Scorpio Mentality

     I give all to my team when racing and I always appreciate the better rider on my team on any given day.   That being said,  there was a day when I felt seriously slanted and unappreciated by my teammates bc they said I was kicked off the team, at a little town in Delaware ( the capitol actually) So I made it my mission to prove that day they made a serious mistake.  I basically worked with all the other teams and made a serious problem for NCVC to get any progress at all.  In the last lap there was a guy up the road who me and my ex teammate could have easily caught if I wanted to help, but I simply rode his wheel , just desserts.  He was so pissed when he lost he tried to complain to the official.  I didnt gain any love from the group mentality of NCVC.  

Get Some

   The best way to overcome adversity is to tell yourself if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.  A guy I work with always says that.  There are many challenges in life,  the biggest often come from other people.  Remember your mission in the race or time of year and don't lose track because of better results then expected, or worse, or other riders talking smack.  I always take a pull regardless of who is in the move or my status with the team.  It's honorable and forget the motto, your only as good as your last race.  It should go like .. You're only as good as you're word.. If you say you will work in a break then , do so.  I think most riders in a break deserve you're honesty.  If you're a sprinter then that sucks for the break if it's like 20 to go.  Their job then is to dump you if they can.  Anyway,  I have seen guys say they won't sprint after doing nothing and do the opposite.. I guess that just reflects their lack of integrity.  Racing is tough and so is life, so remember.. All deals can be bulls:'t and all people have is their word.  The bottom line is if you don't mind; it don't matter.  This is a philosophy that will help carry one thru the moral quagmire that racing can be sometimes.

Thoughts on Racing

  I have raced since 1993, I sucked at first because of too much juice too early....but I always wanted to get reimbursed for my entry.  ( always broke syndrome ) I have gotten my share in the years but I have yet to shake the desire. ( desire to win the easier prime money ) I realize recently one thing which has been a detriment to my actual success as a criterium racer.  The unneeded result midway in a race.  A preme is sweet but if it puts you out of contentention for the finish in the  long run its a waste of juice.  I have some examples to provide,  such as once in a Richmond pro Crit I attacked Eric Saunders when we were in a breakaway and he easily beat me and I got dropped from the break.  Solely by being selfish for 100 $.  I might have helped close the break which was chasing two up, which I didnt even know....until Eric scolded me as he passed and said so.  I have much respect for him and his buddy John Hamblin.  Both are riders I grew up competing with and we gave each other a hard time to beat the other, Back in the day.
   Anyway,  the point of this post is to give some insight into my mental perspective for any teammates who wondered WTF or any new teammates who did not understand me.  I wish I could have been more composed and chill.  I apologize.  Its just as much the old guys job to impart 100 % as it is the new guys job to be willing to slow down and listen.
     I am impressed with Joe Dombrowski and I always could tell by his results in climbing that he was gonna be a serious mark on this world. If he continued, Which he has , obviously.   Its hard to see the future, but I swear years ago I gave home slice some serious props.  Anyway,  The reason I bring up Joe is not because he was a teammate for a stint, nor because I am grateful that he didnt just join Harley/XO but that he was focused and didnt go for the immediate self gratification....which is to me the most self controlled thing to do.  Anyway, there...I have posted in a year and I am sure you guys would rather read about some deep section rims for sale or the great feeling of simply spinning , but if you could post something to indicate you read, that would be cool.  Sorry for being me. Cat 1 money grabber.

The Sun is the same in a relative way, but youre older

    I love cycling.  The energy of racing and just training is great.  I am convinced that the need to ride is associated with a feeling of freedom.  Freedom from the demands that the office requires or the business       
demands.  I havent raced this year, but I will be at the Apple Cross in Winchester this weekend.  I will suck a$$ but it will be a humble, painfull reminder of the true benefit of racing.  Not the glamour of results but the rendering of ones muscles for new growth and invigoration of life.
    This post is truly a simple thank you, to all my friends.  Plus a nod to the not so great friends that have helped me along the way in developing those legs, and my mindset which says " deal with it ". Thanks . ( I might find an appropriate pic soon, patience is a virtue)

The Fighting Spirit

The theme of soo many sporting events centers on the will to drive on. To push beyond the impossible and to give the remaining fight needed to get the edge. I have seen a lot of this in the sport of cycling and it always reminds me to do the same. I dont need a lot of reminders from others about the spirit to continue on but once in awhile it helps.
When I was given the chance to do the Redlands Classics in 2004, which also was the olympic qualifiers, the glimpse of another persons struggle to win was witnessed. Chris Horner was a fovorite in this event and the other teams knew it. Therefore when he let a group of maybe 6 go he mistakenly expected help from other teams but got none. He waited too long to go after it and the chase was too far to close. Maybe he made a mistake and I am sure he learned from it. The fighting spirit for him was rekindled because out of a huge field there was no help to be gotten. Many lost there chance that day because they thought the whole thing rested on his shoulders. I was given a lesson on how pros will do one another, and I am sure Mr. Horner did as well. He has not raced there since. Earlier he was a regular with like 9 prior attended entrees. Sometimes you just have to move on. He did. I think he might be my favorite American cyclist and his name is cool. Heres to the future of Chris and to the future of cycling in America. May it not look over its shoulder to decide if it should go forward!

Happy New Year to All

The New Year has arrived and I look forward to it. This will be the year where great things will come to be. The economy will improve and it will be reflected in the race scene. Races will not be canceled and turnouts will be huge. Sponsors will offer bigger and better dollars to provide support. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will be larger.
Blogging has been postponed for a bit because of working alot and other distractions, but the bicycle has always been a great stress reliever for me. Therefore I am committed to getting out and doing more miles in 2012. My hope for this season is to be more prepared in advance of each race instead of too much last minute pre race preperation. The wish with this post is to simply offer my congratulations to all who plan on entering into this year intending on sticking with the race program and not succumbing to watering down their racing plans. I applaud the effort i.e. Thanks for reading and pedal safe.

Time Trial

I now have a fire to do better in time trials and take them more seriously after the nightmare of going to the prologue of the Tour of Washington county ten minutes late and not havng a warm up. Terrible preparation on my behalf and the disappointment of losing that much entry money was a pisser.


After seeing guys like Art Browne and my friend Paul Lengermann going out to the team time trial and doing an earlier time at church creek and also the team one I am in a state of admiration for said individuals who have the heart and self sacrifice to endure soo much pain. Good pain that earlier in my years as a racer I would accept and endure.. now I wonder if I am just trying to enter what I can do with ease and comparative less pain. An attitude I never admire and I am beside myself for lapsing into such a complacent mode. I was angry at the official who would not give me a new start time last weekend, but I am more than over it and I realize that to accomodate for one is to do soo for all and thats a form of weaness. Weakness is something of which I detest to a degree. Therefore its a contradictory attitude on my behalf to expect or ask someone to display a behavior for which I have little respect. As for the team I ride on this year, I tried to convince them of the value of the team time trial and the individual one congruent with my recent realization, but to no avail. ( granted it was a couple days in advance of said event) I hate having little influence on the direction of the team I ride for and it will sit with me for awhile. I have never liked not being listened to since childhood which to my recollection was the constant with a gifted twin and an older brother. Cest la vie, but one should be aware of the things that one can change. Anyway, congratulations to all the riders who faced today the most honest challenger out there; the clock.

123 field- to- pro -1- contrast and similarity post

The 1.2.3 race this weekend was pretty fast. I mean the Clarendon cup event on Saturday. The staging was pretty silly where the officials allowed some of the riders to enter from the pit side and displayed there lack of authority over the race. This was annoying because it totally put me at the back of that race which I seem to always end up from the start. They are either going to have to have grid qualifiers for a 123 event or actually officiate something besides minutia. This seems like an important issue to regulate because it would appear as though the worst riders try to get their best positioning for this one just to let a duo go into the first turn never to be seen again. Effectively blocking the field long enough for a significant gap to open. Yes, DC Velo did do intentional blocking. Yes there was also some pretty damn sketchy blocking done on their behalf also, and also some plain old effective methods but nonetheless the rest of the not soo honorable types did their part by simply being wusses.
Comparing the two fields between Saturday and Sunday is like comparing apples to oranges. The orange would be Saturdays Haymarket guy who is a not too talented singular rider (their biggest guy) and Sunday being the apples ( mostly very talented and stable riders ) I pick on the orange solely bc he was the worst rider I have seen ever...hands down... except for the saving grace for him, and annoying for everyone else, that he could motor back every time after bungling the turns. All the way to the very last turn.
The pro -cat 1 race was thankfully exempt from the cat two up n comers in at least two ways. They couldnt be lame in the turns because they were not allowed to enter. They couldnt weasel to the start line by any means necessary because they were not allowed to enter. In my mind there are two reasons to wrestle to the front and be soo concerned about getting ones wheel on the line at the start either out of plain fear of being dropped or to actually do something like break away very early. The very same reason why the whole front of a race would sit back and not chase, or lets say not hold the wheel slipping away or go around the one rider who is blocking, FEAR. It was a very disappointing raceon Saturday in this respect. In the calamity of talentless individuals and there lacking courage and strength also. It is not fair to say the riders off the front`were slow because Josh and Mike did a fine job, but the field should boast very little and honestly Kelly, Battley-Harley Davidson, and NCVC should hang their heads low for doing nothing very affective to pull this twosome back.
The Crystal classic was smooth as a babys bottom as far as the riders went. The course was as nasty and dangerous as an outpost position in Afghanistan. There were soo many flats due to potholes that to take count would have been difficult. The speed is soo much faster then amateur racing and one had better really be used to getting tight in the draft or suffer the consequences. Cornering in the pro fields for the most part is simple and courteous and there are not nearly the same amount of desperate chops being dished out by eager riders. people hold the wheel in front of them and dont take the opportunistic advancements that lead to sketchy bunching up out of turns and cause crashes.
I managed to place 35 th and I was glad to represent for Artemis this weekend. The hat is off to Ryan Mckinny ( DC Velo) who dragged the group of split off riders along the start/stop stretch for the run in to the finish. We were all stretched as far as limits go due to the 2 to go United health power train that crushed all hope of a bunch sprint....instead it was a spent riders sprint. In our group DJ had a launch that went flying, just as me and Chuck Hutch started our jump. It was really an effort to start the sprint there and there was a waiting game that shoulda gone earlier but nobody had anything left in that group and again it too an honorable soldier like Mr. Mckinny to volunteer and pull the whole distance from the last turn. A nice guy thru and thru.
On another note. As I was cooling down along the very wide open section of the course, the team of Colavita women were on the road and one of them said coming thru or sumpin but I was not around others or swerving soo I just held my line and the last rider was a little lady with big attitude and hers was the only pro that gave me an uncalled for injection of nerve gas as though I was totally in the wrong. I figured if I turned around not knowing which side they wanted to pass me on than I might move into their train ....anyways ...you can please some of the people...
I did enjoy the racing, though the potholes did do my rear rim a dinger....such is racing and at least it held psi...thanks being to tubulars.

Courtesy

Now I realize that the image most have of me may be less then that of a courteous guy, but, still I am going to point out a few things on the topic anyway.
The ten oclock today spurred me to write this post. In case you dont realize my meaning as to the reference to the ten oclock, it is the ten oclock TRAINING ride ( not race ) that starts on Beach Dr. above Pierce mill north just a bit. Soo today there were two things that miffed me. First item of contention for me was the sudden burst of speed that my good buddy Chuck put on the whole way up Tuckermann Dr. barely out of Rock Creek. I realize its not my place to rectifty ones effort but I want to say the ride has always been one where there is an idea of inclusion for the masses at least up to the top of said hill . Why you might ask? Because it is courteous. A concept indeed and not a rule but it is only being human. I wouldnt bother with this portion of my rant if it was the first time for the massive elite body that is XO comm. or Harley but its not. I got on Sean B. for this same display of machismo before and obviously to no avail. I dont get it. Theres plenty of hills to go and they will certainly reduce the masses on their own. Sorry about my streak of honesty but I think its a little lame. No it didnt really hurt me phisically too much but I sympathise for others. There I said it. I feel better.
now...the real meat of my posts content lies in an entirely different issue which was flagrently displayed on todays ride. The idea that we cyclists deserve the whole road. We DONT. There is a law on the books stating that if you are going the speed limit or near it as a cyclist then you can take the whole road. Otherwise move to the right and let the kings of the road do their thing...or suffer the consequences and dont cry about right or wrong if youre hit or verbally abused. Again...I am sure some will say that I am not the one to say anything as far as my regard to the law...but still I am. I am embarrassed by my fellow cyclists behavior today and especially a teammate of mine who was on the front of the group and riding just barely to the right of the yellow line as though he were a suburban reincarneted. I tried to tell them to move over and of course I was ignored. This sort of attitude/stupidity is what brings the community of avid cyclist a bad name and creates a negative stigma. One which I cant say is wrong in this context or situation. Why do it ? Ride the yellow line. Is it a I deserve the road also sort of mentality ? I pay taxes thinking ? i WANT TO KNOW. Hospitals I avoid. Fights with bigger bodies , animated or inanimate, I also avoid. As a ex messenger I have seen a lot of uncalled for situations and sort of hate crimes against cyclists and its not pleasant, so lets try to avoid creating more animosity please. There , I am done. No hard feelings to any mentioned individuals really but lets work together on this thing called life and the notion of individual rights.

The Culmination

The dedication to a sport such as racing bicycles is a growing and somewhat elusive one to explain. Sure one can just ride their bike on nice days and only at decent temperatures. The rewards later on when races begin though will show and your own disappointment will knaw at yourself for not putting in the time. The pattern becomes apparent after some seasons and the balance is hopefully found between comfort with ones results and happiness on the other fronts of life. Such as having another life. Off the bike sort of fulfillment.
This predetermined course of mindset, the proper balance, is definitely aided by having a solid team to propel your riding. A solid team does develop ones individual talent, regardless of that persons age, by providing incentive, goals, and group support. There is monetary help. To be encouraged by many to get out and do some miles is support in the phisical department. The contagion of winning among a team can spread also to other riders of the same kit. These things are nice.
This structure is very different from one where the perks are rare and the rewards are always the same, regardless of output. Such as with government work. The culmination of your efforts are very visible in cycling. The congregation of talent on a particular team in a specific region is natural because of these dynamics. I am not mentioning specifics but outlining growth patterns. The bottom line here ?
I think it would be great for the sport if the area could produce a team that can really be a force on the big NRC circuit and any other events they come across. The limitation being a smaller budget as a regional powerhouse, but the team would then become a farm team for division three teams. In this sense age falls heavily into play.
An area farm team for the salary guys.
How could a hopefull contender in the area, not want to ride on a setup of that sort, which carries such potential ? Hate the game not the player ?

Haymarket Winter "league" ride

The first ride for 2011 that I participated in was yesterday out west in Haymarket. The night before I got out all the needed gear for heat preservation. I took care of the waiver and greeted some individuals and after a small run over of the basics by Jared Nieters the training ride was off.
The earlier departure of 8 am was tuff but once under way the pains were forgotten. The pace was somewhat sporatic but relatively survivable unless one is out of shape and if soo the "b group is advisable. Maybe around mile 20 or so the route hits gravel...a longer section then I expected to hit at this early a point for a projected near 70 mile ride. The gravel gave me a flat but not before suffering much pain trying to stay on....I kept having flashbacks of prior "Poolesville Esque memories. the Fuentes driven sag wag was right there and scooped me up. We then went and scooped two more flats. We caught the group where they stopped for a minute. The problems begin around here for me. The waiting group has people lingering up the road. These rabbits, that bound away early, create a tempting carrot for an immediate, insane speeds, persuit . After getting a flat and suffering up to that point, somewhat gratefull to be in the car because the dirt I was not pedaling was hilly, and sorta sketchy with bigger rocks mixed in with smaller ones ,I was on the bike again but the immediate chasing was too much for me and the wheel I was on dropped me. Well lets say he was going harder than I was willing to put out. Yeah sure.
El next rider to come by my somewhat sorry ass is Sean Barrie. He does fly by,but I does get on. The effort was pretty up there as far as pain goes but I rotate where it is feasable and we hitch back on. Fun stuff. Thankfully there must have been some barking by someone like Jared to alleviate the suffering and reduce the pace. January was a word that kept popping into my head and massochism and so on.
The midway or so, at Middleburgh is not for Coffee or Krumpets, but another stop for assurance as to collectiveness. The warning is put out that all beyond this point shall not see another regrouping so deal with it. I jest. The ride recommences. The pace is again too much for many very quick soo the "A group" from the" A ride" has thankfully detached. There are the fighters who keep up the hopes of getting across but they dont get there and are reabsorbed. My second group here consists of maybe 15 guys and one strong female named Monica or thereabouts and from Switzerland...i heard....We get to Aldie on rt 50 and enter the dirt section which goes into and over Bull Run Mtn. ( i am cooked ) I am unwilling to attempt to stay attached. A couple hang back like Soda and JDawg thankfully. I flat again and my teammate and new best friend J Dawg gives much assist with co2 and spare tube....amen,... I limp in behind the Artemis draft helping very little and into the truck I hit the heater. Frick n frack ...I thought my fitness was capable of dealing better with said ride but Cest la Vie , maybe next week ! It was epic and it was great to see soo many friends on the scene.

man oh man...

Only one of the most difficult weeks ever. (No..) ..but a post on cycling? I am going to do cross soon..I hope I don't hate t too much ? ok thx for the time. Cheers..b safe! O n have fun too

Been a while

Soo yeah..its been a while since the last post. I have recovered and the training has resumed..I figure I might get some results still to come for 2010...I am pondering cross...painfull stuff and still far off on the calendar. Umm I guess im just glad to be back on the bike and looking ahead a lil. More road races available and such. Missed coppis.

`Walterboro criterium

The course for this one is narrow along the star stop but this isn't a big deal bc the last turn narrows into the last stretch so it isn't really noticed. The other sections of this race are wide and very open soo the course is maneuverable...different from much of the rest of thr series. The notable fear for this one is the dark section where the backside stretch which gets fast and precarious at some points. The turn is not hard to do but just some bunching and darkness...soo a different angle . The finish is not far from the last turn . The midway prime came and I happened to be near the front close enuff to be able to go with any jump. The jump came from R Bahati himself and I did not hesitate...and it paid off. The power of Rashaan was not to be pulled in but I did stay away for second in the midway prime race...the recovery was not too bad to obtain. The 17 th place for finish was excellent and I was stoked..

Beaufort Course of speed week series..

The Beaufort Course is tuff because the start/ stop is short enuff to have to quickly slow down after jamming it up to around 30 mph... It Has, as the first turn a really narrow funnel into a tight one lane alley like road entrance, where one better have his ducks in order to get thru here with speed. To bomb it one had better mind the reflective plastic item laid in the asphalt yellow line center or apex of the turn,... that is raised, in order to add dimension to the already hard to navigate course. I was off the front with another rider and the gap was like ten seconds to the two up the road. About seven guys bridged up and came thru fast, just before the tuff first turn was to be negotiated. I picked up the speed and grabbed the flying by express, but i did also slide out bc of said reflective pop,into that darn infamous turn which later in the race caused about 30 riders to go to the pit bc of a crash and having to stop, ( hard turn ).. ....well the rest of the race sucked bc i was all dinged up and my skewer was loose which meant another dismount .i was bout to jump back in to the race after pit stop # 2 bc of big pile up....when i realized my skewer was loose and i had to tighten it and i was chasing the race for twelve laps after the poor pit stop ,...I was a dumb ass and I should have stayed in the pit longer to get the bike right. live n learn,...Beaufort has been hard for me to get a good result at. One day I will do well there. I finished like 60 th and DFL. Again. ..last year there I was also in a crash in that turn where I hit a downed rider and I was subsequently lapped and ,....damn beaufort,...

Roswell

The day after Athens is a criterium in Roswell. It is more like a circuit with a long start/stop stretch and on the backside there is a slight rise with a bottle necking at the crest,.. soo this narrowing after the crest goes into a left turn ,,the narrowing always leads to riders bunching up big time and into the turn it is a lil hairy with over decelleratioin and squeeling carbon fiber rims. positioning here is key,..ie stay at the front ,...not easy bc the start line stretch each lap reads speeds at like 33 all day soo the sprint out of the final turn onto long strip is full on and the speed whips around into first turn wo hesitation bc turn one and two are basicly combined and fast leading into the small climb which does sap speed easily but one can move up here and i was using the hill for that ...Roswell is hard bc it is fast and bc it is after Athens. I was not feeling well and i placed like 51 st .

Speed Week

Well Athens was wet and pouring but not cold...though afterwards i was cold . The event was hard. The first half spent trying to move up and avoiding crashes and closing small gaps. The second half was spent tring to move up mstaying upright avoiding crashes and closing gaps. SEven or eight went away. Whatever . The race ended with me getting 24 th, the last lap i avoided hitting a down rider in the last turn...but i idid hit his drops which made me receiver a nice bruise with the wrist being braced by the bars and impacting the arm ,,...blah blah i stayed up and crossed the line ...upright thankj god and truly spent....whew,...oh there was a computrainer even i got second in my heat with maybe a average watts of 400 give or take for 8 mins,.,..boring sorta but a graph was there and a wattage indicator soo that was my first time to see me on a device like that,...i will post later on the rest of the fun down there but cant type too much...i am on pain killers bc i broke my scapula at sandy springs on the lkast lap . u can see crash on cycling news.comspeedweek....fun fun

Haymarket/Homevisit opens doors for 2010

I am happy to report that I have landed on a large squad that will be of great inspiration and motivation to me for 2010. The new setup will be getting on the road and to big events. I am gonna be challenged and this will be a great chance to get involved in something which has large aspirations. Good times.
The bunch went with most in tow ( maybe 8 guys )to the Wolfpack RR weekend of which Steven Gordon won. He is rolling as well as quite a few of the others right now. sorta scary ,..The team is very motivated and to lock in a win is a good tension relief in some ways. Of course they was unawares of the strength being brought to the table.
I am psyched and the charity cause is a solid effort to put ones self behind. The range and diversification alone which comprises the team is interesting. I wont get into all the details of the roster but it is impressive in its array. Trade zone should be a good regional exposure for the team.

The Long Road

We all know the transition from one season to the next can be rough. The cold hampers ones motivation. The time off from racing can extend more then was intended and become an issue. There is the shorter daylight hours which demand one look at the wind trainer longer then a passing "you suck" thought and consider mounting the iron maiden. Soo lets see ....too long resting, too cold, and shorter days coupled with multi family events where the contest is to overfeed the most. One can easily understand why it is possible for someone to lose focus.
The upside of this, break in the cycle, is possibly better relations with loved ones and a more well deserved paycheck. Hypotheticals. I also believe this is a good time to decide on how your goals as a cyclist compare with the goals of the bunch you have linked up with over the past year or season (or whatever length of time really) .
If something feels forced it probably is. For example. I was interested in a new team to ride for in 2009 and The Bike Rack ( the shop not the team) seemed to be an appropriate business to try to strike up an arrangement with. I sent a letter stating goals and results and my desire to captain an elite team basicly...or try to begin one. I was unaware ,at the time, that the shop did not run the team and that they would be a seperate entity to deal with. (the team) Soo even though the shop was down,.. there was still the club which came off with a less then stoked perspective. I was circumnavigating usual routes and toes were stepped on I guess. Or whatever. My perspective ? Just trying to piece together something. theirs ? who is this clown.
Lets leave behind 2008 nostalgia and onto 2009 before thats in the past too. (as most readers realize I did race on the Bike Racks team last year so a treaty was drawn for a minute) Its December 2009 and almost over.( I did garner some NRC results..or procritseries points .. ) The DVR team is undecided. They have entangling red tape which is hard to see over. The shop is being patient but the idea is for me to push them. (the club to decide on something) At this point I am frustrated because the feeling of a forced relationship has not dissippated but rather grown. The two promising newly upgraded cat twos on the team/club went onto another squad and more help.
The bottom line here is help. We all need help. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Unless you circumnavigate the powers that be.
( I will dig around for a good pic for this post..no promises but taking suggestions) Haymarket is booked. I have no idea where the restructuring of harley has led but it seems to still exist. (not an option 4 me) Jared suggested Richmond Pro but that is far away and seems like much volunteer time if possible. Kelly..? umm not sure but Baltimore aint close for training rides neither. Rick Norton is a hammer and he would be good to ride with again. ( Pedro, Nima, Rick, and me raced together on Evolution) Maybe Bear Dog llc will have to be a club and get sponsors who are positive 100 percent where their interests lie. I cant understand any reason why a team/club would want to isolate themselves to a certain category realm unless they are simply clandestine or reclusive. Spitefull could never be the case.

Is It War or Am I Just a Pussycat

Ok,...first before I do the cross post I wanna post a comment or two on another issue...poaching riders from other teams. The Battley guys are losing juice from one sponsor and reforming under another money endorser....cool good for em...They are a large group with overall dominance in the road racing scene here and also a player in national scale events. Not a surprise they got another sponsor. But one annoyance is my hearing of their trying to dislodge our up n comers who have proved their abilities and moved to 2 status. Now the Speculators have crossed lines and made offers ..or so I have heard. This is annoying to me. This core of riders does not need any more on their side. LAME. If these two teammates of mine on the Bike Rack, or just one moves, then thats on them and the pull can be strong. But, it seems early in the game for this miniscule roster to be pecked at by the powers that be.I have not pressed for facts but I am not impressed if this is true...Trying to build a small elite squad is tuff in such an environment.
Small ventilation process there. Ok Granogue...Faster pussycat!!!...Well..I dunno ? I was givin it all she had Scotty ! The Granogue cyclocross event was a new one on me. I was in the middle of the bunch at the start. I knew this to be foreboding with 100 plus entries participating. That I was there at all was good because the google directions were off ..no doubt . I was pinned and overdressed..stressed and anxious to get it over with....really. I saw very little enthusiasm in me at the idea of slogging in mud. There I was though.Pop and its off. Sprint sppeed hurtling towards rain and pain. I give way often in these few intial turns in the mud. Not good but tryin to meter the pain and not hit the trough below. Sortin and thinnin of the race ensues and I am losing ground...not very in shape and movement restricted by surplus gear...LAME. I was wishing for more gears for spinning and much more tread ...you know like a mountain bike...really. Right soo that insight out of the way...I was dropping like Herbie the Love Bug on a bad day. The mud weighed the bike down like carrying an eighty pound bag of sand but more cumbersome over steep mud . slicing the incline with my feet angled for vertical traction. At this point are you wondering if I am still describing a supposedly semi road racing event..Like it might have some bearing if you race on the road as a cat one ? In other words I should not be a cat two in cross or this event was unusual in its vast sea of torment or both I dunno.The wisdom of wearing less dawned on me...but vaseline and shorts in weather like that...44 degrees with rain and wind , seeemed like madness. OK, so I wore too much and I paid the price for this overdressing mistake. Up this really steep climb with a tower atop it like trying to seige a fort, I was being really bogged down by my rain gear...and shades and rain coat. At the start this other rider asked me if I was really going to race in my pants..I said I was not feeling well already and didnt want pneumonia.Later into the race I uderstood his curiosity as I said screw it. I want these dead weight pants off and so I stopped and rid myself of them. This cost me the few competitors left I was against as they went by. I went up that tower climb and the descent from that height is tuff as hell. An off camber rutted steep drop. Where the spectators line up with beer like vikings and hoot and howl at the fallen. Racers who hit the deck and raise thunder with their attempts at glory. mud laden..slipping and sliding down and continuing on persued by the jests and roar of the gallery. Nice.
later the first, second, and third place guys went by at around the same time as my rear deraileur went up into the back wheels spokes. I was done for the day with twisted metal to carry back to the car. Fun Stuff.
I spent a long time in the heated truck awed by guys with hatch back open as a sort of awning and showering with water from containers. I was like ...?/@!no way crazy. Cold beer maybe but more cold water and all the time still exposed...OK soo no arctic polar bear here...sorry.
I did go spectate though and also got some great chicken noodle soup that was real thick. Another booth/tent was the Dogfish one. The free samples were like 8oz of dogfish ale..60 min but you could choose.. pretty sweet. So to watch Ryan Trebon and his boy on Kona Brad Wicks roll away ( or slide ...run...maneuver) each with a huge gap pretty quick, was impressive. Trebon was away from Wicks and Wicks was away from the chase groups by far, respectively. The field was staggered in chase . Bunches of twos, threes, and larger went by. Jared Nieters and his teammate in the front groups close to top ten. Last I saw of jared he was near tenth position and looked to be in good shape. His Junior teammate having been passed by Nieters eventually and J Nieters was on the move. Serious attrition factor here. experience a must. Dave fuentes was in my race or the elite 123 35/45 plus field and he did much better then me, but no idea how he fared. He had on a skinsuit from the bike Lane...maybe some cross help from them. Good for him he is a nice guy who obviously gets huge results on the road . Has not done bad in cross either. Ryan Dewald was in the Harley kit. Doing well in his UCI elite mens event.holdin like twentieth and seemed to be having fun as he always does. cool dude. Anyway ...good stuff out there and Kudos to all participants, Volunteers, and even the mud,...THANKS
MUCH RESPECT to those who can rock in this mayhem. Photos will be adde dsoon to this post but gotta figger it out...camera to computer and so on...