Waterford Hills Spring Training Series #1

My first mass start race of the year is out of the way...sigh.  It was another cold and windy day but at least the sun was shinning.  The race was an hour long and very fast paced.  The first half if the race was easy, but I could tell at that point I didn't feel very good.  I just didn't have the energy and hadn't recovered well from work/training during the week.  At the half way mark there was a sprint for a $10 gas card...big trouble.  Going into the final corner I got caught up in the aftermath of a crash and was forced to do some riding through the grass.   This crash would ultimately cause the field to split.  After I rejoined the peloton I decided to sprint up and join the breakaway.  As I arrived though three more riders had just attacked out of the break, I was to tired to attempt and join the leaders.   They would end up winning.  The chase group I was in later gave up and the peloton rejoined us.  At this point I shut it down to save some energy for the sprint at the end.  I got 6th in the sprint to take 9th overall.  It wasn't a bad result considering how bad I felt.  If the crash didn't cause me to lose so much ground I probably would have been in the break.  Oh well, that's racing. Hopefully next weekend goes much better.

Full Results

Fisk Knob Time Trial

This past weekend I competed in my second Fisk Knob Time Trial.  While the day started out cold with some snow flurries, it was sunny and 45° by the time I started.  Last year it just stayed cold and windy with snow flurries holding about 32°.  I was very happy to have much nicer weather this year.  The day for me however got off to a rough start, I left my heart rate monitor at home.  So I would be flying on the day blind of my effort.  After I nice 30 minute warm up I felt great and went to the start line.  Despite it being cold I still overheated warming up and drank only one water bottle, this would turn out to kill me later.   The first half of the course was mostly downhill with the wind at my back.  I don't think my speed ever dropped below 30 mph in the first few miles.  However once I hit the halfway point I got greeted with a nice head wind.  This would of been a nice point to know my heart rate to gauge effort.  Soon after it wouldn't matter anyways as I started to develop severe cramps in my left leg.  I basically consumed my entire water bottle in the next few minutes.  Within 5-10 minutes the cramping went away, however I was a little sick from drinking that much electrolyte/energy drink.  All and all though I came to the finish hill with a lot of speed and power and sprinted to the top to finish in 47:03.  Which was over 5 minutes faster then my time last year.  I guess that really sums up how far I have come in a year, when I can struggle and its still 5 minutes better then my time last year.   I ended up finishing a solid 5/16 in my 25-29 age group and 42/149 overall.  Not to shabby since I lost basically a month of training in February to a nasty respiratory cold.  My training is progressing nicely for a strong summer of racing.  Next weekend I am going to kick off the road racing schedule by participating in the Waterford Spring Training Series.

Full Results

Trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

This past weekend I visited Gatlinburg, Tn with 5 other cyclists and road into the Great Smoky Mountains.  Overall the trip was a blast and a great location to break in my new bike, which I built in my hotel on the way there.  As a group we went on three rides leaving our cabin we rented.  While the weather didn't hold up at least the riding was good.  Our rides all started with a crazy decent down the mountain with numerous tight switchbacks.  It was really a lot of fun, then we would venture into the mountains or the park on the outskirts of town.  This area must be extremely beautiful in the fall or summer, I might have to come back again. The strangest sight was the hundreds of people dressed up like Santa.  Just so happens it was the weekend of the worlds largest professional Santa gathering, crazy... All rides ended however with "the climb" the only way back to the cabin and it was always the worse.  That hill was 3 miles of pain, with gradients nearing nearly 20%.   After each ride I was glad we had a hot tube to relax in.  I'm not sure my legs would have made it without.  Overall I think my spring fitness is coming along nicely.  The real test is coming up this weekend at the Fisk Knob TT.  Hopefully the weather turns out better then last year.

Ridley Noah

So I finally got my new team race bike.  A few months later then I would have liked but this bike was well worth the wait.  Its a Ridley Noah built up with SRAM Red.  All I have to say about this bike is wow.  It might not be the lightest frame in the world but it is fast.  This frame is super stiff and all of your power is transmitted to the wheels.  When you get our of the saddle to sprint it just takes off.  Despite its weight it isn't a bad climber frame either.  With this bike this year I can no longer blame my equipment.

2010 Tentative Race Schedule

For 2010 I have set myself a fairly aggressive race schedule. It will include all the important Michigan road races and my very first mountain bike race. I am looking forward to a fun season. I will update this post with results and any changes as the season goes on.

1) Mar.21.2010 Fisk Knob Time Trial (5/16 in Age Group 25-29, 42/149 Overall)
2) Mar.27.2010 FRCC Spring Fling #1 Criterium (9/34 B Race)
3) Mar.28.2010 AAVC Spring Training Series #1 Criterium
4) Apr.03.2010 FRCC Spring Fling #2 Criterium (16?/47 B Race)
5) Apr.10.2010 FRCC Spring Fling #3 Criterium (11/31 B Race)
6) Apr.11.2010 AAVC Spring Training Series #2 Criterium
7) Apr.18.2010 AAVC Spring Training Series #3 Criterium
8) Apr.22.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race
9) Apr.24.2010 Willow Time Trial (8/15 Cat 3, 50/193 Overall)
10) Apr.25.2010 AAVC Spring Training Series #4 Criterium
11) May.06.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race (Tentative)
12) May.08.2010 Tour of Kensington Valley Road Race
13) May.09.2010 Cone-Azalia Spring Classic Road Race
14) May.20.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race (Tentative)
15) May.22.2010 West Branch Classic Road Race
16) May.23.2010 West Branch Criterium
17) May.29.2010 Das Tour of Frankenmuth Road Race
18) Jun.03.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race
19) Jun.12.2010 Le Tour de Mont Pleasant - Criterium
20) Jun.13.2010 Le Tour de Mont Pleasant - Road Race
21) Jun.17.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race (Tentative)
22) Jun.20.2010 Michigan State Time Trial Championship
23) Jun.25.2010 Superior Bike Fest - Downtown Criterium (Tentative)
24) Jun.26.2010 Superior Bike Fest - State Championship Road Race
25) Jun.27.2010 Superior Bike Fest - Circuit Race (Tentative)
26) Jul.01.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race
27) Jul.10.2010 USAC NRC - Meijer Grand Cycling Classic Criterium
28) Jul.11.2010 Terry Reisch Memorial Charity Race Criterium (Tentative)
29) Jul.15.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race (Tentative)
30) Jul.17.2010 BTR Park Criterium
31) Jul.24.2010 Maillot Jaune Road Race
32) Jul.25.2010 Le Champion Pave Criterium
33) Jul.29.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race (Tentative)
34) Aug.01.2010 Milford Criterium
35) Aug.07.2010 Delta Imports Ada Criterium
36) Aug.08.2010 Hines Park Time Trial
37) Aug.12.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race
38) Aug.14.2010 Ore To Shore Mountain Bike Epic (Tentative)
39) Aug.21.2010 Battle Creek Criterium (Tentative)
40) Aug.22.2010 East Grand Rapids Criterium - State Championship
41) Aug.26.2010 Flying Rhino: Thursday Night Worlds Road Race (Tentative)
42) Aug.28.2010 Cherry-Roubaix Criterium
43) Aug.29.2010 Cherry-Roubaix Road Race
44) Sep.06.2010 Annual DeBaets-Devos Pro-Am Criterium
45) Oct.16.2010 Peak to Peak Mountain Bike Race
46) Nov.06.2010 Iceman Cometh Mountain Bike Challenge

2010 Off Season Update

So it has been a while since I have last posted, so I figured I was due to post an update. So far the off season is going great. September through December I did strength training after work at the local gym. I focused a lot on core and lower body strength, also worked on some muscle strength imbalances. During this time I was still spinning aerobically just under 5 hours per week though. I think the lifting will help a lot, if anything it gives me some extra padding when I crash.

Since January my focus has been spinning 100%. I can’t stand doing base aerobic spinning in the basement on my trainer though, so I have ventured back out to riding the roads. I have to say the cold really isn’t too bad. Riding in the parks at night is a very peaceful and relaxing experience. With 7 weeks till the pre season starts I am a bit nervous. My workouts have shifted to 2 gut busting interval workouts a week ranging from 70-90 minutes each. Then 3-7 hours of base aerobic riding the rest of the week. Hopefully it all pays off. The only downside right now is I have no team clothing and race bike. Hopefully that gets resolved soon.

My Equipment

Mountain Bike
2010 Giant XTC 29er 2
This bike is a blast to ride.   It rides great and is perfect for the obstacles Michigan trails have to offer.  The frame is very stiff and climbs great. The new Giant rims allow me to run 25 psi with tubes.  If I had any complaints it would be its weight.  I am guessing mine weights some where around 29lbs right now.   With some upgrades down the road I am sure I could knock it down to 24lbs or so. 

It also tends to push a little bit in corners, but that might just be my handling skills.  I am still adjusting to the 29er ride, but I am hooked on it. Its a great cross training bike and with some Nokian Gazza Extreme 294 studded tires...should be a blast to ride this winter.

 


All Purpose and Training Bike
2008 Novara Squadra
Configured with SRAM Rival, Force crank and Fulcrum Racing 1 wheels.  Somehow this bike survived the entire 2009 season.  For my first season I wanted a cheap disposable bike.  In the end I think I would have been much better off buying and bike with an Aluminum frame from a more reputable manufacture.  While the carbon frame is semi light, it lacks the stiffness to be a great race bike.  However this bike provides a very comfortable ride that is great for 3+ hour training rides.


 
The Bike Carrier
2005 Mazda 3s
What better bike carrier then a sport compact that can get 30 mpg.   So whats the best way to carry expensive race bikes...build a custom bike mount to store the bike safely inside the vehicle.  To do this I took out the rear seat and gutted the back interior, then replaced the rear seat with a plywood sheet. 

Then I added a fork mount that attaches to the spare tire.  Lastly add a little carpet and you have a nice looking bike carrying system.






For 2010 I will have a new race bike.  Post to follow when I get it.