Pictures from the weekend

Frustration and then a WIN !!!!

So Saturday i traveled to I traveled to Michigan State Univ for their "roubaix" style road race. With a over a mile of dirt roads per lap in a 12lap race, i usually get pretty excited for races like this. I enjoy the gravel roads and they always turn out to be fun races. Unfortunately it was a typical collegiate road race on a very non selective course. The wind wasn't blowing hard enough to make it difficult and it ended up being 50guys chasing us around all day and then letting the unknown guys just roll off the front with not effort at all. I got really frustrated and was upset at the way they were racing. The next day i skipped the collegiate race in Ann Arbor to try and repeat a win at Fisk Knob TT. I ended up winning the race with a great time and a good average speed. I felt really good and road a smart TT. I ended up riding the hilly windy course in 38'43" an average of 27mpr. The last 5miles of that race are so hard into a tough headwind and hard rollers. The finish up Fisk Knob is tough as well, it kicks hard and made me sick to my stomach when i was finished. All in all a good day. I also heard that Bennet won the race in Ann Arbor in a fast sprint finish. He said he won by a few bike lengths, good for him. That kid is strong as an ox. I love racing with him.

Training in good old TC

This weekend I'm heading up to good old Traverse City to get some training in the tough hills in Leelanau County. The weather isn't supposed to be great, but it isn't any better here in Kalamazoo. I also get to spend some time with my folks. Hopefully i can hook up with my old boss Bob Mclain or some of his buddies and have some company for the training rides. Hopefully, all will go well and I'll get some more form leading up to Joe Martin and Tri-Peaks.

2 races and 2 Wins !!!

This weekend I traveled to Columbia Missouri to do a collegiate race weekend. The weather was the big draw for me to go. I as really looking forward to riding in some warm weather and getting some efforts in my legs. I didn't really feel like I had the fitness or form yet to pull off a win, much less 2. So, i was very happy for the early results. So here is how the races went down. Saturdays road race was a windy, hilly 5lap, 11.4mile course just north of Columbia. I had a feeling it was a good course for me but i wanted to play it conservative to let my legs into the season slowly. It didn't really quite work out that way. The first lap was one of the hardest first laps i've done since racing in Belgium. It was a nonstop attacking until finally we hit the decisive climb and eased up enough for one guy to slip off alone and roll it. In the second lap we got some organization to keep him on a short leash. The second time up the climb I gave it a dig and pulled 5guys with me. We chased down the solo Wisco rider near the middle of the third lap. We made an agreement to not attack until the last lap and work to increase our lead over the field. Everyone worked great and everyone did their share. On the last lap a few attacks went a little early but I felt they were way too early. I really knew the the place to go was on the hard climb, about 6miles from the finish. As we approached the climb on of the Wisco riders attacked and got about a 100meter gap as he approached the base of the climb. When we hit the base I used everything i had left in my cramping legs and launched up the climb. I overtook him about half way up and went straight over the top of him on the hard false flat afterward. After taking a right there was a nice downhill with some fast rollers. I decided to let up a little and let him join me so that his teammate in the chase group behind wouldn't chase too hard if he felt his teammate might be able to win. I was fairly confident i could lose him on the next climb or in the sprint. When we hit the next hard false flat into the wind I attacked again with about 4miles to go and dropped my companion. I soloed in for the win with a nice gap on the group behind and over 12min on the field. I was very happy with the win, mostly because i used my head and not just my power to win the race. The next day was a 9mile ITT with tough winds and some nice rollers. I wasn't feeling great because of a cramp in my chest i had gotten the day before. It was pretty painful but i pushed hard through it. I caught 3 riders on the way out and felt pretty good. After the turnaround it was a pretty tough cross headwind. I gutted it out with a good enough time to win the race. I was very happy to win, especially since i only felt about 80%. All in all, my first 2 races of the year and 2 wins, not bad at all. This looks to be a good season this year.

New bike photo's

It's gotta be one of my favorite times of the year when I get my new bike. It's like Christmas. Here are some photos of the new and improved Giant TCR CO. They made some cool changes to the frame including stiffening up the bottom bracket and head tube. Making the seat tube more aero and shaving some weight. Not to mention the great new paint job.