racing and all that other stuff

Fitchburg eats cables

2009-07-06T10:11:00.002-04:00

I did Fitchburg in 2005 and 2006. One of those years when I went up there with Matt Cooke his rear shifter cable came apart at the head inside the Dura-ace lever during the road race and he somehow finished and made it up the mountain in his 39x11/12.

I think one of those years when I was up there with Kris Auer the same thing happened to him.

This year it was my turn, yep 7800 DA levers. End of the circuit race shifting seemed a little off, figured it was from all the grit/sand on the roads. Get to the road race, hop on the bike and shifting is really fucked up in the rear when I'm in my little ring. Run it to Sram support to adjust it, at this point I was thinking it might be the cable, but dude adjusted it and seemed okay.

Start the road race, get to the climb and won't stay in a cog when I'm in the little ring, could get it to say in the 39x25, but that was about it, lets just say that sucked. Since it was okay in the big ring I did the crit without checking it, plus if something went wrong I could just take a lap and get a pit bike

Luckily my cable didn't completely come apart inside the shifter, but cable was the first thing I checked when I got home. The head almost broke off inside, but it was hanging on by like 2 strands.

I knew I should have replaced it before the race, so remember to replace your shifter cables before the time fitchburg rolls around.

THE ACTUAL RACE

TT: didn't put in a horrible time, but I definitely think I could have gone at least 20 seconds faster. Was in the mid 20's with like only 1.5 seconds between me and the five guys in front of me. Figured this was gonna pretty much decide gc since no moutain climb

Circuit: My teammate Nat got in an early move the suprisingly stayed away as it dangled out front of the field the whole race always between 10-20 seconds. He got 3rd and also picked up the green (points) jersey which he lost in the rr, but did a great job of killing it in the crit to get it back.

Road Race: first or second lap a 6 man move went. I think with 4 or 5 to go I went with one other dude on the climb and we got a good gap, but field reeled us in on the descent. A few K before the climb a dude in black attacked and both Nat and I were on it and we had a break. Railed it up the climb and the gap was established. Some guys fell off and then some bridged up after the descent. We ended up with a group of about 6 guys and we all were working well. The earlier break had come apart and only one solo guy was away. I thought for sure this was the move.

We worked well the next few laps (@ 11 miles each), but then on the last lap the field ( or what 35 guys that were left of it) came out of nowhere and caught us on the descent, that really sucked. It had the race leader and bunch of guys high on gc so they had the horsepower and apparently the organization to chase us. After that all I could do was finish 27th and lost some time to the guys in the front half of the field, but somehow moved from 27th in gc to 19th.

Crit: Pretty much everyone in the group I was in the day before was suffering and near the back. The field pretty much stayed together, but I moved up 1 place in gc because I think one of the guys I was in the move with the day before got lapped.

Fun race, was hoping to finish top 10 in gc, raced well, just didn't play out right, but managed a top 20 and still in the money.

sick?

2009-06-13T17:42:00.002-04:00

Wow, I really need to post more often been a long time.

Last week I went out to tour of tucker county in WV. I was feeling great up the climb that was all of 3 miles in. Nice 10K climb, not too steep, we were railing up it and was feeling good at first, but then it felt like my heart rate skyrocketed and I couldn't breathe and was done about 3k from the top- really weird for me as climbs are never a problem.

Okay, bad day, my type of course, but didn't have it, got dropped, oh well.

Took a little rest, felt okay on my training rides this week. Broke out the TT bike a few times and drilled it and felt fine, then Thursday afternoon at work I start feeling sick, a little nauseous and like my head was thumping.

Feel kinda crappy friday morning, had to go into work early at 8, but was out of there by 12, not feeling so good, went home tried to rest some and took a nap.

Saturday, felt a little better, called into work, same thing as last weekend on the bike (probably should not have gone out, but I thought I felt okay). 45 min at a good pace feeling okay but can tell not 100%, then go hard, legs feel fine, breathing isn't good and heart feels like it is going crazy= done for the day.

I'm gonna try to race Murad tomorrow, see how my body reacts. If it's bad I'll just bag it and drive home, but hopefully I'll be okay. I think I just might need some rest before ToWC.

turkey hill, ft rtichie, and CANCELLED races!!!

2009-05-13T20:56:00.003-04:00

So I'm kinda bummed right now, I was all set to do the Conestoga Challenge Road Race this sunday up in lancaster- 1,200 ft climbing/lap for 5 or 6 laps. Go to register tonight, and wtf, the 1/2/3 race disappeared, but THREE races for cat 4 men to choose from not including the masters categories and also NO womens race at all either (not sure if they originially had one though).

Hate that they advertise a 1/2/3 and then a few days before they just eliminate it, I didn't even think they were allowed to do that since the flyer was approved and all, but I don't know.

So looks like no racing for me this weekend, Wilmington and Bike Jam are full. I had been on the edge deciding if I was going to do Wilmington, but decided against it since I have something else going on that day and I figured I could just save it for the road race sunday.

Could really care less about BikeJam, a course I really don't like and only 20 miles.

Fort Rtichie- pack fodder
I really like this course and doesn't hurt that It's only 15-20 miles from my house with a nice 15 minute climb over the mountain. Got in a few moves, thought the one I got into with about 4 or 5 to go was gonna stick with chuck,fuentes, 2 dc velo and me, but after a lap or two it was together again like everyone of the other 50 gazillion breaks that day. Was sitting in good position, 3rd wheel in the field with 1 to go, but hesitated on the backside and didn't go when the attack went and got swarmed and rolled in with the field like I typically do.

Turkey Hill- 2nd (finally a good result at a real race)

I was trying to sit in and wait for the first time up the wall about halfway into the race (5 times up it). Rest of the team made sure to be up front and get in a few early moves and Yanni made sure to yell at me to get my butt up to the front.

Just before the S/F with 5 to go (first time up the wall) Jason Meidof (dcvelo) and Sean Barrie (harley) had a big gap on the field. Rick Norton (lsv) went and I went with him. He was hauling to try and close it and I was doing a little work, but he was hurting me. We finally made it up to the duo just before Gamber Wall. Made it over, and then a little after the descent three more bridged up to us (steve-o cummings (indiana regional), andy shaw (ncvc), and mark warno (artemis)). We had 7 srong guys, 7 different teams and we were all working well, but most pa teams were left out including alliance.

Our gap hovered around 1 minute. then at the S/F with 1 to go it looked like we might get caught, everyone was hurting and moto came up and said 25 seconds, looked back, and field was right behind us. We made it up the wall and 2 guys bridged up to us just after- Dewald (harley) and a Champion System guy. There were a few little attacks but it was staying together. We made the final right turn which is a few miles out from the finish with some rollers. I was around 3rd wheel, and I didn't even know this until after the race, but when we made that turn 2 or 3 more guys had bridged up to us- a kelly pro rider, an alliance (miller?) and maybe a pa guy.

On a roller the champion system guy attacked, and was a lot fresher than the 7 of us who had been in the break all day, and he got a good gap with no one else jumping. Sean Barrie sat on the front for a few minutes to pull him back (since he had Dewald who was fresh) and we finally caught him in the sprint. I was in good position in the last 1k-500 meters and thought the field caught us because I see the alliance and kelly pro guy who I didn't know were there. I was like crap I need to go since I lost a few positions and started to filter back. Saw the left side open up stood, had a little cramp, sat back down and just grunted it out to the finish getting a good gap on everyone else in the group, but early on the Kelly Guy flew by everyone and got a huge gap in the last few hundred meters and there was no closing it.

SoYoCo and minireview

2009-04-20T22:56:00.004-04:00

That makes 3 out of 3 in the money (fawn grove, morgantown wv race, soyoco). Had to bail and not do battenkill, but was glad I didn't have to drive 7+ hours and only had to drive 80 miles for another fun and hard course. went up to pa to do soyoco which is becoming one of my favorite courses. 2.5 mile lap which consists of a short steep climb at s/f, fast descent into 90 degree turn, just a little bit of flat, then a very gradual climb on the backside right into the steep climb and then repeat 18 times.

alliance, gpoa, human zoom each had half a dozen riders, 3 lsv, and bunch of random dudes including me. Guys were going ballistic from the gun, and I knew the short climb would start to take it's toll on guys about halfway in. A couple laps in James Camut (landrover/orbea) attacked and got a gap, but after a couple more laps he was reeled in. After that it stayed pretty fast, and nothing was getting away.

With maybe about 7-8 laps to go I bridged up to a small group as the pace was starting to settle down and I could tell guys were really starting to feel it on the climb. After some looking around and attacks and reorganization over a lap or two we eventually ended up with a group of 8. 3 alliance, Camut, lsv (jamie?), gpoa, me, and lost boy's racing (mike carney?). We ended up getting a pretty big gap on the field, though no one was really killing it and suprisingly there weren't many attacks at all. I expected alliance to start sending their guys on attacks one after the other, but I think all of us were hurting pretty bad up the climb each time, and they never put in any monster attacks

with 2 to go Carney hit the front and just set tempo and I sat on his wheel, basically prevented alliance from attacking. Last lap on the backside gradual climb alliance attacked and their guy had a little gap with everyone sitting up. Then, not suprisingly Camut attacked, I was gassed and couldn't go with it, but tried. lsv and i think gpoa then went, and I was still trying. Those three ended up passing the alliance and camut took the win, I couldn't bridge the gap, but managed to hold off the last 2 alliance and carney and rolled in 5th.

Mini gamjams Review: VCRC carbon bottle cages. Light and inexpensive carbon cages, first time I've had carbon cages on my bike. One downside is there are only two mounting holes and can't be adjusted, so the one on my seat tube runs into my derailleur clamp, but still fits and functions fine just not 100% flush with seat tube. Holds bottles well, though not on rough dirt/gravel roads (fawn grove roubaix lost bottles). Bottles go in and out super easy, I was initially worried they wouldn't hold them well enough, but they do They are staying on my bike, but not for poolesville.

If you are looking for really inexpensive, somewhat light plastic cages that are great at holding bottles get some Trek Bat Cages. Like $10 a pop and they do their job

fawn grove roubaix: epic, fun, crazy

2009-04-05T21:54:00.002-04:00

Short Version: I nabbed 10th at fawn grove roubaix- which consisted of chasing for 95% (4 laps/53 miles) of the race- epic day. 40 guys and it just blew to pieces. 8 miles in I was in the lead group which was down to about 12 with all the strong guys (dewald, norton, whitman, etc.) and I hit a sharp rock that cut the sidewall on my front. wheel van was way back, so several minutes and about 15 riders going by me I got a wheel change and started to chase back. Lap 2 I hooked up with a jittery joes/sram guy who flatted and we kept on passing and dropping guys over the next few laps. We finished together with him beating me in the sprint, though having my rear skewer come loose and standing causing my wheel to go crazy didn't help my cause.

Details:

The course had a bunch of gravel/dirt sections, but they were in pretty good condition. It was mainly just hardpack dirt- 2 or 3 lines from vehicles and there were not many pot holes and nothing too nasty. I ran my carbon tubulars because I wouldn't have to worry about a pinch flat and tubulars were definitely the way to go (though some box section tubbies with some 700x25 tires would be ideal). There was one pretty steep climb on the gravel, but 39x23 was fine and there was one longer steep section on the road- my kind of climb.

Race was ballistic from the get go. First section was a screaming downhill 90 degree into a gravel section- a lot like the turn at poolesville onto gravel, only the downhill was longer and steeper. About halfway through each lap there was one really technical section. You hit a pretty steep downhill on the dirt/gravel, which had basically a 90 degree off camber right turn (biggest problem here was there was a lot of deep/loose gravel unlike the rest of the course which was more hardpack) This put you right into another left hand 90 degree, same deal going downhill- So in essence it was a really tricky S turn. First lap a guy in front of me tried to turn while he was in the loose stuff and ended up taking out another dude, luckily I avoided. Then on lap 2 when I was in a little group a guy went in front of me only to go down right in front of me on the second part of the S, luckily I avoided it. There were a few other tricky sections, one was a like 120 degree turn onto the dirt/gravel, found out the best way to take that was to basically take it wide and go into a yard since the inside was so loose. There were a few other sections with some sweeping turns that kinda caught you off guard because I definitely took then almost too fast and started to slide all around- dropped some guys big time on those sections, but I stayed upright.

My cages spat both of my bottles out (I was stupid enough to use carbon cages), At least I had one bottle in my pocket just in case, and some person saw me in need and suffering and gave me a feed, thankyou whoever you were. My rear wheel was making all kinds of noise everytime I stood, sounded like my rear hub broke, a spoke broke, and my wheel was rubbing. When I tried to attack/sprint at the finish it was pretty much useless because of this. Once I finished I realized my rear skewer had come extremelly loose- it was still closed, but managed to work itself loose, kinda scary what coulda happened. Front derailleur also came a touch loose, but it functioned. I survived, and made a whole $50, almost enough for a new tire.

Jeff Cup- short hill, short version (and millport)

2009-03-31T17:04:00.003-04:00

Plan was to take it easy first few laps, because I figured if something went it was only gonna stick if it was the second half of the race. Plus I knew with the wind if I got in something early I probably wasn't gonna make it to the end- wind and I never seem to get along very well.

4 to go, made sure to get to the front before the climb (which isn't much of a climb), just went tempo up it ready to go if someone attacked and try to get in a move. Nothing really happened, I drifted back on the descent.

3 to go, made sure to get to the front before the climb, and then I was quickly on the front. There was a harley off the front and I drilled it up the climb, and pretty much reeled him in, but I was hurting once we hit the headwind, and it strung the field out, but climb just wasn't long enough to break it up anymore. I drifted to the back on the descent again

2 to go, made sure to get near the front before the climb. Stayed top 10 going up it and in the draft, but nothing was really happening, I drifted to the back on the descent.

1 to go, didn't get near the front before the climb. I was maybe 20 guys or more back, mid field, the break went, but I was not close enough.

Looked like we were gonna catch the break at one point, they were reeled in to less than 5 seconds, but he field sat up.

Good to get the first one out of the way, played it a little safe since the first race of the year can be a little chaotic and aggressive and made sure not to get in any crashes.

Also did millport road race day before in PA. Wasn't up front early on and the break went like 7 miles into the race, tried to bridge and then tried to work to bring it back, but it was not happening. 8 dudes away, half of them pros, with the national tt champ (chodroff), needless to say it stuck. I did manage to be 5th across the line in the field sprint, definitely have a little more pop this year.

Tzone

2009-02-15T20:13:00.002-05:00

Decided to venture out and do tradezone today. Was good to get used to race pace again and got a bunch of good efforts in. After a few laps I went up front and got myself in a break with chuck, fuentes, fader, and an aa guy. After a lap or two the aa guy fell off. We had a decent gap on the field, but after about 8 miles or so I pulled through and then chuck just sorta rolled off the front and once he had that little gap he went.

Fader and I were kinda looking at each other as to who was gonna bring it back, and we put some efforts in, but let's just say I was kinda gassed since 130lbs doesn't tend to do great on flat courses with lots of wind (especially when put up against those guys). Fuentes attacked, bridged up, and those two stayed away the whole race. Field was right there soon after and we got absorbed.

I did a good job of staying near the front and going with a bunch of moves and putting in some good attacks, and the couple other guys from the team who were there were doing a great job of countering and making sure we were in everything and being aggressive.

Eventually nat and chip got in a big break of about 12 which came from a few little attacks and groups coming together. I was hoping for someone to take me across as I didn't want to drag a bunch of people. Eventually got in a group with clif and some other dude and we were working well for a bunch of laps, but the gap just stayed at about 15-20 sec to that group every lap until the last couple of laps when the 3 of us were losing steam and a little group came up to us at the finish.

I was glad that I avoided sitting in and got a good ride in, I was definitely pretty fried by the end, good to get used to racing again, only like 6 more weeks until the season really starts!!

Back at it in 09 (ramblings)

2009-01-04T22:03:00.003-05:00

Excited and ready for 09 racing season, and looking to get back at it: doing some real races and travel. Last time I did a bunch of big races and travel was 06: tour of virginia, fitchburg, nature valley, and some others- and I was getting killed but fun anyway. 07 was a transition year and learning how to balance "real" life and cycling: full time job, buying a house, and being responsible I guess. I had a better year than 06 and got a little stronger, but knew I had a lot of room to improve.

I really didn't know exactly how my season was going to go in 08. My mindset going in was to just go out and race whatever whenever I could and felt like it with no real goals. I changed my training and mental mindset a little and it made a big difference. Cut back the training hours, mainly allowing myself some more recovery days/time. Basically meant if I was on the bike I was riding really hard, otherwise it would be a rest day off the bike. I raced a lot more than I thought I was going to, basically all local stuff, but just about every weekend. Probably would have raced a little more, but had to work (double edged sword with my job, plenty of time to train in the morning, but then have to work some weekends). Had good form the whole year, but a little bit of bad luck first part of the season. I really started to dial it in the second half of the season and had a handful of good results and a few podiums. I definitely started racing smarter this year, and every race I do I get a little more experience and a little better at it.

Had a fun cyclocross season, keeping me in shape while being able to tone the training back a notch.

So, 2009. I'm back on a team with teammates to race with which rocks and am ready to go travel and do some hard races with them. I'm hoping to find some hard road races with some actual climbs, as I tend to both like and do well at those types of races. So for looks like a bunch of good ones to choose from: battenkill roubaix, turkey hill, fitchburg, and both nebo and toona are back!!

GamJams Reviews: Trainers and Rollers - Performance TravelTrac2000

2008-12-11T22:30:00.002-05:00

simple,cheap, works, lasts. I think I bought the trainer in winter 00/01, before I had a road bike, and way before I started racing or doing group rides (03/04). It still works and serves its purpose of awful indoor workouts, plenty of resistance for some 2x20 threshold intervals. Just throw the rear skewer in the stand, tighten,lock, release the resistance spring, and good to go. I'm at the point where I might ride inside half a dozen times a year. Today was one of those days 35 degrees and raining. The trainer has held up though, and I used to ride it more in the winter and do stupid 3-4 hr rides on it, but that was in college before I knew better and just rode,rode, and rode some more. 1-1.5 hrs max now, and then just do the long stuff outside.

My advice: spend your money on some good winter clothes and just ride outside. If the weather is crap (raining) one day use it as a recovery day. Two days in a row and break out the trainer.

insurance: if you get hit

2008-11-17T22:41:00.002-05:00

In the case you get hit by a vehicle here are some important tips. (story then important stuff in bold at the end)

First time I got hit was in March, I was going straight and the car in the other lane going in the opposite direction of me made a left turn right in front of me. It was cut and dry and his insurance covered the bike. I called the police, but they didn't come to the scene because I wasn't really hurt.

Second time was in September and more complicated. It was the very start of a long ride so I wasn't hauling and was paying attention to everything. I clearly see a small postal truck (the tiny jeep like ones) pull onto the road a good way in front of me (at the bottom of a little hill I'm descending, she actually didn't stop at her stop sign and never knew I was on the road). She slows down, pulls to the far right of road coming to almost a complete stop like she is delivering mail. I've got plenty of room to go around her and stay in the lane (I wouldn't go in the other lane at that spot since it is a little uphill slight turn and you can't see oncoming traffic).

Then all of a sudden (no blinker) she goes to make a left turn/u-turn as I'm going by and am parallel with her. I don't think there was much braking by me since it happened so quickly, I basically tried to turn wider than it and slow down as much as possible but it was unavoidable and hit the front fender/wheel well area completely seperating my fork from my bike, giving me some scratches, bruises, and a good 7 stiches in the chin.

The Police came, didn't site either of us for anything, did an incident report, but not a police report. It said I was at fault, but that's about as detailed as an incident report is. The cop said it was my fault because there was no way I had room to stay in my lane and go around the postal truck because he didn't see tire marks in the grass (I had a ton of room though). And that was pretty much it.

I contacted a lawyer and set up a meeting for a month later, but didn't go as I got the medical and most of bike covered under insurance and didn't feel like dealing with suing someone.

important insurance info:

1. Every maryland driver is required to have car insurance and with that they automatically have PIP (personal injury protection) insurance. It would have been covered by the driver, but since it is federal government they don't have to have insurance. Since I am a maryland driver though I also have it so it is covered by my auto insurance.

PIP is minimum $2,500 and covers any pedestrian (medical only). It is a no fault insurance so doesn't matter who is at fault. By law it (filing a claim) can't affect your insurance rates/deductibles, etc. so it really isn't on your record. I had progressive and they were on the ball, hospital sent them the bills and they took care of it.

Auto insurance said they wouldn't be able to cover the bike, so I contacted my home owners insurance (nationwide). Got transferred once or twice as they weren't exactly sure at first who to handle it, but went smoothly. Apparently under my plan, to my suprise, losses away from the home are covered, but the maximum is 10% of my "at home" (normal maximum) insurance which I took out at 15,000 since it is just on the stuff in my condo (mainly bike stuff)

I'm sure I could have got a lawyer and got a little more money, but I was happy to not be really hurt and basically have all my medical and bike bills covered. I also didn't feel like going through a lawsuit and it wasn't really worth my time.

This might sound stupid, but the people who hit me were nice and not some road rage maniacs, thought it still sucks to get hit. The first guy was elderly, making sure I was okay and then he gave me and my bike a ride home. The postal worker was young and really apologetic, I just didn't say much bc I was about to cry over my ruined bike and didn't even realize my face was gushing that much blood (thought it was a scratch) until the cop showed up and told me to look in his mirror and then I was like oh shit that looks really bad.

girls, numbers, & broken bikes

2008-11-12T20:43:00.003-05:00

If you are dyslexic and/or are used to a number pad don't type important phone numbers in your cell phone. I am both, first is self explanatory, second refers to the fact that the cell phone is first line 1,2,3 and number pad is 7,8,9 (use the number pad a good bit at work now and one summer I did inventory where all I did was go around typing on a num pad)

So Saturday I go out, meet a cool chick and her friends, dance, talk to her for a good while, and get her number before I head out, but apparently it's the wrong number. If it was just somebody I went up to and tried to get a quick number it would have been like oh she just gave a fake number, but definitely not the case with her. You'd think that with knowing her name and a bunch about her I could find her number, but no dice, I tried, I failed, guess that's the problem with no one having land lines anymore.

the solution: 1. let the other person type in the number and hope they are not dyslexic 2. once they put it in hit call so you make sure it isn't fucked up.

Boring Bike Stuff

My rear wheel finally died. second spoke pulled out of the rim making another hole, knew it would happen eventually as I could see it cracking. Got it good enough to get home, just have to build it up with a new rim now. Oh well, it had A LOT of miles on it and a couple winters and lots of salt, the nipples were deteriorating from it, but the ultegra hub is good to go.

There will be an insurance post in the future. Two crashes with cars this year and I found out a lot about how you can get covered through their auto insurance, PIP insurance which everyone in md with a car has, and your home owners insurance.

dccx: thank you officials

2008-10-27T22:03:00.002-04:00

I officially need to practice my starts because they have been atrocious this year. I got a call up to the front row, but after about 2 seconds I was almost dead last, just couldn't get in my pedal for whatever reason- totally mental, I'm just psyching myself out at the start, not doing it next time because other years I've always had good or at least decent starts.

I slowly crawled my way through traffic and the last few laps there was no one in site in front of me and one guy a decent way behind me, didn't give me much motivation, but I was still hurting.

Big thanks to the officials for saving me. counter: 2 to go. last part of the course getting ready for 1 to go I notice I'm about to get lapped. I knew I could have just sat up, been lapped, and then I would be done since it was the last lap for the leader. I kept it turning pretty hard, and I didn't get lapped, but they pulled me anyway since he was all of like 2 seconds from lapping me at the line. That made my day because that would have been a long slow last lap.

I also did my team's event, BCA cross earlier this month, and same deal with the start, front row, and then pretty much dead last

sander cross

2008-10-02T23:33:00.002-04:00

fun stuff the "off season" has officially arrived. Jumped on the cross bike for 15 minutes the day before and that was my prep. Had the worst start ever as two guys in front of me tangled and almost went down and I was then at the back. Got up to a group with gunnar, colavita dude, kbs and some others. lap two I cut a corner a little too sharp, it dropped off, I went down and almost ended up in a pond. Spent the next lap bridging back up. Eventually rode away from the group with haymarket steve in tow and he was like 5-10 seconds behind me for the next 3 or so laps.

It ended up being the longest cross race ever, 1 hour 17 minutes. Last lap sucked, I passed one or two guys who were fried, but I wasn't doing too well either as haymarket steve caught me and just rode away.

Not a bad start to the season, 11th, hopefully no more cross races over an hour

It's not about the bike. . .

2008-09-21T20:05:00.004-04:00

But racing on a piece of shit commuter (which I haven't been commuting on) sucks. I raced this bike and somehow got 2nd. Gunnar beat me in the sprint. Bruised knee didn't help. I'm never racing that bike again. I did have Carbon Wheels, so I can't come up with a 3rd excuse. WV races rock, they actually have real climbs.

ouch

2008-09-13T18:55:00.002-04:00

The couch feels so good right now, I don't think I'm ever going to get up. Today was long. Coppi, the story:

75 mile race. halfway into lap 2, two harley up the road about 20-30 seconds. I decide to take a chance and bridge. I go, and to my surprise no one came with, but I had a gap so I just drilled it. Killed myself to make it up to sean barrie and ken johnson. That bridge took a ton out of me, but this was my chance.

For the next 50ish miles it was just the 3 of us, getting the gap up to 3 min, going down to 50 seconds, then holding it at about 1 minute.

with 1 to go up the start finish, I just fell off and they were gone. Made it up the next big climb and the "chase group"/shattered field of like 8 dudes made it up to me. I sat on and thought I would at least be able to finish, and salvage a top 10.

It was not to be, hit a downhill and my legs cramped and completely locked up. Pulled into the grass, fell over, and screamed and rolled around. I couldn't even move my legs. After a little water in me and some more rolling the legs were still cramping, but were a little better and I could actually move them.

I hitched a ride in the wheel truck- It's been a long time since I've been in that much pain and never want it to happen again.

I was stupid- had 4 full bottles, but didn't down any electrolytes during the race even though I had ecaps with me. I also want to take this moment to blame the fro, I knew I should have shaved that off!!

It's been a good year, but a long one, seems like I'm getting a little better each year, and was really able to dial in and balance the training with work this year. One more road race- then hopefully a few cross races.

page valley and millersburg

2008-08-25T22:12:00.003-04:00

page valley was the first hard road race I've done in a while and probably only the second race I've done this year where I used the little ring.

I was in some promising moves, but not in the move. Guys were attacking like crazy early on. Nick Bax attacked about 50 times until he finally got away. I was in a good move on the second lap it was Nick and I and then norton, super dave, blair and a harley (I think) who bridged. We had a good 20-30 second gap into the climb, but that didn't last and we got chased down. At some point two or three guys went clear. Nick Bax eventually attacked to bridge and Blair went shortly after- I hesitated and that was the end of it. I kept trying to get in a group to bridge, but it seemed like everything was getting chased down. Norton went clear on the climb at one point and I bridged up to him making contact on the descent, but the field was there soon after.

Raced smart, just wasn't my day.

Millersburg:
Very well organized, and an event I'll definitely try to do in the future. I'm getting better at time trialing, still improving, and know I can do better, I just need to do some more tt specific training next year. Times were actually pretty close. 1st to 25th only 2 min gap and from 5th to 25th 1 min gap, so lots of guys with similar times. I finished just out of the points.

Did my typical field finish in the crit, hard course to get away on with a long fast descent.

Missed the move in the road race, it went at the start of lap 2, and I was surprised it went so early. After that I just had to hope it would come back together, but it never did. Almost crashed on the final descent into town when some guy in the middle of the pack lost it and hit the pavement, swung out to the right and just missed slamming him and his bike on the ground.

racin in West "By God" Virginia

2008-08-03T20:23:00.002-04:00

Hard is all I can say. No dinky 20k flat prologue. 22 miles up and down then a stupid hard climb before the finish. Finally rode a decent tt, but lost a ton of time on the climb, not used to riding my tt bike in the freakin 39x23 for a mile or two OUCH. Followed by a 60 minute crit in the evening, then just under 70 mi road race on Sunday with no flat, but lots of long gradual big ring climbs.

Kind of small field, but with some strong guys like stephen koebl, rick norton, gunnar, and tt bad ass adam anderson.

Actually came home with a decent amount of cash for once. Boring report below

tt: 5th
crit 6th
road race 2nd
gc 4th

Time Trial was on a hard 22 mile loop, up and down. I was riding a
great tt, but kind of blew up in the last 4 miles or don't know how to climb on my tt bike. There was a big a climb about 3 or 4 miles from the finish, and I didn't realize how
long and hard it was (didn't seem that bad when I drove up it to get to the start). Norton who started 1 minute behind me caught me on the climb, and I would have posted a good time if
I could have kept the same pace as he finished 2nd in the tt, but he
put nearly another minute into me on the climb. I was sitting 5th.

The crit was 60 minutes with tons of time bonuses- SIX 3 place primes
(10 sec, 7 sec, 3 sec) and big time bonuses for the top 5 finishers.
I was trying to get in a break to get a good stage result, but
everyone else just wanted to get the time bonuses and the guys in
front of me in gc were getting a ton. Gunnar who was 4th in the tt
rolled off the front with 6 to go and got a bunch of time finishing
with a decent gap and taking a prime and 1st place bonus time too- this gave him enough time to move in front of koebl to 4th on gc. I
didn't manage to get any prime time bonuses and finished 6th, but no
time bonus here either since they only went 5 deep

The road race was just under 70 miles with a lot of long gradual big
ring climbs and some shorter little ring climbs, 2 big laps. Guys
were attacking and I was trying to get in a move, but the top 4 in gc
were really close with me a couple minutes back and a bigger gap to
the rest of the field. First lap it was a bunch of attacks, from all
of us sitting top 5 in gc, but no one wanted a move to go because they
would lose time, it was a chore just making sure i didn't become the
last one out and making sure I covered the attacks.

I was trying to get away with Rick Norton who was 2nd in gc only about
20 seconds down. If I got in a move with him where
1st gc guy wasn't I had a good chance of moving up in gc and taking
the stage.

At the beginning of lap 2 Norton and I were drilling it up a long big ring climb and kept attacking, trying to drop the guy in 1st on gc, but he
covered us. Then finally near the top Rick went again, but
unfortunately I didn't go this time. It was the guy in firsts
responsibility to chase, and he knew it, but he had finally blown up.
Everyone sat up and Rick was gone, had a huge gap immediately and it
just kept growing.

A few miles later I attacked on another long big ring climb, and got
away with Gunnar. A couple others bridged at the top and on the
descent, and we had a gap on 1st (anderson) and 4th (koebl) gc guys. We were setting a
good pace then 4 or 5 miles later we hit another hard climbing section
and Gunnar and I dropped the others, but I think 4th on gc (koebl) bridged to
them not long after. Gunnar and I had another 20 or so miles to go
and I knew it was best for me to just work with him and hopefully move
up in gc to 3rd or 4th and try to take 2nd on the stage.

I beat gunnar in the sprint, taking 2nd for the stage. 1st place in
gc blew up and I actually put in enough time to beat him. I almost
ended up 3rd in GC. My overall actual time was better than the 3rd
place gc finisher koebl, but he ended up beating me by 20 seconds because
of his time bonuses in the crit.

It was all good except getting stuck behind cars on one of the tt descents, would have been fine but dude in pickup with a trailer was making a left. And coming in the finish gunnar and I got stuck behind a car going 5mph in a really narrow long one lane bridge coming off the final descent and cranking it up for the sprint.

Hard and Fun course, hopefully word gets out and more people show up next year!!

pa hill climb: NEW RECORD

2008-07-27T16:30:00.003-04:00

Finally, I won a race and set a new course record (looking at the past 2 years that they have been doing it. Someone said something about a 23 min record in the past, but I don't think it had the same s/f) . 24:28, just 3 seconds faster than Ken Johnson's time earlier this year.

I decided to drive up, and it made a difference as I had my race wheels and didn't have 40 miles in my legs.

Race was supposed to go off at 12 but it started lightning as the storms rolled through. We all sat around for a while, but 30 or 45 minutes later we were able to start with just a little rain to deal with.

Ken Johnson was there, but left since it got delayed. Too bad because I'm sure my time would have been better because the first half is flat and the pace would have been a touch faster, plus I probably would have someone to push myself against on the climb.

At the base where it is really gradual (big ring) three of us just rolled off, and a couple hundred meters later I was by myself. I just went at my own pace. I looked back a couple times, but no one was in sight. I figured my time was going to be okay, but nothing great, so it was a nice little surprise when they posted them.

One more in September I might do if there aren't any other good races. Goal for that will be to do it under 24, and now I've got to defend it. I'll break out the aero shoe covers next time, that should knock off at least a half second.

grandview crit

2008-07-26T22:16:00.003-04:00

ahhh, I just missed finishing in the money. 17th, paid 15 deep. Of course I was last in the group (not counting the guys who crashed and got shelled). I've been doing a good job of getting in moves this year, but end up finishing last in the move, something I need to work on, but at least I've been attacking and trying to get away or do something when I am in a move.

This was a 1 mile crit with a bunch of turns, all of which seemed to contain potholes.

Seemed like everyone decided to show up for this race, lots of pa and mabra guys, plus bobby lea, well there goes my shot at winning a field sprint, oh wait my shot at winning a field sprint ended when the field size reached 2. There were probably 60 or so guys.

For the first half of the race I did a good bit of tail gunning, then a break went. Shortly after there was a big crash on turn 4 i think ( a right hander). The race was already starting to break up, and now there were little gaps everywhere

After a couple of laps I made my way to the front and there was a group of about a dozen or so riders up the road (out of site) between the break and field. 2 guys had a nice little gap on the field, and I attacked on the s/f straight and bridged up to them. We worked together and by the next lap we were in the chase group.

Guys were hitting it pretty hard in the group so I sat in to recover a bit. After a few more laps I went to the front, went through the last turn first (luckily), and then carnage ensued behind as there was a crash in our group.

With 3 to go a guy attacked and went clear. I put in a couple of attacks, and felt strong, but didn't have enough of a jump to get a good gap as guys kept chasing me down. The last 2 laps a few more attacks went and it broke up, unfortunately after I went a counter went and that was the end for me. I finished at the back of what was left of our group. Thought I was top 15 and in the money, but was 17th, bummer.

I'm starting to do halfway decent at crits. Mainly because of my fitness. I'm getting better at taking turns at full speed, but still a touch conservative when I'm in a big field depending on the course and my mental state of either I wanna ride safe or I wanna get a result.

I did get a nice present on the way home. I pulled off 81 to get food, got the the sheetz and gas was 3.57 a gallon. Too bad my car gets good gas mileage so I could only put 4 gallons in.

comeback crit

2008-07-22T09:58:00.003-04:00

Wow, I actually won something at a bike race. Won the best type of prime, free entry into the next race

This was a .7 mile course with 7 turns and it was hot, 95 degrees. Had a good size field of 45ish dudes.

My mindset going into this race was to use it as some fast training as I hadn't really planned on doing it, but woke up and figured what the heck I guess I'll go do another one.

After a few laps a few guys were dangling off the front, I went hard,
but it was a wasted effort and a big mistake. When I went the field
was on me, and after I blew myself up guys started attacking and then
a group of about 7 or 8 had formed and I was not in it.

It probably would have been easier riding in the break because they
were not gaining a lot of time, but in the field it was not smooth as
it was guys attacking and counter attacking. After 7 or so laps the break was pretty
well gone and 2 guys from the field had gone clear and had a good 15
seconds on us.

They rung the bell for a prime and halfway through the next lap I just drilled it and got a huge gap. I won it and just kept hammering, and next lap I had caught the 2
in front.

After that it got really interesting and confusing. The break or what
was left of it had lapped the field, but they were not all together.
Evan Fader had attacked the break (lapping us) and we worked with him
for a few laps. The constant attacks must have taken their toll
because all 3 of us eventually couldn't keep his wheel and he was
gone. Then 4 more guys came up to us (I think they all had lapped us)
and me and one of the guys who I initially bridged up to sat on this
for a few laps, but we both popped, AGAIN.

Then 2 guys came up to us from the field (I think). Eventually a
couple more bridged up and with 3 to go stephen kincaid and another
guy came up (stephen was up 1 lap). I had no idea who was lapped,
dropped, on the same laps as me. I was confused and tired and just
holding on.

I rolled in with the little group and I ended up with a decent 12th
place finish

Hagerstown crit

2008-07-13T22:40:00.002-04:00

Best part about the race is it was only 2 miles from my pad so for once I didn't have to drive.

I lined up at the front, stayed up front (for a little bit), went with a few moves during the early laps. Nothing was going and soon I was back in the field and doing a lot of sitting in.

Maybe a little over halfway in there was a good move up the road. It had Fuentes, a snow valley and a few others. I went hard after the last turn to try and bridge and a harley (bryan butts I think) came with, and an ncvc who had been just off the front of the pack got on the train I think. We made contact with the break coming into the finish straight the next lap. I was pretty spent and was hoping to sit in a lap and recover, but the group was too big with no one really wanting to work, plus the field was strung out and drilling it to bring it all together. Half a lap later front of the field caught us and counters started. I sat up and sat in.

That's about all I did, and pack finish with a 6 man break up the road.

philippi road race

2008-07-06T21:48:00.002-04:00

finished 4th, raced smart but still finished last in the break,60 miles, middle of nowhere wv.

It was a long day. Got up at 4:30 a.m, luckily I snuck out of work a little early at 8:30 pm. The rain decided to follow me the whole day and the sun never came out.

It was a fun course and I was surprised the roads were in good condition. It was a lollipop course with two big laps (28 mi laps with only 3 turns). Lots of gradual hills, all big ring though. The stick of the course was a 1-2 mile climb on the way out, so the finish came down it right into town for a crit style finish with a quick right/left to the finish.

There were about 14 starters with a 3 freddie fu guys, a few wv guys, and some other team of a couple guys.

The longest climb was after the last turn about 8 miles from the finish. On the first lap there were some little attacks, but basically just guys pushing the pace on it and we had a group of 5 over the top (me, a wv guy, gunnar, freddie fu, and prographics?). We worked well together and had a big gap. Maybe halfway through the second lap one guy (prographics) had a flat.

Then I started to play it smart, and sat on. Guys were not happy, but it was all about racing smart. A few guys got dropped early on in the first lap, so if there was a group behind us it was only 4 or 5 guys and I knew at that point they were not catching us (who cares how much time you have unless it is a stage race). I also didn't have a lot of juice and knew my best chance was to go on the gradual climb, the last thing I wanted was a sprint finish.

About halfway up the big climb (where it went on the first lap) I attacked and the freddie fu guy got on my wheel. We had a big gap over the top, but a long way to the finish. A little before the last little climb to the finish descent gunnar and the wv guy caught us.

The wv guy was not happy. The question is was he seriously pissed off or was he acting pissed off to try and make me give up using some bike race strategy. He said something like he would rip my head off if I sprinted, I said I can't sprint (not that I wouldn't try, but seriously what was he expecting, me not attacking on the climb would be a sprinter not contesting the sprint, you've gotta play your cards)

Then, fuck, I cramped on the last climb. Freddie Fu upped the pace up the last couple hundred meters and I cramped really bad. I made it to the top and was okay on the descent, but they had a little gap and weren't gaining time on me, but my 130 lbs coming down the mountain wasn't gaining any time on them. So I just rolled in 4th, though there was a 99% chance I would have been 4th in the sprint anyway.

It was so nice to do a good road race course, wish there were more in MABRA, but only 2 weeks till coppi.

neil z sighting

2008-06-24T22:39:00.005-04:00

I think I'm finally recovered from this weekend. Getting up at 5 am, racing, then helping with the race the rest of the day for two straight days, I did luck out though because I was supposed to work Sunday night but found out Thursday we would be closed.

I did a great job of finishing just out of the gc points each stage.

okay, okay the fun stuff you didn't hear about.

Apparently we had a David Millar in the (cat 4 I think) road race. I didn't see it, but heard a dude dropped his chain and then did the bike throw, too bad I wasn't in the wheel van this year to witness it.

Instead I was at reg when the women were going ballistic because someone not in the race was in the results. It took about 100 people to finally figure someone had their number on upside down. 699 not 669. Kinda funny once someone figured it out.

Then we had ourselves a neil z at the crit. I was hanging out at the announcing stand and some dude was seriously p'oed and dropped out of the race because he said he was sick of being "heckled." It was really funny because he wasn't even getting heckled, he got the light stuff, basically just a come on and pull through.

Cargas

2008-06-16T23:05:00.002-04:00

exciting stuff. I was up front a lot, in a ton of moves, attacked a bunch, but the field was having none of it. There was always a move up the road, it was never out of sight, it felt like a cat 3 race. I think there were 50 dudes, 25 different teams, and 25 human zoom riders.

Oh, and Todd Hessell is strong, I think he was in every one of the 25 moves that went. One move we were in where we were hammering and actually got a good gap was pretty much doomed since we didn't have a human zoom guy. I tried, I failed, the life of a cat 5 sprinter: last in the move or last in the field.

training and hill climbin

2008-06-14T17:49:00.002-04:00

Good training and racing today. Organized a ride up to the pa hill climb. 2 others came with (Steve wahl and randy buxbaum), and I managed to get us there without getting lost. Wasn't quite as far as I thought, 38 miles from my house.

I had my nice heavy training wheels, so I wasn't allowed to race hard. I had to hold myself back. . . from laughing. I was staying up front, 2nd/3rd wheel most of the time and some dude behind yells at me saying to take a pull. No one was up he road it was just a dwindling pack as we went up the climb.

4 or 5 miles in chris hong of lsv upped the pace and I was the only one to go with him. He said to pull through, and I just grunted. I sort of gave up at that point. I was suffering and he could actually put together a coherant sentence. Shortly after he slowly rolled away. Wish I knew the course better because soon after it leveled off/went slightly downhill for the last mile.

Little dude (like the only person I can call little comparted to me) rode well, and I easily rolled in for 2nd as we had developed a huge gap on the next group.

Just Steve and I rode back. I told him I couldn't wait to get home so I could go out and lay in the pool, unfortunately the pool came to us about 9 miles before home.

We were heading south and the sky to the south looked a little cloudy. It drizzled for a minute then full on pouring down rain with wind and hail. Couldn't see anything, roads were flooding, so bad a few cars pulled over. About 5 miles from home we took shelter at an elementary school as it wasn't safe to ride. After a while it let up and we headed back out.

Apparently someone was painting the roads because we were riding through some white water for a bit. After 2 miles the roads were completely dry, looked like it had not even rained at all.

Got nice again, started to walk to the pool, but the sky doesn't like me because mr.storm decided to come back at that point.