It has been awhile...
I don't remember where we left off.
GMSR is long gone. Tour of Catskills has finished weeks ago.
And then...
Ali and I have been kickin' ass ever since.
There was an apple picking extravaganza, running, walking, hiking, eating, apple crisping, laughing and general all-around funness.
Echappe Equipment (www.racewheelrentals.com) has been also kicking ass, so, check it out.
I bike world news... I have been dreaming of getting another big squishy bike. I have also been riding the Chase a lot and getting pretty smooth at the local skate parks. And dirt jumps. Which is always fun. I wanted to brush-up on my skills for Highland in a few weeks. I am pretty pumped for Highland.
I am also now currently accepting all offers for the 2009 cycling season.
And as a nod to my past, I did a little skateboarding the other night and holy hell was it fun. I forget... and there is nothing quite like it.
Next week is backpacking trip #1 of the year. I know... it's a little late. But, Ali just rounded out the gear she needed and we are on our way in the Vermont wilderness.
This past weekend, for all of you who decided to stay home, missed some fantastic racing weather and super hard race courses at the Green Mountain Cyclocross weekend. This is one of 2 events that happen throughout that year that are within an hour of my house. This weekend being about 25 minutes away, 35 on velocipede.
Oh yeah, and I went to Interbike, For the first time. It only took 10 years to get there. Holy overwhelming zoo of bicycle. It was pretty intense. Too much stuff. I crashed hard at the Industry Cup Race and did some unhealthy damage to my Cannondale. Only time will tell just how rough it really is. It arrives in a day or two.
Actually, I wasn't entirely sure it had been picked up yet. I just checked on UPS.com though and it is on it's way. It sat in the casino from Friday to Monday so I was a little nervous.
Anyway, the cross races were fantastic, and not only did I have a blast riding the bike, but I also raced fairly well. I thought. Saturday I was pretty wrecked from travelling and from the crash on Thursday night. So I was far from 100%. I started conservatively and picked my way through eventually getting as high up as 16th or so and then fading pretty hard back to 20th. However, this marks the first Elite cross race I have ever finished on the lead lap. Nice.
Saturday's race was overshadowed by Ali's birthday. That night lead us to a ridiculous dance party/show/thing by Dan Deacon, which was amazing. A little heavy on the crowd participation, but TONS of fun. Then out afterward with some friends and fun all around. I momentarily distracted by Golden Tee the video game, and made it on the leader board some how. Weird.
Sunday's race was at the same venue with a different course, as you can guess.
It was another uphill start and in the deep grass. Fearing getting bogged down, I started in the little ring. WRONG. I was instantly at the back. Last wheel. Holy hell. It took me a lap to regain my composure and not panic and then I started on my mission of improving on yesterdays' 20th. I hop skipped, lunged, and attacked my way forward. The last 2 laps I was locked in a ferocious battle with a guy whose real name is Zoltan. Seriously. Turns out he is a former national champion from Budapest and has ridden at CX worlds. So we attack each other and play games for the final two laps. He bobbled on the log ride and I attacked hard, but he hung on. Then through the woods I gassed it and attacked up the long climb and he was still with me on the following descent.
So, learning from Nathaniel's mistake from the previous day, I lead through the final chicane and had 2 meters on the exit. I opened my sprint and was able to hold him off. Holy bananas! That was awesome. 14th! Verge Series points! A call-up at Gloucester, albeit a 3rd row call up, but still! Freaking sweet!
And then ate Al's and life was great.
Next race, Gloucester. Following hiking extravaganza, and s'more mania.
9.30.2008
9.09.2008
Almost old news by now
The GMSR road race was nothing short of spectacular. Even though this year, it was short.
The traditional professional loop sends us up and over Bethel Mt. Rd and then back towards Middlebury Gap. Turns out there was some construction on Bethel Mt. road and we wouldn't be headed that way. Then, as fate would have it, a couple of weeks before the scheduled start, a rain storm, literally washed away Middlebury Gap. Well, I guess not the gap per se, but certainly a good chunk of Route 125 that would lead us over Middlebury Gap.
Anyway... the race was rerouted to Brandon Gap a few miles further South and about 7 miles long. It's 7 miles of shallower climbing, which for a training ride is great, it's easier. In a race, it's a double edged sword. You can probably make it over, but it's going to be fast as hell.
So the race starts, and with all the time gaps within seconds of each other, everyone wants a chance to win. There are relentless attacks. We're covering everything insight because Eneas is 3rd overall and only a handful of seconds out of the jersey. Suddenly, a break goes, containing 4 guys. I don't really know who's in it, but I know I need to cover it, at this point I"m gassed from working so hard already. It's been a whopping 5 miles of the impeding 75.
I jump out, 1 rider comes with me and we're cruising. I'm killing myself to get across what seems like a small gap and it's taking forever. We get there. It was like walking into the back room of a restaraunt where you're not supposed to be. Or overhearing someone telling a secret.
The shit had just hit the fan. The break contained:
The leader's jersey
2 riders from Team Race (1 of which was in the top 5)
The sprinters jersey (briefly)
The KOM jersey
Eric from Fiore Di Fruitta
And another super strong Canadian and they are on a mission. I mean, everyone wound out in the 53x11. Holy hell it was fast. I wasn't supposed to work, but the only way to stay tacked onto this move was to roll through. And I knew I needed to out sprint the yellow jersey at the bonus sprint to take away the bonus seconds on the road.
Boom, we hit the sprint, 200m to go and the Fruitty gasses it, I jump a little late and grab 2nd. The jersey apparently hung on for 3rd. I can only block so many places right.
Miles and miles later. In the ball park of 20 miles from when the breakaway started. The calvalry arrives. I look over my should to see Karl Menzies (Health Net), Dominique Perisian (canadian fastman), Eneas (teammate!!), Will (teammate!!) and a couple of other real deal super men.
Hold your breath because someone just poured gasoline on the fire...
The traditional professional loop sends us up and over Bethel Mt. Rd and then back towards Middlebury Gap. Turns out there was some construction on Bethel Mt. road and we wouldn't be headed that way. Then, as fate would have it, a couple of weeks before the scheduled start, a rain storm, literally washed away Middlebury Gap. Well, I guess not the gap per se, but certainly a good chunk of Route 125 that would lead us over Middlebury Gap.
Anyway... the race was rerouted to Brandon Gap a few miles further South and about 7 miles long. It's 7 miles of shallower climbing, which for a training ride is great, it's easier. In a race, it's a double edged sword. You can probably make it over, but it's going to be fast as hell.
So the race starts, and with all the time gaps within seconds of each other, everyone wants a chance to win. There are relentless attacks. We're covering everything insight because Eneas is 3rd overall and only a handful of seconds out of the jersey. Suddenly, a break goes, containing 4 guys. I don't really know who's in it, but I know I need to cover it, at this point I"m gassed from working so hard already. It's been a whopping 5 miles of the impeding 75.
I jump out, 1 rider comes with me and we're cruising. I'm killing myself to get across what seems like a small gap and it's taking forever. We get there. It was like walking into the back room of a restaraunt where you're not supposed to be. Or overhearing someone telling a secret.
The shit had just hit the fan. The break contained:
The leader's jersey
2 riders from Team Race (1 of which was in the top 5)
The sprinters jersey (briefly)
The KOM jersey
Eric from Fiore Di Fruitta
And another super strong Canadian and they are on a mission. I mean, everyone wound out in the 53x11. Holy hell it was fast. I wasn't supposed to work, but the only way to stay tacked onto this move was to roll through. And I knew I needed to out sprint the yellow jersey at the bonus sprint to take away the bonus seconds on the road.
Boom, we hit the sprint, 200m to go and the Fruitty gasses it, I jump a little late and grab 2nd. The jersey apparently hung on for 3rd. I can only block so many places right.
Miles and miles later. In the ball park of 20 miles from when the breakaway started. The calvalry arrives. I look over my should to see Karl Menzies (Health Net), Dominique Perisian (canadian fastman), Eneas (teammate!!), Will (teammate!!) and a couple of other real deal super men.
Hold your breath because someone just poured gasoline on the fire...
9.04.2008
Green Mountain Mayhem
Alright alright alright...
A lot has happened. So much so, I don't even remember most of it. Lost of traveling in the last few weeks, and still some more to come. Cross your fingers and close your eyes, waiting for the Cat 1 upgrade approval so I can mix-it-up down at Univest. The team is running on fumes right now. There are multiple smashed wheels, 1 punctured lung, 1 broken hand, 2 fractured ribs, 1 severe rope burn, and the list goes on.
I though, am feeling nothing short of tired and fulfilled. The season has been an epic roller coaster up to this point. There were these great glimmers of racing, and some horrible flashes of mistakes. That's racing right.
Green Mountain Stage Race... we came within 3 seconds of taking the overall lead. And when I say it was a hard fought battle, it was severely hard. No rest for the wicked, or something like that.
The break down goes like this:
Day 1 (Thursday before the TT) Kyle and some guys go for a short ride to open the legs and scope out the road conditions for the upcoming days of battle. Everything looks good. What DOESN'T look good is the designated parking area for the time trial. They want us to park at Sugarbush, ride DOWN the access road, then race the TT, then ride 6 miles back to Sugarbush, UP the access road. This is no good. So, he bribes a homeowner with some yard space to spare about 200 meters from the start line. We park the team car and set-up all the trainers and break out the cooler and have a good ol' tailgating party, warm-up style. We were in the shade and it was alllllright.
The race:
A few weeks prior we had a GMSR mini camp where everyone came up north and we pre-rode the courses and practiced the TT. On race day, I shaved 50 seconds off of my camp time. In part due to some hot wheels from Echappe Equipment. Also, if any needs some wheels on the cheap, end of the season sale is fast approaching. Anyway, 50 seconds faster than camp, sub 15:00 and still I was 1:20 behind. Well... that was that. Eneas however went fast enough to grab 4th place, Craig was in the teens somewhere and Justin was top 25. We were off to a great start.
Circuit Race:
Fast and furious! 2 Fast 2 Furious! I'll have you know, Craig hates that movie. It was fast, the roads were narrow and soon into the race a break goes up the road with Eneas and Will and some other heavy hitters. Well, they put a minute into the field and Gabe and Craig and I sit back and cool our heels and let things develop. Holy potatoes batman!! The break come back over the KOM and we all come together on the long fast decent. Hmm... Well. Time to make the magic happen. Attack, cover, counter, repeat. It's a fast rolling 10 mile run-in to the finish and it was on. Like the Discovery Channel in Justin Lindine's living room. Things are tense, a crash is brewing, the field is slowing. Trouble! I grab Gabe and we charge off the front of the field, holding a 2 man time trial for a few miles. We're gobbled up on the last big roller and the last thing I see is the ugliest saddle in the race. Troy Lee designs Selle Italia SLR, also known as Justin Wolverine Lindine. He blast off the front, pulls Will Duggan within and 3 others. They're doing mach 4000 and they stick it for the final 2 miles, just grabs 5th and scoops some bonus seconds, and the field was on their wheels with not a meter to spare. I mean seriously, they were caught with no room to move. It was pretty awesome.
I suffered an extreme case of "cross-gut" for my efforts, but was happy with the outcome.
Tomorrow's edition: the road race.
A lot has happened. So much so, I don't even remember most of it. Lost of traveling in the last few weeks, and still some more to come. Cross your fingers and close your eyes, waiting for the Cat 1 upgrade approval so I can mix-it-up down at Univest. The team is running on fumes right now. There are multiple smashed wheels, 1 punctured lung, 1 broken hand, 2 fractured ribs, 1 severe rope burn, and the list goes on.
I though, am feeling nothing short of tired and fulfilled. The season has been an epic roller coaster up to this point. There were these great glimmers of racing, and some horrible flashes of mistakes. That's racing right.
Green Mountain Stage Race... we came within 3 seconds of taking the overall lead. And when I say it was a hard fought battle, it was severely hard. No rest for the wicked, or something like that.
The break down goes like this:
Day 1 (Thursday before the TT) Kyle and some guys go for a short ride to open the legs and scope out the road conditions for the upcoming days of battle. Everything looks good. What DOESN'T look good is the designated parking area for the time trial. They want us to park at Sugarbush, ride DOWN the access road, then race the TT, then ride 6 miles back to Sugarbush, UP the access road. This is no good. So, he bribes a homeowner with some yard space to spare about 200 meters from the start line. We park the team car and set-up all the trainers and break out the cooler and have a good ol' tailgating party, warm-up style. We were in the shade and it was alllllright.
The race:
A few weeks prior we had a GMSR mini camp where everyone came up north and we pre-rode the courses and practiced the TT. On race day, I shaved 50 seconds off of my camp time. In part due to some hot wheels from Echappe Equipment. Also, if any needs some wheels on the cheap, end of the season sale is fast approaching. Anyway, 50 seconds faster than camp, sub 15:00 and still I was 1:20 behind. Well... that was that. Eneas however went fast enough to grab 4th place, Craig was in the teens somewhere and Justin was top 25. We were off to a great start.
Circuit Race:
Fast and furious! 2 Fast 2 Furious! I'll have you know, Craig hates that movie. It was fast, the roads were narrow and soon into the race a break goes up the road with Eneas and Will and some other heavy hitters. Well, they put a minute into the field and Gabe and Craig and I sit back and cool our heels and let things develop. Holy potatoes batman!! The break come back over the KOM and we all come together on the long fast decent. Hmm... Well. Time to make the magic happen. Attack, cover, counter, repeat. It's a fast rolling 10 mile run-in to the finish and it was on. Like the Discovery Channel in Justin Lindine's living room. Things are tense, a crash is brewing, the field is slowing. Trouble! I grab Gabe and we charge off the front of the field, holding a 2 man time trial for a few miles. We're gobbled up on the last big roller and the last thing I see is the ugliest saddle in the race. Troy Lee designs Selle Italia SLR, also known as Justin Wolverine Lindine. He blast off the front, pulls Will Duggan within and 3 others. They're doing mach 4000 and they stick it for the final 2 miles, just grabs 5th and scoops some bonus seconds, and the field was on their wheels with not a meter to spare. I mean seriously, they were caught with no room to move. It was pretty awesome.
I suffered an extreme case of "cross-gut" for my efforts, but was happy with the outcome.
Tomorrow's edition: the road race.
9.03.2008
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