Sunday

Yesterday got up and went and watched Cori run the 5K at the Cherry Creek Sneak. I've tried to get her into cycling, but she likes the running thing right now. It's been cool to watch her change from a goofy looking runner to someone who knows what they are doing. I glad she is doing something healty. She placed 52nd/222 in her category, and I know she was taking easy.

After the 5K I picked up Gunz and we headed to Boulder to meet Brent and Jayson. We did the Boulder-Old Stage-Left Hand-Ward-P2P-Raymond-Lyons-Hygeine-Boulder Loop. 75 miles (4.5 hours) It was great weather, beautiful scenery, and good company. I totally bonked about 10 miles from Boulder, even though I ate/drank a ton during the ride. Guess I was pretty wiped from Deer Trail. It was good to get a long ride it with friends.

Later that afternoon, Cori and I treated ourselves to hot wings, beers, and a burger from the Cherry Cricket. Yum!

Deer Trail RR

Deer Trail (74 miles) - My goal was to get in the early break, so Brent, Marty and Lance could sit in. The race was active from the start. First move went about 6 miles in, with a group of 4. I tried to bridge, but the pack wouldn't let me go, so I helped bring the group back. As soon as we caught them there was a solo counter, then a minute later, another solo move to bridge. At this point, I was recovering, and had drifted back 10 places. We hit the turnaround, and another group of 6 got off, including Brent. This move should have stuck. All the large teams were represented except for 2, and most of the teams at the front were blocking for teamates up the road making it difficult to form a chase. I was hanging about 15th in the pack keeping an eye on things. At this point several guys started blowing the yellow line, moving up 30 spaces, or trying to bridge to the break. This happened repeatedly over the next 40 miles. These were such bullshit moves. The whole pack was calling the dudes out, but they kept doing it. The moto ref was with the break, so he was no help.

Brent said there were 2 guys in the break of 8 that wouldn't work, and after repeated attempts of trying to drop them, the break was brought back. When I saw
they were going to get caught, I moved up to ~7th place waiting for the counter, but as we caught them a handful of guys flew the yellow line again, and I got boxed in behind the guys getting caught from the break. So another group of 6 got off, but were quickly reeled back with some help from Lance who had moved up. At this point I was sitting about 20th, but wasn't too worried, as Lance was now covering moves.
We then went through town, getting ready for the last 25 miles of rollers, and Lance flatted right before the first roller and feed zone. Brent was sitting in recovering from the break, and Marty was somewhere behind me. Of course a group of 5 got off through the feedzone and we weren't represented. The last 25 miles are lot of huge rollers, so if we let them have a minute or two, it could be hard to get them back. I then saw Marty who said he was feeling good, and moved up to Brent to see how he was. He said he had recovered and was feelin good as well, so I decided I would go to the front and help work to bring the break back, while they sat in. I went to the front helped push the pace over the next 12 miles. We ended up catching the break right before the 2nd to last turnaround, leaving 12 miles. At this point I thought the race would start to split up so I stayed very close to the front covering any late moves. We made it to the last turnaround, and I was starting to feel pretty worked, and it looked like it was going to stay together till right before the finish so I drifted to the back to recover. There ~40 left in the main pack. From the previous 2 times I had done this race, the group splits up on the last two rollers leaving plenty of time to move up once the road opened up, so I
decided to wait for that. However this time 4 guys blocked the front, not allwoing anyone to get around and held the pack together until the last 200m, when guys started crossing the yellow line (again). At this point I was still on the back, and lost my nerve to even try to pick some guys off in a 40+ bunch sprint, so I just tailed in on the back of the group safe and sound. Marty got 13th, Brent got boxed in from yellow line passer for 21st, and I rolled in 36th.

I was happy with my performance, as I was active all day, and did a lot of work for the team.

I was frustrated with how the race turned out, especially with all the yellow line crossings. I was working hard to move up, and maintain my position with 86 guys, when they would just take a flyer to the left passing 30 guys. As a team I thought we did fairly well with only 4 guys considering there were 5 teams that had 6+. I thought with that many large teams a break would get away, or the last 12-15 miles would be hard enough to split it up. I never thought we would roll all the way to the finish with 40+. I guess if I wanted to shoot for a top 10, I should have just sat in all day, but what is the fun in that? I always want to get a good result, but lost my nerve at the end, and didn't want to take the risk sprinting on the
narrow roads. ugh! what a frustrating race.

CCTT #3 4.25.07

I finished 10th/25 in the TT last night. They
shortened the course considerably due to flooding.
Therefore we had the short but steep climb about 1.2
km into the race, and they added a 1km 3-5% climb
towards the end. I went out too hard, not knowing how
to pace my self since the effort was going to be
short. With it being short I wasn't able to settle
in. I was cooked by the time I saw the 1 km to go
sign. Couldn't get out of my 13 at that point, but
was able to hold on for 10th at 14:50, 23 seconds off
top 5. Still a pretty good time compared to everyone
else.

Purple Posse

pic

from Marty's Blog

Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic 07

Teton, Scott, Ross, Marty, Brent and I made the 7hr trip to Lincoln for the LPSCC last weekend.

TT - Saturday morning. 12 mile loop around a lake, with lots of rollers. We had wind also 30+ mph. We got in late friday night so didn't get to preview the course, just took advice from my teamates who had done it before. Also didn't get any sleep after having to call the front desk on the college frat party in the room next door. Cops finally escorted everyone out of hotel room at 2am. I was slightly pissed and took it out in the TT coming in 7th/23 riders. I went hard, and felt good. I was pretty happy with my placing.

RR - Satuday afternoon same course as TT, more wind. It was unbelievable. They shortened the course by 24 miles b/c of it. I actually took my zipp 404 off the front and rode my training wheel, to help with stability. Ran our race with the Masters so the field was 60+, which sucked when they were chasing down 3s trying to start a break, WTF. I got guttered and dropped on the first crosswind
section of the 2nd lap, and chased back on with a group of 7. I then got dropped on the last crosswind section at the end of the 2nd lap. I then chased for half a lap with 2 other guys and got back on again. At this point I figured I would get dropped again in the crosswind section, so I went to the front of the pack to give Marty some shelter. Once we hit the crosswind, I picked up the pace strung the pack out, and popped. I did spring Marty and Brent in a group of 8 with the move, but they got reeled back in the next couple of miles. I then rode the last lap solo, losing 8 min on GC dropping me to 17th/23 in my cat. I couldn't handle the accelerations in the crosswind when the pack was strung out, and I was already at threshold. I was fine riding at threshold, but when I had to go over repeatedly to close gaps, I couldn't recover at LT. Brent took 2nd and Marty 9th on the stage.

Sunday - 2 mile circuit race with a couple false flats and a 800m long climb that was substantial going to the finish. Since I didn't know how I would react, we
decided that I would try a move early and Marty sitting 6th on GC would counter or try later depending on how he felt. Brent was is a sprinter, and hewas going to sit in for the sprint. On the 3rd/8 laps I countered a move on a false flat section. I got about 10 seconds, and spent a lap off the front until they brought it back. Once I was caught another move went with 2 guys, that was quickly brought back, and then a counter move that got about 30 seconds. I recovered during the next 1/2 lap, then tried to bridge solo going on the climb. I got within about 10 seconds of the leader, and stayed that way for then next 2 laps, with the pack chasing about 20
seconds behind me. I got swallowed up on the last climb about 200 meters from the finish. The guy 10 seconds ahead, held on for the win. I was close, but didn't have any power left going up the last climb and got caught quick. Brent and Marty rolled through 9th and 11th. I felt a lot better during the crit, and was happy with my effort and experience I gained. It also rained and hailed during our race which made it very interesting.

My result in the TT/ciruit race, really has me puzzled as to why I couldn't hang on in the RR. Must just be that I haven't got the V02 max training in yet.

Overall the weekend was great, the race was well run with fun courses, and the prize money was good. Mad Props to John Lefler Jr. who was the promoter. I definately want to go back next year.

CCTT #2 - 4.18.06

We had 25-35 mph SSE wind tonight, not fun. My legs didn't feel as good as last
week and I started out a little too hard, but overall, still felt like I had a good ride. My time was 25:57. I was 6 seconds faster than last week, but considering the wind I think it is pretty good. Most people had a time 30 sec - 1 min slower. The TT setup, and position (Thanks Teton)made a huge difference. I moved from 18th place to 10th this week.

Finally

Got My TT frame in Saturday was up to 1:30 am building it Monday night. Got Teton to hook me up with a bike fit Tueday, and rode it for 1:30 that evening Just in time for CCTT #2 on Wednesday.

Boulder Roubaix & AFA 4.14.07

Roubaix - Rolled to the race with Taylor. I was excited to finally get to race with him, since we train a lot together. Since it was so nice out DBC Events added a lap at the start to make it 62 miles of fun. Pretty uneventful race besides the roughness of the road, every lap guys would pop off the back. I found some good lines and tried to stay in those areas most of the race. Last lap couple guys attacked, so I moved to the front to see what was going to happen. My calves were starting to crap into and over the last hill, so I backed off a little. I drank 2 large and 1 small bottle with electrolyte mix, and didn't feel dehydrated, so i don't know what caused that. Was sitting about 25th coming out of last corner, (had about 50/85+ guys left at that point). I then moved up trying to get ready for the sprint. The pace really picked up about 600m out, and I lost the draft behind a guy that poppped and couldn't close the gap. Held everyone else off for 16th place about 5 seconds back from the winner. Taylor rocked a 6th place. There was a spectacular crash at the end of the 3s. heard everyone was ok, which was good, b/c it was nasty. Overall I felt great about the race. My goal was top 30. Big confidence booster considering there were 85+ starters and that course is hard. Felt 10 times better than Koppenberg. Only
felt like i was going into the red one time before the finish, and I was able to recover pretty easy.

AFA - Ouch. 4 laps/50.3 miles with +1000ft climbing per lap on the 1986 world championship course, 65+ starters. 1st time up the long climb field shattered. Kept 10 leaders in sight. Got back on after descent with a group of 9. We had a huge crosswind on the descent and a huge headwind on the flats leading to the climb. About 35 guys in the main group for start of the second climb. Got dropped again. Rode a teamates wheel the rest of the climb. I regrouped with 6 other guys and we
chased. I popped on a flat headwind section, about 100m off the main group. I almost got back on, but we then started the climb again. Rode solo for half a
lap. Another rider caught me and we rode the last lap together picking off a couple guys. I finished 27th. I was tired when I started so I was happy with my
finish. Chalk it up to training. I was absolutely cooked after the race, and the next day. Man that course is hard, especially with the 20+ mph wind. Marty had a great day scoring a 9th place. Kid can climb and should pull some good results this year.

CCTT #1 4.11.07

That TT bike I've been stressing about still isn't in, so I rolled it on my road bike, training wheels and all. Turned in a time of 26:03.3 for 18th/24 guys. I My time was 26:03. I was 2:17 off the winner, and 1:15 off the top half of my field. Just as a comparison my time for the 1st TT last year was 28:37. My fastest time last year was 26:26. While I know conditions aren't the same for every TT, I so feel confident I already faster that my best TT last year.

Koppenberg - 4.1.07

Koppenberg was mr first race this year and as a Cat 3, and it hurt. It was also my first race with VC. I hadn't done any VO2 max training, and it showed. I got spit out the back on the 4th time up the climb and rolled it in with 8 others for 51st place. I kind of expected that it. Looking forward to more intervals in the upcoming weeks.

Catching Up

I'll try to catch up on my post in the next few days. Gunz told me that if your not blogging, you must not be training, so I want to put that myth to rest :)