So Ashley and I headed down to Fork Shoals, SC yesterday for the South Carolina State road race. It wasn't a great experience so here's a quick recap.
The course was a 13 mile loop with two longer hills (by long I mean about a minute a piece, so not really long), and a really short steeper hill. We only had 3 laps to do on the course, so not too bad.
Every lap we hit the three little hills wide open and then ever other place that turned up on the road. We started with 60-70 riders and we were dwindled down to about 40 by the end of the 3rd lap.
As the last lap was ending and we made a left turn, which was also the 1k to go mark, I was sitting about 8th. Perfect! A guy tried to go up the road and the pace upped enough to no one was coming around but we were sure to catch him. At about 4-500m to go some guy swerved to the right and knocked the guy in front of me to the deck. I tried to stop, but had no where to go and ended up endoing off the side of the road. Which turned to be a good thing because as I hit the ground my hands, face, body, toes, you name it hit and scrapped the ground.
I was pretty disappointed, but that's the way it goes. I hit my left hand on the ground first, and that's what's messed up. I skipped going to the doctor yesterday hoping I would be ok, but headed today to make sure I hadn't broke anything and he said I have an elbow contusion. Which basically means fluid on the elbow, and its bruised some. No road riding for 2 weeks, but I can still hit the trainer. Not exciting, but I'm just glad cross season wont be a bust.
So much for my last three points this month. There's still a few races towards the end of Sept and first of October. Hopefully I can get a few then.
Speaking of cross....have I mentioned I can't wait!
Take care!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Road and Cross
I've submitted a resume to USA cycling for my Cat3 upgrade. I have 17 points (supposed to have 20), but with the races I've done I hope to get it. I would love to do some Cat3 races before the season is over...maybe even try my hand at a few 1,2,3 races. I still haven't heard back yet, and should probably just aim at getting my last three points.
Since I haven't heard back, I'll be heading down to Fork Shoals, SC tomorrow morning (yes leaving the apartment before 6am again) and doing the SC state road race. Luckily its an open road race so that out of state riders can compete. This course is part of the Greenville Spring Series, although I haven't ridden it. On MapMyRide it looks almost pancake flat, I kind of wish it had a hill or two in it. It should be a good race.
The last time I was down there racing with those guys from Greenville it was some of the hardest racing I've ever done. Not that the races in VA and Tenn aren't good quality, but something about the races in the carolinas that really try your fitness. I've noticed with my PT that I'll have a higher wattage for the sprint in the Tenn/VA races, but my wattage for the last 10-20 min of the race would be higher for the Carolina races which shows how there are a bunch of guys that want to win and not just sprint at the end(overall power is higher for the carolina races as well). I look forward to racing around Greenville more than probably anywhere else I've raced to this point.
With mentioning of trying your fitness, I feel like mine is coming back around really nicely. I've been hammering out my 20min intervals religiously, and I can tell its made a huge difference. My confidence is back, and I feel that extra little something in my legs while I'm riding. Tomorrow should give me a really good idea of where I'm at. And assuming no bad luck, I hope to see that I'm ready for an upgrade that I've been talking about so much.
Knobby tires. Man I am excited about cross. I finally got my tires glued on and took the bike out for a test run around the apartment. They feel sick. I'm running 30psi in the front and around 33 in the rear. With that pressure it feels like you're riding on smooth road.......ok not really, but its smooth. I'd like to try to drop the pressure a little more, but I'm a big guy so I don't know how much farther I can go.
Speaking of knobbies. I'm thinking about focusing pretty heavy on the mountain scene next year. I'll wait and see how much time I can put in on the bike, and how much time I can put in on the MTN bike.
Also weight. This time last year I was weighing in at ~195lbs. I've finally hit 176 (or 80 kilos for my euro absorbed friends). That should help a lot with my cross season. I can tell my climbing has definitely improved with the loss of weight. I'm aiming for 170. I just don't want to look like the Chicken.
I hope everyone has a good weekend, and has safe travels. Take care!
Since I haven't heard back, I'll be heading down to Fork Shoals, SC tomorrow morning (yes leaving the apartment before 6am again) and doing the SC state road race. Luckily its an open road race so that out of state riders can compete. This course is part of the Greenville Spring Series, although I haven't ridden it. On MapMyRide it looks almost pancake flat, I kind of wish it had a hill or two in it. It should be a good race.
The last time I was down there racing with those guys from Greenville it was some of the hardest racing I've ever done. Not that the races in VA and Tenn aren't good quality, but something about the races in the carolinas that really try your fitness. I've noticed with my PT that I'll have a higher wattage for the sprint in the Tenn/VA races, but my wattage for the last 10-20 min of the race would be higher for the Carolina races which shows how there are a bunch of guys that want to win and not just sprint at the end(overall power is higher for the carolina races as well). I look forward to racing around Greenville more than probably anywhere else I've raced to this point.
With mentioning of trying your fitness, I feel like mine is coming back around really nicely. I've been hammering out my 20min intervals religiously, and I can tell its made a huge difference. My confidence is back, and I feel that extra little something in my legs while I'm riding. Tomorrow should give me a really good idea of where I'm at. And assuming no bad luck, I hope to see that I'm ready for an upgrade that I've been talking about so much.
Knobby tires. Man I am excited about cross. I finally got my tires glued on and took the bike out for a test run around the apartment. They feel sick. I'm running 30psi in the front and around 33 in the rear. With that pressure it feels like you're riding on smooth road.......ok not really, but its smooth. I'd like to try to drop the pressure a little more, but I'm a big guy so I don't know how much farther I can go.
Speaking of knobbies. I'm thinking about focusing pretty heavy on the mountain scene next year. I'll wait and see how much time I can put in on the bike, and how much time I can put in on the MTN bike.
Also weight. This time last year I was weighing in at ~195lbs. I've finally hit 176 (or 80 kilos for my euro absorbed friends). That should help a lot with my cross season. I can tell my climbing has definitely improved with the loss of weight. I'm aiming for 170. I just don't want to look like the Chicken.
I hope everyone has a good weekend, and has safe travels. Take care!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Oak Ridge RR
Saturday I left the apartment at a few minutes after 4am heading down to Oak Ridge, TN. Here's a quick recap of the race:
There were easily 50-60 guys that started the race (I suspect more like 78 due to the numbering system). I got to the start line at what I thought was an early time, but everyone was already there. Being a road race I wasn't too worried. Well not to long into the race I saw I wish I had been up front. I skidded my bike tire more times in the first lap (the race was 2 laps/48miles) than I would in a XC race. There were two little hills each lap, and that helped the moving up process. After the first lap was done I made it up into the top 20.
The second lap started at a talking pace, and then at the first hill the group really hammered it up the climb. The rest of the lap was pretty quick with the second hill and several people trying to attack until the last 5 miles....then the jockeying started. Brian M. and myself found ourselves in the top 10 coming through the 1K to go banner. We were both in good position until the sprint got started and some guy took out Brian...which caused a massive pile-up behind them. I came across the line for a 5th place finish, and then after fighting with some officials about going back through the camera (I'll add that I asked if it would be ok, and got yelled at...which didn't set well, but I understand they have a lot on their plate at one of these races) I headed back to check on Brian. The hole left side of his body was pretty much a cherry, but other than that (and his top tube) he was in working order.
So that's it. Nothing major to report on. The 5th place finish earned me 5 more points towards upgrade. So I'm only 3 away from that now. Hopefully I'll be able to pin down and get those before the end of the season.
Fork Shoals this weekend. Another early rise on Saturday :(.
There were easily 50-60 guys that started the race (I suspect more like 78 due to the numbering system). I got to the start line at what I thought was an early time, but everyone was already there. Being a road race I wasn't too worried. Well not to long into the race I saw I wish I had been up front. I skidded my bike tire more times in the first lap (the race was 2 laps/48miles) than I would in a XC race. There were two little hills each lap, and that helped the moving up process. After the first lap was done I made it up into the top 20.
The second lap started at a talking pace, and then at the first hill the group really hammered it up the climb. The rest of the lap was pretty quick with the second hill and several people trying to attack until the last 5 miles....then the jockeying started. Brian M. and myself found ourselves in the top 10 coming through the 1K to go banner. We were both in good position until the sprint got started and some guy took out Brian...which caused a massive pile-up behind them. I came across the line for a 5th place finish, and then after fighting with some officials about going back through the camera (I'll add that I asked if it would be ok, and got yelled at...which didn't set well, but I understand they have a lot on their plate at one of these races) I headed back to check on Brian. The hole left side of his body was pretty much a cherry, but other than that (and his top tube) he was in working order.
So that's it. Nothing major to report on. The 5th place finish earned me 5 more points towards upgrade. So I'm only 3 away from that now. Hopefully I'll be able to pin down and get those before the end of the season.
Fork Shoals this weekend. Another early rise on Saturday :(.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
More Racing
This Saturday I'm heading down to Oak Ridge for my first road race in what seems like forever. It looks flat with a couple small hills per lap. Should be a good time.
The legs have been feeling pretty good. I've given up on predicting what's going to happen. I'm happy with my fitness, and feel like the second half of the season is going to end well. If not...there's always cross. :)
8 points or 4 more top tens. Either one will get me a Cat3 upgrade. If I don't get it, I didn't deserve it. Everyone that I've been racing against is going really well right now, so it wont be easy. I'll give it what I got, and let it go at that.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, have safe travels too.
The legs have been feeling pretty good. I've given up on predicting what's going to happen. I'm happy with my fitness, and feel like the second half of the season is going to end well. If not...there's always cross. :)
8 points or 4 more top tens. Either one will get me a Cat3 upgrade. If I don't get it, I didn't deserve it. Everyone that I've been racing against is going really well right now, so it wont be easy. I'll give it what I got, and let it go at that.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, have safe travels too.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
What a day
Getting up at 4:45 to leave for a race is not my idea of a good time...however that's what happened today. We headed down to Ace Speedway for a make-up race they were having. It was good chance to get two races in in one day.
This will be quick. The B race was first. The first 15 minutes were fast. Then a group got off the front, and the pace started to get a bit surgy(not sure that's a word). I dropped back as the group that had got off the front was about a 1/4 lap away from behind us, and I was not have a good time with a certain rider in the field. I have no clue why I dropped back, but it was good because the group that was catching us was very smooth...I like smooth. The rest of the race I just tried to help Cecil a little, he was in the break, since 1st-8th or so was already claimed. All was going well until the final lap and while trying to help Cec get to the front for the sprint, and I was pushed out. The guys he needed to be with were coming by me, so I tried to get out of his way. Somewhere in all that we crossed wheels and Cecil went down. What a bad feeling. I came back around to see how he was, and he was walking. A few scrapes and a cherry, but he seemed to be in working order.
After that, I was a little bummed before the C race...and I wont lie I was pretty spent. Anyway this race went pretty well except for a group got off the front in this race as well. I still ended up with an 8th place finish, but I was hoping for more.
These races have gotten tougher than I remember. It used to be everyone just went hard, and then you sprinted at the end. Now everyone starts attacking. I'm not good at picking which attack is going to stick, but most likely if I'm not in it, it'll stick. Oh well, something else to learn.
Oak Ridge RR next weekend. Should be fun.
This will be quick. The B race was first. The first 15 minutes were fast. Then a group got off the front, and the pace started to get a bit surgy(not sure that's a word). I dropped back as the group that had got off the front was about a 1/4 lap away from behind us, and I was not have a good time with a certain rider in the field. I have no clue why I dropped back, but it was good because the group that was catching us was very smooth...I like smooth. The rest of the race I just tried to help Cecil a little, he was in the break, since 1st-8th or so was already claimed. All was going well until the final lap and while trying to help Cec get to the front for the sprint, and I was pushed out. The guys he needed to be with were coming by me, so I tried to get out of his way. Somewhere in all that we crossed wheels and Cecil went down. What a bad feeling. I came back around to see how he was, and he was walking. A few scrapes and a cherry, but he seemed to be in working order.
After that, I was a little bummed before the C race...and I wont lie I was pretty spent. Anyway this race went pretty well except for a group got off the front in this race as well. I still ended up with an 8th place finish, but I was hoping for more.
These races have gotten tougher than I remember. It used to be everyone just went hard, and then you sprinted at the end. Now everyone starts attacking. I'm not good at picking which attack is going to stick, but most likely if I'm not in it, it'll stick. Oh well, something else to learn.
Oak Ridge RR next weekend. Should be fun.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Dog days
Man its been hot. I went out Monday for a training ride, and I still don't think I'm over it. The temp was around 95, and the humidity wasn't in my favor either. I'm looking forward to some cooler temps this fall and winter. If it stays this hot through the first part of October, the first few cross races are going to be miserable.
In the last couple weeks I've noticed I've picked up an intrest in training ideas again. My buddy MattP and myself conversed back and forth when I picked racing/riding back up lat fall, and set the following schedule per week:
30-40 min above FTP (really >105%) per week
30-40 min at or just below FTP(95-100%) per week
And that's it...I know it sounds simple, but it really helped me. Before all of the life stuff got in the way this summer, I was the fastest I had ever been. Now I'm playing a bit of catch up, but using this same plan I am hitting it hard just like I was this past winter/spring.
So if this is working why look at anything else? I don't know. I have the 'Training Bible', and I can't help but think it has to be halfway accurate in its words.
However last night I was reading and during Base 3 (you know what I'm talking about TB owners), one is supposed to put in 1/4 of there time for Muscular Endurance. Ok...for me I have at the most 10 hours a week to dedicate to 'ride time'. That's 2.5 hrs right below or at FTP! Is this what people put in?
Any comments on this? I feel a test coming on with the power meter. I might run myself in the ground, but I gotta try it and see what happens.
In the last couple weeks I've noticed I've picked up an intrest in training ideas again. My buddy MattP and myself conversed back and forth when I picked racing/riding back up lat fall, and set the following schedule per week:
30-40 min above FTP (really >105%) per week
30-40 min at or just below FTP(95-100%) per week
And that's it...I know it sounds simple, but it really helped me. Before all of the life stuff got in the way this summer, I was the fastest I had ever been. Now I'm playing a bit of catch up, but using this same plan I am hitting it hard just like I was this past winter/spring.
So if this is working why look at anything else? I don't know. I have the 'Training Bible', and I can't help but think it has to be halfway accurate in its words.
However last night I was reading and during Base 3 (you know what I'm talking about TB owners), one is supposed to put in 1/4 of there time for Muscular Endurance. Ok...for me I have at the most 10 hours a week to dedicate to 'ride time'. That's 2.5 hrs right below or at FTP! Is this what people put in?
Any comments on this? I feel a test coming on with the power meter. I might run myself in the ground, but I gotta try it and see what happens.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Crossroads oh Crossroads
Friday and today Ashley and I were in NC for some Crossroads Classic racing. I was really looking forward to these races. Crossroads are probably some of the toughest racing I've ever done in terms of crits. They're technical and the guys that live in the Carolinas seem to really gun towards them as well. Both those combined and you have some strung out racing that has you pushing with everything you have.
Friday was just that. We were in statesville. A couple guys attacking, and the pace was fast and had the whole group single filed. (nothing like 50 guys strung out in single file). I wasn't exactly moving through the pack with ease, but I was moving up a few guys at a time while fighting for position at the same time. About halfway through the race coming into the tightest turn on the course (from 4 lane to 1.5) a guy decided to sweep to the outside. I was on his outside, and therefore we both went into the parking lot right outside that corner. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that there was a parking lot there and not a building, but I seriously could've killed that guy. I jumped back on the course and caught on with a group that was dangling off the back the main group, but saw I wasn't going anywhere. I'd burnt too many matches, and didn't have what I needed to get back to the front group. DNF.......which sucks. Not at all what I was looking for.
Today. Well all I had to do today was finish, and that would be better. I started on the second row and about 20 back in fridays race, so I made sure to get on the front line for this one. Started, clipped in, everything perfect. The race was fast. Not the whole time, but some big surges that really burnt the legs. At about 10 to go an old teammate Cecil jumped and got away. I was more than content to stay in the pack, the pace was fast enough that I didn't want to try to attack. 3 laps to go and we head into turn one, two guys head straight for the curb and lock up right in front of me. Cecil pinned down and won the race (this really was saying something, hats off to Cecil). I finished in the pack, top 20 or something.
Neither of the incidents either day were the main cause of me not placing high or winning. But they sure didn't help. Although my training is going really well, I need some more races in the legs. These races were really fast, and hopefully will help me pin down the last couple months of the season. I really REALLY want to upgrade. Today and yesterday I question if I need to upgrade, but I'll let the rest of the season determine that.
I have 4 more races this month, with Ace Speedway next weekend (I always feel confident at Ace), and some road races coming up to, I hope to get a few points and finishes. We'll see what happens.
Congrats to Cecil on his first win.
Hope everyone had/has a good weekend. Ciao!
Friday was just that. We were in statesville. A couple guys attacking, and the pace was fast and had the whole group single filed. (nothing like 50 guys strung out in single file). I wasn't exactly moving through the pack with ease, but I was moving up a few guys at a time while fighting for position at the same time. About halfway through the race coming into the tightest turn on the course (from 4 lane to 1.5) a guy decided to sweep to the outside. I was on his outside, and therefore we both went into the parking lot right outside that corner. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that there was a parking lot there and not a building, but I seriously could've killed that guy. I jumped back on the course and caught on with a group that was dangling off the back the main group, but saw I wasn't going anywhere. I'd burnt too many matches, and didn't have what I needed to get back to the front group. DNF.......which sucks. Not at all what I was looking for.
Today. Well all I had to do today was finish, and that would be better. I started on the second row and about 20 back in fridays race, so I made sure to get on the front line for this one. Started, clipped in, everything perfect. The race was fast. Not the whole time, but some big surges that really burnt the legs. At about 10 to go an old teammate Cecil jumped and got away. I was more than content to stay in the pack, the pace was fast enough that I didn't want to try to attack. 3 laps to go and we head into turn one, two guys head straight for the curb and lock up right in front of me. Cecil pinned down and won the race (this really was saying something, hats off to Cecil). I finished in the pack, top 20 or something.
Neither of the incidents either day were the main cause of me not placing high or winning. But they sure didn't help. Although my training is going really well, I need some more races in the legs. These races were really fast, and hopefully will help me pin down the last couple months of the season. I really REALLY want to upgrade. Today and yesterday I question if I need to upgrade, but I'll let the rest of the season determine that.
I have 4 more races this month, with Ace Speedway next weekend (I always feel confident at Ace), and some road races coming up to, I hope to get a few points and finishes. We'll see what happens.
Congrats to Cecil on his first win.
Hope everyone had/has a good weekend. Ciao!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Anniversary, Training, crossroads, Tubulars, and H2O
This month is the one year anniversary of getting my powertap. While a powertap alone wont make you fast, it is a very useful tool for almost immediate feedback while training. Now that I have a year under my belt with it, I would say every cyclist could benefit from training with some source of power meter. I do feel as though racing with one isn't as important. Its nice to have the feedback afterwords, but really in a race you either "went hard enough" or you "should've trained more". Anyway, next to index shifting, this could be one of the best things cycling has ever seen.
Training has been going really well. I've started seeing improvements again, which is better than a plateau or decrease. I'm still training the same as I had been, but I've been more steady with workouts and efforts during the workouts. The only thing I will change for next year, assuming I get upgraded this year, is put in some more miles. I feel my endurance is a little weak, but nothing that can't be fixed.
Crossroads is this weekend. I'll be racing Friday and Saturday. I did both these courses last year ( i think they are the same) and enjoyed them both. The one on Friday more than the one on Saturday. The legs feel good, and some high finishes would be really nice.
Tubulars. Not a huge fan of them, but when someone says you can run less than 30psi in a cross tubular my eyes light up. Just going from a 32c to a 34c let me drop 4-6psi and made a huge difference in comfort during last cross season. As well it helped a ton with traction during the muddier races. I'm really looking forward to trying my new set of Challenge Grifo's out in October. I've got one wheel glued up already, and should finish the other today. Note: I glued them on to a Williams Cyclocross wheelset. Seems to be a great wheel for the money. Too, we'll get to see how my gluing skills work out : / .
Last but not least, H20. That's right water. I've been looking to recover better after rides, and I've just simply started drinking more water. Sure I go to the bathroom once an hour, but that just keeps things flowing. No joke though, I don't think I was dehydrated, but with simply drinking 4 or 5 extra glasses of water of day, my legs have been recovering a lot faster than before.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend.
Training has been going really well. I've started seeing improvements again, which is better than a plateau or decrease. I'm still training the same as I had been, but I've been more steady with workouts and efforts during the workouts. The only thing I will change for next year, assuming I get upgraded this year, is put in some more miles. I feel my endurance is a little weak, but nothing that can't be fixed.
Crossroads is this weekend. I'll be racing Friday and Saturday. I did both these courses last year ( i think they are the same) and enjoyed them both. The one on Friday more than the one on Saturday. The legs feel good, and some high finishes would be really nice.
Tubulars. Not a huge fan of them, but when someone says you can run less than 30psi in a cross tubular my eyes light up. Just going from a 32c to a 34c let me drop 4-6psi and made a huge difference in comfort during last cross season. As well it helped a ton with traction during the muddier races. I'm really looking forward to trying my new set of Challenge Grifo's out in October. I've got one wheel glued up already, and should finish the other today. Note: I glued them on to a Williams Cyclocross wheelset. Seems to be a great wheel for the money. Too, we'll get to see how my gluing skills work out : / .
Last but not least, H20. That's right water. I've been looking to recover better after rides, and I've just simply started drinking more water. Sure I go to the bathroom once an hour, but that just keeps things flowing. No joke though, I don't think I was dehydrated, but with simply drinking 4 or 5 extra glasses of water of day, my legs have been recovering a lot faster than before.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend.
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