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Friday, February 15, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Brief Cherry Pie Criterium Recap...
The weather was amazing...65 and Sunny. I got to race in shorts & short sleeve jersey. The weather here still gets me, especially when I call my parents back in Chicago and they tell me that it's -3 degrees and 30 below with the windchill.
The course was fun...about a 50-75 foot hill, a 180 at the top and three 90 degree turns...curvy sections throughout. As you can see from the map below (Garmin Data) my finish wasn't where it was supposed to be...if you look at my helmet or carbon bars, you would understand why. :-(
I was sitting in great position for the final lap and in the curvy section there was a crash just ahead of me...I threw the brakes on full blast and rode a nose-wheelie for what felt like fifteen feet (as well as slow-motion). It wasn't enough and I buried my front wheel straight into the crashed rider's back, throwing me over the bars.
My team rode aggressively and grabbed a few primes on the way...would have been great if I would have made it to the sprint to contribute.
We stuck around to watch Eric, Jan and Charlie race the P/1/2 race. All 3 did an awesome job in what turned out to be a very fast race. A fairly early breakaway of 9 stayed away till the end, but "Fast Freddie" Rodriguez put in some huge efforts to try to bring them back...Here's a photo of Freddie pushing the pace with Jan in the background.
Next race: Snelling Road Race
The course was fun...about a 50-75 foot hill, a 180 at the top and three 90 degree turns...curvy sections throughout. As you can see from the map below (Garmin Data) my finish wasn't where it was supposed to be...if you look at my helmet or carbon bars, you would understand why. :-(
I was sitting in great position for the final lap and in the curvy section there was a crash just ahead of me...I threw the brakes on full blast and rode a nose-wheelie for what felt like fifteen feet (as well as slow-motion). It wasn't enough and I buried my front wheel straight into the crashed rider's back, throwing me over the bars.My team rode aggressively and grabbed a few primes on the way...would have been great if I would have made it to the sprint to contribute.
We stuck around to watch Eric, Jan and Charlie race the P/1/2 race. All 3 did an awesome job in what turned out to be a very fast race. A fairly early breakaway of 9 stayed away till the end, but "Fast Freddie" Rodriguez put in some huge efforts to try to bring them back...Here's a photo of Freddie pushing the pace with Jan in the background.
Next race: Snelling Road Race
Thursday, February 7, 2008
1st up...Cherry Pie Criterium
Well, the season's first race is just around the corner for me. I'm heading up to Napa this Sunday morning for the Cherry Pie Criterium. Podium placings get the added bonus of a cherry pie, which is motivation and a half (if you know me, you know my sweet tooth). My cat 3 race has reached the limit of 99 riders...big first race!
The Pro/1/2 race includes some big name teams that are out here warming up for the Tour of California - Slipstream, BMC, Rock Racing and Eric W. from Chicago's Get A Grip Cycles...yes, Eric is coming out to test himself with some big names out there!
I've had a great winter and have barely spent time off of the bike and I'm definitely not feeling burned out. I'm actually feeling very strong :-) The hours I put in over the winter were quality base miles with a few spurts of high intensity tossed in to break up the monotony. My more recent rides have been the fun ones where my team goes out and just beats up on one another...dropping one by one.
I'm pretty stoked about this year...new bike (which is proving to be an amazing ride so far...very stiff, responsive and light - it's a rocket). My team is also very strong this year, so it should be great.
The pics in the last few posts were taken on my Headlands Loop Ride tonight. They do not look even a 1/4 as nice as it was. I rarely stop on that descent down the back-side of the Headlands Loop, but tonight's sunset was amazing.
I'll post again after the race this Sunday...hopefully it will have something to do with one of these:
The Pro/1/2 race includes some big name teams that are out here warming up for the Tour of California - Slipstream, BMC, Rock Racing and Eric W. from Chicago's Get A Grip Cycles...yes, Eric is coming out to test himself with some big names out there!
I've had a great winter and have barely spent time off of the bike and I'm definitely not feeling burned out. I'm actually feeling very strong :-) The hours I put in over the winter were quality base miles with a few spurts of high intensity tossed in to break up the monotony. My more recent rides have been the fun ones where my team goes out and just beats up on one another...dropping one by one.
I'm pretty stoked about this year...new bike (which is proving to be an amazing ride so far...very stiff, responsive and light - it's a rocket). My team is also very strong this year, so it should be great.
The pics in the last few posts were taken on my Headlands Loop Ride tonight. They do not look even a 1/4 as nice as it was. I rarely stop on that descent down the back-side of the Headlands Loop, but tonight's sunset was amazing.
I'll post again after the race this Sunday...hopefully it will have something to do with one of these:
Saturday, February 2, 2008
The Excalibur Found It's Way Home
It's here...My new ride for 2008.
Ridley is the team bike for my Active Athlete / Squadra Ovest racing team! I went with the Excalibur, dressed up with Campagnolo Chorus, FSA and Mavic Wheels.
My teammate, Anthony, and I headed up to our team shop in Sausalito tonight after work. We just sat around watching the 2001 TdF while the shop did all the finishing touches (fitting, adjusting, cutting the steer tube, wrapping the bars, etc...). It turned out to be a pretty late night at the shop.
My first ride was just a few miles home after dropping Shana's car back to her (Thanks!). That small ride home was fun...this bike is SOLID! It's light, stiff and it's going to rock.
I'm itching to go attack Mt. Tam. Hopefully tomorrow.
Without further ado...
The below picture is the view from my closest competitor's front hub:
Ridley is the team bike for my Active Athlete / Squadra Ovest racing team! I went with the Excalibur, dressed up with Campagnolo Chorus, FSA and Mavic Wheels.
My teammate, Anthony, and I headed up to our team shop in Sausalito tonight after work. We just sat around watching the 2001 TdF while the shop did all the finishing touches (fitting, adjusting, cutting the steer tube, wrapping the bars, etc...). It turned out to be a pretty late night at the shop.
My first ride was just a few miles home after dropping Shana's car back to her (Thanks!). That small ride home was fun...this bike is SOLID! It's light, stiff and it's going to rock.
I'm itching to go attack Mt. Tam. Hopefully tomorrow.
Without further ado...
The below picture is the view from my closest competitor's front hub:
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