and of course, airline security, is completely normal.
Let's start with the airlines. I have no real airline exposure from the days before 9/11. I have always needed to leave for the airport multiple hours in advance because everybody knew that security would take a really long time. Apart from the complaints of my parents and other passengers waiting in line, I had no knowledge of "how it used to be." I assumed this long wait was normal, and for me, it always has been. Being young, I could only glean so much from these complaints, but it was enough for me to realize that in the past things had been different. I simply didn't understand the magnitude of change that had occurred.
For my generation, or at least, for myself, it took years for us to understand the how important an event like 9/11 is, and how powerful it's side effects were. Right now, as I type this post, sitting in my bedroom listening to "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, I am a side effect. Sounds weird when I put it that way, but my mentality towards the issues of airline security, national security, and racial profiling has been completely shaped and molded as I have grown up, and this is mainly due to 9/11. I have no problem with inconveniencing the masses to prevent the occasional national security breach. I'm fine with government intrusion, as long as the intent is to keep me safe. I have grown up being told that the protection of national security is more important than my privacy on matters such as library records or baggage on airlines. This stuff is life for me, and I've never known anything else.
Given that last sentence, I do understand the magnitude of the change now. When I look at how lax we used to be as a people in the past, with airline security and safety measures much lower than nowadays, I shudder in disgust and think about how easy it would be to cause a national security breach...and then I think of 9/11.
And then I think about what actually needed to happen to our nation to have a child grow up with the mentality that I have currently.
And that puts 9/11 into perspective for me.
Let's start with the airlines. I have no real airline exposure from the days before 9/11. I have always needed to leave for the airport multiple hours in advance because everybody knew that security would take a really long time. Apart from the complaints of my parents and other passengers waiting in line, I had no knowledge of "how it used to be." I assumed this long wait was normal, and for me, it always has been. Being young, I could only glean so much from these complaints, but it was enough for me to realize that in the past things had been different. I simply didn't understand the magnitude of change that had occurred.
For my generation, or at least, for myself, it took years for us to understand the how important an event like 9/11 is, and how powerful it's side effects were. Right now, as I type this post, sitting in my bedroom listening to "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, I am a side effect. Sounds weird when I put it that way, but my mentality towards the issues of airline security, national security, and racial profiling has been completely shaped and molded as I have grown up, and this is mainly due to 9/11. I have no problem with inconveniencing the masses to prevent the occasional national security breach. I'm fine with government intrusion, as long as the intent is to keep me safe. I have grown up being told that the protection of national security is more important than my privacy on matters such as library records or baggage on airlines. This stuff is life for me, and I've never known anything else.
Given that last sentence, I do understand the magnitude of the change now. When I look at how lax we used to be as a people in the past, with airline security and safety measures much lower than nowadays, I shudder in disgust and think about how easy it would be to cause a national security breach...and then I think of 9/11.
And then I think about what actually needed to happen to our nation to have a child grow up with the mentality that I have currently.
And that puts 9/11 into perspective for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)