Saturday was the Whitnall Park race. The weather was less that stellar. It was very cool and a bit windy. The course is rolling and for me, taxing by the end. I avoided a good sized crash that happened during the sprint finish. I wasn't in the greatest position anyways. To avoid going down I had to bunny hop the curb and ride on the grass for a bit. There was a break of 2 that stayed away. I finished 18th.
Sunday was in Fitchburg. A true criterium course. It was sunny, but the wind was still a bit chilly. I used my 7's during the race. I was very active in this race trying to get into a break. It never happened for me. 2 men were able to break away and stay away. Here again the results are messed up. I believe I finished around 10-12th, but they placed me at 18th. They said the camera wasn't working! When looking at the results I know they are not correct. I see many names ahead of me that I BEAT!
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
Trocadero/GDVC #2
Trocadero Criterium on Saturday was held at the Menomonee/Lannon Park in Menomonee Falls. The weather started out with very strong winds that were quite chilly. I arrived early to watch some of my fellow team mates race in the earlier races. One of my team mates forgot a jersey so, I lent him mine to use for his race. The course is 1.7 mile loop that is winding with 2 small rollers. Average temperature of my race was 64 degrees and the wind calmed down quite a bit.
As I was warming up it kept getting warmer and warmer. Weather was feeling quite pleasant. Tammy rode her bicycle to the race course. She was able to get her ride in and watch me race. She was nervous, but made it safe and sound. Thanks for coming dear! She rode home with me. She was glad that she did it.
I had 2 other team mates in my race. Brian and Terry, they both raced before too. Terry said that if he had anything in the tank at the end he would try to help lead me out. The race had plenty of attacks trying to establish a break away. Plenty of people not satisfied with who was in the breaks. Every single one was brought back. I felt really good during this race and also felt that this was a very easy race! For some reason I didn't have any ant+ data, no heart rate, no power, no cadence. Just speed which uses satellites. With 2 laps to go the race which at this point goes really fast and normally is pretty tough. Not this time! Nobody wanted to be in the wind! With 1 lap to go it still wasn't really going. With a half a lap to go I was getting really antsy but was really boxed in. At this point I was behind Terry and I told him to find some holes and start moving up. He wasn't taking very good lines and I found a hole and was able to start moving up. Quarter lap left I just kept pushing foreword trying to get as for foreword as possible before the last corner. I didn't do a full blown sprint because I wasn't going to be able to pass anyone. I just rode hard enough that no one else would pass me. I feel good about the race, but I do feel that I could have done better. I needed to start moving up sooner and be aggressive.
After the race I changed my clothes and went and checked results and it showed that I finished 9th. Super excited about that, but I didn't think I was that close to the front. Sunday the results were posted to USAC and showed that I finished 12th out 45ish races. I believe that is correct.
GDVC #2 on Sunday held in Madison same place as the previous weekend. Weather was awesome! Average temperature was 74 degrees, with lots of sun. The winds were not as strong as the previous weekend, but it was still a little windy. I contemplated running my 7's, but opted to stay with my 3's.
I had no team mates today. I was going to try to be more aggressive with trying to get into a break. I was keeping an eye on key racers and would go with them if my position would allow me to do so. There were plenty of attacks, but the one that matter I believe came about 20 minutes into the race. I didn't manage to go with that one and of course that is the one that stayed away. It was a group of 3. There were times that others were trying to bridge and I tried going with them many times. Everything that I went with didn't go hard for very long. We were not working well together. One guy decided to go for it and nobody chased him. Stupid, I wish I would have, I was in a good position too when he attacked. He was super strong! He was able to stay away and finish 4th! Nice work man! I sprinted this time, but I was a little to far back on the last lap. The direction that the wind was coming out of made it tough to pass others on the final straight. Especially from the position I was in.
I am satisfied with the race for the most part. I checked results at the end and they showed me at 10th out of 25ish racers. We will see if that stands when they officially get posted to USAC.
As I was warming up it kept getting warmer and warmer. Weather was feeling quite pleasant. Tammy rode her bicycle to the race course. She was able to get her ride in and watch me race. She was nervous, but made it safe and sound. Thanks for coming dear! She rode home with me. She was glad that she did it.
I had 2 other team mates in my race. Brian and Terry, they both raced before too. Terry said that if he had anything in the tank at the end he would try to help lead me out. The race had plenty of attacks trying to establish a break away. Plenty of people not satisfied with who was in the breaks. Every single one was brought back. I felt really good during this race and also felt that this was a very easy race! For some reason I didn't have any ant+ data, no heart rate, no power, no cadence. Just speed which uses satellites. With 2 laps to go the race which at this point goes really fast and normally is pretty tough. Not this time! Nobody wanted to be in the wind! With 1 lap to go it still wasn't really going. With a half a lap to go I was getting really antsy but was really boxed in. At this point I was behind Terry and I told him to find some holes and start moving up. He wasn't taking very good lines and I found a hole and was able to start moving up. Quarter lap left I just kept pushing foreword trying to get as for foreword as possible before the last corner. I didn't do a full blown sprint because I wasn't going to be able to pass anyone. I just rode hard enough that no one else would pass me. I feel good about the race, but I do feel that I could have done better. I needed to start moving up sooner and be aggressive.
After the race I changed my clothes and went and checked results and it showed that I finished 9th. Super excited about that, but I didn't think I was that close to the front. Sunday the results were posted to USAC and showed that I finished 12th out 45ish races. I believe that is correct.
GDVC #2 on Sunday held in Madison same place as the previous weekend. Weather was awesome! Average temperature was 74 degrees, with lots of sun. The winds were not as strong as the previous weekend, but it was still a little windy. I contemplated running my 7's, but opted to stay with my 3's.
I had no team mates today. I was going to try to be more aggressive with trying to get into a break. I was keeping an eye on key racers and would go with them if my position would allow me to do so. There were plenty of attacks, but the one that matter I believe came about 20 minutes into the race. I didn't manage to go with that one and of course that is the one that stayed away. It was a group of 3. There were times that others were trying to bridge and I tried going with them many times. Everything that I went with didn't go hard for very long. We were not working well together. One guy decided to go for it and nobody chased him. Stupid, I wish I would have, I was in a good position too when he attacked. He was super strong! He was able to stay away and finish 4th! Nice work man! I sprinted this time, but I was a little to far back on the last lap. The direction that the wind was coming out of made it tough to pass others on the final straight. Especially from the position I was in.
I am satisfied with the race for the most part. I checked results at the end and they showed me at 10th out of 25ish racers. We will see if that stands when they officially get posted to USAC.
Monday, April 13, 2015
GDVC #1
Well yesterday was my first race of the season. Race was the GDVC #1 and is located in a Industrial Park in Madison. The course is rolling at .9 of a mile long. The wind was BRUTAL! The sun was plentiful and the temperature was @70 degrees. Can't complain about that.
During my warm up I didn't feel that great. I felt a bit tired and not sure why. I knew with the winds that a breakaway was sure to happen. On the second lap is when it all started. Guys started shooting off the front, one guy at a time. I believe the break grew to 6 racers. I saw it, but I didn't try to bridge any of the gaps. I guess I was hoping that it was going to come back. It never did, enough teams had someone in the break. No need for them to try to help bring it back. I unfortunately don't have any team mates and don't have the strength to try to bring breaks back. Oh well.
The group I was in eventually was lapped, now this is where it gets a little confusing. We were lapped by just one person and then about a lap later was the rest of the breakaway. We allowed them to keep racing. The chasing break caught the solo guy and then with one lap to go we were all together. That had to be challenging figuring out the proper finishing order, because almost everyone was sprinting to the finish. I didn't push my sprint 100%, why? I don't really know. I was officially placed 16th. Not sure how accurate this is.
It was great getting that first race out of the way. I felt great during the race and wish I would have tried to get into the break early. This is always easy to say after the race. I wish I had more confidence in bridging the gaps. I am satisfied with my fitness and looking foreword to this coming weekend. Saturday I will be racing in Menomonee Park, Menomonee Falls, and Sunday I will be back in Madison going the opposite direction on the same course as this past Sunday. I look foreword to seeing a LOT of TEAM EXTREMER'S in Menomonee Falls.
During my warm up I didn't feel that great. I felt a bit tired and not sure why. I knew with the winds that a breakaway was sure to happen. On the second lap is when it all started. Guys started shooting off the front, one guy at a time. I believe the break grew to 6 racers. I saw it, but I didn't try to bridge any of the gaps. I guess I was hoping that it was going to come back. It never did, enough teams had someone in the break. No need for them to try to help bring it back. I unfortunately don't have any team mates and don't have the strength to try to bring breaks back. Oh well.
The group I was in eventually was lapped, now this is where it gets a little confusing. We were lapped by just one person and then about a lap later was the rest of the breakaway. We allowed them to keep racing. The chasing break caught the solo guy and then with one lap to go we were all together. That had to be challenging figuring out the proper finishing order, because almost everyone was sprinting to the finish. I didn't push my sprint 100%, why? I don't really know. I was officially placed 16th. Not sure how accurate this is.
It was great getting that first race out of the way. I felt great during the race and wish I would have tried to get into the break early. This is always easy to say after the race. I wish I had more confidence in bridging the gaps. I am satisfied with my fitness and looking foreword to this coming weekend. Saturday I will be racing in Menomonee Park, Menomonee Falls, and Sunday I will be back in Madison going the opposite direction on the same course as this past Sunday. I look foreword to seeing a LOT of TEAM EXTREMER'S in Menomonee Falls.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Ouch!
Yesterday I went and did the OBC group ride. It started in Grafton and was the Newburg route. It was only 41 degrees and a little windy. The group was small 6 total, 5 Team Extreme members. We worked on a paceline.
About mid ride we were coming up to a left turn. The guy in the front Mike stopped pedaling, stood up and jerked his bike back. I know that it wasn't intentional, but not smart when you have others right on your wheel. The guy behind Mike hit Mike and was able to stay upright. I hit him, I went down and slid for a bit. Then I hear oh Jeramey I am going to hit you and then Brian plowed into my back and he went flying over the bars.
I gathered myself straightened my bars and brake/shifter lever. I quickly looked over the bike and everything seemed to be okay. Brian's bike on the other hand, his saddle btoke. Some how he managed to break the rails. He rode his bike like that for the duration.
We rode the rest of the scheduled route. We didn't add any extra loops. I changed my clothes at the parking area. That is when I looked at my elbow. My elbow was sore, but I didn't actually think it was all scrapped. It is still really sore this morning.
My first race is this weekend. I'm excited for that, but this crash took a little wind out of my sail.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
OBC, Cedarburg-Myra
Wow it has been a long time since my last post! I am doing this because I feel that it is necessary. So, the weather has been considerably better the last few days. Now the 2015 racing season is approaching really fast.
A week ago Team Extreme had a "road" meeting to talk about specific WCA races that should be attended and a weeknight/weekly training rides. For the WCA races it was all the local races of course, for example Velo Trocadero Menomonee Park Crit, Sussex Crit, and some others. The weeknight training ride was voted to try to them on Wednesday night at the OBC rides. Only because it seems that a good portion of the team is normally there.
Last night was the official start of the Wednesday night OBC rides. Before it started Team Extreme riders had a little chat on what we were to do. I suggested to let the group roll out and that we would work on pace lining. As the group left so did a couple of the Team Extremer's, I guess I should have been a bit more specific on how long I wanted to wait before we rolled out. We started by soft pedaling and eventually those Extremer's waited for us. The group was able to get a pretty good sizable lead. This is exactly what I wanted, and felt would work the best to achieve a smooth pace line.
We pace lined well and we were practicing on rotating and learning where to be during the pace line and what a pace line pace should be like. Eventually we were able to see the group ahead of us. It was a accordion affect with them as we would get closer on the down hills and they would pull away a little on the up hills. We eventually caught them and passed them on Decorah Rd just outside of West Bend. We decided to do the extended version of the route.
Some of the group eventually worked there way into our pace line. They were hesitant at first and stayed behind us, but this didn't last long. Then our pace line didn't work so well. You get people that have no idea how a pace line is suppose to work. You get people that just don't have the strength to be in the front. Pace lines should be a steady medium to hard effort. You get people that draft and then when you get to an up hill and they decide to crush it and that just screws up the rhythm. I don't like to go super hard on the climbs and then coast on the down hills. The slower you climb the more energy you save to keep pedaling and go even fast on the down hills. This process is faster in the long run, you will be able to ride further faster. Makes sense?
The weather was great especially for April 1st. The group was pretty good sized, but I thought there would have been more people. It was great seeing some of the faces from last year. And looking forward to it again next week. We might decide to do something different. Maybe we just sit in and crush it on the climbs? Now that would be funny!
A week ago Team Extreme had a "road" meeting to talk about specific WCA races that should be attended and a weeknight/weekly training rides. For the WCA races it was all the local races of course, for example Velo Trocadero Menomonee Park Crit, Sussex Crit, and some others. The weeknight training ride was voted to try to them on Wednesday night at the OBC rides. Only because it seems that a good portion of the team is normally there.
Last night was the official start of the Wednesday night OBC rides. Before it started Team Extreme riders had a little chat on what we were to do. I suggested to let the group roll out and that we would work on pace lining. As the group left so did a couple of the Team Extremer's, I guess I should have been a bit more specific on how long I wanted to wait before we rolled out. We started by soft pedaling and eventually those Extremer's waited for us. The group was able to get a pretty good sizable lead. This is exactly what I wanted, and felt would work the best to achieve a smooth pace line.
We pace lined well and we were practicing on rotating and learning where to be during the pace line and what a pace line pace should be like. Eventually we were able to see the group ahead of us. It was a accordion affect with them as we would get closer on the down hills and they would pull away a little on the up hills. We eventually caught them and passed them on Decorah Rd just outside of West Bend. We decided to do the extended version of the route.
Some of the group eventually worked there way into our pace line. They were hesitant at first and stayed behind us, but this didn't last long. Then our pace line didn't work so well. You get people that have no idea how a pace line is suppose to work. You get people that just don't have the strength to be in the front. Pace lines should be a steady medium to hard effort. You get people that draft and then when you get to an up hill and they decide to crush it and that just screws up the rhythm. I don't like to go super hard on the climbs and then coast on the down hills. The slower you climb the more energy you save to keep pedaling and go even fast on the down hills. This process is faster in the long run, you will be able to ride further faster. Makes sense?
The weather was great especially for April 1st. The group was pretty good sized, but I thought there would have been more people. It was great seeing some of the faces from last year. And looking forward to it again next week. We might decide to do something different. Maybe we just sit in and crush it on the climbs? Now that would be funny!
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