Archive for March 2009
The next morning we rallied for Cool once again, and I suited up in my favorite CWC skinsuit for some dirt action. I entered the SS 36-99 division as opposed to the other SS 1-35 option and toed the line. The course map and profile are shown above (for two laps). After a less than stellar start, I just worked my way up through the field into 5th and that was that. 4th in the group missing a pint glass by one spot ... but that did not stop us from enjoying the suds later. We had planned to do a long ride as a cooldown (Folsom Lake Loop), but the rain changed our minds and we went for a run around the course instead. I must say we did a fine job cleaning up the leftovers. We returned to the car with pockets full of gel packs, seatpost bolts (ouch), and the golden ticket (a free Noah's Bagel sandwich coupon ... hey we were hungry). Packed the car up, hit the brewery, and flew west down 80 home (not).
The next week I pickup up my new Scale SS all ready to go ... and was promptly pummeled by Rawlinson (wrong gear ratio, squeaky brakes, leaking tires, and no engine). The bike went back to the shop and resurfaced Sunday a new rig ... the right gear was key, the inflated tires, even better, the silence of the brakes brought the sounds of the terrain to the forefront, and the engine ... well when you are riding solo let's just say it's all good. I took the snapshot above in super howling winds along the ridge ... the bike is so feather-esque, it went flying off the bench with the next gust. Crazy. Scott frames are the real deal.
Did I mention the killer yellow zapatos! These Mavics are so comfortable I decided to race XTERRA Real in them the next weekend.
Held in Granite Bay on Sunday, 29 March, the first Xterra West Regional race got off under sunny skies, chilly water, and a dry, fast track. My run has been feeling really good this year and I was psyched to come of the bike (Scott Spark duelie) feeling so good and right in the mix (exited bike to run with the winner ... but he had some serious running legs ... nice to be in your twenties). Finished 5th individual overall in 1h35m (800y, 15mi, 4mi) and 2nd age group ... super psyched for the season. And the yellow kicks, I am really impressed with the comfort of these Mavic bad boys, and am looking forward to sporting these all season ... and no so far no matter what I have put these guys through, these colors don't run.
Sunday morning I sat in the kitchen with the family cooking breakfast with one eye open, drinking anti-fog coffee in my slippers as we talked about our Sunday activities. I needed to stop by Philip's house in Millbrae today, I wanted to test out my new tubbies, wanted to get a hard workout on the bike and I really wanted to get up and see Rick Sutton & Joe Fabris who had set-up the Plus3 tent (www.plus3network.com) for both Ronde events. I hope some of you will checkout the website and use it to coordinate individual and team events, track your workouts and make each workout a fundraiser for your Cause.
Talk about checking multiple boxes in one round trip. Since it wasn't taking much time out of my day, I went for it and signed up for the 35+123 race at high noon. In the warm-up I noticed the legs weren't feeling so chipper and the head was in a second day of deep fog. Perhaps I needed more coffee. I also noted a very strong field...
To be honest, I didn't have much expectation for this race outside of getting a good workout and hoping to get into a good break to make that happen. I wasn't diligent on my starting position and my warm-up wasn't long enough so when the first move appeared, I was left boxed in and by the time I got clear my legs found the gap too far to cover as they began to seize with another 20m to go but just before the descent. I think we're 2 laps in at this point. The group pulled me back I as I saw the break continue just as we rounded the corner for the climb. Uh--ouch. It took me another two laps to hang on and catch my breath. The first 3-4 laps were scorchers and the remainder of the race it was more of the same, hards effort to bridge only to find my move covered within a lap. It seemed like Specialized had moves (sometimes multiple) going off the front at all times. Morgan Stanley and Safeway also seemed to have a strong team as well with guys represented in all the moves including Phipps who won the race for MS.
So I made my last move with 1 1/2 laps to go as we started the climb--it seemed like the overall group was beginning to weaken. We had a gap but I was definitely getting tired and the splintered group merely created a leapfrog for other riders so by the time we hit the start finish for the bell I was caught. I tried to hold position but I faded to the back as we came down the hill. Given my last effort, I knew it would be tough to have much for a hard finish but I managed to moved up a few spots after coming into the climb dead last. Nothing notable but fun and another learning experience.
In hind sight, the first move of the day was a good one and I was smart to go with it but some hesitation and bad position created a gap that was just a little too far for me to bridge which was a disappointment. Also, perhaps I should have waited for the last climb rather than with two to go. The second half of the hill suits my riding style as it flattens a little and though I wouldn't have been pushing for a win, I could have finished with a more respectable effort to the line. Race and learn...
Talk about checking multiple boxes in one round trip. Since it wasn't taking much time out of my day, I went for it and signed up for the 35+123 race at high noon. In the warm-up I noticed the legs weren't feeling so chipper and the head was in a second day of deep fog. Perhaps I needed more coffee. I also noted a very strong field...
To be honest, I didn't have much expectation for this race outside of getting a good workout and hoping to get into a good break to make that happen. I wasn't diligent on my starting position and my warm-up wasn't long enough so when the first move appeared, I was left boxed in and by the time I got clear my legs found the gap too far to cover as they began to seize with another 20m to go but just before the descent. I think we're 2 laps in at this point. The group pulled me back I as I saw the break continue just as we rounded the corner for the climb. Uh--ouch. It took me another two laps to hang on and catch my breath. The first 3-4 laps were scorchers and the remainder of the race it was more of the same, hards effort to bridge only to find my move covered within a lap. It seemed like Specialized had moves (sometimes multiple) going off the front at all times. Morgan Stanley and Safeway also seemed to have a strong team as well with guys represented in all the moves including Phipps who won the race for MS.
So I made my last move with 1 1/2 laps to go as we started the climb--it seemed like the overall group was beginning to weaken. We had a gap but I was definitely getting tired and the splintered group merely created a leapfrog for other riders so by the time we hit the start finish for the bell I was caught. I tried to hold position but I faded to the back as we came down the hill. Given my last effort, I knew it would be tough to have much for a hard finish but I managed to moved up a few spots after coming into the climb dead last. Nothing notable but fun and another learning experience.
In hind sight, the first move of the day was a good one and I was smart to go with it but some hesitation and bad position created a gap that was just a little too far for me to bridge which was a disappointment. Also, perhaps I should have waited for the last climb rather than with two to go. The second half of the hill suits my riding style as it flattens a little and though I wouldn't have been pushing for a win, I could have finished with a more respectable effort to the line. Race and learn...
As I'm a bit slow in posting my race report, I'll keep this short and sweet. As Ben mentioned, we ventured over the hill to "shake the legs out." When Ben rolled over to my place that morning, my head was telling me to race, but my body was saying DON'T DO IT! having been sick for a week and a half. Hindsight is always 20-20. I decided my plan would be to sit on other wheels and not work too hard. I achieved in sitting on the 1st place riders wheel as he towed me around for 2 of the 3 laps. At the start of the third lap, my body started to say, "enough" and what I was calling race pace slowly turned into snail pace, followed by, "Am I going to make it back to the start finish line?" Kinda felt like bonking but maybe worse, b/c I was eating plenty, though I didn't know what my body was going to do, or if I should keep riding. I ended up getting passed by 3 riders in the last few miles of the race and ended up fifth, surprisingly, considering how slow I was going at the end. The moral of my race was: DON'T race when you're sick (even if you're training was going really well before you were sick). Saving grace, my Scott Spark and SRAM components worked flawlessly in the mud, and I definitely, "shook my legs out."
I typically like to say I don't expect much out of the first race of the year, no matter how big or small it is, but this has also generally been a lie. This year, the great expectations were kept in check due to a new approach and focus in training. Usually by mid-March I have put in numerous 20 hr weeks on the bike and traveled down to Auburn most weekends to keep the MTB skills fresh. Not this year! I knew after getting married this past September and taking on a much larger workload at our rapidly growing business, some thing(s) had to change. So, I traveled the world, visiting many dojos, caves and coffee shops of the great cycling philosophers, in search of the perfect balance to singlehandedly destroy the cycling world (or at least, not look like a total chump out there). Somehow my new training approach, which sounds more like a recovery week compared to my old ways, has brought some decent fitness, and more importantly, a renewed appreciation of the sport. As Conrad says, "You just go faster when you're having fun!"
My only goals at Cool were to finish off a weekend of high-intensity and to get those "fist race of the year" quirks out. In search of the most painful weekend possible, I first ventured to Northwest Reno for the Saturday morning Walden's Drop Ride for 4 laps out in Vedi followed by 3 climbing loops out in the Sommersett development. I'd say my goal of a painful weekend was three quarters meet on this ride alone, with numerous attempts to either attack off the front or chase down my mentor slash coach slash close friend slash landlord slash local Reno cycling hero Kyle Dixon and other Reno hammerheads for 50 miles. Everyone down in Cool from Reno, including JT, quietly laughed at me when I told them my weekend antics before the race. Needless to say, my legs hurt like holy hell after the 30 mile mud bath at Cool. I'm actually surprised the pedals even kept turning! Somehow I was able to pull together a decent 5th place finish in a huge 19-39 Expert Age group. Did I mention this was my first MTB ride since December? Or this was the maiden voyage of my spankin' new 21 pound Scott Scale? The goal of a ridiculously hard training block was met, I survived this years first race, and I'm ready to rumble for CWC in 09.
PS. CWC kits still get mad compliments covered in mud. Pics http://www.capturethemoment.net//?page=user_images&eid;=2374&iid;=2374-01-025
Schaffner: Hill Climb 55th, Crit 28th, Snover: Freed: Hill Climb 42nd, Crit 23rd, TT 45Scott: Crit 3rd, RR 4th, GC 24th
Chappell: Crit 12th, TT 52nd, RR 28th, GC 38th
Cat 4 Etchison: Crit 29th, TT 54th, RR 23rd, GC 41stMcKenzie: Crit 9th, TT 13th, RR 8th, G.C. 12th
Conrad Snover P/1/2
Since this was my first P/1/2 race, and I knew the jump from 3 to 2 was a biggie. I set reasonable expectations. Of course goal #1 was to have fun, which I accomplished, and also focused on what not to do:
The uphill TT on Friday was on an absolutely beautiful narrow winding road through grassy hills dotted with granite boulders and rugged trees. There was the entire range of equipment present: everything from full TT bikes with discs to non-aero road bikes with normal wheels. I rang what I brang: my Scott Addict road bike with clip on TT bars and lightweight aero carbon wheels (reynolds 46mm front, Zipp 808 rear). I was SLOW, almost 7 minutes or so behind the leader. The flat TT on Saturday found me about 5 minutes behind the leader for a GC total of +12 minutes. WOW, do I have some work to do, but thats ok, I wasnt last!
Nate Freed
Andy Scott:Paul McKenzie:
New for me was racing with the 55+ 1,2,3,4 boyz. Basically, a bunch of Pro 1,2 guys that have just gotten old and kept racing. The group is small, and the riders are highly skilled, which makes for some fun racing. It's harder to 'hide' in the pack when there's 25 guys instead of 75 guys, but my results appear to be better with the smaller field!
Crit: Normally I hate Crits. I can't sprint or lay down big Watts, and they're dangerous. But riding with our group was super fun. We were slow, our average speed was 23 mph vs. Conrad's noted 27 mph in P1,2. Most guys were just saving it for the TT. Four guys got away, we didn't catch them, and I got 5th in the field sprint for 9th overall.
TT: I suck. That's all there is to it. I can't Time Trial. I got the bike, my position is decent, but I just don't have the Watts. Finished 13th, which in our small group is mid pack.
RR: First of 3 laps pretty easy, some attacks that were easily brought back. When we got on the rollers I wicked it up to try to wear down the bigger guys. Worked OK. Second lap faster, more attacks, and I went off the front on the rollers again. But this time the field responded. I got passed, and the pace was brutal. Half the field was dropped, and I was dangling. I knew this was it. Either get back on, or finish 15th or worse. I fought hard, got back on in the feed zone (last of the rollers), and was able to sit in on lap 3. One guy stayed off the front, then a field sprint with the remaining group of 14. I got 7th in the field sprint.
Great weekend of training/racing. And the Burritos Locos at Mario's in Merced were killer. Mario's was recommended by fellow racer and friend Gregg Betonte. Now bring on some races with some longer climbs please!
Ramsey Etchison:
This was the first race of the season for me and I had three goals:
1. to be serenaded by an accordion player while eating lasagna with the infamous 60 ft. lady. Bella Noche!!!
2. apply my new pencil mustache to get an upgrade from room to suite at the Holiday Inn Express. Oui Oui!!!
3. eat an al pastor burrito loco that would remind of the fun I used to kick up in Juarez Mexico. Peros Calientes y Palomitas de Maiz!!!
Mission accomplished.
Chappell: Crit 12th, TT 52nd, RR 28th, GC 38th
Cat 4 Etchison: Crit 29th, TT 54th, RR 23rd, GC 41stMcKenzie: Crit 9th, TT 13th, RR 8th, G.C. 12th
Conrad Snover P/1/2
Since this was my first P/1/2 race, and I knew the jump from 3 to 2 was a biggie. I set reasonable expectations. Of course goal #1 was to have fun, which I accomplished, and also focused on what not to do:
- Dont get dropped in the crit or road race
- Dont get last in the GC
Nate Freed
Andy Scott:Paul McKenzie:
New for me was racing with the 55+ 1,2,3,4 boyz. Basically, a bunch of Pro 1,2 guys that have just gotten old and kept racing. The group is small, and the riders are highly skilled, which makes for some fun racing. It's harder to 'hide' in the pack when there's 25 guys instead of 75 guys, but my results appear to be better with the smaller field!
Crit: Normally I hate Crits. I can't sprint or lay down big Watts, and they're dangerous. But riding with our group was super fun. We were slow, our average speed was 23 mph vs. Conrad's noted 27 mph in P1,2. Most guys were just saving it for the TT. Four guys got away, we didn't catch them, and I got 5th in the field sprint for 9th overall.
TT: I suck. That's all there is to it. I can't Time Trial. I got the bike, my position is decent, but I just don't have the Watts. Finished 13th, which in our small group is mid pack.
Great weekend of training/racing. And the Burritos Locos at Mario's in Merced were killer. Mario's was recommended by fellow racer and friend Gregg Betonte. Now bring on some races with some longer climbs please!
Ramsey Etchison:
This was the first race of the season for me and I had three goals:
1. to be serenaded by an accordion player while eating lasagna with the infamous 60 ft. lady. Bella Noche!!!
2. apply my new pencil mustache to get an upgrade from room to suite at the Holiday Inn Express. Oui Oui!!!
3. eat an al pastor burrito loco that would remind of the fun I used to kick up in Juarez Mexico. Peros Calientes y Palomitas de Maiz!!!
Mission accomplished.
This road plummets 2200' in just 4.5 miles. A sign reminds the rider, "This road is steep, crooked, and hazardous." It's remote and beautiful, but it won't go unnoticed to the early season legs that the first 2.5 miles of the climb back out averages 12%. It eases off a bit for the final 2 miles but it's a great workout. If you add in Spring Garden and Yankee Jim roads just off of Foresthill Road, you can fashion together a pretty nice 65 mile ride with about 9,000' of climbing! Just take it easy and this can be a thoroughly enjoyable early season training ride. Honest.
P12 Categories carry some weight but the 70+ and 90+ categories were stacked as well with Dylan Casey/Billy Innes, Hutchinson, Nolan, Phipps, Hellman and several other big hitters. Couple that with lightning fast conditions (cool temps and ZERO wind) and you knew there were going to be some fast times.
By the end of the day fastest time was 38:20 by Dyan and Billy of Specialized Masters racing in the 70+ Cat, almost a minute faster than the best time last year. Dan Martin/Mike Margraf were close in the P12 Category with 38:55 I believe. In total 3-4 times were faster than last year.
Bill Sans and I have done this for 3 years now and we've been evenly matched each time, making it a challenge and keeping each other honest and smooth through the 40+ minutes of pain. This year we were fortunate to knock :04 off our time from last year for final post of 40:43. But, it was one of those days where the result was really good but I just didn't feel good and knew I could have done better. Bill was riding well and carried me for a small portion. But with TTs, you just keep your head down and suffer all the way to the end because you just never know who is going to feel better or if you can pull out of the funk only to have your partner begin to suffer or how the "junky" feeling translates to time on the clock when you finish...you just keep it pegged and smooth.
We ended the day 4th P12 and 7th Overall so we're pumped for a solid result yet know there is still a little room for improvement next year.
By the end of the day fastest time was 38:20 by Dyan and Billy of Specialized Masters racing in the 70+ Cat, almost a minute faster than the best time last year. Dan Martin/Mike Margraf were close in the P12 Category with 38:55 I believe. In total 3-4 times were faster than last year.
Bill Sans and I have done this for 3 years now and we've been evenly matched each time, making it a challenge and keeping each other honest and smooth through the 40+ minutes of pain. This year we were fortunate to knock :04 off our time from last year for final post of 40:43. But, it was one of those days where the result was really good but I just didn't feel good and knew I could have done better. Bill was riding well and carried me for a small portion. But with TTs, you just keep your head down and suffer all the way to the end because you just never know who is going to feel better or if you can pull out of the funk only to have your partner begin to suffer or how the "junky" feeling translates to time on the clock when you finish...you just keep it pegged and smooth.
We ended the day 4th P12 and 7th Overall so we're pumped for a solid result yet know there is still a little room for improvement next year.
