I like the hill climbs, just enough race tactics to make things interesting but nothing to really screw you over. The race goes up hill right away and I was so worried about getting caught back I found my self in the front. Sliding to 3rd wheel or so the pace was nothing crazy but hard enough. Upon the first flat section the I was still there like every one and sitting top 15. the next section was the hardest part of the paved road. I road hard but in control. I was dropped with about 20 guys in the lead group now. As the road eased back I got into a nice group and we chased back on. When the road kicked up again there were 5-10 guys who had gone to deep and blew. I made it back to the lead group pretty quickly. then we hit the dirt. Things really blew up there. I was in around 15th on the road I think, I road a hard yet still in control pace. I was maxed yes but feeling reasonably good. and with the decent number of pro’s in attendance I was pretty happy. As I approached th last km. I started to accelerate. There was a group just up ahead. On dirt there could be a rider 10 feet ahead of you on a 1% grade and you could never make it to his wheel. You go slow! I caught them with 600 meters to go and went straight by. A on Einstein’s riders wheel now I saw Jon Tarkington ahead. I must be riding well! The road flattened out and I was sprinting now to stay with the bagel fueled rider. He pushed again and it was all I could do to keep my pace I had empted the tank. Or filled it with lactic acid? Which ever way you think of it? Probably the latter.
Not sure where I finished. Top 15 I think maybe top 10 but that’s pushing it. Results should be up soon. On the ACA web sight. http://www.americancycling.org/results/Default.htm
More to come hill climbing to come!!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Hugo RR
80 miles of wind and big gears:
The Hugo RR is not a hard course but it’s a bike race and the one thing you can count on in a bike race is that it WILL be hard. If anyone ever tells you a bike race was easy ask them if they won…
The dead on head wind in the first 30 miles made things hard at the front of the pack and very easy in the pack. I attacked first setting off a string of attacks but they were all just testing attacks. You could tell no one really wanted to commit. Until fellow Wild Oats team mat Ralf tock a nice flyer. And then had 4 join him with team director Chad Moore in tow. Neither our team leader for the day but fit and smart racers, we were content. After about 30 miles the road make a shard right hand turn and the easy sitting in was over! 15 miles of hard core Belgian style cross wind racing in sued. Well close anyway. I found myself in the second group but we were not far behind. We started picking up riders getting dropped from the group ahead and after some hard dicing riding in the gutter I found my self in the first group, less the early break. hurting with no teammates and 2 up the road I was trying to recover. A Mr. Jon Tarkinton number 1 on the Best All-round Rider list was with us and I did NOT want him getting to the front. At least not with me feeling the way I did. Jon is a crafty rider to say the least and he can do it all. Crits, long windy RR, hills doesn’t matter. He’s a threat. However me sitting on didn’t make for the best of friends in a group of 6 or 7 and the attacks started. I marked Jon and only Jon. This hurt me more, but I hung tough. Then flat. Yeah believe it r not another flat on the tubulars. I couldn’t believe it! You would think I was aiming for glass and nails! I got a change not the fastest but hey this aint the Tour. A large group pasted me with Max and Mike Sutter in it. I then went about drafting the car at some a really high speed. My monitor kicked out. 53 -11 speed. For maybe 10 minutes I was pinned the whole time. As I kicked out from behind the car I gave my new best friend a nod and realized that the group with me 2 teammates had joined the front group that I was in. our early break was still out. I sat in as Max gave me a few pushes to help me recover but I had already gone to far into the suitcase of courage, as Paul and Phil would say. Another little rise and our group split. Mike and I in the bigger one, A few guys ahead max out the back. With Mike Sutter feeling good I went to work giving everything I had to bring back the guys just ahead of us. After several miles of this we turned again on the last 15 miles and into a cross wind. I lasted a few miles and then I was alone. I could barley keep it in the big ring wit the wind. I did make it though. Not sure on the place. Our 2 early breakers came in 4th and 5th not sure on Sutter yet but top 10 I would imagine. So a good day for the team, tactically a supper race we just need some stronger legs and 1 less flat tires!
Crit tomorrow eve that will conclude the rocky Mt. Omnium!
The Hugo RR is not a hard course but it’s a bike race and the one thing you can count on in a bike race is that it WILL be hard. If anyone ever tells you a bike race was easy ask them if they won…
The dead on head wind in the first 30 miles made things hard at the front of the pack and very easy in the pack. I attacked first setting off a string of attacks but they were all just testing attacks. You could tell no one really wanted to commit. Until fellow Wild Oats team mat Ralf tock a nice flyer. And then had 4 join him with team director Chad Moore in tow. Neither our team leader for the day but fit and smart racers, we were content. After about 30 miles the road make a shard right hand turn and the easy sitting in was over! 15 miles of hard core Belgian style cross wind racing in sued. Well close anyway. I found myself in the second group but we were not far behind. We started picking up riders getting dropped from the group ahead and after some hard dicing riding in the gutter I found my self in the first group, less the early break. hurting with no teammates and 2 up the road I was trying to recover. A Mr. Jon Tarkinton number 1 on the Best All-round Rider list was with us and I did NOT want him getting to the front. At least not with me feeling the way I did. Jon is a crafty rider to say the least and he can do it all. Crits, long windy RR, hills doesn’t matter. He’s a threat. However me sitting on didn’t make for the best of friends in a group of 6 or 7 and the attacks started. I marked Jon and only Jon. This hurt me more, but I hung tough. Then flat. Yeah believe it r not another flat on the tubulars. I couldn’t believe it! You would think I was aiming for glass and nails! I got a change not the fastest but hey this aint the Tour. A large group pasted me with Max and Mike Sutter in it. I then went about drafting the car at some a really high speed. My monitor kicked out. 53 -11 speed. For maybe 10 minutes I was pinned the whole time. As I kicked out from behind the car I gave my new best friend a nod and realized that the group with me 2 teammates had joined the front group that I was in. our early break was still out. I sat in as Max gave me a few pushes to help me recover but I had already gone to far into the suitcase of courage, as Paul and Phil would say. Another little rise and our group split. Mike and I in the bigger one, A few guys ahead max out the back. With Mike Sutter feeling good I went to work giving everything I had to bring back the guys just ahead of us. After several miles of this we turned again on the last 15 miles and into a cross wind. I lasted a few miles and then I was alone. I could barley keep it in the big ring wit the wind. I did make it though. Not sure on the place. Our 2 early breakers came in 4th and 5th not sure on Sutter yet but top 10 I would imagine. So a good day for the team, tactically a supper race we just need some stronger legs and 1 less flat tires!
Crit tomorrow eve that will conclude the rocky Mt. Omnium!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Deer Trail RR
The course today featured some long flat roads potential for huge cross winds. The winds never really came. But.. a bike race being a bike race it was still hard. The early break went away pretty fast and I tried to bridge, I left it a bit to late and found my self in the middle nowhere… in the race and… in general. Dear Trail is a tiny town. They don’t get much smaller. Any who, I sat up and waited to for the pack after 5 minutes of killing myself. We did the attack each other stop. Then one or two teams would work for a bit. Stop, attack. Repeat. After the first section of the course we barreled back through town and out onto the second sector with was much hillier. I was feeling good as the as we hit the first long drag hard, the pack slowed I kept the pace going shooting of the front. Again I had a nice gap but the little wind that was kicking up made for hard work and the pack was chasseing again. I slotted in and the big boys started to fire. After a few more miles things were getting pretty strung out. I marked the strong guys and then came around a gap and up to a nice move started by Jon Tarkington. The Vitamin Cottage rider has a reputation for being very crafty and yeah, strong too. We were away. 3 of us. And soon 5. This is it I thought. We made another u-turn to begin that last hilly out and back. As we picked up the early break I accelerated over a steep little rise trying to drop the early breakers and take the strong guys to the line. But no one wanted any of that. Now I had 3 V. C. team mates to deal with a 4 or 5 others sitting on. It wasn’t long before the vitamin guys were putting on the pressure and after a few attacks I rolled through the front and Jon was gone. I couldn’t cover and he was away. With the early guys sitting on or hanging on rather after there 70 miles of hard work. With the other vitamin guys sitting on things were getting tricky. I road, hard. 2 or 3 others were taking pulls as well. With Jon dangling out front we were attacked again by the rested legs of his teammate. He made the junction quickly and now we were all looking stupid, or just out manned and out smarted? I can’t figure out which. We barreled into the line and my legs had nothing as the sprint opened up I could barley hold the wheel and ended up 6th.
A solid effort and I was pleased with my result despite the tactics being agents me. Lessons were learned and the last bit of fine tuning for the Gila complete. Next week will be interesting. Stay tuned.
A solid effort and I was pleased with my result despite the tactics being agents me. Lessons were learned and the last bit of fine tuning for the Gila complete. Next week will be interesting. Stay tuned.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Haystack Time Trial
The TT on this day was a fast course but still a heavy one. A few rolling hills around the half way point and a long barely uphill 3 mill drag to the finish line proved to make this a deceivingly hard course. I road the course a few times the other day once steady and easy and the other with some 5’ intervals. I figured even if the conditions were real good, no wind. It would be hard for me to go faster than 26 MPH average.
Come race day I was excited to test myself. This week I had started to cut back my over all training time and no more tempo, threshold, “hard work” kinda training. It is full gas or recovery ride from here to Gila. After getting the lady out the door for a ride and talking to a client I was now running late. Actually really late. No car drive out there I was going to have to ride. So a hasty warm up/ need to get there fast 40 minute ride. I signed in, pined the number through on the borrowed Zipps and rolled over to the start. An official looked up at me” Eric?” yes sir. I said almost before he finished getting out my name. “1 minute”
Ohh I thought. “No more warm up” I said. “Ahh warm up is over rated” said official number 2.
I pulled off the arm warmers and put my front wheel on the line clipped in and tock a deep breath. “Ok”, I thought, “not much wind maybe a little from the south which will make the last half of the course long, slow and tough. Don’t go out to hard there is that little climb 1 mile in take it easy, especially since my warm had basically one 30 second hard effort. My wheels are on right… right. I looked down at my skewers. “GO!” the official yelled.
I got into my rhythm fast and calmed my self down. First turn and I really cooked it. There was a teammate there helping out with the race and had the cheering going when I was 200m away. I really slammed that corner. Love my Bianchi. Accelerating a bit to hard maybe I was now on the really fast section of the course I worked up to my 53-12 and eased back a bit. It was my biggest gear and you really needed the 11 at least. That is when mister Baker, cyclocross wizard and climbing God ripped by me. At only 30 seconds back I figured he would pass me but not this soon. Its ok I said to my self. Stick to the plan. I turned south got into a nice rhythm, but I could feel my lack of warm up and more so the lack of stretching as my hamstrings started to remind me that I don’t stretch enough as it is. I hit the long roller that marked about half way and I started to push into the red zone. Looking at my speed I was doing pretty well. Baker was far up the road now bit I tried to focus on my race. Another right hand turn and I had 3 miles to go. I pushed into the wind and heavy road. The speed came down but the pain went sky high. I’m not sure on exact wind conditions but I was holding the same speed I did 2 days earlier on the same piece of road. But this effort was much longer. Ok so Baker passed me but he I going pretty good here, I could tell. I pushed more, a hard right then a quick left. Sharp 90 degree turns, I never got out of my aero bars. LOVE THAT BIKE! Out of the saddle now trying to accelerate, Or just trying. My legs started to feel like led, I pushed more. My clock said 28:something. The vision blurred. “holly crap!” I thought. I figured there would be now way I could break 30’ I hammered up the short incline to the finish. 30:50 I was right, but still a solid effort. I looked back and saw a 5280 rider not far behind. Damb! I know they’re a pro team but there juniors too! In the end Baker won. And beat me by around 2:30. pretty serious time gap and the young lad behind me who is that guy I asked the winner afterwards. Ohh that’s “little Phinney, he’s got good jeans.” Jeans? I thought, what the fu*% are you… just then I saw him talking to Davis Phinney. His dad. “ohhhh, yeah good Genes…
I came in mid pack, still trying to figure out who the others are that beat me and what category they are so I can see where I stand. All in all a good effort and afterwards I felt great! Better than before. Then I did the Team TT with mister Baker and 2 of his teammates. I won’t get into the specifics but it was very, very painful. We held of the all pro team the best we could. They beat us by about 30-40 sec. a good effort I thought by us mere mortal non pros.
Come race day I was excited to test myself. This week I had started to cut back my over all training time and no more tempo, threshold, “hard work” kinda training. It is full gas or recovery ride from here to Gila. After getting the lady out the door for a ride and talking to a client I was now running late. Actually really late. No car drive out there I was going to have to ride. So a hasty warm up/ need to get there fast 40 minute ride. I signed in, pined the number through on the borrowed Zipps and rolled over to the start. An official looked up at me” Eric?” yes sir. I said almost before he finished getting out my name. “1 minute”
Ohh I thought. “No more warm up” I said. “Ahh warm up is over rated” said official number 2.
I pulled off the arm warmers and put my front wheel on the line clipped in and tock a deep breath. “Ok”, I thought, “not much wind maybe a little from the south which will make the last half of the course long, slow and tough. Don’t go out to hard there is that little climb 1 mile in take it easy, especially since my warm had basically one 30 second hard effort. My wheels are on right… right. I looked down at my skewers. “GO!” the official yelled.
I got into my rhythm fast and calmed my self down. First turn and I really cooked it. There was a teammate there helping out with the race and had the cheering going when I was 200m away. I really slammed that corner. Love my Bianchi. Accelerating a bit to hard maybe I was now on the really fast section of the course I worked up to my 53-12 and eased back a bit. It was my biggest gear and you really needed the 11 at least. That is when mister Baker, cyclocross wizard and climbing God ripped by me. At only 30 seconds back I figured he would pass me but not this soon. Its ok I said to my self. Stick to the plan. I turned south got into a nice rhythm, but I could feel my lack of warm up and more so the lack of stretching as my hamstrings started to remind me that I don’t stretch enough as it is. I hit the long roller that marked about half way and I started to push into the red zone. Looking at my speed I was doing pretty well. Baker was far up the road now bit I tried to focus on my race. Another right hand turn and I had 3 miles to go. I pushed into the wind and heavy road. The speed came down but the pain went sky high. I’m not sure on exact wind conditions but I was holding the same speed I did 2 days earlier on the same piece of road. But this effort was much longer. Ok so Baker passed me but he I going pretty good here, I could tell. I pushed more, a hard right then a quick left. Sharp 90 degree turns, I never got out of my aero bars. LOVE THAT BIKE! Out of the saddle now trying to accelerate, Or just trying. My legs started to feel like led, I pushed more. My clock said 28:something. The vision blurred. “holly crap!” I thought. I figured there would be now way I could break 30’ I hammered up the short incline to the finish. 30:50 I was right, but still a solid effort. I looked back and saw a 5280 rider not far behind. Damb! I know they’re a pro team but there juniors too! In the end Baker won. And beat me by around 2:30. pretty serious time gap and the young lad behind me who is that guy I asked the winner afterwards. Ohh that’s “little Phinney, he’s got good jeans.” Jeans? I thought, what the fu*% are you… just then I saw him talking to Davis Phinney. His dad. “ohhhh, yeah good Genes…
I came in mid pack, still trying to figure out who the others are that beat me and what category they are so I can see where I stand. All in all a good effort and afterwards I felt great! Better than before. Then I did the Team TT with mister Baker and 2 of his teammates. I won’t get into the specifics but it was very, very painful. We held of the all pro team the best we could. They beat us by about 30-40 sec. a good effort I thought by us mere mortal non pros.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Fallcon cycling Road Race
Co, springs is a beautiful place it real is. The air force base is propped up on a hill just below the fount range. Pic on my main page.
The race course today featured the 1987 worlds road race course, kinda cool. It was a 12 mile loop which was basically one long climb with a tail wind. It platued out and rolled hard 3-4 times before a fast down hill right into the short, big ring finishing climb. then down more with a heavy cross wind, right hand turn into a 20 mph head wind, for a few miles and back to the long climb.
The field was still pretty stacked despite yesterday fun. The first lap was steady and the climb, I think, tock allot of people by surprise. Even though we had a tail wing the climb dragged on and got steeper towards the top. Through in a little cross wind at the top with some hard small ring rollers and you got a tough climb. the attacks started on the second lap and the climb was all out. 1/3 of the field was dropped if not more lap 3 (out of 5) a slipstream guy and a Einstein’s rider moved away. I look at Stefano (from Toyota United) and shock my head in unison with his. There were 2 slip stream guys in the field still and 6 or so riders form the Einstein’s team. not a good situation for any one else. I tried to slip away on the head wind section once or twice but it was no good. with the bagel boys chasseing everything down I had to the climbing power of the young guy from Toyota United. For the next 2 laps Stefano showed the field why he is a pro. That boy can climb! he shattered the field the first time, I got back on. The next time he tock a few riders with him clear. And the field was blown apart. I was now in the 3rd group? I think? The break which was then caught and dropped. Stefano’s group, another group with some strong men from Einstein’s and my group. 1 and a half laps to go we rolled pretty well. At this point I was really feeling the effort. I hung tough the last time up the climb but right as I was going to put in an big effort over the top I dropped my chain! Douuuh! My big effort was chasseing back to my group of 7 or so. Caught them all but 3 which contained Chuck Coyle. Rider from Successful Living and 12 hour old winner of the 07 Boulder Roubaix.
The race course today featured the 1987 worlds road race course, kinda cool. It was a 12 mile loop which was basically one long climb with a tail wind. It platued out and rolled hard 3-4 times before a fast down hill right into the short, big ring finishing climb. then down more with a heavy cross wind, right hand turn into a 20 mph head wind, for a few miles and back to the long climb.
The field was still pretty stacked despite yesterday fun. The first lap was steady and the climb, I think, tock allot of people by surprise. Even though we had a tail wing the climb dragged on and got steeper towards the top. Through in a little cross wind at the top with some hard small ring rollers and you got a tough climb. the attacks started on the second lap and the climb was all out. 1/3 of the field was dropped if not more lap 3 (out of 5) a slipstream guy and a Einstein’s rider moved away. I look at Stefano (from Toyota United) and shock my head in unison with his. There were 2 slip stream guys in the field still and 6 or so riders form the Einstein’s team. not a good situation for any one else. I tried to slip away on the head wind section once or twice but it was no good. with the bagel boys chasseing everything down I had to the climbing power of the young guy from Toyota United. For the next 2 laps Stefano showed the field why he is a pro. That boy can climb! he shattered the field the first time, I got back on. The next time he tock a few riders with him clear. And the field was blown apart. I was now in the 3rd group? I think? The break which was then caught and dropped. Stefano’s group, another group with some strong men from Einstein’s and my group. 1 and a half laps to go we rolled pretty well. At this point I was really feeling the effort. I hung tough the last time up the climb but right as I was going to put in an big effort over the top I dropped my chain! Douuuh! My big effort was chasseing back to my group of 7 or so. Caught them all but 3 which contained Chuck Coyle. Rider from Successful Living and 12 hour old winner of the 07 Boulder Roubaix.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Boulder Roubaix
Leave it up to me to make an incredibly hard race as hard as possible. 75 miles or so. 8 point something mile loops. With 2-3 miles or so of easy pavement. The rest… dirt roads, short sharp climbs, downhill 90 degree turns, false flats and as always… the pro’s.
After a few laps of racing things got gripy. I was closing gaps and after 3-5 minutes of all out riding it settled down a bit but 1/3 of the field was dropped. As we approached the same spot 1 lap later I knew “it” was going to happen now, “the” break of the day going to go. sure enough I started to dig in riding the 25-30 mph pace on the bumpy, packed dirt road. Then, a gap that was getting hard to close down. My self and Allen Krugoff crushed it but found our self’s in no-mans land fast and loosing ground to the leaders. My teammate Max had been in an early break and was hanging on but must have been really suffering now.
After a few minutes of chase our “main group settled down and then really slowed down. I accelerated a few times only to be chased. Finally they let me go. and I was off. With 30+ miles to go I wasn’t sure what I was doing but I knew I didn’t want to ride with a group that had given up. 10-12 miles alone was starting wear on me but I was fueling well and had already gotten a few from Lindsay. The best feed girl in the biz!! Then a saw the chasers I had a big gap now on the pack but being alone of this course it could get closed by an angry pack fast. It was only 3 riders. When they caught me the change of pace hurt but they let me sit on for 2 minutes until we reached the pavement. There I started pulling through and we made time on our chasers if there were any.
Towards the finish I was basically just putting on a show. A show of how to pedal with out actually pushing on the pedals! I was done. Allen accelerated on the final climb with 1 km to go almost making it but no go. Allen tock one other rider from out group to the line while myself and the other road a slow but all out effort to the line.
In the end 14th place was mine. I was pleased with the number of pro’s and not making “the move” I felt that it was a good effort. Now I had to get ready for the hills of CO springs tomorrow…
After a few laps of racing things got gripy. I was closing gaps and after 3-5 minutes of all out riding it settled down a bit but 1/3 of the field was dropped. As we approached the same spot 1 lap later I knew “it” was going to happen now, “the” break of the day going to go. sure enough I started to dig in riding the 25-30 mph pace on the bumpy, packed dirt road. Then, a gap that was getting hard to close down. My self and Allen Krugoff crushed it but found our self’s in no-mans land fast and loosing ground to the leaders. My teammate Max had been in an early break and was hanging on but must have been really suffering now.
After a few minutes of chase our “main group settled down and then really slowed down. I accelerated a few times only to be chased. Finally they let me go. and I was off. With 30+ miles to go I wasn’t sure what I was doing but I knew I didn’t want to ride with a group that had given up. 10-12 miles alone was starting wear on me but I was fueling well and had already gotten a few from Lindsay. The best feed girl in the biz!! Then a saw the chasers I had a big gap now on the pack but being alone of this course it could get closed by an angry pack fast. It was only 3 riders. When they caught me the change of pace hurt but they let me sit on for 2 minutes until we reached the pavement. There I started pulling through and we made time on our chasers if there were any.
Towards the finish I was basically just putting on a show. A show of how to pedal with out actually pushing on the pedals! I was done. Allen accelerated on the final climb with 1 km to go almost making it but no go. Allen tock one other rider from out group to the line while myself and the other road a slow but all out effort to the line.
In the end 14th place was mine. I was pleased with the number of pro’s and not making “the move” I felt that it was a good effort. Now I had to get ready for the hills of CO springs tomorrow…
Monday, April 02, 2007
Koppenburg RR
I have to say that the racing in the Boulder area is hard core! Pro riders aside. The first 3 RR of the yr have lots of dirt roads. And the wind is enough make a Belgian pay attention.
OK the Koppenburg RR. A short 45 miles or so but serious pain was laid down by the 15 or so pros that showed up. I got to the line late and was in back. The guy in front of me stumbled on his clip in and bamb. The field is single file on the dirt in a 20 MPH cross, head wind. The first 5+ miles was like that. Up the climb the first time was rough. I was caught back and then chasing. Back on the field slowed briefly, a minute, then back to the dirt for round two. The cross wind at the top of the climb was fierce. Single file in the dirt, back wheel fish tailing in the soft stuff at the side of the road. This time I was back again, we were dropped and chased back on. It tock a bit longer this time. See a patterned forming…
Lap 3 was the same.
4th time around, I think, was a bit slower and I recovered all right. Better than I thought I would for being in and out of sickness this week. That time up the climb was the best I had felt. Ohh yeah the climb is only 200 meters long but dirt, rutted and 17%. I was middle of the pack. Over the top and again single file. In the gutter and this time the pace was wicked! It didn’t let up, I started to crack and drift back. One guy came by then nothing. “that’s it I thought!” what the?!? I turned around almost pissed off. Everyone else was gone. I settled into a nice rhythm, well maybe nice isn’t the word, but you know what I mean. I actually felt Ok I was just so out of position and couldn’t get into position and I paid, dearly. I kept riding and after 5 miles or so 5 riders came up behind me. In it were 2 cat 1’s who are rather crafty and strong. Ok I thought just keep riding. I saw more and more riders riding home, and at the side of the road? Ok maybe I’m not doing that bad? Then we caught the main group. “wow” this is interesting” I thought. We went real slow but the climb was coming. move to the front I thought. Bamb! Crash. Moniger and a Kodak gallery guy went down. I did the tripod hop as gracefully as possible as I ran into the guy in front of me. Still up right I clipped in and… nothing left, just nothing in the legs. 25 miles of all out riding on dirt roads with more wind that Florida in hurricane season was to much. I came of the back fast. Upon finding the top of the climb I found a new set of riders to share the wind with and this time the 3 groups in front of us did seem to add up to much. So I road. Just trading pulls. We were going pretty slow but I couldn’t go any faster alone. Last lap, I was thinking I would get dropped on the hill but didn’t at the top me and Joe T. from Vitamin cottage and I were left from our group. We rode steady and strong to the finish and hit the line in 30 and 31st place. We didn’t really sprint but rather just tried to look strong for the crowd. I slipped in behind him figuring I wouldn’t challenge him after the push he gave me when my front derailleur acted up. And I probably couldn’t have taken him any way.
So… there you go. I have been a bit sick this week, yes. Just some congestion and soar throat so I was unsure how I would go. I felt better than I thought I would but tactically, my positioning was the worst it has ever been in a race. so… ride and learn, ride and learn.
OK the Koppenburg RR. A short 45 miles or so but serious pain was laid down by the 15 or so pros that showed up. I got to the line late and was in back. The guy in front of me stumbled on his clip in and bamb. The field is single file on the dirt in a 20 MPH cross, head wind. The first 5+ miles was like that. Up the climb the first time was rough. I was caught back and then chasing. Back on the field slowed briefly, a minute, then back to the dirt for round two. The cross wind at the top of the climb was fierce. Single file in the dirt, back wheel fish tailing in the soft stuff at the side of the road. This time I was back again, we were dropped and chased back on. It tock a bit longer this time. See a patterned forming…
Lap 3 was the same.
4th time around, I think, was a bit slower and I recovered all right. Better than I thought I would for being in and out of sickness this week. That time up the climb was the best I had felt. Ohh yeah the climb is only 200 meters long but dirt, rutted and 17%. I was middle of the pack. Over the top and again single file. In the gutter and this time the pace was wicked! It didn’t let up, I started to crack and drift back. One guy came by then nothing. “that’s it I thought!” what the?!? I turned around almost pissed off. Everyone else was gone. I settled into a nice rhythm, well maybe nice isn’t the word, but you know what I mean. I actually felt Ok I was just so out of position and couldn’t get into position and I paid, dearly. I kept riding and after 5 miles or so 5 riders came up behind me. In it were 2 cat 1’s who are rather crafty and strong. Ok I thought just keep riding. I saw more and more riders riding home, and at the side of the road? Ok maybe I’m not doing that bad? Then we caught the main group. “wow” this is interesting” I thought. We went real slow but the climb was coming. move to the front I thought. Bamb! Crash. Moniger and a Kodak gallery guy went down. I did the tripod hop as gracefully as possible as I ran into the guy in front of me. Still up right I clipped in and… nothing left, just nothing in the legs. 25 miles of all out riding on dirt roads with more wind that Florida in hurricane season was to much. I came of the back fast. Upon finding the top of the climb I found a new set of riders to share the wind with and this time the 3 groups in front of us did seem to add up to much. So I road. Just trading pulls. We were going pretty slow but I couldn’t go any faster alone. Last lap, I was thinking I would get dropped on the hill but didn’t at the top me and Joe T. from Vitamin cottage and I were left from our group. We rode steady and strong to the finish and hit the line in 30 and 31st place. We didn’t really sprint but rather just tried to look strong for the crowd. I slipped in behind him figuring I wouldn’t challenge him after the push he gave me when my front derailleur acted up. And I probably couldn’t have taken him any way.
So… there you go. I have been a bit sick this week, yes. Just some congestion and soar throat so I was unsure how I would go. I felt better than I thought I would but tactically, my positioning was the worst it has ever been in a race. so… ride and learn, ride and learn.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Cat Eye RR
Rain. 40 degrees and more rain. only 54 miles but throw some wind in there and 2 dirt road sections and you have the makings of a real rough day, or a great one?
in the first 10 miles I was feeling a bit panicy but i settled down. the course was harder than i thought. ny quads felt like some one else's. they felt like I had been sitting in the car for 2 hours... like I had. laphing my ass off with Kelly as we got ready and tried to stay warm.
I attacked a few times and then one stuck. 12 miles into the race I was off alone. with Kelly now sitting in follow moves like he can do so well I thought this was good. I still didn't feel good and there were some big guns in the pack but I'm not gona stop now. Onto the dirt road and I saw a group coming up. I crushed it trying to get over the hill and onto the pavement before the caught me. They got me before the pavement but I hung on. But another hill and acceleration and I was gaped and the pack was now half the size. I was gone... see yah. race over. pretty sad really but you know it just wasn't gona happen for me today. so what ever. Learn. that’s all I can do now. and I have. so tomorrow will be a big training day.
after I pulled out I was consoled by the sight of a few cat 1's dropped before me. Ok that’s not so bad I guess and the Pack was half the size. and my training times and wattage don't lie. good things are coming. I know it!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
laying it down in the snow
We all have different Ideas on winter training, for some it is a vital time of yr. laying the foundation for a big race mid summer or tuning speed for the early season duathlons. For some, winter will be a success if they gain less than 10 pounds. What ever your motivations for this winter; balancing a structured plan with a good dose of spontaneity will get you in the best form ever, physically and mentally.
Out look:
If you live in the northeast or anywhere that snows in the winter, and your not a pro, you simply can’t train as much in the winter. With darkness coming around 4:30pm, fridged morning temps and icy roads it just not possible. We won’t even get into jobs, girl friends, kids, wives, the patriots game schedule, etc…
So now that we are at peace with the fact that we simply can’t put in as much time as we may want, We can focus on what to do with the time we have.
Getting start:
Find a routine. With cold temps, warm beds and stale indoor air it is easy to get “off track”. Try to find some kind of routine. This could be 1 workout or rendezvous with a friend per week. ie. “every Wednesday morning john and I run together, no matter what.” “Thursday night I do the spinning class at my gym.” Even with only one appointment per week with your body you can maintain your fitness. Find something that works with your schedule so it will be easy to keep this apt and not get side tracked.
This can work for you in a great way if this one work out focuses on your weakness. I have known athletes to turn there swim that puts them 5 minutes down to 1 minute up, over the course of the winter!
The bike:
These time constraints really hit hard when trying to work on your bike, especially if you are training for an early season ½ or full Ironman. First thing to do is invest in the proper warm clothes. Water/wind proof booties and gloves. Warm tights, thermal cycling jacket, hat or helmet cover. Investing in proper cycling winter gear will make your cold rides more enjoyable, more effective, and maybe a bit longer. One trick for the cold feet is to use shoes 1 size to big and put in two insoles. And don’t jam your feet in there with to many socks. You’ll restrict circulation and have lumps for wood for feet in less than an hour.
The trainer can be your worst enemy and your best ally all at once. If you are going to improve your riding regular visits to the trainer will be a must but they don’t have to be torture.
-Don’t do the same thing day in day out. Mix it up with trainer workouts and the amount of time you spend on it. Try something new once every 2 weeks or so. like watching football with your buddies 3- 4 hr’s with big gear climbs every commercial, sprints every field goal, and hard tempo every time your team is on offence would make even Mark Allan slump over the handle bars by the final 2 minute drill.
-Keep your mind busy. When your not with your friends watch tv, listen to the radio, read.
- stay focused. I have just given you ways to distract your self from your work but the best way I find to make time fly is to have specific workout and stick to it, to the second. Warm up, cool down, some 10 minute strength intervals, rest intervals. You’ll find that riding for less than an hour becomes pretty difficult. Take care:
It is important that your take care of both your body and your equipment with the same care as you would in the summer months. Proper nutrition and stretching is vital to staying healthy and on the upward path. Care for your bike and trainer is also a must. Just because your not out in the rain and dirt doesn’t mean you can just get off your bike and be done with it. Salt will build up on your bike and trainer and will destroy both if you don’t clean them. They will surely fail you when you need them most.
Work outs:
Technique work is something that can be and should be incorporated into every workout on the trainer. A clean efficient pedal stroke is something that every triathlete and cyclist can reap huge benefits from, more so than most realize.
One leg pedaling: 30 sec. each leg x3. pedal with one leg. focusing on pushing the pedal all the way around the circle. Keep pressure light and body still.
*incorporate this into your warm up and cool down every time you ride the trainer. fast/slow pedal.
Pedal in a large gear at 50-70 rpm’s (slower than you ever would on the road.) for 1 minute then immediately drop to a low gear and spin a few beats higher than is comfortable. 105 or higher. Do this for at least 10’
This will raise your HR and your exertion level a bit. Don’t focus on working hard rather trying to be efficient and be able to do this for longer and longer periods of time. Level 2-3. This is an excellent way to work both your cardio and your pedaling efficiency.
Out look:
If you live in the northeast or anywhere that snows in the winter, and your not a pro, you simply can’t train as much in the winter. With darkness coming around 4:30pm, fridged morning temps and icy roads it just not possible. We won’t even get into jobs, girl friends, kids, wives, the patriots game schedule, etc…
So now that we are at peace with the fact that we simply can’t put in as much time as we may want, We can focus on what to do with the time we have.
Getting start:
Find a routine. With cold temps, warm beds and stale indoor air it is easy to get “off track”. Try to find some kind of routine. This could be 1 workout or rendezvous with a friend per week. ie. “every Wednesday morning john and I run together, no matter what.” “Thursday night I do the spinning class at my gym.” Even with only one appointment per week with your body you can maintain your fitness. Find something that works with your schedule so it will be easy to keep this apt and not get side tracked.
This can work for you in a great way if this one work out focuses on your weakness. I have known athletes to turn there swim that puts them 5 minutes down to 1 minute up, over the course of the winter!
The bike:
These time constraints really hit hard when trying to work on your bike, especially if you are training for an early season ½ or full Ironman. First thing to do is invest in the proper warm clothes. Water/wind proof booties and gloves. Warm tights, thermal cycling jacket, hat or helmet cover. Investing in proper cycling winter gear will make your cold rides more enjoyable, more effective, and maybe a bit longer. One trick for the cold feet is to use shoes 1 size to big and put in two insoles. And don’t jam your feet in there with to many socks. You’ll restrict circulation and have lumps for wood for feet in less than an hour.
The trainer can be your worst enemy and your best ally all at once. If you are going to improve your riding regular visits to the trainer will be a must but they don’t have to be torture.
-Don’t do the same thing day in day out. Mix it up with trainer workouts and the amount of time you spend on it. Try something new once every 2 weeks or so. like watching football with your buddies 3- 4 hr’s with big gear climbs every commercial, sprints every field goal, and hard tempo every time your team is on offence would make even Mark Allan slump over the handle bars by the final 2 minute drill.
-Keep your mind busy. When your not with your friends watch tv, listen to the radio, read.
- stay focused. I have just given you ways to distract your self from your work but the best way I find to make time fly is to have specific workout and stick to it, to the second. Warm up, cool down, some 10 minute strength intervals, rest intervals. You’ll find that riding for less than an hour becomes pretty difficult. Take care:
It is important that your take care of both your body and your equipment with the same care as you would in the summer months. Proper nutrition and stretching is vital to staying healthy and on the upward path. Care for your bike and trainer is also a must. Just because your not out in the rain and dirt doesn’t mean you can just get off your bike and be done with it. Salt will build up on your bike and trainer and will destroy both if you don’t clean them. They will surely fail you when you need them most.
Work outs:
Technique work is something that can be and should be incorporated into every workout on the trainer. A clean efficient pedal stroke is something that every triathlete and cyclist can reap huge benefits from, more so than most realize.
One leg pedaling: 30 sec. each leg x3. pedal with one leg. focusing on pushing the pedal all the way around the circle. Keep pressure light and body still.
*incorporate this into your warm up and cool down every time you ride the trainer. fast/slow pedal.
Pedal in a large gear at 50-70 rpm’s (slower than you ever would on the road.) for 1 minute then immediately drop to a low gear and spin a few beats higher than is comfortable. 105 or higher. Do this for at least 10’
This will raise your HR and your exertion level a bit. Don’t focus on working hard rather trying to be efficient and be able to do this for longer and longer periods of time. Level 2-3. This is an excellent way to work both your cardio and your pedaling efficiency.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Boulder Cross Series # 4
The finish of today’s Cross race would leave us with only one last event in the
Know you know I am not one for excuse but for what ever reason my hamstrings were wound up like a rubber band ball for the last 2 days and I could not loosen them up.
My warm up was fair, could have been a bit longer but forgetting my money, getting a flat, and the Mexican food for dinner last night had me… busy pre race to say the least.
The legs didn’t feel great either. I got to the start early a few more hammy stretches and I did what I always do at the start of every race, feeling good or not. I looked around, convinced my self I was the best and I would ride like a god today.
Only a 20 minute ride away from my house the course featured lots of washboard grass sections, a few off camber high speed turns, an EK leg breaking wall of a run up, sand pit the works!
I was second row at the start. The starting section was probably the best section of the course for me, I had to really nail it. The gun went off and after a few hip checks I was around 15th wheel. “Ok not bad.” Off the gravel path onto the uphill bike path around a corner into the sand pit and back out. I pasted maybe 5 people. I was riding well and closing gaps fast. I got into the front of the first chase group. The leaders were 3 or 4 and gaped everyone fast. Looking around I was in good company. Guys who have finished in the top ten lately. A glance behind humbled me as 10 more guy on my wheel were thinking the same thing. Letting strong man Matt Operman take the front I was content to follow and a lap later the ten followers were now the chasers. Sweet! “8th place EK!” some fans yelled. “8th! Nice this is good”. As we started the 3rd lap Matt looked like he was feeling the pressure and seemed to slow. I punched it as we hit a paved section now riding in 6th – 9th place I figured, and I was pretty happy. In the mix! A few minutes later I hit the run up. Matt and company were right behind me. 16 minutes into the race and it was clear that my attack was a bit to much for me to handle. I could have gotten in a nice recovery in that section but I went for it. My 3 chasers turned into my fellow riders and then my leaders quickly. I tock a deep breath and tried to get a rhythm going. I did, but I could tell it wasn’t what I was capable of. I had made a huge tactical error in my amped up rage brought on by my good start and company after 2 laps.
I tried to not make any errors and keep a rhythm going. In the end finished 12th. A good result for me yes. My best yet but the top ten again was in sight and there for the taking. No go in this sport. One mistake, one mishap, one little brush with bad luck and its over.
One more opportunity to make the top ten. Doubled points. Stay tuned.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Fall planing
Turkey day!!
Your thinking “its Thanksgiving! What could I possibly do for training??? Turkey Carving is some of the best deltoid training there is! This will make you more stable on the bike and resist fatigue longer! Don’t miss the opportunity. Actually I am kidding. Thanksgiving marks the beginning on the holidays and the beginning of the long difficult road to start training again. I have fallen victim to this before. First its time to rest, then turkey day. Then comes along then Christmas which slams full speed into new years. Throw some travel for work in there, a vacation and maybe a wedding (went to a new years wedding last year. Best time ever) and the next thing you know its February your turning 29. Again. And you are barely going to get in 6 weeks of base training before spring.
What to do?
Its time to plan. The answer here is this is not the time to stress about training but to plan ahead. And before we can plan one must look back at the past. Your past year or more of racing and training can be the best thing on can do in planning for the next season.
Here are some steeps to get you on the road to success.
1. Write down your general goals. Things that you want to focus on in general. Ie. Become a stronger runner, spend more time training on the bike.
2. Then write down specific goals: these can be precisely measured. Increase threshold wattage to 300. Run sub 30:30 minute 10k.
3. Then write down your goal races, there dates and rank them in priority.
Now you know where you want to go. From here you can look back and see where your coming from. Look at results, your notes from training and races. This is where you need to objectively look at your performance and figure were your weakness, limiters and strengths lye. This is something that should be done with your coach. Don’t have one? Get a consultation. If you have done your part, steeps 1 up to here, you can have a very useful 1 hour conversation with a certified coach. Money well spent. I just did this for my self!
You will now be armed with essential tools for planning and training for your season.
1. You have you goal races down in the calendar.
2. You should know what key skill and abilities you will need to meet your goals at these events.
3. You should know what weakness match those needed skills (your limiters).
After this planning you will know the most import things to know for a successful season. Like our old hero’s would say. “And knowing is have the battle” ~GI joe~
By Coach Eric Kenney
www.performancetrainingsystems.com/about/ek.html
Your thinking “its Thanksgiving! What could I possibly do for training??? Turkey Carving is some of the best deltoid training there is! This will make you more stable on the bike and resist fatigue longer! Don’t miss the opportunity. Actually I am kidding. Thanksgiving marks the beginning on the holidays and the beginning of the long difficult road to start training again. I have fallen victim to this before. First its time to rest, then turkey day. Then comes along then Christmas which slams full speed into new years. Throw some travel for work in there, a vacation and maybe a wedding (went to a new years wedding last year. Best time ever) and the next thing you know its February your turning 29. Again. And you are barely going to get in 6 weeks of base training before spring.
What to do?
Its time to plan. The answer here is this is not the time to stress about training but to plan ahead. And before we can plan one must look back at the past. Your past year or more of racing and training can be the best thing on can do in planning for the next season.
Here are some steeps to get you on the road to success.
1. Write down your general goals. Things that you want to focus on in general. Ie. Become a stronger runner, spend more time training on the bike.
2. Then write down specific goals: these can be precisely measured. Increase threshold wattage to 300. Run sub 30:30 minute 10k.
3. Then write down your goal races, there dates and rank them in priority.
Now you know where you want to go. From here you can look back and see where your coming from. Look at results, your notes from training and races. This is where you need to objectively look at your performance and figure were your weakness, limiters and strengths lye. This is something that should be done with your coach. Don’t have one? Get a consultation. If you have done your part, steeps 1 up to here, you can have a very useful 1 hour conversation with a certified coach. Money well spent. I just did this for my self!
You will now be armed with essential tools for planning and training for your season.
1. You have you goal races down in the calendar.
2. You should know what key skill and abilities you will need to meet your goals at these events.
3. You should know what weakness match those needed skills (your limiters).
After this planning you will know the most import things to know for a successful season. Like our old hero’s would say. “And knowing is have the battle” ~GI joe~
By Coach Eric Kenney
www.performancetrainingsystems.com/about/ek.html
Monday, November 06, 2006
USGP Cross, Boulder, CO
The plan this weekend was to not race. Get caught up with some coaching matters, relax, and hit the road bike a bit. But after watching the pro race on sat and finding out that there was $1000 dollars up from grabs in the cat 3 race for top ten… I had to give it a go.
The race was a bit earlier than normal. 10:30am. No worries however with the race a mere 2 minute bike ride from my house. Some food lots of fluids and I was off. Register, pin the number and some intervals to warm up. It was already 10 and no one was allowed to warm up on the course. Not ideal but we were all in the same boat. A friendly racer gave me the low down and I watched the end of the cat 4 race. After getting to the line 30’ early I was mid pack. In the field of around 100. I knew for me to get into the top ten I would need good legs, a technically perfect ride and some serious luck.
The gun went off and it was one debacle after another. A crash on the right squeezed me a bit. Then onto the grass bottlenecked out, once, twice, three times. My handle bars got caught in someone’s front wheel on the run up, sorry. Then I got bumped into and knocked over. Into the sand pit which looked like I could ride through? Nope! Dismount and flop. Face in the dirt one leg still clipped in. I finally started to get my rhythm when a bad turn caught the route marking tape in my handle bars. As I ripped out the stake, 2 other riders crashed into me. Down again. I remounted and looked at my clock. 9 minutes. Over 35 more to go, great… I tried to get going and did pass some people but it was to late. Not only was the top ten miles out of reach but so was the top 20!
I tried to remember that this was all training for me and focused on cornering well and keeping the pressure on. I have to say however the winner Brian Alders, a fast fit lad from CU, is some one I know. He is in great shape after MT. collegiate nationals. Last weekend he had some bad luck with his chain dropping in the first 500m of the race. This week it happened again in the starting crash. Last week his 5th place wasn’t enough and his determination showed. He moved from what must have been last place to the lead group and pulled away from them before the last lap. Defiantly the ride of the day! I finished mid pack and had a rude reminder of what bike racing is all about.
The race was a bit earlier than normal. 10:30am. No worries however with the race a mere 2 minute bike ride from my house. Some food lots of fluids and I was off. Register, pin the number and some intervals to warm up. It was already 10 and no one was allowed to warm up on the course. Not ideal but we were all in the same boat. A friendly racer gave me the low down and I watched the end of the cat 4 race. After getting to the line 30’ early I was mid pack. In the field of around 100. I knew for me to get into the top ten I would need good legs, a technically perfect ride and some serious luck.
The gun went off and it was one debacle after another. A crash on the right squeezed me a bit. Then onto the grass bottlenecked out, once, twice, three times. My handle bars got caught in someone’s front wheel on the run up, sorry. Then I got bumped into and knocked over. Into the sand pit which looked like I could ride through? Nope! Dismount and flop. Face in the dirt one leg still clipped in. I finally started to get my rhythm when a bad turn caught the route marking tape in my handle bars. As I ripped out the stake, 2 other riders crashed into me. Down again. I remounted and looked at my clock. 9 minutes. Over 35 more to go, great… I tried to get going and did pass some people but it was to late. Not only was the top ten miles out of reach but so was the top 20!
I tried to remember that this was all training for me and focused on cornering well and keeping the pressure on. I have to say however the winner Brian Alders, a fast fit lad from CU, is some one I know. He is in great shape after MT. collegiate nationals. Last weekend he had some bad luck with his chain dropping in the first 500m of the race. This week it happened again in the starting crash. Last week his 5th place wasn’t enough and his determination showed. He moved from what must have been last place to the lead group and pulled away from them before the last lap. Defiantly the ride of the day! I finished mid pack and had a rude reminder of what bike racing is all about.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Boulder cross #3
After the nice 40’ warm up ride to the race Lindsay and I parked at the Full Cycle (the shop a wrench at) tent and truck. I surveyed the course while Lins tock in some race atmosphere, a burger and some brews. I got in a warm up lap on the course and I was immediately worried. The first half was flat sections on the hard pack beach and field. But the pavement and field section were riddled with either turns or brain rattling, washboard bumps. None the less I felt this section was where I could make up time. But then the course rolled into the off camber sandy turn down to the beach. Then up the what seemed like a 4 mile slightly up hill beach run, back down the beach in 5 inch deep, balance sucking sand to the muddy shore that required what seemed like 500+ watts to turn over my 39/27, then to the easier gravel and paved section!
standard cross I guess, and I was standardly terrified.
I warmed up well with some hard efforts and was pretty sauced on cytomax , sport legs pills and 1 can of GO FAST. I got fairly good position at the start in the second row and we were off.
I got a solid hole shot into around 10 position but as I braked getting ready for the right hand turn everyone seemed to be much more confident about there turning skills than
So I wasn’t in the first lap lung busting mix up front but on a positive note. I wasn’t in the first lap, lung busting mix up front. around the second lap when 75% of the field realized they had just gone way harder then they should have and I started to pass some folks. I got into the top 20 and laid down the best pace I could. I handled the course better than I thought I would but it was the toughest course I had done yet. Training or racing, granted that isn’t that many courses but point is it was more difficult than last week. And combined with my race course knowledge snafu I was under the gun to place better.
The lap cards read 2 to go fairly early so I gave it everything focusing on making no mistakes. I had one carrot in my sights with ½ a lap to go but just couldn’t get by him.
In the end I finished happily in 16th, and unhappily I finished in 16th. I did better than last week which was good and with the difficult course my improvement was solid. But I couldn’t help loath my stupidity at my lack of course knowledge of the starting corners and the thought that a top ten would have been easily in hand.
A good lesson learned and another fun race in the bag.
More soon.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Boulder Cross # 2
With the lady gone for the weekend I have been rather unstructured this weekend. 12 noon came upon me fast and the next thing I knew I was driving around Broomfield, CO looking for a bunch of cyclocrossers riding around in the mud drooling all over them selves. I found them with plenty of time but as I got dressed I began to wonder how long my bowl of grape nuts I ate 4 hours ago would last me? All day. That stuff should be illegal!
I previewed the course and it looked good for me. With some long flat, grass sections and only one (if a long one) running section. I warmed up a bit and it was time to roll. The weather was quite chilly, low 40’s, but the sun was strong as it always is out here. The start was… a cross start. Crashes, yelling, chains and gears make awful noises. I managed to avoid them taking the first turn on the flat grass start wide. I was around 15th or so as the field hit the single track/ bike path. I went all out for the first lap. I past several people on the clogged run up, hit the fast section that would bring us onto the large field and to the start/finish line.
Right about here I realized that I had not warmed up nearly enough. My lungs burned form the cold air and my mouth filled with flem. This made breathing rather hard as my nose was in the normal “working out in cold weather” situation. A minute or 2 of some professional hacking and I was square.
I focused on my own rhythm as what seemed like 20 people past me in my lactic acid over dosed state. I was blown but riding well, making it through the tricky section on the bike without loosing momentum. A few friends were there as giving me the status on where I was. “25th Ek, 2-5!” they yelled. That’s not bad I thought. I wanted to make top 20 as you need to be in the top 20 to get points for the series. I found a good pace and kept chugging away. Then I started catching people. “23rd EK, 2-3!!”. I was moving up. Keep pushing I told my self but I had to be cautious with my effort. Cyclocross is one high power acceleration after another. Go to hard and you’ll be standing still. Literally. I came by the finish with 1 lap to go. I put a little more into the legs. I had 2 people in sight to catch and 3 breathing down my neck. “No mistakes”, I thought. I could take a risk and gain 2 seconds or loose 30. I went with the steady, no mistakes strategy for the whole race. I was pulling away from my chasers on the non technical sections now and gaining on the riders in front of me. On the last run my legs felt like cement and I missed my shoulder with the bike. Still smooth I pasted one on the re-mount and another with 200 meters to go for 18th place.
I was broken. Lungs burning unable to take a deep breath without hacking and coughing. I was pleased. The course wasn’t to difficult letting me keep my rhythm better than the last race.
More racing to come next weekend!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Boulder cross series #1
The Boulder cross series is pretty nice in the sense that I can simply ride to any of the races in about 15 minutes tops. And with shot races it makes for easy logistics. Today was the first race in the series. I decided to race Cat 3. I could have raced 4 and probably still not have won but I was afraid of the back lash I might have received. I did my normal not long enough warm up, and there I was on the long straight paved section that was the start. I got a good hole shot and was riding 2nd wheel until the right side of the pack surged and I went into the dirt about 15th. I was pretty happy with that and focused hard knowing that this first 10’ or so would be the hardest part of the race. as we hit the first run up I dropped my chain, and lost about 20 places. I got back on track and drilled it. I passed a few guys and found myself in what seemed to be the second group. Pretty large, about 12 guys or so. A few bobbles and surge at the front w/ me at the back and I was gapped again. Lap 3 I started to think I better walk the “run ups” because I felt like I was gona puck! I pushed hard on the long paved section and my chain dropped again. Lost that group for good. I was now really suffering and riding with 2 guys towards the back of the race when… yes, my chain dropped again! This time because my arms failed to work when I tried to pick up my bike. It hit the barrier and I dragged it behind me for about 10 feet before I could muster the strength to shoulder it. Pretty sad. Then luck came my way, one of the guys who dropped me on my last chain bobble dropped his chain. Ahhh redemption. I flew past him trying to save my, uhhh 3rd from last place finish and did. I gained on a few others in the last lap as well.
End result: not sure on the placing but not good. I do have a hacking cough, my left knee hurts and I some how have a Charlie horse in my right quad? No clue how.
So worth it? Ohh yeah! If I can keep my chain on I think I can go mid pack or better for sure.
Till nest time…
End result: not sure on the placing but not good. I do have a hacking cough, my left knee hurts and I some how have a Charlie horse in my right quad? No clue how.
So worth it? Ohh yeah! If I can keep my chain on I think I can go mid pack or better for sure.
Till nest time…
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Day 4, Downtown Burlington Crit:
Last year with my waning form and bad positioning at the start proved to much for me to handle and my race ended fast. This year despite being a bit down from not being a rock star in the road race I pumped myself up and got ready to rumble. I won the sprint to the line after they called up the GC and jerseys. The first five laps was fast, all out riding and it seemed to me I was about mid pack. Better yet when the first, be it subtle, lull in the pace came I seemed to recover fast. Good news for me. I rode strong and avoided the 2 crashed that happened right in front of me. Mostly just people making minor mistakes and going down. No big pile ups.
I was able to move towards the front a few times but Joe was fine. In perfect position as usual. I conserved my energy for when it may be needed instead of attacking for a little personal glory. In the end Joe was able to get a few GC points at a mid race sprint and move back into 4th over all.
I moved up from 40th to 29th after surviving the crit. I was told after the race that about 40 riders were dropped. I was pleased and the team did great. 4 riders in the top 20!!
I was able to move towards the front a few times but Joe was fine. In perfect position as usual. I conserved my energy for when it may be needed instead of attacking for a little personal glory. In the end Joe was able to get a few GC points at a mid race sprint and move back into 4th over all.
I moved up from 40th to 29th after surviving the crit. I was told after the race that about 40 riders were dropped. I was pleased and the team did great. 4 riders in the top 20!!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Day 3 Road Race:
we started with rain. And more was on the forecast. The race started with a fast pace. Per- usual. The sprint was hot I was in my biggest gear just in the pack. After that we settled a bit and I moved to the front for the first climb. Bethel Mt. road is a steep one. And at 5 miles it settings a bit. I felt good. and road in the top 10 rides to the top. Grabbed a water bottle at the feed, ditched the rain cap and plunged down the 40+ MPH decent in the rain. I descended quite well. Never really loosing a lot of my position. we dropped about 1/3 of our 125 person field. Quit a lot for only being 35 miles into the 104 mile race. the pace after the decent was high. Our team laid down some hard tempo to set up our man for the KOM jersey. After hurting everyone he escaped into a small break but was pulled back on the next climb before the top. Mean while between the first and second climb. Our GC and most important man, Joe, was having some trouble. After hitting a vertical crack in the road his carbon wheel was ripped up pretty bad. It was rolling but breaking was impossible. A team mate gave him a quick wheel change. And 3 more of us chased him back on. A hard chase but not to long and Joe didn’t have to do any work. After a 5’, breather I went straight to the front again and we hit Middlebury gap. Another big climb. 4 miles of 2-4 percent and the 3 miles of 8-12%. We hit the first 4 miles pretty hard and this was the first sign of heavy legs I had. The climb hurt but I was there in the top 20 or so over the top and the race leader attacked. This was a critical move and I didn’t see it. Not that I was going to go with him and the 4 others but the chase it caused on the 20 mile rolling decent was the hardest most desperate section of the race. I was in a small group just behind the main leading group of maybe 30. So… race situation: leading group of 5 w/ race leader. Main field of 30+. Chase group of 15 maybe. With me. We had Joe in the first “main group” group with a few teammates. But not me. 40 miles to go. last 10 miles of the race, uphill. The chase was hard and I was feeling the pressure. I got down some red bull but its tough to eat descending at 40 MPH. the tail wind on the decent made for a fast one with stretches at well over 50 MPH. And made it very hard to catch the group ahead of us. At the bottom of the decent there is a sharp right/ left had turn. I was gapped just a bit buy my group I was in. the menacing tail wind quickly turned into a head wind. The group I was in now just catching the lead group. And I was 300 meters behind chasing at 28 MPH into a cross/head wind. Not easy. After 10’ or so a came to a down hill and was blasted with a head wind. And that was that. The group drifted away. I road alone for some time then with a group of 3 others for a bit. Then alone again on the climb. Never caught by the bulk of the peloton further behind. I finished 43rd. not bad I guess for being dropped 25 miles from the finish. Joe are main man for the race came in 5th and now lies 5th over all just 1 point out of forth and 9 away from first. a great ride by him today and still more to come!
I love this race.
I love this race.
GMSR Day 2
The circuit race at GMSR is one of the best races in NE in my mind. A classic. However this yr. shortly after the start a crash was caused by a misplaced car. The crash was large. I am not sure on the final injury count but I do know that I have never seen more broken bikes from one crash in my time. I avoided the crash and caught back on with a short but hard effort. With out a chase car and one lead we neutralized ourselves and to make a long ridicules story short they canceled our race. I am not sure how that came to be the best decision but that’s what it was and its over.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
GSMR: Big world Prolog:
The mass start up hill prolog of he GMSR can be the hardest, most painful effort one make on a bike in there life time. Climber or not its hard. 1 mile neutral through town. Neutral in a nervous pro-1-2 field means 23 MPH. as we hit the climb last yr’s race winner had his team put everyone on the rivet. The first 4 miles of the climb are not steep. Only 1-3% not hard but not flat. We averaged 27 MPH. I was caught in the back of the pack after the ride through town and riding at that speed had me under pressure right away. As we hit the last 3 miles of 10% grade I saw that Joe our GC man was up front. I was supposed to be there as well. I had been chosen to be one the final riders to keep him into position in the final km’s or lead him out if that was the case. Now I was just trying to reduce my losses. The entire target training team went backwards fast after there blistering pace setting. I went hard in the first 1 km trying to gain some ground on the front of the pack but they were 45” ahead or more already. Loosing position in this race can be the end of you. I was determined to keep my pace if Joe or another teammate had a flat or a mechanical issue I needed to be as close as possible to help. I found a good rhythm and wasn’t blowing up. The more I pushed the faster I went without paying any price it seemed. I dug deeper, pushed harder and passed more riders. I could still see the lead group and the amount of riders between me and them was getting smaller. In the end the climb to short and more so the pace way to high for me to catch them. In the end I did feel great and finished 30th. Not bad for starting 120th but fact of the mater is I should have been in front when it mattered. There is more to bike racing than pedaling hard. Lots more.
Joe, our GC man, got the job done and finished 4th. He saved the day as he does a lot and we all will surly be called upon in the days to come.
Joe, our GC man, got the job done and finished 4th. He saved the day as he does a lot and we all will surly be called upon in the days to come.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Denver Crit
The
after the first lap off attack, counter attack a break was away. I even had thoughts of trying to bridge, I was cornering well and recovering fast in the pack. the pace slowed a bit then picked up again. going into the second lap 3/4 0f the way through lap 2. a bike went flying up into the air. without rider. "huh... that’s not supposed to happen." just then 2 more rides, with there bikes, went of the road into the dirt. I slowed almost to a stop and weaved my way through the carnage, hacked my way through the turn right up the road and when into full flight. I brought back a few rides but they sat up almost right away. I put the hammer down starting to realize that the "peloton" was now in 2 peices. I was chasseing the second group and they would surly be at full speed until they caught the front main group. after almost a full lap of chasseing alone, catching the back of the main pack twice only to have 5 guys in front of me to sit up. I watched the pack drift away.
"maybe I should down grade?" I thought.
a few guys came up from behind me and we road steady and strong to the finish picking up riders every lap.
there was a bit of friskiness in the last lap but it was for probably 40th place or something.
I was pretty frustrated after. I think I could have had a good race. been a factor. of course I had to say before the race, " the bike handling skills out here in CO are much better than that of
I guess it could have been much worse. I could have crashed. and lets not forget we didn't get into a car accident on the way to, or from the race. so really today was a huge success!!
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