375Watts for 50 Minutes WASN'T Enough - (Cat's Hill Criterium CAT 3)

[@Alan_Hans__]

The great thing about watching videos from the mane man EJ is that there is never any riders in front blocking the view. Makes for great viewing.

[@andrewtorgerson6143]

😂spot on

[@inz_uzi]

😂🤣🤣

[@MichaelIhde69]

damn you did em dirty 😂

[@joshuaperry8729]

Mane hahah.

[@krishansen-l1r]

truer words were never spoken. This guy is obsessed with getting OUT of the draft so we get a good view. He will make a great cinematographer.

[@Alex-lg3fy]

Hi rider in red here. Well technically speaking orange. For reference I am 164lb my NP was 323W, average 283w.

[@sprayaho1ic]

Hello red (technically orange) rider. You look strong. Keep up the good work!

[@CarlosRojasBaritono]

EJ needed this race. When you have those numbers, and that much talent, it's easy to say "it doesn't matter if I still do it, it works!". It's hard get dropped, but sometimes we need to learn this to the hard way. Well done EJ, lose to learn.

[@phoneindustrydesign]

I think EJ is not a fast learner but on the other hand I feel like he needs to stop thinking too much about wining races, you just came into the sport/racing, take one or two races and simply forget about the results, just be there and enjoy being a part of it and let all these things Jeff is trying to teach you come to you on your own going from couch to crit you already made a huge bump and taken a huge step up, now you should chill for a week or two and take a step back and get in touch with yourself more, then you will be ready for the next step - to apply everything you know

[@patrickcasados7461]

I agree with the focus being too much on winning races at this point. If i were EJ i'd try to focus on just one or two skills and improving them through out the race and then see where he's at with 5 to go or whatever. Treat the race as a practice/work out only instead of practicing fitness we're practicing race craft.

[@Powerhauz]

This guy is a one day classics rider in the making. Climbing Hills, bridging across, bomb drop sprint, not afraid of the wind. Granted, he needs to work on bike handling all around. Cornering and getting on the wheel specifically. This is really awesome to see unfold. Keep at it. I'm cheering from here. Edited for clarity and grammar. Wow, did that read terribly before.

[@rsmiii]

I think EJ deserves slack because, think about it, he's been riding seriously for less than a year. It takes a LOT of group riding to feel comfortable at speed in close quarters. Tp my eye most of EJ's power spikes come from being tentative and not getting in tight to draft, or not riding comfortably shoulder to shoulder. More practice and time in the bunch and you'll gain the needed confidence, EJ! Keep up the good work!

[@tewaewae]

progress is never a straight line, keep turning up and you'll get it. I found marking your opposition and being on their wheels was usually a good place to be. If there is a split then you can work together to get back on and then go back to sitting on the fast wheels. You have done bloody well this far EJ. Listen to your coach and as Joe Rogan says "don't read the comments", Why am I writing this? Must be blacked out and not thinking.... Thanks guys. Best cycling channel on YT.

[@felixkuper1344]

I feel like EJ is just too nice! He always gets bullied to the side eating wind!

[@duartemateus4145]

He is new too, never seen him touching elbows with another rider, maybe one thing to pratice with jeff

[@MagicalCurrent]

I think he is more concerned about his safety

[@duartemateus4145]

@@MagicalCurrent thats why you pratice it 😜

[@krishansen-l1r]

@@duartemateus4145 track classes are great for that. You learn not to be scared of contact you get familiar with it.

[@mauryeetss3561]

EJ if you’re reading the comments: I’d recommend practicing your race starts on flats and hills. By starting on a hill you force yourself to get that shoe clipped in on the first try or you can’t continue riding. Just a personal trick I used to become comfortable with Clip in pedals. It also makes you put real power into your first pedal strokes. I just found it forced me to start like I would in a race.

[@ASD21341]

key to remember ej has gone very quickly through the ranks. it might not seem like hes changing anything but from another racers pov he has definitely changed a lot. Hes finally in fields that match his power and are providing him a space to learn how to deal with being in the red. projecting to see ej win or podium a ton of races later this year, as he pulls it all together and gets some courses that he will naturally be better at.

[@michaelmechex]

I love this series. I'm so glad you continued after the first win! This is a perfect proof that being an absolute wattage bazooka isn't enough to win crits and we get to learn all the tactics that Jeff might take for granted

[@tubincubin98]

Just a thought...instead of your goal to win every race, work on fundamentals. Choose a goal, like conserving your speed in every turn for the entire race, master that skill, then master another like holding wheels and not being in the wind for an entire race. Then start combining those skills into the next race...cornering and holding wheels. Once you have built a solid foundation of fundamentals, the wins will come!!! Easy for me to say this from the comfort of my couch, but in any sport, mastery of the fundamentals is key. You are doing awesome, keep punching.

[@titomon]

With the amount of time that EJ has on the saddle, you can’t expect to master this that quickly. It’s a long learning process where it will take weeks just to learn a skill and consistently apply it. Great job on your progress, EJ! Looking forward to watch more of your races.

[@alexspencer7170]

Loved this episode, wish they had races like this one in the UK ( near me anyway )

[@fortinbras47]

Reprogramming instincts so that unintuitive but correct actions happen at full speed takes lots of practice. There's a huge difference between analytically knowing what to do and having trained neural pathways so that it's fast and natural.

[@krishansen-l1r]

yup. 2 things i learned how to do that were completely unnatural but are really necessary to do well. First is to actually accelerate going into the corner when the field is slowing. If the field is large the accordian effect will kill you so you need to learn to carry your speed through the pack. A very strange sensation. The second is to overlap wheels. To beginners a no no but crucial to experienced riders. Even if you are within a couple inches of the wheel ahead of you, a guy can overlap and easily move you off because he is ahead of your handlebars you either let him take the wheel or crash. Poking him in the hip with you finger won't do squat on the last lap when it counts.

[@Ganbertuli]

It seems to me that EJ has problems contesting the wheel of someone leaving him out in the wind more than he needs to. I think it’s common coming into the sport to feel uncomfortable asserting one’s position in a peloton.

[@s4iforshort]

I want to learn this also as I am new to bike racing. I always seem to lose whenever we’re contesting a wheel. How can I take it for myself?

[@jetBlue083]

@@s4iforshort keep racing. You’ll figure out your own way of doing it!

[@tyler5246]

@@s4iforshort tell yourself you deserve to be on the wheel, fake it till you make it. act confident even if you’re not.

[@2Calam]

​@@s4iforshort cause a few crashes and you'll get a reputation that people won't want to challenge you.....kidding of course!

[@bramvaneijsden1271]

​@@s4iforshortI always just point to the wheel and then just take it, if they don't accept it thats easily just assert your dominance in other ways lol

[@XavierHipolito]

I'm with EJ here. Race mechanics come with racing, racing and racing. Just watching and reading coments don't work in the race like instantly. EJ needs time to race and understand it naturally.

[@scottnelson3956]

I think EJ just needs to take a race and just work on drafting and cornering throughout the race. Don’t go in to win but just go in to work on your deficiencies. You might be surprised where you end up at the end of the race and how much fresher you will feel. You don’t have to win every race.

[@arrissimouno5127]

Keep up the great work EJ, love your positive attitude, you'll get comfortable leaning on riders mid corner it's just a matter of time & when it happens....you'll be hard to beat...watch out Jeff !

[@jerrydixon9865]

Dude just relax and the stuff you haven't perfected yet will come in time with experience. The more races you enter and the more familiar you become with the racing Dynamics the more confidence you will acquire through repetition. Good luck....🤘

[@johnrodriguez8253]

I love you guys! Great commentary and friendliness! Awesome, and thank you so much for sharing 🙂 Hopefully sometime you can come to South Florida and meet you guys in person.

[@Rob-uy9dx]

Great vid and it is fun to go on this journey with you. I think EJ could have gotten a top 15 finish maybe top 10 if he would have pushed through the suck. Your brain is always going to tell you that you can't but your body will (usually) rally for you when you push it. I was not in your shoes but sometimes guts beats brains. We are all our own biggest enemy. Keep up all the hard work and keep pushing brother.

[@hudsonrogers1615]

You guys are a great duo! EJ its been great seeing you learn, and hearing that great success is possible! I'm a bigger dude too, hills suck!

[@MrDoots73]

I think for someone new to racing EJ is doing brilliant, learning race craft comes with time, plus being out in the wind will only make you stronger, plus if you look back on your own video footage from the race you were hitting close to 1K watts up that hill regularly and 600 coming out of corners....a lot can be said for focusing on how you feel during a race rather than the power you put out.

[@TW-fv2zu]

The EJ Laugh 💯 Best Laugh!

[@seagulls4life12]

EJ if you read this: here is your problem, you are nervous to draft and nervous to contest other people’s wheels. Go on group rides and practice those mechanics. Ride aggressively with your friends and practice sitting right on someone’s wheel. It’ll help

[@tonygSDWR]

In spite of EJ being a "bigger" guy, he sure has the ability to climb. Granted he burned too many matches too soon, but his bridge to the two rider breakaway was impressive. If he gets more comfortable drafting , tightens up his cornering and focuses more on energy conservation, his sprint will serve him well. He's just beginning and has accomplished so much, it'll be fun to watch his progress. Go EJ!

[@samgooding-matthews3175]

I think a lot of EJs problems would be solved with just a couple of team mates because it would take the panic out of you when the break goes but then you see one of your guys in it and boom I’ll just sit in ..break goes don’t panic I have other people to help me with this I don’t need to personally chase EVERYTHING

[@brianbarrows1868]

Jeff - Take EJ to Tulsa Tough. And the Sunday race will show us whether the learning is coming together. 💪. Congrats EJ on all you are doing.

[@notreally2406]

EJ, do you race with your fingers on the brakes at all times? That's how you're supposed to race. That allows you to get in there close and stay close, by feathering the pedals and brakes at all times. So many people don't know this it seems.

[@jackmitho9847]

I click these videos SO FAST!! Keep it up guys!!

[@jamescorletta]

Live, learn, and race better another day! Keep it up! And keep the rubber side down! Peace

[@facediaper09]

He needs to know big men rule the peloton. Be up front but not on the front unless your putting in work for teammates. Stick to the wheel in front of you with zero fear. Pick a good wheel that you trust, like Jeff, and you can leave fear at home.

[@krishansen-l1r]

also if you are bigger do not pick a small guys wheel. I had a teammate who was 6 ft 3. He would have a fit when women would join our races because there was no draft for him behind them.

[@disloyalyou5455]

It also hurts that EJ is hurting but still rides like 1 meter next to someone’s back wheel instead of getting in the draft 😅 like Idk how he does it but even in grouprides I’m thinking like in a race out of every corner to save for the “race” part of the ride I wish I was like EJ his fitness is insane

[@bluestar2802]

Looking forward to the time when EJ would draft the field properly

[@Dan-ff6gj]

cornering has improved crazy amounts

[@ekm3820]

I always beat guys who have more watts than me so go figure. Our rides at the end average 25-26mph on Saturday's for 40miles. My deal is fast cadence. I’m really good at it. I do 96-100rpm

[@krishansen-l1r]

fast cadence is great. We used small gears on the track to get used to spinning up. My coach said one way to always stay in the draft was to figure out the gear the wheel in front of you was using. Back then it was usually 53x15, so you shift into 53x16 you spin just a little quicker to stay in the draft tight and just soft pedal. Then when you need to just spin a little faster for a second or two. You can fine tune your speed much easier with easier gears faster cadence.

[@jonathanwise47]

...it was probably because I was blacked out and not thinking...😂 Let's go, EJ!

[@holymackenaw]

The one thing i notice, because it scares myself, is him never being inside the group. he is always to the outside in the wind.

[@tyronearnold6692]

Easy. Don't go to the front of the race until the end. Also, the go pro may be decieving, but it seems You don't follow wheels very closely

[@bobbymooreok]

Title is wrong: “EJ does solo effort entire race - does he win?”

[@BeerMatt96]

Nice video as always! Is there any NCL coverage coming from Miami last weekend?

[@SnappyWasHere]

That power is pretty normal for a bigger guy. It’s so hard to explain to you small guys just how hard it is for us to go fast, especially uphill.

[@JumpingWatermelons]

Around 9:00 EJ when they are - ONCE AGAIN - talking about how EJ is wasting way too much energy during the race, he says that he does know what he should be doing but sort of 'blacks out' during the race and loses track of it. He should read this book: "The New Toughness Training for Sports" by James E. Loehr. most of this book has advice about how fix this, how to stay relaxed and focused during competition. Really, it has advice for changing the mindset in whichever way you need (some people need to be more aggressive). But a big takeaway I had from the book was establishing a habit - using sort of a mantra that I would repeat to myself at the beginning of a race (for me, it was "Focused, patient, calm, competitive"). I used this mantra for 1.5 years and i STILL remember it now, 13 years later. The book also has advice on how to remember those things during a race, and how to remind yourself of them and refocus. The book is pretty short and simple and very much worth reading and using

[@marcopaulgalli8353]

shoutout to the dude at 1:24 doing the peace sign in the rear gopro ✌

[@desmoMarco91]

My take: Probably not being the fittest helps with big brain strategy and race awareness. If you usually have so much raw power to outmuscle your competition it takes longer to learn. If you physically can't make it to the front you learn how to ride intelligently real fast cause its your ONLY option.....

[@frozenbean]

Another great couch to crit vid! Honestly, as a masters rider who has been riding and racing for almost 30 years, the best advice for EJ is: chill dude. Take a breath, sit in the draft, and don't panic.

[@theupperechelon7634]

EJ needs to visit Denmark or Belgium where they eat wind like Thor the Thundergod is against them. Then he'll learn to fight for his covered spot.

[@krishansen-l1r]

or he just needs to be in a really fast race where you avg 31mph for an hour. When you have to corner at 32 or 33 constantly you learn to tuck in or get dropped quickly. Actually some motor pace work would be a good exercise. We did that on the track, if you come out of the draft at 35 it is really hard to get back in.

[@vorzap]

EJ very casually humblebragging about anabolic steroid use

[@micheldecrock751]

Why doesn't EJ wear Mikes Bikes kit?

[@larewardrop282]

number upside down ?

[@timgreen1835]

Not that I know anything, but I think he's way too obsessed with winning, and he has a hard timing relaxing, just letting the race come to him. He excerpts so much of his energy, desperately trying to get to the front. I think to him, it's either all, or nothing. A side note.....he needs to learn how to draft better.

[@trajtemberg]

Too strong for his own good. PS: He gotta try some track racing sometime.

[@mark-1234]

Whenever EJ finally gets comfortable in a draft (he seems to always leave large gaps) and masters those corners, he's going to be someone to watch. I'm surprised you didn't call him out at 16:53 He did zero watts all the way down that hill. He could have moved up several positions for almost no effort. He did it again at 17:34

[@disloyalyou5455]

I think the reason ej is racing that way i because his fitness is bonkers he hasn’t “struggled” a lot so survive a race

[@stevehartwell1861]

Awesome. Wonder what the quality of the field was....next hoping to see a strong 2/3 race or a P/1/2/3

[@Alex-lg3fy]

Some of the fastest E3s in NorCal.

[@ColeTrain_0]

Yea Buddy 🤙

[@jbean8493]

At the finish line for Redlands Classic right now… 5 laps to go. MIKES BIKES in the mix for a win!

[@Karollenart]

EJ, I think you have to decide whether you are a sprinter or breakaway rider... I think that the sprinter should never be on the front and chasing breakaways. You are doing that in every race :)

[@sidneydutton5878]

Surely u need to get ej on the Mike’s bikes dev team >

[@Nawlins5]

"What on WATTS is going on?" Classic

[@dylanh9170]

175...larger rider...damn I am doomed. 6'4" 230. :)

[@andymiller3889]

"Really big at 175 pounds..." When I got down to 185 lbs, everyone thought I was sick. 197 now and will *maybe* hit 192 by the end of a 3 month training period.

[@johnolsen394]

“I know why you lost this race” I thought you were going to say , because your number is upside down lol.

[@emikos79]

Came here to make the same comment

[@cjaws_]

As painful as it is to watch the struggle, I know he'll get it eventually.

[@fritzhartman2738]

Personally, I think EJ is doing great! And I think that with more races will come more confidence and the ability to pedal through the corners.

[@jasonu19]

Its apparent to me that EJ is uncomfortable following a wheel through a turn or at 35 mph downhill. There is always a gap in front. In addition, he always takes an early apex into a turn which is fine when solo and he can let his speed roll out to the outside of the exit but that's not possible in most instances here because there are other riders taking a late apex to his outside. Get this figured out and Jeff never wins another Alveso!

[@CarlDoesStuff]

Dude just needs to be in regular group rides to learn to keep a wheel. When he gets that he will be a beast.

[@dazzatm6028]

It's obvious he's scared to get too close to the rider in front.

[@gmen1305]

EJ doesn’t appear to be comfortable riding behind others - what he should work on is drafting as he’s always off to the side

[@skylerschwendeman]

I'm sorry, is EJ down EIGHTY POUNDS since July 2022? That's insane.

[@smac351]

In Australia they race Cat 1 and cat 3 at the same time, cat 2 and 4 together. that way the fitness disparity makes for a clean race where the lower grade moved to the side when higher grade comes through. Do they do this in the US?

[@kadesters469]

no typically in the US they do Cat 1/2/3 or Cat 1/2, then Cat 3/4 or just Cat 3, then Cat 4/5 and depending on race size there will be seperate Cat 4 and 5 fields. We do it like this to promote riders in lower categories to be able to race with faster cats to see if there ready to cat up or not.

[@krishansen-l1r]

Well Sam in the US they used to put different cats on the road at the same time but not everyone would move over and some would mix in. A good cat 3 is strong enough to jump onto a break from a cat 1 and sit in. And that is what would happen.

[@andrewsimms5180]

So EJ will be on Mike's Bikes next season huh?

[@Babkyb]

The main problem is thinking that being the first all race long makes your first at the finish line. That's doesn't work like that. As far as I saw since you started the journey, you are more focusing to be first all the way long and make anything to stay at the very front that being in the draft and pop out at the right time and right moment... , I am sure if you could, you would be racing against your shadow. It's hard way to learn. It seems you always want to prove you are the strongest guy on the field and waste all the energy before the money time. Chill, stay hidden, take good wheels of big teams, stay behind, don't rush or stress. You have power and stamina to make your success for the next races😊 thanks for sharing!

[@Babkyb]

Maybe a lack of confidence of being in the draft, and taking the wind is more convenient because you can see the front. I am like that, I want my space and I feel strange, unsecure near panicking when I am locked in the draft, because I can't see what going on in the front, can't prevent any problem when occuring, I can't master my action, I feel undergoing a bit the situation, but when you are well placed in the top 10, 2k before the finish line, you are good... It's an inner work, with yourself. Next race, the goal is to stay in the top 20 and then top 10 at 2k so that you can use big teams lead out and smash the sprint, without spending any unecessary energy during the entire race.

[@JTMarlin8]

My man EJ! Rider #21E

[@ryan6465]

Hard to watch EJ out in the wind every time

[@ericcolindres2860]

Ayooo it’s me, “red top black shorts” 😂😂 12:05

[@paulgibby6932]

EJ's cornering lines looking very good!

[@bxnny6657]

they are, i agree, but he cuts into other peoples lines sometimes which isnt very safe.

[@krishansen-l1r]

no they are not. He swings out into the wind before and always takes the shortest line. In bike racing the shortest line(when you are out in the wind alone)is not the fastest line.

[@madrx2]

286w you mean? Why the clickbait?

[@matchinu]

Get him on double sided speedplays

[@abcxyz6880]

its nice to see him improove so fast. But the Giant powermeter is massivly overreading from own experience

[@NorCalCycling]

he's not using a giant powermeter

[@janemf]

Putting out 900W with a 130bpm heart rate, jesus

[@eisurfer887]

Enough power for Pro 123...number pinning status- Cat 5 @ 0:27

[@bcm1013]

I was looking for the comments on that. #not13

[@ВячЕрш]

Cruel beaver 14'

[@thisishowthetruthdies684]

No disrespect, but they're called sprinter hills. At 15 secs, weight isn't really much of an issue. Positioning, now.....

[@andysautounion1]

don't be afraid to shift in small chainring on a hill as a big rider 199 lbs. a hill race I did in Iowa id shift to my 40T and maintain field contact after racers where comin up and saying man you were killing us on that hill?

[@krishansen-l1r]

snake alley?

[@arod4709]

Why doesn't EJ wear a Mike's Bikes jersey????

[@mikesima9396]

Not sure how hard it is to move onto a wheel but like many other commenters mentioned, it looks like taking a wheel is the biggest opt. For improvement. Please label the first race this happens because it’s to painful watching him out in the wind. I also can’t possibly take another drink.

[@SonnyDarvish]

What EJ can hold in mi/h, I cannot do in km/h 🤦‍♂

[@lolbubs11111]

"No teammates in the race" 14:33 another Mike's Bikes rider passes? Oh, EJ isn't racing on MB?

[@seanreilly6618]

why is he not telling him to turn on the jets over the top of the climb..........

[@alexwarner3481]

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@krishansen-l1r]

I differ with the analyst. I don't like you lines through the corner. You almost always take the shortest line. That is great when you want to move up and jump alot of places. But taking the shortest line you constantly go out into the wind and then you never get back into the draft. We can see you swing out to the inside on almost every corner. So you catch alot of wind just from that. If you want to save your matches learn to stay on a wheel, and contrary to most advice you will need to overlap wheels at times. Eventually raw power always loses to someone who knows how to tuck in and save energy on a wheel to utilize it later.

[@mohanadbasuoni6191]

Imagine EJ doing all of this while riding on non-aero bike and with a 105 groupset! while some pros complain about their performance with the latest group there, for me give EJ an light weight aero bike with a decent groupset, and he will SMASH all the races he joins! Best of luck EJ💪💪

[@solowingpixy8190]

He needs to sort out his RPM. Seems to bounce everywhere

[@VisolaMuzrobova-je1dv]

Cruel girl 65

[@jk2302]

I think EJ is due for some aero handlebars, clearly he can handle his bike really well!

[@dacman69]

That looks like a northwest crit. The roads are not that ride.

[@nathanielsnyder1323]

EJ is just not comfortable yet riding in the group and learning to wheel suck! its a skill and a scary one at that. he's wasting so much energy just being out to the left or right of the group.

[@philippedelteil2489]

It's a shame we don't have crits where I live. I'm doing 3.45 Watts/kg (normalized) for 5 hours. Maybe I would have a chance 😊