The Great Race proved to be GREAT!!

So after traveling 14hrs in the car on Saturday, I decided I would go down to the Great Race in Elkhart, IN and do the crit down there. I needed some redemption for my bad luck at the Raleigh Crit in North Carolina. I spent 2 full days just brewing over the little things that cost me having a good showing there. So Houston and I went down and I watched him do the Master's 40+ and then we both did the CAT 1/2/3 race. The field was pretty small about 45 or so, and only 2 big teams were there, NUVO and Metlife. I really didn't now anybody there. About 30min in lit out and was joined by a few others. It ended up being a 12 up break. I attacked again to thin it out and six of us including Houston split and lapped the field. As soon as we caught the field I attacked again and brought 3 of the guys from the break with me. We were working hard and had a decent advantage. On the last lap I countered a jump by one of the guys with 3/4 or a lap to go and soloed in for the win. It felt good to get another victory and lift my spirits going into the Gaslight crit in Grand Rapids today.

Pictures from North Carolina

While in North Carolina I got a chance to do some fishing with my dad on the Ocean. We took his boat out and did some Spanish Mackerel fishing. The excitement of the day came when we hooked a 2.5ft long sand shark. It put a pretty good fight and tried like hell to take a chunk out of my dad as he was trying get the hook out. I also caught a nice black snake while out on a ride. I don't know why, but I've always liked catching snakes since I was a kid. This one was pretty aggressive and proved to be a challenge.

Tri-Peaks (a brief synopsis)

Thursday began Tri peaks with a tough little stage that ended with a 10mile climb up MT. Magazine. 15 miles into the race i hit a sharp object in the road and flatted my front tires. The caravan is small that by the time I got it changed the whole race was almost out of site and the Shimano neutral guys hopped in their car and zoomed off. I chased for 20miles nonstop before I finally made the junction to the back of the cars and then into the field. After catching my breath I moved to the front where I gave a few digs to get up the road. I followed good wheels such as Andy Bajahadi of Jelly Belly and Henk Vogels of Toyota United to try and get something going. I hit the base of the 10mile climb up Mt. magazine and was pretty torched from the days efforts. I made it about halfway up the climb with the field but cracked and came in off the back a little. The next days stage was one of the hardest racing days i've ever had. They called it the epic with 10,000 ft of climbing. There was only one really big climb, but it was up and down all day. I stayed at the front and waited til the end to give it a go. With 5K to go I was actually feeling really good and was trying to key up on a strong rider looking to make a move. I saw Toyota's Justin England moving up the right side of the field just before a steep little climb and I jumped on his wheel. We made a hard effort but health net shut it down pretty quick and spoiled the little coup. I finished in the field on a very tough day. The next day saw the coming of a tough little crit with about 8 turns in it. I didn't feel well and had some bad luck with a flat and then getting caught behind a crash and chasing on. That nigh was the 5.5 mile flat TT. I again didn't feel very spunky but put everything I had into it and came out with a solid 16th place. about 30sec off the win. I was satisfied with the result and know i can improve upon them next season. Next up is the Raleigh NRC Crit in downtown Raleigh, NC. I got to visit my dad and do some fishing in the ocean. I've got some cool pics that will follow. Thanks for reading.

Last day in Fayettville

Today is my last day in Fayettville before heading down to Russelville, Arkansas for Tri-Peaks. I really love this town and have had a great time here. My host here has been amazing and has taken very good care of me. I would like to say thank you to Wanda Lanier who not only put me up in her home, but also runs the registration for the race and put more hours there during the race than than I did on the bike racing the event. She is a very kind person and I hope to stay in touch with her. She truly is a bike enthusiast and supports the sport whole heartedly. Thank you Wanda and i hope Toby and Corgan don't miss me too much.

Devil's Den State Park

I had today off the bike and since I am still here in beautiful Fayetteville, Arkansas I decided I would head back over to Devil's Den to take some pictures and have a look around. It is a beautiful state park with a lot of hiking, mtn. biking and canoing areas. Here are some of the pictures I took.

Joe Martin Stage 4 (the killer Crit)

Today was the final stage of the Joe Martin Stage Race. The Crit course is probably the hardest i have ever seen, The climb to the finish is relentless, and it is truly a survival type of course. I rolled out of bed this morning and felt like crap, but after a good breakfast and some stretching i had my self convinced that all would be well. The first mistake of the race happened before the gun even went off. I had a good start spot, but had to take a last minute pee break, and in that 45seconds I lost my spot and was at the back. This course is tough to move up in because you are either climbing (fans out wide and can't move up) or descending (single file into corners at 40mph) So I started at the back and began picking off guys 3 at a time per lap. Unfortunately in a field of 150 0r so, at this rate I would get to the front on the last lap, or guys would start to blow and I would have to close gaps and then i would blow up. Well, about 40min in guys started opening huge gaps on the climb and after 5 laps in a row of closing down gaps up the finishing climb, i was done. I blew up and rode by myself until the officials pulled me for being too slow. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed but at the same time, i realize I have never done this level of stage race before so all in all, I am satisfied and believe I can make big improvements in a short period of time. All in all i give myself an A for effort and a C- for performance. But I always have been my toughest critic. Time to get rested up for Tri-Peaks and take my next beating.

Joe Martin Stage #3 (getting rocked in the uphill TT

So the second stage of the race was a 2.5mile uphill TT. I showed up and got a good warm up and rode the course to see what it was like. It's not a terribly tough climb, but just riding it and trying to ride it really fast are two very different things. I started out strong but about half way up I knew i was going way too slow to have an impact on the race. I knew the winning time would be around 8min and some change. I rolled in 9min 45sec. Well of pace and good enough for 95th place on the day. Not so hot, I think i'll keep my heavy ass to the flatter time trials. I was disappointed, but i knew this was not a TT i was going to win. So anyways, one stage left and i hear it's a killer, usually only about 30 to 40 finishers, so it's gonna be survival to the max. Thanks for reading and wish me luck tomorrow.

Joe Martin Stage #2

Today bright and early (8am) we set our for the 95mile stage #2 of Joe Martin. This race had the field ride 12miles out do 3 tough circuits, then race back for a quick downhill sprint. The circuits were unbelievably hard and we raced flat out for the first hour before the break went clear. I gave it a go with about 10 others and we got a small gap but got reeled back in. I went back to the pack content to hang out and expend as little energy as possible for the day. The climbs were really steep today and relentless in number. The break was caught with about 30miles to which is never good because then the attacks are horrible until another one goes or the race finishes. In this case the race finished. On the decent to the finish I came over the hill about 40th or so and spun down the hill as fast as my 53/12 would let me. Not fast enough and too far back I cruised in safely and avoided any finishing shenanigans. The day was tough, we did 95miles in 3.5hrs. Pretty quick considering the terrain. Tonight is the uphill time trial, I figure I will either do pretty well or get my ass handed to me. We will have to see. Thanks for reading.

Joe Martin Stage #1 (the perfectly timed flat)

Stage one was pretty uneventful, We cruised for the first 40 miles or so until the break of 3 got about 8min on the field and then Jelly Belly, Toyota and Health Net went to the front and started drilling it. There was one tough climb about 9miles long that was the hardest part of the day. I caught the back of the Toyota train bringing Dominguez up to the front and found myself sitting about 20th wheel with about 3miles to go. We passed over a bridge with about 1mile to leading into town. On the far side of the bridged I went over a little bump and felt my rim hit the pavement. Fuck!!!! a flat with 1mile to go in the race. Awesome. I got a quick change, but there is no such thing as a chasing back on to a 35mph leadout, at least not for me. I rode in and was pretty happy to see that i wasn't docked any time for it. They didn't penalize me for coming in a few seconds late. Today the stage starts at 8am so I am up at 5:30 forcing food down and getting ready for the 95miler today. The TT starts tonight and is a tough 2.1mile uphill run. I go off at 7:35:30. Wish me luck.

Missouri

So, today I started my trip to Arkansas for Joe Martin and Tri Peaks. I traveled 8hrs to a town called Rolla, Missouri. I have to tell you, I am a fan of Missouri. I love the scenery and terrain. The hills are relentless. I love mountainous areas anyways, it makes me really want to get out of michigan. I like michigan and all, but it is just so limiting. I went for an hour and a half bike ride when i got to my hotel and i did more climbing in that short time than i could in Kalamazoo in 4hrs of riding. I am looking forward to the race. My cold is going away slowly, I am feeling better and clearer everyday. Hopefully by time the gun goes off for the first stage on friday i will be close to 100%. Here are some pictures I took on the way down and while on my ride. I am enjoying my new camera.

Stiff winds, Breezer and attack of the Sinus Monster

So Cone Azalia is always one of my favorite races. I have wanted to win this thing for so long. The closest I've managed was 7th in 2005. The plan for the day was to send Meurig up the road with the first move and keep me protected for a few laps and then see what materialized. Well that of course is not how it played out. On the first lap though the gravel literally in the first mile of the race. Kirk Albers and Paul Martin started killing it and got a gap with an Priority Health rider. They had a small gap by the time we finished the first section of gravel with Greg Christians and Bennet both in between bridging across. Meuring tried a bridge but I don't think he quite had it at that moment. So at this point 5 of the strongest guys in the race are up the road. We hit the right turn on the paved road and as we made the right onto section 2 Brian took me up to the front he pulled the first section and deposited me into the sketchy left turn first wheel. I gave it a go and when i looked back the group was destroyed. There were a few riders bridging up but I figured I would see after we got off the gravel what the group consisted of. Jeff Kock, Jake Rytlweski, Todd Shouberg, and a Saturn rider (sorry don't know your name) all made the split with me. Our gap was pretty sizable right away. However with a WMCR and a Priority Health rider up the road 2 guys in the group were not overly willing to work at first. Jake and I did the majority of the work in the first lap we were away. The second time through the 1st gravel section Jake absolutely crushed us all into the gutter and pulled until the elastic snapped and rode away. We ended up catching him on the finishing stretch half a lap later but he was by far the strongest. We began to work together after this and started to close in the breakaway. On lap 5 Jake put the hammer down again on the 1st section of gravel made all of us suffer. The Saturn rider was gone and I was stuck 3rd wheel and Breezer showed us all why he gets paid to ride his bike. On section 2 of gravel, Jake punched it again and this time Todd and I got popped just before the chase group caught the break. We spent about half a lap chasing to no avail. We ended up getting caught by a chase group that had both my teammate Brian and Meurig in the group. With me being pretty much smashed at this point I did as much as i could before another sinus blowout and shear exhaustion took me out of the race. I think considering how severe my sinuses were i raced pretty well, i've never had that much snot leave my body at one time as what happened every time I put in a hard effort all day. Even if I had been feeling great I don't think i could have won today. Jake was way too strong and I think that Greg Christians is also going really well right now. It was a blast as usual and maybe next year will be the one. We'll see thanks for reading.

Preparing for Cone Azalia

This week I have been preparing for Cone Azalia. This is the first race of the year that I really want to win. I have always liked this race and has always been a race I wanted to win. I spoke to Jake Rytlewski yesterday and he is also planning on coming up so the ante has been raised. With Jake as well as several other big riders making appearances it will be a tough one to win. With the team riding strong and our strong tactical sense it should still be our race to lose. I am hoping for a team victory more than anything. So keep your fingers crossed for me and the team. Thanks for reading

Pic From the Weekend Shinanegans