A Look Back Racing 2010. #2

Season’s Final Race

The Tour de Strongland was a fun one this year. With a new course and smaller field, only the committed were up to the task of enjoying this 22nd annual race. I was not sure how my form would hold up and I believe I did alright considering life as it stands.

Myself and 3 other racers seemed to be the only ones willing to face the wind and push the pace during our 20.8 mile race. There were some decent climbs but nothing to write home about. I was hoping there would be a major climb like last year’s course, but I was happy to be in the lead group of 7. 

About 3/4 of the way through one rider was really above the rest. He had only done a few crits all season and this, being his only road race, proved to be all he needed to secure a solo win. He held a lead on us chasing for a decisive and impressive victory.

I felt good during the race. Near the end I was feeling a bit strained, but could hold my own. I made the same mistake this year that I did last- trying to bridge an insurmountable gap to the leader. I launched an attack on the group way too far from the finish with no hope of catching the leader’s wheel, keeping a gap on the group chasing, nor being able to have any energy to latch on as they all passed me or even have a recovery for a strong finish at the line. I am not upset, but more eager to address this rookie mistake next season with more patience for my sprint/ attack. I finished 6th as we had dropped another racer from our lead group.

I am very glad I raced and was not deterred by the rain that morning or questions of my form. 

On an unrelated note, I found a turtle about to cross the highway on the way back. I stopped, ran back, picked him up, and with my girlfriend, placed him in a beautifully secluded, wooded park in Indiana. We think Tangerine will like his new home!

Thanks for reading.

A Look Back Racing 2010. #1

New Race, Same Place.

Tonight at the “Bud” Cycling Oval in Pittsburgh I raced my first “B” race as a cat4. This B race was with cat4s and cat3s only. This was a different kind of race. Apparently breakaways don’t usually sick in the B race, but tonight I found myself trying to hang on to a 5 man break with about 15 laps to go. This being my first upgraded race, I wanted to be fresh, aware of, and ready for every move that was happening.

There were a few other attacks and break attempts, but I knew some wouldn’t really stick. I found myself chasing a lot after being blocked by teammates of guys in the break. Advantage goes to them, but I was left a few times to catch someone else’s wheel or ride my own effort to catch up to a break.

That 5 man break I mentioned spat me out with I don’t even know how many laps to go. We had about a half a lap (1/4 mile) lead on the peloton. I caught a strong rider’s move to bridge back up with his brother in a then 3 man break. I held on as long as I could noting my constant 195-6 bpm heart rate. Seeing the amount of laps left, even with our lead over the peloton, I knew I was gonna be really taxed to keep up. 

I got dropped and rode through the “no man’s land” between the break and the peloton. Once caught, I knew I had to grab whatever wheel I could and recover for the final sprint. On the last lap I was sitting nicely, but I was again blocked by a teammate of a guy in the break giving up. I missed the wheel of a surge for the line. I am happy to say I still came out top ten with an 8th place. I rode hard and got compliments for my racing. 

This race was fun and tough. I am excited for next week!

I had written this on another blog of mine and thought that it really deserved to be here. This is where I'll be posting such things. Anyway, I have more or less plotted out where I plan to begin my 2011 racing. The above was my first race as a Cat4 and it was late in the season so I'm looking to keep on training and hope momentum from this showing carries on for the next year. One more race summary to add after this.

Bring It, Two-K-One-One

Oh baby! I'm excited to report my 2011 USA Cycling Racing Licenses came today! I guess I kind of needed some textbooks more than these licenses at this point, but I'll make do. This has me thinking I will need to really start scanning out my racing schedule as much as I can for the upcoming road season. I want to get points and win big! Aim high, why not?

They came with big stickers too! ... now where to put them...

I'll be sure to watch the Cyclocross Wold Championships this weekend. Live coverage can be found at Cycling Fans. I'm pulling for our USA representatives in both mens and women's categories. I think Katie Compton will take the womens for USA, but the men have a considerably steeper climb to make. Tim Johnson was awesome to watch last race I saw taking up the chase, but I think Neils Albert or even Sven Nys will take the crown from Zdenek Stybar. The USA boys are, in my opinion the dark-horse contenders, but just being on that stage is monumental. Jonathan Page might pull this one out though. Who knows, but it will be a good race.

On another note, I think I will be beginning a (what I'll call) "blog series" for my blog here. I am not sure on the title, but I want to add an element of consistency and reliable posting to this. What I have in mind is like a "Monday Mornings Week #" or something along those lines for my blog. My initial idea is to have an account of the weekend, had I participated in a race, and what I look forward to for the next week and weekend of training and racing. I guess I'll leave it at that with an effort to creativity, insight, consistency, and personality. I will add structure as I see fit and will hope to see creativity to dictate how things go. I know racing is a few months off so if I start it this coming Monday.... it'll be an offseason type of post. We'll see how it goes. I hope people will catch on.