UNC Crit

My second race of the year. I was just hoping to keep it upright. Legs felt tired and tight today after the field test on friday. My race didn't go exactly as planned, but learned a lot. I could have sat in all day, but Ft. Lewis College had 9 guys in the field of 60 and were attacking every lap, until something stuck. I bridged to the third solo attack hoping to get a break started. I was afraid I was going to miss the winning move. Unfortunately a 3rd guy tried to bridge and basically drug the pack back up to us. I thought if we got caught, I would be able to sit in and recover, but FLC counter attacked as soon as we were caught and with only 20 guys all strung out, there was no place to hide. I chased solo for a lap and got back on, then they called a prime and I was out the back again. Probably should have sat in. Ended up finishing 20-25th/60.

Power Tap

Got my new toy thursday night. Here are my results from my first Field Test. I went out way too hard on the first interval, and totally screwed the second one up. On the second one I rode the first 2 minutes in my small ring, until I realized my watts were low, and then proceeded to do an extra minute in my confusion. Oh well, I guess it is a starting point.

Field Test Results for Mar 24 2006

Conditions
Course : Cycling (Road)
Terrain : Flat
Wind : Breezy (10-15 mph)
Humidity : 0.46
Temperature: Cool (40-60 F)
Weight : 157.5lbs

Interval 1
Elapsed Time : 00:08:09
Distance : 3.05Miles
Average BPM : 169
Average Power : 307
Maximum BPM : 179
Maximum Power : 894
Average Cadence : 90
Perceived Exertion: 9 - very difficult


Interval 2
Elapsed Time : 00:09:01
Distance : 3.34Miles
Average BPM : 171
Average Power : 277
Maximum BPM : 181
Maximum Power : 630
Average Cadence : 90
Perceived Exertion: 9 - very difficult

Ninja Training

Clint sent me this site check it out. Make sure your speakers are on.

Ninja

CU Crit - A Display of Mastery Level Bike Handling (NOT)

First race of the year. Started out mid pack and worked my way up to the top 20 after a few laps, and basically stayed there. The course, while being easy to navigate, wasn't technical enough to string out the pack except on Prime Laps. If every race was as sketchy as this one was, I don't know if I would do another crit. Chaz and I were following each others wheel until about 4 laps to go and I started to move up. The pack was getting strung out and things were starting to set up great. I felt great as well, until the 3-4 guys on the front decided to sit up on the back stretch going into a headwind. I guess nobody wanted to drive the pace into the wind. I was sitting about 15th, when 4 guys slingshotted down the inside corner when the pack slowed. They ended up trying to pass in the gutter going into the corner and 1 guy about a bike length ahead and to the inside of me touched wheels. I saw it coming, but couldn't avoid it. He then swerved and laid it down in the middle of the pack, I was the 3rd guy to go down. I basically ran over the 2 guys in front of me, only my right elbow (small scratch) and right side of my back touched the ground. Bike - had to take it to the shop to get both wheels trued and my derailer hanger straitened. Happy I'm fine and bike is fine as well, but still sucks working to stay at the front to avoid crashes and get taken out because of passing in the gutter. Check out JFB's post for pics. In the pic on the right I'm on the left side of the group in orange with a red helmet. My teamate Chaz is tucked in behind my wheel.

They Forgot the Zero

In anticipation of the 10-20 inches of snow Vail was going to get, Steve, Ty, and I made an emergency ski trip to Vail Sunday. We wanted to make first tracks, so I got up at 4:45 am and the Ty and I met Steve in Morrison at 6am and we were in Vail by 7:30 am. The lifts don't even open until 8:30. We were so pumped until we got the snow report and they got a huge dump of 1 new inch. I though Ty was BSing me. I was ready to kick the weatherman's ass. Anyway, we were the first ones on the lift and went straight back to Blue Sky which they opened up an hour early. We skied the first hour by ourselves, I mean we were the only ones on the lift, didn't even see anyone for an hour. It was awesome, I felt as if I owned the resort.

Steve (master of facial expressions)













Ty













Me

Ty took this last pic right before I jumped off Lover's Leap. It was about a 6-8 ft drop (nothing to big before bike season).

Small Town

Saturday, Ty and I hooked up with Krist T. ,a friend from back home, at Breck. He was out with some buddies he went to West Point with. I hadn't seen him in over 5 years. While I enjoyed relatively no responsibility through college, he made 2 trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. Glad he's back in the U.S. We spent time catching up on the lift rides and he offered some advice for Cori and I's upcoming trip to Italy. We eventually made it up to the Imperial Express. This is the highest lift in North America, taking you to the top of Peak 8 at 12,840 feet above sea level. At the top Ty and hiked across to Art's Bowl, and I skied the steepest run I've done so far ~45+ degrees through two rock outcroppings. As Ty, Steve and I like to say the Penalty for Failure on that run would have been severe. (Cori and Mom ignore the previous sentence) Great Day all around. There is just something about a connection you have with someone when you are from a small town.

Tristan Prettyman and Ben Taylor

Cori, Theresa, and I saw Tristan Prettyman play at the Bluebird about a week ago. She has been described as the female Jack Johnson. Great performance in a small setting. Ben Taylor (son of James Taylor and Carly Simon) opended up for her. You can definately her James through Ben. My favorite song of Tristan's is Smoke and of Ben's is Digest. Check'em out.