Check out this sweet video from the Xilinx cross race this weekend. Hint: look for the guy in the BKB kit.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
New season. New approach
It's been a long time since I've last posted and I'm sorry. To give a quick recap of last season: I was over-trained, over-worked, over-tired, and over-invested. All of these factors resulted in me under-performing. I raced hard through July and was continuously placing in the top 15 but never had a good couple of weeks (or even a good day) where I could ride away from the competition.
There were a lot of factors contributing to my lack of success this season, the greatest of which was my approach to the sport. I lost sight of why I do this whole cycling gig: because it is fun. I was so focused on my training and focused on performing that it became a second job for me. Come the end of July when I realized that I would not achieve my goals I was able to step back and reevaluate my situation and what I want to make of my riding. My goals for this season: ride, train, and race to simply enjoy it. With this approach I believe the results will follow.
I have also decided on a new approach for my blog. My previous entries have been blow by blow accounts of races and I hated writing those almost as much as I'm sure you hated reading them. My new approach for the blog this season will be to detail more about cycling culture and the places I see and people I meet in traveling and racing. I will also be talking about the cool and funny things that I come across in the process. My last plan is to be adding more photos. I never got a chance to take any during the road season but now I'll have more chances since cross races are in a centralized location and my races will only take an hour out of my day there.
Here's one to get it started:
This is the new bike for the season. Pretty sweet, right? HUGE thanks to Ubikes and Specialized for aiding me in my desire to promote our shop and brands on the cyclocross course.
Hopefully some of you are still following this blog after my 3 month hiatus and will be excited about some new posts.
There were a lot of factors contributing to my lack of success this season, the greatest of which was my approach to the sport. I lost sight of why I do this whole cycling gig: because it is fun. I was so focused on my training and focused on performing that it became a second job for me. Come the end of July when I realized that I would not achieve my goals I was able to step back and reevaluate my situation and what I want to make of my riding. My goals for this season: ride, train, and race to simply enjoy it. With this approach I believe the results will follow.
I have also decided on a new approach for my blog. My previous entries have been blow by blow accounts of races and I hated writing those almost as much as I'm sure you hated reading them. My new approach for the blog this season will be to detail more about cycling culture and the places I see and people I meet in traveling and racing. I will also be talking about the cool and funny things that I come across in the process. My last plan is to be adding more photos. I never got a chance to take any during the road season but now I'll have more chances since cross races are in a centralized location and my races will only take an hour out of my day there.
Here's one to get it started:
This is the new bike for the season. Pretty sweet, right? HUGE thanks to Ubikes and Specialized for aiding me in my desire to promote our shop and brands on the cyclocross course.
Hopefully some of you are still following this blog after my 3 month hiatus and will be excited about some new posts.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Race Report: Hugo Road Race
Today I went to Hugo, CO with Firle and Cameron to do the Hugo Road Race. The Course was a 78 mile loop on some of the flattest, straightest, most unexciting roads that Colorado has to offer. It was a chilly day and a pretty boring race until the last 15km when it really started picking up. A lot of attacks went at that point and I took a shot at getting away as well but was unsuccessful. Because of the lack of difficulty in the terrain the race came down to a 60+ man field-sprint that was host to the sketchiest riding I've seen in a long time. People were pushed off the road and into the ditch on at least 4 occasions. I guess the moto wanted in on the action as well as he kept rolling up on us making things even more chaotic in the final kilometers. I ended up crossing the line just behind the sprint but boxed in and never really able to open up my sprinting legs. Although I had fun because it was still bicycle racing and I got to spend some time with Cam and Firle, I think that I'll skip out on this race next year and just go for a ride.
Check out my race profile
Check out my race profile
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Race Report: Tour of the Gila - Stage 5: The Gila Monster
Today was the 5th and final stage of the Gila. The route was similar to the Inner Loop that we did on Wednesday but we rode it backwards starting in town and finishing at the summit of Pinos Altos (a category 2 climb).
The race started at 7:30 this morning and it was unbelievably cold. The course started with a few long and gradual climbs heading out of town. We went over these pretty quickly and the group stayed together. One primal rider left on a break away there.
From there we descended into a valley and then gradually climbed over some rolling hills to the continental divide. After crossing over the divide the pave really picked up. The break had a gap of about 5 minutes and was beginning to threaten the top GC guys.
Things realty heated up with about 20 to go when we hit the start of the category 2 climb. The GC leader immediately threw in an attack and the peloton shattered. I went with the attack along with about 9 other guys. I was able to hold on for a few miles but felt terrible and was dropped with about 14 miles to go. It seems the 4 days of race efforts leading up to today had taken their toll and my legs were absolutely cooked.
Although I was no longer contending the stage win I tries the keep my pace up in hopes to sneak back into the top 10 GC. At the end of the day I finished 10th in the stage about 1:30 back from the stage winner. I knew the riders that I needed to gain tome against to get back into the top 10 were behind me but I wasn't sure if I had created a substantial enough gap.
Sadly, I was only able to gain about 30 seconds on the riders who had pushed me put of the top 10 in the ITT and that wasn't enough to move up. I was still 12th overall.
Although I didn't have any huge moves that would have won me the race, the thing that most certainly lost it for me was the ITT. This is clearly something that I'll need to really work on and eventually get the equipment for if I would like to do well in an event like this in the future.
All-in-all it was a fantastic experience and is something I would like to do more of. I am already looking forward to returning next year.
The race started at 7:30 this morning and it was unbelievably cold. The course started with a few long and gradual climbs heading out of town. We went over these pretty quickly and the group stayed together. One primal rider left on a break away there.
From there we descended into a valley and then gradually climbed over some rolling hills to the continental divide. After crossing over the divide the pave really picked up. The break had a gap of about 5 minutes and was beginning to threaten the top GC guys.
Things realty heated up with about 20 to go when we hit the start of the category 2 climb. The GC leader immediately threw in an attack and the peloton shattered. I went with the attack along with about 9 other guys. I was able to hold on for a few miles but felt terrible and was dropped with about 14 miles to go. It seems the 4 days of race efforts leading up to today had taken their toll and my legs were absolutely cooked.
Although I was no longer contending the stage win I tries the keep my pace up in hopes to sneak back into the top 10 GC. At the end of the day I finished 10th in the stage about 1:30 back from the stage winner. I knew the riders that I needed to gain tome against to get back into the top 10 were behind me but I wasn't sure if I had created a substantial enough gap.
Sadly, I was only able to gain about 30 seconds on the riders who had pushed me put of the top 10 in the ITT and that wasn't enough to move up. I was still 12th overall.
Although I didn't have any huge moves that would have won me the race, the thing that most certainly lost it for me was the ITT. This is clearly something that I'll need to really work on and eventually get the equipment for if I would like to do well in an event like this in the future.
All-in-all it was a fantastic experience and is something I would like to do more of. I am already looking forward to returning next year.
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Race Report: SRAM Tour of the Gila - stage 4: Downtown Criterium
Yesterday's stage was the downtown crit in downtown Silver City. The course was set up like a traditional 4 corner crit and had a few add-ons to make it a little more interesting. The most substantial of these was the climb on the back stretch. It was actually quite steep and on a few of the slower laps I was tempted to drop to the small ring in front to get over it (I was running an 11-23).
The race was pretty uneventful and I just sat in and finish with the group to rest up for today. There was a pretty high-speed crash that I narrowly missed with about 5 laps to go but I sneaked by and finished at +0:00 for the day.
After the race was over Graham and I hung around town and ate and watched the pros race.
The race was pretty uneventful and I just sat in and finish with the group to rest up for today. There was a pretty high-speed crash that I narrowly missed with about 5 laps to go but I sneaked by and finished at +0:00 for the day.
After the race was over Graham and I hung around town and ate and watched the pros race.
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Friday, April 29, 2011
Race Report: SRAM Tour of the Gila - Stage 3: Tyrone Individual Time Trial
Well. That one hurt. The winds were exactly as brutal as they were predicting. I borrowed a 606 wheel setup and an aero helmet from a teammate which was pretty sweet. I was definitely hesitant to use it as there were pretty strong crosswinds but am glad I did as it still wasn't super impossible to fight the gusts.
The course today was 16 miles long and began immediately with a 5 mile climb up Little Burrow Pass. It was a pretty gradual climb and I had a hard time finding my tempo. Close to the top I was passed by the rider who started after I did and I thought to myself, "this is going to be a long 16 miles". After a quick descent there were 2 miles of rollers before the turnaround. It was there where I was passed by another rider.
Thankfully I had a much stronger second half and would not be passed again. The climb back over the pass was much steeper in the other direction and I made up some time there. The 5 mile descent to the finish was the hairy part. There was a strong tail/cross wind with some huge swirling gusts. Due to the tailwind and going downhill I was spinning out in my 53-11 doing about 55mph. The hairy part is when a huge gust would come and almost rip the bike out from underneath you.
I made it in safely but lost a lot of time. I finished 38th at +6:08. Ouch! This took me quite a ways down in the GC from 6th at +1:28 to 12th at +8:20. Ouch! I need to keep in mind why I am doing this race and what my intentions were when I entered. I came for the experience. I came to find out what sort of rider I am and to learn about my strengths, and weaknesses. I knew starting today that time trailing is a big limiter for me but now I see just how much improving I need to do and I now have an objective for the coming months.
While the leader's jersey may be beyond reach for me now, doing well in the GC is still a possibility and my chance will most definitely come on Sunday in the Gila Monster road race. Tomorrow is the downtown crit which I plan to sit in and relax on. It will be on Sunday on the CAT 2 climb in the final 50k where the final selection will be made.
Good night.
The course today was 16 miles long and began immediately with a 5 mile climb up Little Burrow Pass. It was a pretty gradual climb and I had a hard time finding my tempo. Close to the top I was passed by the rider who started after I did and I thought to myself, "this is going to be a long 16 miles". After a quick descent there were 2 miles of rollers before the turnaround. It was there where I was passed by another rider.
Thankfully I had a much stronger second half and would not be passed again. The climb back over the pass was much steeper in the other direction and I made up some time there. The 5 mile descent to the finish was the hairy part. There was a strong tail/cross wind with some huge swirling gusts. Due to the tailwind and going downhill I was spinning out in my 53-11 doing about 55mph. The hairy part is when a huge gust would come and almost rip the bike out from underneath you.
I made it in safely but lost a lot of time. I finished 38th at +6:08. Ouch! This took me quite a ways down in the GC from 6th at +1:28 to 12th at +8:20. Ouch! I need to keep in mind why I am doing this race and what my intentions were when I entered. I came for the experience. I came to find out what sort of rider I am and to learn about my strengths, and weaknesses. I knew starting today that time trailing is a big limiter for me but now I see just how much improving I need to do and I now have an objective for the coming months.
While the leader's jersey may be beyond reach for me now, doing well in the GC is still a possibility and my chance will most definitely come on Sunday in the Gila Monster road race. Tomorrow is the downtown crit which I plan to sit in and relax on. It will be on Sunday on the CAT 2 climb in the final 50k where the final selection will be made.
Good night.
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Thursday, April 28, 2011
Race Report: SRAM Tour of the Gila - Stage 2: Fort Bayard Inner Loop Road Race
What an awesome day in the saddle! I'm laying in my tent right now just relaxing before going to sleep and recapping about today. Before going into today I'd like to correct myself about my finish position from yesterday. I actually finished 7th and started today at +1:26. I was pretty surprised when I heard that I had lost so much time on the final section of the climb but it does make sense as I was definitely way in the red.
That is where I started today (in 7th and 1:26 off the leader). We rolled out of fort bayard at 10 and started our 80 mile route at a blistering pace. It seemed like people who weren't too happy with their times from yesterday were out with a vengeance and I was happy to get sucked along. Around mile 8 we began our first climb: 1000 ft up the pinos altos. I rolled over it fine and the group stayed together. On the descent from the summit I was sitting around 20th and was behind some very sketchy riders.
We dropped down to 6500 ft before starting another 1000 ft cat 3 climb up meadow creek. Things got a little more broken up on this climb and I went over the top in 5th heading into a very tight and technical descent. On the way down I advanced to 3rd and was feeling very fast on the hairpins and switchbacks.
Once we got down to the valley there were 7 of us off the front and we started a rotating paceline. I was certain that this was going to be the move to win the day but after about 5 minutes those dreams were shot. Although there were 7 of us, only 3 of us were doing any work. After about 20 minutes and extending our lead to a max of 1:30 over the field, we were caught and it was again gruppo compacto.
From there we rode a pretty easy 20 miles through the Gila, over the continental decide, and then down to the Mimbres River. There were a few break away attempts but nothing would stick.
It was at the Mimbres and the following cat 3 1000ft climb where the attacks started. A few riders were able to secure some pretty substantial leads on the long, shallow climbs there. It was also on those climbs that the lead group whittled down to about 20.
Coming into the finish we picked up all but one break away rider and were really picking up some speed. As we turned into the final mile into the fort there plenty of attacks but I just hung in and set up my sprint. As I was just about to luck it into high gear another rider pulled in front of me and blocked my route. After going around him I was still able to gain some spots before the finish but not enough to contend the win. We caught the break at the line and although he still was able to cross first we were all given the same time.
I finished 6th for the day and am sitting 6th in the GC at +1:28. Tomorrow is the ITT and I'm definitely nervous about it. Time trialing is not one of my strong points but I need to do well in order to maintain my position in the GC. There will be a lot of climbing as well as a mega crosswind which will hopefully improve my odds of doing well particularly since I don't have any TT equipment. I'll let you know how it goes
That is where I started today (in 7th and 1:26 off the leader). We rolled out of fort bayard at 10 and started our 80 mile route at a blistering pace. It seemed like people who weren't too happy with their times from yesterday were out with a vengeance and I was happy to get sucked along. Around mile 8 we began our first climb: 1000 ft up the pinos altos. I rolled over it fine and the group stayed together. On the descent from the summit I was sitting around 20th and was behind some very sketchy riders.
We dropped down to 6500 ft before starting another 1000 ft cat 3 climb up meadow creek. Things got a little more broken up on this climb and I went over the top in 5th heading into a very tight and technical descent. On the way down I advanced to 3rd and was feeling very fast on the hairpins and switchbacks.
Once we got down to the valley there were 7 of us off the front and we started a rotating paceline. I was certain that this was going to be the move to win the day but after about 5 minutes those dreams were shot. Although there were 7 of us, only 3 of us were doing any work. After about 20 minutes and extending our lead to a max of 1:30 over the field, we were caught and it was again gruppo compacto.
From there we rode a pretty easy 20 miles through the Gila, over the continental decide, and then down to the Mimbres River. There were a few break away attempts but nothing would stick.
It was at the Mimbres and the following cat 3 1000ft climb where the attacks started. A few riders were able to secure some pretty substantial leads on the long, shallow climbs there. It was also on those climbs that the lead group whittled down to about 20.
Coming into the finish we picked up all but one break away rider and were really picking up some speed. As we turned into the final mile into the fort there plenty of attacks but I just hung in and set up my sprint. As I was just about to luck it into high gear another rider pulled in front of me and blocked my route. After going around him I was still able to gain some spots before the finish but not enough to contend the win. We caught the break at the line and although he still was able to cross first we were all given the same time.
I finished 6th for the day and am sitting 6th in the GC at +1:28. Tomorrow is the ITT and I'm definitely nervous about it. Time trialing is not one of my strong points but I need to do well in order to maintain my position in the GC. There will be a lot of climbing as well as a mega crosswind which will hopefully improve my odds of doing well particularly since I don't have any TT equipment. I'll let you know how it goes
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