Ray's Racing Adventures

Same old ,same old

2011-09-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

One thing you can always count on in cross is feeling like you left a lot on the table at the end of every race. Unless your one of the top 5 and even they feel like they could have done something better. I always make promises that I will ride a lot of singletrack all summer and oh yeah, do a few mountain bike races too. Then there are the training requirements for cross. The explosive first few minutes unlike anything in bike racing except maybe a short prologue, only you have to keep riding for another 50 minutes. The muscular endurance to pedal fast lap after lap in mud and grass and both again combined with hills. And then there is the running and crashing.

And then on top of it all there is the mental aspect. Lets face it, cross is hard and it hurts in unique ways. Your lungs sear, your legs cramp and slow and your arms and lower back starts to get weak. Then on top of that you have to ignore all of that and keep pushing as hard as you can. And often your scared of crashing so you have to stay mentally focused to not only not make mistakes, but also to DO what your brain does NOT want you to do. Like not brake for the barriers or keeping speed over rocks and the muddy pit lined by concrete and wood poles or a scary off camber turn on a descent.

Luckily in cross as long as you don't crash your brains out on lap one or in warm up, you get a boost of adrenaline on the first lap and obstacles or sections you could barely ride in that warm-up become death defying acts of bravery. Not always mind you, some things are just too damn technical for me. Actually most of cross is too technical for me. Some examples of when it works was at Cascade Park last weekend. In warm up after the road section there were some jagged painted rocks that I kept gingerly trying to weave through because one wrong move and you bent a rim and most likely would flat. I kept wondering, how can I go between these at race pace? Also after the mud pit and 180's was the steep muddy hill that lead up to the long straightaway by the river. I was so slow and scared of the approach to it I couldnt go quick enough to ride up it.

Come race time both took care of themselves. Flying up to the rocks I just stayed left by the trees and let the bike fly over the edge, a path I never considered. And on the steep muddy hill? Race pace and wheels to follow allowed me to clear it riding more often than not. But still, in cross for me year in and year out it is always the same. A few spots lost by a bad start, a few more to major bobbles during the race and a few more to crap technical skills and a few more to lack of fitness. Heck, the way I see it if I fixed all of them Id be winning by a lap. Yeah right! Same Old, same old though and I'll keep chipping away at it.

Choices, Self Loathing and More

2011-08-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

Did you ever have the opportunity to hear "that guy" who makes all the decisions, compromises, sacrifices that makes his life the way it is and then still complains when things don't work out? I call that the ole cliche of "you make the bed, you sleep in it." I really despise that guy, hence, therefore I must hate myself cause I do it all the time now.

Luckily for me my inflated ego doesn't allow me to hate myself that much. I mean I am my own worst critic, but I also am good at making up my own list of excuses. So what sacrifices did I make? Well only one really. I quit training to de-stress my life in 2011 for school and family. But I still did a handful of races. Not one of them with any miles to speak of (excuse list entry).

My life in 2010 was so stressful every day I knew I couldn't do that to myself for another year. I felt at times I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I had the shakes sometimes. b-b-b-bad stuff. Getting my teaching license with full time online school at night and all that that entails, field work for school, working this super, mega, ultra ass kicker of a job working on foreclosed homes, daddy and husband duty and the rest. Something had to give. I chose to give up training.

So every time I raced out came the excuse list. Nothing original: I havent ridden in weeks, I havent done any intervals, my longest ride has been 50 miles - three months ago, I'm gonna get dropped in the first few miles, I'm 5, 7, 8, 10 pounds over weight, yada, yada, yada. I wasnt trying to make excuses really, more managing and lowering to the lowest level possible expectations.

Turns out I placed a lot and won money a lot this year. Bizaare I know. Every time apologizing to team mates I couldn't do more and trying to explain I just got lucky, I am out of shape. The pre and post race apology lists being used. But I did have my limits. I have no recovery. I literally need a week to recover from one race and if I race or ride hard again in two days I can feel it big time. I cant climb very well and my top end power is non existent. Oops, there I go again with the self deprecation. See it is annoying isn't it?

So anyways I learned I still love racing my bike this year. So with student teaching this fall, Praxis tests to get my license coming up in a few months I hope to have a "normal" life sometime in 2012. With that a new beginning is also in order I think. I have joined my very good friends on the R.R. Donnelley/Spin race team starting with cyclocross and then the 2012 road season. I had a great run with Torelli and then Carbon Racing, but this is a change that comes from the heart as much as from the flames of competition.

Hope to see you all on the cyclocross circuit, you know when I can fit them in between not riding or training. I will have my excuse list for sure and you can tell me to just sleep in my bed cause I made it!!

Tour of Knox County

2010-03-07T06:20:00.000-08:00

It was so awesome to get my head back in the racing game. At the start it was like old times immediately. Get good position, be ready, decide if this or that move was worth going for. After my team mate Josh Halvax bridged up to an Iron City beer rider and Steiner went with him, then Brian bridged up I was on easy street. Follow some wheels, but stay hidden from the wind and keep thinking :how do I feel?

I intentionally kept the pace slow the first time up the 200' 1k climb that we had to do 10 times!! I lead us up the first few laps at a comfy pace. I think come Malabar that pace will be laughed at and the fireworks will come flying, but seemingly everyone was happy with it so slowly we climbed. I have had little to no training the last 3 weeks so I was in safety mode.

But I learned pretty quickly that I was actually going alright. So when Brian did his thing and left the remnants of the break after the climb and started to disappear Josh and I started riding tempo and threshold pace the whole time at the front to keep attacks at bay. I rode what in most cases would be called stupid, taking long, long pulls at the front, but I considered it the good team mate thing (in the US Postal/HTC way) AND the good workout thing. I figure I have to race myself into shape with limited training time so ride a bit harder than would be best.

Josh and I had a mid race meeting at the front while we bottle necked thepack and decided to just control the race, but when Dave asked for the gap to Brian one lap a spectator said "about 3 minutes" Josh and I waited till 5 to go then started attacking and counter attacking each other to try and get a 2nd break going. I had visions of soloing in for 2nd, but I honestly didnt have the jump or the power in my legs. That and i felt too marked to get away. My slow jumps also met quick reactions by the group.

I planned one attack all race long. Up a leg breaking rolling uphill section after the downhill switchback turn was where I planned my attack. I went up the right side and a Panther rider bridged up, but I didnt have it and we got pulled back. It sure was fun to try though. All of the attacking took its toll and the field started to whittle down a bit. My legs also were taking a beating and I couldnt do the last pitch of the climb. So that was more motivation to break away. I knew I had nothng for a bunch sprint as it was at the top of the climb.

Another fun attack I planned was on the main climb. With two to go I stayed in the big ring when I usually went to the small ring so I could accelerate in the flat in the middle. But I had to back off as we were in with the Cat 4 finish and I was interfering with a guy trying to com in 3rd. But I got a small gap, but again it was short lived. From there Josh and I decided to stop attacking and to not try and chase the Panther rider by ourselves. If other teams didnt want to assist in bringing back 2nd podium spot, we already had the win.

On the final lap Josh had me watch John and he stayed with Brent the whole last lap. I also knew Jason from Spin would light it up the climb as hes got a whicked uphill acceleration, but I knew he would wait. And John did make a move before the climb (setting up Brent?) and I covered it and started the climb 2nd wheel untill Jason attacked hard. I got going, but then both legs started cramping on the final pitch and I had to sit down and a lot of guys passed me. Josh did as planned and followed Brent as Jason's attack faded about 200m before the line.

Brent lead it out leaving Josh to jump him to win the field sprint!! All in all a great way to start the season. A very on form Brian got us the win in a big way and Josh took 3rd. I had a blast racing hard and trying to race to my few strengths that day. I got a good workout in and some confidence that if I can stay healthy and start some specific workouts I will be alright. I really thought I would have been dropped yesterday before the race started. I am far from fast, but I did alright.

It gets easier

2009-12-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

I studied most of the day. When I wasn't studying I ate a wee bit too much. I made bacon and a cheese omelet for breakfast and baked potatoes with cheese, sour cream and butter for lunch. I think I am making up for it with a salad for dinner. Though me thinks some dessert may be in order. OH well, its a weakness.

Finally after 5 I got on the trainer and did 40 minutes at high L2 power and finished with 5 minutes at mid tempo. I am happy to say I am adapting to the trainer so that "maybe" when its time to do long tempo and threshold efforts I can do them. Some guys can go just as hard on the trainer, some even higher than the road. I am not one of them.

Now the question is when do I start ramping it up? I signed up for four classes next semester so I think I am gonna have to be very efficient with my time. These one hour Power, power sessions will have to be good ones. But it is getting easier as it does every winter.

I am also going to do a few of the popular (with my friends) Computrainer races in my basement this winter. Price to do them? Some beer, food if you like-what else!! They are a lot of fun and now I have better audio/visual in my basement. You could say the man cave is coming along. I'll let everyone know on my facebook page when the first one will be. And everyone who doesnt train with power gets a kick out of the power they put out. Those of who do train with power are usually amazed at how much power our friends put out. Its all fun.

OH Junior!!!

2009-11-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

When I was in Chicago this summer at the USA Cycling Cat. 2 coaching clinic I met one of the other coaches who trained junior triathletes. He was quite loquacious, but the one thing I remember most was that he could always tell children who trained (especially ran) with their parents. He could pick them out because they ran slow.

Sean Gilbert put that comment into perspective tonight when he said that we've got plenty of time to get slow. Kids should be fast, run, run free...ok digressing. The junior triathlete coaches words have rung loud and clear in my ears ever since the clinic. Younger athletes shouldn't be de-trained to ride 4 slow hours. It makes a lot more sense for them to put on that junior gear and be fast in shorter, age appropriate races.

Then I am talking to Jason Halloran before the Chagrin CX race and get this exciting email from Tom Humphrey who is director of the Spin/ RR Donnelly racing team. They are looking for a coach for their junior development squad of 5 riders. All under 18 years of age. The plan is a great one. Develop young local talent with the support they need from parents, coaches, bike shop and of course sponsors. Develop them to first be fast young athletes who can race their bikes, prepare them for collegiate success (and possibly some scholarship money at cycling friendly universities) and finally prepare them to be Cat.1's for teams like RGF and hm, hm, Carbon Racing to pick up for regional racing.

I can reflect back to when I got started racing in college. I hadn't ridden a bike since elementary school. I dont recall owning a bike in junior or senior high. But one day I borrowed my room mates Nashbar road racing bike with Suntour (it looked so amazing to me then). He slammed the seat down into the frame and I rode and rode and rode. Then a friend gave me this behemoth steel bike with cantilever brakes that was easily 8cm too big and I rode and rode that bike. Further and faster by the day. My point of all this was in my day there was no collegiate racing and I certainly didnt have a coach. My coach was the Lemond book!! I basically got fast, fast and eventually dug myself a crater from over-training I never got out of it till I quit racing and riding in 1992. All lessons learned and to be applied later. Sure it sounds like the "I never made varsity, but my son will!!" sort of thingy, but I assure you it is not.

So I do my best to contain my raw enthusiasm to just have the chance to coach the team. I fret for weeks then I hear Ive got the job. I am now waiting for the first meeting where I explain my dastardly plan to the sponsor and parents. Brooo, hahaha (think adult Goob in The Robinsons). OK, my plan isnt dastardly at all, but thanks to a loquacious coach from Illinois I have a solid direction to go in and I cannot wait to start.

Slow

2009-11-19T04:21:00.000-08:00

I have been intentionally putting on the brakes. I have pretty much let all the "race" fitness go and have traded it for longer endurance rides and cross training. But I have tried my best to have a no junk miles policy in place.

No junk miles means I try and ride easy, but at the top end of endurance pace on the flats and downhills. And surprisingly that pace after 2 to 2.5 hours is quite tiring. The plus is that I burn more calories then if I didn't pay attention.

The hard part will be this weekend at the Kirtland Park Cyclocross race. No hard riding in weeks then POW, all out for an hour. But it will be fun. And I will probably be slow.

180's, reflections and future thoughts

2009-11-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

One of a few pet peeves of mine is doing 180's in training rides/runs. I always try and do a loop and only in cases of closed roads or a turn onto a busy/fast road, etc make me turn around. But today I made an exception because I got to the the bottom of Oak Hill at Everett (the Covered Bridge race course) and had to climb it. I had never climbed it and it looked steep so I did the dreaded 180 and went up. Oak Hill did not disappoint and I hope we get to do a race using it someday. I didnt try and go fast, but even if I had it would still be a slow grind to the top.

I was pretty much guessing on today's route as I played hookie from my daughter's dry land camp at the Ledges on Truxell. I got on the State road race course from an early 90's or late 80's edition. In those days the State race was a big deal and you could qualify for the National road race which qualified you for the Olympics. The race started in a cold rain at Boston Mills. Before we were far along my Cat.2 team mate (I was a Cat.3) comes screaming that 6 Cat.1's had escaped right from the gun and we chased like mad to no avail. He dropped out in frustration and I almost quit from overheating till I could strip off the tights, jackets, arm warmers, etc.

114 miles later and 4:45 I came in I think 8th and they took only the top 7 from our State. I was devastated, especially since the guy who beat me had no intention of going to Colorado for the National road race and took a tow off of an enclosed trailer on the last lap only miles from the finish and gapped me. We had been in a long 2- person break up till that point. I recovered (or was just that mad) chased to the line and after 114 miles I remembered I spun out in a 53x12 and flew by him, but after the finish line. I recall I was screaming a line of obscenities at the top my my lungs as I finished.

But the few times I ride down there I always remember that race. I dont recall much before or after that race or even the year, except that if I had made the National Road Race I was going to go. I was in my early 20's at the time and not making Nats I recall helped make my decision to pursue work instead of trying my hand at racing as a profession.

I have also been thinking about having my own Cyclocross race in 2010. I would like to have it in the Heights somewhere. I have put a lot thought into the course, but not really much about how to go about getting the land use, etc. The business end of it. Some fun elements will be a F1 course style grass fields with long sweepers, chicanes and multiple UCI barriers (some possibly in the middle of a chicane or out of a tight corner). I want riders to have to choose to dismount before the corner or ride around it one foot out.

Also the course would have brutally hard sections (ride-able uphill grass or dirt and a sled hill or stair run-up if those elements are available) split with technical sections that wont be as anaerobic followed by hard sections again. This way racers can attack the hard sections, recover and attack again.

As for training, I am getting back to basics and have started endurance rides again. I am taking a short break from intensity and will start to ramp up the wattage soon. I am having trouble deciding if I want to try and push or pull for the LT work. if i push I basically ride just below LT for longer intervals till a power level becomes "easy". Then at the first big event or break out ride the idea is to race hard and blow away the old LT wattage. Then the new LT wattage becomes the one to ride just below.

The other idea is to do shorter, higher than LT wattage intervals with more repetition. So instead of say 2x20 or 1x45 Push LT interval I will do 8x5 at 105% LT. The idea is that by going a bit higher than LT you pull your LT up. In the end I think I will end up trying both styles as I consider myself to be my own test lab. And what works for one person may not work for another. I may respond better or just find that more short intervals is easier to complete (mentally more than physically) than one or two long intervals. Or maybe one works better on the trainer and one is better suited to outdoor rides.

And getting back to Peninsula, wouldnt a ~40km TT course using Riverview and Akron-Peninsula be awesome? No 180's and fast wide open corners to make one big loop.

Chagrin River Sunday edition

2009-11-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

I'd like to start by saying it was good to line up to race. Its been a few weeks, but its seems like forever. In that time Ive been busy with school, work and life in general. It all has to fit together and right now the lowest priority is racing. But I am still in good shape and I am staying fairly light and usually eating well. But as us racers know, there is fit and then there is race fit.

Rewind to this am and trying to get my very sore, tired body out of bed. I hurt all over from taking the roof off of a dilapidated garage in the hood yesterday. My back and neck hurts and my ribs Still hurt, but I chose to ignore them and hope I dont hit the deck today. But this day starts with Audrey time as it should. Like those late Cross start times for that.

Finally I get coffee and head downstairs and i cannot get the geared bike quite right so I prep both bikes and load up. When I finally head to the race I am feeling those slight jitters. I keep thinking about how I havent been doing my technical practice since my geared bike bit the dust at Forest Hills park. And how much power will I have at this race that I did very well at last year on my SS? And will I finally get a good start or should I just start in the back and bag it?

Well the race starts and I get an OK start again. Were lined up then all heck breaks loose by the river and I get smart and hop off and run past some guys then get slowed as someone falls and losee the spots just as fast. From there I am with Ehrlinger, Steiner, Zak and a bunch of others. We go back and forth in a fun battle. Whats funny on lap one is when I hit the only hard dip to negotiate for the first time and I hit it going way, way, way too fast and it was like a brick wall when my front wheel hit the face. Next lap I braked a lot harder and it went a lot smoother. I learned to slow, roll in and then sit back when I hit the face and pedal out. When I did that it all worked out. I was 90% successful.

I pass my group eventually and get ahead of Zak, but he gets rolling and gets me back. I chase Zak as he chases down Derek. We finally get by, but he and Ehrlinger hook up behind me and are not more than 50' behind. And then one lap and i dont know if Zak sped up or I had a slow lap, but I am no longer sea sawing from a few seconds behind to almost on his wheel. And then I seal my fate by botching the ditch again by trying to go too slow and have to dismount and hes gone and John and Derek get real close. But in the distance hes going after Jeff Craft and I am gong after Zak and John and Derek are coming after me. Its one heck of a fun battle.

As for me? Well the SS is geared 42x17 and coming out of all of the slow sections and 180's my back is screaming in pain. I try and ignore it, ride standing up straight (not very powerful or aero) to stretch it but it really makes it hard. The worst was out of the 2nd singletrack and up the slippery slope. Sprinting there really hurt. And all the dips and corners in the singletrack made my arms get tired. That was an odd feeling. Though that could have been as much from the work I did Saturday am.

Back to the race. The effort to catch Jeff plays in my favor as it allows me to gap John and Derek. I am sprinting like mad out of every single corner, through the singletrack and the gaps coming down the last two laps. I get real close to Jeff and have a little bobble and the gap opens. I close it again and can see from his body english hes going harder than ever. I come super clean through the off camber, through the river and close the last gap by sprinting pretty much from the river to the singletrack entrance and try and dive under Jeff right before the entrance to the singletrack or its race over for me. But he knows I am coming and takes a fair line to block me and I enter behind him. I bobble somewhere that I didnt have any problems before and hit my knee (nice red rash on it now), but keep chasing.

I have to put the brakes and put a foot down for a split second in the pine trees for a chicken too. And yes I did just say a chicken!! But hey, were visitors on their land so the chicken gets right of way. But no matter, Jeff has the gap and rode the last section fast so he deserved that spot we were racing for.

So I guess its good to know though I wasnt as fast as usual I fought to the very end and really hammered out the last 5 laps. Trying to catch Zak and Zak and I are trying to catch everyone we can see took some effort. And being chased the whole race by John and Derek (and they got real close a few times too). Great racing you guys!! I have no idea when I can race again, but I do hope to able to line up a couple more times at least.

In the meantime I am going to try and take it a bit easier when I can ride for a few weeks and then start ramping up the watts as I get ready for 2010's racing season. And now I desperately need to take my tired self off to bed as soon as I can. I am exhausted and tomorrow we go back to get more trash and finish demolishing the garage in that flea infested house. Its a charmed life I lead these days!! But family and racing today certainly helps me to stay positive. And nice chatting it up with you guys and gals after the race. Nothing like bench racing, drinking a Pabst Blue Ribbon in your skinsuit, legs covered in mud.

Beating the winter blahs

2009-10-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Think about distraction!!

The folks at Global Ride hooked me up with a copy of their Giro D'Italia inspired cycling DVD. This one has portions used in the 2009 Giro D'Italia's epic TT. My initial thought was to set-up my Computrainer and run it in its general exercise mode and change resistance as the video gorgeously captured climbing up the 30 minute Pignone to Paradise climb.

But as time wouldnt allow me to set-up the software in my Mac's Windows OS partition I used my trusty and leg busting Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. The DVD warm-up is a collection of pictures of architecture and sights in Italy. I watched a bit then skipped chapters to the Passo del Giro which I used for warm-up.

The Passo del Giro was the portion used in the 2009 St.12 TT. The camera work is very steady and uses a nice combination of head-on (first person) shots at realistic road speeds, side glances of the beautiful countryside as well as shots of the actor/riders. What I liked was how well the slope of the roads was represented and how shots to the side and behind let you know the grade so you could simulate it in your efforts. Though I personally think they should hire a skinny dude from Cleveland Heights to do the climbing videos!! I'd work for Gu and Cliff bars!! And yeah, I'm just kidding.

For those who may be newer to cycling or riding a trainer I let my rpm drop a bit as the roads got steeper and hit the big chain ring and went up the cassette (21>19>17, etc). Its not truly realistic as increasing the load of a trainer, but a KK trainer is fluid and not variable. But it feels like real climbing to me.

Had I been on the Computrainer I could change resistance and actually go down the cassette (19>21>23, etc) in the small chainring. But in the end it doesnt matter. What matters is that I was totally distracted from the blahs of the basement and was engaged on the roads and riders. When the passed I accelerated and when the videographer passed the riders in the video I also attacked.

Another nice touch to get you in the "race" mode was the pre-ride course profile. All I needed was Phil Ligget laying out the days sufferage. There were also choices of coaching or no coaching, music or no music. I chose the music and no coaching the first go round. For me the music was awesome on the PIgnone to Paradise climb. An upbeat electronic mix that kept you pushing on the pedals all the way to the top.

The last riding portion included a steep switchback climb also in Italy of course. I cooled down for that, but it would be an awesome 10 minute interval if you included it in your ride. The music was a mix of original modern rock tracks for this chapter.

Like Ebert I give it a thumbs up simply due to its ability to distract you and immerse you in the riding and getting your mind off of the fact that your in your basement. A very clear picture and steady camera work, choices in play (sound, no sound, etc.) and a 30 minute free yoga workout at the end are the icing on the cake.

Only on Sunday

2009-10-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

I got my Dieringer Single Speed built back up last night. I had to ride it right away so I put on some lights and wore my hiking headlamp just under the rim of the helmet. Hit a big enough bump and I bet there would be a comedic moment. But it worked for the installation run.

The very first thing I noticed was how ridiculously big the 42x17 gear feels. Same feeling as 2008 when I raced it in the entire Lake Effect series. I am riding down paved and flat Fairmont and cant seem to get up to a comfortable cadence. By the time I do I am starting to sweat and my legs are burning.

Also for me a good warm-up for a race is cadence oriented to some degree. I like to spin till the legs are warm, do some efforts then spin till the start. So I cannot even warm-up on the SS. Unless I want to ride around at 40 to 60 cadence. So last year my CSK geared bike got relegated to warm-up and commuting.

I bring this up because I was hoping to do some CX practice tomorrow evening at Brett Davis' parent's house where the Halloween races are being held again. I might bring my mountain bike and the SS so I can get some comfy laps in and then ride the cross bike for maybe one or two race laps. Why not be like most who have SS bikes and just ride it?

My thinking is that I am only willing to ride it full wood on Sunday because with that gear the bike is fast as heck, but it also takes some serious motivation to ride. Why? Because it hurts like a mother to pedal that's why. Its like Cross on PCP. Your balls to the walls until your lungs, back, legs or a combo of the three gives out.

I know what your thinking. Why not put a 19 on it and quit whining!! Well, I have thought about that many times, but what if what makes the bike fast IS the 17 tooth cog? On a side note I have been racing my geared bike on a Dura ace 12-27 cassette because its light and i dont need a 27 on a road bike. So its light and unused. But I cant tell you all the times I have been in the 27 this season when last year I made do in the same kinds of situations in a 17!! Wanna guess if I was faster in the 27 or the 17? hmmm....makes me think...could it be the gear? Maybe, but only on Sunday (ok Saturday sometimes too).

No racing today

2009-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Why would I miss my favorite cross race of the year? Call it a perfect storm. I broke my geared cross bike, I had a final exam last week, didnt rebuild my SS Dieringer and had a huge week of hard work. This is not an excuse, but I rode once all week too. Thursday I ate a nasty am/pm burger (made with more chemicals than beef I swear)I was so hungry and by Friday I was eating candy bars to get through the day. My coworker had to eat my last Reeses Cup because he looked like he was going to fall sleep standing up.

But the real reason (or the biggest excuse) is that Thursday working outside (again) in the rain I was standing on the door sill of the Silverado to grab the circular saw when both of my wet boots slipped and I slammed my right shin (that right shin thats got a lump on it) into the door sill. This was the 5th time in two days and now when I hit my right shin it puts me on the ground laughing my ass off and in pain. I think I had tears in my eyes on that last one!!

It hurt so bad that I didnt even notice I had slammed my ribs into the plastic toolbox on the seat. That evening I started to feel it and Friday morning it hurt. Saturday morning I could really feel it so I got out of bed and tried running in place and I could tell I couldnt hold a bike and run up that sled hill. I sort of cramped up as I ran.

So why not race anyways and walk up the hill? I am willing to race hurt and give up some performance. Well its a case of getting the best bang for the buck. I simply cannot justify the entry fee, gas and wear and tear on the equipment to race hurt these days. And I am also worried about crashing and being in more pain. I had a few crashes there last year.

But I want to thank Robert Sroka for offering me his bike for the race. I am gonna really regret this decision, but I think its for the best. YOu must admit life at idle is pretty boring compared to while racing!! Not that it doesnt have advantages, but you racers know what I mean.

Training and not training

2009-10-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I got a free pass to ride so I got dressed fast and took off on my trusty road racing bike. First time on it since Tamarack. And boy did it boogie, woogie down the road. I had my power meter and just kept on the gas pedal for an hour and twenty minutes. Then I did some 30 sec intervals and one sprint with nice recovery between.

This by itself is not that big of a deal, but I am continually amazed at how well some parts of overall performance stay with you if you can at least race cross 3 or 4x a month and maybe one hard ride a week. It goes against what many think should be a goal of the end of road season which is to just take it easy, ride for fun and enjoy. It was darn good ave power for an 1 hour ride for as little training as I have done.

But when training is very hit or miss I react by going into an emergency modee. Meaning that when I can ride I try and ride pretty hard. And thats because my next ride might be 3,4 or 5 days away. This may work for me because my work is so physical. Some days are literally like a weight workout for 7 to 8 hours. Not aerobic or structured. Just heave, lift, pull, drag and carry heavy stuff up steps, into the box truck or throwing things into a dumpster.Then because of not having time for a ride when I get home I'll do weights and core for 20 or 30 minutes.

Why this works is because I am not in a state where riding hard is traumatic on my muscles because of work. And it just feels so good to get the HR up and go anaerobic, (huff, huff, huff, huff, sweat, burning in the muscles). In my mind I feel like I am putting in efforts like what I will be in the race. Even though its hard to go that hard in training!!

And its hard to go that hard in training for long periods when your tired and not in that "trainer" mode day in and day out. So I make my intervals short with more repeats. Whatever it takes!!

This winter will be a bi of an experiment too. LIke in 2007 I'll be on the trainer a lot I hope. I'll be doing weights all winter and the occasional run to "bang the bones" as I like to put it. Cross country skiing will be fun, but unlike last year I wont be looking for opportunities to ski. I'll be on the TT bike on the trainer or outside riding.

Ive got lots of stuff saved on the dvr for training rides and a DVD coming from http://cyclingfusion.com/fanatics/ to try. Maybe I ought to have more than one TV show I like (Fringe) so more media for the trainer? BAH, Ive got the Computrainer too. Lots to keep me going this winter and of course the motivation to come out strong for Presque Isle and the Spring races with my team mates on Carbon Racing.

My point being that if you dont think you have time to train, but like to stay fit, then train even harder, but shorter. Dont forgo a warmup and be sensible, but dont make the excuse that your out of shape so only ride slow and easy when you can to not be sore. And switch it up with even shorter core workouts. I love those too.

Oh and an update on my poor CX bike? well I put it in the bike stand on Sunday. And...that's it.

A little bad luck

2009-10-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Just moments after stopping to clear off a walking bridge full of branches I rode over a little branch that was full of leaves. My rear locks up so I look down to see if the leaves got up in the brakes and see my derailleur on top of my cassette still attached to the bike. Not good.

The damage is a bent hanger and a bent cage on the derailleur. Wouldnt be a problem except I have to find the hanger. I hope Seigler Imports has them in stock as I bought it from them in 2007.

In the meantime I hope i can get the compound bends out of the hanger and cages in time for Cross My Heart. If not I'll get the SS ready to race as well.

What a bummer to have this happen when Ive got so little time to work on bikes and no budget to fix anything. Ooops, I am whining again.

See ya at Spin!! I just hope they dont have the uphill off-camber 180 again cause that was a bitch on the SS last year.

Photo credits, blogs and a little story

2009-10-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

New header photo is from my friend Kelly Mikolajczyk also know by justkelleh on her blog. I do so love photography and great pictures.

But I think most photogs (artists?) will admit a great picture is just there. Its up to you to snap the shutter and not screw it up. Its the not screwing it up part thats hard. I had a day at the Cleveland Zoo this summer that was like that. Every picture looked great and I captured animals in cages that could almost have passed for in the wild. I'd love to take credit, but it was just one of those days.

Not that I am taking anything away from all of the great people who capture cyclocross this and every other season. But youve got to admit that cross is by far the best form of cycling to capture on film. Great pics are everywhere. Fomr the suffering on our faces to the textures in the grass and mud and the emotions wore on the arm warmers of every competitor that's giving 110%.

I have also been trying to add local bloggers to my sidebar so please feel free to nav to other racers and friend and see what they have to say.

I got a funny email about cross yesterday. A friend had said he isnt trying hard enough in cross because he never feels ill afterwards. I am sure many guys who win cross races dont feel I'll, but after a hard, hard, hard race on a tough course I do feel pretty rotten most of the day. Doesnt stop me from trying just as hard the next week though I wish I didnt feel so bad.

But he said now he knows just a bit what its like to be me after a race going as hard as he could and having a bad stomach for a few hours. Thats not really something to asppire to, but it is funny to me and I am proud of him for giving it so much effort as a cross newbie.

But havent you seen those guys who can smile and hold a conversation while riding past you as you cheer them on. They will tell you all kinds of stuff mid-race in a conversational tone. Me? I cant even find the energy or time to grab a water bottle. I'll occasionally try and acknowledge some cross hooligan cheering because its so awesome that people cheer us on. But that probably looks like a nervous head twitch and bad gas more than a smile and a nod.

But hey, its cross and all that that implies. Fall, mud, tasty beers, riding your ass into the ground and cheering your friends on are just a few. I do so love cross even if all I seem to do is complain about it. I will tell you I find complaining anymore as the release I need from stress, etc. SO sorry now if I sound like I belong in an old ladies sewing circle than a hardcore bike race.

I'll eat that last post

2009-10-05T14:34:00.001-07:00

I complain a LOT nowadays. Its about all I do is bitch on Twitter and now on my blog. But after seeing pics and seeing the Race Results I am flabbergasted that I raced myself from possibly about 26 to 28th back to 10th. Holy friggen crap. I caught guys that got the hole shot and then were top 5 on lap one by the end of the race.

There is still the problem that I ALONE put myself in that position. I bet if I change my dismount just a bit I wont catch my shorts on the saddle.

Leroy CX..a debacle on my part

2009-10-04T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'll start with a positive then its all downhill form there, I can really feel a big improvement in cornering when its slippery. I am starting to feel how to move my body around a bit and keep pedaling through some pretty thick, gooey mud. I am no John Page and never will be, but its something to be positive about.

So I pre-ride and say to myself, this course lacks some excitement and "fun" stuff, but that's understandable because the Vrooman course is dead flat. No off cambers, short hills or Pain climbs. But I believe it suits me just fine. Muddy, long stretches and not too technical. Wont be as much fun as say Wendy Park, but should be a good course for me. OK, that's two positive things.

I line up on the first row and take off without any drama and kick it hard, but damn, here I am back, WAY back before we even get past the dog leg. So I buckle down and drill it up the empty middle and then say out loud "UH-OH" and Jeff Craft tells me later he thought it cant be good when a rider says "UH'OH" in the middle of the field. I am heading for the concrete block and luckily Doan Brook MTB riding takes over and I bunny hop it to Bill Maruts cheers. haha.

We get to the singletrack and I tried to get past the horde in front, but it bottle necks and we come almost to a stop. I come out and chase like mad all the way around the course and I am starting to see the familiar body shapes way in front of me. I am flying in certain sections and HATE the fact I may catch them, but will be fried from the effort when I could have been WITH them and used those matches to help chase the next rider up the road or gap them. Not for 18th, but 5th...get the picture? Frustrating.

Then maybe as early as lap2 I come to the dismount and I catch my skinsuit on the tip of my saddle and me and the bike go down. I get up, run, drag my bike sideways over the barrier, remount, pedal and no drive. Dropped chain. I keep trying to pedal to see if it picks it up because its laying on the third eye, but no go. Dismount, reach down to wrap it completely or else the crank will roll back and unwrap it. I learned that at Edgewater. This is a case where a double would have helped. I dont know how many, but more than 10guys go past before I remount. And I hadnt made it to the top 10 yet I dont think before this. This is not good and I know it.

I get that "who gives a shit" attitude for a half lap as I play the I'm muddy and cold card till I start to see guys I can catch. I chastise myself and get going. I pass a lot of guys. I even pass a group of 5 in a pack at the start finish where I am at my best on this course then its catch slowly catch them one by one.

When I start to catch Steiner I follow his grass line past the wheel pit instead of my wide arcing line from gravel to grass and assuming I'll have more grip I lean without braking and my front washes out and feels like it was covered in grease its slides out so easily. After the race Baldesare who kicked ass (and was a great MTB rider in the early 90's) and I talked and we agreed everytime you try and corner a CX bike like a road bike you end up smacking the ground..hard. I banged my right shin hard and got a big bump. I chase and then get into a good battle with Aussie Rob who out sprints me out of the single track. I get out of the saddle past the ball diamond and bleachers and gun it and go past. I bobble again at the ditch. I lost count ahow many times I screwed up, but few in traditional ways (slide out, crash, over cook a corner, etc)

I see 2 to go from Lynn and can see one Lake Effect (John Proppe) and Cameron from RGF about a 100' ahead. Cameron passes John and John counters and starts to put time into Cam. I dont really register this or assume Cam will re-catch John. Either way I want to pass them both on the bell lap, but I bobble again at the ditch and lose some valuable real estate. But I finally get close to Cam around the concession area. he slides coming out of the right hander after the picnic area and collects it before hitting the wood fence and now I am right on him. I attack out of the left hander around the two 90 deg right handers, Hes obviously popped as he lets me go but John has already passed the start finish line. So I got one of them and what a last lap by John.

I guess it turned out ok in the end. I got to practice muddy cornering, raced guys head to head all race long, but overall it was a day filled with silly, but time consuming errors. I need to practice of all things getting my chain back on and starts couldnt hurt either. And i had problems in areas I didnt really have an issue with last year like coming out of ditches (they were a lot slipperier this year). Not that any of them cost me that much time, but combined they did since there were so many. Now I have to have a really good race in two weeks so I can score some good points.

And possibly the biggest challenge is many of the guys are heading to Cincinnati for 3 days of racing while I am here barely riding. I guess I just have to buckle down, find some motivation to push really hard this week when I can cause all them guys will be flying for Spin Cross your Heart. And a big thanks to Kevin and crew for putting on the race again. It was a disaster for me, but that IS cross racing! I could make an analogy to my entire 2009 (racing and life), but that would be two too many negatives for one day.

ok, I'm scared..

2009-09-27T21:22:00.001-07:00

r.sroka

of this dude. Steiner gets this crazy ass look in races too. Is it the beard? is it? If so I want that look. All I ever look like is "I'm dying..."

One hard ass race!

2009-09-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

R.Sroka
Matt Turi really had a nice canvas to lay out a great course and he did not disappoint. It was fun and challenging with UCI height barriers and perfect placement. And the weather was picture perfect cross. Overcast, a bit cool and raining. The ground was soft enough that we got some mud and puddles.

The course suited me really well with the long grassy sections and the long hill before the tricky, but fun hill section that reminded me of the late Broadview Heights hill. But it all comes down to the start and I really wanted to be aggressive this week. I got a great start, but let myself get shuffled back a fdew guys and that ended up putting me out of the top 15 of about 40 starters. I was kin of upset till I looked at who was right in front of me. A lot of fast guys and it remained like that for a few laps.

I was acclimating to the technical stuff and trying to be fast, but conservative and remembering to use proper technique. In the end I was just cautious, but I got away without any crashes and after last Thursday that was a good thing as I was still sore to the touch in spots.

My early race was chasing down Halloran, Brent Evans, Rudy, Chris Mahew and Ernesto. You know your in the fight when you can see just up the grass Shawn, Ernesto and Tony. Too far to realistically catch, but you keep trying.

Catching Chris and Brent was brutal. It took pulling extra hard across start finish, up the hill to the first set of barriers and especially up the long grinding hill. But after catching them and going back and forth I think the steep hill in this picture ended up being a big decider. I was able to climb it on the bike 5 of the laps and they started running it earlier.

Robert Sroka picture

Then Rudy came by and started to ride lines that just put me to shame. Everytime around a tree or down a hill into one of the slippery corners hed pull more and more and more gap. He had a good 10 seconds going into the bell lap and I started chasing hard and taking a few more chances. I had a scary moment around the brick wall corner when my front washed out and I got an eyeful of brick wall, but somehow got through upright. I pushed hard after the barrier and short run-up and closed the entire gap on Rudy on that one hill and got right on his wheel. I should have ridden past to force Rudy to follow me down and up the hill because he made it on lap 6 and I had to unclip the last 2' to the top of the hill.

But I stayed right on his rear wheel and even overlapped it up the hill, but my rear wheel slipped once then twice and Rudy smoothly rode up and got the gap he needed from there to the off camber. I went extra cautious so as not to fall so I could chase him down all the way to the finish. But Rudy would have none of it as I went balls to the wall down to the 180 in the little pocket of trees, up the hill and around the screaming CX fans in te final 180 (what a simple but awesome corner) and to the start finish and didnt make a dent in his lead. Way to go Rudy!!

Wow, what a race. This competition and effort in cross has its unique appeal. Its so damned hard and unrelenting. When you race someone and put time into them if you dont keep pushing 110% your sure to hear them coming back on your wheel and sometimes even fly past as Jason Halloran, Scott Gartman, Chris, Rudy and Brent all did to me. But I suppose I did it right back to them as well.

You might be surprised to read I literally rode myself into the ground and physically i'll for the rest of the day for 11th and you know what? It was a glorious and hard fought and I am proud of myself. IT was an awesome course and I had the hammer down my entire 58 minutes. The competition from the gun till the bell was fierce and I am improving like last year. My dismounts and remounts were so much better than Wendy park.

Thank you Stark Velo for a well run event and Lake Effect (Lynn Marut) for that little pep talk everytime through start finish. It comes form my heart when I say you guys (and gals) mean so much to me personally and to the local racing scene. Keep it up.

It has begun!!

2009-09-27T10:26:00.001-07:00

1,2,3, YOUR OUT!!

2009-09-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

Bad day riding in the trails. I dont know why, but it was just awful. First I went off the grass into loamy dirt and my front wheel washed out and I body slammed myself. That was #1.

Then I was climbing a twisty, rocky area that tops out going around a tree stump. As I wrapped the stump my right shin caught a broken downed tree limb and going full force on the pedals it stopped me cold. That hurt so bad I couldnt pedal right for a long time. 2nd blood drawn.

Then I cleared two hard descents I sometimes have problems with and felt I was back on track. Yahoo!! Then I had some minor spills of varying amounts of pain.

Then the doozie. I was in a rock garden and was riding an up and down area when I didnt carrry enough speed to clear a rootie, rocky bit and I went off the back of the bike and when I stopped hitting boulders and whatever I pushed the bike off of me, pulled my knees in and hugged myself super tight before the full onslaught of pains hit me. And I do mean pains. Forearm, back, hamstring, legs...ouch...I am glad no one came by at that point. I bet I looked like I wanted to cry.

What the hell was that all about?

On the bright side yesterday I went to Edgewater to do the Wednesday training ride. Cameron and I took the holeshot and rode off the front the whole race on a fun course laid out by Justin Picorelli. And on the very last lap Cameron attacks me by the highway stretch and I cover it and am on his inside to the run-up and I drop my chain (for the first time ever in a CX race) and he gets to ride away uncontested for a final sprint. OH bummer. But it was good to have some form after very, very little training lately.

And I didnt crash once at Edgewater even with the drop-off by the stairs. I guess I was just putting it in the bank for today.

Damn do I have some serious aches and pains. Tomorrow morning should suck hardcore.

It was this close

2009-09-14T20:53:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Kevin Kimmich for this shot. This is the race for 9th with Brad, Rudy and myself. Man I LOVE racing bikes.

kimmich

Wendy Park 09/13/09 buzz in my throat.

2009-09-13T14:17:00.001-07:00

Robert Sroka
Robert Sroka
First I want to thank the Team Lake Effect Crew for again starting off the cyclocross season with a bang. I really like this course. Its harder than it looks and its got relentless power sections, short climbs, technical turns and a sand pit.

I find myself sitting at home all carbed back up and no ones here. My wife is at work and my daughters hanging with her Aunt (who spoils her rotten btw, but thats OK cause she loves her too).

I was definitely rusty today. I was a mess in the dismount area and almost stacked it up one lap because I dismounted close to the RR ties and didnt have time to grab (or forgot) to grab the top tube. I ended up hoisting the bike as high as I could with both hands on the handlebars. How smooth I bet I looked.

I was also too tentative in the downhill corners and around the trees. Its funny because its no different than last year. I have got to practice those more or history will continue to repeat itself.

What was better was a stronger start. I was top 12 or at least packed in with the favorites but my buddy whom shall go nameless tapped a pedal and fell on the narrow off camber hill and I had to stop and wait for him to get up. SO it was onto my usual cross race where I am about 10 spots further back and have to claw my way up. And I am in no way upset with him if you care to know.

I start to get it together and work my way up and then my race becomes chasing Brad Wilhelm (BW) on a mountain bike and Rudy (RS). We go back and forth near the end and my corner speed is getting better, but is still an issue. I am also having good sections and bad sections. Meaning sometimes I am shifting up and maximizing the grassy sections and hills and other times spinning an easier gear. For most of the race I pass the lead group on the asphalt section that forms the pier, but eventually they are going up the hill before I reach that section. But thats not bad for me.

BW and RS and I are battling with 3 to go back and forth. I mistake the bell lap for 2 to go and realize I can catch BW, but before that Rudy comes ripping by me. I follow him for a long time then come around on the asphalt and with encouragement from Rudy I take off and catch Brad.

On the bell lap BW passes me up the hill after the asphalt because I brake too much (and he did a great job drafting me all the way out and back on the asphalt) for the corner. I decide to sit on him till we get back to the section after the sand pit that is my best section. I will try to attack there and hope I can get a few seconds. Following him hes flying through the twisty section before the wheel pit and I am trying to stay close when a leaf gets caught between the fork crown and tire and it sounds Exactly like I blew out my front tire (fishhhh, fishhh, fisshhhh) so I hit the wheel pit, jump off and find the tires fine then I get back in the race just before Rudy comes up and I try and chase BW again.

But hes too far away to catch now and can control the gap. Then as if a false flat tire isnt enough a bug flies in my mouth and right down my throat! I hack and spit out most of it immediately, but I think it broke in two pieces and its guts scorched my throat. Maybe it was an Alien bug with acid for blood. At least it didnt sting!!

But anyways, 10th spot and I am happy with that. There were a lot of talented folk out for the first race and I was thinking top 15 alone would be tough. I think Brad and I deserved to get to race it out. A little tactics and attacks would have been fun, but not today. But it was still a great race in so many ways. Battling my own shortcomings in skills, racing hard, great battles chasing those in front and being caught from behind kept me on my toes all race long. Beginning to get that buzz about cross again. But can do without it in my throat.

Thanks Robert for the pics. Lots of phtogs on course yesterday

All the things I didnt do...

2009-09-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

After the TOTV stage race I had planned a full test program to dial in my new position tht I pretty much established after riding Sam Brodes' bike after the State TT. Once I get the TT bike to a certain set-up in the winter or early spring I dont touch it. No mid season tweaking. But this year I wanted to dial it in for the fall Presque Isle TT. Which I am not doing this fall sadly.

So what have I come up since July 10th? Absolutely nothing!! The bike literally hung from the work stand in the basement since the TOTV prologue. I went from riding it every single week to abandoning it. I also had not done a single Jim Behren Leroy Township TT this year.

So tonight my college class was cancelled and I had all of the reading and assignments done so I treated myself to some fun. But I kept this bad attitude about it instead of being excited. It was all confirmed when I started riding. Riding at threshold in the TT position felt all wrong and I didnt feel very fast at all. So I kept riding short LT intervals till I started to feel better. With every interval it started to feel more normal. I figured I'd go about 26mph on the out and with any luck 28 to 30 on the way in on the flats by what I did in warm-up.

So I line up and I go first and as soon as I clear the first rise I am up to 29mph and hold it for awhile!! Over 3mph faster than what i could hold in warm-up at my LT wattage. In the race I dont have wattage so its that "on the clock" rush!! I was LOVING it. Fly through the corner and to the first rise and then try and hold speed up the climb, but drop down to 14mph. Drill it to the turnaround in 9:14 and down the hill. I make the corner, sprint up to 27 and then go from 32 to 26 at the first false flat to 29 to 30 all the way in and cross the line at 36mph!! I only average 24.9 to the turnaround tonight (too slow from corner to turn around is my guess) and 30.1mph from turn around to finish line. Much better and so much fun to travel under your own power at that speed. Really a big rush.

I am convinced I am on a PR!! Leroy makes you think that because it has these great fast sections. But youve got to be good after the corner to get a 16 minute run. SO I go 17:06. Its only disappointing because in 2007 I went 16:52 on my first or second try on the course. But considering how things have been lately I'll take it and I felt great during the TT!! And thats whats really important right now. To enjoy every ride.

As for testing and tweaking? Well I am all charged up again. I know exactlyu the changes I want to make, but I think the poor bikes gonna be stuck in the trainer for a few months now!! At least I have the Computrainer to keep me company. A good two day block of training (the first in a long time) just in time for the first cyclocross race this Sunday.

Tour De Tamarack

2009-09-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

What an awesome course. Seems were very blessed to have so many awesome race courses in our area. I dont have time to do my usual full blown report, though I'd love to because I had big expectations of myself, but reality said otherwise. So I changed my focus from self to sacrifice and it worked out great (though not necessarily because of me) for the team. So of course I want to talk about it. Great and I mean great team race for Carbon Racing.

Carbon Racing took 1st out of a 2 man break with Dan and the field sprint for 3rd by Shawn. But we were all on the attack and counter attack all race long. Also a shout out to Dave Steiner who was so strong Sunday.

In the mean time Mike Briggs took these great shots from the race that I would like to share.
I didnt have the power I expected, but climbed at the front none the less (nothing like Dan though-holy crap did he fly) and it looks like everyone was hurting including myself.

The conversation in my head

2009-09-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Please be aware there will be profanity in this post. I finally got out for a ride after work on Wednesday. I changed it up a bit and headed up Wilson Mills east to try that climb. It was a tough one and I held 10mph to the top and was pretty happy about that. I had already been riding hard since Fairmont and Richmond so I kept hammering over County LIne to Sherman to Caves.

It gets steep to the stop sign and as I approached it I heard a car coming up and it had that sound like stupid was driving. After youve ridden long enough you get a sixth sense about stupid so I threw out my left hand to signal my turn. I heard the revs of his motor slow a bit and glanced back and took my spot in the middle of the road. Remember its steep and I have been hammering for close to 45 minutes so I am not going super fast. I DO roll the stop sign, but at what speed I have no idea.

THis is where I have to tell you I am cursed (I call it a curse) with empathy. I feel as if I can sense other peoples emotions (ok, everyone can, but do they bother?) and i usually act to bring about some equilibrium. I call it a curse because I spend so much time worrying about other people and usually not enough about myself. I wont go any further.

SO my sense of this guy is impatience so I accelerate hard and am on my happy way then I hear him yelling "hey why didnt you stop?" So I yelled back to him the truth. I said "So you could get going faster". Its my empathy thing again. But i guess I misjudged this guy so he yells back some crap and "NIce stop DICKHEAD" and roars off with a heavy dose of throttle.

Well that really pissed me off. My initial reaction was what a fucking asshole and after the last few weeks of crappy work, but tiny paychecks, stress about school and etc. I felt like I could explode. So the typical looking jerk. Black SUV, black polo shirt and white hair and of course overweight. I have so many problems with older drivers. The car color? Well thats pretty vague, but it comes into play again later.

So I have this imaginary dialogue between myself and the a-hole as I ride on towards Brigham to Chagrin River and up Old Mill east. First thing I thought of was that he didnt give a rats ass about me rolling the stop sign. He just hates cyclists on what he mistakenly thinks are his roads. A common mistake among drivers who dont ride (or exercise in many cases I bet). And what a hypocrite. I wanted to ask him if he yells at every car that rolls and runs stop signs? Then I wanted to ask him where he lives so I could follow him for a d ay and write up the 100's of violations he committed mile by mile like speeding, rolling stop signs or not stopping at all for right turns on red, running lights and the list goes on forever.

So after many conversations in my head where I try to be reasonable I finally decided on what I should have said in the first place. I should have yelled back "Shut the fuck-up you Hypocrite" and left it at that. I certainly would have felt a lot better. NOt that he would have gotten it. I have stared down too many elderly angry men who act like they have the cognitive skills of a 4 year old brat who is incapable of reasoning than an adult to expect any better.

So while approaching Mayfield on Chagrin RIver road another guy in a new black v8 sedan goes left of center on a dbl yellow line full throttle right at me to pass a guy driving too slow for him. We make eye contact, but does he back off at all? Not one flippin bit. Asshole number two. The statistics state that people who buy black cars are more aggressive and significantly more likely to get in an accident. Well you two fucking neanderthals can take your worthless opinions and lack common sense and crash for all I care. Just crash into a light pole or ditch and dont hurt me or anyone else.

I've about had enough of caring for the common man. The person Ive never met whom I waste my time trying to figure out how to please. But i suppose if I lowered my self to their level I wouldnt be me. I am just saying its getting old being disappointed by my fellow human beings all of the time. I call my empathy a curse, but I am sure its a blessing. I just dont see it today.

Reposting about climbing area hills

2009-08-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

Please read this and post up a time in the comments. Get it done before you lose your summer fitness.

http://raysracingadventures.blogspot.com/2008/04/unnofficial-berkshire-challenge.html

And also:

http://raysracingadventures.blogspot.com/2009/05/east-side-climbing-report.html

Have fun and let these efforts be good training for you. Do one or two hills to warm up then blast one for a time. That usually works well for me. Then climb one or two more with tired legs. Then go home and have a great recovery meal and a tasty beverage!! I like a hoppy ale personally, but your welcome to drink whatever you like.

Mohican

2009-08-24T04:17:00.000-07:00

A group went to Mohican on Saturday and we had a blast on what some describe as the best single track in Ohio. I really have little to compare to, but I'd back that up. It was awesome. Loads of climbing and safe, but thrilling long descents almost entirely deep in the woods.

I started out slow as I had no feel for the trail or bike. I was over braking for every little bend. But loving the long climbs and steep switchbacks. At one point I did get my bravado up and got some air over a sharp whoop de do that they build into the trails. Once airborne I had a "I'm gonna DIIIE" moment and almost shit my pants and that was about the last time I tried to go all Jeremy Mcgrath. Dave said it looked good at least.

Later in the ride I was getting annoyed with how my front shock felt like a jackhammer even though it was plenty plush on the big hits so I remembered, Hey these things are adjustable. So I took out some rebound and it was amazing the difference. Now I see why pros say dialing in the shocks is so important.

As we started the long climb at the covered bridge (500' vertical feet) I really started to get that zen like feel and by mile 16 or so I was leaving the brakes off and flying down dangerously fast descents and hitting the next roller coaster like uphills with so much momentum pedaling sometimes was optional.

I only had to step off the bike 2x I think the whole ride and walk it over one obstacle. OK, that makes 3x, but that was about it. I had a bit of a personal challenge and kept it in the middle ring after dumping to the granny once in the opening miles 350' climb. With more warm-up I probably could climb that in the middle ring as well. For me going to the granny gear always causes more problems than it helps (wheel spinning, popping wheelies in the switchbacks).

I would love to go again this year and of course the 2nd time I hope to be flying from the start, not just the last 6 or so miles.

Swim

2009-08-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

Did multiple 50 yard swims and then hit a 75m non stop finally! Working on breathing style helped a lot.

The last 50m swim I did by kicking from the hip and also trying to really pull with the arms. The arms get tired fast when you really try and pull hard with them!! Getting better, but after only 40 meters I am slapping the water with my hands and my hips drop in the water. I need lessons, but cant justify them. Hello Google and youtube!!

Might help if I got in the pool more than 2 or 3 times a year. Last summer I went to Cumberland on the 2nd to last day, got rained out and couldnt go the last day.

This winter being a college student again I hope to use the Notre Dame pool and weight room.

I am gonna have a huge celebration if I ever swim 100m non stop and do a flip turn without filling my nose with water.

Fresh

2009-08-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

One thing about a new job and working hard and fitting your riding schedule around your family and wife's increasing (some weeks) work schedule, you dont get to ride much. last few weeks I have ridden 3 times per week including a race or weekend ride.

But luckily I get some intensity in those rides. I wouldnt always say I feel fresh because some days I am wrecked from work or doing off the bike training and getting wrecked at work.

But overall I feel fresh when I need to kick up the intensity. If you cannot ride as much then warm-up easy then throw in some hard efforts. Pretend your attacking like Armstrong up a mountain pass or sprint for a few town line signs. Even better with friends. But dont let friends hold you back. Just let them know you need some intensity and blast away then recover so then can catch up or entice some tom foolery on the ride.

And my all time favorite solo training ride is do do a lot of endurance and tempo (HR or power) riding. Tempo pushes your LT and endurance keeps the furnace burning for weight loss. Do LT (time trial pace) when called for like up a climb or if your feeling good on your favorite stretch of pavement. These rides require no recovery the next day, but provide great training load. You'll be surprisingly tired afterward, but feeling great.

No Shreve for me

2009-08-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

Today is Shreve. A newer race on the Ohiio Calender, but no less awesome. I am sitting at home doing a garage sale with my wife as my daughter and her friends have a Lemonade and Cool aid stand.

I am sure that the garage sale will be just as exciting as the race and i cannot wait (sarcasm).

SO road racing season is over for me it looks like. I hope to make the Wendy Park Cyclocross race since I didnt get to do Shreve.

Also coming up will be as much mountain biking as I can fit in. I hope to find some fun, safe trails close to home. Also some skill training and intervals for cross. I think its time to continue to try and perfect the dismounts and remounts.

They raced, I did a Time Trial Merckx Style

2009-08-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

2.5 miles into the Milk Race a big shard of glass went through my tire after the rise after the first turn. I apologize for the profanity. But I was pissed because I am in pretty good form and had planned a very aggressive race with Tris. And it was two flats in two races.

So I rode the flat back to the car (2.5 miles takes forever at 5mph) and changed tube and tire. I rode back out knowing I had to make the best of the day and decided I'd so some long intervals. How often do you get marshalled corners for a training ride? and of course the replacement tire doesnt flat....

I ended up doing a 40k TT Merckx style in all that wind. It was tough, but I was fueld by being pissed off. And I actually did more of a hard 40km interval than a TT. But the two funnest parts of it (fun..TT...same sentence??) was I went out in front of the Masters field and held them back and opened up the gap many times on the break for 20 miles. So I was feeling good and riding strong. And I was opening up the gaps solo on the descending portions, not the ups.

The other fun part was railing the corners. I didnt have to hold anything back because I didnt have the pressure of a field behind me should I go too hard and go off the exit, etc. It was Moto GP time baby and I was leaning my bike all the way over and accelerating out of all the corners really hard. Only thing I didnt do was make motorcycle sounds with my mouth.

The corner marshal's probably thought I was nuts because I kept telling them I had flatted. Meaning I didnt want them yelling to the Masters breakaway that I was 30 seconds, 1 minute up the road and affecting their race. Though since I didnt have a lead vehicle that should have been obvious. But you know how you can think all kinds of odd things when hammering your eyes out.

So another race and another flat. But the piece of glass left a 2mm long slice in my tire. Just bad luck as no tire casing could have stopped that piece of glass from coming through to pop the tube. I missed an aggressive race and that is also always a bummer. My team mate needed me and I love to race aggressive and I rode strong by myself so I know I could have been a factor in keeping a break away. I also raced by the grace of my team mate and its a bummer he paid all that money so I could train.

Thank you all for helping me to continue to race this summer. Shreve is the last one and I wonder if I shouldnt run my big winter commuter tires with the layers of Kevlar and armoured sidewalls?

Giving up the Data

2009-08-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Yup, you heard it right here. I am going to let WKO+ and Training Peaks software fizzle away shortly. My priority going forward is work and school. And of course all of the other things like house, pets, family, family and family.

Its a lot of fun for me to pour through bits of data post ride and thats why I need to let it go for awhile. I will continue to train with power and hopefully train others with or without power and that's another reason I personally need to stop looking at the data for myself. I need the time for clients, school books and not me.

Gone will be searching for personal bests after hard races or club rides. For example I finally reset a power figure last night that hasnt changed since 2007. Did a long sprint off of a leadout last night and finally broke the Friel CP 0.2 (mile) power mark. Jeez I was starting to think that darn number would never change!! And I got it by 19 watts and 40 vs anything I had done in recent history. And you can see this can be rather obsessive.

Gone are the searches for a certain hill or sprint that I thought I really put out some power. None of it really matters, its more a game or a cheesy pat on ones own back. IN the end the only thing that matters is who crosses the finish line first or a race well done for team mates or personal satisfaction.

And in every big race I did this year (from Deer Creek to Tour of the valley to the State Road Race and all time trials) I didnt have power data to pour over and look, I am still standing. My head hasn't exploded or nothin.

I got to tell you, it will be weird to ride then just dump the data before the next ride. Really weird.

And on that note, does anyone want to buy a 15" dual core, 4gb ram, 180g HD Compaq CQ50 laptop? Its screaming fast and the only task it has had in weeks is to dump my power tap data into. Well you know where to find me. Holler if you want it cause I sure want your money!!

ZOAR 2009

2009-08-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

I am sitting having a glass of scotch from Marshall who races for Stark Velo. I think it fitting since this post is about the ZOAR race. One of my favorite local races. I was looking for some past data on the race and noticed in 2007, my first year racing I finished 6th in the Cat1-3 race (Or was it 2,3 then?). Anyways in 2008 my team mate Batke won and I tried to solo in for 3rd, but got caught about 3 miles or so form the line after a Dan Quinlan attack shut down most of my 20+ second lead on the infamous Middle Run climb.

My point being that this race dishes up a different race every year. Some courses have a break form on this lap or always breaks up here or there. Zoar does usually break up, but it happens sometimes by attacks on the flats or a move finally sticks on Middle Run. I would even argue the real drama on this course is caused by the descents after the two climbs. Maybe not directly, but they are so critical that one has to take them into account when attacking.

I hope I am not being too forward in saying that it looked like a Panther/RGF vs Carbon Racing event. I know Thom Domonic with his ever improving and diligently working Spin squad had that in mind when he took the suicide attack from the gun. And his move with one other rider lasted a good 20 or 25 miles. No one team wanted to drill it long enough to bring them back and after two and a half laps I felt the race was too slow. Not hard enough to drop anyone on the two climbs so I bridged.

It worked as planned. I bridged fairly quickly, but did not bury myself because I knew we had zero chance of staying away. But the move worked in getting the attacks going. And finally on the third lap the fireworks started with attacks and counters. Not only Panther and Carbon were attacking, but we were quite a few of them and got in quite a few others. Cioccio was especially active and some other independent riders.

It seemed I was always on Andy Clarke's wheel when he went after Dan or Matt or Brian's attacks. Finally on lap 3 Tris attacked the field on the way to the Middle Run climb. That was decisive and a brilliant move because it allowed the climbers and the strongest riders to hit the climb tired causing a big enough gap to the ones who were hoping to lose only a few seconds climbing and gain it back on the descent.

Dan attacked hard to bridge to Tris which put Paul Martin on the defensive as we started climbing. He surged once and I stayed on. Then he surged again and kept the pressure on as it started to downpour There is a great picture on the Stark Velo site which I will try and get of the move. I was about seeing stars, but stayed right on Paul's wheel. But this move came back after awhile (that darn descent again).

The next lap I am a bit fuzzy, but I know Tris brought us to the climb fast again. As we climbed and topped over we had Matt, Dan and myself and had isolated the other teams with one rider a piece and we had a big gap over the top. Dan drilled it down the descent and I only had to follow Andy to Dan. When we finally got to him Matt and I started working by taking pulls. You know how you get that "feeling" that your in the winning move? Well this had it and since we had numbers I felt for sure we could attack to get one of us away solo for the win with one lap to go. But somehow by the time we got back to Dover-Zoar road we were back as a group. Really a bummer. But we planned on getting multiple guys in every serious move and we did it as planned.

But it didnt matter for me because a couple miles down Dover Zoar and my rear tubie flatted, pss,pss,pss,pss,pss.... It probably lost 80% of the air, but it was spongy enough that I was able to ride back to the car without damaging the rim. I was a sad little bike racer riding back to the car doing the what-ifs.

As I have previously mentioned this was probably my last road race of 2009. And I was only able to attend due to the coaxing and help of the east side racers. Thank you all so much!! I feel as we all do after a DNF that I could have been there at the end!! But its no big deal. I raced hard, attacked, bridged, made the splits and worked hard for the team and climbed near the front every lap. What more could I do? But seeing as I went into the race hoping for a top 3 (or win?)and end the year on a high note but flatted, I do feel a bit bummed. It was a very fun race tactically and Carbon raced their collective asses off and that was fun to be a part of too. We took 1st (top 5 given same position) and 7th!! Been great racing with you guys!! Hopefully I can do one more race (Shreve or Milk), but I doubt it.

The new busier me

2009-07-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well I am signed up for college once again. Its only been what, 19 years since I was a college student? Textbooks are on the way and I already received my first tuition bill and boy oh boy was that a shock!!

I started a new job that was offered to me on a bike ride no less. Its hard, dirty work and a far cry from my last two "desk jobs" in sales, but I am darn glad to have it.

But with this new busier life and seriousely contemplating working weekends (life and bills may demand it) I think my racing days may very well be on their way out temporarily.

I hope I am just being me and jumping too far ahead of myself. But between entry fees, gas, bike upkeep (tires,, tubes, etc.) and now potential lost work time I dont see racing as being possible fulltime. Not even dare I say it cyclocross. But that IS jumping too far forward.

I have all the equipment for cross and tires dont really wear out and tubes can be repaired!!

But what I DO KNOW for a fact is I think I have time to coach two athletes one on one. And maybe a few that just need a training plan once in awhile. I could coach athletes from out of town, but i believe my strength as a coach is being proactive and working face to face with my athlete. Observing and tweaking the training, fit and efficiency of my athlete as they ride.

I mean I am gonna be busy as heck now, but I sure as heck have no intention of getting fat!!

I'm listening

2009-07-28T14:31:00.001-07:00

I had this guy squeeze me at a stop sign on a two lane side streets instead of waiting behind so I followed him home (hes 4 houses from me) and confronted him about it.

I said he didnt need tot squeeze me to the curb and he said "what?". I told him I am not yelling, just saying. Then he said something that blew my mind. he said "I'm listening." and I explained he could stop behind me, the next one at the stop sign to go, not squeezing me to the curb.

He looked like he was honestly thinking it over and I rode home. I was a bit pleasantly shocked at his attitude. Also that I think he'd never thought about it before. HOw many driver's we have "run-ins" with arent being vindictive, but justnotreally thinking about it at all.

It doesn't change anything I suppose, but at least you can talk to them which is nice.

Single track for the soul

2009-07-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

I was gonna take today off even though I spent two days on the trainer due to schedule and rain. But it was gorgeous today and after coning home from work I kept thinking about my mountain bike and hitting the singletrack around my house.

I went out and had a ball for an hour and half and didnt crash once. But I did bail two or three times. Which always makes me ask the question why do I always bail to the fall all the way down the hill side and not the lean into the side of the hill or tree side?

I did pull some tendons or ligaments when my cleats didnt release, but thats all.

I also found the black diamond rock garden singletrack that was just scary. I had heard about it and been steered away from it for good reason. I just cant get my mind off of how gnarly eating it would be in there. Its very cool and I can see how guys have kept it maintained, but its just way over my head.

Same old same old, I went in confident, but after walking the rock garden I had lost some confidence and wasnt as fluid anymore. But I'd say I improved since last winter. Its a momentum thing. The more things you clear that you couldnt before you get more confidnce and more daring and thats half the battle.

I sometimes think my mountain bike laughs at me though. Its such a sick-ass sweet bike that is more than capable of clearing anything the area has to offer. Its an 05 Specialized Epic FS bike with Fox front shock and Brain rear. Its way more bike than I deserve or can do justice. I can hear it saying "yeah, we can clear that, just GOOO...oh you pansy rider...go back and try again!!" "No??, you wuss." "what, now your walking me?" "GO to Walmart and get a Huffy."

But seriousely, singletrack is good for the soul. I really believe that. Its just a bit hard on the soft tissue. I cannot wait to spend a day at Mohican very soon. Its nowhere near as technical as where I ride so it should be smooth, flowing and fun.

3mm of intuition?

2009-07-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

I finally went back to my old Toupe Saddle on my road bike since it was liberated from the TT bike. I wanted to do it before TOTV, but I felt like it was too big of a gamble.

One would assume (Ass U Me)its a simple swap and even measuring before and after doesnt tell the whole story. It simply felt awesome to be back on it. I wasnt sliding forward and feeling like I had to squirm back every second. I am just a flat saddle type person.

More accurately I am a flat, thinly padded, 143mm wide, light weight saddle type..with a hole in the middle. I can ride on a few models of saddles well enough (toupe, phenom, SLR, arione, etc.), but only really love one. My aging blue and white Toupe. This just muddles up the whole saddle thing as if its not hard enough to get a saddle you like. Because you may ride your friends SLR and love it, but buy one and hate it. Could be his was worn just right or maybe had a unique shape. Bugger.

But I also felt like my legs had grown and at the bottom of the stroke I felt like I had lowered the saddle 2cm. And Sunday climbing 4 hills in the area (Old Mill both ways, Cedar, Fairmont and Sherman) I felt like I had lost power and couldnt turn the cranks over seated. That was as much being tired and stressed as anything else really or so I thought.

Tuesday I commute to work and decided that's enough. Just because the tape measure says everything is fine, its not. I stop and raise the saddle 3mm (guessed at the time)and started back into a my tempo riding and pow, felt good again and didnt feel like I was riding someone else s bike. The power was back and accelerating up climbs seated seemed normal again.

Unfortunately my happy feelings were somewhat squashed by two fat head A - holes in a candy apple red Chevy Blazer who did the tired old "get on the Bike Path" with a fat arm swinging out of the passenger window. I said nothing, made no one finger salute, then they slowed to give me more of their opinion so I sat-up, grabbed my phone out of a plastic baggie (took time) and they accelerated off as I took a picture. Sadly they were too far away to see the license plate. But I was worried about more retaliation which always ruins a ride.

JCB BIathlon and ride and might as well walk too

2009-07-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

The JCB Biathlon I won last summer was a hoot. I ran my butt off for 3 miles with all my buddies around then raced my TT bike up and down rolling Gates Mills, Shaker Blvd, etc. and raced over the line on Belvoir at over 30mph.

Reading the 07/16/09 Clevelend Sun Press this morning I heard I was some sort of trouble maker trying to go so fast and running stop signs and lights (with police blocking cross traffic). Turns out the 12.5mile bike portion is NOT a race and fair citizens shouldnt feel scared tot back out of their driveways or have cyclists riding (OH my goodness) at 30mph or MORE on city streets!! Whoa!! Ummm..Isnt the speedlimit 35 on most of those streets?

Are people really this stupid? I didnt realize I was competing in a ride, not a race. Theres gonna be a lot of "racers" not racing JCB this year and JCB might not eb too happy about the loss of income. To be honest with you, I am not planning on running much this winter so I was going to skip it as much as I'd love to support the race.

But what do I know, I'm just a reckless cyclists who rides over 30mph sometimes.

notes to finish it off

2009-07-14T09:53:00.001-07:00

Heres some tidbits I hope to find interesting should I read them before next years race.

-I went into TOTV 5 lbs heavy and finished 5 lbs heavy vs June 30th (from my bros wedding). That and a steady diet of comfort food to help dull the pain from the racing each evening.
-A 5.56mile TT hurts a lot worse than a 25mi TT, but thank fully its over so quickly. Not that it feels like it at the time.
-I got so sick of eating Cliff bars, but chocolate GU's still taste yummy.
-I ran out of GU2O energy drink on Friday and drank mostly water with Endurolytes in it the rest of the weekend. I tried watered down Gatorade Sunday-when I could find time to take a drink.
-My training for the race was drinking and eating a lot then doing Westlake, some openers and a ride around the neighborhood Thursday. Not quite what I'd call optimal training.
-My last criterium in 1992 I think I dropped out of or got pulled. I made damn sure I didnt get dropped or pulled Friday night.
-The third leg of the Prologue sucks bigtime. And probably where I lost most of my time.
-I did not pre-ride the road course or even see it before our first race lap. I would have been too scared to race it if I had or had nightmares for weeks.
-I used my best wheels for each event and therefore never had power data. I do wish I had that data now.
-I made some changes to the TT bike as an experiment and I think were onto something. Many more changes to come. Basically tossing out all my modified front end bits..oh well.
-My thighs were getting hosed in the road race so I had to scoot back on my saddle to engage different muscles the whole time. It helped a lot. I am going back to my old Toupe which fits different than my new Toupe. My new one pushes me forward on the seat then it becomes uncomfy when it doesnt.
-I forgot how much I love criterium racing. All I remembered from the old days was how much I hated them. So I guess you could say I HAD a Love - Hate relationship with them and I still do.
-I found a killer, fast line in Friday nights Canfield crit. in the dbl. right handers. But I think next year were going the other way as it was planned to be.
-But it took me the whole race to get up to speed in the slightly downhill right hander in the back.
-The older model Zipp 303's tubies I got from my buddy Rachfal are amazing. The best wheels I have ever ridden. Period. They spin up fast and carry speed and are totally manageable on bumpy roads, side winds, etc. and seem to just float up climbs. Really.
-I borrowed a Zipp808 front from Batke Friday morning. Its fast and its so stable too. More stable than a 404 in cross winds. Sorry for the Zipp promo-I swear I am not sponsored.
-The SPF of my skin cells has got to be at least 50 by now.
-I talked to so many nice fans, racers and volunteers all weekend long.
-I rode into work today at a snails pace, but feel like doing sprints on my commute home today for some reason. Like a lot of sprints. Okay maybe 4.

Sunday, 10th in GC, One more to go.

2009-07-13T18:27:00.001-07:00

I did as I did every morning and got my hug from Erin and said good morning to the crew. Slathered on the sun block, again, aired up the tubies (sweeett!!) again and suited up again.

I come up on Matt and Shawn on the street and they tell me I am the GC leader on Carbon and I need to attack, be a crit rider today and get in a break. Wow, some pressure to perform well and this time its not from myself. I usually get yelled at for not closing a gap or not not going in the right attack. This is weird and I am kind of closing into myself because I need ot do this. The way points work in this race a good finish can move you up form 10th to 5th just like that. Since I already had 14, a top 5 would be huge.

I did a few laps and dare I say it the legs felt good. I did a few laps wanting to be warmed up, but not do any hard efforts. I did one more lap and darn, everyones lined up. The course was super fast, easy technically, but the start finish was narrow and I wanted a front row start.

We get going and its not a brutally fast start and I am not too badly positioned. But once again I find myself at the back. Damn. It gets fast and I am like evryone else gunning it, trying to recover and going again. I am on Paul's wheel then I move to the front, get swarmed, get shuffled back and then tail gun.

This goes on then I follow accelerations along the back straight and get to midfield with Shawn and Rudy (who raced with us in the Pro 1,2 field this week-Thanks Rudy). I am not having problems giving up wheels (speed is not an issue for me-I love going fast and leaning my bike) today and I am finding ways to out maneuver guys into and pass guys on the outside between corners. But the main theory I had from Friday was I was not accelerating hard enough (big duh) so in Youngstown I made sure my first few pedal strokes were hard, like a stomp and now I wasnt opening that 3' out of the corners that took 20' to close back up.

A break is up the road now and I dont see Paul and its gaining time so I know I missed my opportunity. But I am not good at getting position and keeping it right away. I'll work on it if I do anymore big crits this summer. I get in a break with Beizer from JJ who is in the yellow, but I know it wont stay so I dont work. I come back tired and fade to midfield. Then I finally get mad enough.

I come on the back straight and go from the middle of the pack straight to the front on the inside and atack once, but I dont get far. Then Cioccio moves up and I follow him up and he attacks. Moskal goes and I rub my brakes to get untrapped come out and bridge up. It takes me too long and I think I may not make it, but I get them in the corners. But then bib#6 Burke from Lathrup/Giant who is 2nd in GC moves up and now were doomed again. But I finaly get to see more than asses and lead the race across the start finish line.

I attack one more time and its as pathetic as the ones before and JJ crew who was controlling the front the whole end of the race probably doesnt even need to change speed to close it up. Now its 4 to go, I see Tom Frueh moves up, but I am not close enough get a points position.

They ring the bell and I take stock of all my team mates. Some are moving back and some I pass as I say, what the heck, let see what its like at the front of one of these crazy sprints. I dive under some guys and pedal past on the outside of a few. I am having fun. But I only make it to about midfield and when we make the final left and hand turn a lot of guys sprint inluding myself. I go then sit-up, then go what the heck and put my head down and pass a few guys (just for shits and giggles) and cross the line finishing the Tour of the Valley 2009!!

Turns out I lost one position on GC and came in 11th. Haruumph. Maybe if I got mad at myself sooner and got my ass in gear on lap 1 I at least would have had a fighting chance of making a break and getting some points. But its not like I am unhappy with 11th. I just wish we had capitolized on Friday morning having Matt in 3rd, Brian in 6th and myself in 10th. And sure I can go on and on about blunders I made, but all the teams and riders had them.

But I think I will prefer to try and remember I got 10th in the prologue, 6th in the road race and finished two fast crits with crit riders who know how to make a race hard. And did two events on no sleep and the hardest on very little sleep. I also did what I always do and analyzed the crits and decided areas that I could control and be better at and Sunday, althoug it took 20 minutes I DID as promised and got my ass to the front and started attacking in a mother fricken Criterium. And not a training crit or a Cat.4, but a Pro 1,2. Maybe not Twilight, but guys who have done Twilight said they were tough, fast crits.

And I also got to be a part of one heck of a well run first year event. We were told that some big races which have gone on for years or decades have never run as smoothly as what Dan, Erin, Sam and the Carbon Racing Team pulled off in their first year and only 2nd time organizing an event (I won the first one last summer and it too was well run). And not surprising that race also had a whicked hard road course. So many more important people to thank, but as always I am scared of leavibng out someone so Thanks to Everyone!!!

I cannot wait for 2010!! Whew, now I need another short break (one day) from cycling and from blogging.

Unbelievably tired, but the show goes on.

2009-07-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 4:30am alarm goes off and Ive slept well thanks to my friend Tylenol PM. Out the door to Columbiana to help put out hay bales and anything else the Quinlan's need. I fore go a warm-up of any significance and just tool around. The race starts on a course anyone of any ability has to fear a bit.

Non stop the course is throwing false flats, wind, descents with sharp corners, steep leg breaker rollers and a 3km climb with a KOM and open wind swept highways. The first acceleration reminds me I did two races the day before. I stay mid-pack and Shawn Adams launches and is chased by a Jittery Joe's rider and they are gone till the first climb.

We climb the KOM hill, but before the heads-up riders swarm and come around and now I am way too far back for the climb. So I just maintain and as the fireworks go off for the KOM I get gapped off a bit, but I am not worried because I wasnt in any trouble on the climb and I am surrounded by a ton of riders.

After were all back togetheer Tris launches as I move up the right side. Hey he read my mind. So now I am right at the front and Tris is moving away fast. Andy Moskal of RGF goes after him and I take off after Andy. I take a free ride for awhile as per racing etiquette. Marco Aledia of Inferno and Beizer of Jittery Joe, a strong rider from Essex Brass and Tom Burke from Lathrup/Giant came along and we moved on out.

I thought we had decent representation from all teams so I hoped we would be given a long leash. Everyone pulled, some more than others, but the Essex Brass guy and Tris seemed to be the real motors in the break. IN fact I had to miss a turn and resort the rotation at one point because I was getting fried trying to take pulls after the Essex brass guy.

We got gaps anywhere between 2 minutes and 2:15 on the first lap and what a relief to come through the start finish to conclude one brutally fast lap. I was also happy that Dan, Erin and Sam got to see two Carbon Racing team members n the break. I knew that would make them happy.

It didnt take long on lap two to start feeling the fatigue of hammering in a smaller group. We hit the first longer climb and the Essex guy attacks with like 30 miles to go and were all shaking our heads. We dont chase and eventually he comes back in to the fold, but is no worse for the wear.

We hit the KOM climb again and this time its such a smooth, even pace I am not sure if were going hard or not, but that it hurts bad. We just tap out our own rythms and stay in a tight little group. Over the top we know weve got the steep rollers now and we all seem to suffer equally. I am hurting bad, but I dont seem to be having too much trouble hanging on, but I do try to take it easier in the rotation.

Then we get a gap from the car and he says 45. I am thinking is that to the chase or to the pack? I yell for clarification, but he races away so fast we dont get to clarify and Burke, Jittery Joes and Essex Brass take off like scared cats at the news of our imminent catch. I feel like I can close the gap, I really do, but I try to be smart because i know one really long hard effort could be my undoing. I dont jump because I will work with Tris, Moskal and Aledia to close it, but no one jumps and by the time we hit the top of the roller and we switch to the big ring they are motoring and were all trying hard, but they are out of sight. They showed that they were strong and now they proved it.

In respect to those who have really suffered in real life tragedies, I must say that from here on to the end it was just a death march in a sporting sense. Were all committed then Tris' leg cramps so badly he cannot sit and pedal anymore and now were 3. The code of silence usually established during a long breakaway is broken and we talk a lot form here on out. Basically discussiing gaps, how far we are from the line and what terrain remains.

With 2 or 3 miles to go Marco gets this wild hair up his butt and takes one more whicked pull that I swear it was 400 watts sustained. That after 60 miles of hard racing. He finishes and I just look at him and say "Damn Marco, that hurt" as I roll by to take my turn. Now we can see waay back on the highway and there is no one there and we finally know that this long day has been worth it. We wnt get caught by the pack. We rotate to the last corner, but no ones putting any effort into it. We all stand up to jump before the corner, but I go first on the outside, but when Marco and Andy light up their sprints I go backwards quick and then roll in.

And somehow we did not get caught by a pack that was battling it out fiercely. They even got Dan Clark away in the steep rollers and he was the closest, catching Tris 500m beore the line. Then Brian comes in with a JIttery JOes and suddenly were back in the GC game with me in 10th and Brian in 11th. And Ive now scored points in two events!! I cannot be happier or more sore and tired. Tris, Batke and Matt have all placed well too. Awesome.

I drive my minivan with the Radio guy for the Masters race and learn all about amateur radio and am very well entertained by the Masters breakaway. We laugh as I critique the finish strategy of the guys in the break, screaming "why are you doing that?" "Get off the front, your giving him the win!!" We get a big laugh at my arm chair qurterbacking.

But tomorrows another criterium and as I drive home my brains so full of "what do I need to do, how can I ride a better crit" that I am halfway home before I even turn on the CD player. I ask Dan for the morning off from helping and I am so happy when he says, just help break down after!!

I am in need of comfort food and chow down on a double whopper as I drive home, catch up on the tour in HD, eat, relax and sleep in to a glorious 7:30!! When I get up I feel fine and I think I know a thing or two I had forgotten about crit racing, but I am honstly not feelng that confident of scoring any points. But I am going to will myself to try dammit. And I mean it. Friday night was just embarrasing.

This will come up later, but I dont take the attitude that I am the team leader now and when in the break Saturday I was the Carbon Racing leader with my one point. I think its funny that so many riders who probably dont deserve it ask or demand that their teams work for them all of the time, but when I am clearly in that position I am still not wanting to make demands, even though in the end its whats best for the team, not just me. I am not trying to make myself out as the angel, just that there are times when I need to realize I have to act like a leader and race appropriately. I blew a golden chance to win one of the most comptetive road races Ive ever been in by working too hard. IOW I raced to finish 6th, not to win. Thats got to change. Heck-I didnt even think about not working n the break.

Friday night and in shock, but what fun.

2009-07-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

Lining up for my first "Real Crit" in 17 years and my first ever Pro 1,2 Criterium had some real mixed feelings for me. On the one hand I know I am a better racer and much better trained (thanks coach Sean Gilbert)than in the 80's and 90s. I was a Cat.3 back then who could kick ass in road races and did well in time trials, but couldnt race a crit. to save my life.

So with the exception of some confidence in my fitness I still wondered how I would do. Well I can summarize how I did by telling you about my post race call to my wife on the drive home. I have known Stacie since I started racing. I said overly loud and flamboyantly into the phone "Weeell honey, GUESS where I was in the Crit the whole race tonight?" She replied in exclamation and we just started busting out laughing. She knew I was tail-gunner!

But a after good laugh and a flood of funny old crit. memories there was one fact that remained and that was that I left our GC contenders (myself included) high and dry by not being able to move up and stay up front. Matt was sitting 3rd after a great time trial and he had to do almost everything himself and he did too. Tris came up to help, but I rarely made it past 3 from the back. I finished the race while a lot of guys dropped out so for me that was a small victory, but in the end I let Matt down and apologized to him as soon as I saw him. I felt bad and still do.

The Canfield course was so technical that it was hard to move more than a couple positions in the corners (but easy to lose positions if you dint race aggressively, which I did not) then it was a drag race along the start finish up a false flat and yes, into a headwind all the way back to the twisties. I had forgotten why I always loved crits even though I was no good at them. Its like being a Moto GP rider on courses like this. Just a thrill.

Friday morning at Tour of the Valley

2009-07-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

To the question "how are you feeling" Friday am came the answer tired. And worried, but I didnt say that. I didnt sleep the previous night and promised ot be at registration to help Sam. And my heart was acting odd. Ive been at racing (karts and bikes) long enough that stress isnt a big deal the night before. I think it was because of the mad rush to make fall quarter and find some grants and financial aid.

And on a side I had a dream I was moving into a dorm room last night...but at 43 years old and 6 room mates...weird.

I got to pre-ride the course and it had false flats and wind so it would be a tough 5.56 miles for sure. I had to start early so Brian could borrow my bike (his frame broke early in the week). I had some strong 30 and 60 second riders so that would help.

a short prologue is best described as being an all out effort that one hopes you dont blow up before 5.56 miles. The only pacing is to ride harder the whole way. So when I was released I sprinted all the way past 30mph, turned the first 90 degree and ramped it up to 39mph!! I cleared the first mile in 1:48 seconds then made another right and this is when it really started to hurt.

Pushing at this 5 minute point is such a mental screw job. Your thinking "its only 6 more minutes of effort, you can do it, keep pushing" while your thighs are locking up and that little voice is saying "your gonna blow, just conserve a bit, a tiny, tiny little bit, back off."

And as the road goes up you push even harder to try and keep the speed up. I thought about all of the guys I saw in the parking lot on TT bikes or road bikes with clip-ons and knew they were all going for it. And all of the guys on road bikes who are just monsters who I knew wanted a few points to start the stage race. None of them were going to back down so I kept pushing minute by minute.

Into the last mile I knew was mostly downhill and finished by giving it all that was left and cleared the last mile in 1:53 (again over a 30mph ave) for a time of 11:48. I got what I wanted, a point in the Prologue to take into the GC. No matter what happened the rest of the event I was classified. And who knows if that one point would be critical later.

The setting at Mastropietro's winery was awesome. And I hear he wants us back next year too!!

Westlake Zipp Night

2009-07-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

I realized at sign in this was my 2nd WW of the year. Thats even less than last season. Been at a wedding drinking and having a good old time the last week. Came back anything but rested after a 15 hour drive, but got on the bike Monday for about 2 hours and lined up for WW Zipp NIght.

I went in thinking about being non aggressive and sitting in till the end and go for it if it was a bunch sprint. Well........that lasted a neautral lap and I was off chasing breaks and even trying one myself. Chasing down guys who were bridging to team mates already in breaks.

I got tired after riding pretty hard for a long time and faded to the back for a few laps to recover then moved back up after Tris was in a few decent moves that came back and bridged to Rudy, Jeff Braumberger and Andy Clark. I tried to launch with everything I had to not drag anyone with me. We 4 stayed clear which actually was alright because non of the regular top 3 guys in points made the move. So that was good for Tom Frueh. At first I was bummed afterwards that I made the break instead of him, but in the end it worked out. I was pulling a bit too long, but I didnt want to get caught so that was fine with me. And it made for a better workout.

Impressively Tom Dominic who was sitting in most of the race (like I was supposed to do) bridged up solo with 1 or 2 to go and then the games began. Rudy had been in a lot of breaks today and 4 of the top 5 were all good sprinters so he decided what the heck, he'll lead it out. I tried my best to stay on Jeff's wheel and thought, hey maybe I can get in the top 3 if I can come around, but I sat down as we hit the 200m mark when I had some momentum (dumb) and then didnt have the speed for the last 150 and came in on Rudy's wheel. Like I have been saying, my sprint has improved dramatically in one year!!! But it still sucks.

Tom had the best legs and beat us all to the line. Laughing because he felt kind of dumb winning after not doing much in the race and ending up bridging and winning. But thats racing!! By contrast my legs are sore and his feel fresh hours later. But my legs needed a wake-up call and they got it today thats for sure.

And I finally got a top 5 at Westlake. Yahoo!! I'll keep working on my sprint and maybe try to get to WW more than 2 to 5 times a year to boot. Overall I felt slow tonight, but I hope I made up for it by being aggressive when I could.

Next stop is the Tour of the Valley Stage Race. I hope to race all 4 stages, but I may end up only doing one or two if the team needs my help. Hope to see you there racing or at least spectating.

Audrey's First Singletrack

2009-06-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Introduced Audrey to singletrack one night last week. Then we did some fun slight downhills with root filled drop-offs. Attack position, arms bent and no brakes to carry momentum down or up and over roots and a "Whoo Hoooo" from her everytime she cleared a section. She even started to say "That wasnt that big of a drop dad."

She gets totally bugged out by the single track anywhere near a ledge and I dont blame her!! They probably look like a big gorge drop-off to her. I dont want to scare her, but open her eyes to new experiences and if her young brain can make those precious synapse connections so riding technical stuff later in her life maybe comes a bit easier, then great too. I know I wish I could ride offroad with more confidence and not be such a struggle.

We also walked a good section of very technical trails,up and down steep narrow paths and took some time to look for tadpoles and fish in the brook and I hopped logs on my cyclocross bike. I showed her how to walk her bike while using the brakes to help her maintain control down steep sections. We tried to avoid poison ivy. Hope we were successful on that one.

She was understandably concerned when I showed her the crazy descents I do when I ride these trails and happy when I showed her the ones I was WAY too scared to even try (though secretly I am hoping to master them this fall).

It was a great afternoon. She rode/hiked almost 8 miles. Way to go Audge Podge.

sheez, why bother.....

2009-06-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

That is the exact "little voice" that keeps ringing in my head as I think about Time trialing and that I squash within milliseconds of hearing it. Its not that I didnt have a great TT at Groveport and States. I went fast both days, just not fast enough...please read on.

Its a very complicated thing. On the one hand I have a month shy of 3 years of riding a bike (after a long time not riding) and I am going faster than I ever imagined I could go. 3 years ago my goal to my new coach was to not get dropped on the Tuesday and Thursday Square Wheels club rides (I was getting dropped at first)and try and see if I could break an hour in the 40k TT. So why do I let negative thoughts enter my head?

Heck, I guess its because its hard to imagine making the leap in power, drag, pacing?? required to go a minute and a half faster or more to compete with Paul, Matt, Brian, John Card, etc. So is it worth all of this specific training and stupidly expensive TT equipment? Luckily for me I am normally a very positive person, which by itself is just amazing (but thats a long story too).

So I have spun this around in two major ways in my crazy brain. First of all I am taking the somewhat patient approach. I am not saying I cannot make the power to move up another minute or so with another couple years of hard work and I am willing to keep working. And another positive twist is I have sort of made the decision that I am not spending money on new wheels or a carbon TT frame till I take care of the power and drag (fit). And saving money these days is so important (more lacking the urge to spend money by justifying time gains with cash).

At States I changed my position on the bike WHILE racing and its faster for sure. That was very cool. On the one hand its lower drag, but on the other I cannot ride straight to save my life, but that will go away with practice. I am not swerving 3 or 4', but any thing but smooth and straight as an arrow is drag on the tires. This is a game of details. I also tried a team mates bike that fit like a glove, but uses a different (and still UCI legal) position and it feels like it could work for me.

So this testing and what I call using myself as my own personal human test dummy also adds to the love of time trialing. And yes, I did try new things during the biggest TT race fr me this season. All this will decrease my time deficit to Ohio's best time trialers. I know I am leaving something on the table and I suppose always will. Thats motivation to me to get everything right. I also chnaged my warm-up and That made me feel really ready when I took off down the start ramp.

At States I averaged 27.7mph for 19.1 miles (what some of us think is the correct distance). It was actually fun in a sick way to hammer into the wind and up the rollers and flase flats on the way home. It was so competitive this year that even with that average speed I was 9th overall (about 6th in our State). 3 fast time trialers out of Indiana were ahead of me. And the top 5 were all within 21 seconds.

If your taking this as sour grapes, then your getting my very hard to describe point wrong and I dont blame you. I am happy on so many levels, but I am a competitor. I want to podium at States and Nationals simply because its so painful and requires so much work to achieve. Some are just happy doing their best. If thats the only barometer that I gauge my performance by then I am 100% happy with Groveport and States. I gave it my all and went fast. I just didnt go Furious Fast!!

Tour of Ohio Updates

2009-06-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Dan Quinlan takes the yellow jersey!!

Read updates on Shawn Adam's blog.

8 Intervals

2009-06-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

The worst thing about 8 intervals is thinking about doing 8 intervals. The best thing about 8 intervals is when you do 9 and your still killing it, but holding back for the State TT in three days!!

Bicyclist Harassment Ordinance Passed

2009-06-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

OHio so needs this Bicyclist Harassment Ordinance. Wait, the entire world needs this law to be passed.

also, got passed twice in blind corners on two lane roads today with the drivers squeezing ME just in case a car was coming the other way. What do you want to guess this very day they bitch about someone doing something thoughtless to them?

Idiots.

RAAM Waugh RAAM

2009-06-16T06:04:00.000-07:00

Keep abreast of Richard Waugh from our areas as his team tackles RAAM in a few days. http://teamreachingheights.blogspot.com/
Best of luck and a everlasting tailwind for The Reaching Heights team.

State Road Race - Sufferfest extroidinare

2009-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

It really didnt seem that hot or humid on Sunday. or maybe its all the cool weather weve had for racing this year. Heck last month we started a race in the rain and 40 deg temps. So I actually thought it was a gorgeous day to head out for the 83 mile State Road Race Championship at Ceasars Creek (Waynesville, Ohio). We had our whole Cat.1,2 team in our new livery so that was sweet.

I slept a lot of Saturday so I didnt get a ride in. So I got a nice 40 minute easy warm up and the race started as we expected sedate untill Matt attacked or countered. A few other moves went and a guy I am behind sits up!! I go around to see a big gap and have to drill it to close it. One thing about cat1,2, races they might not always have the highest ave speed (though they often do too), but when its fast, its really fast.

Then the first time to the wild and fun descent. For me it was sight unseen, but some others new it and drilled it. This was also my first time racing with carbon hoops and carbon brake pads in a road race so I took it easy and when we hit the bottom of fast 45mph descent the front groupo was drilling it leaving 3/4 of the field chasing hard for what seemed WAY too long.

As usual Brian was very active as was Dan and Matt opening up opportunities for the rest of us to catch on to fast moving trains. But the first real move came from Tris who attacked past the feedzone up the hill and got away with a couple others. I am a bit sketchy, but Kirk Albers, Dan Quinlan and Brian from Carbon Racing bridged up and the break was established.

On the third lap of 8 10.4 mile loops we were grouppo compacto so at the top of the feedzone I finally felt alright (I was really hurting the first 30 miles anytime anyone lit the afterburners). I rolled off after Brian opened up a few attacks to tire everyone out. At first I hovered about 20 seconds up the road and the field was content to let me hang there. But the field slowed dramatically and then I kept hammering along pretending I was in a 50 mile TT!

Eventually I was so far ahead that I could not see the field even looking back across the fields after making a 90 degree turn. I felt really comfortable and was hoping when I got caught that please, please, please don't let it be by the entire pack. I knew staying away wasnt an option with some of the riders whom I knew were in the race and the length of it too.

I had a scare when coming down the descent I got held up by a driver who was driving so slowly and nearly stopped for the turn even though the marshalls were yelling, I was screaming bloody murder to keep going and the lead car was honking. Some people have the mental capacity of a chunk of rock I got to tell you. or maybe we all scared the piss out of the guy. I didnt dare pass, one because it was too narrow and two I was afraid of being DQ'd. But I lost some time there for sure.

After 20 miles solo I finally saw some guys coming up fast and they caught me right at the top of the feedzone. I made a HUGE mistake and didnt take a bottle from Erin thinking I had a full bottle on my frame. Turns out it was half full and the previous lap my right leg let me know in no uncertain terms that it was cramping solid up the climb. I got 4 good laps where I felt like I could have attacked the field up the climb, but sadly I had 4 miserable laps up the climb too.

The group was now John from Huntington (Two John's Podcast), Kirk Albers and Greg Strock of Texas Roadhouse, Matt Weeks and Dan from Carbon and Josh Halvex of National Engineering.

I can tell you I got dropped a few times and clawed my way back each time. Matt and Kirk and Greg were pulling so hard that it was hard to stay on just in the paceline. Unlike some rotating pacelines where you could remain shaded in the draft, guys were taking longer pulls so fading back you were face to the wind. It was brutal. In fact the entire end of the race was brutal.

This wasnt just your usual pain from the effort. I was in pain all over. Back, muscles, mental tiredness and fighting the urge to quit was foremost in my mind and the cramping up the climb-boy did that hurt. I was lucky to hang on up the climb 2 more times and even got dropped on lap 6, but accelerated over the top and caught back on again. But on lap 7 I cramped so hard at the bottom that I was barely moving forward and I was too tired to chase back on at the top. I tried really hard for a bit on the rollers, but it was not to be. Thats a sick feeling. Watching the break go. But we had Dan and Matt in there and they looked strong.

And since I didnt have a bottle on lap 6 and 7 I was probably (definitely) dehydrating. I watched as the break motored away slowly up the false flat and down the finish straight and then I kept looking back and didnt see anyone. And although we got gaps in the field for the breaks (from the moto and fans on the road) We didnt get too many in the breaks till the end when Andys Burns came up (thanks Andys).

I kept telling myself to keep going as fast as I could maintain and recover and spin the legs out before the climb after the right hand turn. Hopefully I'd have the gap still to crawl p the climb one last time. It wasnt till I started all of the s-turns before the hill that I saw the familiar Grey helmet and our colors of Brian Batke coming up with Jeff Braumberger of Inferno. And it didnt look like anyone was behind them. Brian and Jeff came by and said I should just sit on and I had one word to say to them. "CANT".

So once again quitting or sitting up was not an option because I had such a damn big gap. I was previous to being caught racing for 7th and now 9th. I felt it was worth fighting for. We had 4 Carbon guys racing in the top 10 in break aways. And as expected I was in severe pain up the climb and like every lap the cramps ended just as the road leveled out and turned left. Back in the big chain ring and kept pressure on the pdals as best as i could.

When I was going up the false flat I finally saw what remained of the group coming out of the corner. Andys rode up and said 15 to 17 seconds and faded back. I made the corner for the final stretch and knew I only had that short, fast stretch to the line. I went pretty hard and the group got closer. I went a bit harder and with 200m to go I knew I had it. I crossed the line in 9th and not a second after going past the line the field sprinters flew by on each side.

Quite possibly the most miserable Ive ever been racing a bike. I started off feleling sluggish in attacks and after 6 laps I wanted to pull into the parking lot so many times. I was passing riders from other fields all race long and I must say thanks to all who yelled out some encouragement. It really helped me keep going.

Sadly we didnt take a podium, but we did race aggressive and did put 4 of our guys in the top 10!! Sam got 2nd in the Women's race as well. I think I learned about how deep I can go mentally and physically too. And its not a pretty place that deep into your psyche. One more State Championship on Sunday then i think I need a little break. But boy am I pumped up for the State TT now.

In the News!!

2009-06-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

We were on the wkbn Mahoning news with great racing clips from Chris Anthony (who also shot other cycling videos on the Carbon Racing Website

Please watch Sam say "Furious Fast" in this news clip!!

Tour of the Valley Press Conference

2009-06-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

A quick note about the Press Conference held only feet from the last corner of Sunday's Finale Criterium Course. The energy coming from everyone in Mahoning Valley government and local businesses and the Quinlan's was infectious and I am so very hopeful that this race will grow bigger and bigger each year.

But what a start!! I got to speak about Time trial bikes and no I didnt bore everyone to sleep. It will come as no surprise I like speaking in front of a group.

Groveport Grand Prix 2009

2009-06-08T11:51:00.001-07:00

The State TT course from the last two years is now a stand alone event with a Merckx class and 2-man (or man and woman or women). Turnout looked quite good to me and the weather was to put it lightly -perfect.

Maybe I'll write more, but I just wanted to say I did some experimenting with pacing and I think I did a bit better job than the last two years on this course. Although I only improved slightly in the first 11 miles, I believe that it allowed me to carry a lot more speed in the last 12 miles. I averaged 29mph for the last 12 miles.

Just like last year that was a blast and sure makes the torture of a 38km TT race a lot more bearable. But the confidence from some hard cat1,2 racing this spring and tough TT workouts designed by Sean Gilbert really made the difference. I knew I could hammer hard into the wind and rollers Sunday.

But the headwinds remain my Achilles heal. I just dont put out enough raw power to hold any more speed right now. A little more aero work and more training (of course)and maybe I can bump it up a bit more. But its the same for everyone. No one feels like they are laying it down after making the first right hander on this course.

Then as if one long TT isnt enough I partnered with Brian Batke for a 2-man TT. We hammered it out and came in 3rd. I have finally done enough long TT's that they dont seem to go on forever (all at Groveport btw). I feel like I know how to pace the whole event rather than feeling like the end seems hours of pain away. I mean it feels like the race is now more compact and I can see it in shorter increments. The next mile, hill, corner, downhill come and go so quickly.

Great pics of all of us here including two man team pics.

In the single TT I ended up with 5th overall behind Paul Martin, Matt Weeks, Andrew Clark and Brian Batke. I turned in a personal best of 51:22 at 27.6mph ave speed!! I am very happy with that. Hopefully I can go just a tick faster at States in two weeks. Two 38k TT's in less than 2.5 hours ought to be some good training!! Matt and Paul nailed 49 minute runs. Way to go guys. Its hard to imagine going that fast for me, but at the same time I am only 1:32 away.

One Small Step

2009-06-01T16:13:00.001-07:00

It seems forever ago that I was riding on the roads after a cyclorcross race when I was verbally and physically assaulted by a motorist. Luckily for me there were witnesses and Matt Weeks instructed me as my impromptu attorney. We called the police and made a report. I followed through as did Matt. Thank you so much Matt.

I wont go into the many extroidinary details about the driver I discovered in the process, but suffice it so say that it was not his first, 2nd, 3rd or possibly even his 4th rub with the local law. One other side note was the officer in charge of my case truly fought for this conviction.

The driver was convicted of an assault charge, but was given Diversion meaning I THINK that if he does things like anger management classes he may get a reduced sentence? Again, I dont know and I honestly think the anger management is what a lot of humans need, but him for certain. And I mean a LOT!!

Since i am not divulging a lot of details why am I even talking about this? Well a rider familiar with his make and color of his vintage car and location he lives in had a much different experience with him over the weekend.

He waited patiently in his driveway for him to pass on his bicycle and when he came to overtake he moved to the other side of the road and passed him without an issue. I have had many near misses that I wish I had gone straight to the police station or pulled over and called the police, but I easily dismissed them due to thinking of what a waste of time it would be for me and facing the usual anti bicycle bias.

But I hope my story and my taking action for once shows that it is worth your time. And not for getting EVEN or REVENGE. But because there are very dangerous people out there with serious anger management issues or just plain old lack of morals and maturity. And it doesnt matter if the guy or gal is driving a rusty beater in Rocky River or a $150,000 Mercedes in Chagrin Falls. They are out there and they are one thin, taughtly strung thread away from snapping and hitting you with their car or jumping out of their car and assaulting you.

But I hope my friends experience with this driver shows that it is worth the time to make that police report and follow through. I can tell you I never had to face this driver after the incident and I believe he has no idea who I am. Anonimity in my case was very important to protect my family. So its one small step for cyclists, but I hope an even bigger step for the driver.

Sam at Snake Alley

2009-06-01T15:21:00.001-07:00

133_5695_ver03
Originally uploaded by iowapix

A quick pic from the Snake alley Race. I hope to do this race some day.

Stress

2009-05-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

At the moment it looks like 8:30pm and its only 4pm. Skies darkend and my favorite ride of the week looks in peril. Riding hills at race pace and some new sprints on the Wednesday evening course that incldes the 20 degree Tibbets, triple climb up Mulberry and bit of Sherman and two power descents at mega watts at 40+mph!!

I was thinking last week when we rode how much fun it was, but how I needed to lay off the attacks as I had Tour De Frankenmuth in 3 days. So I went with attacks, chased and rotated through in fast pacelines, but didnt attack myself except to sprint.

The idea was to keep a high level of stress in the legs all week (and the previous week) with a short taper and easy rides to get ready for the 77 mile Pro1,2 field. Try to make the race rested, but not flat. In fact anything but flat.

It turns out my prep was about right as I had great legs Saturday. Some luck and some good prep. I think a lot of riders dont put enough thought into how and when they put stress into their training. Another word for stress could be "reaching". The idea is to go hard for an extended period of time (could be days, weeks or months)to bring about an adaptation or a higher level of riding to put it simply.

So this all brings me today. I wont stress if I miss today because even missing a key ride like tonight with its mix of endurance, tempo, LT, AC, max efforts is not a tragedy. I have been keeping the stress in the legs and have more hard workouts planned.

All that happens is I might be a bit faster or stronger for a workout later in the week.

So I guess sometimes if you have a lot of stress in your life (or training program) sometimes it allows you to have a stress free day once in awhile. A lot less in real life sadly.

Tour De Frankenmuth

2009-05-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Derek and the the boys for hgauling my crap to TdF for me. Scott and I arrived and went to dinner at the Black Forrest brewery and had some killer beers before retiring to watch the Cav's lose then win the 2nd game of the Eastern Confernce Finals. Late night and after closing my eyes I didnt seem to sleep much, but when the alarm went off at 6am I was ready.

But I warmed up in cold temps and rain at about 7:20am. 77 miles in a pretty big Pro 1,2 field in the rain.... Actually no problem its a road race not a crit! Tris, Brian and I outfitted in our new Carbon uniforms started off tame enough, but Brian and I were laying down attacks and going in move after move. I was feeling great and knew going in anything over 50 miles usually plays to my strengths so I did NOT want to miss the key move again. So I rode aggressive and shot my Gu's and didnt worry about the length of the race.

After going in a few moves one after another we got Brian up the road in a break of two (I felt bad for the other guy!!) and for 44 minutes they maintained a 45 to 1 minute gap. Eventually some of the Michigan teams (Essex Brass?, Wolverine Trek, Bisssel Masters and Priority Health) brought it back and then we all started attacking, going in move after move. Tris, Brian and I were in about every single move if we didnt attack ourselves. Not bad for 3 Cleveland homies vs. bigger teams. If your wondering we were representin' for Ohio-Big f'n time!!

Then Brian and I found ourselves in a key move with every team represented and about 7 of us (paying 12 spots). I found I could pull hard and had plenty of time to recover, but also realized Bissel was not working and others were lame ducks. WTF!! Half way through a race with 7 guys and a big gap. To me thats a break worth working for. I told Brian Bissel is not working so he stopped working. We were finally caught as we all realized that althugh this break was gold, it was not destined to stay.

Then I flatted and watched as it seemed a hundred guys rolled past with my arm raised. I pulled over and pulled my rear wheel out and the wheel truck pulled Batke's wheel for me and I screwed up twice trying ot get it in and finally got rolling with the expected crappy shifting!! Why? It was a Campy 9 speed wheel on my 10 speed SRAM bike!! But I learned quickly what gears worked and how many shifts it took to make it work. Still there were some very ugly sounds coming form my bike the next hour!!

I eventually caught a napping pack that was kind enough to be spread across the road the whole chase. ONce back in a I said hi to Brent Evans of Spin and Tris and got back to going in attack after attack. Brent was racing great and coming across gaps like me or attacking. I couldnt attack with brian up the road, but Brent kepit it aggressive. Also when I arrived back 6 guys (inlcuding Brian of course) were up the road. I could see the bright green outfit and shoe covers and knew right away we had representation in the break. Sadly i was not in there too.

But after a bunch of short lived attacks went I finally saw a move with just 4 guys move ahead and I quickly sprinted across and we pulled through a few times then two guys started sitting up and I looked back. BIG gap. I told them weve got the gap, lets go. These guys knew how to ride a smooth paceline and we grew the gap.

Out of one corner the Saturn of Toledo rider intentionally rearranged the rotation (I assume to not come off of my little draft), but we kept going untill the very dwindled pack started to close. I told them we needed to step it up and we went a bit harder. When we hit the smooth road we had opened the gap and it looked like we could hold it to the line.

Through the 31 to 35mph feedzone and make the left towards the last couple of corners and finally the games started. But I let myself come through the slight uphill to the last left hander to S. Main street downhill first wheel. The Bissel rider in our group launched way to my left and I gunned it to close the gap. I passed 2 guys and then had to dig super deep to get the 3rd guys as we felw to the finish line. The Bissel missle was flying, but I took 2nd in our group of 5!!

Ive been working on my sprint and was happy to get to use it. Up front Brian was in a break of 6 guys so I was 8th overall. Well in the money. Brian had to stay vigilant because Priority Health had two guys in the break and started sending attacks and after Brian's 44 minute breakaway early he knew he was running low on power. But they got to the end and Brian attacked and almost made it to the line and only one Priority Health rider nipped him by 0.2 seconds. Carbon racing took 2nd and 8th!!

I felt great and it was awesome to race a long, windy road race and come away with a solid team race and some results. I also had to avoid a downed rider in the feed zone that involved locking up my rear so I could slide it around his bike!! What an adreneline rush!!

So much more to tell about the race, but thats it for today. Looking forward to Westlake Tuesday and the Spin Willoughby Bike Shop hammerfest Wednesday night. Then I hope to do a time trial Thursday.

hand destroyed tires

2009-05-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight on a day when I really needed a day off I headed to the Marginal for the Beast TT as part of Spin's very fun series of races. Mostly its for their team members but every so often they let in some of us scrubs from other teams race.

This one was 5 really bumpy out and back miles. I and 3 others met along the way to ride to the course for a nice warm-up. But along the way on Euclid we ran through some glass so I wiped my front tire then wiped my rear tire when my finger I swear to god got caught brtween the frame and tire (TT bike-no clearance)and I started to slide as my rear tire locked up on me solid with my finger as the lodging device. I kept it up for a long time, but eventualy my rear tire slid out enough I had to put it down, but sadly I took down Thom Domonic and we hit the ground hard!! Dave and Pete said it sounded horrible.

I apologized to Thom and was pretty embarassed and now with a very numb finger that got trapped, a sore rib or two and Thom with a bruised knee we rode on with me with my tail between my legs.

But we got to the race course and I could tell pre-riding the course I wasnt in race shape. I was on day 8 of solid riding (14 hours last week) and was getting tired.

I started third and after a few minutes i knew I was underperforming. Lately I have been putting out closer to 340 watts for 5 minutes and after only a couple minutes I was struggling to hold a max 307 watts (about the highest I saw). My Powertp was dropping data like crazy too meaning i need new hub batteries. SO my averages might be higher, but still nowhere close to what they should have been into a headwind.

I got more motivated coming to the turn around and started to see some respectible speed and was pretty happy on the way back in even though I was pretty low on power tonight. I ended up 2nd by 5 seconds. The winner is a very strong rider who had zero warm-up they call him LeMonster!! I had tired legs so its fair to say had he had a warm up and I had fresher legs we would have been just as close I think only faster.

So I destroyed (literally) a pretty new hand made Torelli Gavia 320tpi open tubular tonight and then lost the TT to boot. Not a great night, but in a way actually a REALLY GREAT night.

Thom and I could have been hurt a lot worse and were relatively unscathed for how hard we crashed. I knew I was down on power bigtime, but still managed a 2nd against a really strong rider.

What a crazy night. Ended great with friends and a few brews at the Lizard. Now off to bed and await the soreness that is sure to come tomorrow. I did a lot of gardening, tilling and shoveling compost over the weekend too. I WILL be very sore tomorrow.

Day off the bike tomorrow for sure!! I need it bad.

Catching up.

2009-05-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

Man it seems like I have all these things I want to talk about. Products of training solo and having all that time to ponder things, but as i sit here waiting for Audrey to get in her bath and watch the last episode of Fringe on Hulu I find my brain going a million miles a second, but i have no idea what to write about. I know I missed a race report already.

I had my first Westlake last night after being down all weekend (causing me to miss RATL#4) with either a respiratory infection or what I think is an odd case of spring allergies. I recall this same thing last year.

I attacked, I chased, I bridged and basically went all out for 19 laps. In the end I rode the front, shut down attacks and tried ot lead Tom Frueh out and I got him not quite to 200m. But I had been on the front for 2 miles taking over at the start finish line on the bell lap. I had a lot to do and ride hard to keep Tom from falling back (not that he couldnt do it himself) We ended up taking 4th so we got something out of the deal.

It was also fun to crit race with all my friends and get in some breaks and have an occasional laugh or chit chat.

My speed has started to come back and although I started cramping on lap 2 (a sure sign something wasnt right). I stayed on the rivet as much as I could. FUn, fun race. I need to be a bit more selfish soon and get that top 5 at Westlake or I am gonna start getting a bad attitude. I am no sprinter, but I LOVE to sprint. Seems more exciting!

East Side Climbing Report

2009-05-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

I decided while doing hill climbing intervals today to log some info. I wanted to know how long each climb was in time so I could know which are best for what kinds of efforts. Heres what I came up with today. These are not meant to be PB times because I dont have any previous data, but Id say Old Mill East was about 90% of what I can do and Fairmont about 99%. I went so hard up Fairmont I didnt have the legs for Cedar when I got there. I was a solid 40 watts lower average from a previous day and at the top where I usually stick it in the big ring I was 4mph slower. Felt hard though!! I'll look up that day and edit this post later. But I wanted to post these before I forget as I did them on my no memory recall stopwatch.

Old Mill East (from No Trucks sign at bottom to County Line corner) 3:45

Fairmont West (from bottom to the last roller (fire hydrant with red flag) 6:31

Cedar West (from bottom to the 2nd brick driveway on right near stop light at SOM) 6:59

Old Mill West (from telephone pol behind Guardrail on Rt. to Silver mailbox over the top) 4:04

On cedar I was heading North so be careful of the stop sign at the very bottom. I'll add Old Mill West some day. But was wondering where to start the watch? Maybe at the first guardrail or before the first bend to the right since its already starting to ever so slightly pitch up already? I'll find a landmark.

Enjoy climbing our quite steep, but very short hills.

VO2 Max??

2009-05-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

On the Wattage Google group I subscribe to they found this nifty calculator to figure out your VO2 max from your 5 minute best power.

VO2 max= 1.8*((P5min*6.12/Kg)+3.5)+3.5

Have fun with it!! I wont divulge mine because honestly if its right...I might as well quit racing AND I am so glad I never had a lab done VO2max test done. I am NOT saying its inaccurate at all. My point is just racing is about more than just numbers....haha...did I just say that out loud? Whoo hooo.

Ray

Covered Bridge #3

2009-05-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I feel like bashing my head against a brick wall and screaming I SUCK!!!!!!!!! Arrrgghhhh...Not a smart race by me with good legs. And though I kept my myself positioned at times and aggressive I was not where I needed to be when it counted.

I will work on that. Its not something that needs to be practiced. Its just situational awareness and riding smart. I rode like someone strong and dumb today.

Oh also when I was solo bridging to the break late in the race (after we came back together then split again) going down the hill towards the blind left hander before the railroad tracks I almost got myself killed. Thats small news right?

Knowing full well the danger, but also realizing I was catching the break I got too left of center in the middle of the corner and a car came around. I had a premonition about it too. Weird. I swerved right, grabbed a load of brakes and lost my momentum. I am not saying i was going to make it across, but it was possible. Close for sure.

There's more "stuff" that went on, but that's all I can stomach to talk about right now. Besides its time to eat.

Man I feel like screaming, but I am home now and dont want to confirm to my neighbors that I actually am crazy.

Spring Cross Fever?

2009-05-03T04:04:00.000-07:00

Before school one morning last week Audrey and I were watching the Andy Myerson video on cyclocross I borrowed from Matt Weeks. She wanted to try dismounts but i said "its time for school". Much whining and protesting ensued.

Last night we rode to a friends house (up this really steep hill too) for a cookout. When we were about to ride home Audrey comes down the driveway, stands up and swings her foot over the seat behind her left foot stands for a second and hops off running!!

Pretty cool and just like in the video. Then she did it again for good measure.

Cars love the right lane so much

2009-04-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't it curious when your driving and cars move to the left lane to pass say a parked car or a slow moving car that they usually plant themselves permanently in the left lane?

I sure have. Now have you noticed when your riding your bike cars cannot wait to get by and pull in front of you so fast you think they may hit you, the curb or lose control of their cars?

I sure have. Its like people when in their cars are like "My road, My right lane, I love the right lane." but we all know most driver's hate the right lane.

Just another weird phenomenon of being a bike rider.

Presque Isle Spring 09

2009-04-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Once burned twice burned is my motto and nowhere did I need to get burned twice by my own mistake than at a time trial. But I didnt have speed on the computer again which sort of matters and sort of doesnt as I will try and explain.

Everything actually clicked Sunday. From the winter of changing position to the week leading up, the morning and warm-up. I started off and ramped it right up past 31mph and felt fine so I kept it there for miles. Eventually I lost some cadence , but could hold it about 5 rpm less than when I was at 30mph and I look down and my speed was no longer reading.

So to the standard back-up plan of just trying to go as hard as possible to die at mile 12.49 of 12.5 miles.

Eventually I got to the 6 mile marker and was still hauling and was confident I was on a personal best run. I was so comfortable in the new position and I felt slippery in the air and fast too.

I finally started to struggle badly at mile 9-11 , but managed to hold 88 cadence
in the 53x13 pretty much like clockwork. If I pushed as hard as I could on the pedals I went 88 cad and if I kept it at leg searing I got 88. But every so often I'd see if I could get 90 to 95. So thats why data can be useless in retrospect. Especially with as much Perceived Exertion I have to fall back on. Basically you go as hard as you can that you feel you can sustain and when you push harder there is nothing more there. So in effect data becomes useless. But I would still argue data is a motivator or a carrot to chase.

The worst part was the last 2.5 miles and not because its the end, but because a strong headwind confronted us at that point. I dropped some speed so I finally upshifted to the 14 to get my cadence up then shifted back to the 13 and tried to hold the higher cadence. It actually worked and as I rolled past the 11 mile marker I started to think in terms of one single revolution at a time as hard as I could.

I had a pleasant surprise at the end when I looked down and I was again back at 88 to 90 right? And I think-crap-Ive been at this cadnce for a long time I bet I left it in the 14 so I break form and look at the cassette and it is in the 13. Yes!!

I had held perfect LT HR all race long and it was starting to go up at the end by quite a bit. Great legs all race long, but NOTHING to do a fast finish. Across the line and I felt like I really laid down a run.

Officially I ended up with 1st in the 40-44 AG and 5th overall! But my speed and time werent that good compared to last year. I went 26:59 at 27.8mph. Last spring and fall I was faster by about 4 t 6 seconds.

Maybe the headwind in the end and some sections really took their toll more on my speed than I thought. But on the good side I did feel awesome in my new position though I dont have the data or time/speed to back up my feelings and trust me that's VERY annoying for me and my personality type. And thats because the data says I didnt improve from last year (in terms of fitness or aerodynamics), but my seat of the pants says I did. So which to believe? Still a 26 minute spring time isnt bad.

And to add to the situation in turning my computer back to reading Power I accidentally cleared the entire race data!! Although speed and distance were now useless, I could extrapolate from the cadence and time everything I needed. Bummer.

And right after the race I went right back out and did race pace intervals with the tailwind and into it and found out some cool stuff for later. I "probably" set a PB 20 minute power and "probably" was holding some good power the last few miles even though I was struggling mightily. I determined this by what wattage it took to maintain cadence steady into the headwind for 3 miles and it was above my LT by 10% or more. I rode for 2 minute intervals so feel confident the data is reliable.

So I take away a lot of positives, except the one goal I had which was a solid 28mph run for 20k. OH well, maybe in the fall!! Afterwards Matt Weeks and I found some gorgeous and rolling hills out in the countryside of Erie. We finished the ride by heading up false flats into a whicked cross wind at 28 to 30+Mph tossing out long hard pulls. It was another sign that my fitness is coming along.

But thanks to my coach Sean for all the help and training getting me ready for PI. Too bad I didnt come up with the goods, but that's not anyone's fault. Except I guess mine. But the TT bike and i are dialed in, I swear it!! and husting it along at close to 30mph for 6 miles was freaking amazing!! Truly a sweet experience. Congrats to Matt, Brian, Julie and Robert for all throwing in spectacular runs. Heck Drew and the Madis kids too. 9 year old Ryan Madis took 7 minutes off his time from last fall for a 39:xx run at 19mph!! You go young guns!!

Till the next TT...it cannot possibly come soon enough. I want some revenge, if i can get my head out of my ass that is. Details!!

6 gears means speed!!

2009-04-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Today I bought Audrey a Trek 6 speed 20" wheel girl's bike from Bike Authority. I was going to get her one at some point anyways, but we made a deal if she stopped chewing on her fingertips I'd get her a new bike with GEARS!! She was so excited she stopped chewing immediately. Though she says she still does sometimes. But we know she has cut back a lot. Youd think she had BBQ sauce all over her fingers before.

So after I took it for a test drive to see if I could use it at Presque Isle this weekend I brought it home all shined up and ready with her bell and seat positioned where it should be (yeah-me the bike fitter) and moved the brake levers really close (See she has chewed her fingers down so short) and readjusted the cables.

We took it out for a spin tonight (after she rode with the neighbors kids in the afternoon). We went down a hill and she has a good feel for the brakes (she had coaster brakes before). Then when we hit the very steep hill from Meadowbrook up Eaton I told her shift to the easier gears (Lower numbers). By the time she got to the top she went 4, 3, 2,1 and said "ahhhh... this is SOOO much easier". Then once over the top she started shifting to faster gears (higher number) and she was flying, coat flapping back behind her!!

Yeah-that is mission accomplished!! Now she can climb the steep rollers in the neighborhood or bike paths without walking and can go faster to keep up with me so I dont have to ride on the brakes not pedaling all of the time.

But the best part was her yells of pure joy and exhilaration as she said "I got it in 5" and pedaled away from me, flying.

I dont know about you, but she looks happy to me!!

OCA on Video from RATL

2009-04-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Videographer Dave Tingler has put together a collection of movies from the Ohio Cycling Association races. This is form RATL.

Races at the Lake from ohio cycling on Vimeo.

Covered Bridge 2009-Thats More Like It.

2009-04-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Did you ever hear that story about the scorpion and the turtle? Not to tell the whole story, but what ends up happening and the moral of the story is the scorpion stings the turtle causing them to both die. The turtle inquires as it succumbs to the venom why he did that when it would surely kill him too. The scorpion answered because its in my nature.

OK, so now how in the heck do I tie that into my race report for the Covered Bridge Race? Well its in the former Torelli racing team members as well as Dan Quinlan's nature to attack, counter and try and break up races. Its a symbiotic thing between us. I think we raced the first few races just going with everyone elses attacks and trying to cover counters. That's not in our nature and we didnt race very well as a team. We missed assignments and didnt feel effective overall. We were not being true to our nature.

Understand this is just my opinion. I am not trying to speak for the other members on our team.

Also before delving into the race report (which I will try to keep short and sweet) I want to to thank all of our Carbon Racing volunteers who came out to make sure that Brad Hansen's race was run as safely and smoothly as it has for years underhis direction. So thank you to Jim, Kevin, Vicky, Megan, Jeremiah, Laura, Sharon and Carolyn for coming out to help. Also a big thank you to Paul Martin and his family for arranging all of the details. And last but not least our motorcycle lead vehicles and Linda Miranda for the officiating. I am so sorry if I left anyone out!!

So after staying close to help Paul get all of the corner marshals to their corners and in their cars to lead the B race I hopped on my bike and started the race with no warm-up. It was fun to see the ladies (Evelyn, Sam, Erin and Leah) all line up for the A race. It was a ballistic start so I give them props for hanging tough.

We had more than 40 riders again and as I was tail gunning for a warm-up I saw way, way, way ahead the first move get away. I could make out the white of RGF and the Torelli colors on top and the green and purple on the shorts of Dan Quinlan so I knew we were good. I guarantee you we have matching shorts and tops on order!! But expect our rag tag looking bunch a bit longer.

Sunday we raced like the Torelli of old and launched our own attacks and launched our own counters and basically raced our bikes. That term gets used a lot, but its true. We didnt control the race, not at all. But it was a subtle shift. We didnt just go with moves, we initiated them and that felt normal.

The race was a welders paradise too. Nothing was staying away. Sometimes you would have this gap with what looked like a good spread of teams, but within seconds of looking back at a small gap you would look again and see a long line almost as far back as you could see right on your butt. This happened over and over. YOu could not possibly count all of the attacks in this race.

On the last lap Paul started attacking himself which of course were always immediately reacted to. This worked out well for me because regardless if I had just been in a move or fresh I could catch any number of wheels. Finally on Riverside were all throwing down one last time (including myself). I mean every team and almost every rider seemed to be tossing out one last try or two or three.

Again Paul flew by on the right and I caught the tail end of it. Were getting to the end of Riverside with a small group and some separation from the field (finally and perfect timing too)and low and behold whats to our right? A train. And we stop!

But Rudy who had a mechanical and had to drop from the breakaway was in the 2nd group on the road said an unidentified rider put in a big pull and pulled us back in the last little bit so we were a big lined out group again before the turn onto Ira. But I still had good position for the finish.

We stopped for only about 30 seconds, but when we got rolling Brian's chain drops, I wait for him and that causes a few seconds delay then I take off and I am trying to get someones attention. Are we racing? Is it neutral? Whats going on? By the time I realize were gonna do a 1 mile sprint to the line I am near the very back and just about giving up on the whole deal. I'm pissed at myself for not being at the front where I belonged from coming around the corner in the top 10. But John Lowry who had also been throwing down all race long with his team mates took me 80% to the front on the left. I hesitated for a few seconds which I now regret then I launched hard for the line.

When I got up to Josh and what looked like the ones seriously going for it I sat down to grind it out from 100m on, but Tris behind me encouraged me to keep going. I stood up again I and gutted it to the line passing another rider or two and being passed by Shawn right before the line. Although I dont consider myself a sprinter I do love the mania of it all and especially the last few miles of surfing wheels and fighting for that top 5 position. Its kind of addicting.

I didnt know I could stand and sprint for that long, but I do now. I came in about 10th or so I think. I am very pleased with that. And the best news of the day Dan Quinlan was outnumbered in the break two to one, but had the legs in the sprint and won the race!! Great job Dan and Carbon Racing!

RATL #1 A very fast race.

2009-04-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

Carbon Racing put Brian, Tris and Dan in the initial split. A big group off the front that splintered when Paul Martin, Dan Quinlan and Jeremy Grimm took off. The main field absorbed the remainder of the group and within a few laps it was race on for the rest of the race.

The speed was really high almost the whole race with attacks and counters being shot off for the remaining 5 paying spots. Dan who had ridden 43 headwind miles to the race that morning for the added training got popped when he tried to stick with Jeremy who was attacking the break. Once he was back Carbon racing and all of the other teams knew we were racing for 3rd place.

I was actually surprised that some guys didnt know actually. But once it got back around that 3-8th were up for grabs the racing got even faster with many laps of 26.5+mph ave speed. Everyone was attacking all race long, but now people were getting tired and the attacks were being more damaging. We started with about 47 and a good 15 or more riders were shed all over the course it looked like.

We weren't firing on all cylinders I'll admit. I think we didn't race to our strengths as we did Sunday. But with a few laps to go a split occurred that was exactly 6 riders and they put time into the rest of us. Brian made the split of course. The split was a strong group of riders so that was that for the paying spots. And yes-I missed it again!! I'm getting good at this. :(

With about one and a quarter laps to go Tris took off with Jake Lifson from Indiana Medical and I followed a rider up and as the pace slowed at the start finish I took off really hard and soloed in for 9th with a 26.5 ave speed last lap. I am sure the motivation to chase me down was very low being the first non paying spot, but as I have said before-its good training. Luckily for me Bob Grimm caught it on video. Thank you Bob and for the compliment!!

I will say my jump is getting a bit better as it has to chasing so much crap down. After Presque Isle this weekend I need to work that top end more so I can come across a gap to a bunch of pro leve/Cat.1's breaking away instead of just pulling other teams close enough to jump across without me..arrgghhh.

Racing has been fun so far this year in Ohio. Also its great to see riders from other local teams like Lake Effect and John Lowry and his Stark Velo team mates sticking their noses in the wind and mixing it up at every turn. What a fast and aggressive summer this is going to become. I also hope the 40 to 60 person Cat I II III fields continue too.

Fear of water?

2009-04-14T18:03:00.001-07:00

On the trainer today. I WAS going to bring my bike to work to do a ride whenever a window opened up. But a busy morning and I didnt have patience or time to pack. The result? On the trainer at 4pm.

Two weeks to Presque Isle means this is the week to get in any training that should benefit me in two weeks. I am not "cramming", just want to do what I can. Being on the trainer after so much time outdoors is NOT my idea of fun. Even though I know its focused training and I was up for it-I couldnt motivate myself enough once I started.

Tomorrow its more of the same. Rain and 40's means indoors again. So I called my coach Sean Gilbert and asked him for another hard workout, but a workout on the trainer that is more engaging so its easier to stay focused. Shorter efforts in repeats and variety. But still hitting all of the zones. Should keep me focused this time.

Once your out of the basement "this will make me stronger" mentality what makes long hard TT efforts manageable is the speed mainly. Things rushing by fast, sounds of air and tires on the road. That drives you to push harder. Funny, but once youve done some races outside staring at the TV and blasting your mp3 player and not going anywhere just doesnt do it anymore. Weird huh?

Also this weekend is the first RATL, Covered Bridge double. Carbon Racing with help of some very generous volunteers will run the Covered Bridge race on the 19th. I want to thank everyone who has offered to marshal corners and help us out so we can race. Thank you, thank you and thank you again.

Deer Creek Road Race

2009-04-12T14:26:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was by far the most Cat.1's I have ever lined up with. A lot made the break and still there were a crap load left in the field. I had planned on a few bigger races this summer and I suppose I already have one under my belt.

I posted some big wattage numbers while overall the average wattage was "normal" for racing. That shows why road racing is so difficult. You could have a ho hum race, but when the chips fall if you cannot produce the goods for that one or two minutes its all over. No I dont race my wattage meter. But when your still putting out power at the end of a 70 mile race its a good thing.

Lucky for Carbon Racing Brian bridged to the breakaway with Marco Aledia of Kenda/Inferno and came home 6th out of the 8 man break. Nice work Brian.

I lead out the field for scraps from 1km to about 200m out, but sadly my sprinter du jour got popped as guys gave up left and right and he was behind one of them. But after 71 miles at an average speed of 24.3 mph (and it was brutally windy) can you blame them? I think we could have taken the last paying spot though because only 4 guys or so were on my wheel when i pulled off. I know, not a Protour level lead out, but for me it was good. I made a plan with a few miles to go and was able to execute it. Cool. Maybe it will work later in the year!!!!

I rolled in for a top 20 sprinting. What the hell, its good training. But I can tell you this. Racing for scraps or not I raced my bike today and I made some people hurt. I'm not saying I am a sado-masochist, just that I had some power late in the game and raced hard. Sadly I didnt have it when I needed it and missed the break.

When the move of the race went I went after it with everything I had to get in it. YOu just know when THE move is going. But when I knew I wasnt going to make it I kept drilling it. Its a phase shift of sorts. At first your trying to make it into the break YOURSELF, but as quick I made the decision to go I also realized that we didnt have anyone in the break yet. I got closer and closer at first, but the rate I was getting closer faltered and when I thought I was doing more harm than good I flicked my elbow for someone to come through. I flicked again and slowed. Well I had Paul Martin and another Panther/RGF sitting on me. Since the break looked primarily white in color (Panther/RGF's new uniforms (Happy JIM?-sorry inside joke)) I knew I had to keep pulling-even if slowly. Damn I tried hard to close it. Tried freakin hard.

No one was going to help. I pulled till my legs almost locked up and I almost got dropped due to the effort because as soon as I pulled off we went up one of the short hills. I barely made it up going backward through the field FAST. By contrast every other lap I felt great up both climbs-sometimes attacking to cause some attrition in the field.

I only trained 5 hours this week going into the race as well. But a very well planned 5 hours of trying to come from being sick Sunday-Tuesday to doing just enough and a bit intensity Thursday to be ready to race yesterday, but not make myself tired or sicker. Thank goodness it worked.

Had it not the race would have hurt even more than it did and this one hurt. I havent even spun out my legs yet today and its already 5:41pm!! I Know I should have ridden a few hours. Ahh what the heck I had a great day with my family. Happy Easter everyone.

National Dreams....WTF?

2009-04-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Masters National Championships schedule has been released. I try to have the attitude "same for everyone", but there are some crazy things going on. The first of which the Road Race is less than 24 hours before the TT. Any serious TTer is going to have to think seriousely about doing the Road Race now. Sure its "only" 50 miles, but damn, Logan County was only 50 miles and it was a hard, hard race!!

Next the TT is a mere 16 miles long. Masters National TT course 2009
Find more Bike Rides in Taylorsville, Kentucky

$60 entry, a years worth of training, hotel room, travel expenses and mega bucks (for a lot of people, not so much me) on trick equipment designed to save time over 40km. And the Time Trial is 24km.

That and I wanted a second shot on the same course. But thats covered under the "same for everyone" clause. so I can live with that. Man, I am pissed. And I am not the only one I guarntee you that. What is USA Cycling and the organizers thinking?

Add on top of that I have to do the TT and immediately get in my minivan, drive home to Cleveland, pick up my bro and drive straight on to Boston for his rehearsal dinner on the 2nd. Yup, Kentucky to Cleveland to Boston in 24 hours...by car. My wife and daughter will be there in advance. Two days later I drive home with my bro and great new sister in law's gifts and my wife and daughter.

Whew-the end of June is looking like a big huge ball of stress. I will put to test my ability to think positively and t put aside what I cannot change!!

Ray

More TT Tweaking

2009-04-07T16:34:00.000-07:00

Flat back (pretty much), arms 90 degrees, weight comfortably supported on arm rests, good hip angle and knee angle. All check. POwer?? Still nowhere near where it needs to be, but its getting there!!

The dream as I have stated before is that all this work has reduced my Cda such that I am faster than last year without putting out anymore power.

Fighting some bug, but rode super easy to get a good sweat going (easy when your not feeling well) today and yesterday. No fan helps too. And for me that does feel better than doing nothing except being miserable.

I think I am getting better. I was going to race Deer Creek Saturday (70 miles), but might not. Its a long way to go on no training. Lots of gas, whole day traveling to do what might amount to a training ride.

We shall see!!

Tour of Logan County Road Race

2009-04-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

I am afraid to start this entry because I could talk for hours for what ended up being a character building ride with no result for me. And I might make a lot of lame excuses, bitch moan and cry to explain my lack of result while seemingly being bi-polar and bragging how well I raced in spite of it all. But many times in team racing success is not quantifiable by your own results. I got dropped several times and fought back on and had to cover every move for 30 miles while my team mates Dan and Brian were up the road. On about the windiest race Ive ever been in too.

I had one of those days where every attack and every climb hurt and felt like you had no power. Well that evening at home I got a sore throat so maybe thats why. I also rode extremely hard Thursday and didnt get in a recovery ride Friday. Excuses, excuses!!

The reason it was character building was how bad I felt, but how hard I had to ride the whole race to "do my job". I even survived getting popped off the back when Grimm attacked and two guys in front of me gave up. I came around them and while struggling to climb in the wind Jeremy looked back, saw some guys off the back and attacked again!! I sprinted back on repeatedly even though it felt like my legs were going to explode.

Sadly after 30 miles of working through the rotations and following anyone of the 6 guys left in the main group that tried to push the pace we caught them. I expected Jeremy to launch an attack and stayed on his wheel for a few seconds then launched my own counter as hard as I could. I didnt want to, but I had to. I was hoping others felt as bad as I did and if nothing else we would drop from now 8 to maybe 2 or 3 and I could fake it and hang on.

I didnt turn around (using that old adage that when you attack you go all out, dnt look back) hoping that I had blown apart the group, but ended up just pulling us around for too long putting the hurt more on Dan and Brian than the rest.....Grouppo Compacto. The 8 of us circulated around with Brian trying to get away again. But Matt Weeks slowly rolled away and no on chased including Carbon Racing. He had helped us by not chasing down Brian and Dan with Inferno, DLP and RGF and a strong, but unnattached rider who sadly had no clue how to ride his bike in a race so we repaid the favor by not chasing him.

With a couple miles to go Jeremy attacked us hard. I was in my small ring at the time, thighs had been cramping for miles and no power and F@#@$#$@%^ I got dropped and couldnt chase back on.

Jeremy blew past Matt on the descent, but Matt held on for 2nd. He too was complaining mid race that he was about to get dropped. So great for him to get 2nd solo in his first race of the year.

Down the 8% descent to the last corner I watched as Grimm motored away from the main group that motored away from me. Even the descent was hard today when Jeremy would drive the pace down it.

After the race my thighs felt like they got hit with meat tenderizing hammers and I was beat, my stomach was doing back flips. Tris broke his derailleur 10 minutes into the race and that's a crap way to spend a day hours from home. And he loves a hard race, but maybe I am a bit jealous he missed this one and I didnt (just kidding, it was awesome to almost survive it). What a day in the wind and hills. The Map My Ride of the Course looks tame, but I guarantee with the wind it was really tough.

Its Sunday and I do have a sore throat and am stuffy in the head. I cannot decide if a day off or a nice slow spin for 2 hours would be better. I bitched all the way home about getting dropped and having no power. Character building for sure. Sadly my excuse of being under the weather doesn't hold any water since Jeremy won with a cold. Congrats Jeremy on an amazing Spring.

Bye, Bye Cannondale USA

2009-04-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

As a proud owner of my made in the USA Cannondale Six 13 I am sad to hear Dorel (parent of Cannondale) will cease all US frame manufacturing by 2011. I have no problems buying things made in China. Heck that sort of business has paid my paychecks for years.

Sing it "We are the Champions, my Friend...."

2009-04-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

John Davis writes about Bike Racing and the Rustbelt.

Sure I have a never ending stream of my own things to say, but this is some sweet writing.

Ray

Race Season Starts at Malabar

2009-03-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

As expected Grimm was the first to attack and immediately with his power he was out of sight within minutes. With his all stud team mates I figured he was gone for the race. The race pace had fallen to a friendly club ride except up the climbs.

I also had Dan Quinlam, Tris, Batke and Tom Frueh in the 40 strong 1,2,3 field so I figured it was going to be up the other teams like Spin, Indiana Medical and Carbon Racing to make it a race. I took the opportunity to take off at one point and Cioccio, Thom Dominic and I started to open up a big gap. We were rolling down the flat section at a sustained and painful pace but Grimm actually pulled away from us.

Eventually RGF lined up 4 guys on the frnt of the main field and when they did that they closed the gap on us in short order. But like I was saying before you need ot make the race happen and Torelli last year and now combined with Elves and More as Carbon Racing are as aggressive as ever. So shortly after we came back Dan sent off the counter. That drew out Batke, Steve Cummings and RGF's Dan Campbell.

That shortly became the move of the race and as they disappeared I took a break in the back of the field. but what I forgot was Paul Martin was still in the field. And when he launched to bridge to assist his guys in the break I didnt see it. Tris saw it but was just a moment late to launch and that's all Paul needed to hold the gap.

The race pace had declined somewhat again, though a lot of guys were popping off on the climbs and steep rollers all race long. But I wanted to get some good training to get that "race fitness" so I told Tris I was going to start attacking. My first two attacks were pretty much lame. I easily can admit that. First race and all. Also a very BIG reason to start attacking as well was to break up the race. One thing I cannot stand is when the pace is slow enough that guys can hang on that could out sprint me in the end.

ON the 4th lap going down the flat the pace slowed so much we were all on our brakes. I ride past the jam-up at the front and launched as I passed Andy Clark and buried it. I looked back after a minute and I had the gap. I was worried about the climb coming up, but I cleared it fine and kept up good cadence all the way over, stood and sprinted down the hill.

When I finally looked back and could see some guys chasing I was amazed to see it looked like half of the field I had left. So damage done. And this is so typically me I guess, but I kept thinking as I was out there was how great of training this was for time trialing. I held a couple beats over threshold. I also told myself if this worked or didnt I was putting this effort in the bank for later.

I caught my team mate Dan up the last steep climb before descending to the 180 corner to the flat. I kept the pressure on the pedals, but when I hit the flat the wind which picked up a lot at the end was so strong that my speed was only 21 to 24mph instead of 24mph to 30mph where it had been the first time Thom, Chris and I attacked down the road.

Back in the field Thom was chasing on behalf of Spin and I suppose for a good workout as well. Finally after 9 flat out miles I was caught. With only about 2miles to the finish which was up the hill this year that was it for my attacks. Tris took a flyer and Jason Holloran tried a flyer to help Thom then Thom rolled off, but Inferno chased down most of those moves while they held good position for the finish. I to stayed in the front 5 or so trying to not have to come around too many guys on the lower part of the hill.

I followed Tris on the lower slopes, slipped by then Andy Moskal launched hard up the left with Marco and Jeff from Inferno in tow. I picked up my pace and a gap was opening, but for the most part I was holding on. But as soon as it pitched up around the right hand turn I tried to sprint and my thighs both started cramping so I sat down then 3 or 4 guys (including Tris and Thom) came around as I literally almost ground to a halt. I crossed the line in 14th trying to outsprint the guy in front, bt he saw me coming and he took off.

So not a bad finish considering my 9 mile TT effort on the last lap and being my first race. I have no idea where that effort came from, but I'll take it!! A lot of guys got popped and I felt comfy the whole race. Especially on the tough "grinders" in the back. Our team did its usual aggressive style of attacking and counters that established the races winning break. Brian did great to withstand the attacks of RGF to come in 5th place right with Cummings. RGF swept the podium with no less than the Tour of Ohio winner Campbell, uber sprinter Grimm and the Elite National Road champion!! Now that's some fast company to start the racing season.

Impressive driving!!

2009-03-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

I was out for the pre-race ride. Gorgeous day. I went when it was still a bit chilly. I put on my so called "Race Wheels" with race tires to make sure everything was cool. Those being the $179 (shipped) aluminum rim clinchers I scored on ebay last fall. Basically a American Classic 420 knock off except a hair lighter and a couple less spokes. Glad I did because I had shifting issues the whole ride. Got some easy work to do tonight in the work stand. Someday deep section carbon tubulars, someday!!

But, gotta love this. Going west on Shaker this am and a lady pulls by, hits the brakes, no turn signal and turns into the driveway and I grab brakes and slow to almost a stop to wait for them to pull completely in the driveway. Car full of family or friends. Hope they were all impressed with her driving.

A driver in the left lane came by on his horn and hand in the air. He looked pissed. I dont know if he was upset because she shot in front of him and hit the brakes or he was upset for the move she pulled on me. I hope the latter. No harm came to me and I didnt even bother to yell. The guy honking took care of that for me. I wish I had taken the time to see what address it was so I could send a nice letter.

Ray

what a fun day

2009-03-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

7:30am on the trainer doing a 8 mi TT. Got some crazy data that I cannot resolve, but only guess at. One computer was reading one wattage and the other (on the trainer) was reading 30 watts higher consistently!! Hhhhmmmm.... you know which one I'd like to believe!! But if I split the difference (What a dumb thing to do, but oh well) I am pretty happy!!

11:30am to the skating rink for 2 hours. Getting lessons from my daughters 7 year old friend who is a little rocket on skates (and he and his team won the State Championship in Mite's Hockey). and I confirmed that I am about as bad on my left skate as I am on my left ski. I guess I will have to forgo the World Cup XC Skiing future.....

4:30 soccer across the street with Audrey and friends.

OK, hoping the rain lets up so I can go on a fast, hilly ride this afternoon. Got to see how the legs go against guys who have already done a few races.

I hope I don't get dropped or puke or something.

Coaching and riding

2009-03-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

I passed my Cat.2 cycling coaching exam so I am of course now a USA Cycling Category 2 coach. The seminar was awesome and it is great to have now scratched the surface of the science behind the sport.

In other not so hot news yesterday was a Granola bar, 2 Cliff bar, 2 Gu gel, banana, 3 bottles day. Me and my new teammates did half of the Emerald Necklace ride. In the middle we did the Chippewa race course at race pace and then headed down to the Covered Bridge race course and headed home for 95 miles. I felt great the whole way, but missed the clothes by one thin layer. I think we all know what that is like.

It was great to ride with them all. They are all in great shape and a fun bunch of guys and gals. A lot of Dewey's pizza was consumed after wards. Had we ridden another 5 miles I would have had a very rare 3000+ calorie day (and my first century since like 1989).

Also, Carbon Racing in cooperation with Paul Martin and Panther/RGF Racing Team, Snake Bite Racing and the hard work of Brad Hansen we are bringing back the Covered Bridge Race series on April 19, 26 and May 3rd. Please email or call me if you would like to volunteer with corner marshaling for about 3 hours on the 19th.

Malabar Farms starts my racing season on Saturday. I guess its time to break out the razor and race tires and wheels.

Green Future

2009-03-20T05:01:00.001-07:00

Like the idea of cell phones. You wouldnt buy a cell phone if you couldnt get a signal right? Its all about infrastruture when it comes to electric cars. Read how one company is doing it here!!

ONe of the guys at the USA Cycling Cat.2 coaching seminar I went to last week uses an Extra Cycle and tows his bikes to many of the local Colorado races. What a sight, eh? I will ask Nick Stevens to send me the picture of him towing his Cross bikes to the race.

Too bad so many of our races are so far away from my home.

That didnt go as planned.

2009-03-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to traine.r workouts is probably not the healthiest thing to do. But Thursday has been my TT bike workout and so far I have been hitting new bests for power and interval lengths have been going up as well. So more power over a longer period of time. Yes!! Thats how its supposed to work. Not personal bests, just bests compared to last week.

Well this AM I really wanted to knock one out as I would be off the bike for 3 days (of great weather no less). But sometimes things just dont work out. Not only did I not hit anything resemblng TT wattage, my TT resembled something more like a casual Tempo ride. I was 30 watts, 9bpm and over 1mph slower than last week.

OH well. But I just kept plugging away. One thing about training with power and HR for so long you just know when your not firing on all cylinders. I wasnt on, but i wasnt sick (well, maybe some bug that robs power) so I just kept going and completed the workout. NO freaking out, just a bit of disappointment because its fun to ride hard and see good numbers.

Bored in Chicago

2009-03-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

I am in Chicago for a Cat.2 Coaching seminar. You have to attend a seminar to take the test to become a Cat.2 coach.

Call me a big fat wuss, but Ive been here for about an hour to two and I miss Stacie and Audrey so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man I hate traveling by myself. And worse (again call me a wuss) but I have to go to dinner soon. By myself. BORING!! But they say the Chicago style pizza joint rocks!! So I guess I am looking forward to that.

In the am I want to go for a run, but being 1.5 miles from O'hare and basically always being lost I am not sure where to go.

At least by 9:30 tomorrow morning I'll be knee deep in learnin' stuff. I heard the section on Physiology is pretty intense. Looking forward to that. OK-I hope I dont get lost n my run tomorrow morning.

Ray

Outside on my TT bike??

2009-03-09T16:53:00.001-07:00

That's not so strange except when you consider Ive logged many, many rides on it since Cross season ended and virtually none of it (save for a few hundred feet)has been outside. I didnt want to get it dirty and the kind of training I have been doing has been better on a fixed trainer anyways.

So with the rain over the weekend (which I let ruin my endurance riding plans)I figured all the salt has been washed down the drains. Do you think it will eventually end up back at the bottom of Lake Erie to re-solidify and someday be used again on our roads?

So with a recovery ride scheduled I rode to the top of Gates Mills and home. I LOVE riding my TT bike. Ive done a ton of work on it this winter and no matter how many times you ride it on a trainer you have to ride it on the road to truly know if its going to work.

Well it feels really fast if that's possible. I feel ultra narrow and super low in front and the hundreds of tweaks has made my cadence or pedal stroke feel better than it ever has. And as narrow as Ive made the front I had no problems handling the bike or riding straight. A big concern of mine all winter as I kept making the bike narrower and narrower. I think my helmet will be a lot lower too so less up in the air for drag. I have to get some glasses without a frame or get a visor for my helmet though.

Its not all gravy. I already hit my knee on an arm rest today so I have got to remember to keep the nose of the saddle brushing the backs of my legs when I sprint or it could be one short TT at Presque Isle on April 26th. But moving the pads back was a critical part of the changes so that has to stay. A small compromise.

On another TT note my power has risen 10% already while in the aero tuck. Its nowhere near where it needs to be, but hey, its going in the right direction at least!! Sadly I doubt there's another 10% in there, but one can hope!!

If weather is good tomorrow I'll finally ride fast outside on it to work and back blasting short LT and some anaerobic intervals. If not, ho hum...back on the trainer again. Its hooked up to it already just in case. I'm only on my second viewing of the entire Hobbit series for the winter. I wont even try and count how many times Ive had Paris Roubaix 2007 on, volume off, music blaring. The worst part is, I never see the finish and rarely even get to where O'Grady talks to a dehydrated and fading Fabian and then says "gotta go and win the race now, SEE YA, WOuldnt wanna be YA!!"...

Hour of Power

2009-03-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

I picked up Audrey from school Friday and then spent the next hour yelling, screaming, running,jumping, tossing, carrying, spinning a whole playground of kids from 4 to 9 years old. I was covered form head to toe in sweat. After that was al the games I could think of on swings. oh, youd be surprised how mnay ways you can swing kids on a swing that makes them go crazy. Me next, me next, me next!! Talk about cross training. We were all muddy, but the parents all seemed happy with the situation.
Whew-I definitely earned my big fat Don Tequila's Burrito I am about to leave to eat tonight!!

Lakewood Criterium, May 17th!!

2009-03-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

Add another USA Cycling race to the local Calender!! Spin Bike Shop will be promoting a Criterium on Sunday, May 17th in Lakewood, Ohio!! I love crits through city streets and if the Spin cyclocross race is any indication, the race will be awesome!!

Mark your calenders.

No official info is released yet, but Greg said to go ahead and spread the word. The date and venue are set though.

Carbon Racing, Go Neutral!!

2009-03-03T16:50:00.001-08:00

Hey all!! Brian, Tris and I are on a new team for 2009 and we are very excited. Tom Frueh is back too. I dont want to present too many details yet as everything is starting to come together, but I think weve got a wonderful message. Heres the teams Mission Statement: Carbon Racing is a Men’s and Women’s Elite Cycling Team. As the world becomes more aware of alternative energy Carbon Racing will lead by example in offsetting the energy used in our daily lives and cycling activities. We will educate fellow cyclists on our energy impact in travel, hotels and races while demonstrating ways to offset them. Our long term goal is to provide carbon offset services to event promoters.

I already try and encourage as much car pooling to every event as possible. Other things that we can do? We can bring water in reusable containers (not throw away PET bottles), pocket gell wrappers not toss on the road and even ask race promoters when possible to buy local for fruits and other race food.

We also want to make use of the experience of guys like Tris, Tom and Brian in developing young riders. So yes that means we hope to have a development squad and young riders. I am extra excited about that because of my coaching.

But like I said, not too many details yet, but I thank Dan and Erin and Sam for inviting us on this team. More details, Website, list of sponsors and everything coming very soon, I promise!

Getting base miles in

2009-03-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

I am trying like mad to get my base miles in so I can have a firm foundation for the threshold training that is starting to come online. So Sunday Derek and I headed off to Burton. Yeah it was cold and so cold that when riding straight into a headwind I was getting a headache at first. But the sun was out and the sky was blue so it made for a gorgeous day to ride. We acclimated to the weather quickly.

It was a bit windy (mostly cross and head) and I was in no hurry so we took our time. After 40 miles we split ways and I headed for some more hills. I got tailwind finally for a good bit of the last hour which made the riding even better!! I headed home feeling good (and a bit tired) with 4hours and 9 minutes in. That beats the heck out of the 1 hour I got on my Computrainer Saturday. But on the Computrainer I got to climb a 3.5 to 6.5% grade climb for 27 minute at tempo pace.

My hope is to get in one or two centuries this month. Something I have not done in over a decade. I am most surprised I have any endurance at all what with all my training coming in 1 to 1.75 hour increments (except the last two weekends). but maybe I underestimating the training I get from the CT and Cross country skiing. The important thing is I have been feeling good on the longer rides, even if they are far form race pace.

Big Power

2009-02-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

Starting to prepare for the race season. We had another pizza party with delicious 60 minute IPA and Sam Smiths Stouts waiting for us after the 3 mile Torture test. We even had a guest racer who only came to soak in the spectacle of guys racing and not going anywhere. But dressed for commuting (including jacket, gloves and light (not on) he laid down a very respectable 8:09. I think he surprised himself and as I told him, climb like that on the road!! I wont mention his name in case he wishes to remain anonymous.

The fastest time of the night went to Thom Dominic who scorched it up the climb for a 6:51!! Dave Steiner still holds the Rays Basement TT record at 6:49, but he no doubt taught us how deep we need to go. I went 7:19 and put out 20 more watts than last time!! Pete put out 31 watts more than last time. Sandbagger.

I am happy with that because I reset my best 5 and 6 minute power numbers during the test. Not bad for February and almost no threshold training. OKay-the CT reads higher than my PT, but still, I went balls to the walls and almost puked so I know I was at the limit. Sure its only a 7:19, but on the road I think I would have been flyin!!

And Yohe? Well lets say he did track (that is high school track, not velodrome) yesterday and was a bit flat, but with some recovery this training block will make him stronger.

I commuted today and rode steady zone 1 all the way. I was shifting down the whole ride, never up. I will resist the urge to fly home as I usually do. I usually feel great on these double days. Tomorrow I ride the TT bike "in anger" on the trainer and try and knock out some serious speed as I prepare for the first big race for me of 2009, Presque Isle. The last two times at PI I did it at 27.9mph!! I want 28 or faster this spring, conditions be damned. I want 28+!!

The TT bike is ever evolving, but I think I have finally got all the front end parts about where they need to be. What a mess of clamps and tubes and risers, etc. Not very aero mechanically speaking, but I feel like I am more aero for sure. I had a lot of fun cutting up pieces and moving everything around though. Once I have my fit done for 2009 I hope I can find a very aero bar set-up thats half the weight and no clamps, etc.

Ouch time. Torex Thermal Sleeves

2009-02-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine has started a company with a great product for us athlete types. For me its ramming my knees into handlebars and such or the occasional sore back and jammed fingers. Jeff Wilson and partner's start-up is called Torex Health and they make hot and cold roll on sleeves. And a trick ankle device.

They are easy to put on and stay in place. The other benefit is when they are cold (put them in the freezer or warm them up in the microwave) they are still very flexible molding around your body. But I better let their website do the talking lest I say something wrong.

Too Long

2009-02-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

Saturday I got in a 2 hour solo ride and kept the pace decent is how I'll describe it. A lot of wind on the way home made it easy. I know my younger dog Kelly has been hankering to run so I switched shoes and jackets and ran for only 13 minutes. First run since skiing started.

Also I am going to a USA Cycling Cat.2 Coaching seminar to get my Cat.2 certification in a few weeks. Its in Rosemont Chicago and will try and run the 2 mornings I am there. So I figure I better get my running legs under me so I can run 10k's again.

Result? Two Advils and off to coach the bunnies today at Chapin.

wish I had studied CG in college....

2009-02-18T18:04:00.000-08:00

Science Machine from Chad Pugh on Vimeo.

We need to Pay Attention

2009-02-15T16:05:00.000-08:00

I had a big week of training this week. 12 hours of cycling and 180+ miles. But, on today's BIG group ride there was a new guy who maybe got in a bit over his head and rode into the wheel in front at the 2 hour mark and hit the ground so hard he knocked himself unconscious and had a concussion after wards.

It was a scary moment to say the least as he lay motionless on the road. But thinking about it after getting home I got this feeling that it was the experienced guys fault more than his. We should have noticed he was tired and starting to lose focus.
We should have recommended he take a breather or placed a rider with him to keep an eye on him.

I know some guys are very good at this already, but they cannot be around every rider all of the time. I will try and be more aware and proactive about other riders from now on. Especially if there is someone I have never met on the ride.

I ask that we all be more aware of the riders we are with and their body language. I have not heard anymore about his condition, but I wish him a speedy recovery and I hope his wife is not freaking out.

Home Brew

2009-02-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

Boy, Snows and had a long ride planned. Oh well. Rode the rollers for only the 2nd time this year. Entertained myself with an episode of Fringe I missed and tried no hands riding and out of the saddle riding. Good Fun!!

Also last night I was given a bottle of a delicious and rich brown colored and nice foamy headed Dopplebock. The best thing was it was brewed in the basement of a hous e in Cleveland heights.

Man was it tasty! Hes brewing his winter lager now....I hope I get to sample that next!!

Stage race and more

2009-02-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

Yahoo!! I finally rode outside. Its been weeks or more than weeks. Maybe more than a month. Riding hilly courses on the Computrainer has certainly helped. Hills didnt feel hard at all today. Not easy, just not hard. Though the windchill down Old Mill was certainly something my CT cannot replicate. And Thank you PI for the amazing Lobster Amfib glove. Too hot for a 30 degree "training" ride, but perfect for a long commute!! I always wanted a pair and finally bought some for myself in December.

Also, keep your eyes open for development of a 3 day Stage race in Mahoning County put on by Team Carbon and Dan Quinlan. Its called the Tour of the Valley. I just posted about the Greenford race Dan promoted and it was a very well run race.

HOpefully riding outside again Saturday, Sunday then its back on the trainer next week and hopefully to Bike Authority Thursday to get my bootie smacked in the 3 mile TT.

2008 Road Season Revisited

2009-02-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

Please I ask you to stop reading now. This blog has been an amazing release for me. I dont want to get too negative but sometimes I think all this blathering on about my races and what I am thinking about and doing is no more than a smokescreen for something deeper or problematic in my psyche. I mean if your happy with who you are, truly at ease then you dont need a blog to brag about or talk about yourself right?

But regardless of the deeper meaning to why I have a blog I still find it very enjoyable and maybe even calming to think about a race and then to break it down to smaller elements and finally to wwrite about them. Brent taught me while he was my coach to think of three things you did good in a race and three things you could do better then let it go.

But i do a lot more than think of three things good or bad. I can dissect a race down to minutes if I am not happy with how I did or if I made a mistake. Writing about the event passed should then be where I "let it go", but for me its maybe just the beginning, but it does help. And sometimes it is the end.

So unless you want to hear me talk about 2008 all over again you can link over to any of the more interesting people's blogs that I read as well. But I think it will be positive and it certainly will be fun for me to write and I hope re-read about again in a few years.

The racing started at Malabar Farms. This was my first race with Tris and Brian. I was worried about my form as I had torn my mcl and didnt train much for a month. Brian's form was indeed strong as he soloed away form us early and Tris and I defended and chased down everything. What i recall the most from the race was feigning some strength on the long climb by setting what i hoped was a uncrackable pace each lap (but I was on ym max in actuality). That was untill Paul Martin flew by dancing on his pedals and super high cadence (think Lance attacking in the Tours) and left all of us gawking at each other as he bridged up to Brian and eventually soloed in for first.

Next came the RATL races. I did 3 of them and they were all fast and painful. LIke no races I hd been in before. Fast like a flat crit, but rolling up the finish hill at attack pace every lap. In the first RATL I tried to go in a break with Kirk Albers and some RGF guys and I was ridden right off the back of the break going at a sustained wattage like I had never done before. but I made the winning break in week 3 and in week 4 created the move that finally split the race. I got absorbed in the end, but Brian went on for a top 3. My lagging and not working anymore helped to solidify the last move, though it was quite an unpopular move at the time and cost me a good finish position myself.
Race for Alex
I also upgraded to cat.2 then celebrated by soloing away at the Race for Alex Masters race on lap 2 and won my first road race in probably 20 years. Tris took 2nd in the race too. We went on and raced the cat.2-3 race right after wards and Tris took another top 3.

The next week at Mill creek I followed up attacks from Brian and Tris and again formed the winning break early. The things I remembered from that race were how smoking hot it was and how much I wanted the race to be over. We formed that break so early in the race and somehow it stuck. It was miserable and I felt like I was racing in a pizza oven's conveyor belt, not a road.

At the State TT I did not reach my goal of a top 5, but I won my age division and was not too far out of a top 5. That race started out really hard, but got faster and faster as it went on. I averaged over 28mph the last half of the 38k.

This lead to Nationals!! Wow I finally went to Nationals, but this time not as a young college rider as I had dreamed back then, but a Master!! The day before warming up and then race morning could not have been more opposite. The wind had picked up and was blowing completely the other way. It was raining and cold to boot. A rider who was either warming up or had no business at Nationals (sorry) slowed up a tractor trailer with me behind for close to a minute only a mile into the race. But even with this delay I hit the 3mile mark in 6 minutes and made the turn around again at over 28mph. The time I lost would not have affected my position in my AG. But the head wind home was severe and my ave speed on the way home dropped to 26mph. But i can say that it was the single best time trial I ever rode and I am proud of that. I only got 15th in my age group, but 46th overall.

Back to road racing. We went to Shreve and again had a great team race. Andys Burns may forever be remembered as the guy who blew the race apart before it was 3 miles in. Basically the race was over almost before it started for most of the field. I had to bridge solo to a chase group to finally make the selection that already contained Batke and Tris. A true game of cat and mouse ensued and when Tris attacked and Matt Weeks of team Lake Effect bridged we finally let it go and settled into some easy riding with 1.5 laps to go. Coming into the last half of a lap I attacked, then Batke, then I went again through the 90 degree set of corners and got away for a solo ride in for 3rd. I sort of drifted off the front then drilled it out of both 90 degree corners. The run to the finish was thrilling, paranoid and so painful. But it was worth it, even for third.

At ZOAR Brian again showed how strong he is by attacking early and riding his break companion off of his wheel. Two more bridged up and Brian and Thom Dominic rode the last guy out of the break. On the last lap as we went down a roller the pace from chasing for so long relented just a bit and I used the next roller to attack really hard and built about a 20 sec gap leading to the stair step climb. Dan Quinlan lit up the field up the climb reducing my gap to seconds and Jeff Braumberger of Inferno was first to come across. We tried fruitlessly to stay away down the descent, but were caught. It was a fun attack, but I think I wont try it again next year, unless someone comes with me...hint, hint!!
orrville-R. Sroka
At Orrville I spent almost the entire race watching the front of the field as a large break containing Tris floated in front. Dave Chernosky was the only rider whom I didnt and couldnt follow or chase down and he made it to the break. But eventually we got so close I jumped across to try and drill the break away again. But the field came together and up the only climb on the course amazingly Rudy Sroka and Tris went again and no one jumped. So at the top I bridged across and we worked hard to break away. Out of the last corner I was third wheel and attacked when I noticed Tris and Rudy watching each other. Both guys exhausted from being in a break all day left me lucky and so happy to get win #2.

I then started to run as I wanted to do a biathlon by my house solo. I did a 5k race and then the JCB Biathlon. I finished the run in about 20th which was great and then had a slow start to the bike. I was catching everyone, but sadly (and I do mean that) Rudy got off course (easy to do at the turnaround) and I went past as he wound his way back on course. I caught the last guy on Shaker by Brainard road and from there just kept hammering because I felt so good.

At the Ohio State Masters Race I attacked some early, but mostly chased down Chris Riccardi who was attacking every few miles it seemed. Off of one of Chris's attacks Tris went and he and Erik Lesco of Stark Velo rode away from the field and out of sight in no time. Once they were away I tried attack after attack after attack, but I could get no where. Then when the right move went I didnt know the players in the Masters field and let two guys go that had the ability to stay away had I gone. Though I was so marked that day i couldnt make a move. My poor tactics aside Tris won out of the 2-man break!

And finally onto the new Elves and More Charity Greenford Road Race. Not the greatest attendance, but like Shreve, it just needs word of mouth. If this race is on in 2009, MAKE it!! The course is tougher than it looks and has a great finish. A long, low grade straight run to the finish line. The race was pretty crazy with attacks coming pretty often and counters just as quickly. It was after one attack that a break formed and in it was a tall Cat.1 from PA (Jake Lifson)that was just tearing my legs off with every pull. Sadly I was on his wheel the entire race and our paceline never changed. Again it was hot and a pretty long race too. You could tell from everyone's faces that everyone had some sort of pain going on. Everyone it seemed but the guy from PA. I had mentioned to Brian that I was done with two to go so dont be behind me if I pop!! But the relentless pace line finally slowed after the start finish on the last lap. We all hit one last gell and I got the pace line going again. About halfway around I decided to shoot my last bullet and started to rip it up this really long grade. I figured I'd go maybe a few hundred feet then pop and try my best to come in before the field. My plan was simply to kill every ones legs leaving Brian to spring away at his leisure. But when I turned around not only was I by myself, but the guys were tiny. Now I was in a spot. I was dead, but with such a big gap I had t try so I just rode (and untypically for me) with my Powertap and just held a wattage and high cadence all the way to the line. I was pretty far from the finish too with rollers and some short steep climbs left. Like at Shreve soloing in was so painful, paranoid (I was sure I was going to get caught and kept looking back) and so thrilling. Brian also jumped away at the end and took 2nd.

I wont bother with the cross season as I feel like I just finished blogging about those races. But that was my truly amazing summer of 2008.

Ski Trip

2009-02-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Audgee Podge
Alex racing

The PA ski trip has come and gone again. The 2nd year for Audrey and I to go and snow conditions werent that great so I kept my $27 in my pocket and did not do the races. An odd thing not to race when others do. I feel like a wuss. But I did do the 8.5km course Sunday with another coach and with her guidance and a good 4km or more following her every kick (like she was my metronome) my skate skiing was almost transformed. And climbing early on (before I got exhausted) really got a lot better.

So how am I rewarded for being such a good student? The big thaw!! But on the bright side, I plan on pounding out some base mileage this week. I plan an almost 3 hour extended commute Wednesday morning and then the 1 hour commute home that afternoon. All on my cross bike (with road tires) as it only has a 42x12-25 gearing.

Along with my trainer rides on the TT bike (I dont want to take it out on salty roads and it doesnt have a small chain ring right now) and what I hope will be good Saturday weather I might break 3 hours of cycling in one week!!

Ray

How Fit People Party

2009-02-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

suffer fest

Last night six of us east siders congregated in my basement to have a party. But this party had a twist as we were all going to race our bikes. What else are you going to do when youve been cooped up for months? We all took turns on my Computrainer and did the same 3 mile TT course that Bike Authority is doing on Thursday nights. I and everyone at the party is planning on doing the BA Series so this was some good practice.

None of us had done the course before (including myself)and on the surface it looked pretty easy. Well when the race is only 3 miles its never easy. Jacqui had commented she had never ridden her bike fast for such a short distance. With Half and Full Iron Mans in her summer plans, I guess this would be speed work. She really laid it down too.

To speed things up I reluctantly went first as I warmed up before most of the people stopped by. I took off too hard and really suffered on the descent and first part of the .94mi climb. I also paced somewhat off of wattage once I settled down after the start. Holding a set wattage is something I am very used to from trainng with a power meter and that probably wasn't wise over such a short distance. I usually train with power, but race on Perceived Exertion and speed. Anyways, excuses aside I went 7:28:93. Its not like I didnt suffer mind you!! I was totally gassed at the end.

Pete went next and did a 8:04:75. He suffered at the top f the climb and really dug deep to push it to the line. Next up was Thom and we cheered him onto a blistering 7:01. The speed he carried down the descent (40mph at one point)and the constant wattage up the climb were impressive. High school er Dave Y went next and on his new bike he turned in a 8:11:39. Not shabby.

Then Dave S was next....Well he took off like Fabian Cancellara at the Tour Prologue and we thought for sure he was going to blow running 500+ watts. He screamed down the descent and hit the first mile 9 seconds up on me and whats more he was 7 up on Thom. He went so hard at the bottom of the climb we all thought he was going to blow sky high, but he kept up the insane wattage and passed the 2 mile mark 31 seconds up on me and 14 up on Thom. Yikes!!

He would have to fall off his bike to not set the fastest time of the night. He did start to fade, but his last mile was equal to Thom's last mile and a further 8 seconds up on me. His time? 6:49!!! Yup I didnt mistype that. Boys and girls I believe we have a prologue specialist amongst us.
beer and pizza too

We finished the night off with our only lady who had not ridden her TT bike since August and has only been teaching her spin classes during the week. This was the first time I have seen her ride her Cervelo P2SL which I recommended she buy at Bike Authority. The fit they gave her looked fast and she laid down great wattage and rode hard to a 8:24!! She also chose Ozzy for her music to race with!! Jacqui is one of the mothers that I was running 12k's with in the mornings.
aeroful and powerful
Now if I didnt lay awake almost all night last night (like Monday and Tuesday nights too)and wasnt traveling to PA for the weekend of Cross Country skiing and two races Sunday I would go to BA tonight!! This not sleeping thing sucks. That WAS my plan, but all I want to do now is go back to bed. But alas I will have to put it off for another week.

Everyone's testing!!

2009-02-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

As I made the rounds of the Cleveland Bloggers the one theme going around is testing. In preparing myself for coaching athletes I have tested several local athletes as well. The major skill reqired I have learned in testing is the power of observation.

This became crystal clear to me Friday morning when Sean Gilbert observed my 20 minute TT test. This was my first controlled power test (outside of Time Trials) on my TT bike so it was very, very important to me. What I did not expect was that the power data was actually the least useful piece of data we got from the test.

As I pedaled my proverbial ass off for the test I was cognizant of Sean scribbling notes the whole test. I had no idea what he could possibly be so serious about scribbling. I figured he was there to say things like "get that wattage back up".

Although he didnt have to do much yelling as I was really focused the whole test. As always the first 5 were easy and the next 10 were hard. More mentally than physically. And then the last 5 were hard both physically and mentally hard as I started to fatigue, but at least I had the end of the test to look forward to. Drilled it for the last 2 minutes and then the chain kept falling off after the test(I was running a rigged up single ring set-up to do some testing). So trying to cool down and put the chain back on. Silly!!

The power was about 20 watts less than a self done power test in November on my Cannondwhale Six13 road bike so that was right in line. Cadence, HR were both very similar too. That was cool to see. But what really astounded me was Sean's timeline assessment of the test and all of the little things that affected my power and heart rate like posture, pedal stroke and even breathing.

See I like to know I have a lot to work on to be better. That's because the more things I have to work on to get faster means that I have been leaving time on the table. Maybe, maybe not, but its a motivator to me. We also are confident that my position is a great starting spot for 2009 and some of the testing I am doing to optimize my set-up also seems to be going in the right direction. Thanks also to Thom Dominic for his help.

So with ever more accurately defined training zones beingf established its about time to start getting serious with 2009 race preparation. It starts tomorrow at 6am on the Computrainer!!