It was hard, it was fun and it certainly was fast. I think this picture sums it up though.... Good job Dave, and thanks for the photos Bruce Buckley.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Poolesville Masters and Senior races
Masters
Did not warm up. I felt if I would be doing the Masters and the Senior race, I would have enough miles in, and I figured I would just ease into the Masters race. About a mile before the gravel section, two guys in front of me bumped and yelled at each other, so I went to the front and pulled pretty steady till the end of the gravel. When I pulled off there were 9 guys left. We rotated for a couple of laps, then on the tail wind section I took a pull and when I pulled off there were 3 guys left to include Chip Hoover and Chris Hayes and a tall Kelly guy - who is strong enough that I should get to know his name. With 2 to go, the moto told us to be ready to pass another field. When we did pass them on the rollers, I was pulling. When I was done, Chip was still with me. We rotated until I jumped him through the gravel section and rode in solo.
Senior
I wish the senior race was first. Before the race I was drinking tons of fluid and eating everything I could find. An accurate account of the race is here http://racethemuscle.blogspot.com/ I was pretty fried with 20 mile left, and the fact I flatted on the 2nd lap did not help. Keck was up the road, so I had no obligation to pull through. On the last lap, I flatted AGAIN in the gravel section. Luckily they were crawling because everyone was fried so I got back pretty quick. In the last few miles, guys on the other team were attacking and we were taking turns going with them. When it was my turn, nobody pulled us in,and I was gone with 2 non Harleys. It being my second road race of the day, I was done and just holding on. I kept looking back hoping that Russ or Jose would come across because I had no sprint left. With abut 1 mile, the two guys I was with slowed and looked at each other, so I just kept the speed up they were previously going and rode in for 2nd.
These two places should put me on top of both the MABRA BARs, and although one of the former leaders of the BAR said it is just "an attendance award", I think it is pretty cool, because many people attend the races, but only a few place well enough to be in contention.
Did not warm up. I felt if I would be doing the Masters and the Senior race, I would have enough miles in, and I figured I would just ease into the Masters race. About a mile before the gravel section, two guys in front of me bumped and yelled at each other, so I went to the front and pulled pretty steady till the end of the gravel. When I pulled off there were 9 guys left. We rotated for a couple of laps, then on the tail wind section I took a pull and when I pulled off there were 3 guys left to include Chip Hoover and Chris Hayes and a tall Kelly guy - who is strong enough that I should get to know his name. With 2 to go, the moto told us to be ready to pass another field. When we did pass them on the rollers, I was pulling. When I was done, Chip was still with me. We rotated until I jumped him through the gravel section and rode in solo.
Senior
I wish the senior race was first. Before the race I was drinking tons of fluid and eating everything I could find. An accurate account of the race is here http://racethemuscle.blogspot.com/ I was pretty fried with 20 mile left, and the fact I flatted on the 2nd lap did not help. Keck was up the road, so I had no obligation to pull through. On the last lap, I flatted AGAIN in the gravel section. Luckily they were crawling because everyone was fried so I got back pretty quick. In the last few miles, guys on the other team were attacking and we were taking turns going with them. When it was my turn, nobody pulled us in,and I was gone with 2 non Harleys. It being my second road race of the day, I was done and just holding on. I kept looking back hoping that Russ or Jose would come across because I had no sprint left. With abut 1 mile, the two guys I was with slowed and looked at each other, so I just kept the speed up they were previously going and rode in for 2nd.
These two places should put me on top of both the MABRA BARs, and although one of the former leaders of the BAR said it is just "an attendance award", I think it is pretty cool, because many people attend the races, but only a few place well enough to be in contention.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Working Man Day 3
Going into the final event, we really wanted a win, we had gotten 2nd both the other times and had a 3rd. We still had the intention of sweeping up as many premes as we could, but this course was a bit more difficult than the previous 2 nights and we were sure a break would succeed. Todd got the first preme which was $100 in fish (we also got the other 2 $100 fish in the other 2 races). Mayson Haymes (who is strong as hell) was very active and somehow him, a Richmond Pro guy and myself ended up off the front. Even though the Richmond Pro Guy was pedaling like he had blisters on the bottoms of his feet and he did not want to apply pressure, I suggested that we rotate for the premes. That worked out - until Dave Fuentes bridged across. With a teammate, all bets were off. Dave would pull on the flat, then I would sprint for the preme. Our two break companions agreed to not contest the preme sprints if I would stop attacking them. With 2 to go, I attacked on the hill, getting a gap between Mason and Dave - but the Richmond Pro guy was still on me. Mason pulled me back in, and when they connected, Dave went. The Richmond Pro guy attempted to pull Dave in and must have blown sky high because when Mason pulled through he disappeared into the sunset, backwards. I sat on Mason as he valiantly attempted to pull in Dave, then jumped him and rode in for second. I think we got something like 24 of 28 premes.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Working Man's Classic
Dave Russ and I are in a cafe, with wireless access right now. Thank God, I was going nut at Keck's place. No phone service. No TV. No Internet. Limited amounts of running water. Three little white dogs that kill everything in a 2 mile vicinity who fight snakes (one dog was bite by a copperhead in the face), and apparently ward off zombies.
We have done well the first 2 nights of working man's classic have gone well. The courses are fast with premes every lap (the 1st night we got 21 out of 28 premes). My only complaint is that we don't qualify for some overall thing because we don't work. Mountain Kakis and Richmond Pro are also included in this thing. What frustrates me is that I do work, at least 10 hour days in the Army, but whatever.
Team Mountain Kakis won both nights and is leading GC. Tod and a RPC guy are tied for second and myself and 2 of my teammates are tied for 4th. There seems to be way more money in the premes than the placings, so that has been our focus. Being high up on the overall is just icing on the cake. Hopefully we have another great night, and then next is Poolesville and Reston followed by Fitchberg. Out
We have done well the first 2 nights of working man's classic have gone well. The courses are fast with premes every lap (the 1st night we got 21 out of 28 premes). My only complaint is that we don't qualify for some overall thing because we don't work. Mountain Kakis and Richmond Pro are also included in this thing. What frustrates me is that I do work, at least 10 hour days in the Army, but whatever.
Team Mountain Kakis won both nights and is leading GC. Tod and a RPC guy are tied for second and myself and 2 of my teammates are tied for 4th. There seems to be way more money in the premes than the placings, so that has been our focus. Being high up on the overall is just icing on the cake. Hopefully we have another great night, and then next is Poolesville and Reston followed by Fitchberg. Out
Monday, June 22, 2009
Racin'
Murad, another field sprint. I hate field sprints. Well, actually I hate when breaks go up the road and I am not in them, but still, I hate field sprints. You know what though? If I was better at them I may like them more, but at Murad I only managed a 6th - but Todd got 2nd so that was cool. The nameless one won again. Just kidding, the fastest sprinter around put on his cape and did it again. Or is Todd the fastest sprinter? They say your only as good as your last race, so that makes it Ken, but at Murad it sure as hell wasn't me. Plus I rode a rear wheel that did not like me so I was tired as hell at the end, and I am usually not after short road races like that.
Last week, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do the Wash County Stage Race or the VA State Crit. I choose the Stage race, mostly to hang out with Brian and get more than one race in my legs, plus the competition on Bike Reg looked harder as well as the courses.
While we were driving to the first stage, sprinkles were hitting the car. I knew if it rained, everyone would be miserable, and probably wouldn't warm up well - so I was going to attack or go with every attack like it was the last lap from the gun and see how things played out. It was pretty hectic and hairy and the dark clouds and pouring rain only added to this feeling of urgency I had to get away from the field. I loved it. Going over the 2nd of two pretty easy short climbs on the course, I looked back and guys were strung out all over the place. When all was said and done, 2 Kelly Guys (to include young Nate Wilson) and myself were away at the beginning of the second lap. We all rotated very well, and ever time I looked at Nate, I remembered that quote on the bio of his blog that says "I chill", and it made me smile. His teammate Jacob was pretty damn strong. At some point I heard there was a group of 3 coming across, but there split went from "30 seconds" to the "field is all together 3 min behind". We finished with a huge gap and the lead on GC.
Time Trialing is not my strong point, unless someone is chasing me or something. On my way home from the road race, I decided I would need more than TT bars (thanks Jose) to defend my place on the standings so I called everyone's favorite cop, John McClane, or as most in the cycling world call him Art Brown and begged him for some wheels. He loaned me a whole bike - and a helmet, and special shaped glaces, and possibly a little luck and magic. I like the word and. I had my best time trial ever, I think. My main worry was not to loose over two minutes to Pete Cannell and Josh Frick and keep Jacob, the Kelly guy within site and try not to let him dig into the 11 seconds I had on him. I managed to loose between a minute and 2 to Josh and Pete, but Jacob took the 11 from me and then added 11 more. Pete won, Josh got 2nd, Mike Githens (Big Red) got 3rd, Jacob 4th and me 6th. There was 22 seconds separating 7th from 4th! Thanks Art for loaning me your bike, last year on my normal bike I lost over 4 minutes to Pete, so it really saved my butt.
Going into the Crit I was 2nd over all, I tried to gain back the time in the sprints, but Jeff dickey beat me in the first sprint so he could move from 43rd to 42nd or something like that, then DC Velo got two guys up the road. Kelly didn't chase (smart), and those guys absorbed a majority of the time bonuses, leaving me sprinting for the 3rd place 1 second time bonus. Jose crashed out and broke his frame, and I was left with Brian, who like a hero gave everything he had to the end. Even though I felt like the whole field was against me, I still had fun and manged 5th place - even got a pretty decent size gap off the front of the field in the final sprint - but if the officials had counted it, combined with the time bonuses, it was not enough to win the overall which I lost by 7 seconds. Does anyone remember that punk band 7 seconds?
Joe Jefferson adds much too a race, and I have to admit, I am a Joe Jefferson fan. The races were well run, the tech manual was clear, and the courses were challenging. The only thing I would change is the huge amount of time between the TT and the Crit.
Next, 3 days of racing are the Working Man's Classic - which ironically I have to take time off work to do. Then Poolesville and Reston. Good stuff.
Last week, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do the Wash County Stage Race or the VA State Crit. I choose the Stage race, mostly to hang out with Brian and get more than one race in my legs, plus the competition on Bike Reg looked harder as well as the courses.
While we were driving to the first stage, sprinkles were hitting the car. I knew if it rained, everyone would be miserable, and probably wouldn't warm up well - so I was going to attack or go with every attack like it was the last lap from the gun and see how things played out. It was pretty hectic and hairy and the dark clouds and pouring rain only added to this feeling of urgency I had to get away from the field. I loved it. Going over the 2nd of two pretty easy short climbs on the course, I looked back and guys were strung out all over the place. When all was said and done, 2 Kelly Guys (to include young Nate Wilson) and myself were away at the beginning of the second lap. We all rotated very well, and ever time I looked at Nate, I remembered that quote on the bio of his blog that says "I chill", and it made me smile. His teammate Jacob was pretty damn strong. At some point I heard there was a group of 3 coming across, but there split went from "30 seconds" to the "field is all together 3 min behind". We finished with a huge gap and the lead on GC.
Time Trialing is not my strong point, unless someone is chasing me or something. On my way home from the road race, I decided I would need more than TT bars (thanks Jose) to defend my place on the standings so I called everyone's favorite cop, John McClane, or as most in the cycling world call him Art Brown and begged him for some wheels. He loaned me a whole bike - and a helmet, and special shaped glaces, and possibly a little luck and magic. I like the word and. I had my best time trial ever, I think. My main worry was not to loose over two minutes to Pete Cannell and Josh Frick and keep Jacob, the Kelly guy within site and try not to let him dig into the 11 seconds I had on him. I managed to loose between a minute and 2 to Josh and Pete, but Jacob took the 11 from me and then added 11 more. Pete won, Josh got 2nd, Mike Githens (Big Red) got 3rd, Jacob 4th and me 6th. There was 22 seconds separating 7th from 4th! Thanks Art for loaning me your bike, last year on my normal bike I lost over 4 minutes to Pete, so it really saved my butt.
Going into the Crit I was 2nd over all, I tried to gain back the time in the sprints, but Jeff dickey beat me in the first sprint so he could move from 43rd to 42nd or something like that, then DC Velo got two guys up the road. Kelly didn't chase (smart), and those guys absorbed a majority of the time bonuses, leaving me sprinting for the 3rd place 1 second time bonus. Jose crashed out and broke his frame, and I was left with Brian, who like a hero gave everything he had to the end. Even though I felt like the whole field was against me, I still had fun and manged 5th place - even got a pretty decent size gap off the front of the field in the final sprint - but if the officials had counted it, combined with the time bonuses, it was not enough to win the overall which I lost by 7 seconds. Does anyone remember that punk band 7 seconds?
Joe Jefferson adds much too a race, and I have to admit, I am a Joe Jefferson fan. The races were well run, the tech manual was clear, and the courses were challenging. The only thing I would change is the huge amount of time between the TT and the Crit.
Next, 3 days of racing are the Working Man's Classic - which ironically I have to take time off work to do. Then Poolesville and Reston. Good stuff.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Yesterday and Today
Sally Ride Sally
1,2,3
Ken Young has a pro level sprint. DC Velo has a very well organized lead out, and it was perfect for a course that was damn near impossible to break away on. Trust me, I tried! Medium story short, my cleat broke (speed play), and I coasted in sitting, pedaling with one leg for sixth. Hind site is 20/20, and I should have attacked their lead out with one to go (sitting of course), but I did not. The best break, or the one I thought might be successful had me, Brian Butts, Sean O'Rorke, Mike Githens, Jarred Neiters. Chip Hoover and Josh Frick. The teams were well represented, and everyone was working, the course was just too fast for a break to go.
Masters 35+
Dave and I have been rotating who wins the masters race, and it was his turn. We tried to get away, but I think it is possible we may have been marked. When we finally did get away, it was an accident, sprinting for a preme - which I did not get because there was a guy in front of us, who I thought we were lapping. Anyway, with six to go, we went for a preme and brought Chris Hayes from Haymarket with us. He was pulling through well, but with 2 to go, Dave attacked. Hayes brought him back, and I went. Dave bridge across and took the win. The whole time we were off the front we only had about 5 seconds and I was constantly thinking they were going to bring us back. Chris Reagan won the field sprint behind us.
So, on the day I got a 2nd and a 6th.
Today I rode down to the new trail crossing the Potomac on the Eisenhower bridge. Very cool, scenic and wide. It opens a whole new world of training ground, I can't wait to explore. I have never been to the national harbor until today and I can't wait to take the family.
Right now - I just uncorked a bottle of Boogle (cheap but good), and I am listening to my Pandora radio station which includes (I know the James McNeely will appreciate), Ottis Spann, Mark Hummel, Muddy Waters, The Night Hawks, Little Walter, the late KoKo Taylor, Leadbelly, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy - you get the point, I've got the blues with out being blue. I think I am turquoise, you know, green with a touch of blue. But not blue mind you.
1,2,3
Ken Young has a pro level sprint. DC Velo has a very well organized lead out, and it was perfect for a course that was damn near impossible to break away on. Trust me, I tried! Medium story short, my cleat broke (speed play), and I coasted in sitting, pedaling with one leg for sixth. Hind site is 20/20, and I should have attacked their lead out with one to go (sitting of course), but I did not. The best break, or the one I thought might be successful had me, Brian Butts, Sean O'Rorke, Mike Githens, Jarred Neiters. Chip Hoover and Josh Frick. The teams were well represented, and everyone was working, the course was just too fast for a break to go.
Masters 35+
Dave and I have been rotating who wins the masters race, and it was his turn. We tried to get away, but I think it is possible we may have been marked. When we finally did get away, it was an accident, sprinting for a preme - which I did not get because there was a guy in front of us, who I thought we were lapping. Anyway, with six to go, we went for a preme and brought Chris Hayes from Haymarket with us. He was pulling through well, but with 2 to go, Dave attacked. Hayes brought him back, and I went. Dave bridge across and took the win. The whole time we were off the front we only had about 5 seconds and I was constantly thinking they were going to bring us back. Chris Reagan won the field sprint behind us.
So, on the day I got a 2nd and a 6th.
Today I rode down to the new trail crossing the Potomac on the Eisenhower bridge. Very cool, scenic and wide. It opens a whole new world of training ground, I can't wait to explore. I have never been to the national harbor until today and I can't wait to take the family.
Right now - I just uncorked a bottle of Boogle (cheap but good), and I am listening to my Pandora radio station which includes (I know the James McNeely will appreciate), Ottis Spann, Mark Hummel, Muddy Waters, The Night Hawks, Little Walter, the late KoKo Taylor, Leadbelly, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy - you get the point, I've got the blues with out being blue. I think I am turquoise, you know, green with a touch of blue. But not blue mind you.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
I think it was Ekimov
In my other life I was able to do one of the big NRC stage races that had all kinds of media. I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the cool pro teams around, and thought 'how cool would that be to get all the attention they get?'
The prologue was a a short time trial, something a little over 10 miles I think. Really good riders had camera motorcycles taking off and following them and floating around the course. Unfortunately for me, there was not one waiting for my start, and although completely undeserving, I wished there was.
Immediately after I started though, to my surprise, a moto flipped around and seemed to be following me. I remember, halfway kidding to myself 'that's right, I am bad, how did they know?.' Having the camera there made me go way harder than I ever would have on my own. I was drilling it.
Slowly, I noticed the camera was backing off. 'Hey wait, I'm right here!', but I was cracking anyway and slowing down from going too fast too early. Then the camera disappeared, and I was back to my normal completely unglamourous time trial.
Not too long after that, I feel the presence then hear the moto again. 'That's right, you want more images of Chuck Hutch!' The difference was, this time he was half wheeling me, and slowly moving ahead. 'I see, more angles of Chuck, I understand'.
You ever watch the Tour, and they are following some great rider, and for a while they show some dude, just chugging along kind of get in the way, and then get unceremoniously past? You ever wonder how he feels? If he thinks at first the camera is there for him, and then he watches the moto and the good rider disapear in the distance, he feels silly to have ever, even for a moment, thought that moto was there for him.
Obviously, the camera was not there for me, and for a majority of the time I am sure it wasn't even pointed at me. It was waiting for a Postal Service guy, I think it was Ekimov.
The prologue was a a short time trial, something a little over 10 miles I think. Really good riders had camera motorcycles taking off and following them and floating around the course. Unfortunately for me, there was not one waiting for my start, and although completely undeserving, I wished there was.
Immediately after I started though, to my surprise, a moto flipped around and seemed to be following me. I remember, halfway kidding to myself 'that's right, I am bad, how did they know?.' Having the camera there made me go way harder than I ever would have on my own. I was drilling it.
Slowly, I noticed the camera was backing off. 'Hey wait, I'm right here!', but I was cracking anyway and slowing down from going too fast too early. Then the camera disappeared, and I was back to my normal completely unglamourous time trial.
Not too long after that, I feel the presence then hear the moto again. 'That's right, you want more images of Chuck Hutch!' The difference was, this time he was half wheeling me, and slowly moving ahead. 'I see, more angles of Chuck, I understand'.
You ever watch the Tour, and they are following some great rider, and for a while they show some dude, just chugging along kind of get in the way, and then get unceremoniously past? You ever wonder how he feels? If he thinks at first the camera is there for him, and then he watches the moto and the good rider disapear in the distance, he feels silly to have ever, even for a moment, thought that moto was there for him.
Obviously, the camera was not there for me, and for a majority of the time I am sure it wasn't even pointed at me. It was waiting for a Postal Service guy, I think it was Ekimov.
Monday, June 1, 2009
An Easy Day
Well, we didn't do a 6 hour ride today (thank God), but I did go to Sugar Loaf today with Sean Berry (our indigenous guide) and Chad Gerlach. That climb is really super short and easily graded, but the view at the top is very cool.
I'd like to say this is an action shot, but it is really a representation of my skills while riding and shooting from my phone camera.
I'd like to say this is an action shot, but it is really a representation of my skills while riding and shooting from my phone camera.
If you were in the Pro race on Sat or Sun, and this is what you saw, you were well positioned in the peleton. If you saw this in the last 50 meters, you were in the money and receiving NRC or UCI points.
So, it is safe to say that Chad is back, and crushing it again. Truth is, I can't remember the names of who won either day, and I bet a lot of people can't, but everyone remembers a dude who can solo 90% of a professional bicycle race and then still place top 10.
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