Last night the weather was a bit wet, so I opted to stay dry and train in my basement on my rollers. I know.....it is a bit early to want to train in the basement, but hey, I didn't want to get wet, and it was a bit cool out. I didn't feel like putting on some of my cooler riding gear.
Anyways, I only rode for 1hr 15min. and tried to do some sprints. This doesn't work properly on rollers. I tried to stand and do one that didn't work, and I kept playing with what may work best and what I came up with was to do them sitting and play around with the gearing, so I wasn't shifting.
I managed to get it figured out, not producing the watts that I can outside, but hey I am doing these sitting down. Still a workout right? I do have to say that you could only try do produce enough power with my roller set up. What do I mean? Well, I have Kreitler rollers system and the drum size is 2 1/4"dia. with the head wind. Having the smaller diameter drum and the head wind gives me more resistance to produce higher watts.
Workout went well, need another big fan though.
Kind of wish I was racing Gateway Cup this weekend, but will be missing it this year and hopefully do next year. My mom is flying in from Arizona today and will be seeing her this weekend. My little bro turns 22 too this weekend, so will be celebrating that too.
Thanks for reading and sorry for wasting your time.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
2011 Goal Met
Sunday August 21st was my third Race the Lake expierience. The day starts very early, alarm went off at 3:45am, I get out of bed and started preparing my food and drinks for the race. Then I put all my stuff outside sipping my coffee and waiting for my ride (Ryan Pokorny). We were on the road by 4:30am and up at the races in Fond Du Lac @ 5am. We parked by some other team mates, and then we went and had them mark us with our numbers.
We lined up @ 5:40am and were off by @ 5:50am. This is third time doing this race and this year is the slowest start so far. We were going so slow that wave 2 caught up to us. I am not going to complain becasue you won't catch me going to the front and do any pulling, well at least not until we are passed High Cliff Park. This is the dredded climb about half way through the race. I didn't loose any bottles this year, I put 2 in my jersey pockets and one in my down tube. This kept my seat post cage open, this is the one that it falls out of. I did run someone's bottle over in the race. Once we were passed Oshkosh I put a bottle in the seat post cage and put the other bottle into the middle jersey pocket.
I saw one really bad crash that I was able to avoid, by just squeezing through a hole that openned up at the last second, otherwise I would have been in that pile. I knew I had a team mate by me and hoped that everyone made it through ok. Before High Cliff they ramped up the pace a bit and one of my goals for this year was to make it up the climb with the main group. On the climb I kept it in the big ring knowing that if I would put it in my small ring that I would be going even slower up the climb. I kept passing people and mentally telling myself to keep pushing, I was with a very small group at the top, but we managed to catch back onto the main field. I am going to say that this is close enough to the main field on the climb and say that my "GOAL" was met. I guess there was a group of 6 that got off the front after the climb.
The rest of the race was pretty fast and I just raced smart for the most part. There were a lot of surges and guys trying to start a chase group, but nothing was working. At one point I did feel strong enough and was in a short lived pace line. Getting towards the end of the race it was a very big field, probably close to 80 racers and I was a bit concerned on how this was going to finish out. Crash or no crash? I made it through the last two corners up right and started sprinting, well, if that is even what you would call it after 90 miles in the saddle. Not an impressive sprint, but I did pass people before I crossed the finish line.
I finished 39th overall, 6th in my age bracket, my time was 3:25:23.7, and my average overall speed was 26mph. All in all race went very well for me and I am really excited on how I finished. Coaching really helped, so I would like to thank Jeff Melcher at Cycling Form and Fitness for his service.
We also placed 2nd as a mixed gender team!
Down side, Ryan was involved in that one crash and didn't finish the race, his was smashed with a chain ring and need stitches and may need a MRI if he doesn't get any better in about 3 days. So, I hope he recovers quickly!
What is next, don't know, just going to have some fun!
Later
We lined up @ 5:40am and were off by @ 5:50am. This is third time doing this race and this year is the slowest start so far. We were going so slow that wave 2 caught up to us. I am not going to complain becasue you won't catch me going to the front and do any pulling, well at least not until we are passed High Cliff Park. This is the dredded climb about half way through the race. I didn't loose any bottles this year, I put 2 in my jersey pockets and one in my down tube. This kept my seat post cage open, this is the one that it falls out of. I did run someone's bottle over in the race. Once we were passed Oshkosh I put a bottle in the seat post cage and put the other bottle into the middle jersey pocket.
I saw one really bad crash that I was able to avoid, by just squeezing through a hole that openned up at the last second, otherwise I would have been in that pile. I knew I had a team mate by me and hoped that everyone made it through ok. Before High Cliff they ramped up the pace a bit and one of my goals for this year was to make it up the climb with the main group. On the climb I kept it in the big ring knowing that if I would put it in my small ring that I would be going even slower up the climb. I kept passing people and mentally telling myself to keep pushing, I was with a very small group at the top, but we managed to catch back onto the main field. I am going to say that this is close enough to the main field on the climb and say that my "GOAL" was met. I guess there was a group of 6 that got off the front after the climb.
The rest of the race was pretty fast and I just raced smart for the most part. There were a lot of surges and guys trying to start a chase group, but nothing was working. At one point I did feel strong enough and was in a short lived pace line. Getting towards the end of the race it was a very big field, probably close to 80 racers and I was a bit concerned on how this was going to finish out. Crash or no crash? I made it through the last two corners up right and started sprinting, well, if that is even what you would call it after 90 miles in the saddle. Not an impressive sprint, but I did pass people before I crossed the finish line.
I finished 39th overall, 6th in my age bracket, my time was 3:25:23.7, and my average overall speed was 26mph. All in all race went very well for me and I am really excited on how I finished. Coaching really helped, so I would like to thank Jeff Melcher at Cycling Form and Fitness for his service.
We also placed 2nd as a mixed gender team!
Down side, Ryan was involved in that one crash and didn't finish the race, his was smashed with a chain ring and need stitches and may need a MRI if he doesn't get any better in about 3 days. So, I hope he recovers quickly!
What is next, don't know, just going to have some fun!
Later
Monday, August 15, 2011
Menasha Crit. 8-14-11
What a beautiful day! I headed up to Menasha with my coach Jeff Melcher from Cycling Form and Fitness, we did the M1,2,3 race. Weather was perfect, not crazy winds and temperature was perfect. The venue was great, they had food and beverages for purchase, a pace car and a stage with podium boxes(for a WCA race that is nice). The O2 guys did a great job!
The course was flat with one false flat straight, was a nice course with good roads.
I haven't raced since T.o.A.D. and that was back in June, so I was brushing up on some of my pack skills before the big race this coming weekend (Race the Lake). Not, that it was a big pack by all means with only 22 or so racers in my race.
The race was very tactical with guys trying to make a break work, guys were constantly attacking and chasing and finally one got away. It definitely takes the right combination to make it work. I did my fair share of trying to bridge and was successful a time or two, but I was getting tired. I also spent quite a bit of time on the front too. Didn't do a great job of stacking zero's.
If you find your self on the front, I find it positive, because that means your fitness is good enough to be there and you are riding/racing fast enough to keep other racers from coming around. When I was on the front I was staying with in myself, so I was trying to race as smart as possible without completely blowing up.
Anyways, back to the race, so there were attack after attack, until finally a small group of four where of the front and then there was a chase group and they didn't succeed and where all absorbed back into the main pack of about 18.I was on the front of the main group for a lap or two around 5 or 6 laps left and this is not where I wanted or needed to be. So, what did I do you ask? I started going slower and slower until finally someone attacked and then I jumped and got into someones draft. With two to go I was in a decent position and had a good position again with one to go. The last lap was relatively slow for half of it and then it took off, I was kind of boxed in when guys started to jump, but I did manage to pass a couple before the finish line. I finished well (10th), that is a best for me in this classification, so I am very pleased with the results from myself and my coaching. Jeff finished 7th and was in the money.
Up next is Race the Lake, this is August 21st and it is a 90 mile road race around Lake Winnebago.
The course was flat with one false flat straight, was a nice course with good roads.
I haven't raced since T.o.A.D. and that was back in June, so I was brushing up on some of my pack skills before the big race this coming weekend (Race the Lake). Not, that it was a big pack by all means with only 22 or so racers in my race.
The race was very tactical with guys trying to make a break work, guys were constantly attacking and chasing and finally one got away. It definitely takes the right combination to make it work. I did my fair share of trying to bridge and was successful a time or two, but I was getting tired. I also spent quite a bit of time on the front too. Didn't do a great job of stacking zero's.
If you find your self on the front, I find it positive, because that means your fitness is good enough to be there and you are riding/racing fast enough to keep other racers from coming around. When I was on the front I was staying with in myself, so I was trying to race as smart as possible without completely blowing up.
Anyways, back to the race, so there were attack after attack, until finally a small group of four where of the front and then there was a chase group and they didn't succeed and where all absorbed back into the main pack of about 18.I was on the front of the main group for a lap or two around 5 or 6 laps left and this is not where I wanted or needed to be. So, what did I do you ask? I started going slower and slower until finally someone attacked and then I jumped and got into someones draft. With two to go I was in a decent position and had a good position again with one to go. The last lap was relatively slow for half of it and then it took off, I was kind of boxed in when guys started to jump, but I did manage to pass a couple before the finish line. I finished well (10th), that is a best for me in this classification, so I am very pleased with the results from myself and my coaching. Jeff finished 7th and was in the money.
Up next is Race the Lake, this is August 21st and it is a 90 mile road race around Lake Winnebago.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Switching Gears
I am getting geared up for Race the Lake on August 21st. This is a 90 miles road race around Lake Winnebago. This will be the third year that I will be doing it, I like this race a lot, I think it is really FUN! I like it because the field size is huge and it reminds me of a Pro tour stage, because it is cyclists from should to center line with 100 plus racers in the first wave. It is such a rush the feeling you get from being in such a big group and just being pulled along in the draft.
So, my training has changed a bit and I have been putting in longer rides especially on the weekends.
I have not been racing and it feels like my last race has been forever ago. The last race I did do was the State Criterium Championship. I am going to keep trying to get long rides in on the weekend and get some good recovery during the week. I am actually going to pre-ride the course on Saturday, looks to be a good weekend for riding.
Later
So, my training has changed a bit and I have been putting in longer rides especially on the weekends.
I have not been racing and it feels like my last race has been forever ago. The last race I did do was the State Criterium Championship. I am going to keep trying to get long rides in on the weekend and get some good recovery during the week. I am actually going to pre-ride the course on Saturday, looks to be a good weekend for riding.
Later
Monday, July 11, 2011
WI State Criterium Championship
The state criterium championship was held in Menomonee Falls this and it was a super flat course with wide corners (4). The race fl yer says it was 1.1 miles long, but I beg to differ. The temperatures where hi and the winds were light.
I decided to race the M3/4 and go for the title. I had many team mates in the race that where willing to help me out and boy they did. They chanced down any breaks and kept taking me towards the front. I had a huge piece of mind knowing that I had all this support. The goal was to have a finishing sprint and have me up towards the front and have a blue train string it out with 2 laps to go. In my eyes we succeeded very well, but lost horsepower with 1/4 lap left. I was not in perfect position, but I did feel very strong (didn't have to do much work in the field).
I finished 6th overall, passing many on the long finishing straight. I won my age bracket 30-34, but this is bitter sweet. I was the only 30-34 racer, everyone else was 35 and older, wtf? I still had a lot of fun and it was great for the team fundamentals. I also got to put on the State Champion Jersey and get a picture on the podium!
Up-coming, keep my training going and pick and choose races according to time,money, and what my wife wants to do. There is one race that I am looking forward to having good form in and that is Race the Lake in August. So, not sure when I will blog next, may be after Race the Lake, but probably sooner.
Later
Monday, June 27, 2011
Disappointment
Tour of America's Dairyland is OVER! I raced this past weekend in Milwaukee on Downer on Saturday. The weather was perfect for me, not windy and temps in the low 70's. I had family and friends that came down to watch.
Race went like this for me, started about 3 rows back and when we started I was able to clip in right away and move up quickly. I stayed to the front the best that I could and found it quite easy to move up. At one point there were 3 guys up the road and I managed to bridge up to them and pull ahead hoping to start a break. These guys were just going for the prime, oh well, was feeling good. We were getting close to the finish about 4-6 laps left (I have heard both), but anyways in turn one I was behind my team mate and I heard yelling at the guys in front of him and then I crossed his wheel BAD, I went down and tucked holding me head as I got pelted in my back and piled onto. Free laps are over and so was the race, well at least for me and a few others.
I took a look at my bike and my lever was moved 90 degrees inward, both my wheels are out of true, my rear derailleur is bent, and who knows what else is wrong with it. I gave my bike to shop owner John Timm to take to the shop and have them fix it. Not sure when I will be getting it back, but hopefully soon. For myself, I have road rash on my left elbow, left hip, left shoulder and big bruise on my back, but hey no broken bones and I didn't injure my hand or wrist. So, that is good.
Not sure what to think about this criterium racing, well at least T.o.A.D.'s 2/3 category. I think I might have to change my mind set and start racing races that I think I can win. What does that mean, well this year for WCA races I have been racing much harder races using them more for training and not concentrating on winning. Been racing M1,2,3 and P1,2,3, I only raced one Cat.3 race in the series and really haven't done that many WCA races total, well, not like in the past years.
So, do I try to get upgrade points by racing M3/4 and Cat. 3 races in WCA, and hope to hold onto the P1,2 field next year, or just skip T.o.A.D. races next year?
Upcoming races, WCA TT and State Criterium Championship? Depends on when I get my bike back and how much it will cost me to fix it.
Later
Race went like this for me, started about 3 rows back and when we started I was able to clip in right away and move up quickly. I stayed to the front the best that I could and found it quite easy to move up. At one point there were 3 guys up the road and I managed to bridge up to them and pull ahead hoping to start a break. These guys were just going for the prime, oh well, was feeling good. We were getting close to the finish about 4-6 laps left (I have heard both), but anyways in turn one I was behind my team mate and I heard yelling at the guys in front of him and then I crossed his wheel BAD, I went down and tucked holding me head as I got pelted in my back and piled onto. Free laps are over and so was the race, well at least for me and a few others.
I took a look at my bike and my lever was moved 90 degrees inward, both my wheels are out of true, my rear derailleur is bent, and who knows what else is wrong with it. I gave my bike to shop owner John Timm to take to the shop and have them fix it. Not sure when I will be getting it back, but hopefully soon. For myself, I have road rash on my left elbow, left hip, left shoulder and big bruise on my back, but hey no broken bones and I didn't injure my hand or wrist. So, that is good.
Not sure what to think about this criterium racing, well at least T.o.A.D.'s 2/3 category. I think I might have to change my mind set and start racing races that I think I can win. What does that mean, well this year for WCA races I have been racing much harder races using them more for training and not concentrating on winning. Been racing M1,2,3 and P1,2,3, I only raced one Cat.3 race in the series and really haven't done that many WCA races total, well, not like in the past years.
So, do I try to get upgrade points by racing M3/4 and Cat. 3 races in WCA, and hope to hold onto the P1,2 field next year, or just skip T.o.A.D. races next year?
Upcoming races, WCA TT and State Criterium Championship? Depends on when I get my bike back and how much it will cost me to fix it.
Later
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
T.o.A.D. (Thiensville, Grafton, Waukesha)
Team Extreme hosted the Thiensville race for T.o.A.D. This is also the same team I race for. I was there early helping set up and was there late helping flag and clean up. The weather was perfect! The course was new this year and I loved it, 6 corner course with a very slight ascent on the back side. For the ToAD races I am racing Cat.2/3 which is new this year. Last year the Cat. 3's where seperate. Having this new category has upped our pace a bit. So, anyways onto the race, I had a terrible starting position. The race started fast and stayed fast for the most part, and there were also a lot of crashes. I was behind a pretty bad crash on the start/finish straight and had to ride onto the sidewalk to avoid it. There was a bike that was flying through the air that wanted to take me out, but I was fortunate to avoid it. By the time I got back on the road I couldn't chase back on. I should have tried to get a free lap, but didn't think of it until a lap later. I then hooked up with 2 other guys and we were working well together, but not enough to catch the field and we were eventually pulled. You are welcome for my donation! I was hoping that riding with 2's would make the racing more strung out and safer, but that is not the case.
Grafton race, weather again was perfect, well at least for me. No crashes in this race that I recal, just one person getting a flat and trying to get out of the field in the last turn. I was on the front once for a 1/4 of a lap and I felt good, but couldn't get to the front at the end of the race, finished 36th.
Waukesha race, weather was 100% humidity, this made it a little bit harder to breath. I did feel ok, but not great, and never really got to the front. Avoided the crashed here too, so finished rubber side down, this is always a good thing. Finished 33rd.
I am not racing again until this weekend, Downer and Madison. Looking forward to it and looking to stay upright and get a little bit better results.
Later
Grafton race, weather again was perfect, well at least for me. No crashes in this race that I recal, just one person getting a flat and trying to get out of the field in the last turn. I was on the front once for a 1/4 of a lap and I felt good, but couldn't get to the front at the end of the race, finished 36th.
Waukesha race, weather was 100% humidity, this made it a little bit harder to breath. I did feel ok, but not great, and never really got to the front. Avoided the crashed here too, so finished rubber side down, this is always a good thing. Finished 33rd.
I am not racing again until this weekend, Downer and Madison. Looking forward to it and looking to stay upright and get a little bit better results.
Later
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