...were in turn 3 at Tradezone. I now have a new frame. If, by chance you ever crash - dont let your hand get wrapped up in your bar tape because you may crash again when you go from your drops to your hoods.
Other than what's mentioned above, Tradezone #2 went smooth. Ended up in a break with Brian Butts (on the team fighting the forces of darkness), Evan Darth Fader (Mr gone to the darkside), Super Dave Osbourne and some strong NCVC guy. With 6 to go, Daves wheel broke, so he was down a lap. With 4 to go Brian attacked while Darth Fader dropped his chain simultaneously and disappeared. Strong NCVC guy pulled half a lap then started slowing so I jumped across by myself to Brian. We rotated to the end.
Also, turns out that what I thought was a seam on my old frame was actually the line formed from two carbon tubes that were separated. Apparently they were grinding and filling my bottom bracket with carbon filings. So, in addition to my bike feeling springy (which I got used to), my bottom bracket bearings were shot. I can't believe how good a free spinning bottom bracket feels!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
This just in..
Well, Dave Fuentes and Keck Baker are in California. I was expecting a race report but what I got is what keck calls "a glamour shot of dave in the studio on his bike". I don't know where Keck got this but he tried to post it unsuccessfully to the MABRA list serve, so I agreed to post it here. There will probably be consequences but here you go...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Uh-oh
Before the lunch ride at Hains Point I always put in 3 to 4 hours. Today after turning from Seneca onto River road my rear derailler cable broke inside the lever and I was suddenly stuck in my 53x13. I have heared horror stories of what happens when your cable breaks there with the head being stuck in the break making the whole lever unservicable. That's the last thing I need, I do not have any money for new equipment! Except for the fact that I had an insane tail wind the whole way down River road and MacArthur, the ride sucked. I was worried how I was going to afford to get a new lever, and the little hills on river were kicking my butt in that huge gear. Except on the hills, I was FLYING - I love a good tail wind.
I have onlt been in the Bicycle Pro Shop once, when I put some air in my tire and was on my way. These guys were pretty cool, almost as cool as that Spokes ect shop off of GW parkway. I went strait back to the shop, and asked for a cable. After I got it, I asked for some advice regarding my situation. He said "don't shift, or you will never get it out." Too late, I shifted - many times out of habbit. He offered to look at it and was surprised not to see the head in there. He went and got a flash light, and still couldn't see it. "I think it fell out, and if it did, that is the first time I ever heard of that! 9 out of 10 times, you have to get a new lever." The other mechanic came over and looked surprised too. "Do you mind fixing it then?"
So, instead of costing over $200, it cost me a little over $4. Thank God, the Bicycle Pro Shop and whatever elf or genee that plucked that thing out of my lever.
They fixed it so fast I even made it to the most windy lunch ride ever. Wow, 30+ down the front side, and I dont know on the back cause I was too busy holding my bars and fighting the wind. What a great workout.
I have onlt been in the Bicycle Pro Shop once, when I put some air in my tire and was on my way. These guys were pretty cool, almost as cool as that Spokes ect shop off of GW parkway. I went strait back to the shop, and asked for a cable. After I got it, I asked for some advice regarding my situation. He said "don't shift, or you will never get it out." Too late, I shifted - many times out of habbit. He offered to look at it and was surprised not to see the head in there. He went and got a flash light, and still couldn't see it. "I think it fell out, and if it did, that is the first time I ever heard of that! 9 out of 10 times, you have to get a new lever." The other mechanic came over and looked surprised too. "Do you mind fixing it then?"
So, instead of costing over $200, it cost me a little over $4. Thank God, the Bicycle Pro Shop and whatever elf or genee that plucked that thing out of my lever.
They fixed it so fast I even made it to the most windy lunch ride ever. Wow, 30+ down the front side, and I dont know on the back cause I was too busy holding my bars and fighting the wind. What a great workout.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tradezone and the MABRA BAR party
Saturday I wanted to do the double, the 7am and the 10am, but in a gesture to keep good-boy points I opted out of the 10am and did Valentines day stuff instead. I guess it paid the half day paid off cause I felt like I was flying at Tradezone on Sunday.
I only had two teammates, Dave Fuentes and Brian Butts (with a camera on his head). The first lap we sat at the back talking, then out of nowhere Dave attacked. Everybody in the race reacted and quickly brought him back. Not to let his effort go in vain, I attacked and brought with me a DC Velo. After a lap, we were caught. Right when we were caught, I went again with Brian Fouche (ABRT?). Dave Fuentes, Evan Fader (Richmond Pro) and some dude in red.
Sometime during the rotation in the first few laps the dude in red went back to the field to see how things were going. Brian F was not missing pulls, but kept comming through spinning hell of fast like he was in his small ring and Evan was ridding his cross bike with cross gearing. After 2 or 3 laps of this I felt we were not going fast enough to make the break stick so I took a long hard pull to motivate everyone. When I moved over to let the next guy come though there was no one there. Luckily I was only off by myself for a little less than a lap when I saw Dave comming up by himself so I sat up and waited for him. The next time we saw any riders it was the back of the main field on the last lap.
The MABRA BAR party at Sonoma was fun. I love re-meeting other cyclist (in normal clothes) while show-casing my goofyness through the filter of several beers. We rode back from tradezone, and I didn't have time to go home and shower or get clothes so I had to wear what was in the back of my car. For a second I was self concious when every one started showing up all dressed up, but whatever, two YingLings later I completly forgot what I was wearing. I spent most of my time mingleing with Don Saroff, Christopher Regan and Art Brown - man that made me feel young! Just Kidding, but no really...Eli is a great host and the people in MABRA are collectivly fun and cool. There needs to be more parties in this district! I laughed alot, made fun of people, got made fun of, laughed some more and even watched the Gay Bike Racer try to break the restaurants porcelin with beer bottles!
Looks like there will be a bunch of bad weather days next week, so I will be taking them off, inside with the trainer, not riding that thing cause I hate it, but it will be inside and so will I. If its not wet outside, I might see you at the point.
I only had two teammates, Dave Fuentes and Brian Butts (with a camera on his head). The first lap we sat at the back talking, then out of nowhere Dave attacked. Everybody in the race reacted and quickly brought him back. Not to let his effort go in vain, I attacked and brought with me a DC Velo. After a lap, we were caught. Right when we were caught, I went again with Brian Fouche (ABRT?). Dave Fuentes, Evan Fader (Richmond Pro) and some dude in red.
Sometime during the rotation in the first few laps the dude in red went back to the field to see how things were going. Brian F was not missing pulls, but kept comming through spinning hell of fast like he was in his small ring and Evan was ridding his cross bike with cross gearing. After 2 or 3 laps of this I felt we were not going fast enough to make the break stick so I took a long hard pull to motivate everyone. When I moved over to let the next guy come though there was no one there. Luckily I was only off by myself for a little less than a lap when I saw Dave comming up by himself so I sat up and waited for him. The next time we saw any riders it was the back of the main field on the last lap.
The MABRA BAR party at Sonoma was fun. I love re-meeting other cyclist (in normal clothes) while show-casing my goofyness through the filter of several beers. We rode back from tradezone, and I didn't have time to go home and shower or get clothes so I had to wear what was in the back of my car. For a second I was self concious when every one started showing up all dressed up, but whatever, two YingLings later I completly forgot what I was wearing. I spent most of my time mingleing with Don Saroff, Christopher Regan and Art Brown - man that made me feel young! Just Kidding, but no really...Eli is a great host and the people in MABRA are collectivly fun and cool. There needs to be more parties in this district! I laughed alot, made fun of people, got made fun of, laughed some more and even watched the Gay Bike Racer try to break the restaurants porcelin with beer bottles!
Looks like there will be a bunch of bad weather days next week, so I will be taking them off, inside with the trainer, not riding that thing cause I hate it, but it will be inside and so will I. If its not wet outside, I might see you at the point.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tick Tick Tick...
If you are not a pro, then you are racing for fun, and if it's not, do something else.
Tradezone is in 2 days. The registration page says 'training race', but whatever. I did 3 of them last year, and the 'training' part was bull, they were races. There were attacks, chases, team tactics and a lot of pain. I had a good time.
Sunday actually marks 1 year of racing for me, but it feels like I have been around here forever. I remember rolling up to the line at Tradezone and getting that gitty nervous feeling I had in my first race as a junior. The speed was a bit alarming, and I wondered if I would be able to re-adapt to race speeds. It has taken alot of work to get back into shape, but I will never forget how hard that backside was single file in the wind.
Last year I rode Tradezone with a triple chainring, and since I didn't know what was cool to wear, nor did I have any team clothing, I looked like a bike nashbar week-end warrior fred.
I can't wait for the season to start, and I have the tangible goal of doing everything this year better than last year - starting with Tradezone.
Tradezone is in 2 days. The registration page says 'training race', but whatever. I did 3 of them last year, and the 'training' part was bull, they were races. There were attacks, chases, team tactics and a lot of pain. I had a good time.
Sunday actually marks 1 year of racing for me, but it feels like I have been around here forever. I remember rolling up to the line at Tradezone and getting that gitty nervous feeling I had in my first race as a junior. The speed was a bit alarming, and I wondered if I would be able to re-adapt to race speeds. It has taken alot of work to get back into shape, but I will never forget how hard that backside was single file in the wind.
Last year I rode Tradezone with a triple chainring, and since I didn't know what was cool to wear, nor did I have any team clothing, I looked like a bike nashbar week-end warrior fred.
I can't wait for the season to start, and I have the tangible goal of doing everything this year better than last year - starting with Tradezone.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Is that my feet?
I can't ride wednessday, so I decided to ride today instead of resting. I parked at Hains Point at about 830 and started changing when I realized I forgot clean socks for the second time in a row and would have to wear the pair I did the 7am and the 10am on Saturday, and 4 hours that included both sides of Mt Weather on Sunday. What's one more day?
So, I head out at 9 and do 3 hours. When I got back, the noon ride was starting, so I hopped in. I meant to cut out early to take a shower before class when Ken Young and some other DC Velo guys showed up about half way through. The speed picked up and I did 3 more laps. It was fun, a DC Velo guy would go, I would chase, another would go when I caught the first one, and so on until in the end I would sprint with Ken who beat me 2 out of 3 times. Great ending to a long day of training, but needless to say I had to go straight to class.
So, I am sitting in class and I keep smelling this awful smell. I looked around irratated wondering who the culprit was and eventually decided who it was. At the break, I sat farther away from him - but to my amazement I could still smell him! In my next class, I could still smell it and the realized, IT WAS ME! I guess wearing thoose socks for over 230 miles in three days did not help my hygene. I wonder if people in my classes could smell and knew it was me. God I hope not.
So, I head out at 9 and do 3 hours. When I got back, the noon ride was starting, so I hopped in. I meant to cut out early to take a shower before class when Ken Young and some other DC Velo guys showed up about half way through. The speed picked up and I did 3 more laps. It was fun, a DC Velo guy would go, I would chase, another would go when I caught the first one, and so on until in the end I would sprint with Ken who beat me 2 out of 3 times. Great ending to a long day of training, but needless to say I had to go straight to class.
So, I am sitting in class and I keep smelling this awful smell. I looked around irratated wondering who the culprit was and eventually decided who it was. At the break, I sat farther away from him - but to my amazement I could still smell him! In my next class, I could still smell it and the realized, IT WAS ME! I guess wearing thoose socks for over 230 miles in three days did not help my hygene. I wonder if people in my classes could smell and knew it was me. God I hope not.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Racing starts next week! (kinda)
Well, I was going to go down to NC to do the wolf pack races, but I hadn't realized that they conflicted with the MABRA BAR party at Sonoma, so it looks like the double on Sat and Tradezone on Sun followed by supporting the folks who won that BAR.
On another note, I see that Beth Mason is coming to town to do custom soles. That is something I need, I never cramp anywhere but my arches. I wonder if soles will help. Arch cramping doesn't affect my racing like cramps that other people get - I don't feel it till after the race when I try to walk, so I guess I can live with it if custom soles are too expensive.
On even another note, been getting chances to ride with DC Velo guys - there getting pretty strong. Rumor has it that Derrik Brochard-Hall might be on their team. If so, MABRA racing will be so much fun cause that gut is a hard-core motor!
On another note, I see that Beth Mason is coming to town to do custom soles. That is something I need, I never cramp anywhere but my arches. I wonder if soles will help. Arch cramping doesn't affect my racing like cramps that other people get - I don't feel it till after the race when I try to walk, so I guess I can live with it if custom soles are too expensive.
On even another note, been getting chances to ride with DC Velo guys - there getting pretty strong. Rumor has it that Derrik Brochard-Hall might be on their team. If so, MABRA racing will be so much fun cause that gut is a hard-core motor!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)