Yesterday was a brutal day. It was 90 degrees and I had to do 80 miles of one of the hardest race courses I have ever done. I mean, its just plain hard just riding it and now I have to race it. To make things worse, the long 7 mile gradual downhill had a stiff headwind so there was no place to go easy.
Anyway I completed 40 of the 80 miles. I don't think half our field finished. I got popped on the second lap when someone attacked and just couldn't hold the wheel. Instead of turning around like I saw most people do, I just pedalled along and finished my second lap. The B group caught up to me but I let them go past. I could have sat it with them but it probably would have ended with a DQ or fine since the B group ended up catching the A's. Not to mention some dude was all hot about me not mixing in with them.
I thought about doing one more lap to get some miles in but I decided against that as I got closer to the finish. It was super hot and would have just depleted me even further for today's race.
Today is more suited for me, flat. We'll see how the winds are, hopefully its not gutter to gutter racing.
Miles on the Matrix: 48
Total 2009: 2413
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Vandervorts Corner OSRS #3
The Vandervorts Corner race is a race I have not had a lot of success with. The first year I did it, I crashed out, second year I DNF'ed, third year I did not have fitness and came in dangling. I hoped to change that this time around.
I left my house at 8:30 in the morning, filled up gas and was on my way. I was solo today so it was a boring drive with the music cranked way up. The drive was a little over 2 hours. I arrived around 10:45 so I had plenty of time to get ready. The conditions were windy and a bit nippy.
We were set to do 7 laps, around 56 miles. As always, the wind made things very difficult. The first 3 laps were blistering fast. Ok we only averaged 23 and change but the speed is a little skewed if you factor in the headwind section where you were doing 14-16mph at 300+ watts. Every lap we were sheding off several riders. Laps were in around 20 minutes for the 8 mile loop.
On the forth lap, the group split up and once again, I missed the split. The lead group gained a little bit of time and the rest of the group sat around doing very little. About a lap later, another split happened and I once again missed it. I really don't know what I was thinking but I guess that is how it rolls. I rolled in with our group to finish up our race.
Afterwards, a huge group of us headed to Max and Erma's up the road on I-71. Nothing feels better than a nice big meal with a bunch of your racing buddies.
Next week is going to be brutal. 80 miles of the Lake Hope loop for Collegiate Regionals on Saturday, then the Gettysburg race on Sunday.
Mileage: 277
Mileage 2009: 2365
I left my house at 8:30 in the morning, filled up gas and was on my way. I was solo today so it was a boring drive with the music cranked way up. The drive was a little over 2 hours. I arrived around 10:45 so I had plenty of time to get ready. The conditions were windy and a bit nippy.
We were set to do 7 laps, around 56 miles. As always, the wind made things very difficult. The first 3 laps were blistering fast. Ok we only averaged 23 and change but the speed is a little skewed if you factor in the headwind section where you were doing 14-16mph at 300+ watts. Every lap we were sheding off several riders. Laps were in around 20 minutes for the 8 mile loop.
On the forth lap, the group split up and once again, I missed the split. The lead group gained a little bit of time and the rest of the group sat around doing very little. About a lap later, another split happened and I once again missed it. I really don't know what I was thinking but I guess that is how it rolls. I rolled in with our group to finish up our race.
Afterwards, a huge group of us headed to Max and Erma's up the road on I-71. Nothing feels better than a nice big meal with a bunch of your racing buddies.
Next week is going to be brutal. 80 miles of the Lake Hope loop for Collegiate Regionals on Saturday, then the Gettysburg race on Sunday.
Mileage: 277
Mileage 2009: 2365
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Another Day in the rain
Another training day in the rain. I headed out the door shortly after 7am. It was not raining at that time. About 15 minutes later, it started raining. It continued raining for the next three hours. the last 15 mintues, it finally let up.
I have a new appreciation for riding in the rain. It's very peaceful, just you, the bike, the road and of course the rain (and associated things like wind and cold). I love the look people give you as they drive by.
When riding in the rain, everything else seems much better. You are in this miserable state of cold and wet and everything you think about just seems so nice and motivates you to ride harder so you can get your training over with.
Also it's quite amazing how awesome fenders are. Despite riding through a rain storm, I stayed fairly dry. I did not get the swimming in your chamois feeling you get when you get caught out in the rain by surprise.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fenders are a lifesaver
Today I went out on this cold and rainy day. I felt really good yesterday (sunday) so I decided to do the Rim of the World ride last night. That was before I checked the weather. I was so set on doing the ride, I simply didn't care if it rained.
I planned on leaving at 2p but it was raining really hard and I was not too motivated to go ride 4 hours in the rain. It soon let up to a light drizzle so I headed out the door. About 15 minutes later, the rain completely stopped and soon I was getting really hot in my plastic rain cape.
About an hour into the ride, the rain had come back. I put the rain cape back on and it rained for the next two hours, Awesome! The rain was off and on at times but it was never long enough to take off the rain cape. And at this point I had gotten a little cold so I needed as much warmth as I could get.
It was finally good to see sunshine at around hour 3. I also had a slight tail wind so it made the ride home a little easier.
I ended with 4 hours and change, not too fast but solo I find it acceptable. In the late summer, John, Rick and I did this ride in 3 hours and change but we were really fit. My intensity factor was only 0.778 so I definitely could have gone harder. However, I have a tendency to bonk on longer rides so I took it easy in the beginning, especially since I was riding solo. But I found the secret to riding longer hours, Oatmeal Cream Pies! I've changed my during ride eating habits, making sure I am eating plenty so I can make it through the ride.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Deer Creek Race
I sucked yesterday. The wind was horrible. I got popped two laps to go. It was a wrong place at the wrong time sort of deal. Makes it even worse with the 30mph winds. I chased but ultimately the field got away.
I motored on for a lap solo and got caught by the 4's field and took a free ride on the back to finish up the race. Man was I scared sitting in the back of that 4's field.
There is always next week.
Milage: 180
Total Milage 2009: 2088
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Hueston Woods Race!
It felt good to finally go out and race. Weather was perfect today and the rain storm held off. Ben picked me up at my house at 7am and we were off to the races. This will probably be the longer of the drives so its good to get it out of the way early.
When we arrived, I met up with the Kenda crew, Marco, Renke-saurus rex, Birdman and Cougar hunter. It was good seeing those guys again.
Anyway, since I wrote a race report for the team blog, here's that pasted. But be sure to check out my team's website, http://www.teamathenscycling.com
Ben and I raced today at Hueston Woods for the first race in the Ohio Spring Race Series. Ben arrived at my house at around 7 am and we were off to go race. The course was on a road that went around a lake. The 8 mile loop consisted of average pavement, rolling terrain, and two little climbs that made the legs sting.
We arrived with plenty of time to spare, registered, put on our costumes and did a quick warm up. The scheduled distance was 6 laps. Since this was the first USAC race in Ohio, people were quick to attack and try to get away. None of these attacks stuck until around the 3rd lap, around 6-7 guys got away. Thinking that this would just come back, I did nothing and sat in. About half a lap later, one guy made the attempt to solo to the break and Ben quickly jumped on his wheel and both of them made it though. At that point, the break count was around 11. From then, the field slowed down. Most of the big teams had members represented in the break and did not do any work. Since I had Ben up the road, I too did nothing.
Coming into the final lap, I saw Ben just up the road. Ben had gotten caught off guard and was dropped from the break. At this point, the break was so far up the road, no one was motivated to chase at all. We passed the women's field, but then we were quickly caught by them because we were going so slow.
Coming into the field sprint, half the field had called it quits and the other half was willing to go for it. The finish consisted of a down hill then a slight rise, then flattened out for 200-300 meters, then pitched up again for about 300 meters to the finish. I sneaked my way to the front and soon someone attacked. I quickly got on his wheel and let him tow me closer to the line. I then sprinted 300m to go. There were two danglers from the break ahead and I caught one but not the other. I finished 12th while Ben rolled in with the field.
It definitely felt good to go out there and race again. Next week its off to Deer Creek for me while Ben heads east to Morgantown, WV for a race there.
When we arrived, I met up with the Kenda crew, Marco, Renke-saurus rex, Birdman and Cougar hunter. It was good seeing those guys again.
Anyway, since I wrote a race report for the team blog, here's that pasted. But be sure to check out my team's website, http://www.teamathenscycling.com
Ben and I raced today at Hueston Woods for the first race in the Ohio Spring Race Series. Ben arrived at my house at around 7 am and we were off to go race. The course was on a road that went around a lake. The 8 mile loop consisted of average pavement, rolling terrain, and two little climbs that made the legs sting.
We arrived with plenty of time to spare, registered, put on our costumes and did a quick warm up. The scheduled distance was 6 laps. Since this was the first USAC race in Ohio, people were quick to attack and try to get away. None of these attacks stuck until around the 3rd lap, around 6-7 guys got away. Thinking that this would just come back, I did nothing and sat in. About half a lap later, one guy made the attempt to solo to the break and Ben quickly jumped on his wheel and both of them made it though. At that point, the break count was around 11. From then, the field slowed down. Most of the big teams had members represented in the break and did not do any work. Since I had Ben up the road, I too did nothing.
Coming into the final lap, I saw Ben just up the road. Ben had gotten caught off guard and was dropped from the break. At this point, the break was so far up the road, no one was motivated to chase at all. We passed the women's field, but then we were quickly caught by them because we were going so slow.
Coming into the field sprint, half the field had called it quits and the other half was willing to go for it. The finish consisted of a down hill then a slight rise, then flattened out for 200-300 meters, then pitched up again for about 300 meters to the finish. I sneaked my way to the front and soon someone attacked. I quickly got on his wheel and let him tow me closer to the line. I then sprinted 300m to go. There were two danglers from the break ahead and I caught one but not the other. I finished 12th while Ben rolled in with the field.
It definitely felt good to go out there and race again. Next week its off to Deer Creek for me while Ben heads east to Morgantown, WV for a race there.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Clothing Finally!
Our Team clothing order finally arrived today, 2 days ahead of Fedex's schedule!
I spent an hour sorting and checking our order, ended up only missing two jerseys which are being produced as I speak.
Anyway, here are the real pictures
I spent an hour sorting and checking our order, ended up only missing two jerseys which are being produced as I speak.
Anyway, here are the real pictures
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