I've been home the last few days and it's been very nice and relaxing. I got in to Stevens Point on Tuesday and I'll be here until Sunday afternoon or so...maybe Saturday night. Not quite sure yet. I've seen some family, hung out with a couple friends, cleaned my bikes, and have gone on two very easy 1 hour rides.
It's definitely nice taking some time off the bike. Makes me realize other things that are going on and lets my body rest nicely. Yet, I can't wait to get back on the bike. On these two rides I've felt amazing...I know they've been slowly and easy, but my legs feel lots stronger and ready to train hard again. I'm liking the feeling. So Monday when I'm definitely back its time to go "solid" again.
I've watched two movies that I've been dying to see lately...Pan's Labyrinth and The Fountain. Both very good movies. The Fountain wasn't what I was expecting, but oh so good...yet confusing at first. After you think about it for awhile its sort of understandable....
I've also decided on what Superweek races I want to do....I'll give a list later when I do have it finalized. Pro/1/2 Superweek is going to be intense...
Other things that have gone on lately. Just today I travelled back to my youth when I use to play baseball. My friend Minch and I decided to take out the dusty gloves, bats and baseball and play a small little game. Batting practice, a little catch, and reminiscing of our childhood days. I played baseball for 10 years of my life...age 5 to 15. I quit because it just wasn't fun anymore and the skills just weren't developing because of it. But it was still nice to play a short game with an ex-teammate friend. I'm happy I went to cycling though....
The next couple of days I'm still just going to relax. I think tomorrow I'll go on another 1-1.5 hr ride slow and grab a coffee and relax in our "downtown" area....Saturday we're having a family picnic with Minch also invited. Then I'm either heading back to Madison on Saturday so I can make it to Jessie's Going Away Party, or I'm staying in Point one more night before I have to go back to work on Sunday...we'll see.
Time to eat some dinner....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
27.6.07
25.6.07
UWW RR....
So after getting home at 4am. I woke up at 9am and drove Frye and myself over to Whitewater for another Road Race. Frye's race was at noon...mine was at 4pm. Means a lot of sitting around for me. Frye did well, finished with the field.
My race was a joke. I was actually kinda pissed the whole time. The race was 9 laps of a 6 mile course, which really was not selective at all. Some rollers and a small big ring climb at the end of each lap. There was barely any wind either that day. So my legs were not feeling too well after 6 days of fast and hard racing...300+ miles in about 10hrs will do that to a person. Halfway into lap 1 I decide to wake up the legs...so I attack. I got about 15 seconds on the field so I kept going. Then they decided they didn't want me out there. They brought me back in lap 2. A couple more useless attacks from others went. Lap 3, a Beans and Barley guy goes off. Looks promising cuz I know he's strong so I decide to bridge. I look back and another Beans and Barley guy is covering my move. We both look back and we have a gap. We decide to go for it. We catch the break and that guy drops his chain on the hill...damn it. That would have been a good break. I would have been outnumbered, but that would have been ok.
As we were going I could tell the B&B guy was not as strong. I pulled 70% of the time...his pulls were not as strong either. We had about a 30 second gap going. We were making some time too. He only had one teammate left after the dropped chain and I had no teammates...so no real shutting down of the field. But we had to keep working. For the first two laps out our little breakaway was going well, with me pulling alot of the time...and still feeling good. The third lap out we got to the final little hill of the lap and I go up it at a good tempo. I look back and he's off my wheel. I waited up for him and then drilled it when he got back on. The next time up the last hill, I dropped him again. This time I knew I had to just keep going. Well, the field saw that he was dropped so they kicked it into 2nd gear and started charging. They caught me 1/4th into lap 7. Damn it...I wish I had some teammates and had a stronger breakaway partner. I wasn't even tired when the field engulfed me. Right after that a Wheaton guy rolled "slowly" off the front and created a gap. I really should have gone with him, because he stayed off solo until the end and won. The field didn't do anything...and never really chased. They just wanted to be together and save some energy for their precious little sprint for 2nd at the end.
Nothing happened for the next 2.5 laps. It was slow and boring. I almost fell asleep. On the last lap I attacked with about 1/2 mile left and hear a PING. I kept going and was covered and then was countered. After that I didn't give a shit. And rolled in for about 12th or so. I checked and the PING was a broken rear spoke. Everything on my bike is breaking.
Pretty much that race showed me that I gained a little bit of form and I tried a couple more things that I haven't done in awhile. But the race pissed me off. I can't wait to get out of Cat 3...I actually applied for my Cat 2 upgrade. Hopefully I get it.
Congrats to Seth Meyer for winning his last ever Cat 3 race...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
My race was a joke. I was actually kinda pissed the whole time. The race was 9 laps of a 6 mile course, which really was not selective at all. Some rollers and a small big ring climb at the end of each lap. There was barely any wind either that day. So my legs were not feeling too well after 6 days of fast and hard racing...300+ miles in about 10hrs will do that to a person. Halfway into lap 1 I decide to wake up the legs...so I attack. I got about 15 seconds on the field so I kept going. Then they decided they didn't want me out there. They brought me back in lap 2. A couple more useless attacks from others went. Lap 3, a Beans and Barley guy goes off. Looks promising cuz I know he's strong so I decide to bridge. I look back and another Beans and Barley guy is covering my move. We both look back and we have a gap. We decide to go for it. We catch the break and that guy drops his chain on the hill...damn it. That would have been a good break. I would have been outnumbered, but that would have been ok.
As we were going I could tell the B&B guy was not as strong. I pulled 70% of the time...his pulls were not as strong either. We had about a 30 second gap going. We were making some time too. He only had one teammate left after the dropped chain and I had no teammates...so no real shutting down of the field. But we had to keep working. For the first two laps out our little breakaway was going well, with me pulling alot of the time...and still feeling good. The third lap out we got to the final little hill of the lap and I go up it at a good tempo. I look back and he's off my wheel. I waited up for him and then drilled it when he got back on. The next time up the last hill, I dropped him again. This time I knew I had to just keep going. Well, the field saw that he was dropped so they kicked it into 2nd gear and started charging. They caught me 1/4th into lap 7. Damn it...I wish I had some teammates and had a stronger breakaway partner. I wasn't even tired when the field engulfed me. Right after that a Wheaton guy rolled "slowly" off the front and created a gap. I really should have gone with him, because he stayed off solo until the end and won. The field didn't do anything...and never really chased. They just wanted to be together and save some energy for their precious little sprint for 2nd at the end.
Nothing happened for the next 2.5 laps. It was slow and boring. I almost fell asleep. On the last lap I attacked with about 1/2 mile left and hear a PING. I kept going and was covered and then was countered. After that I didn't give a shit. And rolled in for about 12th or so. I checked and the PING was a broken rear spoke. Everything on my bike is breaking.
Pretty much that race showed me that I gained a little bit of form and I tried a couple more things that I haven't done in awhile. But the race pissed me off. I can't wait to get out of Cat 3...I actually applied for my Cat 2 upgrade. Hopefully I get it.
Congrats to Seth Meyer for winning his last ever Cat 3 race...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Tour of Ohio, Stage 6....
Stage 6 concludes the 2007 edition of the ToO. Stage 6 was a 4 corner, 40 mile criterium. The corners were huge and you really did not need to brake...making it an extremely fast, yet extremely easy race. Nothing special really happened. We did 60 laps which got pretty boring after awhile. I started in about 60th position or so. The pace was fast, but not hard. We averaged 28.5mph for the race. I was barely breathing that whole race and it was easy to move up. I moved up slowly every lap. See nothing too special.
I did want to contest the sprint. I actually sprinted pretty well. I ended up in 22nd for stage 6. I moved up one more spot on the GC. I finished 41st overall, only 6:33 back and I placed 2nd in the Best Cat 3 Rider Classification. Not too shabby for my first stage race....with no teammates. 2nd place Cat 3 got me 125$, which is pretty sweet. A lot of people said that this race was really hard...well, I'm happy I was able to hold my own in this race. I do feel stronger and feel more confident in my abilities.
If I can get good enough, next year I'm thinking about going to NVGP....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
I did want to contest the sprint. I actually sprinted pretty well. I ended up in 22nd for stage 6. I moved up one more spot on the GC. I finished 41st overall, only 6:33 back and I placed 2nd in the Best Cat 3 Rider Classification. Not too shabby for my first stage race....with no teammates. 2nd place Cat 3 got me 125$, which is pretty sweet. A lot of people said that this race was really hard...well, I'm happy I was able to hold my own in this race. I do feel stronger and feel more confident in my abilities.
If I can get good enough, next year I'm thinking about going to NVGP....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
23.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 5....
Today was a bullshit race. We were suppose to do 5 laps of a 12.8 mile course and finish with 6 circuits for a total of 64 miles. Well, turned out we couldn't do the circuits in the city for some reason and they had us do 4 laps of an 11 or so mile course. 45 miles...that was it. We actually finished it faster than the stage 4. We averaged between 26-27 mph for this race.
The course was pancake flat with one little climb at the beginning of each lap. The climb wasn't even that horrible, but A&F drilled it so it did definitely hurt sometimes. Nothing eventful really happened today. No breakaways....lots tried. Seth Meyer got into 4 of them. About 50 riders got dropped. Huge group sprint of 80 riders.
The second time up the climb there was a crash half way up. I looked over and the white jersey was in it. Great just stay with the group and finish. It is a lousy way to win the jersey, I may add, but thats also bike racing. I was feeling good as the peloton was cruising at about 28-30 mph. All of a sudden I hear from behind "yeah, I was chasing really hard for awhile". I look back and its the White Jersey. That dude must be strong...and I respect him for that. It is something about having a jersey too...it just makes you go that much harder. So looks like he'll keep the white jersey, and I'll have to deal with 2nd, which isn't really that bad.
Other than that...not much happened in that race. Kinda boring. As Seth Meyer said, "Stage 5 should have been stage 2, stage 2 should have been stage 3, and stage 3 should have been today". I think that would have been a great idea. The race was pretty much won on Stage 3. These last 3 races are/have been crits. Nothing will change in a crit.
Well, today is the last day of the ToO. Stage starts at 7pm. 40 mile, 4 corner, 1km crit. All I have to do is stay with the pack and watch out for all 110 squirrely riders in the field, cuz I really don't want to crash on the last day. After the race we'll be heading back home, doing some night driving. Sunday I need to change my saddle cuz somehow it cracked perpendicular to the rails in the middle of the saddle. Too much Man-torque I guess. I have an extra saddle thank god. After I make that repair I think I'll go to the UWW road race and hopefully make some Cat 3's hurt.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
The course was pancake flat with one little climb at the beginning of each lap. The climb wasn't even that horrible, but A&F drilled it so it did definitely hurt sometimes. Nothing eventful really happened today. No breakaways....lots tried. Seth Meyer got into 4 of them. About 50 riders got dropped. Huge group sprint of 80 riders.
The second time up the climb there was a crash half way up. I looked over and the white jersey was in it. Great just stay with the group and finish. It is a lousy way to win the jersey, I may add, but thats also bike racing. I was feeling good as the peloton was cruising at about 28-30 mph. All of a sudden I hear from behind "yeah, I was chasing really hard for awhile". I look back and its the White Jersey. That dude must be strong...and I respect him for that. It is something about having a jersey too...it just makes you go that much harder. So looks like he'll keep the white jersey, and I'll have to deal with 2nd, which isn't really that bad.
Other than that...not much happened in that race. Kinda boring. As Seth Meyer said, "Stage 5 should have been stage 2, stage 2 should have been stage 3, and stage 3 should have been today". I think that would have been a great idea. The race was pretty much won on Stage 3. These last 3 races are/have been crits. Nothing will change in a crit.
Well, today is the last day of the ToO. Stage starts at 7pm. 40 mile, 4 corner, 1km crit. All I have to do is stay with the pack and watch out for all 110 squirrely riders in the field, cuz I really don't want to crash on the last day. After the race we'll be heading back home, doing some night driving. Sunday I need to change my saddle cuz somehow it cracked perpendicular to the rails in the middle of the saddle. Too much Man-torque I guess. I have an extra saddle thank god. After I make that repair I think I'll go to the UWW road race and hopefully make some Cat 3's hurt.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
21.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 4....
To start off. After stage 3 I'm sitting in 43rd overall, 6:13 back. I did actually lose the White Jersey. I thought the other Cat 3 got dropped, but he was able to hang on in the front group. So he made 5 minutes on me. Kinda pissed me off. Oh well, anything can happen and at least I can definitely hold 2nd in that classification. But on to today's stage....
WOW...that was fast. There was a downhill with a headwind, turn, sharp big ring uphill, turn, gradual climb, straight, turn, straight. All of that in 1.2 miles...for 40 miles (33 laps). Well, it was pretty much a crit. Started off amazingly fast as usual. I started in the back, cuz guys like to camp out at the start an hour before the race even starts. I pretty much held on in the back for the whole race. My legs were just not into it today, but I wasn't going to drop out. I stayed next to the white jersey alot today. I didn't want to lose anymore time on him.
The race was extremely fast and hard...atleast thats what I thought as I secured the back. The downhill and the gradual climb were definitely the hardest parts of the course. The sharp climb was fine and I could always gain a couple positions up it. The downhills always saw speeds of 40-45 mph and it wasn't even that steep. With 26 laps to go my legs hurt pretty good and I wanted to drop out. But I kept telling myself to just keep going. Gaps were opening up right in front of me and the field kept getting smaller and smaller. I would close the gap...look behind me and there would be about 5 guys. So many people were dropping out. I had to stay in. With about 14 laps to go I started getting a little bit of the shivers...low electrolytes probably (don't worry I've been chugging the gatorade for tomorrow). Kept going.
With about 4 or 5 laps to go a crash happens on the 2nd to last straight. I swear, this is a sketchy field. I get around it and get back with the field. Each lap after that speeds up just a little bit...but not as fast as the other laps. I started to move up slowly during these laps. Couldn't drop now. With one lap to go A&F were drilling it as they have been for the whole week. I just hold on and finish with the field at the end.
Thank god my legs lasted that whole time. I was just thinking about the white jersey the whole time. It hurt real good. But after this stage my legs feel good again. After yesterday's stage my legs felt like complete crap. I even slept from 11pm until 1:30pm today. I was definitely tired. But now I'm more awake and ready for tomorrow.
Lots of people were saying that this is the hardest race they've done this year. Even two junior riders who raced a couple UCI events in Europe says that this race was harder. Matt Holecko said that he averaged 312 watts for that race...pedaling. I know I was definitely doing more than that being on the back and closing a lot of gaps. Well, I'm just happy that I've been staying alive lately and still going strong. I also definitely moved up a couple more spots on the GC...maybe top 40. I'll know more about that tomorrow morning...
Stage 5 will be 5 loops of a 12.8 mile course with 6 laps of a finishing circuit. I really hope to get back that 5 minutes on Dan Campbell (White Jersey leader). Anything can happen, and it has to happen tomorrow....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
WOW...that was fast. There was a downhill with a headwind, turn, sharp big ring uphill, turn, gradual climb, straight, turn, straight. All of that in 1.2 miles...for 40 miles (33 laps). Well, it was pretty much a crit. Started off amazingly fast as usual. I started in the back, cuz guys like to camp out at the start an hour before the race even starts. I pretty much held on in the back for the whole race. My legs were just not into it today, but I wasn't going to drop out. I stayed next to the white jersey alot today. I didn't want to lose anymore time on him.
The race was extremely fast and hard...atleast thats what I thought as I secured the back. The downhill and the gradual climb were definitely the hardest parts of the course. The sharp climb was fine and I could always gain a couple positions up it. The downhills always saw speeds of 40-45 mph and it wasn't even that steep. With 26 laps to go my legs hurt pretty good and I wanted to drop out. But I kept telling myself to just keep going. Gaps were opening up right in front of me and the field kept getting smaller and smaller. I would close the gap...look behind me and there would be about 5 guys. So many people were dropping out. I had to stay in. With about 14 laps to go I started getting a little bit of the shivers...low electrolytes probably (don't worry I've been chugging the gatorade for tomorrow). Kept going.
With about 4 or 5 laps to go a crash happens on the 2nd to last straight. I swear, this is a sketchy field. I get around it and get back with the field. Each lap after that speeds up just a little bit...but not as fast as the other laps. I started to move up slowly during these laps. Couldn't drop now. With one lap to go A&F were drilling it as they have been for the whole week. I just hold on and finish with the field at the end.
Thank god my legs lasted that whole time. I was just thinking about the white jersey the whole time. It hurt real good. But after this stage my legs feel good again. After yesterday's stage my legs felt like complete crap. I even slept from 11pm until 1:30pm today. I was definitely tired. But now I'm more awake and ready for tomorrow.
Lots of people were saying that this is the hardest race they've done this year. Even two junior riders who raced a couple UCI events in Europe says that this race was harder. Matt Holecko said that he averaged 312 watts for that race...pedaling. I know I was definitely doing more than that being on the back and closing a lot of gaps. Well, I'm just happy that I've been staying alive lately and still going strong. I also definitely moved up a couple more spots on the GC...maybe top 40. I'll know more about that tomorrow morning...
Stage 5 will be 5 loops of a 12.8 mile course with 6 laps of a finishing circuit. I really hope to get back that 5 minutes on Dan Campbell (White Jersey leader). Anything can happen, and it has to happen tomorrow....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
20.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 3....
Today's race was hard...that's all I can say about it. 5 climbs in 64 miles. It was 82 degrees outside and we started at 1pm. Nice. Well, before the race I picked up my WHITE Best Cat 3 Rider's Jersey and put that on. That felt good. And its white...so it was Hott and awesome!
I started in the front row and was pushed back just a little bit. Still sitting pretty good. The first mile or so was a decent. After about 2-3 miles a break went off...with Seth Meyer in it. Good way to redeem yourself after being pissed off from the day before. The break stayed away for the whole race. It started with 5, maxed out at 12, and 4-5 finished with the others joining back into the group. The race was fast...but really easy to stick in a draft. It was pretty flat for the first 15 miles or so...That's what I think at least.
The first real climb came at about 24 miles in. I could see that there were not too many climbers in the field. I was able to get around a bunch of guys easily. Oh, there was also alot of gravel on this climb as well and that made people squirrely. I made it up fine. After the first climb there was an extremely fast decent (~50mph). One guy went right off the road into the grass, and went down hard. I hope he's alright.
Next, there were a couple rollers. At about 35 miles in, another climb. This one was really easy I thought. Probably about 5 minutes of climbing at about 5%. More guys fell off. Then right after that it got fast. I had a guy right in front of me just sit up and I had to sprint around him back up to the field. That was a good all out effort for about 1.5 minutes. Thanks dude. But I made it back on and had a couple guys tell me good pull. I recovered very nicely. The race went on. The next climb I don't really remember the 3rd climb...I just know I was with the group.
Next came another crash right in front of me...as usual. The field slowed to about 13mph and the guys in front of me kept braking and then bam. About 10 guys down. Slam on the brakes and slowly weave around them. The field was still going slow so getting back up to them was easy.
The next (4th) climb I thought was the hardest. Probably averaged well over 10% (it was also a stair stepper climb...about 5 sections to it. Up, flat, up, flat, up, etc.). It was hard. I had a couple more squirrely riders in front of me so I had to find a way around and lost a little time. The really strong guys were drilling it up this climb. I was catching dropped riders everywhere. Probably passed about 20 riders up that climb. I had a couple guys tell me to keep going. Thanks for the encouragement. Finally I made it up and over. I had one guy with me over the top. He started drilling it, but I needed just a little bit more recovery. I let him go and I caught him about 5 minutes later. The next 7 miles or so were roller after roller. When is it going to stop. Pain was setting in at this point, but I still felt strong. We caught a group of 6 in front of us and started working together...at least for a little bit. One of the guys got a Propel from his team car, drank half of it and then saw me and gave it to me. Ok I'll take it...I was a little thirsty. It's really nice how people respect the jersey leaders...or at least the Cat 3 rider that's somehow sticking with the P/1/2 field.
By the 5th climb we were in a group of 25 or so. I started up the climb and got into a groove. I was with two other guys and then we had a gap on the rest of the guys. I was definitely doing a lot of work in the group, but I was dropping guys easily....that made me feel good. But I still hated how no one was working. I had to save as much time as I could.
Next came the last 2 miles. A quick roller and then a hard right turn back towards the Old Man's Cave State Park. The road up to it had about a 2% gradient. Jamie Kimberly from Turin motioned for me to get on his wheel. I did and he drilled it...he was definitely helping me out to secure that White Jersey. Thanks Jamie! He did an awesome job getting me really good position. I finished 5th in the group. There was another group in front of us of about 25 guys with the 4 leaders in front of them. So about 35th on the day out of 129 guys....I think. Not too shabby. Only 5 minutes back from the leaders.
Seth Meyer gained about 1min30sec on me, putting him about 8.5 minutes behind me. I found out today that there was another Cat 3 rider tied for time with me today. It wasn't marked down on the sign in sheet that he was a Cat 3 by accident. I don't know how he finished. I don't think he was in the first group. It would be nice if I definitely got some good time on him. Then only Seth would be my main man to watch out for. But really we just want him or I to take the jersey. Him and I getting 1st and 2nd in that classification would rule. I'll know later tonight about results. I'm hoping...
I'll get a picture up later tonight of me in the Best Cat 3 Jersey for proof that I do actually have it.
Until tomorrow's next episode of the Tour of Ohio....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
I started in the front row and was pushed back just a little bit. Still sitting pretty good. The first mile or so was a decent. After about 2-3 miles a break went off...with Seth Meyer in it. Good way to redeem yourself after being pissed off from the day before. The break stayed away for the whole race. It started with 5, maxed out at 12, and 4-5 finished with the others joining back into the group. The race was fast...but really easy to stick in a draft. It was pretty flat for the first 15 miles or so...That's what I think at least.
The first real climb came at about 24 miles in. I could see that there were not too many climbers in the field. I was able to get around a bunch of guys easily. Oh, there was also alot of gravel on this climb as well and that made people squirrely. I made it up fine. After the first climb there was an extremely fast decent (~50mph). One guy went right off the road into the grass, and went down hard. I hope he's alright.
Next, there were a couple rollers. At about 35 miles in, another climb. This one was really easy I thought. Probably about 5 minutes of climbing at about 5%. More guys fell off. Then right after that it got fast. I had a guy right in front of me just sit up and I had to sprint around him back up to the field. That was a good all out effort for about 1.5 minutes. Thanks dude. But I made it back on and had a couple guys tell me good pull. I recovered very nicely. The race went on. The next climb I don't really remember the 3rd climb...I just know I was with the group.
Next came another crash right in front of me...as usual. The field slowed to about 13mph and the guys in front of me kept braking and then bam. About 10 guys down. Slam on the brakes and slowly weave around them. The field was still going slow so getting back up to them was easy.
The next (4th) climb I thought was the hardest. Probably averaged well over 10% (it was also a stair stepper climb...about 5 sections to it. Up, flat, up, flat, up, etc.). It was hard. I had a couple more squirrely riders in front of me so I had to find a way around and lost a little time. The really strong guys were drilling it up this climb. I was catching dropped riders everywhere. Probably passed about 20 riders up that climb. I had a couple guys tell me to keep going. Thanks for the encouragement. Finally I made it up and over. I had one guy with me over the top. He started drilling it, but I needed just a little bit more recovery. I let him go and I caught him about 5 minutes later. The next 7 miles or so were roller after roller. When is it going to stop. Pain was setting in at this point, but I still felt strong. We caught a group of 6 in front of us and started working together...at least for a little bit. One of the guys got a Propel from his team car, drank half of it and then saw me and gave it to me. Ok I'll take it...I was a little thirsty. It's really nice how people respect the jersey leaders...or at least the Cat 3 rider that's somehow sticking with the P/1/2 field.
By the 5th climb we were in a group of 25 or so. I started up the climb and got into a groove. I was with two other guys and then we had a gap on the rest of the guys. I was definitely doing a lot of work in the group, but I was dropping guys easily....that made me feel good. But I still hated how no one was working. I had to save as much time as I could.
Next came the last 2 miles. A quick roller and then a hard right turn back towards the Old Man's Cave State Park. The road up to it had about a 2% gradient. Jamie Kimberly from Turin motioned for me to get on his wheel. I did and he drilled it...he was definitely helping me out to secure that White Jersey. Thanks Jamie! He did an awesome job getting me really good position. I finished 5th in the group. There was another group in front of us of about 25 guys with the 4 leaders in front of them. So about 35th on the day out of 129 guys....I think. Not too shabby. Only 5 minutes back from the leaders.
Seth Meyer gained about 1min30sec on me, putting him about 8.5 minutes behind me. I found out today that there was another Cat 3 rider tied for time with me today. It wasn't marked down on the sign in sheet that he was a Cat 3 by accident. I don't know how he finished. I don't think he was in the first group. It would be nice if I definitely got some good time on him. Then only Seth would be my main man to watch out for. But really we just want him or I to take the jersey. Him and I getting 1st and 2nd in that classification would rule. I'll know later tonight about results. I'm hoping...
I'll get a picture up later tonight of me in the Best Cat 3 Jersey for proof that I do actually have it.
Until tomorrow's next episode of the Tour of Ohio....
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
ToO stage 2 results....
Just wanted to let everyone know quick. I'm sitting tied in 7th place overall with a whole bunch of guys. Only 20 seconds down. And right now I'm the best Cat 3 rider...with over 9min on the next Cat 3!!! Today I'll have to try extremely hard to keep that going.
Wish me luck!
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Wish me luck!
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
19.6.07
Tour of Ohio, Stage 2....
Ok so to start off...yesterday I was placed at the 73rd position. They did take my time at lap 8 to go. 1:17:30. Atleast I'm the same as the field.
On to today. Today was not looking too good weather wise. But it did come through alright during the race. They actually changed the course a little I guess...it was 6 laps of an 8.6 mile loop with a couple of rollers and a 500m climb up to the finish. We got to the race a little later than expected. I got ready and it was already time to line up pretty much. I got a spot in about the 5th row...I believe. I'm pretty tired so I may be wrong, but it was up there. It was sprinkling a little bit, but not horribly bad. They were going to stop the race if the weather got too bad. Never did. Actually cleared up after the first lap. From the gun, the race had a blistering pace going. People were attacking and the teams would not let them go...then another group would attack and the pace stayed high for the first 3 laps. I was just hanging on the back pretty much the whole time. A couple gaps opened up here and there so I would have to close them...a few I was worried I wouldn't be able to close, but the field slowed down just enough for me to get back on, which was a relief. The field was disintegrating quickly. Lap 4 slowed down a little bit...I think some of the teams were a little tired. So that was a little bit of good rest. Lap 5 sped up again and again I was hanging on for dear life. Every time I looked back I was 5th from the back even after moving up 10-15 positions at times. Lap 6 was fast too...seeing that it was the last lap and teams were getting their sprinters into place. On one of the climbs on the backside I passed Jamie Kimberly from Illinois. He decided to grab hold of my jersey pocket to help him up. But for reimbursement he gave me a little push. No prob...I thought it was funny. During the last lap I witnessed two crashes...right in front of me of course. One was around a left turn that was still wet due to tree coverage. 3 MSU guys down right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but not enough to slide my wheels out from underneath me. I did not want to join them and ruin my position. I got through that alright. Then about 2 miles later, two guys go down on a straight away, pretty much right in front of me again...this time I really had to slam on the brakes. My rear wheel fish-tailed a little, but I was able to save it. At this point the race got extremely fast. I tried to drill it back up to the field after losing a little ground due to the crash. I was successful, but only after about a mile of it and I was spent. I was able to hold on the back, but then another surge went and I started falling off just before the final climb. I also started cramping a little bit in the quads. I just kept going, because it was the finish and because I saw some of the guys in the field starting to fall of on the climb that I could gain some time on. About 3/4th up I passed the yellow jersey and got about 15 seconds on him, which was awesome. He definitely exploded, due to the crawling uphill at a very slow pace. I was able to come in about 20-25 seconds back from the field at the end. About 40th position I think. Only about 50 or so finished in the main field.
I think it was a good race. Hard, but good. It showed me what I can do and that I have atleast some form. I wanted to just drop out after 2 laps...but I kept going because I thought it was going to slow down just a little bit, after a break went. But no break = no break for me. I made it through two days now and I think I'm sitting decently on the GC...at least for my ability. I moved up a little bit on the GC...I'll know more tomorrow for that.
Tomorrow's race will be extremely hard. 64 mile out and back with 5 climbs. Guys that have done this stage before said to have a 27 cog in the back. Well, I have a 25. I'll have to live with it. I just hope to lose less than 20 minutes on the field. It'll be hard and I'm going to try my best.
Ciao ciao...
Waitey
On to today. Today was not looking too good weather wise. But it did come through alright during the race. They actually changed the course a little I guess...it was 6 laps of an 8.6 mile loop with a couple of rollers and a 500m climb up to the finish. We got to the race a little later than expected. I got ready and it was already time to line up pretty much. I got a spot in about the 5th row...I believe. I'm pretty tired so I may be wrong, but it was up there. It was sprinkling a little bit, but not horribly bad. They were going to stop the race if the weather got too bad. Never did. Actually cleared up after the first lap. From the gun, the race had a blistering pace going. People were attacking and the teams would not let them go...then another group would attack and the pace stayed high for the first 3 laps. I was just hanging on the back pretty much the whole time. A couple gaps opened up here and there so I would have to close them...a few I was worried I wouldn't be able to close, but the field slowed down just enough for me to get back on, which was a relief. The field was disintegrating quickly. Lap 4 slowed down a little bit...I think some of the teams were a little tired. So that was a little bit of good rest. Lap 5 sped up again and again I was hanging on for dear life. Every time I looked back I was 5th from the back even after moving up 10-15 positions at times. Lap 6 was fast too...seeing that it was the last lap and teams were getting their sprinters into place. On one of the climbs on the backside I passed Jamie Kimberly from Illinois. He decided to grab hold of my jersey pocket to help him up. But for reimbursement he gave me a little push. No prob...I thought it was funny. During the last lap I witnessed two crashes...right in front of me of course. One was around a left turn that was still wet due to tree coverage. 3 MSU guys down right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but not enough to slide my wheels out from underneath me. I did not want to join them and ruin my position. I got through that alright. Then about 2 miles later, two guys go down on a straight away, pretty much right in front of me again...this time I really had to slam on the brakes. My rear wheel fish-tailed a little, but I was able to save it. At this point the race got extremely fast. I tried to drill it back up to the field after losing a little ground due to the crash. I was successful, but only after about a mile of it and I was spent. I was able to hold on the back, but then another surge went and I started falling off just before the final climb. I also started cramping a little bit in the quads. I just kept going, because it was the finish and because I saw some of the guys in the field starting to fall of on the climb that I could gain some time on. About 3/4th up I passed the yellow jersey and got about 15 seconds on him, which was awesome. He definitely exploded, due to the crawling uphill at a very slow pace. I was able to come in about 20-25 seconds back from the field at the end. About 40th position I think. Only about 50 or so finished in the main field.
I think it was a good race. Hard, but good. It showed me what I can do and that I have atleast some form. I wanted to just drop out after 2 laps...but I kept going because I thought it was going to slow down just a little bit, after a break went. But no break = no break for me. I made it through two days now and I think I'm sitting decently on the GC...at least for my ability. I moved up a little bit on the GC...I'll know more tomorrow for that.
Tomorrow's race will be extremely hard. 64 mile out and back with 5 climbs. Guys that have done this stage before said to have a 27 cog in the back. Well, I have a 25. I'll have to live with it. I just hope to lose less than 20 minutes on the field. It'll be hard and I'm going to try my best.
Ciao ciao...
Waitey
Tour of Ohio, Stage 1....
Well, first off it took us about 9 hrs to get down to Ohio due to traffic and construction. But we made it here. Frye’s grandparents’ house rules. Very nice place, pool table, and they are constantly feeding us. I kinda feel spoiled. But I guess they like it.
Ok stage 1. It was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit today. It was a dry heat though, which I like a lot more than that horrible humidity that just zaps my energy. We got there and saw some pretty big teams. Kelly Regional Team, Priority Health, A&F, Colavita Regional Team and others. We thought it was going to be hard. I just wanted to finish. The course was a 1km long 8 corner criterium. We did 40 miles of it, which turned out to be 68 laps. Damn that got boring after awhile. Well, I started in the 6th or 7th row of the 127 person field right next to Seth Meyer. Matt Holecko got a good position in the front row. The race got started and it really wasn’t that fast. Probably because of the all the corners. I got pushed back a little bit in the field. After about 10 laps or so my legs started feeling good and I had a bit more confidence so I started moving up. I thought it was really easy to move up in the corners and on the finishing straight. When I really wanted to I would gun it up to a corner and cut it in close and make up about 5 to 6 spots. The finishing straight was the same thing. The corners were very smooth and I barely had to touch my breaks. God I love people that know how to ride a bike. So pretty much the whole race I kept moving up and then pushed back a little, etc. I had to close down 4 gaps during the race, because some riders just sat right up...right in front of me nonetheless. But it always came out good in the end.
So they had a rule during the race. You just had to make it to 8 laps left and they would take your time at that point. After that you could drop out...the last part was meant for the sprinters, due to the narrow course. I made it to that last 8 laps with the field, so I should have the same time as pretty much everyone else...but I kept going. Over the next 8 laps I started risking it a little more to make a couple more positions here and there. I was going for the Best Cat 3 Jersey. I didn’t know who was a Cat 3. The only ones I know about are me, Seth Meyer, Jason Carr and one of the guys riding for MSU/Hotter N’ Hell. And I wasn’t about to drop out of a race just because I could. I’m definitely going to finish. Many people dropped out after that 8 lap rule. The pace did get faster, but it was still pretty easy. I had Seth Meyer behind me and I was following an MSU riders wheel (I don’t know if he was Cat 3 or not...I wasn’t going to risk it, so I had to beat him). At the end I was able to sprint around the MSU guy and keep Seth behind me. The race only averaged ~24mph.
I guess I placed in the upper third of the field. Hopefully top 40...and hopefully I got the Best Cat 3 rider as of right now. I’ll know that tomorrow. I really don’t think there are too many cat 3’s in this race.
Well, tomorrow is a 53-mile road race. It’s 5 laps of a ~10 mile lap with two climbs per lap. Start time is 5pm...it may rain. I just hope the legs have what it takes.
Oh and congrats to Nick “Steamer” Frye. He won the Cat 4/5 race today and got some sweet new orange tyres that match his bike. Yeah...he pretty much crushed the field.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Ok stage 1. It was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit today. It was a dry heat though, which I like a lot more than that horrible humidity that just zaps my energy. We got there and saw some pretty big teams. Kelly Regional Team, Priority Health, A&F, Colavita Regional Team and others. We thought it was going to be hard. I just wanted to finish. The course was a 1km long 8 corner criterium. We did 40 miles of it, which turned out to be 68 laps. Damn that got boring after awhile. Well, I started in the 6th or 7th row of the 127 person field right next to Seth Meyer. Matt Holecko got a good position in the front row. The race got started and it really wasn’t that fast. Probably because of the all the corners. I got pushed back a little bit in the field. After about 10 laps or so my legs started feeling good and I had a bit more confidence so I started moving up. I thought it was really easy to move up in the corners and on the finishing straight. When I really wanted to I would gun it up to a corner and cut it in close and make up about 5 to 6 spots. The finishing straight was the same thing. The corners were very smooth and I barely had to touch my breaks. God I love people that know how to ride a bike. So pretty much the whole race I kept moving up and then pushed back a little, etc. I had to close down 4 gaps during the race, because some riders just sat right up...right in front of me nonetheless. But it always came out good in the end.
So they had a rule during the race. You just had to make it to 8 laps left and they would take your time at that point. After that you could drop out...the last part was meant for the sprinters, due to the narrow course. I made it to that last 8 laps with the field, so I should have the same time as pretty much everyone else...but I kept going. Over the next 8 laps I started risking it a little more to make a couple more positions here and there. I was going for the Best Cat 3 Jersey. I didn’t know who was a Cat 3. The only ones I know about are me, Seth Meyer, Jason Carr and one of the guys riding for MSU/Hotter N’ Hell. And I wasn’t about to drop out of a race just because I could. I’m definitely going to finish. Many people dropped out after that 8 lap rule. The pace did get faster, but it was still pretty easy. I had Seth Meyer behind me and I was following an MSU riders wheel (I don’t know if he was Cat 3 or not...I wasn’t going to risk it, so I had to beat him). At the end I was able to sprint around the MSU guy and keep Seth behind me. The race only averaged ~24mph.
I guess I placed in the upper third of the field. Hopefully top 40...and hopefully I got the Best Cat 3 rider as of right now. I’ll know that tomorrow. I really don’t think there are too many cat 3’s in this race.
Well, tomorrow is a 53-mile road race. It’s 5 laps of a ~10 mile lap with two climbs per lap. Start time is 5pm...it may rain. I just hope the legs have what it takes.
Oh and congrats to Nick “Steamer” Frye. He won the Cat 4/5 race today and got some sweet new orange tyres that match his bike. Yeah...he pretty much crushed the field.
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
Giro d'Grafton....
So Saturday saw the Giro d’Grafton criterium. I arrived early (about 1pm) to watch a little bit of the Men’s 4/5 race. Steamer finished 3rd, which is awesome for him. He’ll probably get his 3’s upgrade by the end of the season. After that I sat around for about 2 hrs for my race to start at 4:30pm.
The course was kinda sweet. Long finishing straight with 6 corners and one little hill after corner 2. The cat 3 field started with probably around 45-50 starters...I think. The race started out amazingly slow. I actually rode up to Seth Meyer and asked if this felt really easy. He agreed. Then all of a sudden after about 10 minutes into the crit Dallas was found on front drilling the pace and then trying a break. He got away for a little bit, but was pulled back not too long after. He did end up winning 2 primes. After a while I tried going on a couple breaks. I went on 4 total during the race. One looked promising...but then my legs said no. So I went back into the field and rested up. A couple Get A Grip guys decided to go and they were chased down. That was pretty much the whole race...attack after attack. With 3 laps to go I noticed the field slowing down so I decided to try my luck. I didn’t really attack...I just went a little harder and rode off the front. I looked back and had a pretty decent gap. I actually went around the first corner and heard a couple guys go down...ah Cat 3 riders. I stayed out for about 3/4th of a lap and looked back...still a gap, but Seth Meyer bridged up to me. Sweet. We went about another 1/2 of a lap and Dallas bridged up to us too. Thats what I call a pretty awesome breakaway group. This is the group that I think all the cat 3 riders are scared of. Well around the last corner of lap two...Seth hits some melting tar just wrong and his front wheel locks up, he saved it pretty well though. It made me hit my brakes and Dallas got a little gap on us. Well the field started going really hard now...and caught us all. Damn it. I think it could have stuck if we just communicated a little more to each other. At least we know that for next time. We stayed with the field for the last lap and sprinted. Dallas got 12th (with puking in the sprint), I got 15th (last money spot) and Seth got 22nd. The race averaged 27mph...pretty good. Didn’t seem that hard though.
I stayed for the Pro/1/2 race. All I can say is Twilight Crits rule! Crazy race though. After 2 or 3 laps a break of 15 got off and stayed off with lapping the field at minute 70. Some big names were in that break. Some Kelly Regional rider ended up winning, Garrett Peltonen was 2nd and Freshie Steve took 4th.
Monday starts the Tour of Ohio. We drive down on Sunday. I’ll try and write a report after every stage...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
The course was kinda sweet. Long finishing straight with 6 corners and one little hill after corner 2. The cat 3 field started with probably around 45-50 starters...I think. The race started out amazingly slow. I actually rode up to Seth Meyer and asked if this felt really easy. He agreed. Then all of a sudden after about 10 minutes into the crit Dallas was found on front drilling the pace and then trying a break. He got away for a little bit, but was pulled back not too long after. He did end up winning 2 primes. After a while I tried going on a couple breaks. I went on 4 total during the race. One looked promising...but then my legs said no. So I went back into the field and rested up. A couple Get A Grip guys decided to go and they were chased down. That was pretty much the whole race...attack after attack. With 3 laps to go I noticed the field slowing down so I decided to try my luck. I didn’t really attack...I just went a little harder and rode off the front. I looked back and had a pretty decent gap. I actually went around the first corner and heard a couple guys go down...ah Cat 3 riders. I stayed out for about 3/4th of a lap and looked back...still a gap, but Seth Meyer bridged up to me. Sweet. We went about another 1/2 of a lap and Dallas bridged up to us too. Thats what I call a pretty awesome breakaway group. This is the group that I think all the cat 3 riders are scared of. Well around the last corner of lap two...Seth hits some melting tar just wrong and his front wheel locks up, he saved it pretty well though. It made me hit my brakes and Dallas got a little gap on us. Well the field started going really hard now...and caught us all. Damn it. I think it could have stuck if we just communicated a little more to each other. At least we know that for next time. We stayed with the field for the last lap and sprinted. Dallas got 12th (with puking in the sprint), I got 15th (last money spot) and Seth got 22nd. The race averaged 27mph...pretty good. Didn’t seem that hard though.
I stayed for the Pro/1/2 race. All I can say is Twilight Crits rule! Crazy race though. After 2 or 3 laps a break of 15 got off and stayed off with lapping the field at minute 70. Some big names were in that break. Some Kelly Regional rider ended up winning, Garrett Peltonen was 2nd and Freshie Steve took 4th.
Monday starts the Tour of Ohio. We drive down on Sunday. I’ll try and write a report after every stage...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
15.6.07
Racing, Part II....
It's been well over a month since my last post. I'm just lazy...what can I say. This summer has been pretty good so far. I've been waking up early, which is a first....then I go on a long bike ride....get home....take a nap (sometimes)....and then either hang out for the night or go to work. I like doing that. That's what I live for.
So far this year I've done 25 races. I have 25 more this year and then its cyclo-cross season. So far its going well. I've been going pretty well in the cat 3 races. I've been more working for Dallas and Corey...but I see myself as more of a domestique. I'll give a little overview of the more important races done so far since my last post.
Collegiate Natz RR: 90 mile road race on a 90 degree day....
There was flooding on one part of the course so they had to reroute the beginning of the race...onto a 2 mile gravel road. AWESOME!!! I loved it. The first time through it was neutral and at the end of it we waited for 40 people to get flats changed. The race wasn't too fast...at least not as fast as the first year I did it (2 years ago)...or maybe I am that much stronger. I actually thought it was fairly easy. My goals for the race were stay with the pack to the finish, go on a breakaway and be in the front of the field. Well, two of them came true. During the first lap I saw an opening and gunned it right up to the front...goal 1 complete. I was able to stay in the first half of the field for the race. Halfway through the first lap, a group of 5 tried getting away so I tried my luck and went with them. We didn't stay out too long, cuz they couldn't work together too well...but at least I was out there. At the last little climb of the lap, before the gravel section I was getting water bottles in the feed zone. All of a sudden I look straight ahead and there's a pile up of 12 guys about 10 feet tall right in my path. I go all the way around the left of them away from the feed zone and get by safely...but theres a gap between me and the field. Well, in gravel sections the first group tends to drill the pace. I worked my ass off through the gravel section passing and seeing about 60 riders on the side of the road waiting for the wheel truck. Thank god I didn't get a flat. Got through it, but had a little bit more work to do. I was joined by 5 more guys (one of them being ultra-squirrely and cutting across my front wheel and going into the left ditch...I think he's cleat came out of the pedal). The main group slowed down a little and we were able to catch back on. The field started with about 160 riders I believe...at this point we were down to about 80 or so after the gravel. Most of the big dogs were out of the race cuz they didn't have enough wheels for everyone. We even lost Freshie Steve. But don't worry, he soloed it back to the group for 20 miles...it was also the fastest lap the field had (he's kinda strong...you know). We'll I pulled the field for a little bit on the backside, trying to pull back a breakaway. Cut the time gap down a little bit...good feeling. Still felt good. We got back to the final climb of the lap and there was another crash in front of me that I had to go left of away from the feed zone. I was just on the back of the field though...so going good. We got to the gravel...halfway through I see Baumann with a flat. I stop and give him my front wheel. He goes 3 feet and the rear flats. We have a little bit of trouble getting the rear wheel off my bike but finally get it. I wait for the wheel truck...thank god they had wheels again. I didn't want to drop out. It was Eric Bean, Baumann and me. We were going to TTT back to the field. Well, after stopping for that long (about 6 minutes) my legs thought the race was done and started going into shut down mode. And neutral support put in the wheels crooked and were rubbing on the breaks so that slowed me down in the gravel, which I noticed after getting out of that section. So I had to stop and readjust them...losing more time. While I soloed it in for 69th place. Congrats to Freshie for his 4th place and Seth Meyer for 20th (thank god for training in Europe...it actually does make you stronger).
The scene for most of the day in all divisions
I also did the open Crit...I got 18th. Legs didn't feel too great that day.
Memorial Day Weekend:
Next major races were Snake Alley, Melon Cities, and Quad Cities. Snake Alley was hard. It started raining just before our race and did so for the first 5 laps or so making the Snake very slick and sketchy. You couldn't get out of the saddle and would have to try and not slip around. I started 4th row in the middle, which was pretty good positioning Well, right as the race started the whole right side of the field missed their clip-in and the left side of the field had a flawless clip-in. I was right in the middle. I got about 30th place going into the first corner right before the Snake...damn it. Also, right at the corner someone crashes due to locking up their brakes and sliding. They hit my rear wheel, but luckily I didn't go down. The rest of the race was going hard and chasing. I kept making my way up slowly. I was feeling good and my climbing was pretty good too. I ended up in a sprint with two other guys...I beat one, but jumped a little too late and Sam Stone beat me by about half a wheel, maybe even less. Well, I got 21st. 1 place outside of the money. Dallas got 2nd, Corey got 5th.
Melon Cities. We wanted to get me in a break. The pace was high for the whole 18 laps. No one could get away. The last lap the field started slowing way down...so instead of making it dangerous I jumped on the front and drove the pace until halfway up the final hill...Corey was able to hold my wheel in the leadout and get 3rd place. Dallas and I finished in the field.
Quad Cities. This was a fun race. 30 laps of rage in the cage due to chicken wire holding us in and the drunkards out. I guess it was the fastest average speed during the day including the P/1/2 field. Awesome. We wanted to get me in a break again today with one of the Get A Grip guys. Well, right from the start I started in the 4th row again and some guy in front of me falls over at the f#$*ing start line. I get pushed back alot. I stay on the back for the first 5 laps, doing sprints around every corner to get the legs good and warmed up. On the 6th lap I go from the last 1/4 of the group to the top 15. I stayed there for awhile. With 10 laps to go I attack with Steve from Get A Grip. GAG and BD are at the front shutting down the field. I look back and there are 3 more riders bridging up to us. Steve looks back and thinks its the field...I tell him to pull around me and get this going. He tells me "I don't want to blow my load too soon". WHAT!?! We had more than a block gap on the field and it was growing. I just needed a second of rest and then could have pulled again...but he stopped pedaling and the break was caught. Not gonna lie...I was pissed. No more breaks were going to go. I wanted to try with 4 laps to go, but I got cut off and one guy went off the front and won it solo...I should have been up there with him. With 2 laps to go, knowing that I don't have a sprint and the field was slowing way down to save some energy for the sprint...I jumped on the front and drilled it amazingly hard for Corey and Dallas. I lasted on the front for 1.75 laps. Averaging between 33-36mph the whole time. I made the field string out. At the 2nd to last corner Dallas and Corey sprint around me and were able to hold the field off for 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, with me finishing in the pack. We were definitely the team that controlled the whole race and what we planned out actually happened. We really work well as a team. I'm just happy they at least gave me a shout out on the podium.
On the front of the Quad Cities Crit, drilling the pace for the last 2 laps....
State Champs RR:
The last race of importance so far this year. This course was small rolling hills with one 300 meter power climb up to the finish. Seth Meyer and I definitely wanted to get something going in this. We both tried attacking many times during this race, but we were both definitely targeted. The field would let solo riders go and then slowly pull them back. Yet every time either Seth or myself would attack the field would be on our asses immediately. They were watching us like hawks. Seth and I were putting in solid attacks...just the field never wanted to see us go. The first time up the climb I was sitting about 4th wheel. I saw Seth come around me and I jumped on his wheel immediately. I was actually surprised I was able to stay on his wheel easily, seeing that I'm a fat ass and wouldn't quite call myself a climber. For the next 6 laps I always found myself no farther back than 5th wheel on that power climb. I probably attacked about 6-7 times during that race. Nothing ever worked. Finally with 2 laps to go 2 guys get off the front and one was able to stay off for the solo win...we caught the other guy up the final hill. Well, going up the final climb up to the finish I was sitting 5th wheel and moving up. 2 guys come around me on the right. I look to my left and the first guy to pass me is flailing all around with both feet unclipped. He threw the 2nd guy into my path and I had to slam on my brakes and get started again uphill...that sucks alot. I had about 6-7 guys pass me. I was able to hold off the rest of the field for 12th, but I should have been top 5. I was pissed. But oh well...50 guys started, 30 or so finished and I was always one of the first up the power climb. I gave a good effort for that whole race.
Now on to training. I've been putting in 4-5 hours days in on the bike in just the small ring with a couple hard efforts up hills. Doing this has definitely made me a lot stronger. I feel as if my climbing, sprinting, and overall power are improved. I definitely feel like one of the stronger Cat 3's in the field. I can't wait to upgrade to Cat 2...get my ass handed to me and improve even more. Tomorrow is the Grafton crit and I'm holding nothing back for that win. I'm not giving any type of leadout...I'm going to save everything I have for the final sprint or get in a break. After that I will be leaving for Tour of Ohio (which I hope to update this blog after every stage). 6 day stage race all around Ohio. 340 miles. Cat 1-3 race. Should be good, fun and hard. I'm ready....
I'll also probably have a couple interesting updates later on in the summer. Oh and I got a new sweet toy. I'll let you know more about that later....
Hopefully, I start updating this more so I don't have to write 20 pages at a time and remember half a summer's worth of memories...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
So far this year I've done 25 races. I have 25 more this year and then its cyclo-cross season. So far its going well. I've been going pretty well in the cat 3 races. I've been more working for Dallas and Corey...but I see myself as more of a domestique. I'll give a little overview of the more important races done so far since my last post.
Collegiate Natz RR: 90 mile road race on a 90 degree day....
There was flooding on one part of the course so they had to reroute the beginning of the race...onto a 2 mile gravel road. AWESOME!!! I loved it. The first time through it was neutral and at the end of it we waited for 40 people to get flats changed. The race wasn't too fast...at least not as fast as the first year I did it (2 years ago)...or maybe I am that much stronger. I actually thought it was fairly easy. My goals for the race were stay with the pack to the finish, go on a breakaway and be in the front of the field. Well, two of them came true. During the first lap I saw an opening and gunned it right up to the front...goal 1 complete. I was able to stay in the first half of the field for the race. Halfway through the first lap, a group of 5 tried getting away so I tried my luck and went with them. We didn't stay out too long, cuz they couldn't work together too well...but at least I was out there. At the last little climb of the lap, before the gravel section I was getting water bottles in the feed zone. All of a sudden I look straight ahead and there's a pile up of 12 guys about 10 feet tall right in my path. I go all the way around the left of them away from the feed zone and get by safely...but theres a gap between me and the field. Well, in gravel sections the first group tends to drill the pace. I worked my ass off through the gravel section passing and seeing about 60 riders on the side of the road waiting for the wheel truck. Thank god I didn't get a flat. Got through it, but had a little bit more work to do. I was joined by 5 more guys (one of them being ultra-squirrely and cutting across my front wheel and going into the left ditch...I think he's cleat came out of the pedal). The main group slowed down a little and we were able to catch back on. The field started with about 160 riders I believe...at this point we were down to about 80 or so after the gravel. Most of the big dogs were out of the race cuz they didn't have enough wheels for everyone. We even lost Freshie Steve. But don't worry, he soloed it back to the group for 20 miles...it was also the fastest lap the field had (he's kinda strong...you know). We'll I pulled the field for a little bit on the backside, trying to pull back a breakaway. Cut the time gap down a little bit...good feeling. Still felt good. We got back to the final climb of the lap and there was another crash in front of me that I had to go left of away from the feed zone. I was just on the back of the field though...so going good. We got to the gravel...halfway through I see Baumann with a flat. I stop and give him my front wheel. He goes 3 feet and the rear flats. We have a little bit of trouble getting the rear wheel off my bike but finally get it. I wait for the wheel truck...thank god they had wheels again. I didn't want to drop out. It was Eric Bean, Baumann and me. We were going to TTT back to the field. Well, after stopping for that long (about 6 minutes) my legs thought the race was done and started going into shut down mode. And neutral support put in the wheels crooked and were rubbing on the breaks so that slowed me down in the gravel, which I noticed after getting out of that section. So I had to stop and readjust them...losing more time. While I soloed it in for 69th place. Congrats to Freshie for his 4th place and Seth Meyer for 20th (thank god for training in Europe...it actually does make you stronger).
The scene for most of the day in all divisions
I also did the open Crit...I got 18th. Legs didn't feel too great that day.
Memorial Day Weekend:
Next major races were Snake Alley, Melon Cities, and Quad Cities. Snake Alley was hard. It started raining just before our race and did so for the first 5 laps or so making the Snake very slick and sketchy. You couldn't get out of the saddle and would have to try and not slip around. I started 4th row in the middle, which was pretty good positioning Well, right as the race started the whole right side of the field missed their clip-in and the left side of the field had a flawless clip-in. I was right in the middle. I got about 30th place going into the first corner right before the Snake...damn it. Also, right at the corner someone crashes due to locking up their brakes and sliding. They hit my rear wheel, but luckily I didn't go down. The rest of the race was going hard and chasing. I kept making my way up slowly. I was feeling good and my climbing was pretty good too. I ended up in a sprint with two other guys...I beat one, but jumped a little too late and Sam Stone beat me by about half a wheel, maybe even less. Well, I got 21st. 1 place outside of the money. Dallas got 2nd, Corey got 5th.
Melon Cities. We wanted to get me in a break. The pace was high for the whole 18 laps. No one could get away. The last lap the field started slowing way down...so instead of making it dangerous I jumped on the front and drove the pace until halfway up the final hill...Corey was able to hold my wheel in the leadout and get 3rd place. Dallas and I finished in the field.
Quad Cities. This was a fun race. 30 laps of rage in the cage due to chicken wire holding us in and the drunkards out. I guess it was the fastest average speed during the day including the P/1/2 field. Awesome. We wanted to get me in a break again today with one of the Get A Grip guys. Well, right from the start I started in the 4th row again and some guy in front of me falls over at the f#$*ing start line. I get pushed back alot. I stay on the back for the first 5 laps, doing sprints around every corner to get the legs good and warmed up. On the 6th lap I go from the last 1/4 of the group to the top 15. I stayed there for awhile. With 10 laps to go I attack with Steve from Get A Grip. GAG and BD are at the front shutting down the field. I look back and there are 3 more riders bridging up to us. Steve looks back and thinks its the field...I tell him to pull around me and get this going. He tells me "I don't want to blow my load too soon". WHAT!?! We had more than a block gap on the field and it was growing. I just needed a second of rest and then could have pulled again...but he stopped pedaling and the break was caught. Not gonna lie...I was pissed. No more breaks were going to go. I wanted to try with 4 laps to go, but I got cut off and one guy went off the front and won it solo...I should have been up there with him. With 2 laps to go, knowing that I don't have a sprint and the field was slowing way down to save some energy for the sprint...I jumped on the front and drilled it amazingly hard for Corey and Dallas. I lasted on the front for 1.75 laps. Averaging between 33-36mph the whole time. I made the field string out. At the 2nd to last corner Dallas and Corey sprint around me and were able to hold the field off for 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, with me finishing in the pack. We were definitely the team that controlled the whole race and what we planned out actually happened. We really work well as a team. I'm just happy they at least gave me a shout out on the podium.
On the front of the Quad Cities Crit, drilling the pace for the last 2 laps....
State Champs RR:
The last race of importance so far this year. This course was small rolling hills with one 300 meter power climb up to the finish. Seth Meyer and I definitely wanted to get something going in this. We both tried attacking many times during this race, but we were both definitely targeted. The field would let solo riders go and then slowly pull them back. Yet every time either Seth or myself would attack the field would be on our asses immediately. They were watching us like hawks. Seth and I were putting in solid attacks...just the field never wanted to see us go. The first time up the climb I was sitting about 4th wheel. I saw Seth come around me and I jumped on his wheel immediately. I was actually surprised I was able to stay on his wheel easily, seeing that I'm a fat ass and wouldn't quite call myself a climber. For the next 6 laps I always found myself no farther back than 5th wheel on that power climb. I probably attacked about 6-7 times during that race. Nothing ever worked. Finally with 2 laps to go 2 guys get off the front and one was able to stay off for the solo win...we caught the other guy up the final hill. Well, going up the final climb up to the finish I was sitting 5th wheel and moving up. 2 guys come around me on the right. I look to my left and the first guy to pass me is flailing all around with both feet unclipped. He threw the 2nd guy into my path and I had to slam on my brakes and get started again uphill...that sucks alot. I had about 6-7 guys pass me. I was able to hold off the rest of the field for 12th, but I should have been top 5. I was pissed. But oh well...50 guys started, 30 or so finished and I was always one of the first up the power climb. I gave a good effort for that whole race.
Now on to training. I've been putting in 4-5 hours days in on the bike in just the small ring with a couple hard efforts up hills. Doing this has definitely made me a lot stronger. I feel as if my climbing, sprinting, and overall power are improved. I definitely feel like one of the stronger Cat 3's in the field. I can't wait to upgrade to Cat 2...get my ass handed to me and improve even more. Tomorrow is the Grafton crit and I'm holding nothing back for that win. I'm not giving any type of leadout...I'm going to save everything I have for the final sprint or get in a break. After that I will be leaving for Tour of Ohio (which I hope to update this blog after every stage). 6 day stage race all around Ohio. 340 miles. Cat 1-3 race. Should be good, fun and hard. I'm ready....
I'll also probably have a couple interesting updates later on in the summer. Oh and I got a new sweet toy. I'll let you know more about that later....
Hopefully, I start updating this more so I don't have to write 20 pages at a time and remember half a summer's worth of memories...
Ciao ciao....
Waitey
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