Check out all of Jess' pictures from Stage 3 here.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Tour de Toona Stage 2
Today was pretty incredible. I was chomping at the bit to get my first real taste of a race with a mountain climb. I was disappointed we wouldn't be riding the Cat. 3 route of 70+ miles and with the climb to the top of Blue Knob Ski Resort, but we would have our climb nonetheless.
The race started off pretty much like any race and the pace was pretty slow. I think folks were very apprehensive of the climbing ahead and no one wanted to waste an ounce of energy--well no one except me. I made my way to the front at the base of the climb and was never worse than fourth all the way to the top.
I played some with the pace but never really attacked. Mostly I just upped the pace to get everyone moving and let others take over from my setup. About half way up, I started to feel the burn pretty bad in my legs. This wasn't a steep climb, but really a long and gradual one that had me spinning in the 21 cog and eventually in the 23 cog. That's all I had and Tomas said if I needed any bigger than 23, I wouldn't be on the front. He was right, but I there were a few brief sections of tired legs where I might have used a 25. That said, I'm glad I didn't have it!
With probably a half mile to go to the KOM, a pretty big sprinter looking guy put in an attack. I didn't know what to make of it and as close as we were I don't think anyone thought he should be given much reign. We jumped on him quick and that's where the fireworks started. When we got to within 200m, a guy from the Altoona club went for it really hard. I was dying at that point and figured he had the KOM sealed up, but something made me think again.
For whatever reason, I started sprinting even though he was at least four bike lengths ahead. I went into Wednesday Hill Ride mode and attacked him like he was Tomas or Butts. I ate him up faster than I thought possible and I soon found myself in the lead with lots of spectators going mad. I wanted to die, but I kept charging and looking for the KOM line. The sign was covered up by fans, so I didn't see the thin red line until the last second as I was about to cross it. I crossed it and thought to myself, "Oh thank God."
Well, that attack burnt about every one of my matches. I was pedaling so slow just trying to keep moving. The next two guys over the KOM were the Toona guy and Hessel of HVB. The Toona rider and myself were hurting and Hessel eventually past us. Several more passed and one was George. I pleaded with him to wait on me so that I might sit in and recover, but he said later, "I didn't hear you."
Then the pack came and probably twenty guys were with us. Tomas was there as were the Harley guys. We tried to move up to George but the gap wouldn't come down. I started to feel pretty good and going into the descent, I thought I was ok. Unfortunately, I was at the very back of that pack and a gap opened up. I wasn't braking and I was actually pedaling pretty hard, but that gap got bigger and bigger until I was dropped.
I picked up with several others and we worked together till the finish, but it was not to be. I finished in 25th and any hopes of doing something on GC went up in smoke. But George had other ideas about GC and amazingly he took the stage win!! That meant that he was in a three way tie for first with Steve Fife and the previous Stage winner. Since he won the RR stage that gave him the yellow!
It was awesome. Toona really is just like a fantasy camp. We got jerseys, had a podium presentation, and were cheered like heroes. Truly something special to have such a great team. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves and hearing Coppi over and over from the announcer was very cool.
Check out all of Jess' photos from Stage 2 here.
The race started off pretty much like any race and the pace was pretty slow. I think folks were very apprehensive of the climbing ahead and no one wanted to waste an ounce of energy--well no one except me. I made my way to the front at the base of the climb and was never worse than fourth all the way to the top.
I played some with the pace but never really attacked. Mostly I just upped the pace to get everyone moving and let others take over from my setup. About half way up, I started to feel the burn pretty bad in my legs. This wasn't a steep climb, but really a long and gradual one that had me spinning in the 21 cog and eventually in the 23 cog. That's all I had and Tomas said if I needed any bigger than 23, I wouldn't be on the front. He was right, but I there were a few brief sections of tired legs where I might have used a 25. That said, I'm glad I didn't have it!
With probably a half mile to go to the KOM, a pretty big sprinter looking guy put in an attack. I didn't know what to make of it and as close as we were I don't think anyone thought he should be given much reign. We jumped on him quick and that's where the fireworks started. When we got to within 200m, a guy from the Altoona club went for it really hard. I was dying at that point and figured he had the KOM sealed up, but something made me think again.
For whatever reason, I started sprinting even though he was at least four bike lengths ahead. I went into Wednesday Hill Ride mode and attacked him like he was Tomas or Butts. I ate him up faster than I thought possible and I soon found myself in the lead with lots of spectators going mad. I wanted to die, but I kept charging and looking for the KOM line. The sign was covered up by fans, so I didn't see the thin red line until the last second as I was about to cross it. I crossed it and thought to myself, "Oh thank God."
Well, that attack burnt about every one of my matches. I was pedaling so slow just trying to keep moving. The next two guys over the KOM were the Toona guy and Hessel of HVB. The Toona rider and myself were hurting and Hessel eventually past us. Several more passed and one was George. I pleaded with him to wait on me so that I might sit in and recover, but he said later, "I didn't hear you."
Then the pack came and probably twenty guys were with us. Tomas was there as were the Harley guys. We tried to move up to George but the gap wouldn't come down. I started to feel pretty good and going into the descent, I thought I was ok. Unfortunately, I was at the very back of that pack and a gap opened up. I wasn't braking and I was actually pedaling pretty hard, but that gap got bigger and bigger until I was dropped.
I picked up with several others and we worked together till the finish, but it was not to be. I finished in 25th and any hopes of doing something on GC went up in smoke. But George had other ideas about GC and amazingly he took the stage win!! That meant that he was in a three way tie for first with Steve Fife and the previous Stage winner. Since he won the RR stage that gave him the yellow!
It was awesome. Toona really is just like a fantasy camp. We got jerseys, had a podium presentation, and were cheered like heroes. Truly something special to have such a great team. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves and hearing Coppi over and over from the announcer was very cool.
Check out all of Jess' photos from Stage 2 here.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Since I'm closing in on a month since my last post, I figured it's about time to get back on track (again). A lot has happened in these missed weeks and not all of it cycling-related. So in that sense, I haven't missed much news relating to this blog. But even so, I think it's time to start writing again and maybe I can also get my training back in line at the same time.
Way back on July 16, I got married. I have to admit, the whole ordeal leading up to it was pretty stressful and this blog is testament to the amount of time spent riding my bike over that period. But when the day finally came, it was awesome. It was far and away better than I ever imagined it would be. It truly was a lot of fun. We had so many of our close friends in town and they made that day unforgettable.
After the ceremony, Jess and I escaped South to Manteo, NC on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Being a Tar Heel myself (native, most assuredly not the baby blue kind), it was surprising that this was my first time East of ECTC. We checked out the Wright Brothers stuff in Kill Devil Hills, saw the Lost Colony, and took daytrips to Hatteras, Bodie, and Currituck Lighthouses. But mostly, we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. Though we both brought along our bikes, we only rode once for about 13 miles together. My conclusion, which has since been supported by plenty of other area riders is that the OBX is not for training.
Perhaps I peaked in fitness sometime just before the wedding, but by the time we got back to Arlington on the 22nd, I think I was just flat out of shape. With the Tour de Toona looming on the horizon at the end of the week, I had to find some modicum of strength for riding. I started things off right was the Coppi Sunday ride, but then only had time to commute once and went into the race having taken several more days off. At least I was fresh!
Way back on July 16, I got married. I have to admit, the whole ordeal leading up to it was pretty stressful and this blog is testament to the amount of time spent riding my bike over that period. But when the day finally came, it was awesome. It was far and away better than I ever imagined it would be. It truly was a lot of fun. We had so many of our close friends in town and they made that day unforgettable.
After the ceremony, Jess and I escaped South to Manteo, NC on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Being a Tar Heel myself (native, most assuredly not the baby blue kind), it was surprising that this was my first time East of ECTC. We checked out the Wright Brothers stuff in Kill Devil Hills, saw the Lost Colony, and took daytrips to Hatteras, Bodie, and Currituck Lighthouses. But mostly, we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. Though we both brought along our bikes, we only rode once for about 13 miles together. My conclusion, which has since been supported by plenty of other area riders is that the OBX is not for training.
Perhaps I peaked in fitness sometime just before the wedding, but by the time we got back to Arlington on the 22nd, I think I was just flat out of shape. With the Tour de Toona looming on the horizon at the end of the week, I had to find some modicum of strength for riding. I started things off right was the Coppi Sunday ride, but then only had time to commute once and went into the race having taken several more days off. At least I was fresh!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
There was no riding this weekend, but I commuted to work the last two days and felt good when I was on the bike. I decided to use these few days to work really hard and push my legs, so I spent most of the time turning big gears and seeing what that feels like. I think I was a little bit inspired by Sergui Gonchar in last Saturday's TT. The trouble is really the rest of the day where I'm exhausted and tired. Sleep has been on the decline again, but I'm battling through it and I'll have all next week to get recharged. I'm really looking forward to skipping town.
This morning, though, I knew would be a big shock to the system and a chance to see what I'd lost. I was glad that Butts, Tomas, and Brad showed up. They made the group as strong as it ever is. So I knew I as in for some hard riding. Strangely enough, I had my best ride ever. I beat Brian on all four of the intervals and each time with a vicious kick at the end. I'm starting to question whether his wrist is entirely healed, but he says nothing's wrong. After the first two, I was hurting and the humidity was brutal. My stomach was turning over a bit and I had to think back to the last time I rode this workout and had to stop. Today though, it was all good and I powered past Brian on the Muur to take 3 of 3. The fourth wasn't my typical long escape but rather a stiff pace change on the last hill. I was very happy to be done at that point.
Coming down Military on the cool down, I got a front flat right at the bottom of the hill. That really surprised me and I noticed immediately how little control of the bike I had while riding on the rim. Thankfully, I was able to safely come to a stop out of the way and change the flat. Most of the guys had time to wait on me and I was thankful in case the cause of the flat reared its head later in the ride. It didn't and we made it back to the Java Shack safe and sound. I enjoyed watching about an hour of coverage of the first mountain stage of the tour.
This morning, though, I knew would be a big shock to the system and a chance to see what I'd lost. I was glad that Butts, Tomas, and Brad showed up. They made the group as strong as it ever is. So I knew I as in for some hard riding. Strangely enough, I had my best ride ever. I beat Brian on all four of the intervals and each time with a vicious kick at the end. I'm starting to question whether his wrist is entirely healed, but he says nothing's wrong. After the first two, I was hurting and the humidity was brutal. My stomach was turning over a bit and I had to think back to the last time I rode this workout and had to stop. Today though, it was all good and I powered past Brian on the Muur to take 3 of 3. The fourth wasn't my typical long escape but rather a stiff pace change on the last hill. I was very happy to be done at that point.
Coming down Military on the cool down, I got a front flat right at the bottom of the hill. That really surprised me and I noticed immediately how little control of the bike I had while riding on the rim. Thankfully, I was able to safely come to a stop out of the way and change the flat. Most of the guys had time to wait on me and I was thankful in case the cause of the flat reared its head later in the ride. It didn't and we made it back to the Java Shack safe and sound. I enjoyed watching about an hour of coverage of the first mountain stage of the tour.
Friday, July 07, 2006
I decided to man up and commute in today to assess the damage my time away from the bike has done. The initial prognosis is pretty crappy, I felt slow and far from smooth riding in this morning. The weather was about perfect in 70's and I was able to roll right out of my new apartment and onto the trail. That's where the positives ended. I was pretty frustrated about how slow I was feeling and the constant headwind wasn't doing me any favors.
One odd thing I noticed was that there were spots on my hand where I could feel callouses starting to disappear. I hadn't realized, but I guess riding without gloves the last few months has gotten my hands tougher. And with all other things, taking time off started to undo the progress I'd made.
One odd thing I noticed was that there were spots on my hand where I could feel callouses starting to disappear. I hadn't realized, but I guess riding without gloves the last few months has gotten my hands tougher. And with all other things, taking time off started to undo the progress I'd made.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Well, I haven't posted in a long long time. And I missed quite a bit. I raced twice in an attempt to get eight points in a single weekend. I finished 2nd up in PA on the Saturday with help from an amazing lead out train of Steve Robinson and Tomas. But I didn't fare quite as well on Sunday in Richmond--finishing 11th in a crit. So I'm still needing a 4th place finish to upgrade and it looks like I won't have time to race before Toona. I had a week after that of the highest mileage I've ever rode--commuting nearly every day and doing 90 miles on Thursday, having to ride the last hour in near darkness. But unfortunately that Thursday was the last day I rode--with the exception of one Wednesday hill ride. Jess came home on that Friday and torrential rains kept me from riding outdoors and then I had to move. Moving sucks, let me tell you. I had to take Friday off from work to get everything out of the old apartment. But my new place is right off the bike trail and saves 15 mins of commute time. It should be great--if I ever get to ride my bike! I've been driving of late because I can't spare the time in the day right now with unpacking and the lead up to the event in exactly ten days. Jess and I are ready for these stressful two weeks to be up and to be relaxing on a beach in NC. Until then, it's work work work and try to catch the Tour when possible. I wish I had more to write about. I was getting in a groove of regular writing and then events conspired to ruin all that. I'll try and write if and when I get back on a bike in the next two weeks. But after that it's at least another week of no posts because I'm leaving the laptop at home.
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