Midweek Post

Not a lot to talk about other than some small illnesses. I'm finally over my binge eating last week at the beach. I've had a little bit of a sore throat (probably from cranking the AC in the car and hotel while at the beach), and now have a small blister in it. Its feeling a little bit better today. Sleep hasn't been going to well. Seems like I struggel a little after vacations though. And then today I woke up with a catch in my lower back. I feel like an old man. But none of it has effected my training. Its just been a pain. I think I'll hold off a while before I take another vacation.

This week I've put in the hardest training I've done in 2 years. There's been pukey moments, but it'll be worth it. The legs still feel good, and most importantly I'm recovering from day to day well. I can't seem to eat enough food, but I don't want to binge and get sick again or put on a bunch of weight.

Back to work, and then some 2x15's at LT this evening.....

A light at the end of the tunnel?

This past weekend I found myself in Burgaw, NC. Ashley and I went down to Wilmington to enjoy a little vacation on the beach, and I figured why not bike while I was down there?

The race was just a short 30 min 4/5 race, and had about 40 riders or so on the start. I was truly just hoping to have a strong ride and finish, but it turned out a lot better than that. Another guy and myself helped chase a small break or two down........which I shouldn't do, but I can't seem to help myself.

I road strong in the top 10 the whole race till 5 laps to go, at which point I thought i heard the guy say "3 laps to go". So with what I thought was 1.5 laps to go, I head to the front and start a massive pull. Basically shattering the legs of anyone behind me...........ok not really, but I was going pretty dang fast. And as I come around for what I thought was the last lap, I hear "3 laps to go". WTF. So I turn to look at the guy trying to stick my wheel, and I say "did he say 3 laps to go?". Of which the guy just had this look on his face like he was about to pop at any time......Well that got the blood flowing, and I finally got a little feeling of the pain train back in my soul. I pinned down and stayed with the front 10 again until the last lap when a guy cut me off slowed down 2 turns before the finish. He was just trying to get to the front like me, so you can't get mad about that. So outta the last turn I stood to sprint for a top 10, and came out with a 9th place finish. Not something to brag about to your buddies, but it makes me feel better after the last couple weeks.

I finally got a little bit of a result out of the last 4 weeks of training. I guess the ID3 races coming up will tell whether I was just having a good day or not.

Right now I'm trying to get over a visit to the fondo(sp) restaurant this past Saturday night. I'm feeling better today after a bottle of tums.

Welcome to the family...

Normally I never post twice a week, much less twice a day. But today is special because I got the call from Just The Right Gear and my cyclocross bike is in.

This will be the first grouppo of Sram I've tried, but I've not heard anyone complain about it. And the paint job is just plain sexy.

Thanks to Just The Right Gear for their sponsorship, and being a cool group of guys.

Ouch, my back!

This past weekend lead me to the top of mountain lake for the 2nd annual Dirty Dawg MTB race. It had rained the night before, but with the terrain of the course it all drained to leave an almost perfect trail.

The race started out great. My teammate Dan Reppella and I were off the front by about 100 yards or better by the turn into the woods. We decided to try an work the field over and began taking pulls through the first 3 miles of the race. After that we headed into some semi-technical sections of the course, they were filled with rocks. Dan went on and looked back as to say,"you coming?", so I shouted to go on and I'd try to catch him on the next smooth section. Little did I know the next smooth section would be when the race was over and we pulled back in the parking lot.

We climbed up to the top of a hill and there the "hike a bike" began. This part of the course would have been ride-able to a more experienced rider, but after watching several people try and fail, I began my hiking journey. At this point there were about 4 guys up the trail, and I was told the second part of the course would be much smoother. Hoping to catch up with them, I just kept my game face on and continued talking with the other guys around me as we hiked through the woods.

Finally some smooth section, and we were back on the bike. Still about 5 guys back I lost Cole (another teammate) on a technical descent. Next up was the best part of the race, 25-30mph singletrack. Now that got the heart pumping. That was short lived and we started up some pretty long nasty climbs. They ended on a short section of pavement, were I turn around and see no other than Cole. He passed me back on that climb.

The last leg of the race was full of roots and rocks. By the time we turned back onto the section of double track that we'd started on, my back felt like I'd been beating by a baseball bat. I turned onto 613 and turn up a last section of rock before the finish. I came in around 12th out of 23 guys. So not the best, but my time was just a few minutes off 4th through 11th.

Dan took the win, and Cole finished in at 6th. A good job for the crew, and one heck of a race. I felt great, and hope the fitness continues to come.

This week its down to Wilmington, NC. I've got a crit friday night, and then back to Greensboro for a crit Sunday.

The Dirty Dawg

This weekend I'm heading back to my roots of MTB racing. Mountain Lake is putting on a race to raise money for their conservatory(I think that's right). Ash and I are heading up that way to spend the weekend with some of her family, so I figured why not?

MTB racing has always helped put strength in my legs. The constant power output is like doing a two hour interval right at your LT. You can't beat it. Plus it just feels good to get out in the woods.

Training is going well. I'm pushing harder than I was two weeks ago, and still feel good. I've had trouble sleeping this week due to the hot temps, but it hasn't seemed to effect my riding. It has seemed to keep me from working as hard at work though......but that doesn't matter.

Another project I'm doing is fitting my bike back to the way my serotta fit suggested. I tried to get rid of the 90 mm stem(something about a 90 just isn't pro), but it looks like I'll need it back. With a 100 turned in the negative degree I just can't breath as well. I've been trying setting more upright, and its helped me put out more power longer. I'll trade pro looks for speed.

I also purchased another camelbak......I swore I'd never have another. But I just can't carry enough waterbottles for a 5 hour ride in this heat.

Good and Bad

Today was the crit of the Settler's Life Omnium. I'll say that I didn't like the course they picked this year as much as I did the one they've had in years past. This one consisted of more narrow streets, more manhole covers, and tight TIGHT corners.

I preroad the course for about 10 minutes. I saw how tight everything was, and I knew if someone wanted to stay in the race for more than a few minutes they'd have to get to the front and fast. 5 minutes before the start of the race I come around the last turn before the start/finish, and what do I see? Every Cat 4 rider packed on the start/finish like a can of sardines.

So there I set, OTB. Race starts, missed my pedal to clip in. So there I set, almost in last place. I attempt to move up a few times, and the guys in the field were just making some bad bad choices in the turns. No worries though, the curbs took care of them. Most of them ended up crashing out. So there I still set on the back. There was only short section of the course to pass, and you were lucky to pass one or two people. Just as soon as I would pass a few, the guy I was grabbing onto would pop and I'd have to chase back to the group. Not my idea of a good time.

I spent 20 minutes on the back of the field. Almost stopping in the turns, and then sprinting back to 25 mph. I got dropped once, and two other guys and myself were able to chase to catch back on. I stayed on for about another 5 or 6 minutes before the legs just gave out. I cruised around for a few laps before stopping to talk to my buddy Mike Seek.

So basically I lasted about 25/40 minutes on the back of a 60 man field. I can't help but think I'm getting into better shape, but at the same time I feel like I just upgraded from Cat 5's. Making stupid mistakes like not being on the front, and not getting to the front fast enough. Luckily I have a great g/f who put it into perspective for me, and reminded me it'll take time to get my fitness back up. I think I almost expect too much, too fast. I hadn't raced for almost 2 months until 2 weeks ago, and I wasn't doing any intense intervals either. Which has left me way behind everyone.

I'm getting better, but still need a ton of work. I've got races the next two weekends. Then a weekend off, and then the ID3 races in the burg. More intensity says the doctor, so that's what I'll get.

Roan GROAN

Today's road raced blowed. It consisted of lots of groaning. I hate hills, and that's all I'm going to say about it.

The TT was good though. 1.7 miles in around 4:45. Not sure how the time will stack up against the competition, but seemed about the same time everyone else was getting. The course was not flat, as advertised, but not too bad.

Crit tomorrow, and I'm pumped. Feeling good in the legs.......except when it comes to the hills.

Stay tuned........

Roan Mountain

Tomorrow is the start of the Settler's Life Omnium. We get to do a 30 mile road race in the morning, and a 1.7 mile TT in the evening. Then wake up and do a crit sunday morning.

I'm no really looking forward to the road race. Yeah its only 30 miles for us, and the first 22 have no more than just false flat climbs. The last 8 though........holy ____. Its 8 miles of 8% grade. That means finish times up the climb will be anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes and more. I don't really remember, but I think the last time I did this race it took me a little over an hour to climb the mountain. I'll try for the same time or better this year.

I know I shouldn't be negative about this, but lets be realistic. I shouldn't have any trouble getting to the bottom of the climb, and maybe not even a little ways up. But at 91kg (200lbs), I'm not exactly built for it. Just for a comparison A-ron just posted his Power/Weight ratio was around 4.5W/Kg with an LT of 310 watts. One should be able to hold his LT for an hour without too much trouble. For he and I to be equal up the climb, I would have to have the same Power/Weight ratio. Meaning I would be putting out 415 watts. Which I could do........for about 8-12 minutes, at which point I would explode.

The TT and Crit should be good though. After being tossed off the back at the Tomato Head race, I've been pinning down. I feel a lot better this week. Like I said a few posts ago, I don't think I'm good enough to win yet, but I should be in good shape to play around the pack and finish decent. We'll find out after tomorrow.......