Upgrade denied, race plans, and scrambling…

We got back form AZ last sunday night due to a gnarly traffic jam on the I-10 coming home.  It seems like I have been going nonstop since we got back home and that’s because I have been.  Monday I was up early to knock out work, upack & pack for a week of work up in San Jose.  Some time during the day I managed to get out for and easy spin and also applied for my Cat 4 upgrade.

flying to san jose tuesday morning

Long story short the upgrade was denied and I kind of knew it would be.  I had only done 5 of the required 10 cat 5 mass starts.  All you need is 10 starts (and finishes) to upgrade.  Placing doesn’t matter.  I was just hoping I could leverage my Cat 1 licenses for both MTB and CX, but that’s not that case.  I was bummed because I want to upgrade quick, but not mad, and I totally understand.  They want to make sure the people are learning to race, and race safe in the 5′s before moving up.

The only reason I am bummed is because I had already signed up tour de murrietta (3/9-11) and the San Dimas Stage Race (3/16-18) as a 4.  I only did this because both races sell out fast for both category 4 & 5 and changing categories once the race sold out requires being on the waiting list with no guarantee you’ll get in.  So all of this just means I have/had 3 weeks to get 5 more starts…. not easy but it will happen.

so my race schedule for next couple weeks is going to be nuts, but I think it will help me get going and building to Murrietta & San Dimas.

• 2/19 (this past sunday) Now Energy Bar Crit – 2 races – cat 5 & 30 + cat 4/5
• 2/26 Dare to Race Grand Prix – 2 races – cat5 & 30+ cat 4/5
• Tucson Bicycle Classic – 3 races (only mass starts count) – TT, Road Race, Circuit Race – Cat 5

So if all goes well that will give 11 starts and I will get my upgrade the week of Tour de Murrietta, but also means that starting back with the weekend of Boulevard & Red Trolley (2/4-5) I will be racing 8 weeks in a row.  On paper it seems/sounds like a lot but that’s one of the things I like about racing bikes.  You can actually race yourself into top form and get stronger by the week it you play things right… and that’s what I want to do.

flying home friday night

I got back in town from San Jose late Friday night and it was straight to bed and then up early for a 4 hour ride with the team.  Big crew, big climbs, and good times.  I had so so legs after not riding since Tuesday morning (super early trainer sesh before flying).  Then we headed downtown for Pete’s bowling partying, had some good food and beers, and got home around 10pm.  I had to wake up just before 4am to get up to Carson to race.  The cat 5 race was at 7am, was sold out so I had to get on the waiting list… Luckily I got in and ended up having two really good races.  I am finally learning how to race crits and being some what smarter.

new race shades

Race #1 – Cat 5

The race started pretty mellow and nobody was making any moves.  So I sat in a bit, covered attacks, threw a couple of attacks and then with just over 4 laps to go a team tried to attack and they only lasted half a lap so as soon as we brought them back I made my move.  Shockingly nobody responded.  So with 3.5 laps to go I had a gap and knew it was my chance.  I had wanted to wait until 2.5 to go but that didn’t happen.  I just put my head down and extended my gap.  I was able to get a way and stay away for the win!

between races (90min) I rode over to the starbucks in compton for a triple americano and some food.

Race #2 – 30+ cat 4/5

Another sold out race of 75 guys on the line and I was a couple of rows deep.  I was still feeling the first race a bit so I was planning on sitting in quite a bit and just seeing what would happen in the final laps but…. after a couple of laps and after an attack another guy attacked and he looked solid so i went him  why not? . we were off the front for a lap and then he was fading and I was doing all the work so I resigned to letting the group catch us until a guy bridged up to me and told me to get on.  This guy was big and could hammer.

I jumped on his wheel and we kept the gap.  there was still 20 minutes of racing left and a lot of laps.  on the next prime lap two guys bridged to us, one just to get the prime and the other stuck with us.  The 2 of us continued to work together and somehow we were keeping the gap.  With about 8 laps to go I was thinking the catch was going to come because out of the 3 of us in the break only 2 of us were willing to work.  The other guy I think wanted to stall as he had a lot of teammates chasing us down.  Then Brad bridged up to us and it motivated me.  With 3 guys willing to hammer I thought it may be possible to stay away.

So we kept taking turns at the front, but still with just 3 of us doing the to work for 4 the group was bringing us back.  With 3 to go i thought we may get caught so up the incline before the turn into the start finish I got back on the front with no plans of leaving.  I know it wasn’t best strategy if i wanted to win the race, but I would rather take 4th and have the break stay away than get caught.  So i was on the front for the final two laps, riding as hard as I could, and actually extended our gap, we weren’t getting caught.

going into the final turn the guy who didn’t want to work came around and this is what i wanted.  I was second wheel with another guy behind me, brad sat up to take 4th.  then it was time to sprint.  I was able to hang on for a very close second and was definitely happy.  the guy who won race was smarter but I’ll take the hard effort and a 2nd place in race #2 on the day.  It was fun being in the break 5 minutes into the race and making is stick until the end.

my winnings

my reward.  The Road IPA at Pizza Port

so that’s it.  more work, training, and racing on tap for me in the coming weeks.

2012 Valley of the Sun Stage Race Report.

It was another rad weekend of racing my bike out in Arizona for the Valley of the Sun Stage race.  The trip started early on Thursday when Pete and I packed 8 bikes, too many wheels, and a crap load of of gear into the truck before hitting the to road for Scottsdale.  The trip was pretty mellow even though I was about 2 seconds from leaving Pete at a Love’s truck stop, and soon enough we were at tom’s and out on our bikes for a quick spin.  After the spin we picked beth up from the airport, grabbed dinner, and then it was time to crash.

Friday – 14 mile TT

I was pretty stoked about the TT.  I have a new bike, position (thanks to Studeo DNA), and was ready to test it out.  Cat 5 was the first group to go and I was the 14th rider off (30 second intervals).  The course was an even out and back and I went out hard… maybe a bit too hard.  I had plenty of minor blow ups on the way out and then put my head down on the way back and tried to hang on.  I caught quite a few guys on the way out and on the way back.  After looking at the times from last year (across all Categories) I had a goal of 32:30 in my head.  I know that would give me a very good shot at winning the TT and setting me up for the rest of the race.  I was more than stoked to clock a 32:19 and win the TT.  TT’ing is HARD!  A lot of people have made comments about I will/should be good at it because of triathlon, but in my opinion there are very few similarities.

cooling down…

Beth also smashed the TT coming in 2nd in her category and Pete smashed me by 14 seconds on the day.  After a hard morning of riding we relaxed all afternoon by the pool at rob’s hotel. living the dream.

Saturday – 46 mile Road Race

It was another early morning with Pete’s racing starting at 8am, me at 8:15, and Beth at 8:30.  Things went smooth pre-race and we were already to go.

pinning pete’s number and rocking the leaders jersey.

Being on the starting line, and in the leaders jersey was definitely something I have not experienced before.  pete told me, based on my actions in my past few races, to not do anything stupid.  I was just to sit in and cover any attacks by the guys near me in the GC.  So I did just that.  We did 2.8 laps and during lap 1 I pretty much just sat in and then did a bit of work on the climb just to feel things out.  On the climb the group split and about 15 of us were off the front.  the other guys with me want to start drilling it to maintain the gap, but i wasn’t interested.  i was confident that I could ride with anybody on the climb so if the chase group caught us I wasn’t worried about getting attacked on the climb.  this didn’t go over well with some of the guys I was racing with.  I wasn’t trying to be a jerk but I was “winning” the race, my closest competitors were 40 seconds and over a minute behind me in the GC and were sitting right in front of me so I didn’t want to sit on the front and “work”.

So I continued to sit in during the second lap until we hit the climb, which was the KOM on the 2nd lap.  Two guys attacked and I jumped on because third place in the GC, Mael, was one of them.  I wasn’t too concerned about winning the KOM but I didn’t want to let them get away.  The 3 of us got a good gap on the rest of the field and I ended up getting 3rd in the KOM.

The third lap was more of the the same, me sitting in, and nobody trying to attack.  Kind of boring.When we hit the final climb we were in a group of 15+ and I was sitting in until 5k to go and then I went to the front.  I just wanted to push the pace a bit and string it out and not let anybody make up time on me.  I lead up to the 200m to go sign and then sprint went… I held on for 4th and finished right with the group.  I didn’t get the win, but I was able to keep the leaders jersey and put some time into second place.

Beth finished 4th in her race as well and then conned Pete and I to let her do the Skirt Chasers 5k in Tempe on the way… on one condition.  While she got ready to run we got go grab some beers in downtown tempe… and I found some green flash IPA and the first bar we stopped at.

after a couple of beers we headed to the finish line of the race, grabbed another IPA, and watched beth cross line in 4th place.  so stoked she is back running… and getting FAST!

then it was finally time for lunch and more good times in tempe.

Sunday – 25min Crit

sunday morning came way too early and lets just say I wasn’t necessarily feeling like a million bucks… wonder why?  my race started at 8:10 and after a solid warm up I was ready to defend the jersey during the final, short stage.  I was only the one racing today.  Pete was there to drink coffee and eat breakfast burritos and beth skipped the crit to get in a long trail run.

My plan for the crit was to just stay in the top 5 to 10 for most of the race and chase down any attacks as quick as I could.  It was only 25 minutes so I didn’t want anybody getting anything significant gaps.  My goal was to win the GC so I just needed to race smart and clean.  Right off the bat a couple of guys went off the front, but of course it didn’t last.  The race was actually pretty mellow.  A couple of attacks by 2nd & 3rd place in the GC but every time they jumped I was right on their wheel.

With 4 to go I was waiting for the attacks to come but they didn’t.  So with 2 to go I went to the front to control the final laps and have the chance to take my lines with minimal traffic in the corners.  I rode pretty hard and went into the final corner into the lead with 200m to go.  Then the swarm came and it got dicey but I was in a good position to just ride unscathed over the line in 9th (in the group same time) and win the Overall.

me, pete “the coach, and rob “the baller” post race.

I am definitely stoked to take the Overall win as it was my goal, but defending the Jersey in the two races on Saturday and Sunday wasn’t as fun as attacking… but I’ll take it for sure.  I am hoping this enough to get my upgrade to Cat 4 in time for my upcoming races.  I filled out the request with USA Cycling and now I am just waiting.

We hit the road immediately after the race.  Bummed I missed the podium but we all had to get back and ready for work on Monday morning.

Double race weekend recap…

Super fun weekend of racing…

Race #1 – Boulevard Road Race

Saturday morning I was up early headed way out east of San Diego to Campo.  It was pretty damn cold when I got there and the wind was already beginning to howl.  the forecast was for highs in the 60′s and 20-30 mph winds our of the ENE.  The direction of the wind out there means that we were going to have headwinds on pretty much all the climbs.

I got in a good warm up on the trainer and then jumped on my bike to spin to the start and and my chain was skipping all over the place.  I scrambled to try to get the rear derailleur dialed in but it was no use.  See I took my bike to Velo Hangar on friday to get my bike dialed in.  Sonja & Blaize came through big for me and got me a pair of Zipp Firecrest 303′s to race on this weekend so I grabbed a cassette out of my garage and Gordon put it on.  It was shifting perfect on the stand (under no load).  So I headed home and didn’t try it out before 10 minuted before the race Saturday.  Dumb.  The cassette I grabbed was an older red 11-26 that I raced and trained on ALL last year… multiple ironmans, 70.3, and tons of miles.  So it was completely worn out, especially in my “favorite” gears.  So what did this mean for the race…. that I had 2-3 usable gears depending if I was in the big or small ring.  Any other gears would skip every time I rode hard.  So definitely not the way I wanted to enter my first race, but I got through it… with another lesson learned.

So the race started and we spun up the first short climbs and right before the descent I went to the front.  I had ridden the descent a couple of weeks ago and it’s fast, twisty, and fun.  There are couple of corners that if taken to hot could be sketchy so I wanted to control the descent and I did… and I was able string out the pack of the 50 guys a bit.  I was on the front the entire descent and then sat up as we started the first climb on La Posta Rd.  Nobody would come to the front at all the so I tried to shake it up to see who wanted to race.  I really couldn’t go too hard because of the shifting situation but I had enough to lead out some of the climbs and then sit in.  I worked too much on La Posta during the first lap.  Then we hit highway 80 and I went straight to the gutter and to the front.  The wind was head/cross and strong, gusting well over 20 mph.  I was hoping being on the far right of the road (in the gutter) I could keep the draft guys could get off me to a minimum.  Highway 80 is a long grueling and I was just trying to ride a steady tempo and throw in a couple of surges to break up the field, which ended up working.  When reached the top of the climb and rolled through the end of the first lap I was still on the front (not smart) but the front group had dwindled from 50 to about 20 or so.

how not to win a bike race:

As we headed to into the second lap I was still on the front as we descended back to where the start line was and nobody would come around.  So I just coasted down the descent with everybody on my wheel.  I rode more in the gutter up the short initial climbs and then as soon as we hit the major descent I attacked.  My 53×11 was working fine!  I hammered and tried to string out the field again and it work.  By the end of the descent we were probably 15 guys deep.  Then I finally started riding smarter.  It only took 75% of the race to get off the front.  I sat in the entire time up La Posta Rd this time around and it was EASY.  Then we hit the final climb up HWY 80 and again just sat in.  I had to climb the entire thing in my big ring because  my 26 in the back was working ok and 53×26 was one of the only gears that wasn’t skipping and that I could apply some pressure.  There were a couple of attacks on the climb but I just sat in and we covered them all but the group was down to 10.

My plan was to give it a go at the 1k mark but I think I missed the sign or it blew over.  I was waiting the sign when all of sudden an attack came and I thought the guy was going way to early but everybody scrambled to cover it and next thing I know we passed the “200m to go” sign.  Crap.  I started to hammer pulled myself back to the group and finished 4th in a sprint finish.  So all in all not a great race, but it was fun, and with every start I am learning something.

Race #2 – Red Trolley Crit

Ever since my first Crit a couple of weeks ago I had been really looking forward to the this race.  My race was at 10am so beth and I rode to down to the race (about an hour spin from home).  Perfect warm up and I was feeling good.  Again the Cat 4/5 race was sold out and 75 guys deep.  I lined up a couple rows back with a “plan” to sit in more than I did last time and then try to get away at some point.  The course was short with a good, short climb so there were A LOT of laps and overall it was a good course for me.  I sat in for a couple of laps hovering around in the top 10.  Then 15 or so minutes into the race, and after the first prime I went off the front.  I was able to get away for 5 laps and at one point had 15 seconds on the group.

how NOT to win a bike race photo #2… yep that’s me off the front.

I knew I went to early to win so I ended up sitting up and just recovering a bit before the final laps.  Then with two to go I took matters back into my own hands and went back to the front to drive the pace (photo above).  I lead the charge into the final turn and then some guys swarmed for the sprint.  I still don’t have a sprint that can contend with the sprinters, but I feel I am making progress.  I held on finished 10th.

Super stoked with the effort.  My goal for these races is to go out and work, not win.  I am a Cat 5 right now, I don’t need points to upgrade, just starts.  I am trying to learn how to race my bike, upgrade to Cat 4, and get faster while doing it…and that’s not going to happen sitting in.  So that may mean putting my nose in the wind a lot more than I would if winning was a concern…. and riding off the front is FUN… even if it doesn’t stick.

on tap is a busy week of work before heading out to AZ on Thursday morning and the Valley of the Sun stage race.  We have a good crew coming out with Beth, Pete, Heather, & Wattie all racing.