Well, I am glad that is over. We ended up 4th in the team time trial out of 20 teams - with only 4 guys and no aero bars or tt bikes. We lost massively on the individual GC, but managed to only drop to 2nd on the team GC.
Before the crit, the team was hydrating and getting along pretty well, just not talking about the TTT. You could tell it knocked us down quite a few notches. We were shocked to find out we got 4th in the TTT, and that we were 2nd in Team GC, so that was a tiny pearl in a day of dung.
I got a call up in the crit, and with a good warm up and clip in I realized by the first turn I was several bike lengths off the front. I put my head down and committed. I soloed for 3 laps when Jeff Brandon caught me. We worked for 2 more and then got caught by the field.
A few laps later, Dave went with Ken Young, Jeff Brandon and 3 others including a Bike reg guy. They lapped the field. Harley and Bike reg blocked.
Dave was flying, I tried to move up to help lead him out, but I could not break that 10 guy back barrier, I think I was still feeling the effect of the TTT. Dave ended up 4th.
We ended up with 5th, 6th, 7th and 11th in GC .
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ephrata Team Time Trial
On Battley Harley we have two exceptional time trialist. Russ Langley has numerous individual time trials and prologes, including the ITT at Ephrata last year. Ken Johnson has one as many if not more ITTs to include State, District and the Canadian National Championship TT.
We were leading team GC, and with these two and Dave Fuentes to get Keck, DeWald and I to the climb, we would be money.
We were all waiting by the start and Russ and Ken rode off to warm up or something. With 2 minutes to start, no Ken, no Russ. With 1 minute to go, no Ken no Russ. 5,4,3,2 and 1...no Ken no Russ - and off we go - Fuentes, Dewald, Keck and I.
We had no TT equipment and 2 of 3 of our flat/rolling hill guys are God knows where. Unbelievable. So absolutely lame. Bike reg started 30 seconds behind us, 6 guys on TT bikes, and sitting 2nd overall on team GC.
Dave took the hardest pulls on the flat, and shed before the climb. Dewald, Keck and I went as well as we could, but got caught around the 1K and then conceded about 10 more seconds.
We have lost the team GC and all of our individual GC placings. I am so mad. This could have been Keck's biggest win, and he said he just feels sick to his stomach. After all of that hard work yesterday, and now this.
We were leading team GC, and with these two and Dave Fuentes to get Keck, DeWald and I to the climb, we would be money.
We were all waiting by the start and Russ and Ken rode off to warm up or something. With 2 minutes to start, no Ken, no Russ. With 1 minute to go, no Ken no Russ. 5,4,3,2 and 1...no Ken no Russ - and off we go - Fuentes, Dewald, Keck and I.
We had no TT equipment and 2 of 3 of our flat/rolling hill guys are God knows where. Unbelievable. So absolutely lame. Bike reg started 30 seconds behind us, 6 guys on TT bikes, and sitting 2nd overall on team GC.
Dave took the hardest pulls on the flat, and shed before the climb. Dewald, Keck and I went as well as we could, but got caught around the 1K and then conceded about 10 more seconds.
We have lost the team GC and all of our individual GC placings. I am so mad. This could have been Keck's biggest win, and he said he just feels sick to his stomach. After all of that hard work yesterday, and now this.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Ephrata Road Race
Started off with 119 guys, every team had 6 but one which had 5. The course was a bit difficult with a good climb, some wind and a ton of turns. Lots of attacks went, many were represented with the best teams, but everything came back until 2 to go of the 12 mile course which ended up being over 80 miles.
The initial break had about 15 guys, including Dave Fuentes, Keck Baker and Ken Johnson all from Harley. I was covering guys trying to bridge and ended up getting pulled across by Jason Meidof from DC Velo.
I was pretty fried from attacking so much and after drilling it a couple times to make the break stick sat on the back while Dave pulled it to the base of the climb. There were three or four bike reg guys with us, but they didn't really contribute.
On the climb, 2 Bike reg guys launched and shattered the break. Keck Ken and a CRCA rider stayed with them, but I was on the rivet, and crested with Meidof and Jeff Brandon. Brandon and Medoif drilled it to try to catch the leaders, but I would not help because we had 2 out of 5 guys in the front group and Brandon can sprint pretty well.
Meidof cracked and I tried to jump across by myself, but could not make contact so I waited for Jeff Brandon to work with him and hold off the small developing group behind us. We kept getting close to the leaders so I would let up some, and Jeff pulled like a champ the last 2 miles.
To get a spot ahead of Jeff, I drilled the last Kilo and finished ahead of him but with the same time.
Ahead of us, the 5 got the same time with Jamie Driscol from Bike reg taking the win, Keck 2nd, CRCA third Ken 4th, the other Bike reg guy 5th, me 6th, Brandon 7th, Fuentes 8th. We are leading team GC, Bike reg is over 40 seconds down and I think the next closest team is over 4 minutes down.
Tomorrow is the team time trial, I hope we do well.
The initial break had about 15 guys, including Dave Fuentes, Keck Baker and Ken Johnson all from Harley. I was covering guys trying to bridge and ended up getting pulled across by Jason Meidof from DC Velo.
I was pretty fried from attacking so much and after drilling it a couple times to make the break stick sat on the back while Dave pulled it to the base of the climb. There were three or four bike reg guys with us, but they didn't really contribute.
On the climb, 2 Bike reg guys launched and shattered the break. Keck Ken and a CRCA rider stayed with them, but I was on the rivet, and crested with Meidof and Jeff Brandon. Brandon and Medoif drilled it to try to catch the leaders, but I would not help because we had 2 out of 5 guys in the front group and Brandon can sprint pretty well.
Meidof cracked and I tried to jump across by myself, but could not make contact so I waited for Jeff Brandon to work with him and hold off the small developing group behind us. We kept getting close to the leaders so I would let up some, and Jeff pulled like a champ the last 2 miles.
To get a spot ahead of Jeff, I drilled the last Kilo and finished ahead of him but with the same time.
Ahead of us, the 5 got the same time with Jamie Driscol from Bike reg taking the win, Keck 2nd, CRCA third Ken 4th, the other Bike reg guy 5th, me 6th, Brandon 7th, Fuentes 8th. We are leading team GC, Bike reg is over 40 seconds down and I think the next closest team is over 4 minutes down.
Tomorrow is the team time trial, I hope we do well.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Ephrata
I was looking on Bike Reg and saw this...
Keck Baker Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Ryan Dewald Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Dave Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma
Chuck Hutcheson Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Chuck Hutcheson Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Kenneth Johnson Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma
Russ Langley Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
I am not sure who that other Chuck Hutcheson is, but he is probably a bad ass! Right Kenneth?
Check this out:
Fred Billet Team Alliance Environmental #1
Epes Harris Team Alliance Environmental #1
Warren Holzman Team Alliance Environmental #1
Lanell Rockmore Team Alliance Environmental #1
Karl Woitas Team Alliance Environmental #1
Joe Whitman Team Alliance Environmental #1
Zac Felpel Team Alliance Environmental #2
Brady Gibney Team Alliance Environmental #2
Timothy Gresh Team Alliance Environmental #2
George Menard Team Alliance Environmental #2
Michael Miller Team Alliance Environmental #2
Louis Secreto Team Alliance Environmental #2
Maybe we should have done that at Jeff Cup, and nobody would have noticed.
From what I have heard and witnessed, the team to beat is:
Josh Dillon BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Jamey Driscoll BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Justin Lindine BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Eric Schildge BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Dan Timmerman BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Steve Weller BikeReg.com / Cannondale
and also:
Franklin Burgos Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Gavi Epstein Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Rodney Santiago Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Raj Seepersaud Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Wilson Vasquez Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Euris Rafael Vidal Paulino Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
It is going to be fun, I havn't raced with IMMEDIATE MORTGAGE - ARTEMIS ELITE for a few weeks and I have read that DC Velo has been kicking butt.
I am glad it is a team time trial this year cause I seem to have a hard time staying on course by myself.
Keck Baker Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Ryan Dewald Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Dave Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma
Chuck Hutcheson Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Chuck Hutcheson Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
Kenneth Johnson Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma
Russ Langley Battley HARLEY-DAVIDSON/Sonoma
I am not sure who that other Chuck Hutcheson is, but he is probably a bad ass! Right Kenneth?
Check this out:
Fred Billet Team Alliance Environmental #1
Epes Harris Team Alliance Environmental #1
Warren Holzman Team Alliance Environmental #1
Lanell Rockmore Team Alliance Environmental #1
Karl Woitas Team Alliance Environmental #1
Joe Whitman Team Alliance Environmental #1
Zac Felpel Team Alliance Environmental #2
Brady Gibney Team Alliance Environmental #2
Timothy Gresh Team Alliance Environmental #2
George Menard Team Alliance Environmental #2
Michael Miller Team Alliance Environmental #2
Louis Secreto Team Alliance Environmental #2
Maybe we should have done that at Jeff Cup, and nobody would have noticed.
From what I have heard and witnessed, the team to beat is:
Josh Dillon BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Jamey Driscoll BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Justin Lindine BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Eric Schildge BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Dan Timmerman BikeReg.com / Cannondale
Steve Weller BikeReg.com / Cannondale
and also:
Franklin Burgos Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Gavi Epstein Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Rodney Santiago Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Raj Seepersaud Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Wilson Vasquez Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
Euris Rafael Vidal Paulino Champion System Racing/Cycles Gladiator Wine
It is going to be fun, I havn't raced with IMMEDIATE MORTGAGE - ARTEMIS ELITE for a few weeks and I have read that DC Velo has been kicking butt.
I am glad it is a team time trial this year cause I seem to have a hard time staying on course by myself.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Battenkill
Day 1 Pro/1 race
Saturdays Pro/1 race was a sort of preview for Sunday's Pro race. It was 83 miles, the Sunday 60 loop preceded by a smaller loop that contained a pretty treacherous super fast rocky pot-holed twisting decent. On this decent, the break away of 16 riders (including Russ) went clear and stayed away the whole race.
I flatted about halfway, got a wheel change and caught back on. The effort was welcome because I was freezing from the rain and it brought my body temp back up.
With about 10 miles to go, a BMC rider jumped away on the rolling gravel hills, and I gave chase.
I never caught him, but I did catch a Type 1 guy who got dropped from the break and we worked together for a bit, then he hand slung me over the last gravel hill and sat up. I kept the tempo and passed a few more guys who got shelled from the break.
Leaving the last dirt section, I realized I had a front flat and rode for the final 6 miles for 14th. The officials recorded me as finishing the cat 2 race, which didn't get fixed until the next day - too late for the Cycling news post (which I think would have been cool), but Russ got 8th and Keck got 2nd in the field sprint.
Day 2, Pro race
Much faster than day 1, and the hills seemed easier because we went over them quicker. My chain got twisted up and I dropped back, got it fixed, chased back up through the caravan and caught back on. It was hard, but I didn't panic and leap frogged from car to car and caught the field right before a climb.
Next I flatted my rear wheel. Same deal, drop back got it changed worked with an Ouch guy and a Bissel guy and caught back on.
My next two flats came simultaneously on either the 5th or 6th dirt road. I saw this good sized rock bouncing through the field like a ping pong ball, then like a magnet it found both my wheels. I knew my front was flat cause we were descending and I had no control and it felt like I was sliding on butter through a turn. I couldn't raise my hand to signal to other riders I had a flat as I was veering out of control at speed. I barley keep my bike up and didn't take anyone down. This time the wheel vehicles were way back because so many guys were flatting. When I finally got my front wheel changed, I hopped back on coasted for a bit and realized my rear was flat too. I got off and pulled my rear wheel and held it up. SRAM got out of the car and quickly changed my rear, and off I went. Luckily the Kenda Pro vehicle came flying by with 3 of it's guy in tow so I swung on. I was red lined, but we caught back on.
My last flat happened on the 7th gravel section. The support vehicles were so far back fixing other flats at this point that it took several Ice Ages before I saw him. While he was changing my wheel the SRAM guy asked if I thought I could catch back on again. I said I wasn't sure, I was pretty fried chasing back on the last 3 times (it is hard to catch back on to the field in a pro race). I think he said 'good, I am running out of wheels'.
This time, the caravan was long gone. Most the riders around had been blown out the back, but I gave it a dig in hopes of something magical happening. I just started drilling it. I got behind camera bikes, medical support, whoever and just focused on catching back - all the while passing tons of guys with flats and mechanicals. When I got to the top of a roller, I could see the field about three rollers away - single file.
The SRAM vehicle came flying by, but never slows to tow because of the ever present official next to him. My last hope disappeared in the distance and I finally cracked.
What I learned:
1. I have the ability to have 3 flats/mechanicals in a pro race and catch back on.
2. The 4th time I have to catch, I probably should bag it and save it for another day.
3. Clinchers are not ideal for rocky conditions.
4. Watching the BMC guy win made me burn inside. I want to do that.
Saturdays Pro/1 race was a sort of preview for Sunday's Pro race. It was 83 miles, the Sunday 60 loop preceded by a smaller loop that contained a pretty treacherous super fast rocky pot-holed twisting decent. On this decent, the break away of 16 riders (including Russ) went clear and stayed away the whole race.
I flatted about halfway, got a wheel change and caught back on. The effort was welcome because I was freezing from the rain and it brought my body temp back up.
With about 10 miles to go, a BMC rider jumped away on the rolling gravel hills, and I gave chase.
I never caught him, but I did catch a Type 1 guy who got dropped from the break and we worked together for a bit, then he hand slung me over the last gravel hill and sat up. I kept the tempo and passed a few more guys who got shelled from the break.
Leaving the last dirt section, I realized I had a front flat and rode for the final 6 miles for 14th. The officials recorded me as finishing the cat 2 race, which didn't get fixed until the next day - too late for the Cycling news post (which I think would have been cool), but Russ got 8th and Keck got 2nd in the field sprint.
Day 2, Pro race
Much faster than day 1, and the hills seemed easier because we went over them quicker. My chain got twisted up and I dropped back, got it fixed, chased back up through the caravan and caught back on. It was hard, but I didn't panic and leap frogged from car to car and caught the field right before a climb.
Next I flatted my rear wheel. Same deal, drop back got it changed worked with an Ouch guy and a Bissel guy and caught back on.
My next two flats came simultaneously on either the 5th or 6th dirt road. I saw this good sized rock bouncing through the field like a ping pong ball, then like a magnet it found both my wheels. I knew my front was flat cause we were descending and I had no control and it felt like I was sliding on butter through a turn. I couldn't raise my hand to signal to other riders I had a flat as I was veering out of control at speed. I barley keep my bike up and didn't take anyone down. This time the wheel vehicles were way back because so many guys were flatting. When I finally got my front wheel changed, I hopped back on coasted for a bit and realized my rear was flat too. I got off and pulled my rear wheel and held it up. SRAM got out of the car and quickly changed my rear, and off I went. Luckily the Kenda Pro vehicle came flying by with 3 of it's guy in tow so I swung on. I was red lined, but we caught back on.
My last flat happened on the 7th gravel section. The support vehicles were so far back fixing other flats at this point that it took several Ice Ages before I saw him. While he was changing my wheel the SRAM guy asked if I thought I could catch back on again. I said I wasn't sure, I was pretty fried chasing back on the last 3 times (it is hard to catch back on to the field in a pro race). I think he said 'good, I am running out of wheels'.
This time, the caravan was long gone. Most the riders around had been blown out the back, but I gave it a dig in hopes of something magical happening. I just started drilling it. I got behind camera bikes, medical support, whoever and just focused on catching back - all the while passing tons of guys with flats and mechanicals. When I got to the top of a roller, I could see the field about three rollers away - single file.
The SRAM vehicle came flying by, but never slows to tow because of the ever present official next to him. My last hope disappeared in the distance and I finally cracked.
What I learned:
1. I have the ability to have 3 flats/mechanicals in a pro race and catch back on.
2. The 4th time I have to catch, I probably should bag it and save it for another day.
3. Clinchers are not ideal for rocky conditions.
4. Watching the BMC guy win made me burn inside. I want to do that.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Harley Wins Tysons!
2 days, 2 wins, 2 different riders. I did not have anything to do with the first win, but I sure as hell had something to do with today's. I think the days of pulling off 1st 2nd and 3rd may be harder to come by, with teams and other riders stepping up - but that really makes racing more fun. Getting the win seems to mean more.
Today we were not the most numerous team (thank God because that is embarrassing). All of the local teams were pretty well represented. On the second lap Josh Frick (DC Velo) went and I jumped across to him with Evan Fader (Richmond Pro) in tow. The 3 of us worked pretty good together and stayed away for a little less than a 3rd of the beginning of the race. I know this because right as we got caught by the single file field the bell rang for the first of three primes (that were to be equally separated throughout the race. I went for it from the turn at the bottom of the hill and could feel Ryan McKinney moving up on my right. I dug all the way to the line and I thought he nipped me, but the officials had me down for it after the race. I was extremely toasted after that and while I was waiting for the secondary burners to kick in in my legs and aerobic system the field went buzzing by me in a broken up single file line. I mostly recovered by the turn before the downhill when another group went.
They got caught, and another group went.
They got caught, and another group went.
They got caught, and another group went.
By the halfway point it was pretty obvious how this was going to end, and I could imagine Ken Young and Todd Hipp licking their chops cause this was a day for the sprinters.
In this situation, I know my job. I found the Brian Butts and Todd got on his wheel. Russ pulled from lap 3 to 2 keep the speed up and sacrificed. Dave did the same. 2 turns to go and Jason Meidoff got stuck on the front - I thought he was going to keep the speed up for Ken, but they had other plans. Then the last call attacks started coming and I just surfed them keeping the boys in the top 5 at all times . Out of the last turn I kicked until the spring that holds my head blew sky high and swung off. In the blur of pain that had become my existence I say Todd raise his hands and I felt proud.
Today we were not the most numerous team (thank God because that is embarrassing). All of the local teams were pretty well represented. On the second lap Josh Frick (DC Velo) went and I jumped across to him with Evan Fader (Richmond Pro) in tow. The 3 of us worked pretty good together and stayed away for a little less than a 3rd of the beginning of the race. I know this because right as we got caught by the single file field the bell rang for the first of three primes (that were to be equally separated throughout the race. I went for it from the turn at the bottom of the hill and could feel Ryan McKinney moving up on my right. I dug all the way to the line and I thought he nipped me, but the officials had me down for it after the race. I was extremely toasted after that and while I was waiting for the secondary burners to kick in in my legs and aerobic system the field went buzzing by me in a broken up single file line. I mostly recovered by the turn before the downhill when another group went.
They got caught, and another group went.
They got caught, and another group went.
They got caught, and another group went.
By the halfway point it was pretty obvious how this was going to end, and I could imagine Ken Young and Todd Hipp licking their chops cause this was a day for the sprinters.
In this situation, I know my job. I found the Brian Butts and Todd got on his wheel. Russ pulled from lap 3 to 2 keep the speed up and sacrificed. Dave did the same. 2 turns to go and Jason Meidoff got stuck on the front - I thought he was going to keep the speed up for Ken, but they had other plans. Then the last call attacks started coming and I just surfed them keeping the boys in the top 5 at all times . Out of the last turn I kicked until the spring that holds my head blew sky high and swung off. In the blur of pain that had become my existence I say Todd raise his hands and I felt proud.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
That sucked.
I love the wind. Today was windy. I couldn't wait to race. About 3 miles into the race, I took a pull, dropped back and rode over someone who crashed. Great! So I chase and something doesn't seem right. I pull over and my back wheel is belly dancing and rear break is tapping out a beat. I open my break, but the wheel is still rubbing. Game over. Hopefully I will be on the YOU JUST GOT DROPPED blog that would be a high-light because I am a little bummed (my first not top ten in a long time). I'm taking my frustration out at Tysons tomorrow. I hope it's windy.
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