Boulder Cup Weekend

Just finished up a long weekend of racing down in Boulder. Its nice to be able to sleep in my own bed, and just drive to races in the morning. It makes preparing, cleaning up, and eating much less stressful.

The first day, Blue Sky Velo Cup C2, was a mudfest 'cross race/parking lot crit. It seemed like it was split 50/50 and you were either going balls-out on the pavement or you were slogging through some mud. I had a decent starting position, 4th or 5th row, but I missed my pedal a couple times and had a terrible start. Joseph had a decent start, as he was on Adam Craig's wheel flying up the start/finish climb. Unfortunately, Joe would snap the bolts on his stem and go head-over-heels, Trebon style (minus the hissy-fit). Brad rode a great race displaying his superior bike handling and taking 27th on the day, without even pre-riding the course. I suffered in the mud, couldn't find a rhythm and my day ended much earlier than I would have liked.

Thanks to Ashley Hudson, founder of Outlaw Earth for the photo. She makes the best messenger bags in the U.S., and they're made in the U.S.

Day 2, the Boulder Cup C1, was unfortunately re-located to the Boulder Reservoir. The course was crazy fast after all of the ACA categories were through with it, and all sand sections were rideable. That's until our friends at DBC Events decided to add 2! sand run-ups, both very long, and both very hard. Again, I had as a good a starting position as I've had all season, 4th or 5th row. I had a good start, and I was riding everything well. I stayed up in the mix, up until a crash on an off-camber, gravel filled, up-hill corner. Joseph's group caught me there, and I would be playing catchup with those guys for the remainder of the race. I had a better day all-around even if I still got pounded by the boys in Green n Black. I finished 57th Sunday and 51st on Saturday, but I was further back on Saturday.

This coming weekend, I've got some high-altitude racing (8,000 or 9,000ft) for the RMCCC 'Cross Championships. Then its off to New Jersey for some more USGP racing.

Valmont Bike Park 'Cross

Sitting in my dining room. Writting a lab report. Its about why some seeds germinate in warm temperatures and some in cold temps. Well, beans like warm temps and peas like it cold. I think I'm more of a bean. Yet, I like the sports that come with the cold temps. I digress...

This past Saturday was the opening day for the Valmont Bike Park in Boulder. Really cool idea that BMA has been dreaming up for the past few years, and I can't wait for it to be done. Then the tracks will get burned it and maybe it won't be soooo BUMPY. I wish I had 34c tires. Actually, I wish that I could fit 44c tires into my beautiful SCOTT's frame, but they won't.

The race started as per-usual. Call up the Hudz-Subaru boys, Dubba, Toast, etc. Then let everyone else take their place. I start DFL. What else is new, I start here every weekend. I tell myself, but this week will be different. This week, I'll part the sea of incompetent 'cross handlers and bounce on up to the Russian Immigrants, or at least to Spencer.

It wasn't different. I had to go half speed for the first lap. Let gaps open until I can get around someone, and then close them. No fun. No fun. No.Fun. O, and did I mention it was bouncy. Damn, it was bad. 3 dismounts, I made up some serious ground on those. Lost ground on the sandy off-camber 180 turn and ate it twice, on the...you guessed it, bumpyness. Anyway, I finished a lack-luster 30th. 1 lap down on the top 3 JHK, Pacho, and then Brady. I didn't see their battle, but I heard Brady killed it! Toast was 4th or 5th.


Thanks to Ashley from Outlaw Earth for the photos. She also makes some of the best bags in the U.S. check 'em out!

I'm off to race at New Belgium Brewery. Its looking like it wants to rain...I hope so.

I want to hear that bell

My 'cross season so far has certainly been below what I had hoped.

I think I've read that sentence or a simile of it on 12 to 37 blogs. Some people tend to whine more than others, and I try not to. I really do, but I know I do.

So rather than recap every race so far that has seen me not meet my expectations I will say this. I have been yearning to hear a 1 Lap to Go Bell all season. I've done 5 races, and not once have I made it to that final lap. Granted, in Madison I did finish (kinda), just not on the same lap as the leaders. I can finish on the same lap as those guys. They're 6-10 minute laps. I would never let Justin beat me by more than 6 minutes in a TT, less I fall apart physically and mentally. Which, did happen once this fall. So I will not let a few guys, who always win, get 6 minutes ahead of me. It won't happen, I don't care if I have to run over Molly Cameron in a turn, thus leaving 34c Grifo marks all across his pretty white skinsuit. I will fight tooth and nail to hear that bell.
The Valmont Bike Park CX race is Saturday, and regardless what my twitter says I will be racing. Hopefully its an awesome course. Hopefully, the sweet music that is the 1 to go bell will ring in my ears, and I will hear the never ending cry of "HUP! HUP! BUTTERCUP!"

...and I will not return to regular programming

USGP Round 1

There's not much for me to say about these races. These guys are fast, really fast. I fully expected to get dominated, and I knew I would not be up there going shoulder to shoulder with Vervecken, but I did not fully understand how fast they are. Faster in the technical stuff, faster on the run-ups (because they can ride them), faster, faster, and FASTER.

The first day, I was in awe of everything around me. The riders were still these guys who I had only read about in magazines. When we took off from the 7th or 8th row I was nervous. I was afraid to even work my way through the field because I felt like I didn't deserve it. Not the way I usually race. I struggled mentally and my physical performance suffered. I was several laps down from J Pows. Joseph finished on the podium in 20th overall and the 2nd U23.

Day 2 was a much less technical course, with not so many off-camber sections and the rail-road ties section were cut out. So I could ride the steep section rather than makes faces like this;
I started running again yesterday, let the fun begin.

I was amped for day 2, but relaxed at the same time because I knew it could only be a better day for me personally. I got an ever-so-slightly better start and began moving through the field immediately. I had a good couple of laps, and was only slowed by one poor bike handler. Then my race went south for a few laps. I lost focus, I slowed my pace, and then I went down hard in the hair pin turn. From there I picked up my pace. I got caught by Page, Trebon, and Vervecken so there after. I was still 2 laps down, but I was very close to only being 1 down, and I know I can finish on the same lap as these guys. I've got work to do.
Thanks to Lyne at PodiumInSight for the photos. She's got loads of albums here.

Remounting

Classes are in full swing now. Literally, I'm studying for an economics exam later today. Tires larger than 23c are being mounted to any wheel that I may have, even the one that have tried to duck under the work bench to avoid the abuse of this cyclocross season. I snapped a rear derailleur off my Tricross last weekend at the Boulder VeloCross. Which sucked. I started in the back, worked my way up to 7th, was eyeing the group of 6th and 5th in front of me. I went down in a technical section ('cross skills aren't perfect yet) and bang. Game over. Drive home. Be mad for a couple days.

Anyway, I'm currently gearing up for the first round of USGP's which is in Madison. Then there's a bit of a break before Louisville, Boulder, New Jersey (possibly), and Jingle 'Cross. I'm also working on putting on a special race out here, which will be the first of its kind. The 2010 Scott CX Team is built with 2010 Force, but it needs to be tweeked. Doesn't look like I'll be racing this weekend, instead I'll be getting comfy on my new bike, and getting in some intervals. Later.

Tour of....no Cliff Drive Classic(?)

This one's for you Kurt, because I didn't realize anyone besides my mommy actually followed this.

Anyway, I will say this about 1-2 racing. It's faster than category 3's. You can say what you will about them just being "smoother". They are, and they are faster. If you don't belive me I have graphs and schematics (I don't know what schematics are but I have them) that prove that the Pro 1-2 races in Kansas last weekend were the fastest races I've done all year. They may have been nothing special, and they probably weren't to the "fast" guys but it hurt me.

I digress, I got the upgrade imbetween the category 3 and 1-2 race at the MO state Crit championships. I was frustrated with the tactics of the category 3's even though my poor performance was only due to my lack of initiative. I upgraded, I ran out of water 15 minutes into the 1-2 race, I bonked 16 minutes in, and I stuck in the pack until 45 minutes in. Not bad, it hurt, and I have nothing to show for it, but I liked it.

Last weekend was the Tour of KC. I posted up at one of my former Mesa and future KCCX/ Verge teammates Chris Wallace's house. It was really hot for the twilight crit Saturday, and the course was not forgiving. We started with about 60+ guys, we went fast. Austin A., Jensen, Joseph Schmalz, Phil Mann, Adam Mills, along with others lapped the field. Jensen won (shocker), then Joseph, and Austin at their heels. I finished in the peloton, over a lap down on the leaders, yay. I could hardly function after too, I can't imagine going over a lap faster. Long story short, Wallace and I hit up ihop around 10:30pm and crushed some food, that was rewarding. Sunday was even hotter, and started fast, I didn't move up. Its not that it wasn't possible because its ALWAYS possible you just have to do it, I just didn't have the energy to do it. I was dead, I didn't recover well and it was a whole new race to me. I learned a lot in two days of racing. I don't wish to share the life lessons because it is probably info I should have picked up a long time ago. So, thats all for now. I leave for Fort Collins in the morning, so I may blog from the road too. later

Soulard Criterium

This past Sunday was the legendary Soulard criterium. For those who are unfamiliar with Soulard, its where the Anhueser-Busch Brewery is and there's a large quantity of bars, along with some cool old houses. Anyway, the course was a ten turn up, down, back up and down to the finish. Yes, 10 turns. People talk about the course all of the time in the Missouri racing circuit. I started front row, knowing that the category 4's in the race would complicate matters and I could thin the field (as if I'm trying to lose as many air force riders as possible in 1 lap). I took off and nailed the climb full gas, and I did that for the first few laps everytime we would hit the long climb. I would look back and see a long line, so I knew I was doing some good or bad (depending on where you were). I didn't know until after the race that about half the field eventually dropped out and many were in the first 10 laps. I sat in for a bit, until the first $50 prime which I lost by half a wheel. Then I won the Bontrager Race Lite Aero wheelset prime which is sweet. Always need wheels. I sat in, making little accelrations for the rest of the race to keep myself out of trouble. I was behind 2 crashes and heard Devin go down right behind me. Paul (Gateway) went down in lap 1 and I was 4th wheel behind him and I narrowly avoided him. Another Momentum rider went down with 2 or 3 to go and I was 2 riders back. I was lucky to get to 1 to go. Anyway, I did and I was about 10 riders back. Then on the hill I went full gas and I got a gap. Scotty Hill said he tried to jump, but he said noone could close. Then Eduardo jumped across on the fals flat and we rolled that way thorugh the downhill turn, and he came around in the finishing straight. It came down to a bike throw and I thought he had gotten me, but I found out I got him by the width of a tire. I was pretty pumped, haven't won a crit in quite a while. I'm racing the STXC tonight and then taking the weekend off to prepare for the MO state champs weekend.