Team Pryde cyclist Will Reynolds takes us through his preparation for the Para Nationals in the USA.
"In just my second year of racing (third if you count my preceding RAAM year) I’m excited (and anxious) going into Para Nationals. Most of the anxiety comes from
a change in Para classification. For those of you not familiar with Para classification, they go from 1 (least power producing) to 5 (most power producing). They also include different cycling styles: C for upright cyclists (which is my cycling style), H for handcyclist, B/VI for blind or visually impaired Tandem cyclists (they have an able bodied pilot—something you amazing able-bodied cyclist may think about doing for some B/VI cyclist), or T for trike cyclists (those with severe balance impairments). So where last year I was a C2, this year I’m a C3.
For frame of reference, each Para category calculates its Para national team standards relative to able-bodied national team standards. So for the upright cyclists, C1 Para national team members must ride at 88% of the able-bodied national team standards, C2 at 91%, C3 at 94% C4 at 97% and C5 at 100% (that’s why they joking call C5 the “hang-nail” Para category, because there is little physical or cycling prowess difference between a C5 cyclist and Taylor Phinney!). Para cyclist in the national team pipeline (which I entered last year), are followed by US Paralympics as they track towards Para national team Standards in 4 different categories: Preliminary/Military which is performing at 115% of their respective class’ Para national team standard, Emerging which is 110%, and Talent Pool which is 105%. I was fortunate enough to ride Emerging National Team Standards for C2 at the Para World Cup Final last season in August, and am already riding at Emerging National Team Standards for C3 this year per my Army Warrior Games Trials TT win and my MABRA Church Creek Time Trial performance in the past month. Therefore, I hope to ride Talent Pool or National Team standards in the TT at Madison, WI this week for Para Nationals to qualify to race with the US Colors at this year’s World Cup Final conveniently located in Greenville, SC versus as an independent as I raced the same in Quebec last August.
Okay, that’s way too many numbers for a blog and too much math to not be talking power—on to my prep! Last year going into Nationals I had only raced 1 road race ever—an international one at that being the Para World Open in Greenville. I got popped off at the end of the 1st 6 mile/500’ gain lap of 7. Additionally I crashed on lap 3, causing me to just make the lap 6 cutoff due to attempting to bridge back to the group doing full-throttle while adjusting to a drastically changed riding style (a day of 30 degree change in saddle pitch). Not being familiar with UCI rules, I went into the race with my rig out of compliance. So I guess you can pretty much say I had no RR experience going into Nationals last year—just a few TT’s under my belt and no crits. However, somehow, I was able to pull off podium finishes for my category for the omnium at Nationals. However, this year, the field is much bigger, and the competition more fierce in C3 with the 1 and 2 spot potentially locked up by some National Team members. Regardless, I still feel more prepared going into Nationals this year. Not only do I have a good circuit race under my belt being my local club, DC Velo's title race the Carl Dolan, I have several TTs, several hard group club rides (which I consider Road Races) and a recent crit, the Tour de Tysons Crit this past weekend. I also have frame of reference of where other cyclists in my category are riding based on the TT results they have turned in this year and had a chance to TT against one of my biggest competitors in MABRA and nationally—unfortunately he beat me by 43 seconds in our last TT! It’s going to be a dog-fight for those podium spots, but thanks to the my cycling club, DC Velo, and great mechanical and fit support from my bike shop, District Hardware The Bike Shop and Project HERO Ride 2 Recovery, I feel ready!! Not to mention my family cheering crew is starting to really take to races providing me much needed support on each lap—especially my youngest child, 17 month old Genevieve!
I look forward to posting blog updates after each race this week (Friday- TT, Saturday- RR, Sunday- Crit). Of which I simulated this weekend with a Friday TT home from work, a Saturday hard 7 a.m. club ride and a Sunday Crit. Hoping to make my way back to the podium this year, and qualify to race in the World Cup Final as part of the US Team! Regardless, power numbers and speed keep increasing by the day, and I’m having fun. I hope all of you are as well!"
We wish Will the best of luck!
