I too figured that I’d write this out before I again embark on a week ofintellectual hell and no riding. I’ll be going back to my home in ColoradoSprings in about a week (to a pretty awesome job where I’m allowed to work myown hours so I can ride/race whenever and as much as I want/need), so I won’tsee you all again until probably the end of August. I’ll keep you updated withmy Colorado racing exploits, though, while rocking the blue and orange (hey,Denver Broncos colors!) in thin air and mountains.
Despite the pouring rain and the gravel I kept finding in my mouth an hour afterthe race, I enjoyed Blue Hills. For one, it was nice being back in Providenceby 10:30am – a nice change from the collegiate season, replete with itssacrificed weekends and 11 hour drives to Pittsburgh. I’ve also discovered inthe past year that Massachusetts-style power climbs are probably my biggestriding strength, and so I enjoyed being able to whip up the climb each lap at20mph in my big ring while people fell off the back. Finally, it was a niceexperience being on the biggest team in the peloton, although I probably lookedlike a weirdo in the extra-large jersey that Michael loaned me along with myBrown argyle shorts. Oh, I had #101 which was sort of cool.
I was apprehensive starting the race – my first USCF of the season, and in therain. There’s definitely a different race dynamic in USCF races compared tocollegiate ones. Collegiate riders, at least in the higher categories, aredefinitely a lot more cautious and deferential to the other guys during a race –probably because we all have to see each other like three times a weekend andtherefore don’t want to kill each other or get a bad reputation. USCF races dobring out some random loonies, though. I definitely made a lot of contactthroughout the race and threw my share of elbows (without any apologies), whichwas a big change from the collegiate races. Some guy right in front of me,early in the race, also went to put his water bottle back down in his cage butinstead dropped it on the ground, which I missed hitting by about half an inchand prompted a bit of a barrage of cussing from me at the time. Casey mentionedafter the race that he heard a whole bunch of cussing throughout the entirerace; for the record, I think he was actually just listening to me.
Radu attacked on the first lap, and was quite a ways off the front with twoother guys. Michael, Casey and I went up to do what we could in terms ofblocking; honestly that’s not a skill that I’ve yet mastered, but Michael andCasey did a good job of it. At first I thought that this would be a race wherea breakaway would win it, but the sightlines were just too long for a break toget out of the attention of the peloton. Radu’s break got pulled in after abouta lap, but after that there was a big presence of Refunds Now riders in the topfifteen or so the whole time: Mark, Michael, Casey, me, Radu were all up therethroughout.
On the climb on the second lap, I went to the front and whipped up the pace atad to hopefully put the hurt in some guys’ legs. There wasn’t really a singlepoint in the race where I was beyond conversational pace, and I definitelydidn’t go anaerobic until the final sprint – but there were definitely a lot ofguys out there who looked like were on the verge of having a stroke, even at thebeginning. I found that I had some good legs on that second lap climb, whichwas a surprise. In my continuing effort to not fail out of school, I hadn’tridden in about a week and had gone to bed at 3:30am beforehand. I chilled nearthe front with the crew on the third lap, finding the point where I was going tostart my final effort on the uphill finish.
On the last lap, Michael took command at the front of the peloton and did thework for several miles, giving me the privilege of sitting second wheel as therain came down heavier and made it a lot harder to see. Casey was also up therewith me, and I could taste a good finish for all of us. Near the base of thefinal climb, people got itchy and sketchy and started trying to unnecessarilythread holes and ignore the yellow line – all of which was unnecessary becausethere was still about 1.5 miles of uphill left on a very wide road. At thebase, I hear a huge yell behind me “ATTACK ON THE RIGHT,” and some guy flies byat about 26mph. I fly up out of the saddle, slam it three gears higher and jumpinto his draft, all of which was unnecessary because he died rather soon. I wasdefinitely overly anxious, and would have been better off relaxing more andsticking to my own plan of attack, but instead I responded to a few moreill-fated attacks up the hill. Then about 100 meters before where I was goingto attack, I see somebody fly up the side for the decisive winning move. I hadtrouble shifting into the proper gear this time, and also had even more troublegetting my legs to respond. I finished somewhere in the top ten along withCasey. I’m a bit disappointed with my lack of discipline in the end, but Iguess considering all of the circumstances I have nothing to complain about. Myanaerobic engine is definitely still firing on all cylinders, but since Ihaven’t done much to improve or even maintain my aerobic fitness in the lastmonth and a half (and have done over 20 races so far this year), it’s time for alittle break and another build phase for me.
On a final note, I never mentioned again that my bike fit has proved wonderful:absolutely no injuries, I’m very comfortable training and racing, finding powerthat I didn’t have before, and able to race in the drops all the time! Just oneweird quirk that I’ve found: I’ve been climbing in the drops a lot during races,not just on power climbs but even long ones. I’m just finding it morecomfortable and faster – you might have seen me doing it during the race. It’skind of weird; maybe it’s just a personal quirk, or maybe a consequence of thefit (since I’d never done it before). Whatever – if it works, do it.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Blue Hills Report
wanted to do this while it was fresh in my head. I also posted it on my blog:
I had many reasons to not do Blue Hills today: the whole bottom bracket fiasco, the chain-skip on the Gazelle, it was raining and cold, I got maybe 2 hours of sleep last night (not for lack of trying…), and being my first race of the year, I really had little to no expectations. So, after deciding to ditch my glasses (couldn’t see shit with them on, but kept getting water and debris in my eyes with them off…) I lined up near the back of the cat 4 field. There were 75 preregistered, but clearly many had opted to stay in their warm beds. Refunds Now had a pretty strong showing: Graham, Casey, Radu, Mark G., Michael, Tony and myself. I felt pretty unsure of my form and my ability to stay upright in the rain, so I took it easy at or near the back of the pack for the first couple laps. It really didn’t present me many problems. I actually wondered if we were in a neutral start well after the race had started. Radu was off the front for much of the first lap, with Michael keeping the pace under control at the front. The hill was definitely over-hyped…I only knew we were on it because some people started struggling. (I stayed in the big ring the whole day…) I looked over at one rider just in front of me and noticed he had a triple. That made me a little happy to see that I wasn’t the only one. But then he shifted INTO his granny ring. Clearly not his day. He also sounded like he was having a heart attack. I felt really good on the climb and started reevaluating my potential performance (my goal all along was to not get dropped and finish with the pack). On the second time up the climb, a few more people got ditched, and I moved up mid-field. I didn’t work very hard to maintain my position and was back a the back of the pack (which was a bit smaller) when we hit the climb for the third time. Again, really felt very good on the climb, and started watching the proceedings a bit more carefully. Sometime about then, the downpour started. The last lap was absolutely soaking. When the final climb started I moved up as quickly as possible so that I was probably only 10 riders back as we came to what I thought was the last part of the climb (with only about 500 feet or so from the top to the finish). Graham was up in front of me, Radu was behind me, and Casey was, I think somewhere near me. I felt fidgety and almost jumped myself. Then a rider jumped from one of the first three positions. I think that all of us in this front group were feeling pretty fresh. Graham led the chase, and I was able to respond for a bit, but ran out of gas - this is where a little more interval training and top-end would have help immensely. (If I had jumped when I thought about it, I probably would have finished a few places higher, but still wouldn’t have placed top-ten.) Radu nipped me just before the line probably at about 20th or so, Graham placed top-10, and Casey placed just behind Graham. Michael and Mark weren’t too far behind in the next group. I think I was essentially right at the back of the decisive split, and I’m pretty happy with that, for my first race of the year.
On another note, I don’t think that the Gazelle is responsible for the sudden crap-out on the Circle A’s bottom bracket (see Khalid’s comment yesterday…) I think that the Circle A must have some sort of weather forecasting ability and decided to crap out all on its own so that it could sit this one out in the nice warm comfort of the house, while the Gazelle and I went out for a thorough soaking.
---brent
I had many reasons to not do Blue Hills today: the whole bottom bracket fiasco, the chain-skip on the Gazelle, it was raining and cold, I got maybe 2 hours of sleep last night (not for lack of trying…), and being my first race of the year, I really had little to no expectations. So, after deciding to ditch my glasses (couldn’t see shit with them on, but kept getting water and debris in my eyes with them off…) I lined up near the back of the cat 4 field. There were 75 preregistered, but clearly many had opted to stay in their warm beds. Refunds Now had a pretty strong showing: Graham, Casey, Radu, Mark G., Michael, Tony and myself. I felt pretty unsure of my form and my ability to stay upright in the rain, so I took it easy at or near the back of the pack for the first couple laps. It really didn’t present me many problems. I actually wondered if we were in a neutral start well after the race had started. Radu was off the front for much of the first lap, with Michael keeping the pace under control at the front. The hill was definitely over-hyped…I only knew we were on it because some people started struggling. (I stayed in the big ring the whole day…) I looked over at one rider just in front of me and noticed he had a triple. That made me a little happy to see that I wasn’t the only one. But then he shifted INTO his granny ring. Clearly not his day. He also sounded like he was having a heart attack. I felt really good on the climb and started reevaluating my potential performance (my goal all along was to not get dropped and finish with the pack). On the second time up the climb, a few more people got ditched, and I moved up mid-field. I didn’t work very hard to maintain my position and was back a the back of the pack (which was a bit smaller) when we hit the climb for the third time. Again, really felt very good on the climb, and started watching the proceedings a bit more carefully. Sometime about then, the downpour started. The last lap was absolutely soaking. When the final climb started I moved up as quickly as possible so that I was probably only 10 riders back as we came to what I thought was the last part of the climb (with only about 500 feet or so from the top to the finish). Graham was up in front of me, Radu was behind me, and Casey was, I think somewhere near me. I felt fidgety and almost jumped myself. Then a rider jumped from one of the first three positions. I think that all of us in this front group were feeling pretty fresh. Graham led the chase, and I was able to respond for a bit, but ran out of gas - this is where a little more interval training and top-end would have help immensely. (If I had jumped when I thought about it, I probably would have finished a few places higher, but still wouldn’t have placed top-ten.) Radu nipped me just before the line probably at about 20th or so, Graham placed top-10, and Casey placed just behind Graham. Michael and Mark weren’t too far behind in the next group. I think I was essentially right at the back of the decisive split, and I’m pretty happy with that, for my first race of the year.
On another note, I don’t think that the Gazelle is responsible for the sudden crap-out on the Circle A’s bottom bracket (see Khalid’s comment yesterday…) I think that the Circle A must have some sort of weather forecasting ability and decided to crap out all on its own so that it could sit this one out in the nice warm comfort of the house, while the Gazelle and I went out for a thorough soaking.
---brent
April 27, 2008 - Farmington Classic, Root 66 Race Series
April 27, 2008
Like always, this race brings out all the roadies, which is great asit increases attendance. Field at the start looked 40 deep in ourage group. I actually showed up right as my class was getting readyto start, since during my warm up I kept on dropping my chain. Theweek before, I had put on a nice new crankset which had really messedw/ chain line. I had worked on my front derailleur all week andcould not get it work properly. The new 2007/08 xtr cranks somehowhad a wider chainline over their older version. Adding a few mm iscertainly a nice way to fuck w/ you whole drivetrain. Shimano inthe mtb world is a piece of !@#$. On another tech note, the daybefore the race, I had discovered a nice crack in the weld junctionof my top tube and seat tube; about two inches across. Out ofdesperation I broke out a very old tube of epoxy I had lying aroundand apply it liberally to the area. Anyways, the guns goes off andthere is a crowd 10 wide fighting to go through the starting gatethat is half as wide, followed by a nice patch of deep sand. The guyin front of me slips and goes sideways. I have to brake & try tomake a 90 degree turn, which in deep sand, results of course in megoing down. I get up, pissed, and in deep sand and try tounsuccessfully pedal out. When finally get going again, I realizethat I am the only guy left at the starting gate. There is a sort ofgeneral "embarrassed for me" silence in the crowd as everyone isgone, including the guy that was 200 lbs overweight w/ indecentshorts: too small and plumbers butt! A guy I had identified at thestart as someone I had to at least beat to keep any sense of bikingself respect! The beginning of the course is a long stretch oftwisty fire road and right after it turns into singletrack I am ableto catch up to mr plumber butt and pass him. Phew, that takes somepressure off. Next in line was Mike! I can only see a few otherstragglers but no sign of him. I know I am going to have to put insome serious effort in to catch mike as this was his preferred typeof course. The course is a mixture of loose but quick fire road w/fast turns and some non technical twisty singletrack thrown in. Itis a course w/ no place to stop pedaling. Some turns on the fireroads are a little sketchy as the high speeds would bring me awfullyclose to the trees that lined the exit of the turns. About half waythrough the first lap and having passed those few stragglers, I seeMike in the distance. You cannot miss the refund now color scheme!Even through the trees, the white and orange is unmistakeable. Everytime I enter a section of singletrack, I edge up to him but then losesome ground on the fast fire roads. On a section of longersingletrack I put in an extra effort to be smooth and stay off thebrakes and am able to grab his wheel before exiting onto the fireroad again. There I stay on his wheel and as we have not gone pastthe series photographer yet, I think I am going stay there to get agreat team picture. Sadly enough, as we enter the next section ofsingletack Mike's bike miss shift and he dropped his chain. Iconsider stopping and waiting for him but this is a race and it isalso a chance for me to try to put some ground on him. Of course asI pass and leave him, through the next turn the photographer istaking his pictures. On the second lap a young one (probably lateteens) passes me full of energy and good speed. Since the course isso fast decide to suck his wheel. I can tell I am making him nervousriding so close to him, as he keeps on trying to let me pass (which Idid not have the legs to do). I keep on telling to just keep onpedaling and that I am just drafting. He is fast enough that I knewI would not be able to pull at that speed and am just looking at thisas an opportunity to make some ground. Towards the end of the lap hestarts to slow down and I tell him to switch and that I would pullfor a while. When I turn around he is keeping his distance and I trytwice to slow down for him to offer him my wheel but he just keepshis distance. I eventually decide he is not really getting it andtake off. Karma of course comes though because some guy in my classhas grabbed my wheel at the end of the second lap and is not lettinggo. He tries to pass me on the climb through the start/finish areaand my ego gets the best of me as I blow everything I have to not lethim pass (one embarrassment for the day is enough). As soon as wecrest the climb, I have nothing left and he passes me anyways. I tryto grab his wheel but am on empty. I am able to catch back up in thesingletrack sections but as soon as we hit the next climb, he standsup in a big gear and takes off. I can keep him in my sight but everytime the course points up, he increases his distance. I let him gowhen I realize he is wearing a jersey from a NH team! Bastards w/those mountains of theirs to train on! The section before the finishis a long stretch of fire road w/ a steep short climb into the finisharea. I give it all I have and start to catch up to him but just dieon that little climb which he climbs w/out too much effort. I almostdon't make it up and to finish the race w/ the same shame I startedit w/. He beats me by 5 seconds. Looking back at any races, Ialways feel like I should have given it "more" and that w/ this one,I should have been able to overcome five seconds! I ended up in 29thout of 36. I came in second two years ago…outch!!!! Btw, I amselling a 2000 Intense Tracer frame (reinforced w/ epoxy!)
Some low quality footage of the race:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3282944701744897604&hl=ena
t 57 seconds in you can see Mike coming through
at 1.23 I finally close the pack
at 9.02 I go down the hill again for the second lap and take thewrong line but manage it.
at 9.16 Mike comes through.
at 14.39 someone takes that same line and does not make it!
Here is a full video (big download) of the first half of the course(helmet cam). Video quality is really good but footage not veryinterresting. It does give a good sense of what the course is like:
http://www.mydeo.com/videosavecopy.asp?ZID=572&CID=183647
(right click and "save as target")
second half:
http://www.mydeo.com/videosavecopy.asp?ZID=644&CID=183766
Like always, this race brings out all the roadies, which is great asit increases attendance. Field at the start looked 40 deep in ourage group. I actually showed up right as my class was getting readyto start, since during my warm up I kept on dropping my chain. Theweek before, I had put on a nice new crankset which had really messedw/ chain line. I had worked on my front derailleur all week andcould not get it work properly. The new 2007/08 xtr cranks somehowhad a wider chainline over their older version. Adding a few mm iscertainly a nice way to fuck w/ you whole drivetrain. Shimano inthe mtb world is a piece of !@#$. On another tech note, the daybefore the race, I had discovered a nice crack in the weld junctionof my top tube and seat tube; about two inches across. Out ofdesperation I broke out a very old tube of epoxy I had lying aroundand apply it liberally to the area. Anyways, the guns goes off andthere is a crowd 10 wide fighting to go through the starting gatethat is half as wide, followed by a nice patch of deep sand. The guyin front of me slips and goes sideways. I have to brake & try tomake a 90 degree turn, which in deep sand, results of course in megoing down. I get up, pissed, and in deep sand and try tounsuccessfully pedal out. When finally get going again, I realizethat I am the only guy left at the starting gate. There is a sort ofgeneral "embarrassed for me" silence in the crowd as everyone isgone, including the guy that was 200 lbs overweight w/ indecentshorts: too small and plumbers butt! A guy I had identified at thestart as someone I had to at least beat to keep any sense of bikingself respect! The beginning of the course is a long stretch oftwisty fire road and right after it turns into singletrack I am ableto catch up to mr plumber butt and pass him. Phew, that takes somepressure off. Next in line was Mike! I can only see a few otherstragglers but no sign of him. I know I am going to have to put insome serious effort in to catch mike as this was his preferred typeof course. The course is a mixture of loose but quick fire road w/fast turns and some non technical twisty singletrack thrown in. Itis a course w/ no place to stop pedaling. Some turns on the fireroads are a little sketchy as the high speeds would bring me awfullyclose to the trees that lined the exit of the turns. About half waythrough the first lap and having passed those few stragglers, I seeMike in the distance. You cannot miss the refund now color scheme!Even through the trees, the white and orange is unmistakeable. Everytime I enter a section of singletrack, I edge up to him but then losesome ground on the fast fire roads. On a section of longersingletrack I put in an extra effort to be smooth and stay off thebrakes and am able to grab his wheel before exiting onto the fireroad again. There I stay on his wheel and as we have not gone pastthe series photographer yet, I think I am going stay there to get agreat team picture. Sadly enough, as we enter the next section ofsingletack Mike's bike miss shift and he dropped his chain. Iconsider stopping and waiting for him but this is a race and it isalso a chance for me to try to put some ground on him. Of course asI pass and leave him, through the next turn the photographer istaking his pictures. On the second lap a young one (probably lateteens) passes me full of energy and good speed. Since the course isso fast decide to suck his wheel. I can tell I am making him nervousriding so close to him, as he keeps on trying to let me pass (which Idid not have the legs to do). I keep on telling to just keep onpedaling and that I am just drafting. He is fast enough that I knewI would not be able to pull at that speed and am just looking at thisas an opportunity to make some ground. Towards the end of the lap hestarts to slow down and I tell him to switch and that I would pullfor a while. When I turn around he is keeping his distance and I trytwice to slow down for him to offer him my wheel but he just keepshis distance. I eventually decide he is not really getting it andtake off. Karma of course comes though because some guy in my classhas grabbed my wheel at the end of the second lap and is not lettinggo. He tries to pass me on the climb through the start/finish areaand my ego gets the best of me as I blow everything I have to not lethim pass (one embarrassment for the day is enough). As soon as wecrest the climb, I have nothing left and he passes me anyways. I tryto grab his wheel but am on empty. I am able to catch back up in thesingletrack sections but as soon as we hit the next climb, he standsup in a big gear and takes off. I can keep him in my sight but everytime the course points up, he increases his distance. I let him gowhen I realize he is wearing a jersey from a NH team! Bastards w/those mountains of theirs to train on! The section before the finishis a long stretch of fire road w/ a steep short climb into the finisharea. I give it all I have and start to catch up to him but just dieon that little climb which he climbs w/out too much effort. I almostdon't make it up and to finish the race w/ the same shame I startedit w/. He beats me by 5 seconds. Looking back at any races, Ialways feel like I should have given it "more" and that w/ this one,I should have been able to overcome five seconds! I ended up in 29thout of 36. I came in second two years ago…outch!!!! Btw, I amselling a 2000 Intense Tracer frame (reinforced w/ epoxy!)
Some low quality footage of the race:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3282944701744897604&hl=ena
t 57 seconds in you can see Mike coming through
at 1.23 I finally close the pack
at 9.02 I go down the hill again for the second lap and take thewrong line but manage it.
at 9.16 Mike comes through.
at 14.39 someone takes that same line and does not make it!
Here is a full video (big download) of the first half of the course(helmet cam). Video quality is really good but footage not veryinterresting. It does give a good sense of what the course is like:
http://www.mydeo.com/videosavecopy.asp?ZID=572&CID=183647
(right click and "save as target")
second half:
http://www.mydeo.com/videosavecopy.asp?ZID=644&CID=183766
April 28, 2008 - Sturbridge Race Report
Tony and I headed up at the crack of dawn to make an early start for Sturbridge. A lot of options for the 4's. You could start as a 4/5, a 4 or a 3/4. Great way to split up the 4's. Very well organized event that favored fast, strong climbers. 16 mile loop with a 500 ft climb through town leading to a hilltop finish. Most did 2 loops, the 1-3 and 3/4 did 3 loops. Rest of the course was fast rollers.Long neutral start, we left from the high school, went through town and up the hill. Over the crest of the hill and then race on. Pack stayed tight, few attacks off the front that were quickly reeled in. A lot of accordian action as the pack surged and slowed through the rollers. I don't think I got my HR over 150 that first loop. I had not ridden the course before, figured the hill would be key, but didn't recognize the approach until WHAM! Huge attacks off the front. I got unhinged and scrambled to match the accelerations. Two main packs with a lot of stragglers in between. I crested the hill with two other riders (including Mike Sam) and hoped to make up some time on the descent. (205# goes down real fast.) Quick sprints to keep the speed up on the short flats. Mike came off the back and it was me and a cycle loft guy taking turns at pulling. We found two more riders and got a 4 man rotating paceline set up. But the reality was, that we were not making time on the lead group. And we were getting chased pretty hard ourselves. Ater 5-10 miles of pacelines, most of it in the wind I was knackered. I sat up and waited as two of our group went off the front.Our pack kept the pace up. I tried to stay out of the front and recovered what I could. As we came into town this time I was a bit more prepared. Kept relaxed on the bottom of the climb, then wound it up and went off the front of our pack. Was pretty red-lined for most of the climb and finished alone at the top of the hill.There is no faking this race. You can't just sit in the pack and wait. I still have a long way to go climbing wise.
April 25, 2008 - Battenkill
Truly the hell of the north. The hardest & most fun thing I've done onmy bike yet. First two climbs very intense, HR got up to 204. Me & markworked well together with the back pack for some miles, except for acouple of idiots that kept trying to break from us. Not a race you wantto do solo. Anyway mark flatted, I hit 51mph on one of the finaldescents, finished 48th. Everyone should do this race!
Nate
Nate
Photo links for Battenkill Pictures
April 25, 2008 - Battenkill
Race Report: Battenkill
The 30+ masters were fast, really fast. After a largely ceremonial loop without much action, and true to expectation the pack stretched out on the first climb and then split on Juniper hill. I set my all time high Heart Rate at 205 on that hill. Some yahoo jammed me into a pile of sand and I ended up running my bike up the hill. Actually made up a few positions with the run.There was a long rolling dirt section where folks started getting organized again. Through the bridge and then Nate and I were in the second pack, Curtis in the lead. Geoff was somewhere.We finally got organized into a rotating paceline and were pulling in a few scattered groups of riders. Problem was that each time we chased one down they grabbed onto the pack and the paceline fell apart. We stayed on the gas for awhile but it became apparent we were not going to be getting the lead pack without a herculian effort. Plus we were not being effecient at all. A couple guys taking turns at the lead, but a pack that was not invested in a pursuit. Figuring there were mtb pros, former olympians etc.. in the lead pack it was wise we didn't stay on the gas. I had been on the front trying to get something together for too long and needed to eat, spin and recover. A couple riders tried to go off the front, and were quickly chased down and spit out the back. Nate and I were in a good pack and we were content that this was the pack we were going to be racing against, not the nuts with Curtis. It was important to remember that this was a 55 mile race.We came up to meeting hill, which is a series of undulating climbs on dirt, just a little too long and steep to power climb, but you can get most of the way. Loose dirt with scattered rocks. I was whizzing down the back on one of the climbs, trying to stay away from the rocks and PSSSSSTTTTTT!!!! Mother fucker!!!!! Being a yo-yo I didn't bring a tube as there was neutral wheel support...in front of me. Sat by the side of the road watching the pack run off the horizon. Stopped my cyclometer and stewed in my anger. There were a lot of flats that day. One dude was riding it out and shouted at me to join him. Hmmmm, ride my carbon rim for 30 miles. Ah...no way.After around 15-20 mins Geoff appears. gives me a tube, we inflate it with a micropump, restart my cyclometer and figure I'll race the clock and see how I would have ended up. Geoff was pretty spent. I saw him early in the race in one of the lead groups on hill climb and I think he blew a gasket. Sorry bub. After I checked behind and did not see the great pale face, I went solo. It was still a gorgeous day, a great course and my bike kicked ass. Was chasing down stragglers, solo for most of the rest of the event. Despite three water bottles I was super parched. Plus my normal concentration of cytomax was way too high for the day. Was down to a few sips of cytomax with 15 miles to go and then saw a bunch of church ladies handing out water. SWEET! Grabbed one, poured in into my bottle and was saved. Found a Cat 3 guy who flatted out of his group and grabbed his wheel for a bit. Dropped him on a descent and then hammered the last 5 miles in. Final time was 2:34. That would have put me in the lead pack for the 4's. Damn.
Lessons;Bring as much fluid as you can fit unless there is someone waiting for you in the feed zone
Always have a tube and CO2Race the 4's
I'll be running 700x25s next year
Don't be afraid to dismount and run juniper
This race rules!
April 25, 2008 - Battenkill
I am not sure what happened to everyone else posting on this race butI will give it to you from my point of view.Weather: In the 80's and very drydistance: 55 miles with about a quarter of it on DIRT roadsWe all drove up on Friday to get settled before the race. I arrivedfirst and drove most of the course and to see what all the fuss wasabout. They were not kidding, it really does have some rolling hillsand they seem to me mostly in the dirt. Oh boy, I was in troublesince I had fewer than 15 hours riding so far this year. Later in theafternoon, Nate, Mark and I went for a short ride to preview thehardest part of the course. So we left from the start and rode tomile 3 where the course turned to a dirt road which was a gradualclimb but was more suitable to cyclcross than road racing. We loopedback into downtown and went out the other way. Nice and fast. I amthinking maybe this isn't going to be the disaster I expected. Well,we took a left hand turn and now we stared up to one of those neverending climbs. I hit the wall and I was pissing in my pants sincethis was a slow ride. Imagine tomorrow. So we climbed and I struggledup to the top and figured I could rest for a few minutes. Well guessagain. Immediately the road turned again to Juniper Hill Road. Famousenough that even the pros telling the story on Velonews show panic.The road is all dirt with one section at 18% grade in about 4 inchesof sand. Thankfully, for cyclcross season, I made it up but oh boytomorrow is going to suck.That night, Nate, Mark, Gewilli and Curtis went out to some bar inBennington and loaded up for Saturday. We crashed fairly early andawoke up the next day to an awesome waffle breakfast. I usually can'teat that early but since the race didn't start till 12 and I wasgoing to need all the energy possible, I went for it.We got to the race site early and even so the place was packed. It isbilled as the largest race in the East or North America or whateverbut it was crowded. However, it was well run.Everyone but me raced in the masters 30 plus but I chickened out andstayed in Cat 4 so no one else could see me crying trying to makethis ride so out of bike shape. My race started and I stayed to theback of the pack with the assumption that I am going to get droppedso why get killed on the crazy dirt roads. Like usual at thebeginning, my pride gets in the way and when we hit the first hill Istay with the pack. People are already dropped and this is mile 3. Wecircled through downtown and now it time to hit the hills ofyesterday. Oh no! I lose the pack but tempo it. The sun shines on meand I make it up no problem even passing people. Then Juniper HillRoad and I look up and there are people walking the thing, there arepeople falling off their bikes and me climbing it almost like a realrider. I was proud of myself. Well the benefit to this is that now Iwasn't in the back anymore but was moving up. We finished the climband I said time to hit it. I gathered "people" together and startedyelling at them to paceline it. I figured why should I finish last.We make good time and at mile 20 starts a series of rolling climbsall on dirt roads and "my people" drop like flies. The scenery wasbeautiful but it was hot. Very. Anyway, I undergeared the next 15miles to save myself. Thankfully I did. by mile 45 I was crampingfrom the heat and the fact that I had not ridden even 40 miles in thepast five months. At this point I wouldn't give up with a gun pointedat me and I pushed as hard as possible to the end. It is weird to saythat finishing 56 out of 100 was a successful race but in this caseit was. I even broke 3 hours.I want to congratulate Curtis for finishing like 21st in his divisionwhich is awesome. however, I would like to point out that Natefinished in 2:40 which if he had listened to me was good enough for15th in Cat 4. Next time, listen to me.Anyway, the race is well worth it and I would recommend making plansto attend next year. You will not regretMichael
April 22, 2008 - Root 66 Race Series #2: Winsted Woods
Probabaly one of the more techinical courses on The 66 Series.Its fast gaining a reputaion and Little Mt Snow. This had been a nonpriority race for me,although I did want to do better that my lastouting at Hopbrook. I was planning on using this race as 'training'race re-aqauint myself with the Titus and put in a fair steady effort.We line up about 26 of us this time. I run into Skip Salo on theline. We have interesting background. We met last year atFarmington Classic in a crash near the start: We're no mor than 100yards from the line, I right on his wheel...maybe a little left, Ihear click-cliqu-cratch-skip-skip....I think to my self this dude'sgot it...he'l recover. Last thing I saw was his rear wheel lift upand swing wildly across my line then next thing I know I'm untanglingmy self from his orange bike. I like to stay ahead of him or givehime a BIG-BIG lead.I have to say the REFUNDS NOW kits are pretty cool lookingespecially in comparison to other teams. (Speaking of which wereally need the NEW kits. I don't feel right sporting the PROV BIKEbanner on the KIT especially since CASTERS HAS BEEN A GREAT GREATSPONSOR) Skip was telling me "That uniform makes you look like youknow what you're doing." I reply "Good enough to know I'm gonna kickyour ass at Farmington...just kidding...just don't crash in front ofme." We both chuckle.The starting whistle blows and we're off. I kept my enthusiasmin check I kept an easy starting pace hanging with the top 10 throughthe 1st turn then 2nd turn leading into the single track. 'Find arythm' I tell my self. There's a little chaos climbing over the 1sttechnical climb. The over eager barking "On your left. LEFT!" Itune them out. Legs are turning, hands gripping the bar ends. TheTitus feels...big. Several racer shoot past me. I let them go.We snake through the single track. Shadow, light,shadow hits myeyes beneath still bare trees. I hear my chain turning a steadymethodical pace with an occasional slap on the chainstays. We breakinto on a short open fire road. Last year this fire road was a driedup stream with a narrow single track and 3 to 4 ft deep trench on theright side. It took out 3 racers last year, 2 left by ambulance.This year it had been filled in. It made the descent fast. Fast isnormally good until you hit that sharp left onto the narrow woodenchicken wired plank that crossed a 2foot ditch. That was tricky atspeed.Crossing over it you began the climb through single track andopen double track. The course had been dry and just breaking into anin between state of fine powder and damp earth. Tires slipped alittle if you weighted it wrong. The 1st long climb on the 1st lapand already I'm reaching for the granny gear. "Unusual." I think tomyself...to use the granny gear so early in the race, but "oh well" Ikept within my pace. Under my breath I am cursing theTitus..."fucking titianium pig!" , "This fucking dual suspension pigwas sucking the life out of me I should've race the hardtail. Ishould've raced the hardtail." , "I should've raced the hardtail.""Fuck! I'm out of water" on the 1st third of the 1st lap. Itsgonna be a long first lap. I didn't realize how much I had beendrinking prior to the start. I thought the bottle was fuller than itfelt. Until I swung through the feed zone I could only think howmuch longer until I could grab that 2nd bottle. My lips were dryingand getting sticky.The techincal climbs were tricky. You needed to keep up somespeed to roll over the sharp rocks and uneven ground. Fortunatelytraction was plentiful. Picking the smoothest line up the hillswere essential. If I had the Merlin, I would've shot up the climbsand just muscled my way over the technical stuff. But no, I washuffin it up the hills on the Racer X. I crest the hill and startthe descent."Thank God I have the Racer X!" Old hardtail instincs tell mepick a smooth line down the descent until it clicks, "I've got dualsuspension...Fuck it!!" I pick the straightest line through thedried leaves with all its hidden dangers. I blow by some of thetimid racers clinging to the sparse patch of single track through therock field descent.The Racer X really shined on the descents and fast techinicalsingle track. I sail through the woods again, full muscle, goinghard and deep into the bare canopy. Again I climb, this climb moretechnical than the last, longer than the last. Again I curse theweight of the Racer X. Again I reach out for the granny, puzzled atthe need of the granny gear. These technical sections force yourmind to solve a 20 second puzzle in 3 seconds. If you fail to solve:applying the corrct speed,turning the front wheel at the rightmoment,shifting you weight with precision, you find yourself on yourfeet pushing 2 wheels instead of pedaling on 2 wheels.Eventually the technical climb ebbs to even ground, through anopen clearing deep in the woods only to lull you into another climb,thankfully a smoother climb, alomst gentler, as if the MountBikeDieties let out a chuckle and allowed the tired racer to simply pedalon hardpack in cool shade. But you're racing no time for far awaythoughts until you crest the last patch of single track and break outinto the open sunny hilly green grassy field. Somewhere JulieAndrews is singing with her Austrian family running from theNazis. "Son of a bitch!" I mutter to myself, some little racer blewpassed me.Got caught napping. It didn't matter I wasn't chasing. Myheart rate felt fine. I didn't feel overwhelmingly exhausted yet. Iwas racing my race at a tolerable pace. The descent back to thestarting area was tight and dusty. Too much speed and slow reflexeswould find yourself hugging trees...not in the hippy manner butrather the biblical one. No room to relax mentally. Too busywatching your line then as you got into ear shot of the announcerstoo excited to ease up.On the second lap I managed to catch of glimpse of Syl as hecrested the 2nd technical climb. Somehow he had passed my without menoticing.I felt ok through the last lap until the Julie Andrews hillwhere my legs started to cramp in unusual places for me: back of thethighs at the hamstrings. Shoulders were starting to stiffen.Through out the race I would Ying and Yang the curse and praise ofthe Titus as I went up and down the hills.I finished 26th. Last. But acceptable for my purposes.See ya at Farmington.
April 22, 2008 - Root 66 Race Series #2: Winsted Woods
Root 66 Race Series #2: Winsted Woods
The title of this race should have been: pick your lines carefully!When I have started to race again this year, I chose the mottoof "race smarter, not harder" to get me through the season. This wasa race where this was going to be especially true. The course was afour mile lap of challenging climbing and technical descending thatNew England mountain biking is known for. Before the start of therace, I had a chance to ride a little of the course and I immediatelyrealized this was a course where I would need to keep my wits aboutme and not loose my focus, or pay w/ my front teeth if I did. It wasone of those courses where you have to not only keep tract of therocks or roots right in front your wheel but also of how the terrainwould twist and divide ten feet ahead so you could pick the rightline.We had 3 laps in sports which was going to be a challenge. Not beinga contender for the top 10 finish, when the gun went off, Istarted "roady style", nice and easy, letting the pack race up thefirst technical climb. I knew this was going to be a race ofattrition. Half way through the first lap, I was already wonderinghow I was going to be able to complete 2 more laps: my whole body wasaching from either climbing or being out of the saddle whiledescending. The only way to recover I told my self would be to slowdown on the climbs and find a sustainable pace, and then just bombthe downhill sections. This ended up working and I was able tofinish the race in 22nd place out of 28 :-PBoth Mike and I made it out in one piece! I went over the bars onlytwice w/out getting hurt. At one point during the last lap I passeda guy who went over the bars so hard in a rock garden, I though hehad snapped his bike in half. He did get up (slowly) and was able tofinish. The weather ended up being perfect again and the twistyrooty rocky descends were a blast. I would say this is most likelymy favorite race out of the whole root 66 race series.Farmington is next sunday. This is a very fast and twisty course.People even show up w/ their cross bike (though they never win as itis just a little easier w/ a mtb bike). If you have been thinkingabout getting your mtb bike dirty, this is the race. Usually a hugeroady turnout. I'll have one more space in my car if anyone wants aride...
The title of this race should have been: pick your lines carefully!When I have started to race again this year, I chose the mottoof "race smarter, not harder" to get me through the season. This wasa race where this was going to be especially true. The course was afour mile lap of challenging climbing and technical descending thatNew England mountain biking is known for. Before the start of therace, I had a chance to ride a little of the course and I immediatelyrealized this was a course where I would need to keep my wits aboutme and not loose my focus, or pay w/ my front teeth if I did. It wasone of those courses where you have to not only keep tract of therocks or roots right in front your wheel but also of how the terrainwould twist and divide ten feet ahead so you could pick the rightline.We had 3 laps in sports which was going to be a challenge. Not beinga contender for the top 10 finish, when the gun went off, Istarted "roady style", nice and easy, letting the pack race up thefirst technical climb. I knew this was going to be a race ofattrition. Half way through the first lap, I was already wonderinghow I was going to be able to complete 2 more laps: my whole body wasaching from either climbing or being out of the saddle whiledescending. The only way to recover I told my self would be to slowdown on the climbs and find a sustainable pace, and then just bombthe downhill sections. This ended up working and I was able tofinish the race in 22nd place out of 28 :-PBoth Mike and I made it out in one piece! I went over the bars onlytwice w/out getting hurt. At one point during the last lap I passeda guy who went over the bars so hard in a rock garden, I though hehad snapped his bike in half. He did get up (slowly) and was able tofinish. The weather ended up being perfect again and the twistyrooty rocky descends were a blast. I would say this is most likelymy favorite race out of the whole root 66 race series.Farmington is next sunday. This is a very fast and twisty course.People even show up w/ their cross bike (though they never win as itis just a little easier w/ a mtb bike). If you have been thinkingabout getting your mtb bike dirty, this is the race. Usually a hugeroady turnout. I'll have one more space in my car if anyone wants aride...
April 22, 2008 - King of Burlingame, RI
Sorry for how long this took.Three weeks ago I did my first mountain bike time trial; my firstmountain bike race of any type in fact.It was great fun, technical sections, fast sections, people to catch,people chasing me, no clutter from masses of racers trying to get theirvarying technical skills through challenging sections, blah, blah, blah.I did about as well as I expected, middle of the pack in the sportdivision (11/24), I know I could have done a bit better, I had todismount a few times and run, but at least I was running.I met some great people and pre-rode a bit of the course with Geoff anda couple of his bloggety-blog friends. I would highly recommend this asa future team event. It comes early in the season, is local, and has thepotential to provide the team some good exposure. Shit, Refunds couldset up a table a do a few tax returns in the parking lot.Sorry I missed Battenkill.I'm heading up to Warren on Sunday for the Palmer race (3 of us areregistered fro the 4/5 over 35 race). For the following weekend, whatcat are people doing for Blue Hills.Scott.
April 13, 2008 - Hopbrook - Root 66 Race Series
Here is my verson of the race!Hopbrook has earned the reputation of being a weather disaster, whichit had been for the past four years. When Mike and I raced Hopbrooktwo years ago, it was about 33 degrees and pouring, which turned tohail as we lined up at the start of the race, and back to buckets ofcold freezing rain throughout the rest of the race. The mud was sodeep that at times you would sink in to your hubs. Best racingattire was a thick wet suit, and a kayak instead of a bike. Thisyear, all week they had predicted heavy rains, thunderstorms and mid40s temperatures, so I was having visions of a repeat. I could notbelieve it then when we lined up at the start that the sun was outand the temperature was poking the 70 mark. I was dry andcomfortable in just my bibs and shirt. I had put on an undershirtout of complete disbelief of the weather, which of course ended upbeing way too hot. Though it had rained during the week, the coursehad mostly drained w/ some short but deep mud sections thrown in. Ifyou carried enough speed going in those sections, you could coastyour way through w/out too much trouble as long you did not hit ahidden rock. There were a few challenging deep creek crossing whereMike took his header, but overall the course was fun and fast. Theonly problem I ran into was with a mud section in a tight turn.Easily rideable but it required some focus. As I came to the turn Inoticed a guy w/ a video camera filming the riders. Root 66 has beenputting some great DVDs together of some the races. Mike actuallymade it to the cover of one of them. Of course the pressure toperform threw me completely off and I ended up losing myconcentration, hesitating, unclipping, and taking the turn too wideending in the brush and trees. He of course captured the wholething. On second lap, as he was not there, I just flew through theturn w/out problem.As mike mentioned in his report, two year ago I finished 3rd atHopbrook and took the series leader jersey by the next race. Thatwas also the season that I blew out my knee. Yesterday's race was myfirst race after having been off the bike for 1 ½ years. I got backon the bike about two months ago and have been taking it easy toprotect my knee. I was therefore forcing myself not to expect much.My only goal was to finish w/out hurting my knee or wrappingmyself around a tree. I did not care if I came in last.I ended up finishing 31 out of 38; the weather was fantastic; thecourse a blast; my brother, who has not raced himself in 3 years,showed up (and did well); and my knee today is feeling pretty good.So though my result was not what it used to be, it was great to beracing again. Next Sunday is Winsted Woods, and the followingSunday Farmington.I posted a picture on my flickr account and will try to post one here.www.flickr.com/bellullabob
April 13, 2008 - Hopbrook - Root 66 Series
Disaster. Utter and complete disaster, at least my portion ofit. I came into the week just prior to the race in good formcompleting solid training rides the weekend before: 50- 60 mile raodrides with time gradually dropping. By Monday evening I catch a littletickle in my throat,as the race drew closer that 'tickle' hit mysinuses then my chest. I'm off the bike for the week before the race.I'm hoping my early season form will save me...the forcast forsaturdays race had been for cold and rain.As friday rolls in I'm feeling ok,not 100% but just ok. Whoknows? I was still coughing at night and had become the new poster-boyfor post nasal drip, but we'll see.Syl and I line up Saturday afternoon in last years racing kits.Several racers make comments about needing to file taxes. I shoutover "iwantarefund.com". Hopbrook MA,the clouds had parted and the airwarmed up. The course conditions were drying. It was like summer. Wehad a big field for our age group,over 35 racers, the largest of anyclass.The starting whistle blows and we jet off. Its a little hectic atthe start. Everyone wants the hole shot as the course narrows, no onewants to be caught in the bottleneck. We shoot throught the firstnarrow then reach a open area,suddenly a mountainbike rear end goes upin the air without its racer. Then you hear "what the fuck was that?what the fuck is that?" The racer had struck a 3 foot tall stonecolumn head on. Who know what it was used for, it did a job on theracer who was left on the ground in bewilderment as his dark hardtailtumbled away from him.We loop around the pond crossing up into the single track. AlreadyI can feel my head pounded and chest constricting,not in the usualfight or flight racing mode, it didn't feel right. We file into thesingle track at good clip some racers are dropping off-too technical.We approach the a small stream crossing. I pick my line: leftaround the protruding rock. BANG next thing I see is blue sky withpatchy grey clouds and water pouring over me. "what the fuckhappened?" I'm a little dazed but know enought to get and hop on thebike out of the corner of my eye I see 4 racers blow by me as Istruggle to get up, 3more go by. This is not good.I jump back on the bike. My right leg is soar. Looking downbeneath my mud covered leg I see the blood mark, you know the part ofmud thats darker than the rest. It stings like bastard! Already Ifeel it in my face. Too hot. My throat feels like its constrictingand scratchy,it was getting harder to breathe. I continue on. Sinusinfection or not I am finishing this race.A little bit later Syl passes me. I'm dropping and struggling tobreathe in race mode. It didn't feel right, like I was out of breathefor the wrong reason. A few miles later I pull over. The air hadtickled my throat and up came the powergel and water. It was lovleytree where I left my mark.I remounted and pedalled on I tried to go faster but the faster Iwent the more constricted my throat felt and the air would tickle it again and cause the heaves. I barfed 2 more time while on the bike. itsucked.I felt and in some places and pedaled as hard as my throat wouldallow me eventaully figuiring out a nice easy cadence to get methrough. I even managed to pass some racers on the climbs and flatspots. Finishing 37th overall.I raced like shit because I felt like shit. Winsted Woods is nextSunday. I'm swinging by urgent care sometime today...just to getchecked out. Syl did better than he thought he would, especially beingoff the bike for over a year becaues of some chronic knee issue. Ithinbk he finished 31st. The year before he finished 3rd.See ya at Farmington.
April 06, 2008 - Wells Ave
I would like us to go back to race reports each time we go out. Ienjoy reading them and I would better others do too.Today: Wells Avenue Race BWeather: Cold and blustery winds 40 degrees and felt like 25Field: Super large - like way too manyWind played on everyone today. No one wanted to work together for anybreak aways. Even the teams like Quad City and Minuteman etc. nevercould get their acts together long enough to control the race. The Crace had a massive crash into the finish sprint and the B riders wereway too sketchy into the final lap that someone and I won't name namesyelled "you better fucking hold your lines". Guy has no manners butguess what, they did. Anyway, didn't take any sprints but did catch acouple break aways and held back into the field better than usual. Waswell positioned in front on last lap which got neutralized again by acar. In the end, a took wide left and came back into the front andfinished in the top 20 for sure. No bad but I should have waited alittle longer to sprint out.
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