What a crappy weekend for me!!! Rarely am I a "woe is me" type of guy, but today I am.
The weekend started so good too. I joined up with the Cyclopaths for a a great ride, on a wonderful Saturday morning. I then enjoyed some time at WB's and had burger before heading home. Next on the agenda was time in the driveway with my neighbors, enjoying the sun and chewing the fat...Shortly after is when everything took a drastic turn.
Around 8 pm, my stomach began to feel a tad sour. I went to bed shorty after, and woke up at 2 am to a very angry stomach. I began to worry as I was supposed to do a ride with my friend Terry, but wanted to hold off canceling in case I felt better as "go time" approached. Turns out I never did feel better and did have to cancel.
By 3:30, I was shivering uncontrollably from a fever and making frequent trips to the bathroom. At about 5 am I was sick to my stomach, still making trips to the bathroom, sporting a hefty fever, and developing a day and a half long head-ache. At 6 am I came to my senses and cancelled the ride, which turned out to be the best, and only, decision I could have made. I spent all Saturday sleeping for short stints, fluctuating between burning hot and freezing cold, making constant trips to the bathroom, fighting my head-ache, and trying to eat (unsuccessfully).
Saturday night I awoke about 6 times and would sprint to the bathroom. In addition, I awoke two other times, soaked to the bone from my fever breaking. After about 10 hours of sleep, way more than my normal 6-7 hours, I got up and tried to eat again. Nothing tasted good, or agreed with my stomach, but I forced bits down.
I think my fever is gone, for good, but my other symptoms are still present and dominating the days activities. I still feel pretty crappy (pun intended) and just finished a 2 hour nap. I also weighed myself and have lost 6 pounds since Saturday morning. Not sure where the weight loss came from, but I guess I do not need to get colon cleansing to lose any weight.
Bella being my loving, overly worried wife thinks I should rush to the doctor. Being a man, and like all men we know everything, I do not believe there is much a doctor can do. I think I got food poisoning from either the food at lunch or my dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.
What a wasted and miserable holiday weekend!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Puyallup Cyclopaths
The Puyallup Cyclopaths are a group of riders that like climbing. Uhhhh, let's change that to LOVE climbing. Leon, who I met though Strava, did Cayuse Pass repeats last Saturday. His ride totaled 74 miles and over 10,000 feet of climbing. Yes you read that right, 10,000 ft (3048 m)!
After exchanging emails and using his amazing powers of persuasion, Leon stroked my relatively small ego and convinced me to join him and the Cyclopaths on their Saturday ride. If I have read the email correctly, we will do somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-80 miles today. I am unsure how much climbing will be involved, but I know there will be some.
As you know, I just finished my "season" of designated races, and my legs are a little tired. I am a tad nervous about riding with a new group of guys. I do not know how fast they plan on going, how quickly they climb, and their group dynamics. However, as most cyclists know, riding with a group of people is usually much more fun than riding solo. It is not that riding solo does not contain its own fun, but sharing an experience with others is a welcome change from the countless solo hours on my bike.
UPDATE...
I arrived at the Orting "staging" area for the ride. It was a bit intimidating as there were at least 10-11 people clad in Lycra and red cyclopath jerseys. Turns out they are not as fearsome as their name sounds...I had worries of a sharp shank penetrating my rib cage had I not be an adequate rider. Turns out they are just good guys that like to ride and climb.
We rode from Orting to Lake Kapowsin, and then from there towards Eatonville. Before Eatonville we made a turn (please do not ask which way, I am Directionally Challenged) and headed out to Alder Lake and then back to Orting.
The climbs were nice, and I want to thank Scott Larson for pushing me (though he had no idea he was doing so) and all the Cyclopath guys for an amazing ride. I also want to apologize for making Tom nearly soil his gear when I heard "car back" as I was getting off the front...I never knew a road bike could do that well in cyclo cross!
With all said and done, the ride was 60ish miles and was beautiful. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to ride with the Cyclopahts, if they have me, and to live up to my reputation as an avid/adequate rider.
After exchanging emails and using his amazing powers of persuasion, Leon stroked my relatively small ego and convinced me to join him and the Cyclopaths on their Saturday ride. If I have read the email correctly, we will do somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-80 miles today. I am unsure how much climbing will be involved, but I know there will be some.
As you know, I just finished my "season" of designated races, and my legs are a little tired. I am a tad nervous about riding with a new group of guys. I do not know how fast they plan on going, how quickly they climb, and their group dynamics. However, as most cyclists know, riding with a group of people is usually much more fun than riding solo. It is not that riding solo does not contain its own fun, but sharing an experience with others is a welcome change from the countless solo hours on my bike.
UPDATE...
I arrived at the Orting "staging" area for the ride. It was a bit intimidating as there were at least 10-11 people clad in Lycra and red cyclopath jerseys. Turns out they are not as fearsome as their name sounds...I had worries of a sharp shank penetrating my rib cage had I not be an adequate rider. Turns out they are just good guys that like to ride and climb.
We rode from Orting to Lake Kapowsin, and then from there towards Eatonville. Before Eatonville we made a turn (please do not ask which way, I am Directionally Challenged) and headed out to Alder Lake and then back to Orting.
The climbs were nice, and I want to thank Scott Larson for pushing me (though he had no idea he was doing so) and all the Cyclopath guys for an amazing ride. I also want to apologize for making Tom nearly soil his gear when I heard "car back" as I was getting off the front...I never knew a road bike could do that well in cyclo cross!
With all said and done, the ride was 60ish miles and was beautiful. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to ride with the Cyclopahts, if they have me, and to live up to my reputation as an avid/adequate rider.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Biking in the wind and rain
This May has been quite the surprise...According to my count, we went 15 straight days without a drop of rain. Even better, we went 12 days, this month, with some amount of sun. If you are not aware, neither of those statistics is normal. With all that said, Sunday through today has been RAINY. Funny thing though...While I love riding in the sun, I really enjoyed my rides in the rain today!
My Bianchi, the rain bike, has front and rear fenders, plus a buddy flap. If you do not know, a buddy flap is exactly as it sounds and does nothing for you. What it does, is prevent water from flying up into your "buddy's" face. Even with the fenders, I was secretly excited to see how much road muck would end up on me.
While biking, in the rain today, I kept thinking of the George Hincapie picture from Paris-Roubaix. If you have no clue as to what I am talking about, keep reading and check out the picture. While I harbored hopes of being as muddy, I knew it would not happen.
Once I arrived at work I proceeded to change out of my wet gear and into clothes suitable for work. After removing my socks and knee warmers, it looked like I had quite the tan lines. I was actually surprised at how much road grit and mud stuck to my legs and face. Had I taken a picture, you would have thought it was the end of summer, not the end of spring.
On the way home, I wondered if I could actually get more crud on me. I kept thinking there was a pretty good chance due to the amount of wind, that I was riding through, and the logging trucks that kept passing me. Like this morning, I was not thinking and did not take a picture...However, I did think to plug the shower drain. Once finishing my shower, I was pretty impressed with how dirty the water was.
You are probably thinking, "Wow, some 36 year old man-child this guy is!". Guess what??? You are exactly right, but sometimes you just need to unleash the child from within. I keep thinking that I would not have enjoyed the ride if I were serious and not thinking silly childish thoughts.
My message to all...Unleash the child, on occasion, and enjoy the small things while out there riding. Remember the joy of riding when you did not drive. Remember the silly things you would do on a bike. Remember the fun you had riding through deep puddles, while watching the spray go everywhere.
Sometimes it is just nice to ride with no plan, and to take pleasure in the small things. Tomorrow I can get back on track and be the serious adult I so rarely am!
My Bianchi, the rain bike, has front and rear fenders, plus a buddy flap. If you do not know, a buddy flap is exactly as it sounds and does nothing for you. What it does, is prevent water from flying up into your "buddy's" face. Even with the fenders, I was secretly excited to see how much road muck would end up on me.
While biking, in the rain today, I kept thinking of the George Hincapie picture from Paris-Roubaix. If you have no clue as to what I am talking about, keep reading and check out the picture. While I harbored hopes of being as muddy, I knew it would not happen.
 |
| This is not a MTB race, nor is it a CX race...The joy of Paris-Roubaix! |
Once I arrived at work I proceeded to change out of my wet gear and into clothes suitable for work. After removing my socks and knee warmers, it looked like I had quite the tan lines. I was actually surprised at how much road grit and mud stuck to my legs and face. Had I taken a picture, you would have thought it was the end of summer, not the end of spring.
On the way home, I wondered if I could actually get more crud on me. I kept thinking there was a pretty good chance due to the amount of wind, that I was riding through, and the logging trucks that kept passing me. Like this morning, I was not thinking and did not take a picture...However, I did think to plug the shower drain. Once finishing my shower, I was pretty impressed with how dirty the water was.
You are probably thinking, "Wow, some 36 year old man-child this guy is!". Guess what??? You are exactly right, but sometimes you just need to unleash the child from within. I keep thinking that I would not have enjoyed the ride if I were serious and not thinking silly childish thoughts.
 |
| My first big boy bike...Hey dad, nice pants |
My message to all...Unleash the child, on occasion, and enjoy the small things while out there riding. Remember the joy of riding when you did not drive. Remember the silly things you would do on a bike. Remember the fun you had riding through deep puddles, while watching the spray go everywhere.
 |
| photo from Ciao Bambino. Look at the joy on their faces |
Sometimes it is just nice to ride with no plan, and to take pleasure in the small things. Tomorrow I can get back on track and be the serious adult I so rarely am!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Summer Fun...almost
Work is quickly coming to a close, and summer is about to begin. Actually, in the Pacific Northwest summer does not really begin until July 5th...but really, who cares! I look forward to summer because the rain finally ends, the temperatures climb, and I can ride for endless hours (Please do not share that with Bella...she has other ideas).
Summer Plan #1
Take a vacation - 1 - Bella and I are going to the Columbia River Gorge shortly after school is out. While there, we will visit all our favorite eateries and grape producers. In order for me to experience life to the fullest (read as: eat as much as I can at every sitting) I will need to bring my bike.
Every trip down, rain or shine, I bring my bike. Sometimes I bike past the local wineries, sometimes I bike up into the hills, and sometimes I just manage to find a never ending head wind while enjoying views the river. It really does not matter, I just love biking down there and enjoying the beautiful views.
Take a vacation - 2 - Just after returning from the Gorge, Bella and I will fly out to the east coast to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday...Pretty amazing in my mind. Of course I cannot visit the Appalachian Mountains without renting a bike (Please do NOT share with Bella). The only reason I think we have mountains is for people like me to ride up them.
Summer Plan #2
Grilling and BBQing...Really what else is summer for??? I plan to have lots of friends (read as: all 4 of them) come out to my house for amazing beverages and my VERY special grilled Brats. Please do not send hate mail, I am not talking about your children, my neighbors children, or any children for that matter, I am talking about Bratwursts.
Summer Plan #3
TEARs...I am not crying yet, but by the end of The Epic Annual Ride series I most likely will. In addition to the TEARs rides, I plan on joining up with the Puyallup Cyclopaths for some of their rides. These are some serious cyclists, most of their rides are LONG and involve multiple tough climbs.
Shortly after looking at their ride list, I began having nightmares. I would be on my bike, except I had training wheels and they would be half way up Chinook Pass asking what I was hoping to accomplish. OK not really, but one member did Cayuse Pass repeats recently which resulted in 10,000 feet of climbing. Yes, that is a lot. Yes, it is borderline crazy. Yes, I think their name is a play on words...psychopaths!
Summer Plan #4
Spend time with the most amazing person I know...Bella. She is truly the person behind the wind up toy. Yes I am the wind up toy, and yes she often refers to me as such. Without Bella's never ending support, I could not accomplish half of what I do.
Since this is a super secret blog, I know Bella with not know of the intricate details of Summer Plan #4, I can probably steer our path towards things we both enjoy. This hopefully will rule out shopping. I would rather have a spinal tap a day, than go shopping. I would rather ride up a mountain with training wheels, than go shopping. The more I think of it, there is not much I would not rather do instead of shopping.
Summer Plan #5
Try to find a way to relax. I am not very good at it, I rarely enjoy it, and quite frankly it is a little boring.
Summer Plan #1
Take a vacation - 1 - Bella and I are going to the Columbia River Gorge shortly after school is out. While there, we will visit all our favorite eateries and grape producers. In order for me to experience life to the fullest (read as: eat as much as I can at every sitting) I will need to bring my bike.
 |
| Cascade Cliffs |
Every trip down, rain or shine, I bring my bike. Sometimes I bike past the local wineries, sometimes I bike up into the hills, and sometimes I just manage to find a never ending head wind while enjoying views the river. It really does not matter, I just love biking down there and enjoying the beautiful views.
 |
| Mt Hood int the distance |
Take a vacation - 2 - Just after returning from the Gorge, Bella and I will fly out to the east coast to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday...Pretty amazing in my mind. Of course I cannot visit the Appalachian Mountains without renting a bike (Please do NOT share with Bella). The only reason I think we have mountains is for people like me to ride up them.
 |
| Dad, Aunt D, and the legend named Pop Pop |
Summer Plan #2
Grilling and BBQing...Really what else is summer for??? I plan to have lots of friends (read as: all 4 of them) come out to my house for amazing beverages and my VERY special grilled Brats. Please do not send hate mail, I am not talking about your children, my neighbors children, or any children for that matter, I am talking about Bratwursts.
Summer Plan #3
TEARs...I am not crying yet, but by the end of The Epic Annual Ride series I most likely will. In addition to the TEARs rides, I plan on joining up with the Puyallup Cyclopaths for some of their rides. These are some serious cyclists, most of their rides are LONG and involve multiple tough climbs.
Shortly after looking at their ride list, I began having nightmares. I would be on my bike, except I had training wheels and they would be half way up Chinook Pass asking what I was hoping to accomplish. OK not really, but one member did Cayuse Pass repeats recently which resulted in 10,000 feet of climbing. Yes, that is a lot. Yes, it is borderline crazy. Yes, I think their name is a play on words...psychopaths!
 |
| Chinook Pass elevation sign |
Summer Plan #4
Spend time with the most amazing person I know...Bella. She is truly the person behind the wind up toy. Yes I am the wind up toy, and yes she often refers to me as such. Without Bella's never ending support, I could not accomplish half of what I do.
Since this is a super secret blog, I know Bella with not know of the intricate details of Summer Plan #4, I can probably steer our path towards things we both enjoy. This hopefully will rule out shopping. I would rather have a spinal tap a day, than go shopping. I would rather ride up a mountain with training wheels, than go shopping. The more I think of it, there is not much I would not rather do instead of shopping.
Summer Plan #5
Try to find a way to relax. I am not very good at it, I rarely enjoy it, and quite frankly it is a little boring.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Mutual of Enumclaw Day 2
Well...That did not go quite as expected.
Upon early arrival, I immediately noticed the darkening skies. Within about 15 minutes there was a light drizzle, 10 minutes later it was a light rain, and by race start it was just raining. Since I am not a boyscout, I did not follow their motto of always being prepared. By race finish, I was soaked to the bone and shivering pretty good.
As I said in my last post (Mutual of Enumclaw Day 1), I had plans of a top 10 GC finish. I was pretty nervous about the climb going into the race, but I was determined to perform well. Turns out I did great on 85% of the climb, but in the last section I lost all power.
If you have ever raced, then you know that when you lose power on a climb gaps open quite quickly. Once you are riding solo there is practically no hope for catching the lead group, which is exactly what happened to me. I went on a long solo chase, caught and passed a few guys along the way, and worked with another to try an close a gap on three other guys. Had there been one more mile, I think we would have caught them.
For the most part the race was pretty uneventful, which is directly due to me losing contact on the climb. However there were to moments worthy of extreme heart rate jumps.
The first occurred on the last few miles of the race. At the bottom of the descent from Mud Mt Dam there is a 90 degree right hand turn. It was my turn to pull, and I went into the turn hot...too hot evidently! I guess the other rider saw this and lucky for both of us, he let a gap form. As I took the turn, my rear wheel started to hop and slide out from under me. I think this was a result of the slick cross walk paint. Once it happens, there is not much you can do other than work to stay up. If you want to go down, it is as easy as hitting the brakes...I did not.
The second moment was in the last 200 m of the race. My legs were pretty much shot from the long solo effort and then working hard with the other rider to close the gap that was never closed. As we rounded the corner I took a small draft, accelerated and was able to out sprint him for 12th place. This is another good result to put on the boards, but also somewhat disappointing.
I knew there was going to be a big time gap, and I knew it would result in me not getting my top 10 GC. Turns out I was right, and I missed 10th overall by 2 seconds...TWO STUPID, MEASLY SECONDS!!!
I was pretty disappointed when I arrived home, but my two #1 fans greeted me and told me that there was nothing to worry about. Bella and Buster were both stoked and keep reminding me that I did a great job over the weekend.
I know the disappointment will wear off, I know I will be proud of the work and effort I did leading up to the race and during the race, and I know I will be more motivated to work harder for any other races I choose to enter.
Upon early arrival, I immediately noticed the darkening skies. Within about 15 minutes there was a light drizzle, 10 minutes later it was a light rain, and by race start it was just raining. Since I am not a boyscout, I did not follow their motto of always being prepared. By race finish, I was soaked to the bone and shivering pretty good.
As I said in my last post (Mutual of Enumclaw Day 1), I had plans of a top 10 GC finish. I was pretty nervous about the climb going into the race, but I was determined to perform well. Turns out I did great on 85% of the climb, but in the last section I lost all power.
 |
| Quite the selection...Still had not been dropped! |
For the most part the race was pretty uneventful, which is directly due to me losing contact on the climb. However there were to moments worthy of extreme heart rate jumps.
The first occurred on the last few miles of the race. At the bottom of the descent from Mud Mt Dam there is a 90 degree right hand turn. It was my turn to pull, and I went into the turn hot...too hot evidently! I guess the other rider saw this and lucky for both of us, he let a gap form. As I took the turn, my rear wheel started to hop and slide out from under me. I think this was a result of the slick cross walk paint. Once it happens, there is not much you can do other than work to stay up. If you want to go down, it is as easy as hitting the brakes...I did not.
The second moment was in the last 200 m of the race. My legs were pretty much shot from the long solo effort and then working hard with the other rider to close the gap that was never closed. As we rounded the corner I took a small draft, accelerated and was able to out sprint him for 12th place. This is another good result to put on the boards, but also somewhat disappointing.
 |
| That would be me taking the sprint |
I was pretty disappointed when I arrived home, but my two #1 fans greeted me and told me that there was nothing to worry about. Bella and Buster were both stoked and keep reminding me that I did a great job over the weekend.
I know the disappointment will wear off, I know I will be proud of the work and effort I did leading up to the race and during the race, and I know I will be more motivated to work harder for any other races I choose to enter.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Mutual of Enumclaw Day 1
P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E!!! That is what I felt when I went to bed last night, woke up in the middle of the night, and when I awoke in the morning. Why did I feel pressure? Not because Bella expected me to crush everyone, not because my parents had high expectations (do they ever?), but because I had high expectations.
I peaked a few weeks ago, but my results have continued. Going into the Mutual of Enumclaw (M of E) I had yet to crack the top 10, and I desperately wanted to place in the top 10...desperately! Last year I was able to score a 9th place in the Crit, but the rest was not so good.
Per my usual routine:
1 - I arrived nearly two hours early
2 - Found the spot I used from the previous year
3 - Put together all my gear
4 - Waited for Scott and David
Once they arrived, we set up the pop-up tent and made sure we looked officially PRO. We then quickly decided that Scott had to get moving, and FAST. His TT start time was not far off, David's and mine were shortly after his.
My goal going into the 6.3 mile TT was to go sub 16 minutes. Last year I did the TT in 16:54. I am now fully healed from the accident, and significantly stronger. I have also added clip on aero-bars, so I felt that my goal was within reach.
As usual I forgot to start my computer, so I was unsure of my time when finishing. I have ridden the course 3-4 times in the last few weeks, so I was familiar with the ups, downs and turns. I also knew that I would have a "carrot" 30 seconds ahead of me.
With all TT's there is one thing you are going to experience...PAIN! From start to finish, and then for a bit longer. Your lungs feel as if they are going to explode and your legs are on constant fire. If you do not feel this, then you did not go hard enough...I would say that I felt this ,on a scale of 1-10, as a 21.
I was excited to see the results back at the staging area, but they were not immediately ready. Scott and I decided to meet up with Chris, from Old Town, and chat about all things important...Wold Hunger, World Peace, CERN and the LHC, Star Trek vs Star Wars...You know real life and world changing topics. OK, all we really talked about was cycling, but it sure was fun.
Once finished with the important stuff, we all proceeded to eagerly check out the results. Chris did really well (Cat 4 - Top 10), Scott (Cat 5 - 22), David (Cat 5 - 14), and yours truly (Cat 5 - 8 - 15:38). Yes, I was sub 16 minutes. Yes, I was top 10. Check and Check...In my honest opinion, not too shabby for a TT.
The afternoon featured a Criterium, Crit, which is usually less than 1 mile with some turns and very fast. Crit's are not my favorite as they are a recipe for crashes, but in this type of stage race you have no choice.
Bella was kind enough to come out and support me and the guys. Our friend Roc also joined Bella, and then I received a great surprise as my neighbor, his wife, and their daughter also came to show their support...P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E. In addition to these special people, I want to thank all of Enumclaw and other local towns. There were a lot of people out to watch and support us...It was a great experience.
True to my concerns, there was nearly a crash right in front of me...On the very first lap. The guy I was following, at nearly 26 mph, hit his front wheel on the person in front of him. Had he fallen, which usually happens, I would have most likely been taken out. Luckily that did not happen.
There was a lot of fighting for position throughout the race, but I managed to stay in the top half of the field. My fan section was cheering me on, along with all the other supporters, which really energized all of us racers. The closer we got to the finish, the faster and more risky the race became.
With about 2 laps to go, David and I were rounding the second corner. All the sudden there was a rider down directly in our paths. David slammed on his breaks, I slammed on my brakes, we both got nearly sideways. I was able to regain control pretty quickly, but David slammed into the curb...Somehow he did not go down and was able to get back in the race.
The straight to the finish had a tailwind, and we were flying. I was trying to be patient, maybe too patient, and waited on a riders wheel. I finally made my move with about 100m to go and was able to score a 7th...Oh that's right, another top 10.
Obviously I am now home, and my legs are fried. There is now even more pressure, as a true top 10 GC finish is achievable. I will post another update tomorrow, and hopefully have some good to GREAT news.
I peaked a few weeks ago, but my results have continued. Going into the Mutual of Enumclaw (M of E) I had yet to crack the top 10, and I desperately wanted to place in the top 10...desperately! Last year I was able to score a 9th place in the Crit, but the rest was not so good.
Per my usual routine:
1 - I arrived nearly two hours early
2 - Found the spot I used from the previous year
3 - Put together all my gear
4 - Waited for Scott and David
 |
| Gear ready to go...Nice number |
Once they arrived, we set up the pop-up tent and made sure we looked officially PRO. We then quickly decided that Scott had to get moving, and FAST. His TT start time was not far off, David's and mine were shortly after his.
 |
| Can you say PRO...Scott Right and Me Left |
My goal going into the 6.3 mile TT was to go sub 16 minutes. Last year I did the TT in 16:54. I am now fully healed from the accident, and significantly stronger. I have also added clip on aero-bars, so I felt that my goal was within reach.
As usual I forgot to start my computer, so I was unsure of my time when finishing. I have ridden the course 3-4 times in the last few weeks, so I was familiar with the ups, downs and turns. I also knew that I would have a "carrot" 30 seconds ahead of me.
With all TT's there is one thing you are going to experience...PAIN! From start to finish, and then for a bit longer. Your lungs feel as if they are going to explode and your legs are on constant fire. If you do not feel this, then you did not go hard enough...I would say that I felt this ,on a scale of 1-10, as a 21.
I was excited to see the results back at the staging area, but they were not immediately ready. Scott and I decided to meet up with Chris, from Old Town, and chat about all things important...Wold Hunger, World Peace, CERN and the LHC, Star Trek vs Star Wars...You know real life and world changing topics. OK, all we really talked about was cycling, but it sure was fun.
 |
| CERN - LHC |
Once finished with the important stuff, we all proceeded to eagerly check out the results. Chris did really well (Cat 4 - Top 10), Scott (Cat 5 - 22), David (Cat 5 - 14), and yours truly (Cat 5 - 8 - 15:38). Yes, I was sub 16 minutes. Yes, I was top 10. Check and Check...In my honest opinion, not too shabby for a TT.
 |
| Time Trial Results |
The afternoon featured a Criterium, Crit, which is usually less than 1 mile with some turns and very fast. Crit's are not my favorite as they are a recipe for crashes, but in this type of stage race you have no choice.
Bella was kind enough to come out and support me and the guys. Our friend Roc also joined Bella, and then I received a great surprise as my neighbor, his wife, and their daughter also came to show their support...P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E. In addition to these special people, I want to thank all of Enumclaw and other local towns. There were a lot of people out to watch and support us...It was a great experience.
 |
| David Center and Me Left |
True to my concerns, there was nearly a crash right in front of me...On the very first lap. The guy I was following, at nearly 26 mph, hit his front wheel on the person in front of him. Had he fallen, which usually happens, I would have most likely been taken out. Luckily that did not happen.
There was a lot of fighting for position throughout the race, but I managed to stay in the top half of the field. My fan section was cheering me on, along with all the other supporters, which really energized all of us racers. The closer we got to the finish, the faster and more risky the race became.
With about 2 laps to go, David and I were rounding the second corner. All the sudden there was a rider down directly in our paths. David slammed on his breaks, I slammed on my brakes, we both got nearly sideways. I was able to regain control pretty quickly, but David slammed into the curb...Somehow he did not go down and was able to get back in the race.
The straight to the finish had a tailwind, and we were flying. I was trying to be patient, maybe too patient, and waited on a riders wheel. I finally made my move with about 100m to go and was able to score a 7th...Oh that's right, another top 10.
 |
| Criterium Results |
Obviously I am now home, and my legs are fried. There is now even more pressure, as a true top 10 GC finish is achievable. I will post another update tomorrow, and hopefully have some good to GREAT news.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Upcoming plans
With this being my last scheduled race for the season, I need to find additional motivation to continue training hard. Each summer I like to do at least one "epic" ride. However, this summer I will try to do three (maybe more!) epic rides. This is going to be tough to fit in, but I am determined.
Being the SUPER DUPER intelligent guy I am, I have already come up with a catchy name. The rides will forever more be known as TEARs...The Epic Annual Ride series...So hard you will want to cry. What do you think??? My thought is that if one epic ride is good, more epics rides must be more gooder!!!
My first epic ride was from Greenwater, Wa out to Sunrise (Mt. Rainier National Park 6400 ft), down from Sunrise and up to Cayuse Pass (elevation 4675 ft), left to Chinook Pass (5430 ft), then down from Chinook and Cayuse to a small forest road climb before heading back to Greenwater. Check out the link (1st epic ride) or I can give you a quick brief...or you can look at the link and still read my quick brief...or you can just say I am full of hogwash and close your browser window immediately for fear of the initiation of dooms day before Dec. 21, 2012.
100.1 miles
8,026 ft of climbing
5:55 of riding, but 8:13 total time (all climbs are at individuals pace, so there is waiting...also food time)
3898 calories burned...I ate and imbibed well that evening
8 categorized climbs
This will definitely be one of the rides.
I have some other rides in mind, but am not quite sure yet. If you are local (Wa State) and have ideas, I am definitely open to suggestions to make TEARs amazing and routes for TEARs. Please post any suggestions in the comments section.
One suggestion I have already received is a T-shirt for the ride. I already have some ideas, and depending on the number of rides, and riders, in the "series", you get a shirt for completing a certain number of the rides.
I really hope this takes off, and the more riders the merrier. I will post dates and times for each ride, and all are welcome to join.
Yours Truly,
RidingwithRod
Being the SUPER DUPER intelligent guy I am, I have already come up with a catchy name. The rides will forever more be known as TEARs...The Epic Annual Ride series...So hard you will want to cry. What do you think??? My thought is that if one epic ride is good, more epics rides must be more gooder!!!
My first epic ride was from Greenwater, Wa out to Sunrise (Mt. Rainier National Park 6400 ft), down from Sunrise and up to Cayuse Pass (elevation 4675 ft), left to Chinook Pass (5430 ft), then down from Chinook and Cayuse to a small forest road climb before heading back to Greenwater. Check out the link (1st epic ride) or I can give you a quick brief...or you can look at the link and still read my quick brief...or you can just say I am full of hogwash and close your browser window immediately for fear of the initiation of dooms day before Dec. 21, 2012.
100.1 miles
8,026 ft of climbing
5:55 of riding, but 8:13 total time (all climbs are at individuals pace, so there is waiting...also food time)
3898 calories burned...I ate and imbibed well that evening
8 categorized climbs
 |
| 7/15 at Sunrise...awesome |
This will definitely be one of the rides.
I have some other rides in mind, but am not quite sure yet. If you are local (Wa State) and have ideas, I am definitely open to suggestions to make TEARs amazing and routes for TEARs. Please post any suggestions in the comments section.
One suggestion I have already received is a T-shirt for the ride. I already have some ideas, and depending on the number of rides, and riders, in the "series", you get a shirt for completing a certain number of the rides.
I really hope this takes off, and the more riders the merrier. I will post dates and times for each ride, and all are welcome to join.
Yours Truly,
RidingwithRod
Thursday, May 17, 2012
My aerobars
Bella was kind enough to pick up my clip on aero-bars, the other night, and today I was all ready to get them on the bike.
If you have read my bike repair stand post you will know that I am not the most mechanically inclined. Against my better judgement, I opened the box and to a peek at the directions. I figured that they could only help me right???
Evidently, the installation is so easy that you really do not need pictures or much in the way of directions.
This is where I was about 15 minutes into the process, and you are probably thinking
"Rod, there is only one bar...you can't ride like that." My response for you, "You are very astute...impressive." Turns out one of the screws threads are worn and will not grab when I try to mount the other bar. The result, the bar will not stay in proper position and I have a problem.
Now I am sitting in my PJ bottoms and awesome Bucs shirt, have bed head and am frustrated with PB for making me have to deal with this situation. I assume that I need to get dressed (not going to Walmart, so current outfit is out), get in my car (was not in the plan today), drive 40 minutes to Tacoma (I am a slow driver...I once saw a Yugo running on 2 cylinders pass me),
deal with the actual people at PB (not in the plan for today), and hope that they can replace the screw...I do not want to take off the, already set, .5 aero-bar and return the whole thing.
Made the phone call, and PB told me I did have to take of the one aero-bar. This is not shaping up like I wanted.
I made the drive out, exchanged, drove back, ate lunch, installed aero-bars, changed into official cycling gear, and hit the road. The plan was to preview the TT course, again, then do the climb twice. Because of lost time I only did the climb once, but I hit it pretty hard and earn a new PR for my efforts!
Back to the aero-bars...Not the most comfortable. I know I should move my seat forward and up, but I do not want to mess with something that is dialed in when I am not using the aero-bars (99.99999% of the time). I was very happy with my time, and how I paced myself. I think I will improve more on the day of racing, due to being able to chase a carrot the whole way.
My goal, which would make the aero-bars worth the cost, time and effort, would be sub 16 minutes. If I can hit 15:30, I could be looking at a podium for the TT...How sweat would that be? A guy with nothing aero, other than some cheap clip on aero-bars...Take that you TT bike sporting fella's!
.JPG) |
| cheap and easy aero addition for a road bike |
If you have read my bike repair stand post you will know that I am not the most mechanically inclined. Against my better judgement, I opened the box and to a peek at the directions. I figured that they could only help me right???
.JPG) |
| guess I really do not need these |
Evidently, the installation is so easy that you really do not need pictures or much in the way of directions.
This is where I was about 15 minutes into the process, and you are probably thinking
.JPG) |
| hard to ride aero with one bar |
"Rod, there is only one bar...you can't ride like that." My response for you, "You are very astute...impressive." Turns out one of the screws threads are worn and will not grab when I try to mount the other bar. The result, the bar will not stay in proper position and I have a problem.
.JPG) |
| gotta love the bed head...that little screw was loose |
Now I am sitting in my PJ bottoms and awesome Bucs shirt, have bed head and am frustrated with PB for making me have to deal with this situation. I assume that I need to get dressed (not going to Walmart, so current outfit is out), get in my car (was not in the plan today), drive 40 minutes to Tacoma (I am a slow driver...I once saw a Yugo running on 2 cylinders pass me),
 |
| I do not believe I need to really add anything... |
Made the phone call, and PB told me I did have to take of the one aero-bar. This is not shaping up like I wanted.
I made the drive out, exchanged, drove back, ate lunch, installed aero-bars, changed into official cycling gear, and hit the road. The plan was to preview the TT course, again, then do the climb twice. Because of lost time I only did the climb once, but I hit it pretty hard and earn a new PR for my efforts!
Back to the aero-bars...Not the most comfortable. I know I should move my seat forward and up, but I do not want to mess with something that is dialed in when I am not using the aero-bars (99.99999% of the time). I was very happy with my time, and how I paced myself. I think I will improve more on the day of racing, due to being able to chase a carrot the whole way.
My goal, which would make the aero-bars worth the cost, time and effort, would be sub 16 minutes. If I can hit 15:30, I could be looking at a podium for the TT...How sweat would that be? A guy with nothing aero, other than some cheap clip on aero-bars...Take that you TT bike sporting fella's!
 |
| The competition I will be facing...definitely meant for straight line speed |
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
My season finale
Or maybe not...
This weekend is the Mutual of Enumclaw (MoE), and it is the only stage race in my area that I am able to participate in due to work. Saturday starts with a quick TT, in the morning, then I have a 20 or 30 minute Crit in the afternoon, and culminates with a 30 mile road race Sunday. I wish the Crit and RR were longer, but "if wishes were horses..."
Last year I did the race and experienced how tough it is to over come a bad TT. It was not that I performed poorly, I averaged 22.1 mph, I just did not have anything aero. I finished 9th in the Crit, so I made up a few seconds on others, but had no real hope of a top 10. As a result I tried to break the field on the climb, a real beast, so that my teammates could move up in position. I did not break the field, did explode, put on a good chase, never caught back on, but did hurt enough people so that my teammate moved into 3rd for the GC. That was plenty reward!
Recently, I borrowed a pair of clip on aerobars and practiced using them on the TT route. My plan was to not go all out, as in the race, so that I could get a feel for them. First thing I noticed...TWITCHY!!! Second, "wow they are fast." Third, I am awful with directions and took a wrong turn, TWICE. Luckily I noticed right away and was able to get back on course, the first time. The result...I would have finished in 8th place for last years TT, including my time lost for the wrong turns. Guess what??? I now own a pair of clip on aerobars.
Thursday I plan to ride the course again, hopefully the correct route without any wrong turns, and will attack it as if it were the actual TT. I cannot wait to see my performance, compare it to the other day, and also compare it to last years results.
I also plan to ride the road race course on Thursday, even though I am fairly familiar with the route. I just want to get one more experience on the climb, and plan to attack the climb near race pace. It is always amazing how much faster we go in races, compared to riding as an individual or as a casual group. Competitive juices make for lots of speed!
After Thursday's ride I pan to give my baby a through wash down, lube her up, and make her sparkle like the $1,000,000 she is! Then I will meticulously set out all my gear, check, double, triple, and quadruple check that everything is present and in order.
Hopefully all goes well and I secure at least a top 10 GC finish...I have yet to crack the top 10 this year, so an overall top 10 would be a pretty spectacular finish for the season...or maybe not the end of the season.
There are still summer Crits and a couple of scattered road races that are accessible to me, but I am not sure if Bella is willing to spare summer time for them. The one summer race I do have an eye on requires a different bike than I have, so I must sell my Bianchi ASAP if I plan to race it. In my mind the race is Strade Bianche. Minus being in Italy, the pro's, steep climbs, and long miles...otherwise it is the EXACTLY the same race.
Even if I do not race, I plan to log lots of miles. Currently I average 160 miles a week, and hope to get near 225 miles a week during the summer. My goal in January was to log between 8,000 and 9,000 miles for the year...It should be within reach.
This weekend is the Mutual of Enumclaw (MoE), and it is the only stage race in my area that I am able to participate in due to work. Saturday starts with a quick TT, in the morning, then I have a 20 or 30 minute Crit in the afternoon, and culminates with a 30 mile road race Sunday. I wish the Crit and RR were longer, but "if wishes were horses..."
Last year I did the race and experienced how tough it is to over come a bad TT. It was not that I performed poorly, I averaged 22.1 mph, I just did not have anything aero. I finished 9th in the Crit, so I made up a few seconds on others, but had no real hope of a top 10. As a result I tried to break the field on the climb, a real beast, so that my teammates could move up in position. I did not break the field, did explode, put on a good chase, never caught back on, but did hurt enough people so that my teammate moved into 3rd for the GC. That was plenty reward!
 |
| Opening a small gap in the Crit |
Thursday I plan to ride the course again, hopefully the correct route without any wrong turns, and will attack it as if it were the actual TT. I cannot wait to see my performance, compare it to the other day, and also compare it to last years results.
I also plan to ride the road race course on Thursday, even though I am fairly familiar with the route. I just want to get one more experience on the climb, and plan to attack the climb near race pace. It is always amazing how much faster we go in races, compared to riding as an individual or as a casual group. Competitive juices make for lots of speed!
 |
| picture of the molecules from my competitive juices. |
 |
| sexy, beautiful, amazing, fast...I am in lust!!! |
There are still summer Crits and a couple of scattered road races that are accessible to me, but I am not sure if Bella is willing to spare summer time for them. The one summer race I do have an eye on requires a different bike than I have, so I must sell my Bianchi ASAP if I plan to race it. In my mind the race is Strade Bianche. Minus being in Italy, the pro's, steep climbs, and long miles...otherwise it is the EXACTLY the same race.
 |
| Strade Bianche...how awesome! |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A good friend
Today I am writing about a good friend...Jack. Jack, my German Sheppard, passed away this morning from an auto-immune disease. It was sudden and unexpected, luckily he was not in pain.
Jack was an interesting, always excited dog. He was 110lbs, not fat, but thought he was about 5 lbs. If given the opportunity, he would crawl onto your lap. He would bump into you, nearly making you fly across the room. In the mornings, he would push Bella out of the way so that he could lay on the bathroom floor between her and the sink (I think he liked getting hair spray and make-up on him). I often refer to Jack's tail as a lethal weapon, and we tried to keep everything higher than tail level for fear of his tail destroying any and all objects.
Jack loved to play, whether you wanted to or not. I can remember a time when a neighbor walked into my house and Jack greeted him by practically swallow the neighbors arm. We would often buy Jack the "indestructible" KONG toys. They lasted about a month, but he sure had a good time playing fetch and just chewing.
Jack was the ultimate house dog. There was no other place he would rather be, than with us and in the house. I remember a time when we went down to a friends property. They had 4 German Shepard's, and owned about 5 acres of forested land. Jack played with the other dogs for about 2 minutes, and then sat at the window waiting to come in. He could have run and play all day, but he just wanted to be inside. Same thing would happen at our house.
Jack loved to do chores...well...he loved watching me do chores. Jack would sit on the front porch making sure that I mowed the lawn correctly. In case you are wondering how to mow a lawn correctly...Jack always wanted straight lines. One week had to be up/down, then next left/right, and finally diagonal. He truly believed this made for a pretty and healthy lawn. Jack also enjoyed watching me wash the car, pull weeds, and last but not least pick up his deposits from the back.
Aside from me and Bella, Jack's best friend was Buster (our Fox Terrier). Buster is 15 lbs, but totally rules the roost. Jack would love to lay on the ground and play with buster. Buster would use his short tail to hit jack in the face, Jack would use his paw (nearly the size of Buster's head) to push him around. This would go on for hours, and Jack would be as happy as a mud lark.
One of Jack's favorite activities was watching me work on my bike. No sooner than I would get my chain clean and re-lubed, he would brush against it and coat the chain in fur. Jack also loved to try and bite my wheel as it spun...I am not sure why, as there is no reflector, but he loved it and I always had to watch out. Tubeless tires are not cheap.
I really believe Jack loved cycling, or at least the end result of me cycling. After a ride, Jack would run up, nearly knocking me to the ground, and then proceed to lick me. I always told Bella he was just cleaning me so I could then give her a hug. Bella is not a fan of stinky, sweaty hugs. Jack was our intermediary.
Today on my ride to and from work, I thought of Jack. I did not push it hard, rather I just took it casual and observed the scenery. Both Bella and I will miss Jack and all his goofiness that I did not have time to describe. A part of our family is gone, and we will miss him.
 |
| We made sure there was plenty of room for "deposits" |
Jack loved to play, whether you wanted to or not. I can remember a time when a neighbor walked into my house and Jack greeted him by practically swallow the neighbors arm. We would often buy Jack the "indestructible" KONG toys. They lasted about a month, but he sure had a good time playing fetch and just chewing.
Jack was the ultimate house dog. There was no other place he would rather be, than with us and in the house. I remember a time when we went down to a friends property. They had 4 German Shepard's, and owned about 5 acres of forested land. Jack played with the other dogs for about 2 minutes, and then sat at the window waiting to come in. He could have run and play all day, but he just wanted to be inside. Same thing would happen at our house.
Jack loved to do chores...well...he loved watching me do chores. Jack would sit on the front porch making sure that I mowed the lawn correctly. In case you are wondering how to mow a lawn correctly...Jack always wanted straight lines. One week had to be up/down, then next left/right, and finally diagonal. He truly believed this made for a pretty and healthy lawn. Jack also enjoyed watching me wash the car, pull weeds, and last but not least pick up his deposits from the back.
Aside from me and Bella, Jack's best friend was Buster (our Fox Terrier). Buster is 15 lbs, but totally rules the roost. Jack would love to lay on the ground and play with buster. Buster would use his short tail to hit jack in the face, Jack would use his paw (nearly the size of Buster's head) to push him around. This would go on for hours, and Jack would be as happy as a mud lark.
I really believe Jack loved cycling, or at least the end result of me cycling. After a ride, Jack would run up, nearly knocking me to the ground, and then proceed to lick me. I always told Bella he was just cleaning me so I could then give her a hug. Bella is not a fan of stinky, sweaty hugs. Jack was our intermediary.
Today on my ride to and from work, I thought of Jack. I did not push it hard, rather I just took it casual and observed the scenery. Both Bella and I will miss Jack and all his goofiness that I did not have time to describe. A part of our family is gone, and we will miss him.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Today...May 13th
This post has nothing to do with cycling...
I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom. She has always been there for me, guided me, and taught me many, many, MANY tough lessons. Without her I would not be the man I am today.
I love you mom.
I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom. She has always been there for me, guided me, and taught me many, many, MANY tough lessons. Without her I would not be the man I am today.
I love you mom.
Ravensdale Road Race
Today was the Ravensdale Road Race, and if you did not know, which I am sure you did not, it holds a very special place in my heart. Why you ask? Because in all my years of racing, 1 year :), it was my first break through and finish with the peloton. Last year was quite a learning experience, and recovery period (Recovery 1 and Recovery 2). It was highlighted by Ravensdale and my first acceptable road race result.
Last years race could not have been any more different than this years race. Lat year, overcast skis, some wind, and on/off light rain. This year over 50 F at the start, no real wind, and lots of sun....BEAUTIFUL! Last year I did not have any teammates, friends, or acquaintances in the race. This year I had a teammate, Scott, friend, David, and some acquaintances I have come to know through other races.
As usual, I did not sleep well the night before, and without my knowing, my wife made a bet with the local rooster...who would wake the other first??? Obviously I won sucka! Thanks for the coin. Even the big guy was still sleeping and thought I was nuts.
I took a pic of Bella sleeping, to post, but was told that if I value my life I would make the correct decision...Notice there is no pic, was that the correct decision?
By 4:30 am, I had checked, double, triple and quadruple checked my gear and to reaffirm I had everything. I then settled in to relax. This is code for play on the computer, watch TV, and ponder theories that will change the way science explains the universe. Yes, I am THAT talented.
I left the house around 6:30, and using my amazing ability to navigate (car nav package). I arrived at the race location with plenty of time to set up, check in, use the facilities, and meet a first time racer. It was nice to see someone other than me had the same questions and concerns the first time racing.
Scott decided to wing it, and not look at the directions for the race. I received a call, from Scott, and tried to give him some directions, but I did not really know where he was...I think I played it off pretty well. I gave responses like "There are orange bike signs." and "You should be on Kent-Kangley Rd." I think my directions were effective, Scott arrived about 5 minutes later.
Once Scott arrived, I think he was still unsure if he was at the correct location. I kept trying to reassure him...I even walked Scott over the the event sign. As you can see, Scott deemed it appropriate by giving a closer inspection. What he gathered from the close up inspection that I did not from 5 feet away, I will never know.
After Vance Creek, missing the break and not quite able to bridge the gap, I decided that I would not miss out this week. In all my infinite wisdom, I felt the best way to accomplish this was to cover every single attack...Which I did.
By trying to cover every attack, I had to either sit on the front or very near the front. This is not the best positioning due the amount of work one needs to do, relative to others tucked in the draft. In addition to the amount of work, my legs never felt great...Not bad, but not great.
I really enjoy the Ravensdale race. It has a nice course, some rolling hills, one technical turn and a semi-tough finish. Everyone was safe and knew what they were doing in the peloton...Well everyone but a couple of sketchy guys, but I do not think they have been in groups that large and will learn.
Not much happened on the first 3 laps. Every once in a while Brian, Olympia Ortho, and I would get a small gap on the group, but that would quickly be closed. Others would open a gap and David, Brian, or myself would close it. No one was able to get away until the 4th and last lap.
After making the sharp turn at speed, and approaching the small climb at the end of the race, two guys were finally able to get a break. Brian immediately tried to close them down and got a gap on the rest of us. David and I immediately reacted and slowly reeled in Brian. I then had to slide back in the peloton while we finally worked and caught the two man break.
You could really feel everyone getting nervous as we approached the technical turn. It was the last lap, everyone was working for position, we were going pretty fast, and you did not want to be in the back. Somehow I was stuck behind a person that thought everyone had a right to be in front of him. He would constantly hit his breaks, let the person in and repeat...Over, and Over, and OVER. Next thing I knew, I was at the back of the peloton and we were about 1 mile from the turn.
I noticed Scott was near the front on the right, the shoulder of the road had opened up, and it was smooth asphalt. I made the decision to shoot up the right, but did not want to remain there for the turn. I was surprised I was the only one using this strip of road to move, and Scott gave me room to pass him.
I was now on the front, able to slide to the left for the sharp right turn, and take the correct line. As we went through the turn, a person on my inside drifted out of their line a bit. This made me slide to the left some, which resulted in a little verbal sparring with another rider, in this individuals mind soon to be pro. He was not happy that I came off my line, which only means that he would have preferred a crash right in front of him.
I thought the disagreement was over, and was riding near the yellow line (not allowed to cross, and if you do, it results in an immediate DQ). The same rider decided to try and force me across the line. Needless to say I did not appreciate his banter or classless move and let him know.
We soon approached the 1K to go and the speed started to pick up...just in time for the finishing hills. I decided to move forward, but do so patiently. There were some guys passing me, but I knew they would not be able to hold the pace. Just before 200m I started to make my move. I noticed that both David and Scott were up the road, but David had misjudged his effort and was sliding back. Scott was going strong and I used him as a carrot.
Once past Scott I got out of the saddle to muster up some extra speed, then sat and picked a line to the left. I was still passing people. The finishing line was quickly approaching, I gave a bit more, and pipped a riding at the line. I am willing to bet that my front tire was about 1 inch ahead of his. It was close...very close.
I was hoping that last effort placed me in the top 20, but was really unsure how many people were in front of me. I was eager to get the results at the staging area. Scott and I soft pedaled back, stowed our gear and put on sneakers. In case you did not know, all PRO cyclist wear the entire kit with sneakers...It just somehow looks awesome to wear spandex with sneakers.
We then walked over and checked out the results...I think it would be an understatement to say I was surprised...
Scott and I waited around. We figured the results would post after the next wave of races went. This gave us time to talk with other guys we know from racing and local rides and was fun. We were also treated to an overly eager rider trying to depart with the wrong group. Luckily for him, his teammates started yelling for him to stop and he quickly made a U-turn.
As we thought, results were posted, shortly thereafter and everyone crowded in. I did not get 20th...I finished 13th! Scott had another good showing, finishing 17th, and David slid into 20th. We all agreed that it was a fun race.
Looking back, I now know that I cannot cover every break in hopes of getting in one. It just uses up too much energy, which is needed at the finish. Next time I will choose a couple of breaks to follow and if they do not succeed at least I raced smarter.
Last years race could not have been any more different than this years race. Lat year, overcast skis, some wind, and on/off light rain. This year over 50 F at the start, no real wind, and lots of sun....BEAUTIFUL! Last year I did not have any teammates, friends, or acquaintances in the race. This year I had a teammate, Scott, friend, David, and some acquaintances I have come to know through other races.
As usual, I did not sleep well the night before, and without my knowing, my wife made a bet with the local rooster...who would wake the other first??? Obviously I won sucka! Thanks for the coin. Even the big guy was still sleeping and thought I was nuts.
 |
| In case the lighting does not give it a way, that is AM |
 |
| This is the BIG guy. 110 lbs of protection |
I took a pic of Bella sleeping, to post, but was told that if I value my life I would make the correct decision...Notice there is no pic, was that the correct decision?
By 4:30 am, I had checked, double, triple and quadruple checked my gear and to reaffirm I had everything. I then settled in to relax. This is code for play on the computer, watch TV, and ponder theories that will change the way science explains the universe. Yes, I am THAT talented.
I left the house around 6:30, and using my amazing ability to navigate (car nav package). I arrived at the race location with plenty of time to set up, check in, use the facilities, and meet a first time racer. It was nice to see someone other than me had the same questions and concerns the first time racing.
 |
| The perfect amount...One race had only two! |
Once Scott arrived, I think he was still unsure if he was at the correct location. I kept trying to reassure him...I even walked Scott over the the event sign. As you can see, Scott deemed it appropriate by giving a closer inspection. What he gathered from the close up inspection that I did not from 5 feet away, I will never know.
 |
| Yes Scott, we really are at the correct location. |
By trying to cover every attack, I had to either sit on the front or very near the front. This is not the best positioning due the amount of work one needs to do, relative to others tucked in the draft. In addition to the amount of work, my legs never felt great...Not bad, but not great.
I really enjoy the Ravensdale race. It has a nice course, some rolling hills, one technical turn and a semi-tough finish. Everyone was safe and knew what they were doing in the peloton...Well everyone but a couple of sketchy guys, but I do not think they have been in groups that large and will learn.
 |
| Center: David, me to his right. Thanks Mrs. David! |
Not much happened on the first 3 laps. Every once in a while Brian, Olympia Ortho, and I would get a small gap on the group, but that would quickly be closed. Others would open a gap and David, Brian, or myself would close it. No one was able to get away until the 4th and last lap.
After making the sharp turn at speed, and approaching the small climb at the end of the race, two guys were finally able to get a break. Brian immediately tried to close them down and got a gap on the rest of us. David and I immediately reacted and slowly reeled in Brian. I then had to slide back in the peloton while we finally worked and caught the two man break.
You could really feel everyone getting nervous as we approached the technical turn. It was the last lap, everyone was working for position, we were going pretty fast, and you did not want to be in the back. Somehow I was stuck behind a person that thought everyone had a right to be in front of him. He would constantly hit his breaks, let the person in and repeat...Over, and Over, and OVER. Next thing I knew, I was at the back of the peloton and we were about 1 mile from the turn.
I noticed Scott was near the front on the right, the shoulder of the road had opened up, and it was smooth asphalt. I made the decision to shoot up the right, but did not want to remain there for the turn. I was surprised I was the only one using this strip of road to move, and Scott gave me room to pass him.
I was now on the front, able to slide to the left for the sharp right turn, and take the correct line. As we went through the turn, a person on my inside drifted out of their line a bit. This made me slide to the left some, which resulted in a little verbal sparring with another rider, in this individuals mind soon to be pro. He was not happy that I came off my line, which only means that he would have preferred a crash right in front of him.
 |
| Map of the course. Circle indicates "THE" sharp turn |
I thought the disagreement was over, and was riding near the yellow line (not allowed to cross, and if you do, it results in an immediate DQ). The same rider decided to try and force me across the line. Needless to say I did not appreciate his banter or classless move and let him know.
We soon approached the 1K to go and the speed started to pick up...just in time for the finishing hills. I decided to move forward, but do so patiently. There were some guys passing me, but I knew they would not be able to hold the pace. Just before 200m I started to make my move. I noticed that both David and Scott were up the road, but David had misjudged his effort and was sliding back. Scott was going strong and I used him as a carrot.
Once past Scott I got out of the saddle to muster up some extra speed, then sat and picked a line to the left. I was still passing people. The finishing line was quickly approaching, I gave a bit more, and pipped a riding at the line. I am willing to bet that my front tire was about 1 inch ahead of his. It was close...very close.
 |
| Scott finishing, and I think he swallowed a fly... |
I was hoping that last effort placed me in the top 20, but was really unsure how many people were in front of me. I was eager to get the results at the staging area. Scott and I soft pedaled back, stowed our gear and put on sneakers. In case you did not know, all PRO cyclist wear the entire kit with sneakers...It just somehow looks awesome to wear spandex with sneakers.
We then walked over and checked out the results...I think it would be an understatement to say I was surprised...
 |
| Pretty high tech...don't you think? |
As we thought, results were posted, shortly thereafter and everyone crowded in. I did not get 20th...I finished 13th! Scott had another good showing, finishing 17th, and David slid into 20th. We all agreed that it was a fun race.
Looking back, I now know that I cannot cover every break in hopes of getting in one. It just uses up too much energy, which is needed at the finish. Next time I will choose a couple of breaks to follow and if they do not succeed at least I raced smarter.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Damn you weather man...Damn you!
We have been in an amazing stretch of good weather lately. So much so, that I have actually been able to ride without a hat, arm warmers, knee warmers, etc. multiple times. This rarely happens until June or July (for me).
Since I commute to and from work (Tuesday's and Thursday's). I have to plan for the cool/cold mornings, and the warmish afternoons. For instance, I could wear my thermal long sleeve jersey in the mornings and be plenty warm, but then die of heat exhaustion on the way home. I only wear that jersey if it is in the 40's F, maybe I will try it on a short ride in the 50's to see how it feels. However, I bet it will be too warm.
Normally I wear my light weight short sleeve jersey, and thermal hat (under my helmet of course), a base layer shirt, bib shorts, and arm and knee warmers. This typically works for temps above 42 F, and then I do not wear the arm and leg warmers for the commute home if it is in the 50's F and sunny.
Today I awoke, watched a little ESPN, then flipped on the "local" news. I live in Buckley, Wa., and the news is broadcast from Seattle, Wa. In a straight line you are only talking about 30 miles, so there should not be much difference....WRONG! The major influence for Seattle is Puget Sound. In the winter the Sound makes Seattle a bit warmer, and in the summer a bit cooler compared to my town.
While watching the weather, I noticed 41 F...I thought how delightful and prepared accordingly. "Think McFly Think." How stupid was that move? Let me just tell you...In a list, because they are so fun!
1 - Actual temperature in Buckley and entire way to work hovered near 33 F.
2 - I was wearing the clothing described above...Not good for near freezing weather.
3 - Wind chill at 33 F, going 20-22 mph, 21 F.
4 - My gloves were not made for that temperature.
5 - My toes were about frozen 10 minutes into the ride.
6 - My hands were frozen instantly. I could barely use them to shift gears, nor could I manipulate my keys once at work.
7 - I was nearly hypothermic.
8 - I am sure I was hallucinating...While climbing the Old Soldier's Home hill, I think I saw Bigfoot sitting outside in a lawn chair roasting marsh mellows over an open fire.
9 - I had to fill my water bottle with near boiling water to sip on and place another similar bottle between my legs (clothed of course) to speed up the warming process
10 - Ten, Ten, Ten, Ten...I forgot what Ten was for. Can you name that tune???
11 - Not sure if there were any kibbles and bits when I finished the ride...Watch Sienfeld - The Hampton's #5.20 (1994) for a good laugh!
So in short, I was a complete lumbering idiot, I totally did not use common sense, and I paid a price that will not be forgotten...until next year :)
Since I commute to and from work (Tuesday's and Thursday's). I have to plan for the cool/cold mornings, and the warmish afternoons. For instance, I could wear my thermal long sleeve jersey in the mornings and be plenty warm, but then die of heat exhaustion on the way home. I only wear that jersey if it is in the 40's F, maybe I will try it on a short ride in the 50's to see how it feels. However, I bet it will be too warm.
Normally I wear my light weight short sleeve jersey, and thermal hat (under my helmet of course), a base layer shirt, bib shorts, and arm and knee warmers. This typically works for temps above 42 F, and then I do not wear the arm and leg warmers for the commute home if it is in the 50's F and sunny.
Today I awoke, watched a little ESPN, then flipped on the "local" news. I live in Buckley, Wa., and the news is broadcast from Seattle, Wa. In a straight line you are only talking about 30 miles, so there should not be much difference....WRONG! The major influence for Seattle is Puget Sound. In the winter the Sound makes Seattle a bit warmer, and in the summer a bit cooler compared to my town.
While watching the weather, I noticed 41 F...I thought how delightful and prepared accordingly. "Think McFly Think." How stupid was that move? Let me just tell you...In a list, because they are so fun!
1 - Actual temperature in Buckley and entire way to work hovered near 33 F.
2 - I was wearing the clothing described above...Not good for near freezing weather.
3 - Wind chill at 33 F, going 20-22 mph, 21 F.
4 - My gloves were not made for that temperature.
5 - My toes were about frozen 10 minutes into the ride.
6 - My hands were frozen instantly. I could barely use them to shift gears, nor could I manipulate my keys once at work.
7 - I was nearly hypothermic.
8 - I am sure I was hallucinating...While climbing the Old Soldier's Home hill, I think I saw Bigfoot sitting outside in a lawn chair roasting marsh mellows over an open fire.
9 - I had to fill my water bottle with near boiling water to sip on and place another similar bottle between my legs (clothed of course) to speed up the warming process
10 - Ten, Ten, Ten, Ten...I forgot what Ten was for. Can you name that tune???
11 - Not sure if there were any kibbles and bits when I finished the ride...Watch Sienfeld - The Hampton's #5.20 (1994) for a good laugh!
So in short, I was a complete lumbering idiot, I totally did not use common sense, and I paid a price that will not be forgotten...until next year :)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
What would be...
What would be...if I did not ride???
1 - I would weight about 350 lbs!!! I was a late to get my growth spurt. So late that in high school I was 5'4". I got pulled over at 16 for "looking too young" to drive. I also weighed next to nothing, yet ate like a man 3 times my size. I ate so much that my grand parents had some loving nicknames for me...the garbage disposal, the black hole, the bottomless pit, etc. I think I can recall a joke about me and a dog fighting to lick a plate clean. I then hit puberty, and grew about 9 inches in one summer...my appetite only increased.
By the time I went to college, I was 6' and a scale crushing 130 lbs. I ate more than I did before, went to the gym to lift weights, played beach volleyball, soccer and participated in Taekwondo. I barely gained weight. My father would joke that I only came to town to clean out his fridge and pantry. While there is some truth to this (it is cheaper to eat Dad's food, than buy food) I also came home to watch reruns of McGyver and spend time with my dad.
By the time I graduated college I was 6'2 and up to about 170 lbs. I continued to play sports, but life got in the way. Soon I was working and imbibing more than exercising. 9/11 happened, and I decided to move from Florida to Washington State. The only person I knew from Washington was...well not a single soul...I quickly met my wife Bella and ate more, while exercising less.
Shortly after we married I had, for me, ballooned to 190 lbs. That is when I started to think I was a cyclist. I became addicted and now consider myself an avid cyclist and Cat 5 racer extraordinaire...My year round weight is currently 165-170 lbs, and I still eat like I did in college.
2 - A total TV/movie nut. I love TV!!! I love old shows: Lost in Space (black and white only), Land of the Giants, Hogan's Hero's, etc. I love 70/80's shows: CHiPs, Benson, Gunsmoke, etc. I love 90's TV: McGyver, Stargate, Highlander, etc. I love Science Fiction movies, Action Movies, Documentaries, Westerns, Fantasy, Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc.
As you can see, I love to be a couch potato. Because I cycle, there is not enough time to watch all my TV shows and movies, ride my bike, and spend quality time with Bella. Cut out 6-8 hrs a week during the school year and 12-15 hours a week during the summer, and I could easily fit in quality time with Bella and my TV/movie addiction. However, as things currently are something must give...Sorry TV/movies...
3 - A total pain in the @$$...I have so much energy that I could single handedly run in a hamster wheel and supply New York City, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Beijing with more than enough power each day. Even as things currently are with my cycling, Bella is on edge with my energy levels. Sometimes I swear she comes up with honey do lists just to get my endless pacing, mumbling, and moving of things away from her.
4 - A total know-it-all...not that I currently am not a know-it-all. No sense in feigning modesty...the truth is the truth, and I know everything about absolutely nothing. If there is something about nothing you need to know, I am your man! If I were not spending all that time on the bike, I would know everything about nothing and everything about everything. Seriously, with all that time I could actually read the entire interweb!
As we all know everything on the interweb is a fact. According to some recent articles read, aliens disable nukes, bigfoot kidnapped me, the world will end in 2012, etc...So, imagine what I could learn with and extra 6-8 hrs a week.
5 - I could write even more blog articles about absolutely nothing interesting to anyone but my mother. My mother thinks I am amazing, perfect the way I am, and can do anything I put my mind mind to.
Rod - "Mom can I be president one day?"
Mom - "Why do you ask me? Why not??? You aren't too old yet."
Rod - "Do you think I could race in the Olympics?"
Mom - "Why do you ask me? Why not??? You aren't too old yet."
Rod - "Mom, will you ever answer me without stating a question?"
Mom - "Why do you ask me? Most likely not, it is genetic."
I think everyone gets the point...Me cycling is a GOOD thing, so let's all say one BIG "collective" thank you. (Please do not make it sound like the Borg though!)
1 - I would weight about 350 lbs!!! I was a late to get my growth spurt. So late that in high school I was 5'4". I got pulled over at 16 for "looking too young" to drive. I also weighed next to nothing, yet ate like a man 3 times my size. I ate so much that my grand parents had some loving nicknames for me...the garbage disposal, the black hole, the bottomless pit, etc. I think I can recall a joke about me and a dog fighting to lick a plate clean. I then hit puberty, and grew about 9 inches in one summer...my appetite only increased.
 |
| My sister and me..she is two years younger and I was a Sophomore |
By the time I graduated college I was 6'2 and up to about 170 lbs. I continued to play sports, but life got in the way. Soon I was working and imbibing more than exercising. 9/11 happened, and I decided to move from Florida to Washington State. The only person I knew from Washington was...well not a single soul...I quickly met my wife Bella and ate more, while exercising less.
 |
| Thanks for the awesome tie dad!!! |
2 - A total TV/movie nut. I love TV!!! I love old shows: Lost in Space (black and white only), Land of the Giants, Hogan's Hero's, etc. I love 70/80's shows: CHiPs, Benson, Gunsmoke, etc. I love 90's TV: McGyver, Stargate, Highlander, etc. I love Science Fiction movies, Action Movies, Documentaries, Westerns, Fantasy, Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc.
 |
| Who was cooler than McGyver, with his awesome mullet?!?!?!?! |
3 - A total pain in the @$$...I have so much energy that I could single handedly run in a hamster wheel and supply New York City, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Beijing with more than enough power each day. Even as things currently are with my cycling, Bella is on edge with my energy levels. Sometimes I swear she comes up with honey do lists just to get my endless pacing, mumbling, and moving of things away from her.
 |
| Results from my last indoor training session...you are welcome New York! |
4 - A total know-it-all...not that I currently am not a know-it-all. No sense in feigning modesty...the truth is the truth, and I know everything about absolutely nothing. If there is something about nothing you need to know, I am your man! If I were not spending all that time on the bike, I would know everything about nothing and everything about everything. Seriously, with all that time I could actually read the entire interweb!
 |
| Bill Nye showing his IQ score relative to mine... |
As we all know everything on the interweb is a fact. According to some recent articles read, aliens disable nukes, bigfoot kidnapped me, the world will end in 2012, etc...So, imagine what I could learn with and extra 6-8 hrs a week.
5 - I could write even more blog articles about absolutely nothing interesting to anyone but my mother. My mother thinks I am amazing, perfect the way I am, and can do anything I put my mind mind to.
Rod - "Mom can I be president one day?"
Mom - "Why do you ask me? Why not??? You aren't too old yet."
Rod - "Do you think I could race in the Olympics?"
Mom - "Why do you ask me? Why not??? You aren't too old yet."
Rod - "Mom, will you ever answer me without stating a question?"
Mom - "Why do you ask me? Most likely not, it is genetic."
I think everyone gets the point...Me cycling is a GOOD thing, so let's all say one BIG "collective" thank you. (Please do not make it sound like the Borg though!)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Getting a win in a race...
This will most likely never happen for me. Not because I do not want to win or due to a lack of competitive nature.
Ask Bella how competitive I am, and she can tell you a multitude of stories....Her favorite story to share is how I take something small and innocuous, her gently tossing a little snow towards me, and me starting a nuclear snow meltdown on her. I think by the time my snow stopped flying her way, there was a 3 square mile area bare of snow (other than her small spot).
I will most likely never win a race due to the violent nature of sprinting. Violent you ask, yes violent. Check out the following clips, and I think you will get an idea.
about 10 seconds in, starts on right...take whole screen
lots of fighting for position, crash at about 40 seconds
In the closing kilometers of a race, teams and individuals fight for positioning. There is bumping, shouldering, sometimes hand pushing, and bikes touching. If lucky, they do not crash during this hectic time period. Oh, do not forget that the pros do all of this while going nearly 55-60 kph (34-37 mph). When the actual sprint begins, pros can go upwards of 73 kph (45 mph).
I have this interesting complex, which I deal with on a daily basis...it is typically called the survival complex. When big, mean, scary people come near me, I turtle up on the ground and pray they do not see me. I use this same trait during racing, and I have yet to find myself involved in a crash during a sprint.
Another reason I will not win, due to sprinting, is that there really is no reward for risking my well being. I will never be a pro (though looking at my amazing physique you might think pro) and I do not get any money for placing (aside from random acts of kindness, still waiting folks). I know that winning would be an awesome feat, and that I could endlessly brag about how well I did in the race. I also know this is in direct conflict with my competitive nature, but survival is important.
The last reason that I will not win during a sprint is the most basic...I really am not that fast. There are people like Mark Cavendish (blazing FASSSSSTTTTTTT), Tyler Farrar (FASSSTTTT), and others. There are animals that qualify too...Cheetah (seriously fast) and my neighbors chihuahua (that sucker is sneaky fast, also starred in Taco Bell commercials...not really). Then there is me. I think the only man or beast that fears my burst of speed is the common garden slug...maybe even the two toed sloth.
This season, there have been two sprints that I have actually been a participant. The first had quite a lot of room, so I could choose my line and not get too close to other riders. The second was an up hill sprint with only 11 people involved. Neither sprint resulted in me winning, and luckily there was no crashing.
I do hope to get a win sometime in the next decade, but I will also be just fine without...So long as I do not get inolved in a crash similar to the ones above.
Ask Bella how competitive I am, and she can tell you a multitude of stories....Her favorite story to share is how I take something small and innocuous, her gently tossing a little snow towards me, and me starting a nuclear snow meltdown on her. I think by the time my snow stopped flying her way, there was a 3 square mile area bare of snow (other than her small spot).
I will most likely never win a race due to the violent nature of sprinting. Violent you ask, yes violent. Check out the following clips, and I think you will get an idea.
about 12 seconds in, right side of screen
In the closing kilometers of a race, teams and individuals fight for positioning. There is bumping, shouldering, sometimes hand pushing, and bikes touching. If lucky, they do not crash during this hectic time period. Oh, do not forget that the pros do all of this while going nearly 55-60 kph (34-37 mph). When the actual sprint begins, pros can go upwards of 73 kph (45 mph).
I have this interesting complex, which I deal with on a daily basis...it is typically called the survival complex. When big, mean, scary people come near me, I turtle up on the ground and pray they do not see me. I use this same trait during racing, and I have yet to find myself involved in a crash during a sprint.
Another reason I will not win, due to sprinting, is that there really is no reward for risking my well being. I will never be a pro (though looking at my amazing physique you might think pro) and I do not get any money for placing (aside from random acts of kindness, still waiting folks). I know that winning would be an awesome feat, and that I could endlessly brag about how well I did in the race. I also know this is in direct conflict with my competitive nature, but survival is important.
The last reason that I will not win during a sprint is the most basic...I really am not that fast. There are people like Mark Cavendish (blazing FASSSSSTTTTTTT), Tyler Farrar (FASSSTTTT), and others. There are animals that qualify too...Cheetah (seriously fast) and my neighbors chihuahua (that sucker is sneaky fast, also starred in Taco Bell commercials...not really). Then there is me. I think the only man or beast that fears my burst of speed is the common garden slug...maybe even the two toed sloth.
This season, there have been two sprints that I have actually been a participant. The first had quite a lot of room, so I could choose my line and not get too close to other riders. The second was an up hill sprint with only 11 people involved. Neither sprint resulted in me winning, and luckily there was no crashing.
I do hope to get a win sometime in the next decade, but I will also be just fine without...So long as I do not get inolved in a crash similar to the ones above.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Vance Creek Road Race
Yesterday was the Vance Creek Road Race, VCRR, and I was very nervous about the race. I used Strava to look at the profile and noticed one thing immediately...The route was very easy, and fast, for 12.5 miles of each lap. Then I noticed the last mile had a pretty decent climb. Why did this make me nervous? The only place to break the field, and individuals, would be on said climb.
The weather in Elma was SUPPOSED to be nice-ISH, and I was looking forward to another nice-ISH day of racing. I left my house at 6 am, and the weather was nice. I drove past Tacoma, and the weather was nice. I drove past Olympia, and the weather was nice. I started done HWY 101 and had a sickening feeling in my stomach...Clouds were everywhere and there was moisture on the road. The further I went, the more moisture there was...I was chasing the rain, and not happy. Luckily there never really was much rain, and the roads were not bad at the race staging area. which was at the Satsop Development Park...AKA...The moth balled NUCLEAR facility. Yes, we were racing in the shadow of a nuclear facility.
.JPG)
As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a strange buzzing in my ear, the hairs on my arms (not my legs...there is no hair there) were standing up, I had a tingling feeling in my extremities, and knew something was not right...I could not place a finger on it at the time, but it was going to be significant! Scott was already parked, so I pulled along side and we unload our gear and set up the turbos. Per our usual routine, we made meaningless, nervous small talk until it was time to sign in and start warming up.
I mounted my bike, like the Lone Ranger mounting Silver, and started to pedal. That feeling I had upon arriving, at the nuclear plant, was still present and worsening. I was now developing a green tint to my vision...or was it my skin. I figured it was no major cause for alarm yet, so I continued my warm up.
.JPG)
David arrived part way through the warm up and said he was going to hit the road. I asked him to preview the climb for me, which he kindly did. Being that David is on another team, I totally expected him to come back and explain in horrible detail that the climb was terribly difficult, and that I would struggle up it. Instead, David being the nice guy he is, told me that it was not too bad, but that it was a climb.
Upon finishing my warm up, I made a quick trip to the beautiful, blue Honey Bucket. Warning...semi graphic content...While evacuating my bladder, I continued to ponder this feeling I was having. I then noticed that my pee was green, and I am not talking about with envy (sorry, I could not resist). I thought to myself "What is going on?" On the way back to my bike, I noticed my shorts and shirt felt more snug than normal. I looked at my arms and legs...they were bulging with muscles. My temper uncontrollably flared, all for no reason, when a guy on a bicycle rode past me.
Scott and I rode over to the start, listened to the normal pre-race directions, nearly froze, and then the race began. Just as I thought, the course was fairly easy. The race was 3 laps and totaled nearly 40 miles. It began with a fast down hill to a long flat stretch of winding country roads. The roads were in decent shape, had nice shoulders, and nearly zero traffic.
From previous experiences, I again placed myself near the front. During the course of working, I noticed that a rider from the Olympia Orthopedic team and I opened a gap. I pulled along side and asked if he wanted to go. I think his response says it all..."30 second pulls!" We did a couple of rotations, I looked over my shoulder and told him to shut it down. The group was about on us...no point in blowing your legs if there is no gap.
Over the next few miles, I would drift back and forth within the peloton. My goal was to never drift to far from the front, as it can be difficult to work your way back up. About four miles from the "finishing" climb, you could feel everyone getting tense. In case you did not know all climbs hurt, it is just a matter of how much hurt you are going to experience. The largest factor in dictating hurt is speed, which is precisely the reason I was nervous about the race.
As we approached the climb, I was again positioned near the front. We hit the first part of the climb and the work began. I noticed that the pace was pretty high and my HR was quickly rising, next I noticed my legs were starting to burn, and finally I noticed we were just about to the top. I looked over my shoulder and saw that the field was split, and we had quite the gap. I rode up the outside of the lead group, stated that we had a good gap, jumped on front and began a pull. After my turn, the work continued and I knew we did not have to worry about that half the field for the remainder of the race.
My group consisted of about 13 riders, two from Olympic Orthopedic and three from Cucina Fresca. I cannot begin to stress the importance of the previous statement...Team tactics would now start to play out.
At some point on the second lap I noticed that a break had formed, and contained a random rider, one of Cucina Fresca, and one from Olympia Orthopedic. I was upset that I missed the break, as I tried one earlier. The group "worked" to bring the break back, but nothing was happening. Both Olympia Orthopedic and Cucina Fresca were setting false tempos up front. I finally decided that this was the moment I should try to bridge the gap...about 30 - 45 seconds.
I shot off the front of the group and settled into some serious work. I glanced at my computer a few times and noticed I was going about 30 mph, working hard, and definitely closing the gap. After a bit of time my legs were beginning to feel like lead weights, but the lead was still shrinking. I was within 30 feet and I heard someone in the break state that I was bridging the gap. We then made a right turn straight into a headwind. I knew that was a MAJOR problem and immediately saw that the lead was no longer shrinking. I had a difficult decision to make...keep working, risk blowing up, and possibly not close the gap or sit up, recover, and survive with group I left. I chose the latter, as I did not want to blow up and have to finish over a lap solo.
After making my decision I looked over my shoulder and saw how far back the group was. I pedaled along at about 18-20 mph recovering, finally slid back into the group, and waited for the "finishing" climb. I was more nervous this time due to the amount of energy I spent trying to make the breakaway group. We hit the climb at a good speed, and I was able to stay with everyone.
Shortly after the climb I saw Dan, from the break, coming back to us. While this sucked for Dan, I harbored hopes of Cucina Fresca now working to pull back the remaining two guys...Sadly this did not happen. Dan and I spoke and I felt really bad for him. Dan thought the race was two laps, sprinted up the climb, and took 1st place...for lap two. He was then to gassed to hang on and decided to drift back.
With about 5 miles left in the race, our pace slowed to about 18 mph. I still cannot figure out why. We all still felt good, the section of road was great, and we were not having to work hard to keep up the speed. My only thought is that every one was nervous about the selection for the final climb and finish.
We hit the climb hard and the pace rose with each foot covered. I was in a good position and hanging tough. A few riders started to fade and I accelerated...too soon! I forgot about patience and did not have enough once on the false flat. Arghhhh!
My result...11th! I am very happy with this result, and once again, it is an improvement from my previous race. In typical fashion, I threw both arms up and proclaimed for all "Best of the Rest!" Scott and David were not too far back and also earned good results.
The weather in Elma was SUPPOSED to be nice-ISH, and I was looking forward to another nice-ISH day of racing. I left my house at 6 am, and the weather was nice. I drove past Tacoma, and the weather was nice. I drove past Olympia, and the weather was nice. I started done HWY 101 and had a sickening feeling in my stomach...Clouds were everywhere and there was moisture on the road. The further I went, the more moisture there was...I was chasing the rain, and not happy. Luckily there never really was much rain, and the roads were not bad at the race staging area. which was at the Satsop Development Park...AKA...The moth balled NUCLEAR facility. Yes, we were racing in the shadow of a nuclear facility.
.JPG)
As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a strange buzzing in my ear, the hairs on my arms (not my legs...there is no hair there) were standing up, I had a tingling feeling in my extremities, and knew something was not right...I could not place a finger on it at the time, but it was going to be significant! Scott was already parked, so I pulled along side and we unload our gear and set up the turbos. Per our usual routine, we made meaningless, nervous small talk until it was time to sign in and start warming up.
I mounted my bike, like the Lone Ranger mounting Silver, and started to pedal. That feeling I had upon arriving, at the nuclear plant, was still present and worsening. I was now developing a green tint to my vision...or was it my skin. I figured it was no major cause for alarm yet, so I continued my warm up.
.JPG)
David arrived part way through the warm up and said he was going to hit the road. I asked him to preview the climb for me, which he kindly did. Being that David is on another team, I totally expected him to come back and explain in horrible detail that the climb was terribly difficult, and that I would struggle up it. Instead, David being the nice guy he is, told me that it was not too bad, but that it was a climb.
Upon finishing my warm up, I made a quick trip to the beautiful, blue Honey Bucket. Warning...semi graphic content...While evacuating my bladder, I continued to ponder this feeling I was having. I then noticed that my pee was green, and I am not talking about with envy (sorry, I could not resist). I thought to myself "What is going on?" On the way back to my bike, I noticed my shorts and shirt felt more snug than normal. I looked at my arms and legs...they were bulging with muscles. My temper uncontrollably flared, all for no reason, when a guy on a bicycle rode past me.
Scott and I rode over to the start, listened to the normal pre-race directions, nearly froze, and then the race began. Just as I thought, the course was fairly easy. The race was 3 laps and totaled nearly 40 miles. It began with a fast down hill to a long flat stretch of winding country roads. The roads were in decent shape, had nice shoulders, and nearly zero traffic.
From previous experiences, I again placed myself near the front. During the course of working, I noticed that a rider from the Olympia Orthopedic team and I opened a gap. I pulled along side and asked if he wanted to go. I think his response says it all..."30 second pulls!" We did a couple of rotations, I looked over my shoulder and told him to shut it down. The group was about on us...no point in blowing your legs if there is no gap.
Over the next few miles, I would drift back and forth within the peloton. My goal was to never drift to far from the front, as it can be difficult to work your way back up. About four miles from the "finishing" climb, you could feel everyone getting tense. In case you did not know all climbs hurt, it is just a matter of how much hurt you are going to experience. The largest factor in dictating hurt is speed, which is precisely the reason I was nervous about the race.
As we approached the climb, I was again positioned near the front. We hit the first part of the climb and the work began. I noticed that the pace was pretty high and my HR was quickly rising, next I noticed my legs were starting to burn, and finally I noticed we were just about to the top. I looked over my shoulder and saw that the field was split, and we had quite the gap. I rode up the outside of the lead group, stated that we had a good gap, jumped on front and began a pull. After my turn, the work continued and I knew we did not have to worry about that half the field for the remainder of the race.
My group consisted of about 13 riders, two from Olympic Orthopedic and three from Cucina Fresca. I cannot begin to stress the importance of the previous statement...Team tactics would now start to play out.
At some point on the second lap I noticed that a break had formed, and contained a random rider, one of Cucina Fresca, and one from Olympia Orthopedic. I was upset that I missed the break, as I tried one earlier. The group "worked" to bring the break back, but nothing was happening. Both Olympia Orthopedic and Cucina Fresca were setting false tempos up front. I finally decided that this was the moment I should try to bridge the gap...about 30 - 45 seconds.
I shot off the front of the group and settled into some serious work. I glanced at my computer a few times and noticed I was going about 30 mph, working hard, and definitely closing the gap. After a bit of time my legs were beginning to feel like lead weights, but the lead was still shrinking. I was within 30 feet and I heard someone in the break state that I was bridging the gap. We then made a right turn straight into a headwind. I knew that was a MAJOR problem and immediately saw that the lead was no longer shrinking. I had a difficult decision to make...keep working, risk blowing up, and possibly not close the gap or sit up, recover, and survive with group I left. I chose the latter, as I did not want to blow up and have to finish over a lap solo.
After making my decision I looked over my shoulder and saw how far back the group was. I pedaled along at about 18-20 mph recovering, finally slid back into the group, and waited for the "finishing" climb. I was more nervous this time due to the amount of energy I spent trying to make the breakaway group. We hit the climb at a good speed, and I was able to stay with everyone.
Shortly after the climb I saw Dan, from the break, coming back to us. While this sucked for Dan, I harbored hopes of Cucina Fresca now working to pull back the remaining two guys...Sadly this did not happen. Dan and I spoke and I felt really bad for him. Dan thought the race was two laps, sprinted up the climb, and took 1st place...for lap two. He was then to gassed to hang on and decided to drift back.
With about 5 miles left in the race, our pace slowed to about 18 mph. I still cannot figure out why. We all still felt good, the section of road was great, and we were not having to work hard to keep up the speed. My only thought is that every one was nervous about the selection for the final climb and finish.
We hit the climb hard and the pace rose with each foot covered. I was in a good position and hanging tough. A few riders started to fade and I accelerated...too soon! I forgot about patience and did not have enough once on the false flat. Arghhhh!
My result...11th! I am very happy with this result, and once again, it is an improvement from my previous race. In typical fashion, I threw both arms up and proclaimed for all "Best of the Rest!" Scott and David were not too far back and also earned good results.
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