1. Took 17th today. Course was 1/2 mile long and it felt like we did
a thousand laps. With 15 to go my lower back went bad. I've always
been able to ride through it but today hurt worse than normal. Had a
hard time getting comfortable riding the bike through corners. Again,
lots of fast riders showed up to this race too...maybe even more than
fri/sat. Last 2 laps were really fast and everyone seemed to finish exactly where they were going into that 2nd to last lap.
2. After a bunch more coffee and some stretching my back felt better,
road another 20 miles or so, didn't feel too bad. After showering I
seemed to pop it out of place again, hopefully 8 hours of sleep will
do the trick.
3. I was approached a few times about the grass track event coming up,
seems folks are getting excited for it. Plan is still the 28th of
July, a sunday, location is norther Johnson county.
4. Hoping to do a VO2 max test this week. A local racer Shadd
Shreiner is doing it for free, just a few stipulations you need to
reach. If you are reading this, you probably reach the minimum. I found out he is doing it at KUMC, this whole time I thought it was in Lawrence and I didn't have a ride, now there are no excuses.
5. Tour of Lawrence is this weekend, should be my last paved race for
a while, maybe some mtn. biking to follow.
6. Eric Stull got 4th, Nate got 2nd in the 5's, and Matt got 2nd.
7. Brought a bunch of Parisi coffee to the race today, still have some left. Should be warm tomorrow morning to drink when I get to the store in the morning.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Lee's Summit Crit
1. Got 6th again. Todays race was more flat. Not a lot of wind.
2. Nate S. won his first race as a 5, we all knew he would.
3. It rained during the 4 race and Pro, 1, 2...made for a good shower and also fun to watch.
4. Ate dinner at a Jamaican restaurant, live music was pretty loud, took forever to get our food. If you ever want to see a group of disgruntled, sad, depressed beings then take 45 minutes to serve cyclists food after a race.
5. Last race tomorrow. I'm going to be serving free coffee in the morning hopefully. Race at 10:30, its' supposed to be really hilly.
2. Nate S. won his first race as a 5, we all knew he would.
3. It rained during the 4 race and Pro, 1, 2...made for a good shower and also fun to watch.
4. Ate dinner at a Jamaican restaurant, live music was pretty loud, took forever to get our food. If you ever want to see a group of disgruntled, sad, depressed beings then take 45 minutes to serve cyclists food after a race.
5. Last race tomorrow. I'm going to be serving free coffee in the morning hopefully. Race at 10:30, its' supposed to be really hilly.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tour of KC, Longview
1. Hot fast race today. Finished 6th place. Plenty of fast racers were in attendance. Felt good to be racing in the KC Metro area, the SKC team were working hard putting on a good event.
2. Jamis Xenith SL is very fast. I can ride the Pinarello FP3 all day long, but for crits, the xenith is super fast and stable.
3. Vittoria 09 Corsa CX tires rule! 320tpi. Paired with Latex Tubes. Never felt anything like them. Incredible, better than contis, michelin pro3, hutchinson...everything! Cornering is super smooth, 210 grams (light) and also has better flat protection for 09.
4. Chomper body is my new best friend. The embrocation is really nice, I would recommend applying it about 45 minutes before your effort. The muscle butter is just as incredible. Very smooth and really makes your legs feel fresh after a long ride. Only $12 a jar, the best value in embrocation period. They also do a women specific chamois butter too.
5. Melissa worked her butt off officiating, she is now a C Referee, On your feet for 5 hours in 100 degree heat is no walk in the park, especially when you're 6 months pregnant.
2. Jamis Xenith SL is very fast. I can ride the Pinarello FP3 all day long, but for crits, the xenith is super fast and stable.
3. Vittoria 09 Corsa CX tires rule! 320tpi. Paired with Latex Tubes. Never felt anything like them. Incredible, better than contis, michelin pro3, hutchinson...everything! Cornering is super smooth, 210 grams (light) and also has better flat protection for 09.
4. Chomper body is my new best friend. The embrocation is really nice, I would recommend applying it about 45 minutes before your effort. The muscle butter is just as incredible. Very smooth and really makes your legs feel fresh after a long ride. Only $12 a jar, the best value in embrocation period. They also do a women specific chamois butter too.
5. Melissa worked her butt off officiating, she is now a C Referee, On your feet for 5 hours in 100 degree heat is no walk in the park, especially when you're 6 months pregnant.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Riding
Did the tues crit yesterday. Eric, Brad, and I raced A's while Steve and Joe raced B's. Good weather and lots of fun.
I am now selling my black/red fp3, no reason really, just trying something new. You'll probably see it sooner or later.
My new favorite product at Volker is ChomperBody's Muscle Butter. Works great for after races and it is pretty cheap, $12, and lasts a long time too.
I am now selling my black/red fp3, no reason really, just trying something new. You'll probably see it sooner or later.
My new favorite product at Volker is ChomperBody's Muscle Butter. Works great for after races and it is pretty cheap, $12, and lasts a long time too.
Monday, June 15, 2009
MO RR champs
First-Congratulations to David, winning the Cat 4 MO State Champs Jersey. The dude can sprint and climb...crazy!
Second-Matt got 2nd overall in the 3 race, made a massive attack at mile 30 and we never saw him again.
Third-Steve had 1554 for us when we returned from the 5 hour drive from Genevive.
Second-Matt got 2nd overall in the 3 race, made a massive attack at mile 30 and we never saw him again.
Third-Steve had 1554 for us when we returned from the 5 hour drive from Genevive.
Monday, June 8, 2009
KS State Champs
RR was on Saturday. It was pretty warm. A Chaimois Buttr rider took off at the start, then 360(Shad Shreiner) and another rider (I forget). Matt got to the front and with Will from BMC in ARkansas he attacked and bridged up to all 3 riders. The pace was hot for a while, but with the 5 guys in 360 and 4 other Chamois buttr riders still in the group I knew they wouldn't be caught. Will and Matt are both crazy strong in break aways and there was only 1 other team with any riders.
A blue team from Tulsa, they had all matching Giant bikes, Specialized Shoes and Lazer Helmets. By the first lap the break was out of site and out of mind. They looked worried. They went to each team asking if they had a man in the break. The answer was usually yes. Finally They got to the front and started working...not really working but temp riding...seemed like they didn't care about the 4 riders up front, just didn't want anyone else going.
Eventually Chaimois Buttr and I got up front and started covering attacks. By lap 3, people were antsy and new we couldn't bring it back. Andrew from skc gave it ago,so did a few others, nothing could stick.
It came down to the last lap. My feet were killing me by mile 60 and I still had 10 more to go. It seems after 50 miles I am usually shot but I still tried.
The course was very windy and no matter where you were in the field, it was work. There was one section of the course for about 5 miles where you ride directly into the wind where there was a little break, the rest of the time everyone was equally working and equally tired.
At the bottom of the final hill I attacked and was to the top 1st, but legs were cramping and there were 3 guys on my wheel, with about 2k meters to go. My head got lazy and I decided to sit, not to battle for 5th place.
Matt ended with 3rd place while Will got 1st, Shad 2nd.
David got 2nd in the 4 RR and Eric Stull got 5th.
Sunday Crit.
Alot of people know about this crit. Mostly due to the parking lot you wind through, then cut through the backside of the stadium winding around hay bales and man holes into a gutter turn with a curb.
Windy again today too. Trey from Chamoi buttr took off at the beginning and it caused havic. For the first 4 laps everyone was struggling to hang on. My legs definetly were not warmed up yet and I was in pain. Finally the pace settled and Trey was gone.
Not much going on, attacks went, most were covered, Andrew Coe got a way and it was a race for 3rd. I felt really good after I got in on some attacks and my legs were finally feeling fresh. with 4 laps to go I was feeling ready to attack....thinking with 1.5 laps to go after the bad curb turn into the little hill. With 3 to go Trey lapped us and when we came around again they said 1 to go! A little confused, but I guess since Trey did 1 more lap than us so I think they were going off his lap count.
At the beginning of the last lap Jim from VT, who was dropped the first lap when Trey attacked, got to the front and pulled his two guys Greg and Ben around the course. He kept the pace high so no one could attack until towards the middle of the hill.
I knew my race was over here, I am no sprinter, I went into the last corner in 5th position and was able to hold it for 8th place.
A blue team from Tulsa, they had all matching Giant bikes, Specialized Shoes and Lazer Helmets. By the first lap the break was out of site and out of mind. They looked worried. They went to each team asking if they had a man in the break. The answer was usually yes. Finally They got to the front and started working...not really working but temp riding...seemed like they didn't care about the 4 riders up front, just didn't want anyone else going.
Eventually Chaimois Buttr and I got up front and started covering attacks. By lap 3, people were antsy and new we couldn't bring it back. Andrew from skc gave it ago,so did a few others, nothing could stick.
It came down to the last lap. My feet were killing me by mile 60 and I still had 10 more to go. It seems after 50 miles I am usually shot but I still tried.
The course was very windy and no matter where you were in the field, it was work. There was one section of the course for about 5 miles where you ride directly into the wind where there was a little break, the rest of the time everyone was equally working and equally tired.
At the bottom of the final hill I attacked and was to the top 1st, but legs were cramping and there were 3 guys on my wheel, with about 2k meters to go. My head got lazy and I decided to sit, not to battle for 5th place.
Matt ended with 3rd place while Will got 1st, Shad 2nd.
David got 2nd in the 4 RR and Eric Stull got 5th.
Sunday Crit.
Alot of people know about this crit. Mostly due to the parking lot you wind through, then cut through the backside of the stadium winding around hay bales and man holes into a gutter turn with a curb.
Windy again today too. Trey from Chamoi buttr took off at the beginning and it caused havic. For the first 4 laps everyone was struggling to hang on. My legs definetly were not warmed up yet and I was in pain. Finally the pace settled and Trey was gone.
Not much going on, attacks went, most were covered, Andrew Coe got a way and it was a race for 3rd. I felt really good after I got in on some attacks and my legs were finally feeling fresh. with 4 laps to go I was feeling ready to attack....thinking with 1.5 laps to go after the bad curb turn into the little hill. With 3 to go Trey lapped us and when we came around again they said 1 to go! A little confused, but I guess since Trey did 1 more lap than us so I think they were going off his lap count.
At the beginning of the last lap Jim from VT, who was dropped the first lap when Trey attacked, got to the front and pulled his two guys Greg and Ben around the course. He kept the pace high so no one could attack until towards the middle of the hill.
I knew my race was over here, I am no sprinter, I went into the last corner in 5th position and was able to hold it for 8th place.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Can't wait till Cross!
2009 De Stad Series Dates
Dates for 2009 De Stad Cyclocross Van Kansas Series
Diamond Blackfan Cyclocross – 9/27/09
Chris Cross – 10/11/09
TBD – 10/25/09
Riverside Cyclocross Festival – 11/8/09
Veterans Cross – 11/14/09
De Stad Cross Cup / KS State Championships – 11/15/09
Other Cross Races
9/19- Swope Cross
10/17 Topeka CApital Cross
10/18 Blvd. Cup
10/25 Smithville
10/31 Bosscross #1
11/01 Sunflower Cross
11/07 Grand prix hpt
11/21 Boss cross #2
11/29 boss cross #3
12/6 boss cross #4
1/3 epic holiday
1/10 grote prijs
Dates for 2009 De Stad Cyclocross Van Kansas Series
Diamond Blackfan Cyclocross – 9/27/09
Chris Cross – 10/11/09
TBD – 10/25/09
Riverside Cyclocross Festival – 11/8/09
Veterans Cross – 11/14/09
De Stad Cross Cup / KS State Championships – 11/15/09
Other Cross Races
9/19- Swope Cross
10/17 Topeka CApital Cross
10/18 Blvd. Cup
10/25 Smithville
10/31 Bosscross #1
11/01 Sunflower Cross
11/07 Grand prix hpt
11/21 Boss cross #2
11/29 boss cross #3
12/6 boss cross #4
1/3 epic holiday
1/10 grote prijs
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Random Thoughts
1. Rain makes me crazy.
2. Lance Armstrong will NOT win the Tour de France.
3. Menchov will be popped for...
4. Cellar Rat is the best place in the world.
5. Riding bikes in rain makes you fast.
6. New bartape makes your bicycle fast! (Thanks Joe!)
7. There is an extra set of ears in my house now.
2. Lance Armstrong will NOT win the Tour de France.
3. Menchov will be popped for...
4. Cellar Rat is the best place in the world.
5. Riding bikes in rain makes you fast.
6. New bartape makes your bicycle fast! (Thanks Joe!)
7. There is an extra set of ears in my house now.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Tulsa Tough
We got to Tulsa Sat. morning in time for Steve's race while Matt and I hung out until our race at 3. Steve raced well...spent some time in the front with a few laps to go and got his name called a few times by the announcers.
Our race started with 100 riders. I started at the back and slowly worked my way up. With about 15 laps to go I found myself off the front with a very strong rider from Arkansas and two others. We were hovering 20 seconds off the front for a while and then this little dude quit taking pulls, it screwed us all up...he acted tired, I asked if he has a sprinter in the field and he said he is tired. Then the arkansas rider attacked and the little dude had to bring him back, obviously, he had a sprinter he was working for. Another lap and we were caught. I stayed in the top 5 positions for the last 10 laps. The pace increased each lap and it was getting hard. With 1 to go I was in the 3rd position going down the descent, into a left 90 degree corner where you sprint 600 meters to the finish. The guy leading took the corner very wide and slow, I stayed on his wheel grabbing my brakes while 14 riders took the inside corner much faster and started their sprint.
Next time I will attack down the hill and take the inside line with momentum, I may not have a sprint to get on the podium, but I would have gotten a better result than 18th.
Sundays race was more my level. The course seemed very short and simple. 1000 meters of flat land by the river, then a very steep short climb, then straight for a while and then down a hill where there is a 120 degree turn at the bottom with another 600 meters to the finish.
Everyone at the line was very fit, you could tell that many of the bigger sprinter/power riders didn't bother to show up.
After about 5 laps my rear tire blew up (no more pt data) going down the hill, it was tricky keeping the bike on two wheels but I did it. There was a sram pit where the dude hooked me up with a zipp 404 clincher with 125 psi, and didn't lock up my rear brake either. It was tricky getting use to such a stiff wheel on the tricky corner, especially with all that psi. I felt my wheel sliding a few times, eventually I adapted to it.
The race went on and with about 10 to go the field was down to 30 riders instead of the original 80+. Each lap got harder with each rider taking a chance and shooting up the hill attacking crazy only to be caught on the descent. Everyone was careful on the descent which I appreciated. I heard that 4-5 different riders crashed directly into the 1st aid tent which was strategically placed at the bottom of the corner.
I stayed in the top 5 positions for the last 5 laps. Everything stayed together for the most part except for the arkansas rider who took off the front for a while, and he was caught with 1 to go.
Here I was in 4th position up the hill. The 1st rider attacked, the 2nd went with him, and the 3rd sat up...I grabbed my brakes...and I felt the race was over. I got on another guys wheel(since the wheel I was on was blocking) and went down the hill in 3rd position. At the bottom of the hill I started my sprint, only 1 rider got around me, I ended the race with 6th place.
Had I been ready for the attacked...or actually raced offensively instead of playing defense, I could have had a better result. I'll no for next time.
KS State Champs this weekend in Pittsburg.
Oh, my favorite part of the day. I go back to get my wheel and look it over. Turned out I broke a nipple while trying to ride the flat down the hill. So guess what the mechanic from the wheelpit does...he takes the $4 cx-ray spoke and folds it around another spoke...ruining it! He's wasn't a volunteer, he is a paid mechanic for Sram...I like sram, I use all their rival parts...they are very good, the best for the money...but this dude needs a change of scenery or something.
Our race started with 100 riders. I started at the back and slowly worked my way up. With about 15 laps to go I found myself off the front with a very strong rider from Arkansas and two others. We were hovering 20 seconds off the front for a while and then this little dude quit taking pulls, it screwed us all up...he acted tired, I asked if he has a sprinter in the field and he said he is tired. Then the arkansas rider attacked and the little dude had to bring him back, obviously, he had a sprinter he was working for. Another lap and we were caught. I stayed in the top 5 positions for the last 10 laps. The pace increased each lap and it was getting hard. With 1 to go I was in the 3rd position going down the descent, into a left 90 degree corner where you sprint 600 meters to the finish. The guy leading took the corner very wide and slow, I stayed on his wheel grabbing my brakes while 14 riders took the inside corner much faster and started their sprint.
Next time I will attack down the hill and take the inside line with momentum, I may not have a sprint to get on the podium, but I would have gotten a better result than 18th.
Sundays race was more my level. The course seemed very short and simple. 1000 meters of flat land by the river, then a very steep short climb, then straight for a while and then down a hill where there is a 120 degree turn at the bottom with another 600 meters to the finish.
Everyone at the line was very fit, you could tell that many of the bigger sprinter/power riders didn't bother to show up.
After about 5 laps my rear tire blew up (no more pt data) going down the hill, it was tricky keeping the bike on two wheels but I did it. There was a sram pit where the dude hooked me up with a zipp 404 clincher with 125 psi, and didn't lock up my rear brake either. It was tricky getting use to such a stiff wheel on the tricky corner, especially with all that psi. I felt my wheel sliding a few times, eventually I adapted to it.
The race went on and with about 10 to go the field was down to 30 riders instead of the original 80+. Each lap got harder with each rider taking a chance and shooting up the hill attacking crazy only to be caught on the descent. Everyone was careful on the descent which I appreciated. I heard that 4-5 different riders crashed directly into the 1st aid tent which was strategically placed at the bottom of the corner.
I stayed in the top 5 positions for the last 5 laps. Everything stayed together for the most part except for the arkansas rider who took off the front for a while, and he was caught with 1 to go.
Here I was in 4th position up the hill. The 1st rider attacked, the 2nd went with him, and the 3rd sat up...I grabbed my brakes...and I felt the race was over. I got on another guys wheel(since the wheel I was on was blocking) and went down the hill in 3rd position. At the bottom of the hill I started my sprint, only 1 rider got around me, I ended the race with 6th place.
Had I been ready for the attacked...or actually raced offensively instead of playing defense, I could have had a better result. I'll no for next time.
KS State Champs this weekend in Pittsburg.
Oh, my favorite part of the day. I go back to get my wheel and look it over. Turned out I broke a nipple while trying to ride the flat down the hill. So guess what the mechanic from the wheelpit does...he takes the $4 cx-ray spoke and folds it around another spoke...ruining it! He's wasn't a volunteer, he is a paid mechanic for Sram...I like sram, I use all their rival parts...they are very good, the best for the money...but this dude needs a change of scenery or something.
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