Logan VonBokel

new BLOG

2011-10-06T23:03:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty sure that at this point, there's approximately 2.5 people (besides my mom, THANKS MOM) who actually check this BLOG, but stop.

Go to my NEW BLOG!!!

It's way cooler because I update it, and everything.

Tulsa Tough Blue Dome - Day 1

2011-06-11T10:37:00.002-05:00

Been a long while since I posted, but my fitness hasn't recovered super fast from my separated shoulder, so I haven't wanted to do a lot of traveling without having complete confidence in my racing.

Anyway, I knew a front row start would make my life immensely easier last night, so I track-standed till the follow moto came around and I full-on sprinted onto his wheel and straight to the front row. TP rolled up behind me and, Nemo was behind him. I floated in the top 10 for the first 10 laps because I knew the carnage would happen then and at the tail end of the race. Right when I slipped back they started ringing primes. I missed them all, as there were only 3(?), then I started seeing lightning.

When we had 16 laps to go the lightning was getting dangerously close. After seeing 10 laps to go, we saw 5 to go. Game on. I was on TP's wheel, but he said he was out for the finish, so I floated in the top 25. The rain started with 3 to go. People just started falling down, or sitting up. With 1 to go, I was in ideal position, top 15 and feeling fresh enough to jump with 3 turns to go. Then, going into, not in the turn, but going into the 2nd turn 6th-20th fell on the ground. So I slid on my asss for 15 feet across the street. Race over, I hopped up and rolled through to the finish.

Today's crit in the Brady District should be fun, and again, I'll get a front row start to keep my life simple for the first part of that race. Off to wash bikes, and go for a coffee cruise.

CU and UW Weekend

2011-03-24T09:10:00.004-06:00

This past weekend was the Colorado University and Wyoming University crits weekend. Saturday we were in Boulder for a zero-turn crit in the Colorado Sunshine. Sunday we were in the ghost town that is Laramie, WY where it was 40, cloudy, and windy. Courses couldn't have been much different either. After Saturday's NASCAR'esque style circuit, Wyoming was a 6-turn course with a really cool chicane that could be railed if you were on the front and wanting to scare the 22 Fort Lewis riders who encompassed most of the field.

Being the first collegiate race of the season the CU race on Saturday had some pretty high nerves. Pace was constantly high as there were no turns, and little wind to slow down the field. I got away early in a 5 man break that dangled just off the front for 10ish laps. Zack got off too, but his big break was shut down by FLC. The officials started counting down laps from 30 Laps to Go. So we knew exactly when we needed to be at the front. Unfortunately, after an attack by Josh Yeaton (CU) with 3 to go, the whole field got reshuffled and I got pushed off Zack's wheel. Luckily Dylan took over, and with 1 to go Zack was on Luke Harris's wheel. Luke died just after the start of the lap. The pack lulled, and I gunned it. I was coming fast on Zack who was 3rd wheel, he heard me / I was yelling my lungs off, so he was on my wheel. The field didn't respond, but there were a few guys who did. I died with 200 meters to go, and Zack gotten nipped by the German-man-child Richard Geng. I held on for 6th as the rest of the field were still back at the last turn picking at one another's underpants.

The next day was in Laramie, Wyoming. 30 seconds in Zack got off the front with an FLC guy, who he dropped once they were a half lap up. I rode on the front for about 28 of the 31 laps we did, so I mostly controlled the group. I let another break of 4 roll up the road with a couple of our guys in it. 5 laps later, I got the code word from Whitney that Zack was getting close. So I drifted off the back, and in all their wisdom the rest of the field just watched me. Zack caught on and then it was on like gang busters, as the 4 man break was only 30 seconds behind Zack. So for the next 15 laps we 2-man-TTT'd the front of the field and pushed the break back to 45 seconds by the finish... Plenty of time to try and line up a sprint. I think I was 9th or 10th on the day, which I was happy with considering I was our lowest placed guy. We had FIVE guys in the top 10, plus the V. I'll take it.

Grey Rock

2011-03-02T15:23:00.008-06:00

About and hour and half in we got to the Plataea at 7,000ft. Adam asks "Where's the the elevator?"

Lang on the summit... and Fuzzy creepin' up behind me

The trails were a bit snowy in the shade, but still 45 degrees or warmer. Perfect for long sleeve tee shirts.

The Poudre River at the Trailhead just before sunset

it's almost here

2011-02-28T21:30:00.003-06:00

The road season is finally upon us. I know some of the guys have already started racing. Austin was at Froze Toes in Columbia, MO this past weekend and I think some of the Mercy boys will be down in Texas for the Lago Vista races this coming weekend.

I've been training hard. I know that I'm faster than I have ever been in February, thanks in part to Kevin Younger and Jonathan Garcia at AIC Training. Its just been great being injury free, and its amazing how much power I have when I'm not battling back problems and jacked up hip issues.

Anyway, this past week we've had some crazy weather. It snowed a lot, Thursday and all day Friday last week which meant to Oval ride on Saturday. So instead of riding in slush and being cold me, Fuzzy, Lang, and some girls went on a hike to Grey Rock up in the Poudre Canyon. It turned out to be an awesome day and it was 50 or better all afternoon. Hiking in tee shirts was better than any ride could have been in the slush too.

Stuff like this video from K-B-K, are getting me amped for the season. Especially watching Boonen roll the dice.

Like I said, the season is about to start. Saturday I'm doing a TT just outside of town here. Its a basic 14 mile out and back course. 1 turn-around, typically high winds, and its on a frontage road. I am just hoping to get a good gauge for my fitness, as the RMCCC racing starts in 2 weeks. A time of 26 minutes would make me happy, and it could get me an early top 3 as not many people typically race it. I hope they do, doing really well and beating no one wouldn't be any fun.

las vegas

2011-02-15T12:27:00.002-06:00

It’s been a while since I updated this thing. I updated my Your Group Ride journal back when I was in Tucson with the Rams Cycling Team. Tucson was where I first started getting in the miles for this coming road season. I have been training quite a bit at The Athletic Improvement Center, but I have mostly been working on improving my core strength so I can ride injury free all year.

I had a strange thought while I was in Tucson, that while I was just starting to train seriously on the road, my season would not come to an end for a full year in Madison at CX Nationals. That’s a long season, on all accounts, but its nice coming into my road season in good form, for once. To go out on these group rides, and ride with the guys who are going faster than they will all year is refreshing when I’ve only been riding base miles.

I spent this past weekend in Las Vegas with my parents. I had forgotten what it was like to go to the airport with zero baggage, just a carry-on suitcase. It was easy. Vegas was awesome. I want to go back, but not anytime right away. Seeing Garth Brooks and Zipp-Lining in Boot Leg Canyon were the highlights. Been listening to him with my dad since before I could remember. When I was much younger I hated country, but listening to the same Garth Brooks – Double Live CD everytime he would take me skiing when we lived in NY, made it grow on me. I suppose its like positive association, or some kind of psychology word.

Racing starts in about a month, and I’m dying to get after it. I haven’t raced, at all, since mid October. I’m pretty sure this is the longest I’ve gone, since winter ‘06-’07. As ’07 was the first year I did ‘cross nationals, on a borrowed bike, with all the wrong clothing, on frozen ruts in KC.

the next best thing to racing

2010-11-18T20:37:00.004-06:00

So many of you have been left out in the dark. Long story short: I crashed on a mtb the day after the Madison USGP. I jacked up my hand pretty bad "fracturing" my thumb. After never wearing my brace, and racing for 3 weeks the pain was more present than before. I see a hand specialist, get an MRI and it says the tendon pulled the bone away from the joint, thus the fracture the x-ray showed. I got surgery 2 days later to have pin put in my thumb to reattach the fractured bone and the tendon. This was the day before the UCI CO CX classic. Thus, the end of my 'cross racing.

No riding the week before surgery. No riding for 2 weeks after. Now I'm back on the bike and training for the road season... wait for it... in NOVEMBER!! Yeah, guess there's a first time for everything.

So, for the last couple UCI weekends I have been an excellent little worker bee. Which, I do enjoy. Gets me close to the race and I get to spend time with teammates and friends. Boulder Cup was a pretty easy weekend to work I did a lot of standing around "and just looking beautiful."

Now this past weekend, two weeks after UCI Boulder Cup was the Fort Collins USGP. A big weekend for our cycling community for my KCCX teammates. Joseph was using it to garuntee his spot at Euro Cross Camp, Shadd wanted to move up in the Masters 35+ race, and master mechanic Tom Price needed to break skulls in the 45+ race. All of which was accomplished.

The weekend started on Wednesday when Richard got into town. You've all seen Richard he drives that big Specialized truck to all of the USGP's. We went to the Rio for some burritos and margaritas and then hit a couple of bars in Old Town. Thursday we did much of the same except with the Mr. Myron Billy (T. Wells's mech). And no his name is NOT Billy Myron, its Myron Billy. I also got to hang out with Todd for a bit before we left their hotel. I even met the legendary Winston!

Friday the boys of KC got into town. We set up camp at the venue just across from the pits and the boys hit the course to get in a pre ride.Saturday came and it was SLOPPY. Made for some busy time in the pits. Especially during the 35+ masters race. GEEZ! Those guys pit every other lap, and for what appears to be, unneccassry. Fortunately, my teammates don't pit for fear of making there be another bike for me to wash. It was busy and sloppy going back and forth to the pit. Jordan from the Gear Movement had a good shot of the muddy power washers on Saturday.

Not pitting didn't faze TP at all on Sunday when he was the only Masters 45+, in the top 5, to not pit and he still crushed souls. Shadd followed him up on Sunday with another heroic ride, which saw him close a 15 second gap in half of the last lap after fighting back from more than 30 seconds down. He caught Mark Legg-Compton with less than half a lap to go, and attacked him past the pit the second time. I was thrilled to say the least. I was pumped, as was Shadd. Then the pro race came and everyone started falling down. T. Wells ate it over the barriers, according to Towle "Wells goes down... and he is NOT GETTING UP." Joseph went down too on the downhill took a good knock to the head and was in La--La land. We packed up quick, like a bunny, and were off to see Joey in the hospital. The Wells family got out of their first and Todd was okay but on crutches. Joey came out next with the results of his ct scan proving inconclusive.

Its awesome to be able to help even though I can't be out there. I really do enjoy just being at the races and its a very different feal when there's is zero pressure, but just work hard. The pits on Saturday courtesy of Jordan again. I'm standing a few barriers in facing left (down the hill).

PPV Supercross - Colorado Springs, CO

2010-09-21T23:42:00.002-05:00

Its official! The 'cross season has begun and lets pray that this was the worst race of the year.

The drive down with Brad and Salah was cool. We drove through Palmer Lake. A small town north of monument and it was really nice. We hadn't planned on sight seeing, but if we didn't get off the highway I was going to pee in one of the many empty bottle littered at my feet. Turns out there was no on-ramp where we got off. So we began our journey toward Palmer Lake. So much for getting there super early.

The venue was typical Colorado. Dust cloud looming over the park. Loose terrain that could only be described by Brad as "talcum powder and kitty litter." There weren't many people there. Brad and I were the ONLY Fort Collins racers throughout the entire day, so shame on everyone else.

Crazy Joe himself was there. In the flesh. He's pretty excited to hear about how well the races are doing in his absence. Says he may try and make it up and told me I need to come try my hand at the Worlds ride on Wednesday morning in BoCo. I think that would be too much suffering in a 20 hour period for me.

Anyway, the race started. Some old guy pinched me off before the first turn. I tried shoving my hood into his ass, but he wasn't budging. I passed some guys in one of the 3 off-camber, down hill turns and was moving up through the field in the double barrier section. Then, the same old guy swings his pedal into my front wheel. He tries being gentle, I get rough and almost rip his seat off as I separate our bikes. Bend my spoke, take a chunk of paint off my fork, and lose time. Shit. I chase some more. Pass people on the long finish climb, and proceed to slide out in turn 1. Drop my chain on the outside. Play with my bike for a while. Lose more time. And then get back after it. Somehow, I'm not in last place at this point, and with a field of only 15. That's just bad for everyone else. I got going again. Passed a few guys. Then flatted in lap 5. Rode out the flat. Pitted. And got going again. Got lapped right after getting back on my bike. Got a "love tap" from Brady as he blew by. I sat on him for a lap, bobbled. Then rode in. I eventually started catching back guys and passed 3 in the last lap.

Brad had a rough go too and crashed with 3 laps to go. Not a great start for the KCCX / Verge p/b Challenge Crew (CO ed.), but we're super excited for Madison next weekend. From the looks of the photo on Jeff Winkler's blog their weekend was less than stellar as well.

Thanks Mountain Moon for the photos!

Superweek Stage 3

2010-07-21T22:47:00.005-05:00

Today was the Lakefront road race here on Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee. One of the longer stages at 150k (about 90 miles). It had 2 climbs on the course, one twisty descent, and one bike path jaunt.

Pretty cool course right up against the beaches of Lake Michigan. The start was very very slow. Plenty of relaxing time in the first couple of laps for Zack and I to make the entire group laugh as we screamed at one-another from opposite sides of the peloton. 2 or 3 laps in the attacks were taken seriously, and the leaders would gutter the entire field after the twisty descent, before the second climb. Like clockwork, everyone would sit up 400m before the climbs and everyone would catch back on, or so I thought. I kept assuming I was near the back, though I never heard the follow moto. When I did go to the back with only 2 laps left I was shocked to see we had a very very small pack. Did everyone quit when all the money rode away? No training?

I sat in most of the first half of the race. Joseph followed attacks like a mad-man. With 10 to go he was in a big chase group trying to close on the 13 leaders who would never be caught. Adam told me I was on. So on the descent, I tucked and zoomed up to the front, easily. Once I was there though, the easy-ness ceased. Attacks kept coming and I jumped on as much as I could. Another group developed between the 1st chase and the main pack and I was on the front of the pack motoring to the second chase group who had just a few seconds. The yellow and red jersey were both in that group. If you had told me 2 years ago (or even at the beginning of this year), that I would be on the front of the peloton at Superweek, guttering it and holding a group with the leader jerseys at bay, I would have told you that you're f'ing NUTS. Somehow both Monday and yesterday I started feeling good right around the hour and a half or 2 hour mark. So maybe I have better form than I think.

The two chase groups got swallowed up at the end of that lap. I sat in 10 guys back behind the Garnaeu guys. Tim Johnson (who was rocking his 'cross shoes and pedals!) attacked going off the bike path. Joseph was all over him and those two were clear. The red jersey leader, waved at me and yelled something in German as I sat up after he pulled off the front. I retorted with, "I aint chasin' that! Tim motha-f***'n Johnson is up there!" Plus Joseph, who I was really blocking for. I coasted on the front till we hit the first climb again, Menzies attacked, Cole House the red jersey, and a few others followed, and we all sat up. That was it. With 4 laps to go we chattin' it up. I was pretty blown from all the jumping I did in a 3 lap time frame so I was just happy to sit in till the finish. Of course Hack didn't want to just sit in, but I couldn't sprint him yesterday as I did not have my massive sprinter's stem on my bike, and I snap everything else so I just finished in the group.

It's been pouring all morning so we're debating to race or not to race today. IMAX sounds more appealing after yesterday.

Papillion Twilight Criterium

2010-07-11T09:59:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we made the 3 hour drive north to Papillion, Nebraska for their Twillight Criterium. A figure 8 with 3 fast corners.

It was a huge day for Mercy Elite Cycling on Saturday. Our resident hard man, Tom Price, won the Masters 50+ crit earlier in the day after lapping the field solo. Then the P/1/2 race kicked off at 8pm.

We had a full roster with myself, Joseph Schmalz, Shadd Smith, Adam Mills, and Tom. After looking at the start list we knew our biggest competitor would be the Midwest Cycling Community guys Jay and Kent. Our goal was simple, 1st and 2nd place at all costs and try to pack 4 into the top 5.

An early break with Joseph, Adam, and Jay Thomas got away a few laps into the 60 minutes. Shadd bridged up a lap later with Kent McNeill and then they were gone. Tom and I played defense in the field for the remainder of the race. Team Chaos would try to get organized on the front. Tom would sit 2nd or 3rd wheel just to disturb their rotation. I sat a few more wheels back and jumped on stuff trying to get away from the field and go across. Nothing went. Tom took both of the primes, and with 2 to go Joseph lapped the field dropping us down to 1 to go.

He came blazing through the field. Yelled "Logan!" I assumed that he wanted me to lead him to the front. I was unaware that his breakaway companions were nowhere near him. He was going mach 10 into the first turn and I just held on for the rest of the lap. All I had to do was sprint the last 100m to take the field sprint. Shadd dropped the rest of the break, and Adam wrapped up the break. Tom hung tough in the field for 10th even after a win earlier in the day and 2 hard fought primes.

It was just an awesome day. As Craig Bissel put it after the race "you guys did a text book team effort." Hearing that is better than getting the win. All in all, we took 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 10th. 5 guys in the top 10 and taking all 4 primes between the field and the break. It was a great night wrapped up by some stellar Mexican food and stories from Shadd about frolicking in his youth.

flying

2010-05-11T23:10:00.001-05:00

The human people all want the same thing; they want to be what they weren't meant to be. We want to live forever, we want to swim like fish, and we want to fly. Humans have been trying to recreate these phenomenons with little luck.

For me, bombing Rist Canyon, aiming at a curve while the outside edges are lined with a wall of rock, and just barely hanging on is the closest feeling I have to flying.

We all do the same thing; tighter tuck, check the speedo, drop your head. There it is, 55mph. My thoughts are now overtaken by another voice. That voice that used to tell me to skate right at an opponent and just hope I don’t hit my head, or my knee, or my back in the wrong way. That same voice that these days tells me to shoot the gap in the last lap and sprint for 10^th instead of settling for 12^th.

Here comes the turn grab the brake, no too much. "Let it go, let it go!" Why won’t my fingers listen to the little voice on my shoulder? He keeps coaching me in my ear, “you can go faster, you can get closer to that feeling that the ‘Big Guy’ never wanted you to have. Listen to me, I’ll take you there.” And I do listen and the feeling of flying takes me. I rail the turn, the rear tire skips on a tiny pebble, but I’m good I’m already 100 feet past it. There’s the voice again “Forget about that, this section is even faster.” No tight corners, just fast flowing bliss. My tires rub back and forth across my lane, not because I fear the oncoming traffic that I can clearly see is not present, but because keeping this in one lane makes it that much more challenging. That much more divine. I maintain all of my speed through the curves. I sit back on the saddle and readjust for what’s next.

Another turn coming up, this time the voice is screaming as I squeeze those little paddles of carbon beneath my fingers. I give in, I let go, I grab again, I let go. Screw it, I switch my hand positions. Can’t get at the brakes now. I can make this. “Yes you can make this, swing out… Now cut it!” I take it too wide, I squeeze the brakes, now even the little guy is panicking. Tires scraping the chat on the outside of the lane. I regain my balance and I’m back on to the road.

Last two turns, back-to-back and I’m down. Better make these count. Doing 40 down the yellow line. I buzz a school bus, and it gives off a draft slowing me drastically. “Kick it. Come on kid. Kick it.” I jump out of the saddle 3 quick pedal strokes, nope one too many, 2 strokes. Back into the saddle, switch pedals and plant all my weight on that left foot. Two more quick spins. Cut the last turn at mach 1 and it opens up after the apex.

Its over. My brain is functioning again, after not processing anything for the last 15 minutes. What was that voice? Its probably the same voice that was is that reptile that told Adam that he would be way cooler if he ate that funky apple in the garden (if you believe in that sort of thing). These days its known as the voice of competitiveness. I think we all have it. Its just a matter of what your own little devil wants you to achieve. Money, fame, godlyness, it doesn't matter. Every devil is unique as the person who's shoulder they post-up on.

facing facts

2010-04-19T14:41:00.001-05:00

I read a tweet by Adam Myerson this past weekend, “Sometimes bike racing is like a future ex-wife. You do everything it asks, and it still kicks you in the nuts and makes you feel like s**t.”

That is how I feel after this weekend. Broken and mangled by something that I work hard to succeed at. Myerson’s update was published after he got dropped out of the Tour of the Battenkill, on a 40 degree and raining day. Which is weather not too unlike our crit on Saturday at USAFA except we only raced for an hour, not 5.

My crit lasted less than an hour though. With the freezing temps and not bringing any good rain-racing, warm clothes I was left cold and wet. The race started, I jumped hard to try and warm up in the first couple of laps. I chased down an early break on the long uphill and then I started to feel it. The pain, not coming from my hamstrings, but shooting down my IT band and across my knee. My fingers started going numb and amidst all the pain, I sat up, drifted out of the tail end of the race and quit. Normally, on a rainy day I’m more psyched than a 5^th grade girl at the American Girl store, but Saturday was not my day.

This knee pain started in January. 4 months ago in Tucson I started getting shoots of pain that wrap across the front of my knee and stop my pedaling all together. I had hoped that it would heel quickly and I wouldn’t be dealing with it very long. Well, 17 weeks have gone by since the pain started and its only mildly better than it was.

Now I’m in this hole, unable to see a way out. In the road race yesterday I felt awesome! I was on the front riding tempo on the false flats to the first climb and then chasing down the solo FLC rider with Dylan and Fuzzy, still feeling good. Then I missed a shift, gears skipped and my knee slipped. That was it. The pain shot through my knee and that was the end of my day. I soft pedaled to the car trying not to push it anymore than I had to and I quit again.

I have no one to blame, but myself. I should have taken more time off. I should have stretched 3 times a day. I shoulda woulda coulda. I don’t see myself racing anytime soon. Riding will consist of going so easy moms pulling both of their toddlers in a Burley will pass me. But I’ll come back stronger and smarter.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T22:56:00.001-05:00

I have been on a bit of a hiatus from the blogosphere (sp?). Anyway, I shouldn't even be typing right now. I should be finishing my warm-up for the CO School of Mines criterium. Alas, I'm sick and not racing today in favor of an additional 3 hours of sleep and maybe some quiet time in celebration of the holiday of the rabbit... or is it the colored egg, I always forget.

Since my last entry I have been racing, reporting, and studying. Unfortunately my racing, if you would like to call it that, has taken a bit of a hit due to illness injury and life. Fortunately, I reminded myself at the Oval Criterium two weeks ago that I can still race my bike. I gave Zack a stellar lead out that resulted in him taking the field sprint. To be honest I thought for sure he was going to lose it as I lead the entire last lap and Zack had to jump around me with 300+ meters still to go. It really wasn't a stellar lead out either, but good enough, since it was me for the entire last lap. Hopefully, this is a sign that he, and myself, can still put in a solid effort with Collegiate nationals quickly approaching.

I raced yesterday too, for a short while anyway. I did the Koppenberg circuit race down in Superior, CO. The wind was crazy. No it was crazy! This stuff was ridiculous, maybe even by Kansas standards. Port-a-potties blowing over, crazy. I sat in for the first bit and attacked the first time up the climb. In hopes of creating a more selective group, but once over the top noone would work. I lead the next lap as well, but took a bad line and eventually fell over into a dirt pile. After leap-frogging every chase group and a few un-suspecting pedestrians' cars I was back in the first group. Once, back in the group I couldn't catch my breath, even with the sub-leisurely pace, I couldn't stop coughing. Bad stuff, and I eventually got popped the next time up the climb. Short race. Rolled around for another hour and was amazed at how many of those "pro" guys had dropped out of their races too. Must have been their tires. Should have gone with Challenge.

So here I sit wondering if I could have stuck it out in the crit today. Probably could have. Probably wouldn't have done my immune system any good. So, I'll get ready for the CC criterium (because Zack "really wants to win") and the Boulder Roubaix. Laters

USGP - Mercer Cup Roundup

2009-11-18T12:36:00.004-06:00

Sunday's race came around much too quickly after the mud on Saturday. Spent most of the morning packing up and loading, unloading, and reloading cars. Its truly incredible how big of a mess we can make in such a limited amount of time. My bike's shifting was freaking me out a little bit before my race. Luckily I tracked down Tom, who won earlier in the day (!), and he was more than able to straighten everything out. I'm reminded regularlly how lucky I am to have his and Bil's support at races.

The course was interesting. Crazy ruts and some huge banks in turns. Made choosing your line imperitive to holding the speed of TJ, who was kicking out a leg (moto cross style) and taking a downhill corner at Mach 10 thanks to the inside banking. There were still sections of mud that had hardened up so that you could get traction, but the mud clawed its way onto your bike and tried to pull your wheels into its speed killing mixture. Tires were a hard choice. I was wishing I had some file treads with me to run, David, said his were hooking up good and shedding mud all at the same time.

Anyway, I got my typical starting position. Crammed into the 5th or 6th row, but this time the seas parted and I saw the light after the whistle blew. I was on the left side, and for the first time I could actually see the leaders taking the hole shot. I was sitting pretty, right on David's wheels, and right next to Troy or Brady. I held my position for the first half lap, but when I hit the sticky stuff my body didn't have it. My back was doing more work than my legs and my back eventually was nothing more than a ball of strained muscle tissue. I had to come to the realization that if I didn't back off the gas, I wasn't going to be walking the following day.

I did take my foot off the accelerator, it sucked. I finally loosened it up and picked up some speed a couple laps later, but by that time the damage had been done. TJ was closing in one me and my motivation was fading. It sucks from having a good race the day before, and fighting tooth and nail to not progress from your starting spot. Then having a kick-ass start and not being able to hold on to any of it. Tough realizations for sure.

Now, I'm just relaxing. Rebuilding both bikes, and my body so that they'll be in good shape in 10 days for Jingle 'Cross. I've got a long drive ahead of me this weekend, always a good time driving through Kansas.

USGP #5 - New Jersey

2009-11-14T19:59:00.008-06:00

As usual, thanks to Lyne at PodiumInSight.com

Today was MUDDDY. It wasn't soupy muddy it was the kind of mud where the grass was shredding and it was impossible to keep the bikes cleared of the gunk. It was great to have my new Challenge Fangos. It was a rush to get them so late in the season, but this was the first race that I REALLY needed them and hearing Dave say that they (Plan C) just got their Challenge tubies too made me realize how backed up Challenge has really been. Geuss its not a secret they're importing some of the best tires. Got our new Verge thermal skinsuits with the tires, oh-my-god. They're soooo warm and toasty very nice to have in the gloomy climate.

What made the race for me today was getting that fresh bike from Tom and Bill every half lap. Not to mention I was being handed a SCOTT CX Money Machine without a doubt the most unbelieveable bike I've ever ridden, and I've been on 2 different S-Works Carbon Tricross's...they don't stand a chance against this bike. This thing just floated over the nasty stuff. Plus having the same amazing tires was "spot on."

I got a pretty bad start, missed my pedal several times. I moved up as much as I could in the first stretches, but the swisty sections were as Joseph put it, "parking lots." Too many square pegs trying to fit into a round hole. Anyway, I didn't have any major bobbles and I certainly handled myself better in the mud than I did in Boulder 2 weeks ago. Not sure of my result. 55th I think, but the U23 results are all screwed up on CyclingNews so I don't know what to believe. A lap down, sucks, but I know I'm improving. Speaking of improving; Summerhill, and McDonald. Wow.

Morale of the story, the new equipment is amazing and the aroma of the belgian waffle stand was primo. The Fangos, the Verge skinsuit, and the easton wheels all amazing. SCOTT Addict CX... git ya some!

Waiting and waiting

2009-11-14T08:23:00.002-06:00

I've been doing lots of waiting here. Waitied for over 3 hours in DIA till my plane took off. Now we're waiting to head to the race.

Marshall, Tom Price, and Chris have already headed to the course. Tom is the 3rd race of the day and Chris races right after him. Joseph and I will likely head to the race and watch LB go, but thats 2 hours from now. I'll get some more studying done. The rain is coming down lightly but the amount of moisture already on the ground will make today very very muddy.

Ran into TJ last night at Whole Foods. He played down his chances of winning, and said he didn't even know Trebon was talking smack on the inter-web...yeah right. Anyway, nice guy. It was a convention last night at whole foods. TJ, Jesse, Kabbush, and C-Dub were all present.

Boulder Cup Weekend

2009-11-01T22:48:00.003-06:00

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

2009-10-20T16:18:00.004-05:00

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

2009-10-13T22:18:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-29T23:51:00.008-05:00

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

2009-09-16T11:56:00.003-05:00

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(?)

2009-08-15T22:01:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-23T16:23:00.002-05:00

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.

Alipine Shop Dirt Crit #3

2009-07-19T11:37:00.003-05:00

Have to thank The Alpine Shop in Kirkwood again for the demo bike. I got to the race good and early to set up the demo bike and it felt pretty good. There was some rain which made for some rather slick spots out on course and the exit from the creek was hard to hit just right. The race started fast and I knew if I didn't cross the creek in the top 5 I could say goodbye to Ploch. Well I made it across in 3 and Bob (DRJ) was struggling in front of me. I latched on to him. Then attacked after the start of lap 2. My front wheel was feeling strange and as I looked down I realized the skewer was coming OFF. Not good. I got across the creek and then pulled over to tighten it down. I dropped back to 7th or 8th and had to chase like a mad man just to regain contact with 3rd. I wasn't able to shake Wes (DRJ) and Zach (Mesa) so I rode the last lap too conservatively. Finished a dissapointing 4th. I know I can do better this week. Almost to the Soulard crit, should be cool since I've never done it before. I hear its hard.

MO State Road Race

2009-06-22T11:02:00.002-05:00

This is the happiest I was all day.

reinstating the obvious

2009-06-07T16:20:00.002-05:00

In the last couple weeks I went to Tulsa, and now I'm in the car on our way back Columbia and the Rhetts Run xc mtb race.

News flash, I can't take a flat sprint and I can't ride a cross-country race.

Tulsa wasn't all bad. I made some mistakes especially on the first night when I let the winning solo move just get away and when I was in no-mans-land I just sat up and let the pack catch us because I didn't like the guys in my break. I should have attacked again to get across, I was flatter than water on saturday, but on Sunday I made some legs hurt. I pounded it up the climb every chance I got and I got some prime money out of my efforts and I rounded out the top 10.

Today I did the Expert race at Rhetts Run because I didn't think a result in the sport race was worth anything. I ate it twice in the first 400 meters, but I kind of expected that with it starting with a downhill. I had all but thrown in the towel, but when I hammered it up the climbs I could see riders from my race, so I started to pick up the pace and just as I was feeling good my wheels washed out from under me on a greasy log bunny-hop. Landed on my shoulder fairly hard and its still sore. I'll put in some efforts this week and get ready for Winghaven. The MO state road race is a possibility for me. We'll see.

Pardon my spelling I did this update in my mom's car from my Pre.

Wheels over Wildwood

2009-05-27T20:01:00.005-05:00

I'm finally updating this thing. I came very close to deleting it, but I decided to not crush it, instead I'm restoring it...again.

I'm not going to talk about what went on in the past 4 months because I don't feel like typing it all.

However, I will recap the weekend's happenings. I decided to skip out on Quad Cities. I was not registered for the snake, I didn't want to start last row, and I needed to work on Monday leaving little-to-zero time for travel to and from Iowa. Instead I raced here in the St. Louis region. We had a 20k TT on Saturday and a crit/circuit race on Sunday, plus an omnium for both.
I had zero knowledge or experience on the TT course Saturday, and frankly I was nervous. I rode twice in the week before, but I felt strong doing some openers on Friday. Plenty of rest means good legs right?
I got in a solid warm-up out on the road, and I waited my turn in the start line. Justin pulled through and let me borrow his new 808 front, thanks again. I felt fast, I looked fast, now I just needed to go fast.The course was twisty with shade in spots and I nailed it. I cut every apex of every corner, keeping the tightest of tucks. I crossed the line knowing what Shawn had gone in and I thought he had beaten me by 40 seconds, but apparently I was quite wrong and I beat him by 10 seconds. I topped 2nd place by a mere 1.5 seconds. I know the aero front and the handling skills made that extra second. It felt good to finally get a W.

The following day was the crit and the conclusion of the omnium for the weekend. I knew I was leading and I wanted to keep it. I marked my guys and had some help in the field. Everything came back and I was fresh for the sprint...wait...oh yea that thing we didn't really do AT ALL. I totally screwed this up. We came through the final round-about on the last lap and I knew that we had gone faster the lap before, but I sat, and sat, and sat in until someone else jumped then I had to close ground. Why did I not just jump before the round-about? Good question. Hopefully, Tulsa will be as easy as that crit, but I'm not counting on it. Anyway, I got 6th, coulda-woulda-shoulda won, but I get 3 more shots this week, and I won the omnium. I'll try to update every day, but I think we all know how that goes.

For any Ricky Bobby fan

2009-02-18T10:24:00.003-06:00

Tour of California: Stage 3 - TJ's Gloves from j. dunn on Vimeo.

I did steal this from Embrocation's blog, but only because I thought it was too funny. Especially since TJ knows he's about to start 4+ hours in the miserable rain, and he's still in great spirits. Great guy. Plus, he's sponsored by Red Bull, which I view as pretty pimp since its typically the x games types getting those contracts.
I'm just jealous he gets a sick flat bill for the podium. Maybe we could make something dope for CSU with the Specialized logo, for those money shots? ....yes I did just use as many snowboarder-esque terms as I could

there was more than one winner today...

2009-02-14T21:09:00.008-06:00

Mark "Sprint Ace" Cavendish, wins most pro looking with suuuper low bars, kinda wide extensions, and a hypnotic disc

No surprise here, but Rock Racing gets most absurd looking in every aspect

BMC gets best TT bikes, if not for the Flat White/Black, then for the siiick DT Swiss Wheels, or for that dank crank. (yes I rhymed on purpose)

Levi's bike wins second ugliest TT bike (Rock was first). Good Cali idea, poor execution. A bit more colors would have drastically helped, less yellow please.

Another shocker, Lance was given the "Most Courageous Rider Award". Shouldn't that have gone to a guy who was coming back against the odds, and wills of every anti-doping advocate, then crashed on Thursday, but still finished within 30 seconds of the Olympic Champ? I do admire Lance, and I do recognize him as the best Tour de France racer ever, but I believe he got this award because the promoters wanted to put Lance on the podium, and that's unfair to everyone involved. I'm sure he felt that others may deserve that award over him too, for other reasons that some of us may never know.

Look out for Stybar

2009-01-30T21:03:00.002-06:00

I may have to make a slight change in my Word's picks. Zdeneck Stybar seems to be a much larger threat than I thought, even after Diegem.
I'm only saying this after seeing the motor pacing documentation. On a dry (or frozen) day, I think he could take the bands.

well...at least its colorful

2009-01-26T10:15:00.004-06:00

but I think there may be a bit too much going on here.

I like sram, I like Fizik, and I love Jelly Beans. Somehow when you add that all together it seems a bit much. Regular Zipp wheels would help to balance out the overload of graphics, I think.

bringing the fire in the cold

2009-01-25T20:26:00.004-06:00

Its cold again, and tomorrow I fear that classes are starting for reals. Last week was fairly laid back, with only 3 days of classes, its hard for the teachers to get much in. This week lessons will begin and reading will resume.
I'm more excited about my classes this semester than last. I feel like my classes this semester are much more me, and not so basic, boring, stuff that every freshman has to hammer out.
Yesterday was a blast on the mountain bikes. It was kinda cold at first, but the 300 feet of elevation gain in the first miles warmed us up right quick. Caley was pretty much designated leader, with Jon V. close on him the whole way. While Erick and I would dangle between them and the girls, but only if Meredith or Amanda screwed up enough to allow us by. We pounded out 3+ hours and unlike a mtb ride in Castlewood, we actually covered some serious ground rather than doing circles.
Skiing has been great and if things go according to plan I'll get to go to Breckenridge on Friday and Winterpark on Saturday or Sunday. Now that I've got a helmet, I think I'll be a bit more daring in the terrain park. So hopefully I'll have some rad videos in the near future.Thats my buddy Noah, I think I've got some vids of him on rails and doing a switch 360 in the park at Winterpark.

OUCH indeed

2009-01-24T11:59:00.004-06:00

Not sure what to make of these kits. Do they resemble the Maxxis mountain bike kits to anyone else?
For now I think they're rather hideous.

2009-01-18T21:04:00.003-06:00

I'm making my pick for the WC's. I'm sure those like Mar Mar and Matt James will tear my picks apart, but I don't see them having the pair to make their picks public.

1) Sven
2) Niels Albert
3) Stybar
4) Lars
5) Vervecken or Klaas Vantornout

I'm a Sven guy, maybe Lars should be further up, but I tend to disagree with some of prima donna mannerisms.

The ride for 2009 is just about ready, it does need some go fast wheels. Right now its all Shimano 7800 with SRM PCIV, TRP R960 brakes, Ritchey WCS aluminum stem and bars, Time RXS Carbon pedals, and Selle Italia Concor Light.

Still rockin' on the ILL' side

2009-01-10T19:33:00.002-06:00

Yes, the cast over my thumb has been removed and I can finally "hug myself", as Wenger nation put it.

Unfortuunately, I don't feel that my new found freedom has made me much more productive. I did get to rip on the Tricross for a couple hours on Thursday, immmediatly after having my cast removed. My uber-warm clothing kept me toasty, but the trails were frozen and rutted. Towards the end of my ride some spots were thawed and sloppy enough to make my rear wheel spin like it should have been in a lil' Jon video. Ysterday in the 50 degree bliss we had here, I was able to get in over 2 hours on the bike. A feet I hadn't acheived in quite a while. Needless to say I'm pretty sore and I need to do an equally hard ride tomorrow. The fields and corn silos were dearly missed by me.

I'm super motivated for my collegiate road season which starts in 7 weeks. A whole weekend of crits at the end of February should be sweet. Then there's a TT and/or TTT every weekend after. Can't wait to break out the ole' Felt. Look out for our long sleeve skinsuits, they're hot.

2008

2009-01-02T08:18:00.002-06:00

This past year was nothing special, but there were a few memorable moments. Let's review. Shall we?

Froze Toes - More flats than any road race, I've ever seen. Never before have I gone back to the wheel vehicle to have them tell me that they had no wheels. Chris Wallace won.

Hillsboro - The usual sufferfest, except this year I paid for not paying attention, screwed up my knee in turn after bouncing it off the ground and almost taking out 90% of the field. Chris Wallace won.

Hermann - Great new race, took third in the TT (best result of '08). Cramped up in the road race while blocking the whole road (sorry old guys, but its your own fault). Chris Wallace won.

Joe Martin - uuhh...I should wear a helmet at all times. o and Chris Wallace won.

Fitchburgh - I suffered more than ever in the road race, and decided that a stage race sick is hardly a race. The Australian mini-beast himself won.

MO State TT - I nearly died in my first 40K. OK, not really but a slow leak front tire, and enormous wind is a bad combo. The old sandbagger won.

Superweek - Top 20 in 5 out of the 7 races in enormous fields everyday (don't old guys have to go to work?). None of us crashed. The national champ tried to buy my Oakleys off my head. And the Downer Ave. crit. maybe be the coolest crit. in the USA. Lots of people won.

Gateway Cup - Henk Vogels wore my helmet. Kevin Moore won the last day, and that's all I care to remember.

My firs 'cross race in CO - I learned what altitude means, and how to race on that dusty, sandy, dry ground.

Frisco 'Cross - I raced with Katie Compton at 9,000 feet and couldn't breathe for many days.

Boulder Series - I raced for my first time with an Olympian, and I got schooled.

Boulder Cup - Goat heads suck. I need a better chainring set up, bring on the single ring.

Boss of 'Cross in Golden - I hateeee goat heads. 2 Flats

Bubba in the Dark - I learned that an A race is not the same as an elite race, and I can hang with these guys. 14th after going far slower than I should have in the opening laps, in the end I got caught by my cold.

Jingle Cross Rock - top 10, after learning how to ride the off camber 4 laps later than what would have been helpful. Turns, out I bent my derailuer hanger in warmup, shifting was screwed, chain broke. Chris Wallace won.

Nationals - I could have done better, but I made some bad decisions in both races. I still got a medal for my efforts. Nick Weighall, and Will Duggan won.

tales from Kansas City

2008-12-18T12:46:00.004-06:00

I'm desperately in need another break so I'll tell two quick tales from the Embassy Suites in Kansas City, KS.

The first was a first hand experience, and after reeding J-Pow's recent journal on VeloNews, I must say that I had to chuckle on how he failed to mention this.
I was in my hotel room stretching before bed on Saturday night. Our room door was open and it looks directly out to the elevators. When I hear a familiar voice and sure enough J-Pows is right there in his puffy Cyclocross World Patagonia vest, and jeans. He was going out, with 3 women, the night before the national championships. O to be a wanna-be Euro pro. He was talking about how the elevators were from the arctic and they moved like glaciers (which they did). I think it was Mar-Mar who said he may be going out to DJ, which would be very "non-Nys", yet still very "Pro". He remains as the coolest CX racer, maybe bike racer, in my mind.
The other story is that of Alex Grman's, but his lack of a blog allows me to steal it. This is how he told the story. He was sitting on the ground outside of the elevator Saturday night, talking on his phone. When the doors open, and what should appear but the two Kona Towers. I would assume Grman was starring, which just about any person would do if they see those two together. Someone got off of the elevator and as it closed Wicknasty B, flipped the bird to Grman, in a very "what-you-gunna-do?" sort of way. Maybe Barry was upset about the paparazzi shots we took at Noodles & Co. earlier that day.

Send Chris Wallace to Belgium!

2008-12-16T21:03:00.003-06:00

Go Here!

lots to recap

2008-12-15T14:55:00.003-06:00

First off, final exams suck...so I'm taking a mental health break and re-living one of the better weekends of racing I've had all season.
Let me start off with the weekend before nationals. Instead of competing in a state championship like most other riders, I opted to train at 12,000 ft. at Copper Mountain Ski Resort.
As you can see it was overcast and a bit chilly, but on the runs that were open there was a foot of powder and some good moguls in areas. I was having a blast and really feeling the burn, until Noah, who lives down the hall, said we could cut through some trees. He dropped in first and disappeared. I dropped in and sunk up to my knees in powder. After digging myself out I managed to get going through some not-quite-deep-enough snow and I eventually ran into a tree and tore the tendon that attaches my thumb to my index finger. To be honest I was happy that that's all I endured in that gladed hell.
I saw the doctor, they put me in a soft splint and told me I would be needing surgery to re-attach the tendon. I had them show me how to tape my hand to brace it for the 'cross races and I'm on my way to Kansas City.
I got to the course Friday with enough time to see Jonathan throw down and get 6th in his jr. race. The course was in a bad way, very slippery and grassy crap was clogging up everything. Then the 17-18's started and they were throwing down. Wallace stood tough and pulled out a 5th in a very competitive, hard fought race. I could tell the course was tough, the climb was about a half a lap long. I got Russ's bike from Matt Pence. This thing is SICK! It was crazy light, every time I would pick it up I felt like I was about to throw it over the highway. The tubies rode like a dream and the difference between the tubies and my Challenge clinchers was night and day on the down hill technical stuff. It was awesome, and I was glad the course dried out so that I could use it.
I knew the U23 race was going to be fast so I took a couple of hot laps and got a feel for the course, which was perfect for me. Saturday morning I got up early to get my oatmeal in me and seeing Selander eat a whole bowl of Cottage cheese a few hours before our race was interesting to say the least. I got my hand taped, legs embrocated and psi set. After a bit of confusion Alex Edwards was nice enough to take my bike into the pit for me which was comforting to say the least.
I lined up in the second row, right behind Summerhill, and Kappius. The race started fast, and I had decent position, though not as good as I had hoped going into the first turn. A Rad Racing NW rider and I were battling for position and he ended up getting his tiny little red bike under my thigh and forcing me into the metal post on the chicane before the whoops. I got a bloody finger, ten spots gone, along with my focus for a brief second. Schamlz sat on my wheel then attacked on the climb leaving me with a line of riders behind and a big gap to close, to catch back up to Matt Brandt.I went back and forth with a few riders and ended up getting lapped, just before seeing 1 to go. Which sucked or many reasons, first I never go in to a race just hoping to not get lapped (for that matter people who have that attitude or know they're going to get lapped need to learn how to ride a bike or don't start the race), also because I wrongly assumed Selander was close to the lead and when I saw that he was a few minutes behind me I let off the gas going past the pits and through the barriers on my supposed 2nd to last lap. Thinking I had a whole lap to make up some more ground. But, Weighall was killing it ahead of everyone else, and he blew past me just before the second staircase. A disappointing 32nd was the result.Sunday was promising to be interesting. Thankfully, I miss understood the weather report and expected the end of my race to be much colder than the beginning. So I had plenty of clothes while the women did not. I was chosen to be the 4th of the 5 called up for CSU, so I started in the second to last row. The gun went off and I shot out, quickly catching Fuzzy, and John V. Then the staircase hit and someone knocked the skewer out of Caley's rear wheel, and I was now the first rider for our team, but I was still in 30th. I picked off a few and John V caught up to me and we were able to work together for a while. I gave everything I had, unfortunately a few bad decisions and one mechanical kept us off of the team podium.
I can't say that I'm happy with the weekend because I knew that anything less than a podium appearance would be disappointing. I do know what I need to work on, and next year I plan to pursue a much more complete CX calendar. I'm planning to renew my dormant UCI license and maybe start a few races with these guys.

in case you missed it...

and on we go

2008-12-05T10:34:00.002-06:00

I haven't said much because I haven't been happy about much and don't want to put my bad mood on the 3 (maybe for 4) people who read this/check it bi-monthly.
Boulder Cup was a huge disappointment, starting in the back on a super technical course on day 1 that saw me suffer a semi-flat tire. Day 2 ended less than 2 minutes after it started due to a crash and f'd chain.
The races back home were good. Its great to get to race against people I actually know and its encouraging having people yelling for me at every obstacle. I didn't do great, but knowing how sick I was for that first weekend, tells me that I've got a whole orther gear.
Nationals are just over a week away, so its time to ski. Study, race, repeat.
I'll try to post some pics from the slopes tomorrow.
By the way, we have almost a half foot of white goodness on the ground.

It's coming!!!

2008-10-27T17:35:00.003-06:00

Boulder cup is 5 days away. Saying that I'm ready would be an understatement. I could round-house kick my way through a steel door, and steal a Segway from a student police officer, I'm that prepared.
Yesterday was the best I felt yet about a cyclocross race so far this season. I started mid pack, because of my lack of ACA points, which I think is dumb, because I fly by the people who've "earned" ACA points, within the first few laps. I moved up a lot in the 2nd and 3rd lap after making some poor mistakes, as always, during the first lap. I knew I was in the top 20 (of 55ish finishers). Then with 2 laps to go, I felt my back tire getting squishy. Not having a bike in the pit sucks! Not having someone ready with wheels sucks, but not quite as bad. Having idiots standing around in the wheel pit taking pictures, that's the worst. So rather than dodge idiots to get a new wheel, I decided I'd ride it until I couldn't. I was within reach of the top 10, in the form of a small group 15-20 seconds in front of me. In the last lap and a half I saw them slip away, and a group 3 regain contact with me. I'm not pointing fingers but it was all the goat head's fault. I had airlock tubes and still ended up with a slow leak, luckily there was so much sand my low tire didn't hurt me any in it. Just on some of the faster hardpack stuff.
With .5 laps to go the Vitamin Cottage rider got away as a DU rider in front of me watched him do it. Then the DU kid got tangled with another rider riding through the sand switch backs, I hit the gas and held on for dear life through the pavement and across the line for a 16th. Super, I get 4 points and 5th row spots at Boulder Cup, just what I wanted. At least I know I'll have a neutral bike or at least a wheel change should the little devil thorns strike again, but I doubt they will I think I picked the remaining 2 bagillion out of my tires today.

Colorallege

2008-08-03T08:41:00.004-05:00

I should have probably updated this about a month or two ago, but I didn't want to.
Those of you who read this probably know, I moved on out here to this Colorado front range. Fort Collins to be exact, and I love it. School sucks, literally it sucks up all of my time. I have gotten in a few solid rides here and there, 'cross races against Olympians, and my first handful of Collegiate Cycling action.
I won my first ever Collegiate Cycling event at our home STXC B race. Now I'm an A, and I got the chance to race at nationals, but I only got a start slot for the XC and I know I'm not fast enough to compete in the XC with the nation's best, while I can sometimes bluff it in the STXC.
I've done some cool 'cross races, and some not-so-cool ones. The first Boulder series race was cool, and I lined up against Georgia Gould, which was kind of cool too. I followed her for the first lap, but she was way better at navigating the traffic, and slipped away. I did the races in Frisco at 9200ft and they were cool too, cold and muddy, but cool. One of the girls done the hall lives up in Breckenridge so I got to stay with her at her parent's house, which was nice.
Now I'm recovering from a CX race over at the New Belgium Brewery. It was a bit muddy, and there's a crazy long sand run around a sand volleyball court which successfully gummed everything up. One day I'll learn to not crash in the first lap, but until then I'll fight from the back.

Find Your Own Way Home

2008-07-27T22:29:00.001-05:00

We’re on our way home from our big northern journey. Somehow we all survived super week without a single crash. I’ll start with our race yesterday, the Downer Avenue Bike Race. It was one of the coolest races I’ve ever done, with HUGE crowds. Our race was supposed to start at 3:40, but they were behind schedule and then the master’s race was neutralized because of a house fire on the course. There was supposed to be kids races between our race and the pros who were supposed to start at 6. Our race eventually started at 5, after the kids races. Two laps into the race there was a big crash coming into the finish where guys ran into the barriers that jutted out into the road. I was behind it, but got through OK. I got on the front line for the restart, and I maintained good position from there on out. Martin attacked right from the restart, which was good because the pack got strung out and people had to work to maintain position and there was no one advancing. He got reeled in and attacks kept coming. I spent a lot of time chasing attacks and trying to bridge to groups I thought could be successful. Nothing went too well. With about 10 to go a group of four rolled off the front. I didn’t want to chase or attack but when Travis Troxtell attacked with someone else and got a gap without any reaction from the field I knew I would have to do something. I sat on the front and pulled for the better part of a lap getting us within 5 seconds of the 4 man lead. I was pretty spent and hoping that Martin would come up so that I could just lead him out on the backside and be done. I never saw him, but Jan was up ahead. I sat in for the last 2 laps because the pace was high and the 120 degree turn two kept everyone strung out. I did not sprint with all my heart, mind, and soul because I ASSumed that I was well out of the money and I gave up one spot to a rider next to me, with this little voice in the back of my head telling me that it would screw me over. Which it did, I was 21st and they paid 20 deep. Jan did well in the sprint and ended up 13th. So all of my efforts were not in vain. We stuck around and watched the pros race, the highlight of the night was the Super Prime on the backside. It was a $7,000 prime. It was super crowded with plenty of people indulging in the all you can eat/drink brats and beer. Justin Williams won, which was awesome because I commented early in the race that he may be going for it since he was keeping himself at the front and Bahati was still absent from the Escalade crew. Justin pulled out the next time he got to the backside where he had won and watched the rest of the race. Sterling Magnell won and I believe he took the yellow jersey back from Johnny Cantwell, but we left hearing enough from the all the turtles on the stage.

Today was much less interesting at the inaugural Chicago Criterium on Michigan Ave. around Millennium Park. I was not feeling very solid after not sleeping very much last night, at the most I got two and half hours of sleep. For some reason the Futon was not letting me go to sleep. The venue seemed massive, and empty. There were a good amount of sponsor/vendor tents and even some grandstands. Our field was somewhat large, about 80 riders. The race was very short, 45 min. plus 2 laps on a 1 mile circuit. About 45 min. less than what we had gotten used to in Wisconsin. I started pretty far back, but moved up quickly and went after the first of six cash primes. There was a gap going into the last turn between myself and a group of three so I sat up and lost tooooo many spots. The rest of the race was a big cluster, only going faster when there was a prime and nothing could get away. I wanted to do something so I waited for Martin to come up next to me, but he never did. I knew I could get to the front in 1 lap but I would be done after that because the pack took some serious strength to navigate. The time flew by and before I knew it we only had 3 to go. I looked for Martin, but didn’t see him. Jan was further up in the field, in excellent position for a sprint. Then in the last lap there was a big crash in the last turn, taking out everyone but the top 25ish. We all got through OK, but it was close especially for Jan. Quite a boring race. Martin said he was glued to my wheel for a majority of the race, I must have looked right over him when I looked back, o well.

We didn’t do anything extraordinary, but I know my fitness is ready to tackle some Short Track and attack the State Crit. like Jens Voigt on crack. We were very grateful to our host family the Paprockis in Milwaukee, with out there home we would not have been able to do all of the races we did, and its great being able to go back to a house instead of a hotel room after a race. Sorry for the long post…

Chase Food Folks & Spokes Criterium

2008-07-26T10:30:00.002-05:00

The course yesterday was pretty straight forwad. It was a short (.6 mile), four corner crit. There was a slight chicane on the back side, but that was the highlight. The corners were wide and the first turn was more of a curve. The race started a bit fast, but nothing out of control. I stayed about mid-pack, or futher back. Deffinetly not where I wanted to be, but there were ZERO primes in this 65 lap race. The finishing straight had a strong head wind and after moving my way up, I figured that unless a break had 4+ riders they wouldn't stay away because the headwind would destroy them.
A group of two eventually slipped off the front and had a reasonable gap. I attacked to bridge and a few riders latched on. We had a good mix, but they couldn't comprehend that a rotating paceline requires somebody to pull through. We got reeled in about a lap later. Jan launched an attack not too long after I got pulled in, but he got reeled in a couple laps later as well. My legs were not happy. I tried to bridge to a group a few laps later, a rider jumped to my wheel, hit my rear wheel, my whole bike jumped, my knee slammed against my bars, and I hear metal scraping pavement behind me. My knee felt like garbage and my mind told me to pull the plug. However, I kept plugging, trying to get in good position but my legs couldn't get me to the front for the fist time all week.
Then with 3 to go a TX Tough/Hotel San Jose rider took the first turn super wide while slamming on the breaks. I got around him, losing a few spots. There was a crash in the finish straight that took out a few riders and Martin's wheel on Jan's bike got messed up, so Jan was done. Then with one to go some guy ate it, all by himself on the oposite side of the field, which may have given me a few spots. But, in the second to last turn the rider directly in front of me flatted through the turn and I lost the spots that would have put me in the money. I ended up 27th, thankfully I didn't go down in the big crash at the finish, but getting 27th is as much of a dissapointment as crashing is.

Same Thing different Park

2008-07-23T22:34:00.002-05:00

The race today was on a 2.3 mile course that we did 17 times. At the start my legs felt quite sore and I was not too sure I do very well. The course was FAST with practically no corners and a few rollers thrown in for good measure before the last, sharp turn and uphill to the finish. It was a real uphill finish this time too. With about 8 to go a group of 2 slipped off the front. I was not about to let another break get up the road, so I attacked im between two rollers and I opened a serious gap taking a few riders with me. After about a half lap we caught them. But, too many others bridged and the good functionality of the break was chaotic with too many category 3's in one place. I could tell we were going nowhere so I dropped back, Jan took a pull on the front to ensure the break would return and we were grouppo compacto a quarter mile later.
Travis Troxtel was in our race again today and he got away with about 3 to go. I tried to jump across to him and another rider and Thomasz from WDT followed, a good mix, but I didn't have the legs. I settled back in. Rather tired, and conserved. With one to go, some old man attacked hard leaving everyone on the finishing hill. Everyone looked at each other and I couldn't break through. I got screwed, again, with a half mile to go I was sitting in 50th. A gap opened on the right and I shot through, swept through the last turn and tore up the right dodging racers, who appeared to be tied to stumps. I got 17th, again, it sucks because I had the kick to take the field sprint, at the least, but my positioning has not been ideal. Martin ended up 30th? and Jan not far behind.
Tomorow's crit. in Racine is supposedly a dangerous course with some seriously uneven pavement. Could be good or a great rest. We'll see.

Cedarburgh Classic Crit.

2008-07-23T09:39:00.003-05:00

This course was supposed to again, have an uphill finish. The Hill was small to the finish, however, after the first and second turn there were climbs that shattered the field. I stayed very close to the front for most of the race because I knew people would be getting popped off the back and I didn't want to be closing silly gaps all day. Around 25 to go a group of 4 got up the road that quickly put 20 seconds on us. Had I not attacked a few laps prior I of had the snap in my legs to bridge, or at least chase them down. I took a bunch of hard pulls on the front to try and bring down the gap a bit, but they weren't coming back. I settled in and stayed in the top 10 for the remaining laps. I made one last attack with about 3 to go. No dice. I was third wheel at the top of the climb on the final lap before the two last laps with the steep downhill between them. I should have jumped to the front so that I would be in a better spot for the inevitable swarm but it wasn't coming on fast. A handful of guys came around me, just eough to open gaps imbetween the two last turns. I tore out of the last turn passing a handful of guys and salvaging a 17th, I didn't think it was too bad since it was the hardest crit. I'd done so far this year. The SRM file was very entertaining.

The begining of Stupid Week - Holy Hill RR

2008-07-21T19:20:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the MO State TT. It was a learning experience for me. I had never done a 40k before and getting a slow leak somewhere in the last 20k is no way to go. I took it easy on the way out getting to the turn around at about 26 minutes. Then I ran into a stone wall of wind. The heat started to get to me, and by the time I got to the finish the tire was totally flat and I didn't have the strength or straight thinking to keep my bike upright. Although, I wasn't the only one, one guy hit the curb and sheered his fork after his TT.
Then Martin, Jan, and I drove from St. Louis up here to Wisconsin. Our hosts are really nice and they have bikes all over the place. A great fit for us. The road race today was not as hard as anyone has made it out to be. I started towards the back, but worked my way up to the top 30ish and I tried to stay there for most of the race. Keeping my nose out of the wind because I wasn't sure how much I had in the tank after yesterday. There was a Rock Racing lady doing our race today since there wasn't a womens race, and I don't think it was a coincidence that Jan always seemed to be riding close by. She tended to now follow the centerline rule, at all, but noone said anything to her, strange. A griup slipped away at the beginning of the final of six laps, and the two of them finished about 5 seconds in front of our field. The finish was on a road we didn't go on until the final lap. All I knew was that it was an "uphill" finish. This "hill" made l'abitibi look mountainous. They also told us (after starting us an hour late) that we would have the whole road for the sprint unless there was traffic so watch out for cars. So when we came around the last turn, I saw a hole, but I hesistated and it closed. The finish rolled up and the people on the front couldn't sprint so there was nowhere to go. Probably ended up top 30ish, who knows. Jan was not too far behind and Martin pulled the plug early, saving himself for some high-speed crit. racin'.

up close and personal

2008-06-23T23:31:00.002-05:00

The pavement and I did this yesterday. I had something I really wanted to get off of my chest so on the last lap I decided to whisper sweet nothings into her corner at the bottom of the climb in the 3/4 race. The pavement did not have much to say she just bitch slapped me leaving me with naught but a scraped hand, face, and bleeding heart.
Anyways, Martin had a brilliant Fabian Cancellara attack on the backside of the last lap. Unfortunately, a certain dogfish rider who should be - may be now - but should have been a cat. 2 won after coming around Martin in the last corner. I have a video, thanks mom, that I will try to get up here.
1/2/3 race was good. I should have done more, but I could not find the focus to move up. I did get to the front and I helped out by reeling in a late solo attack by Kurt Russel and that was it for me. Tracy and Francis both picked up $50 primes, bringing Tracy's prime total to $150 for the day. Garrick was in the money as was Andy Chocha. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to ooze on my sheets.

saddles.

2008-06-15T00:22:00.002-05:00

How can so many problem be between my arse and my saddle. I've been using my Specialize Toupe now for 6 months and while it may be "anatomically correct" and it allows a whopping 15% blood flow to my cash and prizes I do not find it comfortable after a couple hours especially if any of that time is spent tucked up on the tip.
I rode a San Marco Concor that Martin graciously let me borrow and it felt good after a couple hours but it felt different, not right. The Regal may be a slightly better route for me or a Fizik Aliante, maybe the Rolls is the ticket. Who knows? I need to find someone with a whole bunch of saddles that I can keep borrowing to try. Until then I'll keep scouring ebay for some used ones I can steal.

Tour de Winghaven

2008-06-09T12:22:00.002-05:00

Winghaven was yesterday and overall I thought it was a good day for Mesa. I got there in time to see the women's open and Amanda Miller won in dominating fashion. We, the Cat. 3/4's were next so I sat in my car with the A/C on full blast for 10 minutes, to keep my core temp low, until 10 minutes till our start then I rolled around and got a good spot for the sprint to be first row on the line.
While waiting for our OK to pillage the start line Rick noticed my rear tire was low so I went over and saw Jose at the SRAM car and he hooked me up with a 404 clincher with a Pro Race 3 tire, very good wheel and tire combo. But, while getting the tire change made the 3/4's lined up and I had to settle with a mid pack starting spot. I moved to the front pretty easily because as usual no one wanted to work. I attacked just before the first long downhill and got a gap that I knew I could hold across the flats, which I did and I kept just enough space between me and the pack to win the first KOM point.
I was not sure there was a KOM competition in our race because I was talking to Mike Best on the line and missed the announcements. So when the next KOM sprint was quite spirited I was not too sure that it was worth it. At this point I was getting chills from the heat. I sat in for a while and listened for Dave Towle to say something about the KOM. Not until 4 to go did I hear him say anything about it and at this point the guy who wanted it waaay more than I did had already rapped it up.
I started to move towards the front to either position myself or Chris for the sprint. I arrived at the front with Chris behind my big ass a bit earlier than intended and I ended up leading out on the back stretch where the wind was horrendous. I went into the red zone just as quickly as I had anticipated but luckily Kevin was there to take over and he delivered Chris at the front for the run-in. Chris took 4th, Matt Pence 11th, and Jan just snuck into the top 15.
My legs felt great but my body did not have a "good go." I hydrate, I take in magnesium, salt, and potassium. Still I felt over heated. When does cyclocross start?

Tour of STL

2008-04-28T21:43:00.003-05:00

The weekend started out with prom on Friday night followed by the afterparty until 5am. I got to bed at 5:30 and had a solid 4 hours of sleep.

I didn't feel terribly tired for the crit. in Carondalet but I did not warm-up as well as I should have and some early attacks left my legs zapped. I had trouble holding position and I just missed the move with 1 to go. Adam and I got stuck behind all of the people who had no business at the front and we had to settle with a mid pack finish. Meanwhile, at the front of the of the race Wallace and Graham were tearing it up. Graham bridged to Chris on the back-side and then closed the gap for Chris who took the win with Graham in 3rd.

By the time the TT came around I was feeling the affects of no sleep. In retro-spec I should have taken an earlier start time. I would have been fresher and the wind was lighter. But, I started and went out hard in my 53-13 most of the way out. I think that I really died on the way back because at the turn-around I thought I may catch my minute man but he road out of my sight. I took ninth, over 2 minutes behind Adam taking the win. Not what I was expecting. I know my TT form is not up to speed with Adam's but I know I'm stronger than that.

Sunday, I felt much better and I was able to help my teammates who were sitting well in the overall, Chris who was first after taking 1st and 3rd the day before, Graham who took 3rd and 4th, and Adam who won the TT. I didn't do much during the first half of the race after slamming my knee into my handlebars at the start. Then I moved up and attacked with 5min and 5 laps to go. I stayed away for a few laps picking up a $20 prime. When I got brought back I thought I was shot but I stayed up there. With 5 to go I tried to launch Wallace off the front but the front of the pack was talking when they saw us flying up along their side and they hooked on. Then with 1.5 to go I went back to the front to take some of the pressure off of Chris, Graham, Adam, and Garrick at the front. I suppose it worked out because Adam took 1st in the field sprint and Chris was 5th.

Overall, it was a great weekend for the team. Matt Brandt cleaned up the 1/2's, Tracy Smith took the GC in the Masters, and Wallace, Graham, and Adam took the top 3 in the Cat. 3's respectively. Next race, Joe Martin.

I think I rode Flanders today?

2008-04-03T19:20:00.004-06:00

The weather was bad today. I don't know for sure but I think it was a belgian day in Belleville.
It would have been an easy day to blow off since it was only a recovery ride. I'm sure watching the rain from my desk would have been much nicer. But, I would have never gotten to see the bike trail like it was today. I felt like Todd Wells,
or Dave Breslin (Congrats on his recent Rim Wrecker title)
navigating the mud washed bike trail which is too easily accessed from my new house.

Intervals tomorow. Work all day Saturday. Long ride on Sunday. It sucks that I have to miss Dogwood for NHS but there's only 23 days of school left.

San Francisco

2008-03-20T21:38:00.004-06:00

Rode today from our hotel in San Fran, across the Golden Gate Bridge and around Sausolito. Probably one of the most beautiful rides I've ever been on, and I found an awesome 10 mile loop with a 3 mile climb along the shore.

Hell

2008-03-17T06:13:00.001-06:00

I never want to see another stair

2008-03-10T20:58:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I decided that I would go run Toolen's Running Start's St. Patrick's Day 5K. I felt obligated since he was going to hand out fliers for the Crusader 5K and it is my school. So, I decided that since I was going I may as well win something, especially since there are cool leprechaun medals for those who place in their age group.
I hadn't won one of those medals in at least 2 years but its probably been longer, back when I was a fast runner. So I took off at the gun with a guy I have ran with before from the Running Start in Shiloh. He was my grade school volleyball coach (yes I played and I sucked). He is a very good runner, he even did the Boston Marathon last year. I told him I would beat him and I almost did. With about a half mile to go he caught me. I knew there was no one in my age group around since I could see someone in front of me and I dropped the kid who was with me. So I let him go, turns out I ran a 19:30 on 3.11 mile course without running in 3-4 months. i got third in the 16-19 age group.
However, today I feel like crap. Going down sets of stairs is the most painful experience. Twice today I had to waddle from the third floor all the way down to the first. Ouch.

not quite Rock Racing

2008-03-08T00:13:00.002-06:00

But another example of cycling heading in that direction, not a bad thing. http://www.roguestatus.com/

Hockey's over. Forever

2008-03-07T14:42:00.002-06:00

Last night was my last hockey game. we lost to Edwardsville in Championship round losing 2 out of 2 games. We got a bit homered when we played at their home rink.

It's hard to believe that after a decade this part of my life is over. Hockey consumed my life for so many years. I was playing on 3 teams just 3 years ago. I played year round in New York. Ice hockey from September to April and roller hockey from April to August. I think that if I had never moved back from NY I would have never discovered cycling. I may have gone to a prep school or I would have gone to John Jay high school who played for the State Championship last weekend. Not the League championship like every school around here, but an actual state championship.

I love cycling but there are aspects to hockey that cycling cannot measure up to.

UFC

2008-01-30T21:23:00.000-06:00

On my trip to Colorado, we watched UFC at my friend mike's house. Now I am hooked on the sport. This fight made me fall in love.

I'm an All-Star

2008-01-15T07:57:00.000-06:00

The St. Clair Journal ran an article about Althoff Hockey on Sunday about how we are in pursuit of a Back-to-Back Championship season. They have been trying to make us sounds weaker than last year, but I tried to set the record staight. Read it...
http://stclairjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/01/12/sports/sj2tn20080112-0113fhj_althockey.ii1.txt
Also, the All-Star team rosters were released the other day. I made it along with my defensive partner Brian Westerheid, Artie Berreman, and our first line of forwards.
This weekend I'm heading out to Colorado to "look at schools". I'm skiing almost everyday I'm there.

No School

2008-01-11T22:20:00.000-06:00

A lot has been going on since I haven't gone back to school. I've been volunteering at St. Louis Children's Hospital everyday for my senior service project. Its way more fun than school since I get to play games and hang out with kids all day.
I've been playing lots of hockey and we haven't lost a game since Granite Shitty beat us. I did an interview the other day with three of my teammates so I will try to get a link up to that. I know it will be in the Journal Sunday, but I don't know which ones.
Other than that I started hardcore base miles last week and tomorrow I think I will do my 12 intervals up Bluff Hill Road alone.

Nationals Photos

2007-12-17T21:51:00.001-06:00

Martin = Good Starting Position

Me = Bad starting position

Selander on the off camber

Running was stupid

Other times it helped

Riding the Chamois Butt'r Highway (formerly known as the Chamois Butt'r Barriers)

Martin in full on concentration mode riding down the Highway.

CX Nationals

2007-12-15T18:42:00.000-06:00

I went to Kansas CIty this weekend for the cyclocross national championships. Since it was only my seventh CX race ever and I had a back row starting position I didn't have too high of hopes. Yesterday we got to KC to watch Tilford woop up on the old men. Then I got the bike I was borrowing from Russ Murphy. The course was a complete mess with massive ruts through inches of mud. Then last night everything froze and there were a couple of inches of snow on the ground.
Martin and I warmed up at the Specialized tent which was a mistake since it was frezing but we had to get our numbers pinned and it was easiest. The course still had massie ruts in it from the day before, but they were frozen solid. We headed down to the staging grid. Martin got a pretty good position, like 3rd row or something. I was last row.
We blasted off. I had to try a couple times to get my pedal and probably lost ten positions because of it. Still, I was able to pass a lot of people before the first turn. Then it was total carnage for the first 800 meters as people ran into big ruts and flipped over. Some people were just falling over and everyone was bouncing all over the place. I handled it pretty well and I passed a lot of people. Not too long after we passed the pit the first time around I had caught Martin and I was still moving up. However, not much later I started feeling really bad in the ruts and I wasn't bouncign over them like I was. I fell a few times as well. I think the thrid time I fell I dropped my chain and couldn't get it back on with my hands and I couldn't ride it to get it on in the rough section, so I ran it to paved section remounted and got it back on only to realized my front tire was flat. This explained why my handling was so poor. So I rode the on the road but ran it for about 800 meters back to the pit. At this point I was in dead last, but I caught one person before I got pulled back at the start fnish. 2 out of 5 laps is no good. Check out Cyclingnews for a picture of the crash that derailed my chain.

Christmas

2007-12-12T19:03:00.000-06:00

Bubba Memorial CX #9 - Unger Park

2007-12-02T21:51:00.001-06:00

Today started off well. I slept till 8:30, woke up, and my dad filled my belly with scrambled eggs and toast. We headed out to Unger park for the CX race. I was doing the B race and we got there a half hour before the C race. Halfway through the C race the skies opened and it rained HARD. But, after a while it stopped and it was still 65 degrees out. We started our race and not halfway through the first lap the conditions greatly worsened. It rained and the winds blew ferociously. It got uber muddy, maybe no Portland, but it was muddy. I got lapped with two but I finished and with 5 to go I didn't plan on finishing, but I watched the Ironman on NBC yesterday so I didn't see 5 laps as too bad.
Next weekend I'm doing the Pierre Marquette Trail Run and Sunday I'm doing the final Bubba race and it's the MO state championships in Hermann. Then I will be doin Nationals the following weekend.

R.I.P.

2007-12-01T16:17:00.000-06:00

1938-2007

A Change

2007-10-30T20:53:00.000-06:00

So, I am not just changing the colors of the site for Halloween. No, I am in fact switching teams. Next year I will be racing for Mesa Cycles. Adrienne is putting together a kick-ass team that I am excited to be a part of. The U23 squad will be composed of riders like Zach Hocket, Martin Lang, Joe Kukolla, Jan Bradford-Watts, Francis Hamre, myself, and possibly a few others. Adam Leibovitz, is joinig the Mesa junior team along with a bundle of riders from Kansas City. Next year should be a lot of fun. Can't wait for training camp!

Time for another sport

2007-10-27T20:34:00.000-05:00

Cross-Country is finally over . I was pretty excited when I didn't have to run anymore. But, I still have to do the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run in December which is a 8 mile run on mostly singletrack. Although it's a long way off.

Tuesday the hockey season officially starts with our first game against O'fallon at 7:00 at the Fairview Height Sports Complex. I'm pretty pumped we should have a huge fan base and hopefully we'll win back-to-back Championships. I got some dank-ass skates too, they're so pro. The new Reebok 9k Pumps. Yes, they have pumps like the basketabll shoes.

Burnin'

2007-10-08T00:07:00.001-05:00

This was one race I was really excited for but I was not nervous because we were just doing it for "fun". I had to get up 4 am and drive for an hour and a half in the dark then be lost for another half hour in the morning brightness. I did arrive at Council Bluff to find me team and be informed that I would be doing our first lap. I had never ridden the course and I had never done a mtb race. The plan was for me to pace Karl to the front of the pack during the 600m'ish run so he could get the hole shot going into the singletrack. I think he was second and I drifted back and took it easy through the hairpins.

About 1200m into the race I took a dive onto my knee and flatted my front tire. I tried to change it and blew the tube. So I changed it again, and finally got going now that I was well into last place. I rode cautiously so as not to get another flat. But, alas I got a slow leek around mile 5. I ran the bike for 3 MILES doing like 18min. miles. I thought I would never see another human again. Finally, around mile 8 I found a couple GORC guys who had a tube and some cold water which I desperately needed since I ran out of water 1 mile into the run. I got going again and made it to the finish. My time was like 2:30. But, since I had to run 3 miles and change 3 tubes I think I would have had a decent time. We (The Mesa Juniors) won the Juniors class doing 4 laps in just over 6 hours. Josh Wade and I did one lap each and Nolan Froese did two laps for us. Nolan flatted 3 different times in his first lap and not at all in his second. My knee was super sore for the rest of the day and I thankful to be walking yesterday morning.

Mesa put on one hell of an event. It was challenging but a lot of fun as well. ICCC supplied a swell amount of food too. It was great. I've never gotten such a cool trophy for riding so poorly.

Sedalia Criterium

2007-08-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

So I was not super exctied to even be leaving for this race because I was going to miss Althoff's first game of the season in Kentucky and my legs felt like crap. Probably due to running. But, I left anyway. We got there just in time to see the biker dudes layin' down some rubber and doing smoking burnouts. The bike show on the same evening of the bicycle race is always a special treat. I did a warm up and stretch and then realized my legs didn't feel any better and I should have listened to my smart coach and not raced at all. But I raced and I attacked a few times. The one time with 10min. I attacked and got a large gap but Karl Fredrichs bridged to me and the the pack used him as carrot as i waited then he caught me and couldn't hold my pace so we both got caught. I attacked again with two to go because I hear that works sometimes, even though it didn't this time. Then I got left out when everyone went to sprint and my feelings were hurt because someone should have invited me. Yeah I got 15th. End of that horror. I then raced the 1/2/3 race for some reason and I sucked. No details just sucking, the whole 10-15 minutes I was in the race. Brian Jensen won after lapping the field with two teammates then attacking again with another teammate. He's a beast. Speaking of beasts Larry Warrbasse is in Belgium racing with Nolan check out Larry's new blog here.

That's me sticking my tongue out at the camera in the 3's race.

Rain and Spiderwebs

2007-08-21T14:55:00.000-05:00

So, I ran yesterday in the rain at XC practice. I think running in the rain when it's hot out and running in the snow when it's cold are the coolest times to run. I've been riding my mountain bike out at the SIUE Trails a couple times in the past week. I like those trails because they're not too technical but they're not riding in a cornfield iether. This morning it sucked out there because there was a MASSIVE amount of spiderwebs across the trails. I had to stop multiple times to pull webs and spiders off of me. I'm off to XC practice again.

Post War Recap

2007-07-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

So I've been home for a week now and it's nice to be able to sleep in my own bed and not witness Japanese kids showering together. I ended up 124th at le Tour which was a disappointing finish for me. But, I did finish and I had a good ride at nationals in the TT. The crash in the road race has cost quite a bit of money. I realized right away that my handlebars and front wheel were trashed. I salvaged the hub and tire from the front wheel. Then when I got to Canada our mechanic Oscar noticed my saddle was bent and that I toasted my rear tire. The worst was when I was cleaning my bike the other day and realized that I bent my fork as well. So I ebayed some new components I got the Fi'zi:k Arione Acqua & Sapone team replica saddle and I ordered an Easton EC90 SL fork. Hopefully by Mo. state championships I'll have my bike back together. To see a ton of pics. from nats. and l'abitibi go to www.cyclepics.net which is Joseph Tokarski's dad's website. For pics. from Nationals go to www.wheelsinfocus.com.

Stage 7 Preissac to Val d`Or

2007-07-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

Today was a fairly easy race but we started fast with 2 KOM`s in the first 30k. The race picked up again for one mayor sprint. There was one crash that Nolan went down in but he was okay and caught back on. Nolan is in 6th. Today is the last day and I`m excited to go home and sleep in my own bed.

Stage 6 Circuit Race 10km x 8 Laps

2007-07-21T10:39:00.000-05:00

I dehydrated today on the circuit race. Each lap had two climbs and my legs seized up. I downed 5 bottles during the race. After the race I had 10 more. Lost more time.

Stage 5 Amos Crit. 1.4km x 45

2007-07-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

Today was super hard. There was a hard climb up to the finish that was very much like the Joe Martin crit. finish. I fell off after 15 laps. Some riders said it was harder than NRC crits. they had done. I sucked!

Stage 4 TT 14km

2007-07-19T13:38:00.000-05:00

We did the legendary gold mine TT today that starts 600ft below see level in an old gold mine. I started in the 3rd flite of riders and was in 12th position when I finished but ended up in 61st. I was 2:09 off the winner from New Zealand who won the stage yesterday and is now in the brown leaders jersey. My teamate Larry Warrbasse got 6th. He was just 2 seconds off the podium and now hes in 15th overall. NolanFroese got 7th but hes in 4 overall and is tied for the lead in the KOM competition. I moved up to 123rd overall but I lost more time to the leader.

Picture courtsey of my teamate Kevin Young's dad Philip Young.

Stage 3 90km Sennetaire to Val d`Or

2007-07-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

Today was far to eventful than it should have been. There were flats everywhere due to huge pot holes in the roads. My teammate Kevin Young got a flat and had to pace at 35mph for 20 minutes to catch back on. Then it started to rain HARD. It rained for about 20 minutes but it sucked. There was a break up the road, that Nolan was in, that had 2:30 on the pack at one time. A beast New Zealander bridged to the break solo when they were 1:30 ahead. Then he attacked the break when they were 2:30 ahead. He got reeled in but broke clear on the second finishing lap. I went down in a crash 20k from the finish. I had slowed way down to avoid it but I didn`t unclip and tipped over. I just got a couple of bruises. I paced in the caravan but never caught back on because the caravan pulled off before we started the 3 finish circuits. I ended up 4 minutes behind the pack so now I`m 128th and 6:30 off the leader who is a Quebec rider who was in the break. Lloyd Sutton got caught behind the crash and when he was chasing back on another team car hit him in the round a bout. Louis Garneau, yes the LG man himself, picked him up and pushed him back into the tail end of the caravan.

Lloyd had to get 3 stitches The guy in black on the soloist is the 17year old who won

Stage 2 TTT 8km

2007-07-18T09:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we did the TTT which was more like a team crit. It was on a 4km circuit with 9 turns that we did 2 laps on. There were three short consecutive climbs and one fast decent with a quick right hander down into the finish. We ended up dropping Mac Brennan, Tony Olson, and Lloyd Sutton and finished with Kevin Young, Larry Warrabasse, and me with the clock stopping with my time. There were multiple teams on the course and we caught IS Corp on our second lap when they were on their first. Although, they ended up beating us my 2 seconds. We took 16th out of 26 which was very good since our team got last for the past 2 years. WE even beat the Predictor Lotto and Rabobank Junior squads. Now I`m sitting 2:32 behind race leader hopefully I can make it up in the TT tomorrow morning.

Our Finish

Tour de l`Abitibi Prologue and stage one

2007-07-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

The prologue was a 400m match sprint. We raced a team from canada. Our time started when we hit the bottom of the ramp and my guy started before the commisaire said go so I had someone to chase. I ended up beating him in time. I took 82nd 3 seconds off race leader Taylor Phinney who beat second by .8 seconds.
In the first stage we flew. We did 60 miles in 2.5 hours. I stayed up in the pack until 4 miles to go when there was a big crash. I got around it but had to chase in the caravan. Now I`m not in a very good gc position I`m a minute something back.

Nationals

2007-07-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

I`ll start with the TT at nationals in Penn. It was an out and back, out and back plus an off and on ramp. I got in a great warm up and got to the line just in time for my start. I took off as fast as possible down hill and went up and down the exit ramp. I started on the first uphill and realized I was gaining on my minute man. I caught him after the first turn around and caught my two minute man on the second turn around. Then I rode my hardest back up and down the hill to make my last turn around. I saw that Nolan was really close to me since I was his minute man but we were both going to hold off Nick Bax. Nolan caught me on the down hill and we raced up the finishing stretch. I took a 27:32 which I was very happy with for a 20K and I ended up in 38th pace.
In the road race we took off slowly and on the first decent there was a big crash at 40mph that claimed almost 30 riders. I couldn`t go on due to my head and hand. I went to the hospital but everything was fine. I`ve been having some really sore back and neck problems from smashing my spine in the wreck. The prologue for l`Abitibi is tomorow night I hope I can make the 400m.

EEEEEEEWW..Green

2007-07-10T08:51:00.000-05:00

Camp and Proctor

2007-07-04T13:14:00.001-05:00

Well it has been a while and I've been busy. Last week was my USA Cycling Regional Development camp at Lacrosse Wisconsin. I rode fairly well in the three time trials that gauge every one's performance from. I did well enough to make the Borah Development team that will be competing at Le Tour de l'Abitibi.

After those five days at camp riding twice a day, my dad and I drove south to Peoria for the Proctor Cycling Classic and the Illinois State Championships. Saturday was the road race and I was very tired. I tried attacking but since the pace was so low everyone was fresh and they would counter my attacks. So I waited for the sprint which was stupid and I got third. I should have attacked and not saved anything because no state champ jersey was as good as nothing. Sunday was crit. and I had three teammates riding with me; Martin, Mike, and Keaton. They were a huge help and kept the pace high enough to tire out my competitors. With two laps to go Keaton moved to the front and pulled hard until on the last lap I launched another attack and it stuck for the last 400m into the finish.

Lake of the Ozarks

2007-06-17T20:43:00.001-05:00

I just got back from my extended weekend at the lake of the ozarks and it was a blast. I got a lot of really good riding in and a really bad sunburn. I left after work Thursday afternoon and drove down with my parents to our friend's house. They have a daughter, Taylor, who is about a year younger than me and she's dating my friend Greg. So it was my family Taylor's family and Greg's family plus Greg's little brother Eric's friend Cole. I rode every morning and then would come back and ride Jet Skis or take out there little Sea Doo Jet boat. I got really bad sunburn from the life jacket when I was riding all day in the main channel with Greg. I even got sunburned on the tops of my feet. Then yesterday and today I felt like I was overheating during my ride when the sun would beat down on my jersey. But, I still hit the road and we saw the Race Across America guys last night and this morning. Last night we saw the guy who was in sixth place. I thought it was awesome. He was riding his climbing bike but he had a sick P3 on his sag wagon. Oh yeah I got pulled over when I was on the jet ski by one of these...

Tour de Winghaven

2007-06-11T08:40:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was Winghaven in O'Fallon Mo. I did the Juniors first and the Cat. 3's much later. I realized the juniors would not be as fast as race as I had hoped when I realized that I was the only junior who was older than racing age 16, besides John C. John got in a break after the first KOM but he crashed hard by himself. I went on to take the sprint and the KOM, which was a big basket of booze, cigars, and chocolate which my dad took pretty quickly.

Then in the 3's race I was feeling really good, despite doing a 5K run yesterday for the first time in months, so I decided to go for a KOM point. I got second on the sprint to a very determined Dogfish rider. Immediatly after the field caught back on Nolan launched an attack followed up by Zach's bridge to Nolan. I tried to help pull them in but I was feeling some harsh pain in the legs. They got reeled in and in the field sprint Nolan won, my boy Luke was second and Zach got third after a Big Shark rider confessed that he didn't do the first lap.

Dan Shmatz went on to win the Pro/1/2 race which no one was too surprised about since no breaks got away, he didn't do any work on the front, and he's a sprinter and it came down to a field sprint, Josh Carter was second and the guy from New Zealand was third.

GTI for the Insane

2007-06-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

Wolfsburg May 17 2007, A GTI is unveiled that is more wider, faster, and has the largest engine out of any of it's GTI predecessors. The GTI W12 650 is exactly what it's name says a GTI with a Volkswagen V12 engine and 650 horsepower. The bi-turbo mounted between the front seats catapults the car from 0-62 in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph. Unfortunately this car is merely a mirage fore it is only a show car. But aint' it cool.

Joe Martin

2007-05-15T18:51:00.000-05:00

Joe Martin was way more painful than it should have been. After putting in a few lackluster rides earlier in the week my form was not ready for the hills. I popped fairly early in the road race and had a very long TT around Toothless country. Then in the actual TT I put in another sluggish performance but not too bad since it was my second tt of the day. The crit. was even worse. I'm just glad it's over and I can get ready for the mo. state rr on sunday. I expect the 3's to be a challenging 70 miles.

new whip

2007-05-03T22:19:00.000-05:00

So I bought a new car. New to me anyway. A 2001 Volkswagen GTI VR6. It's pretty sweet. Quite a step up from the ole' "beast". I went from crank windows to leather w/ wood trim interior. I'm really excited about getting to drive it for the first time to school tomorow. It's a lot of fun to drive. Now all I need is a roof rack and it will be ready to start it's tour of the North American continent this summer.

Sweet Mercy

2007-04-11T22:39:00.000-05:00

Behold the Shelby GT500KR. Ritefully named after it's older father the new KR is the fastest production Mustang ever. Weighing in at a massive 540 horsepower it outweighs it's brother the GT500 by 40 hp. Along with a cold air intake, short throw shifter, brake cooling ducts, a unique carbon hood, Carrol Shelby's signature on dash, and 20 inches of fat chrome this Mustang is sweeeeeet. It may look amazing but you will probably never see one in person because they are only producing 1,000 units and they will only be offered to owners of multiple Shelby automobiles. But, can anyone tell me what KR stands for and where the name originally came from?

Frozen Four Championships

2007-04-08T00:16:00.000-05:00

For those who are completely oblivious, the championship game of the final four of ncaa men's hockey was tonight. I was in attendence thanks to my buddy Greg for getting us some good tickets on the red line. The game was sick! It was close the enitre game while Boston College was up by one until 10 minutes to go in the 3rd when Michigan State scored and then they scored again with less than a minutes in the game. The best play was when the Michigan goalie Jeff Lerg took a dive to block a puck that was quickly recovered and shot by an offending BC skater, Lerg threw his glove above his head while he was on his belly and saved it. The whole arena errupted. And the funniest part is when the MSU team cleared the bench after the empty net goal (3) thinking the game was over but the ref made them get back on the bench to play the last 1.5 seconds.

World Champs...where was everybody?

2007-04-05T01:19:00.000-05:00

So I made it out to my first tuesday night crit crit. expecting to see Martin. Austin, maybe a bit of james pirtle and or kurt fletcher. But no, none of them were present. The B race still had at least 30 guys in it though. I tried to bridge to 2 gateway guys who broke after the prime but I didn't get there and I spent 10 minutes in no-man's-land. Eventually I got reeled in with 3 laps to go. I sat in as much as possible in the 10 man group that caught me but I was cooked. I took 5th in the sprint so 7th overall. But old mike and new mike were both in the top 6. yup

Movin' on Up

2007-03-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

So this is only my second but my last post from my current house on Raintree Dr. in Belleville. Saturday is the big moving day and I will miss living in Ravenwood Estates. So, until the new house...

Bike Porn - Lemond Tête De Course

2007-03-27T21:18:00.000-06:00

I thoguht I'ld kick my blog off with one of the coolest production bike I've seen in a while. The new Lemond is the lightest ever with SRAM Force compenentry and Bonti Aeolus 5.0 carbon clincher wheels. It's good to see that the Lemond brand is supporting SRAM and not being exclusive to Shimano. Plus the all black looks sick!