Sunday, September 30, 2007

Laphem Peak Cyclocross Weekend

This weekend was the Wisconsin Cycling Associations (WCA) Cyclocross Opening weekend. I did decided to race both days Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was the 1.17 Mile 279' of climbing, hill climb and the 4.00 Mile Cross Country Time Trial. Sunday was a 30minute 2.0 miles loop done 5 times plus a prologue of sorts. That mean 11 sets of barrier crossings, 11 dismounts and 11 mounts.

Saturday I screwed up to say the least. I took my mountain bike and that couldn't have been more wrong for the hill climb, a track bike with no brakes, geared correctly could have been the fastest. Lugging 10 extra pounds over my road or cross bike and the added rolling resistance of the 2.2" tires cause me to have a really slow time of 7:07. I could have been an whole 60 seconds faster, I know I could have. There was a Mandatory run at the top of the hill. I was so exhausted from riding that big bike up the hill I couldn't do anything except for walk it.

The Saturday AM course hill climb:

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In the afternoon that was a different story, the 4.00 mile cross country course is what I brought this bike, I knew it would shine in the spotlight, Right? well it turns out it might have been the right choice, it might not have been. The afternoon result was a 17:25. When it came to the two barrier sets I was really slow, dismount wasn't a problem, carrying almost 30 lbs of bike over the barricades slowed me down, and remounting proved to be difficult as the clearing the barricades slowed me down so much. In order to remount, all the speed and momentum you can get helps your total time more that the pedaling time alone otherwise they would call this a mountain bike race with small tires. For all of Saturday I ended up 18th out of 25. Not great but not bad considering I brought a knife to a gun fight. I was the fastest in the cross country time trial that turned in a 7+ minute lap on the hill climb.

The Saturday PM Course:

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Sunday brought me new life, I found out that the Juniors field got separated from the senior 4s, that meant I could use my own cross bike. John Donovan used it in the juniors race, brought home a 3rd out of 6. Expo Racing's own Aris Peters brought home a 2nd in his first cross race in almost 2 years winning the field sprint over Mike and John. Chris Hurst was in his own zip code well over 5 minutes ahead of 2nd almost passing the leaders of the 4 after starting well after them.

I grabbed the bike from Johnny D and Headed to the start, the finish line and the Start line were not one of the same for leadout reasons. The whole course was only comfortably 2 wide at its best. But anyway, I decided to have a Double Espresso Clif Shot right before start which I believe did help me considerably. The time came and the 4s field was off, I started on the far right which was not the most desirable position for the hole shot which is basically what it was. I settled into a nice rhythm and settled in roughly mid-pack.


Sunday's Course:

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The barriers even still gave me problems with the cross bike, but it was still way way faster than the mountain bike, with the longer race I wouldn't have wanted to do it any other way, I would have burned out before the end of the race from carrying the extra weight around. The only thing I felt terrible about is around mid-race a guy crashed right front of me just going around a turn and It have happened so fast that I have little time to avoid him and I totally just ran over his shoulder and there was little I could do about it. I notified officials which were right on it. I think he was alright, he'll just be a little sore tomorrow.

As for me I finished 43rd out of the scored 60, I will find out what my two day combined Omnium Placing was for the two days when it gets posted on Wisconsin Cycling Web Page. I was told there were more than 60, however I do not know how many more. I know that this is my best cyclocross finish ever due to the fact that it was the first timed race I ever did that I did not get lapped in. I'm proud of this fact and although I didn't turn in a spectacular result I'm happy with that. Other Notables on the Day was Gus Peters 26th in the 4s, also first cross race in more than two years on his shiny new Bianchi Rodger and Theo Peters in his first cross race ever, 5th in Junior. Not too terrible all around. You haven't seen the last of the Peter's Clan and they will be a force to be reckoned with this cross season. Keep an eye on Gus' Blog

Next you will see me @ the season Finale of WORS, WORS #12 Wigwam/Ultimax Classic in Sheboygan. As for you cyclocross/roadie only riders you'll see me next @ the Capital Velo Club CX and the Brazen Dropouts CX Race both in the Madison Area the weekend of the 13th and 14th.

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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Iola sucks + Crash victim

On Friday night I went out with some friends and I hung out till the wee hours of the morning which would reverbarate throughout the weekend. I drank far too little and didn't eat enough on Saturday @ camp and I knew it. Sunday rolled around and I knew that I had done all that I could, to over my decision to go out friday night. I took lots of endurolytes, a couple of GU gels, and Gatorade. I did decide to ride single speed again. I did pre-ride the course on Saturday and I felt ok with the bike and gearing. When it came time to start I shot out of the start with a man on a mission only to get in a pileup of about 5 guys about 150 feet into the race. It was my first multi person accident. I had my first accident on pavement in latter June. I only took myself out and it was my own fault. But anyway, the race, I totally lost my mojo after that crash, the first climb went ok, down and around the bowl went fine, second cimb, fine, I was passing lots of people, up until the base of the big hill in the back of the course. The big hill I think is about a 600ft @ about a 7% grade. It was all downhill after that, pardon the pun. I kinda gave up the gusto and hit cruise control if there is such a thing. I just got into a rythem, albeit sub-par. I was the last finisher in single speed. 10th out of 13 entrants. I'm not sure but I think I was in the 150s-160s out of about 200 overall. All in all I don't blame the bike, I don't blame myself, I just had an off day of sorts. I do admit I really need to do intervals, it would help me a ton. I'm really looking forward to '08. No matter what I'm going to do sport, the only decision to be made is to race single speed or age.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Pictures from Stump Farm 12

These pictures were only recently made available from the great people who put on the race.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Pair of SS

I will have my Pair of SS bikes for '08... sort of. I just bought a matching 8500 frame to match my existing 8500 frame. However I do not have any other components for it, but that will come in time. It does come with a Chris King Headset though, so that will match both bikes. Bike #2 will have to be built on a bit of shoe string. I only need it to be built by late may '08 in time for the WEMS season. Bike #1 is Top of the line and I won't come anywheres close to it, but both rear wheels will be identical because they will both be White Industries Eno Disc hubs. I'll probably put Avid BB7 brakes on that bike as well for consistency. The fork is the big maybe, I love my suspension, but I'm thinking I'm going to put a Reba Race on there. I would love to get another Fox F80 RLC but they run around the $600 neighborhood and that would mean paying retail. Most remaining components will most likely be things from Bontrager.

Prior to getting built up I plan to have both frames refinished. Acid dipped and painted or powder coated. I have not decided on color but I will have decals applied. I'm going to see if I can find a replacement Trek Decal for the down tube but since they aren't going to ever resemble an 8500 and Trek doesn't market a 26" single speed bike I get to come up with a new name for my Franken Trek. I will have made into decal and put on both sides of the top tube. I'm open to suggestions but my idea is to call it a Trek "Homeboy" like a take-off on homegrown and it will be cool to say, I'm gonna go kick ass with my Homeboy or I'm gonna kick it with my Homeboy. Yay or nay, or other suggestions are appreciated. Remember, this is a pair of Single Speed bikes.

Stay Tuned, I think I just found what topic I'm going to keep you blog readers interested with this winter. But peeps, I'm going to be racing all the way till dec 9th so don't linger away from my blog too quickly. BTW, I just want to give congrats to Cole Haus on his 7th place finish @ the Fat 40 @ Chewamegon.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Last Pavement race of 2007 in review

The bike: 2007 Colnago Mix (on loan)
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The course:
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The helmet
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the mission: to go sub 62minute

American Bicycle Racings MATT Series made its last event a cold one. 30-40 something degrees at start, warming into the 50s by finish and mid-day. I had the best bike I could really ask for. I wanted to put in my best TT ever, I had the best equipment, I was feeling good, I knew my threshold and coming off my best race of the year I had momentum on my side. I had two little things happen to be, that did cost me probably about a minute all together if that. One was I forgot to start my garmin so shortly after my start I took the time to do that, and the other was I had inadequete tilt on my saddle giving me one gigantic pain in the butt and I found I was sitting up a few times when I should have been mashing away to relieve my butt a little bit. In the end I got a 65:35 finishing 14th out of 20th. I have happy with that result but I have 40K times close to that on my road bike, o well. But it is my fastest 40K time ever. Theodore Peters accompanied me and he did his first ever race on slicks clocking in a time of 73 something his only other competition turned in like a 90 or something like that. To be totally honest, that isn't half bad. He needs to get comfortable on that bike and do some training.

My next race is the Tater bake open in Iola, WI I'm undecided if I will do geared, SS or possibly a loaned 29er SS. We'll see.

Friday, September 14, 2007

40K Final ABR MATTs

I am going to my last pavement race of the year, wish my luck, I will take pictures and stuff and hopefully I'm going to throw down a sub 60 minute time. Theodore Peters is going with me and it will be hist first race with slick tires. A TT is a great place o start. TT is not my strong suit on paper, but its one disipline that I thouroughly enjoy. I'm leaving at about 5am tomorrow so I need to get to sleep. G-night peeps.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Pictures From my first Sport race @ Sunburst.

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This Jerk Passed me in the wrong spot, I passed him back just before the finish line.
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Sunday, September 9, 2007

The Sunburst Showdown

I said I was gonna kick ass, and I personally think I did, this being my first Sport race I knew I was gonna have to step it up a little bit. Saturday afternoon I was giving is a last minute tune when I must have gotten some lube on the rear rotor and pads. You would think I would be ok, just wipe it off. Well its not that easy I did what I knew and that wasn't good enough no matter what, I had sub par braking performance. Sooo... I made the decision to race my backup bike. My 8500 with a pyramid singulator on it. I registered at about 9am on Sunday, I didn't want to register Saturday because I was unsure about what bike to run. I registered Sport SS. I know this is a tough class but I knew I could handle it. I had my race breakfast, 2 Breakfast burritos from MacDonald's. Prep my bike the best I knew how, drank lots of water prerace and had some Endurolytes right before my start. SS is one of the last waves to start and when my wave was called up, I was gone. 8th or 9th out of 10 out of the gate, I was pegging off riders through out my first lap, SS and otherwise. It was only like 72 degrees or something like that, but I was burning up, when I came through the pits on lap one I screamed to the Peters family that I needed a hand-up next lap. they came through big time. I swapped bottles coming through on my second lap starting 3rd. With out that bottle I would have been cramping up or bonked or something. I finished 5th out of 10 in SS, 101st out of 164 finishers. Personally I think that is pretty stout, I'm very very happy with myself. I think so far, this is my best finish of my career. Its not spectacular, I still have two more races this year plus the cyclocross season. I think I'm going to be carrying a pretty good amount of momentum into the Cyclocross season with a finish like this. Among other things props go to Mike Raash Owner of Expedition Supply, our primary sponsor got 2nd in age group and 5th overall. You can see his podium below.

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Aris's Start, we had to leave shortly after this
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Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Stump Farm...5 hours 5 minutes

So Stump Farm didn't go quite as planned but it did have its highlights. I woke up at 5:35 freaking out because my alarm was supposed to go off at 5. Walked the dog and jumped in the car and was on the road by 5:45. I got there at about 7:30. Registerd and set up my pit. I would be self pitting today so I prepped that all up. Went to the Rider's meeting. And we were off at 8am. I just sat into a nice pace, around 9 to 9.6 mph. My first lap was the fastest of the day around 58 minutes for a 9.3 mile course. Lap 2 60minutes, Lap 3 59 minutes, laps 4 60 minutes, and lap 5 was 63 minutes. I took a brief 5 minute break in pits and got back on my bike. I was having problems with cramping. I was taking Enduralytes, and Gatorade. Couldn't shake 'em. They got the better of me. I shortcutted the lap and went back to the pits. Hung out there and decided to call it day around 1:30. Now although I didn't do so great, it was the first time you could ever set a watch against me with any accuracy.

I Changed and hung out with my pit neighbors, the good folks from team Pegasus. Had a beer. Chilled out, and waiting for the start of the 3 hour race. The 3 hour race would feature Chris Tambarino, and Johnny G. The course was flat a pancake today, and dry, even a little less climbing than the WORS Race but more technical single track. I should have done Single speed because later in the afternoon I realized there was only 3 entrants, O well. So anyways, Christ and John tore it up in the afternoon. They didn't change the course for the 3 hour, Chris and John completed 3 laps in the alotted time. John was about 2 minutes short of completing his 4th lap. Chris would have done 4 laps, but he bonked on his 4th lap. Chris got 10th and John got 11th. Out of a field of 40 something, not too bad.

Chris Starting Lap 3 in the 3 hour.
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Johnny G coming in the finish chute, finishing his 4th Lap in the 3 hour missing the cut-off by 2 minutes
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