Recovery Days

The last few days back in Denver have been easy relaxed days, just recovering before heading to Joe Martin Stage Race in AR.

Thast night we hit up the ususal Monday spot at Pasquini's for some recovery food and drinks, but Seth had to do some yard work first.

This was a picture we took while at the Silver City Albertsons.

Back from Gila

What a week, it doesn't seem like I've been gone that long until I feel my tired legs reminding me of all the racing I've done over the last five days.

We rolled out of Denver last Monday after Seth got off work. We've become the master packers; thats five bikes eight wheelsets, four pieces of luggage, and enough groceries to last us a week all in the back of a pathfinder.

We stopped off in Albuquerque for a little rest Monday night and finished the trip to Silver City, NM the next morning. We passed a tow truck that bends the fabric of time to get 25 hours out of their days.

The views down around Silver City are not of the stereotypical NM many think of.

We were surprised to see the circus was in SC, Seth was amazed by the carny folk and freak show. Tell me since when have circus tickets gone up to $20 a person.


Wednesday was the time trial, which was far from flat. It was a 16.5mile course starting with 5miles of climbing then some rollers, turn around, more rollers 2miles of steeper climbing and 5 miles down hill. I finished 2nd with a time of 38:46 and Seth finished 3rd about 11 seconds behind me. After the TT Seth and I went and spun around.

Our dinner accommodations at night where a little on the Redneck side, a hot plate, some pots, pasta, salad, and some meat cooked outside our hotel door.

Thursday was a 67 mile road race with a six mile category 1 climb to the finish. The final climb starts out with a super steep 17% grade, followed by a 15%, 10%, another 15% all the way to the finish. I got fifth in stage 2, and 2nd in the overall GC.

Stage 3 was a 78 mile road race with three category three climbs. It was pretty uneventful until with two mile left I began launching attack after attack and got 7th at the line. Unfortunately I got caught behind a crash and was forced to chase back on to the lead group all of while the winning break went off the front, so needless to say I missed being in the winning break do to the crash; oh well, I fell only one spot in the GC to 3rd.

Stage 4 was a crit in downtown Silver City, I did really nothing except for a few attacks and the GC remained the same at the end.

Saturday afternoon, after the crit, we got together with the Colavita boys and worked out a plan for the last stage.

During our time in SC Joe and Patrick stayed a few nights with us, but got their own room across the street for the rest of the time, so Joe decided to do some moving....including running his inflated mattress right across the street in the middle of traffic.
That night our cooking accommodations got upgraded, we cooked at Mike's hotel and had dinner with him, we decided to jazz up the salad a little for him.

Stage 5 was a 77mile road race with a cat 3 climb followed by a trip over the continental divide and then a 20 mile climbing finish up a category 2 climb. Seth took off on a solo suicide mission at mile 38 and we caught him at the base of the final climb, at which point he drifted back and lost some time, but at least he tried. Ryan Hamilton (Colavita) and I did our thing and drove a group of 6 up the final climb. Walker (5280) sat in and jumped with a mile to go winning the stage and moved into third but I was able to move myself into 2nd in the overall GC and Seth finished 19th in the GC.

I have to say that Tour of the Gila is the hardest, longest race that I have done so far, and I loved it, this will be a race that will always be on my race schedule.

The Gila Monster

I'm off to Tour of the Gila, five days of painfull climbing.....bring it on. Check back for updates throughout the week.

Deer Trail RR

It was a long day yesterday, the race took up most of the day and I didn't make it home until 11:30 last night. The weather was huge factor in the race. When we started the wind was blowing at about 30mph and remained high throughout the race. In the first 20 miles we got rained on and hailed on. Then the next 20 miles I was on a solo break away that ended when I couldn't handle the unbelievably strong head wind by myself. A break away went with 25 miles left and I missed it, but found myself in the chase group of four guys; however, I didn't do much since Seth was in the lead break and ended up second while I finished 8th. I am pretty disappointed in my performance I shouldn't have been that stupid and wasted so much energy on a solo break. But live, learn, and get stronger.

Today was an easy two hour day. Seth, Matt, Doug, and I rode up Grapevine which is a fun dirt road with killer views.

Seth gettin his climb on, Doug and Matt are some where back there.

I Love Sleeping

It was just one of those mornings, dark and raining, which makes me just rollover and stay in bed.


Unfortunately I eventually had to get up and put in a trainer ride and get the bikes ready for the Deer Trail RR tomorrow. The TT bike is built and is going to get dialed in this afternoon at Mike's. My collection of bikes and bike components is growing out of control, but I guess is good to have back up parts when you need them, the bad thing is you usually need them when you're 1000 miles away and they are sitting in the garage at home.

It looks like I will be back in Tejas May 20-21 for Jared and Lindsay's wedding in Fort Worth, but since it will be a short trip I won't be brining the bikes, but for those of you in the area give me a shout. 

Climbing

After a few days of snow, the sun came back out with full force getting rid of all the snow in record time and making for some wonderful riding. The last two days have been spent mostly going up and down Lookout and Golden Gate time and time again getting the legs ready to do some serious climbing down at Gila.

Lookout is one of those rides that no matter how many times you do it, it is always a great climb and new views day after day.
 

Whats up....Not Much

Since most of us take Mondays pretty easy and since its my splurge day, Chad, Seth, Matt, and I hit up Pasquini's for some beer and pizza, both were good.

Today was spent mostly building the TT bike, hopefully now I won't be loosing time in the GC anymore due to TTs.

I found a couple more pics from the race this last weekend. The best way to find me, I'm usually the one with blue shoe covers.

Nebraska

Friday we loaded up the wagons and headed out to Lincoln, NE for a stage race. The drive down and back weren't that bad, it was only a seven hour drive and most of the time in Carlos' Denali there was the DVD player to keep me occupied.

We got into Lincoln mid afternoon and headed out to the crit course to get in a ride to loosen the legs up after sitting for so long.
The road race was Saturday morning. It was a pretty short race, only 60 miles, but it did have some big rollers that wore into you. After the first 25 miles with nothing breaking off the front successfully I went on an attack with a racer from Pedal Pushers. We made it a few miles up the road when a chase pack of four other racers caught up to us. The six of us worked well together for the remainder of the race, putting up to three minutes between us and the peloton. However it fell apart the last few miles as everyone seemed to want to skip turns pulling and rest their legs for the sprint; this cost us, we only had a 1:45 over the peloton at the finish where I got fifth.

Feeling a little spent we laid around and rested up for the 13 mile time trial that afternoon. I will be the first to tell you that I am far from the best TT'er, but I did get 7th in the TT, and moved up to fourth overall, but the 1:45 lead I had over everyone else was shot down.

That evening it was late by the time we got to eat.

Seth giving the look while we wait for a table at Outback.

Eating with a bunch of hungry cyclists is something else, no other time will you see some of the smallest guys eat so much.
Brian H. looks like a small child on Carlos' lap.

Sunday morning was the Crit. It was a 2.2 mile loop with a pretty killer hill at the finish. We drove the pace most of the time, either Seth or Carlos drove it hard, or I jumped off the front to see if a chase would start and push the pace up more. In the end it was a mess at the finish and I lost a spot in the GC falling to fifth when a guy right behind me in the GC got a time bonus at the finish line.

Seth finished 2nd overall thanks to his impressive TT time, while I was a disappointing fifth.

But props to Randy who finished third.

After the crit and before hitting the road we made a stop at King Kong and got a Kong Burger. Thats a pound of beef patties and a huge pile of fries. I couldn't finish it.After all was said and done we drove back Sunday night. Matt mooned us.....

....but his real target was a bus full of High School softball girls we ran into at a gas station. I bet they've never seen anything quite that white before.

Back to The Races

What a beautiful day. Sometime you get out on the bike and forget to just look around, and unfortunately today was no different. Five hours of up and down the front range to Deer Creek then back to Golden. The legs feel a little dead, but they will get some good rest tomorrow sitting in the car for seven hours on the drive to Nebraska. Hopefully they will be race ready Saturday morning, a sixty mile road race in the morning followed by a 13mile TT that afternoon. Check back on Monday for a photo blog of the road trip and race.

Monday, Monday, Monday

Thankfully today is an off day, because I am definitely feeling run down after yesterday.

I headed up High Grade on the normal hour of climbing and there were people everywhere. I was just doing my normal out-of-saddle tempo passing people left and right, but after passing this one guy I looked back to see him giving chase. Well I thought that was okay, it would give me someone to ride with. But after a few minutes of not seeing him come up next to me I looked back to still see him working hard to bridge up to me. Well I kept on doing my thing and turned off of DC to head up High Grade and looked back again to see him sit back in the saddle and turn around; I guess he had enough.

After the morning ride I took the rest of the day pretty easy until the Pro 1/2/3 crit at Stazio in Boulder at 5. There was a good turn out for being Easter Sunday. Of course the regulars were there such as Scott Moninger (aka the winningest most Pro in the Nation). I felt uncomfortable for the first half of the race trying to find my "groove" but finally got it and felt great the rest of the race. I stayed toward the front of the chase group the last half and gave a little of my own effort at the front. We finally got a hold of the majority of the break at the line but Moninger and two others got off the front of them and cruised to victory.

I felt good after the race and definitely am looking forward to catting up and racing in that group. However, today I feel a little run down, I have a cough that I am hoping doesn't turn into anything so today is going to be super relaxed.

Wind, With a Side of Wind

Today started out as a race day, but when we began to leave town on our way to the race we found out how windy it really was. Joey had a hard time controlling the car as the side of it got sandblasted by the 60mph wind gusts. Yeah.......I don't think I'm going to race. Seth, Joey, Matt, and I took the easy route and just went up Lookout and called it a day. The climb up was nice, the trip down was another story; I don't think I've ever had my bike bounce around so much before due to wind.

After a few hours of riding, we people watched at Wild Oats while grabbing some grub. Afterwards in the parking lot, Joey defaced Seth's new Passat wagon by altering the Automotive sticker to read........
Today was a lost race day, but tomorrow will make up for it. Ride with Joey in the morning up High Grade, then finish the day off with a Pro1/2/3 crit in Boulder at 5.

Pics

These are the only pics that I could find from Sea Otter. They are both from the circuit race, and both are from different attempts to break away with some Davis team riders.

Sea Otter

I'm finally back home in Golden for a while, which is nice that I can finally sleep in my own bed for once instead of living out of a hotel room, even though sadly I've gotten used to living out of a suitcase.

I am sad though that I had to leave beautiful Monterey, CA, even if it did rain most of the time that I was there.


This was my first time to the Sea Otter Classic, and I must say that the venue is awesome. It is held around the Laguna Seca Race track which is buried back in the middle of know where on top of these green hills.

The festival itself brought out thousands of spectator along with the competitors.
Thursday was just a warm up day, used to get the jet lag out of the legs. Then Friday was the circuit race which was held on the race track. It was a 2.5 mile lap with a 300 foot climb in the first half mile, followed by a wicked decent called the corkscrew then flat back to the start/finish. I spent most of this race either attacking or pulling the group, when nothing was able to break away I waited and attacked on the last climb and put a nice gap between me and everyone else. I got to thinking that I had it won....wrong. After the climb there was still 2 miles to the finish where a group of 15 riders were able to catch me within a mile of the finish. So trying to save a horrible finish I got on the back of the group and managed 10th in the sprint.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sight seeing along the coast and watching a bunch of Sea Otters playing around in the water.

Saturday brought the road race. 80 miles of nonstop killer rollers. 120 riders started and by mile 40 there were only half in the front group and by the base of the 3 mile climb to the finish there were only 20 left up front. At the 2 KM mark I made my move to which only one guy was able to hang on to, and of course he refused to do any work. So instead of sitting up and chancing more guys being able to bridge up to us I pulled him to the 200 meter mark where he got a jump on me that I wasn't able to react to fast enough. He got 10 feet ahead of me and that is how we crossed the line, him first, me second.

Sunday was supposed to be the mtb race for me but with rain and mud I decided against it and just put in a training ride on the multiple 17% climbs in the area.

On The Road Again

Off to Monterey, back Monday.

www.seaotterclassic.com

Packing

Well I managed to get both bikes in the carrier, its a little tight and I am worried about the wheels making it without having the spokes getting bent since they are shoved in there so tight. I guess we'll just have to see when I unpack them in Cali.
 

A Trip Down South

I made in back to CO a little later than expected but its not like I had a whole lot that had to get done this afternoon anyways. Well except study for a stats test that I have tomorrow, which I probably won't have time to study for so I'll just have to wing it.

To recap I headed to Austin, Tejas on Friday. Notice that in the pic there is a double bike carrier; however, try as I might, I can only fit one bike in. Packing tomorrow for Sea Otter will be fun when I have to fit both a mountain and road bike in it.


On Saturday I did a big group ride which turned in to a race with me and another guy nailing it off the front the entire 80 miles. Then on Sunday did a shorter group ride, but with the same result, me and another guy hammering off the front. At least it was some hard quality riding.


While I was out on the bike Sheila spent her day studying.



Then the rest of the time was spent just hanging out and watching movies, and some more studying for Sheila. Notice that in this pic she is sporting a headlamp; we were watching the new Exorcist movie while she did some problems, but it was too dark for her solar powered calculator to work, but with the headlamp, problem solved.

I did a little napping with Jasmine.

Whenever Jas isn't asleep she can be the roughest cat I've ever met, you need to watch were you put you fingers or you might get them bit off

So tomorrow is a regrouping day, time to do laundry and repack then get on the plane early Wednesday morning for California.

Man, I wish I was back in Austin...

A-town

Hello from Austin.

In my three months away from Texas I've forgotten how damn hot and humid it could get. Its in the 90s and just stepping outside will make you swet. I joined in on one of the big Austin group road rides and managed to get a good 80 mile workout in. I just have to remember next time that I break off the front to make sure I have someone with me who knows where we are going. I took off with a pro triathlete from canada who ride for a team in Germany, we just nailed it and lost the other 60 people we started with. It took us just 3 and a half hours to do the 80miles in the blistering heat and constant huge rollers, but thats just another day of training.

Tomorrow will be another group ride but alot easier, but we will just have to see about that.

Its Time to Start

The next few weeks are the marker for the start of my season, and what a crazy start it will be.

Tomorrow I fly to Austin, TX to get the legs their last tuning before Sea Otter next week (oh, and to see Sheila as well). In Austin till Monday, then fly to Monterey, CA for SO for a week. I've got a full plate at Sea Otter, both road and mountain; however this may be one of the last mtb races for me this year. The remainder of the year is going to be focused mostly on the road trying to make that next step up the ladder.

I got an email today about a

Car Wreck

I was almost healed from the crash last weekend when fate said not so fast.

As I was driving this morning I headed through an intersection with the full right of way when a lady tried to turn left in front of me. Needless to say she didn't make it through the intersection and neither did I. I T-boned her on the passenger side and the front of my car got all jacked up. Airbags did both good and bad jobs in my car. It kept my head from hitting the steering wheel, but the knee airbag deployed right on top of my wounds that had just been unstitched two days ago. The almost healed injuries got re-opened and I am back to square one.

It won't keep me down long, I plan on being back out hard on the bike tomorrow, because the real test of an athlete is perseverance.

And as for my car, it will be a few days before they give it the thumbs up to save it, or the thumbs down to total it.

The Bike

Once again I found myself on the trainer today, the same old boring routine; watch a movie and ride a trainer program. I thought it was funny today when I got to thinking about the book that I use to prop up my front wheel as I ride the trainer....Roger's Thesaurus, at least it is getting some kind of use. It also isn't as bad as Seth who has admittingly used the Bible as a wheel prop in a hotel.

After the wonderful ride this morning I began to build the new bike, taking some old parts from the Specialized and some new parts the final result at the end of the day was a new beast just waiting to be ridin.

The old bike sat like an old building stripped of all its glory with just its framework left bare. But it will soon get a make-over into my time trial bike, when this will happen depends on how soon I can get the parts. Mostly cranks and bars are all it needs so it should be ready to roll before the first race requiring it.

I have more pics of the build today but the program to load the pics to the blog isn't working very well, so you are just going to have to enjoy looking at the finished new bike for now.

Pictureless Again

Well the idea of riding the trainer yesterday didn't work out as planned. The lack of flexibility around my right knee just wasn't going to let me get a decent workout in so I took the day off.

Seth, Randy, and I went to the IMAX yesterday afternoon to watch Wired To Win. It was interesting film on how the brain works with the rest of the body in the environment of professional bike racing. However, I was a little disappointed. The ticket cost $6 but the film was only 45minutes long, that's the most expensive movie that I've seen per minute.

Then not to just have gone all the way downtown for a short movie we went and wondered around the Cherry Creek Mall and played with all the toys in the Apple store. Seth set a computer to my blog site, we'll just have to wait and see if I get any responses from anyone who checked it out at the store.

Oh, and did I say that the weather sucks. I can't wait for spring, but that's right, today is the first day of spring and its still snowing and cold out.

No Rest for the Weary

Well, no rest at least till my day off tomorrow. Even with the stitches pulling at my skin every pedal stroke I take, coach says to keep training. So I've been riding against doctor's orders to keep form on the bike. I really don't mind, it is painful to ride, but at least it is keeping me on track and ready to keep right on hammering as soon as the stitches come out. So on that topic, I've gotta go get on the trainer for a couple of hours, the weather sucks outside, again.