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Monday, March 30, 2009

Culmination

I should probably be excited about last weekend but I’m just too exhausted. It was the first time I’ve ever been on the podium back to back days with second on Saturday and third on Sunday. It also gave me more than enough points to finally upgrade to Cat 2.

On Saturday the rain came, just like I wanted. I stayed active and at the front the whole race. Nothing seemed to be able to get away and looked to be settin up my favorite thing in the world, a Cat 3/4 group sprint in the rain. There was a late attack with 1 lap to go and the guy on the front of the group chasing him down crashed, taking out four or five guys behind him. I was able to avoid it but the kid off the front was gone and second was the best I could do. It still gave me the last couple upgrade points and lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

Sunday was a bit different with warm and sunny conditions, it was going to be fast and I wanted to win in my new ITS-Kane kit. Again, I stayed at the front and covered anything dangerous. Early on I bridged up to a move and we were off. The seven of us lapped the field and the game began. I covered an attack with three to go but we were brought back and I got in position for the sprint. With two turns left there was a move on the right by a guy that was in the move being led out by a strong teammate. I jumped on the wheel and we were off. Into the second to last turn somebody flew across the road and my only options were to check up or hit the curb. So he knocked me off the wheel of the guy who eventually won. I still managed third but was not happy. The guy made a dangerous move and screwed me. He never even got the wheel I was on. He knocked me off it, but never had a chance for the win and I did. I was so close to ending my Cat 3 career on a high note but it was not meant to be.

I also did the pro-am on Sunday. I was feeling the previous race and hadn’t eaten enough so I suffered most of the time. With about six laps to go there was a huge split in the field and I was behind it, so was my only teammate left. I didn’t feel like I had anything for the finish so I hit the front and closed the gap for my teammate. Right after I caught the front group Rich Harper attacked and it was game over. I felt good about still being able to help out my teammate in the end and I think with fresh legs I could have been a factor in the race. Hopefully it was a sign for things to come.

Other high notes for the weekend included getting my iAero power meter and learning that I should have my new Kane bike very soon, maybe not in time for next weekend but for sure(please don’t jinx it) by the next races after that. I also won enough money to cover all three entry fees and travel, so that was crucial. Last weekend was a culmination of so many things. The upgrade points, the new team clothing, the power meter, the bike and to top it off my birthday is Thursday. So yeah, it’s a good week.

Now that I’ve met my goal of upgrading it feels like I’ve just climbed a mountain but am now staring at a much bigger one right in front me. It might sound hard to conquer a challenge only to be immediately faced with another, much harder one. However, I couldn’t be more excited. I’m playing a whole new game on another level and can’t wait to step up to the plate. It’s time to get nasty.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Dancing for Rain

As I sit here evaluating last weekend I feel ok about it. I didn’t come away with a result and that is not ok, but compared to last weekend I certainly can’t complain. Both days were somewhat hilly, not quite enough to suite me but better than flat for sure. My legs felt good despite all the hard training leading into the weekend. I think the new tune-up ride is a keeper. I didn’t want to let the same thing happen this weekend so I was aggressive early both days. However, the field was much deeper and I could only get away by myself. Any type of group was immediately chased down and neither course was conducive to an early solo move. So I stayed calm and alert at the front for most of the race both days which came down to a group finishes (or what was left of it). Saturday I can blame no one but myself. I was there in the end and felt great. I was fresh and ready to uncork my sprint. However, in the mad shuffle for position I forgot when the road opened up and was totally screwed. As soon as it happened I was kicking myself. I felt so good but was helpless. Sunday was a little different story with an uphill finish I was looking forward to. Most of the race went the same as Saturday. I attacked a couple times and followed anything dangerous but nothing formulated until I got into a group of three with three laps to go and a small gap opened up. We didn’t keep the pace up long enough though and were quickly reeled in. For the finish I was a little further back than I would have liked but not in horrible position. Out of the final bend I pinned the throttle and poured my heart into my legs. I started flying by people and was starting to believe in a top finish when I see some guy soft pedaling up the side of the road. Obviously he was not in our race but was in the road. The guy in front of me had to come left to avoid him and he closed the door on me. My free line to the front was gone and I had to tap my brakes in an uphill finish. I managed to stay somewhere around tenth or so but again, had the legs and didn’t get the result. I felt good both days and also felt like I read the races well tactically. So I feel good about it but even hungrier for that result. Thanks again to Pat and Jamie and the Mountain Khakis crew for a place to stay. Hopefully I can return the favor.
Next weekend brings two crits in Greenville, NC and the forecast looks like rain again. I’m actually hoping it rains though (hence the title of this post). I want redemption from Columbia and this could be it. Gunning for the last couple upgrade points in nasty weather could lead to an epic battle, a fitting way to end my Cat 3 career.
Tommeke let me down in Sanremo but damn Cavendish is fast. My mind picked Boonen but my heart picked Cavendish and honestly I thought he could do it. I let the critics affect my decision too much.
So for now it's back to work and training. I'll leave you with the quote of the weekend, ciao.
"Keep it hard so the fatties aren't there in the end." -Yelled with frustration from Scott in the closing laps on Sunday.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Comin' In Hot

This week has been extremely busy but good. I did way more intensity on the bike this week but I think I might have been short changing myself before. I feel like my body can take that volume of intensity now and I can really benefit from it. The legs were a little slow to get going today but after some hard efforts they loosened up. I also ramped up the intensity on the tune-up ride today so it will be interesting to see how the legs respond to the changes at the races this weekend. It occurred to me that I always raced better the second day so I might not have been coming into the weekend hot enough. Hopefully the more intense tune-up will rectify that. I’m also staying with the Mountain Khakis guys again and looking to redeem myself after last weekend. So, as always, the motivation is there. Will the legs be?
I didn’t have time to change the music on my mp3 player but I’m making some cd’s for the car. The wagon doesn’t have a tape deck for me to connect the mp3 player through and I haven’t used cd’s in about five years so I’m just getting something to rock out to on the way to the races this weekend. Here is a sample of what’s getting burned.
MGMT- Electric Feel
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour- Around the Bend
Kings of Leon- Use Somebody
Rise Against- The Dirt Whispered, Audience of One
Say Anything- Alive With the Glory of Love; Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
Katy Perry- Hot ‘N Cold
Franz Ferdinand- Ulysses
Think positive waves for the last couple upgrade points and a new bike, both of which are overdo. Also a big weekend across the pond. La Primavera, three-hundred kilometers of awesome. My Sanremo pick is Boonen, he wants it.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A New Leaf

If you're looking for a report from last weekend's races you won't find it here. I've relived it enough times already and it's time to hit the reset button of sorts. It was awful, the worst weekend of the year. At least Cat 3's lack some grit and I was still able to get a couple upgrade points and win enough money to pay for the trip. I do want to thank Tom, the race promoter, and Team Mountain Khakis for hooking me up with a place to crash. It's always good hanging out with those guys. Every time I'm around them I learn so much and I definitely think those lessons will pay off. That saved an otherwise devastating weekend.
Today was a good day of training and I'm already looking forward to next weekend. I'm putting last weekend behind me and moving on. I'm also switching up the training plan a little so we'll see how that turns out.
Work is good. Hours for the next few weeks should be plentiful and today I was reminded why carpentry is paying the bills right now. Tomorrow is going to be an awesome day and there are two group rides. That means quit time comes early and the potential for five hours on the bike opens up, not possible with a nine-to-five.
Now I need to put some new music on the MP3 player. I'm working on some new playlists for my workouts. I'll post whatever I come up with and something more interesting to read later, until then.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Ahh the life, kind of

This week has been a somewhat pleasant diversion from the norm. Having worked a grand total of four hours there was plenty of time to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. With temps in the 70’s it was hard to not be outside all day and I took full advantage of the gap in work. Tuesday and Wednesday yielded three rides filled with some long hours. It was nice to spend some time in shorts on the bike; it won’t be long before the tan is back in full force. I tried not to dwell on the fact that I wasn’t making any money and just enjoy the break. My days were filled with sweet potato waffles, coffee, cycling videos and riding. I also got to break in my sweet new Specialized S-Works kicks, so awesome. So it was a good week, the legs feel good and my mind is refreshed.

I was looking forward to traveling to the races this weekend with some teammates but due to the impending weather it looks like I’m flying solo again. I almost thought about throwing in the towel since I’m getting tired of spending 10 hours driving by myself each weekend and it’s taking its toll on my bank account, but I’m a bike racer. If it meant 20 hours in the car to race in 50 degree rain I would try to find a way to get there. You can’t win if you don’t show up and toe the line. Luckily I have a free place to stay in Charlotte so I’m not sleeping in the car yet. I guess I’ll just turn the frustration into motivation and unleash it on the bike. If I’m sacrificing all this to race you can be damn sure I’m gonna throw down. So this weekend it’s on like Donkey Kong.

On a lighter note, the speakers have been pumping out a lot of Rise Against and Kings of Leon for the pre-ride and a lot of Old Crow Medicine Show in the evenings. I tend to find new music and completely wear it out in a couple weeks so I’ll try to keep current trends posted.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Hills, Wind, Sun and Pain

This weekend was the last of the Greenville training series races. The fields were fairly large again and the weather was amazing. With clear skies and temps in the 70’s I was ready to ride my bike. Saturday’s course suited me well and I as anxious for a result there. It is not often I get to do a race with a hill hard enough to be decisive, but this was my chance. I felt good on the climb during the early laps and bided my time. I attacked before the climb with 1 lap to go but everybody was scared to use any energy other than on the climb. The break I initiated was caught before the climb and it was full gas up the hill. I was feeling my attack a bit but put my head down and went up the climb as hard as I could. When I came across the top there were six or seven leaders about 8 seconds in front of me. I got in the first chase group of eight guys, most of which seemed content to race for eighth or whatever. I was there to race for the win, so I struck out on my own but couldn’t quite close the gap which had grown significantly from the eight seconds on the hill. I hit the bottom of the climb on my own thinking I would at least stay away from the group I was in but about half way up I cracked, hard. My 13th place wasn’t what I was looking for but I played my cards, rode hard and raced for the win so I didn’t come down on myself too hard.

Sunday can be summed up by flat, crazy windy, no corners, no teammates, no result.

So the weekend didn’t yield any upgrade points, just a solid couple days of hard racing that I believe will pay dividends in the weeks to come. Now it’s time to train and focus on next weekend’s crits in Columbia. With work a little light, the first three days of the week are 100% focused on the bike. Maybe it’s just what I need to get my mind and my legs ready. It’s time to make this upgrade happen.

I could go on but the sun is shining and the air is warm, it’s time to spin the legs out and clear the mind for the week to come.

Finally, team camp pictures




As promised, here are a couple pictures from ITS-Kane team camp at Topsail Island and our trip to Jack Kane's shop in Jacksonville, NC. I can't wait to get on one of the new frames, it should only be a week or two. The power meter is also forthcoming, it's going to be a good coupld of weeks.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Sweet potato waffles and snow

Last weekend was great, aside from the weather. Luckily, I had built in a rest period so I wasn't flipping out not being able to ride two days in a row. I was able to relax and enjoy the time I spent with Team Mountain Khakis in Winston. It was easy to enjoy it with sweet potato waffles and the most amazing coffee machine I've ever used. Ahhh, the life.

It was great meeting all the guys I didn't know and catching up with a few I did. Team Mountain Khakis is a rarity here in America. They are fully committed to pairing older experienced racers with younger ones in an effort to help them reach their full potential as pros. Not many other programs have that as their main goal and it is a very interesting dynamic to be around. Aside from knowing how to ride bikes really fast, they are a genuinely good group of guys and fun to be around. I'm extremely excited about spending some time with the team this coming year and learning as much as I can from them. I started my PR work with the team this weekend via some interviews with several of the riders. Each rider seemed to have their own interesting story, especially the older riders who also had a wealth of knowledge to share. Look for some of those interviews on the team's Web site http://teammountainkhakis.com/ in the near future.

For now, I'm listening to rise against and catching up on some much needed work while I'm snowed in. The job situation improved slightly as I learned the gap isn't going to be quite so long ,but it is still not going to be easy on the bank account. Me thinks there is just going to be a week or two of intense training in the near future and lots of penny pinching. Hopefully the next few weekends of racing will yield some prize money to help out. As a side note, I know plain text is getting boring. I promise I'm working on getting more pictures, it's tough not having a camera.