Whoa that was fun. Probably the most fun I have had on my bike in some time. I busted my ass on the ice once and did a little ice dance - almost fall. Keep your hands on the bar when riding on ICE. Man that shit was fun.
FULL REPORT
Thanks TEAMSEAGAL for a excellent adventure.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Washington CX
The Washington race was a muddy mess. I did the 3's race hoping for one last shot at a good finish in a Cat3 only class. Unfortunatly, we had a very small field with only 3 riders showing up. It was Drew from Mesa, Greg from the Trek store, and myself. When the whistle blew I started pedaling softly trying not to spin the tire.. it was slick'r-en shit. I took the holeshot and led for the first few corners. Greg and Drew both came around me and it seemed for a second that they were both going to ride away from me. About half way through the first lap I dropped to my small ring because the big ring was too much for the super slow speeds. You really had to finess through the corners to hold any forward momentum that you might have had.
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At the end of lap one we were all still with in 3 or 4 seconds of each other. Drew and I traded positions a few times during the first lap. Greg had put a small gap on us of maybe 5 or 6 seconds. During the second lap I started running some of the slowest corners because that was the faster option. I was also dismounting earlier for the runups because that also felt faster to me. Making these adjustments to my laps helped a lot. I was able to distance myself from Drew and bridge the gap up to Greg. As I came up on Gregs wheel he chose to ride a corner that I had been running and I ran right past him. Now in the lead I actually backed the pace off a little. Greg came back around me and I followed him for another lap before he started to slip away.
With 2 to go Greg had opened the gap back up to around 20 seconds. He was riding great in the mud. Drew still was not far behind at maybe 20 seconds back from me. We crossed the line in that order. Greg, Me, then Drew with the gaps still the same.
The race was a lot of fun and the course was awesome. Wish more people would have showed up for the race, I think they would have enjoyed the wet conditions.
So, I got second place which is a good result, but lets face it, its still a mid pack finish when you think about it.
With only 1 true cross race left this year the season is pretty much over(is it the end of December already???). Next year should bring good things and with the right training I will be able to get some better results.
See you at CXMAS.
Holler...
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At the end of lap one we were all still with in 3 or 4 seconds of each other. Drew and I traded positions a few times during the first lap. Greg had put a small gap on us of maybe 5 or 6 seconds. During the second lap I started running some of the slowest corners because that was the faster option. I was also dismounting earlier for the runups because that also felt faster to me. Making these adjustments to my laps helped a lot. I was able to distance myself from Drew and bridge the gap up to Greg. As I came up on Gregs wheel he chose to ride a corner that I had been running and I ran right past him. Now in the lead I actually backed the pace off a little. Greg came back around me and I followed him for another lap before he started to slip away.
With 2 to go Greg had opened the gap back up to around 20 seconds. He was riding great in the mud. Drew still was not far behind at maybe 20 seconds back from me. We crossed the line in that order. Greg, Me, then Drew with the gaps still the same.
The race was a lot of fun and the course was awesome. Wish more people would have showed up for the race, I think they would have enjoyed the wet conditions.
So, I got second place which is a good result, but lets face it, its still a mid pack finish when you think about it.
With only 1 true cross race left this year the season is pretty much over(is it the end of December already???). Next year should bring good things and with the right training I will be able to get some better results.
See you at CXMAS.
Holler...
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
MO State CX
The state race this year brought us back to Hermann, Mo for the third time in a row. I love the venue as there are many ways to lay a course out there. The stairs are a given. The sand is a given. Usually some sort of steep hill and a fair amount of pavement. Jeff Yeilding uses his imagination to do the rest and he is pretty creative. Jeff laid out an amazing course that was 2 miles in length and was a lot of fun to ride. He included a section of 5 barriers which were ridable. A double barrier section which was not. Sand was added to the already existing sand pit which made it very deep, and with a 180 turn right at the beginning of the pit it to was not ridable.
I did a couple pre laps to check the course. Most of it was not a problem. There were a few corners that were very slick from the thaw that had been taking place during the day. The run up for me was a ride up. I was able to ride it every lap in my preride but wasn't sure if this was the fastest method. The sandpit was a complete bog and zapped your energy. The slick corners I found just had to be ridden with caution.... I really just didn't want to fall down and get dirty. Everything else was all about corner speed, keeping momentum, and riding consistent laps.
Before the race started I had told myself I wanted a top 10. This was only the second Cat3 race I have done this year. The other was the Hermann night race and I finished 7th there. With many of the competitors being the same I thought my goal was with in reach.
Since I was starting on the front row I figured I would start the race just like the did at the night race. Full tilt. When the whistle blew I launched hard and dropped the hammer. I went down the pavement like I was approaching the finish line of a crit. In the drops and out of the saddle cranking hard. I got to the grass first and made sure to keep it smooth through the first few corners. I held the lead through mud bog and all the way to the base of the run up. A KCCX rider passed me at the corner before the run up, I swung it wide to get a small run at the hill to make sure I was able to ride all the way to the top. At the top of the hill my HR was pretty high so I backed it off a notch on the way back down through the slick corners.
Photo by Eville Mike
Struggling to regain my composure several more riders came by. It seems as if my plan of attack wasn't working out like it did for the night race. Its also pretty evident that I was lacking in some top end fitness. It took a few laps but I slowly started to find speed through corners and be able to charge out of them. There were a few riders behind me that I was keeping my eye on during this first few laps. By the end of the third lap I started put significant time on them which was a huge boost for me. I started looking forward trying to make up ground on the rider in front of me. When I caught this rider(GINO) we were at the steep hill. Gino let me by at the bottom of the run up since he knew I was riding it which was awesome of him. When I got to the top of the hill I quickly looked left over the course to see where the next rider was at. There ws a big shark Jersey going through the slick corner at the bottom.
Since my momentum seemed to being getting better I hammered it down the hill and pushed a little faster through the slip n slid. The next rider was in sight so I kept the pressure on. Before the base of the stairs I got around him and kept moving forward. Since I was again at a high point in the course I looked ahead to see where the next rider was.... and didn't see a thing. The legs were feeling really good by this point so I kept them moving.
With 2 to go I was letting it all hang out. Leaning through the corner more, pushing harder down the straights, braking less, running faster over obstacles. With 1 to go I was only now jut catching glimpses of the riders in front of me. There was a lot of ground to make up in one lap. I still gave it all I had just hoping that maybe I could catch someone. My last time through the sandpit I remounted and looked over my shoulder. No one behind me.... and no one on front. At a steady pace I finished the lap and the race with a position of 12th.
It wasn't the the top 10 I was looking for, and I know what mistake I made that probably cost me this goal. My start. I should have taken it easier and let the race unfold around me a little more. No matter what happened, I had a good ass time.
TeamSeagal kept it real as usual and had the cheering sections kicking mucho ass like always.
Andy from the team had an awesome ride and finished 2nd in the cat4 race. Jason finished a few spots ahead of me in the 3's race.
There are a few more races this year, some real, one non, and all should be a good time. After the new year gravel rides are in order and hoping to kick out several hundred miles worth before spring.
holla
I did a couple pre laps to check the course. Most of it was not a problem. There were a few corners that were very slick from the thaw that had been taking place during the day. The run up for me was a ride up. I was able to ride it every lap in my preride but wasn't sure if this was the fastest method. The sandpit was a complete bog and zapped your energy. The slick corners I found just had to be ridden with caution.... I really just didn't want to fall down and get dirty. Everything else was all about corner speed, keeping momentum, and riding consistent laps.
Before the race started I had told myself I wanted a top 10. This was only the second Cat3 race I have done this year. The other was the Hermann night race and I finished 7th there. With many of the competitors being the same I thought my goal was with in reach.
Since I was starting on the front row I figured I would start the race just like the did at the night race. Full tilt. When the whistle blew I launched hard and dropped the hammer. I went down the pavement like I was approaching the finish line of a crit. In the drops and out of the saddle cranking hard. I got to the grass first and made sure to keep it smooth through the first few corners. I held the lead through mud bog and all the way to the base of the run up. A KCCX rider passed me at the corner before the run up, I swung it wide to get a small run at the hill to make sure I was able to ride all the way to the top. At the top of the hill my HR was pretty high so I backed it off a notch on the way back down through the slick corners.
Photo by Eville Mike
Struggling to regain my composure several more riders came by. It seems as if my plan of attack wasn't working out like it did for the night race. Its also pretty evident that I was lacking in some top end fitness. It took a few laps but I slowly started to find speed through corners and be able to charge out of them. There were a few riders behind me that I was keeping my eye on during this first few laps. By the end of the third lap I started put significant time on them which was a huge boost for me. I started looking forward trying to make up ground on the rider in front of me. When I caught this rider(GINO) we were at the steep hill. Gino let me by at the bottom of the run up since he knew I was riding it which was awesome of him. When I got to the top of the hill I quickly looked left over the course to see where the next rider was at. There ws a big shark Jersey going through the slick corner at the bottom.
Since my momentum seemed to being getting better I hammered it down the hill and pushed a little faster through the slip n slid. The next rider was in sight so I kept the pressure on. Before the base of the stairs I got around him and kept moving forward. Since I was again at a high point in the course I looked ahead to see where the next rider was.... and didn't see a thing. The legs were feeling really good by this point so I kept them moving.
With 2 to go I was letting it all hang out. Leaning through the corner more, pushing harder down the straights, braking less, running faster over obstacles. With 1 to go I was only now jut catching glimpses of the riders in front of me. There was a lot of ground to make up in one lap. I still gave it all I had just hoping that maybe I could catch someone. My last time through the sandpit I remounted and looked over my shoulder. No one behind me.... and no one on front. At a steady pace I finished the lap and the race with a position of 12th.
It wasn't the the top 10 I was looking for, and I know what mistake I made that probably cost me this goal. My start. I should have taken it easier and let the race unfold around me a little more. No matter what happened, I had a good ass time.
TeamSeagal kept it real as usual and had the cheering sections kicking mucho ass like always.
Andy from the team had an awesome ride and finished 2nd in the cat4 race. Jason finished a few spots ahead of me in the 3's race.
There are a few more races this year, some real, one non, and all should be a good time. After the new year gravel rides are in order and hoping to kick out several hundred miles worth before spring.
holla
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Bubba 9
Ok, so the course was awesome. About 30 percent of it was mountain biking which was the best part. There were also the usual horse power sections. I felt decent... Rode a couple laps in a strong group of riders until I fell on one of the slowest corners that had the most traction in some 4 inch deep zoisa grass. Matt James came around me when I fell but I was able to pop back up and run all the way through the next corner before remounting. For some reason this made my HR really high and I had to back off the throttle for a half lap to recover. After that I began chasing TK around for about 4 or 5 laps and actual got the gap he had on me down to around 8 seconds. Then I dropped my chain...suck. I chased so more but the damage was done. TK had the gap back to around 20 seconds and with only 1 or 2 laps left I didnt see it happening. All my matches were already burnt. I rolled across the line in 16th.
Photo by Eville Mike
Super fun.... The right temps(finally)..... Even better cheering section.... I LOVE CROSS!!!!This season has been the best yet in the 3 years I have been racing. Next year should only be better and I cant wait.
The state race is tomorrow and every category looks stacked. Hoping to end it with a top 10.
holla.
Photo by Eville Mike
Super fun.... The right temps(finally)..... Even better cheering section.... I LOVE CROSS!!!!This season has been the best yet in the 3 years I have been racing. Next year should only be better and I cant wait.
The state race is tomorrow and every category looks stacked. Hoping to end it with a top 10.
holla.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Bubba 8
That was the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike that only took an hour. If I didnt feel like shit for the race I may have enjoyed it, a little. My girlfriend was sick the few days before the race and I was curious if I was going to catch it. I felt fine all week so I must have been ok.
When I first saw the course it looked fun but, none of the people riding it were smiling. I got dressed up and went out for a pre-lap with Drew and figured out why people were not smiling. It was hard. The ground was so soft that you had to pedal on the down hills so you didnt come to a stop. By the end of the pre-lap I could tell somthing wasnt right. I was having a hard time keeping my bike going in a straight line and couldnt get my bike to go were I wanted it too through corners. My legs felt empty and I felt dead. At this point it was obvious to me that I had been carrying a bug or virus of some sort. I didnt feel so good after that lap.
I decided to go ahead and race just to see what would happen. When the race got going it didnt take long to faid off the back. It only took 2 or 3 laps before I was pretty much DFL. The cheering section on the hill was the only thing that kept me going really. There was also some good cheering going on by the stairs. I still rode hard but when your running on 87 octaine you just dont go anywhere.
When it got to about 3 to go I started getting lapped by people I have beat this year. The only good that came from this was I was able to make about 5 dollars in handups. Probably because I was going so slow. On the last lap when I came up the hill by the cheering section on the stairs I saw none other than Gino from Seagal with the biggest shit eating grin on his face. "Want some beer?" Shiiiiiiit. Hell yeah I wanted some beer. Not sure what the beer was but it tasted pretty dam good. I finished the lap, and race, with Gino. Glad it was over too. I finished 24th. I think 26 finished and not sure how many started. So, I guess I wasnt totally DFL but, I still should have been a full lap ahead at least.
Next week is the last Bubba race before the state race. I have had lots of rest this week hoping to shake the bug and only a couple hours of riding. Hopefully I will feel better this coming weekend. Gobble Gobble.
Photo by Pdaddy.
hollR
When I first saw the course it looked fun but, none of the people riding it were smiling. I got dressed up and went out for a pre-lap with Drew and figured out why people were not smiling. It was hard. The ground was so soft that you had to pedal on the down hills so you didnt come to a stop. By the end of the pre-lap I could tell somthing wasnt right. I was having a hard time keeping my bike going in a straight line and couldnt get my bike to go were I wanted it too through corners. My legs felt empty and I felt dead. At this point it was obvious to me that I had been carrying a bug or virus of some sort. I didnt feel so good after that lap.
I decided to go ahead and race just to see what would happen. When the race got going it didnt take long to faid off the back. It only took 2 or 3 laps before I was pretty much DFL. The cheering section on the hill was the only thing that kept me going really. There was also some good cheering going on by the stairs. I still rode hard but when your running on 87 octaine you just dont go anywhere.
When it got to about 3 to go I started getting lapped by people I have beat this year. The only good that came from this was I was able to make about 5 dollars in handups. Probably because I was going so slow. On the last lap when I came up the hill by the cheering section on the stairs I saw none other than Gino from Seagal with the biggest shit eating grin on his face. "Want some beer?" Shiiiiiiit. Hell yeah I wanted some beer. Not sure what the beer was but it tasted pretty dam good. I finished the lap, and race, with Gino. Glad it was over too. I finished 24th. I think 26 finished and not sure how many started. So, I guess I wasnt totally DFL but, I still should have been a full lap ahead at least.
Next week is the last Bubba race before the state race. I have had lots of rest this week hoping to shake the bug and only a couple hours of riding. Hopefully I will feel better this coming weekend. Gobble Gobble.
Photo by Pdaddy.
hollR
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
bubba 7 OMG!!!!
Shit that was awesome!!
The nice weather had me on my bike a little more the week leading up to this race. I was pumped for that and the fact that TEAMSEAGAL had reports of the course being euro enough that only the biggest JERKS would not be there.
Did a couple prelaps and it was true, the course was awesome.
I started at the back of the pack to try and start this race slower than I have other races. I always feel like I blow up about 3 laps in so a slower start should be the trick. When we got going I felt pretty good. The hardest part of the course for me was the long climb next to the road after you exited the woods. Thats the only place I felt slow anyway.
About 3 or 4 laps in I found myself riding with my team mate Jason. We rode together for a while untill Christopher caught us. Christopher came by us pretty quick so I jumped on his wheel. I then rode with him for what seemed like about 2 or 3 more laps.
I felt good so I asked to pass and started to ride a little harder. I got away from him a little and just keep the pedals turning. I eventually caught one other rider and finished 17th. My legs felt good and I think I was getting faster with each lap. Not fast enough though, I got lapped again by 1st and 2nd, and only about 1/3 of a lap away from it not happening right at the end.
Even though my finishing position was once again not so great, It was motivating as hell to feel the way I felt out there. I will keep training(suck) and come back next weekend swinging.
Thanks Eville Mike and Dennis F for photos
You just got done reading the lamest report on this race. Its late. Im tired. See you Sunday.
Holla.
The nice weather had me on my bike a little more the week leading up to this race. I was pumped for that and the fact that TEAMSEAGAL had reports of the course being euro enough that only the biggest JERKS would not be there.
Did a couple prelaps and it was true, the course was awesome.
I started at the back of the pack to try and start this race slower than I have other races. I always feel like I blow up about 3 laps in so a slower start should be the trick. When we got going I felt pretty good. The hardest part of the course for me was the long climb next to the road after you exited the woods. Thats the only place I felt slow anyway.
About 3 or 4 laps in I found myself riding with my team mate Jason. We rode together for a while untill Christopher caught us. Christopher came by us pretty quick so I jumped on his wheel. I then rode with him for what seemed like about 2 or 3 more laps.
I felt good so I asked to pass and started to ride a little harder. I got away from him a little and just keep the pedals turning. I eventually caught one other rider and finished 17th. My legs felt good and I think I was getting faster with each lap. Not fast enough though, I got lapped again by 1st and 2nd, and only about 1/3 of a lap away from it not happening right at the end.
Even though my finishing position was once again not so great, It was motivating as hell to feel the way I felt out there. I will keep training(suck) and come back next weekend swinging.
Thanks Eville Mike and Dennis F for photos
You just got done reading the lamest report on this race. Its late. Im tired. See you Sunday.
Holla.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Alton #4 Bubba #6
What a weekend. Way to much to do in such a short period of time.
Friday.. leave work early to help build a cross course.
Saturday.. Get to park early, make sure all is good, sit in sun for hours before race.
Saturday night.. PICX after party
Sunday.. Race Bubba.
So Saturday kinda went how I expected. All day long I was excited to race because the course was so much fun to ride. Only problem was, I felt like shit. My legs almost felt shaky from all the walking around I had done in the past 12 hours at the park.
Alton 4
When the race started I actually got off to a good start leading Nagy and Strothman for a little over a lap. I knew it wasn't going to last because those guys kill me every time. I figured I would just go hard for a couple laps, hold the lead and get some home town love. Well.. it only lasted for a little over one lap. After Jay and Mark came around me I could tell that my HR was definitely in the red.
It was that uncomfortable feeling you get when your heart is in your throat and you can feel the beat in your eye balls.... yeah, that kind of uncomfortable. I pushed through it the best I could but on lap 3 or 4 I had to stop on the side of a hill and feed some baby birds that looked hungry. Luckily I had some water to wash the taste out of my mouth. After I calmed down I hopped back on my bike and finished that shit. Wasn't fast, was in last... but I finished. My team mate Jason finished 3rd not too far behind Jay. Nagy took a dominating win. I came in 5th behind Gary Dyer.
Made 5 bucks at least
Bubba 6
Got to the race feeling the effects of the after party from the night before. Took a couple warm up laps and spun around in the parking lot for about an hour before the race. I felt good actually... better than the day before. Maybe I could pull off a decent result, maybe.
There were several people missing from the race that are usually there, and usually finish in front of me. However, this was a horse power course, I was dehydrated, and it was friggin hot out. Close to 80. I had no idea what to expect.
I started the race slow. I didn't want to blow up like the day before. The first couple laps were good for me. No cramping or breathing problems and my HR felt like it was in the right spot. About the 4th lap my throat was feeling much dryer than normal. I drank as much as I could every chance I got. My water was half gone with 5 or 6 laps to go.
The first few laps I was in a small group. Then, for most of the middle part of the race I was all alone. At about 4 laps to go Matt Laberta from Dogfish caught up to me and attacked the shit out of me for an entire lap. It hurt like hell but I held his wheel. He was stronger that I was down the straight aways and would gap me a little but, I seemed to be able to catch back up in the twisty corners.
At one lap to go Matt had about a 6 or 7 second gap on my. I went as hard as I could to get back up to him. I knew if I could get the gap down to around 3 seconds before the last section of the course where most the corners were, I might be able to get around him before the finish. I got to with in striking distance but I couldn't get around where I had hoped too. He led me all the way to the last corner which was a off cambered right hand turn, from there it was about a 40 yard uphill sprint to the finish.
As we came through that corner I was able to carry a little more speed and barely snuck by him in a sprint finish. It was a awesome way to finish the weekend. I ended the day with a 13th place finish. I was happy with 13th, but also frustrated that all the guys I would battle with last year all seem to have found a few extra gears somewhere.
Hopefully the nice weather this coming week will have me on my bike more. I need to kick my own ass a little more, its pretty obvious im not doing what I need to. I want to find those gears.
Mike D's Photos
holl-R
Friday.. leave work early to help build a cross course.
Saturday.. Get to park early, make sure all is good, sit in sun for hours before race.
Saturday night.. PICX after party
Sunday.. Race Bubba.
So Saturday kinda went how I expected. All day long I was excited to race because the course was so much fun to ride. Only problem was, I felt like shit. My legs almost felt shaky from all the walking around I had done in the past 12 hours at the park.
Alton 4
When the race started I actually got off to a good start leading Nagy and Strothman for a little over a lap. I knew it wasn't going to last because those guys kill me every time. I figured I would just go hard for a couple laps, hold the lead and get some home town love. Well.. it only lasted for a little over one lap. After Jay and Mark came around me I could tell that my HR was definitely in the red.
It was that uncomfortable feeling you get when your heart is in your throat and you can feel the beat in your eye balls.... yeah, that kind of uncomfortable. I pushed through it the best I could but on lap 3 or 4 I had to stop on the side of a hill and feed some baby birds that looked hungry. Luckily I had some water to wash the taste out of my mouth. After I calmed down I hopped back on my bike and finished that shit. Wasn't fast, was in last... but I finished. My team mate Jason finished 3rd not too far behind Jay. Nagy took a dominating win. I came in 5th behind Gary Dyer.
Made 5 bucks at least
Bubba 6
Got to the race feeling the effects of the after party from the night before. Took a couple warm up laps and spun around in the parking lot for about an hour before the race. I felt good actually... better than the day before. Maybe I could pull off a decent result, maybe.
There were several people missing from the race that are usually there, and usually finish in front of me. However, this was a horse power course, I was dehydrated, and it was friggin hot out. Close to 80. I had no idea what to expect.
I started the race slow. I didn't want to blow up like the day before. The first couple laps were good for me. No cramping or breathing problems and my HR felt like it was in the right spot. About the 4th lap my throat was feeling much dryer than normal. I drank as much as I could every chance I got. My water was half gone with 5 or 6 laps to go.
The first few laps I was in a small group. Then, for most of the middle part of the race I was all alone. At about 4 laps to go Matt Laberta from Dogfish caught up to me and attacked the shit out of me for an entire lap. It hurt like hell but I held his wheel. He was stronger that I was down the straight aways and would gap me a little but, I seemed to be able to catch back up in the twisty corners.
At one lap to go Matt had about a 6 or 7 second gap on my. I went as hard as I could to get back up to him. I knew if I could get the gap down to around 3 seconds before the last section of the course where most the corners were, I might be able to get around him before the finish. I got to with in striking distance but I couldn't get around where I had hoped too. He led me all the way to the last corner which was a off cambered right hand turn, from there it was about a 40 yard uphill sprint to the finish.
As we came through that corner I was able to carry a little more speed and barely snuck by him in a sprint finish. It was a awesome way to finish the weekend. I ended the day with a 13th place finish. I was happy with 13th, but also frustrated that all the guys I would battle with last year all seem to have found a few extra gears somewhere.
Hopefully the nice weather this coming week will have me on my bike more. I need to kick my own ass a little more, its pretty obvious im not doing what I need to. I want to find those gears.
Mike D's Photos
holl-R
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