Chuck Hutch

Back in California

2011-12-27T22:57:00.001-05:00

Well, I have finally escaped MABRA and am back in mostly sunny California. I almost feel guilty about not blogging for a year, but I can sum it up real quick

Raced Bahamas, won, raced all the Hincapie series, did well, raced some NRC, got my butt handed to me, raced locally, won some times, got out of the Army, couch hopped, drove across country, raced locally, won a few more times, finished a semester at sac state, got all As, raced Korea, got 2nd, plan on racing collegiate, got hit by truck.

It's great to be back. The river rides are fun and it has not been nearly as cold as back east. It has rarely even rained. I have been to the hills many times and there is so much terain that exploring turns into an adventure almost every time.

I can't wait to race collegiate! Just wish I had done it 20+ years ago, hopefully I won't be the oldest guy in the peloton, but I probably will, oh well. Unfortunately that is all I have to look forward to now racewise because getting hit by a car took me out of Tour of the Bahamas, Redlands and the Tour of Korea. I probably needed the rest anyway.

Escape from DC or 74 degrees

2011-01-28T16:46:00.006-05:00

74 degrees when I woke. 74 degrees at breakfast. 74 degrees on my ride and lunch! This temperture consistancy is driving me nuts and it is starting to piss me off!

Just kidding.

I can't complain. I saw Jared Nieters post on Facebook complaining about the humidity here in the Bahamas, it quickly got 22 pissed off responses from people in MABRA who are getting another bout of snow. Mimi Newcastle tried to jinx me, and I thought it had worked when I arrived at Reagan and saw almost all of the flights out were canceled but a few because of the snow. Luckily mine was a go.I guess I could complain that when I woke it was 74 f outside and the repetition of the waves lulled me into such a lazy sleepy state that I did not feel like training. It is wonderful here. I don't ride the rollers or trainer, I always head out the door and ride in the cold and snow until my lips crack and stuff, so this is kind of my reward for suffering the elements.
The Tour of the Bahamas is really the Tour of the Nassau or even more correctly, The Tour of the West Side of Nassau.
The people here are mostly friendly, except for our drunk cab driver from the airport. He was all over the road, it was terrifying! At on point when he was passing a bus into the land of an oncoming dump truck I put my cycling helmet on. When he noticed he flipped out. When we drove down the long dirt road to where we are staying at Casa La Caya several doge were barking at us on the other side of a fence while happily wagging there tails. When the cab driver saw them he yelled "Wait!" and with a strong accent said "I need to see what these dogs thinking". We just wanted to get out of his broke down cab. Then he said "No need to worry, your with me".
My training ride today was sort of random. I just picked a direction and road until I reached a beach or the road ended, then I would head another way. I had no concerns about getting lost because I am on an island. Here every thing is beutiful or sounds cool. The prison even has a name that makes it sound like a great place to stay "Her Majesty's Prison's". The picture on the prison sign looks like the criminals are housed in condos.

What is funny is I was reluctant to go because of money things but Jared and Eli talked me into it. Turns out, the round trip ticket was only $268 dollars! That is crazy! My last vision of DC is below.

Tri State Ride

2011-01-04T17:02:00.005-05:00

According to Ryan DeWald all you need is three states touching each other, ride your bike in them and you got yourself a tri state ride. It was funny when he said it.

Like most days I went to work super duper early and got it out of the way. Then I went to my usual starting point in Unison. Went up and over Snickers Gap (without turning left on Mt Weather and proceeded to West Virginia by way of some dirt roads and Kabletown. The statue above is out in the middle of no where in front of an old boarded up building that is in front of a Freddy Kruger looking factory.

Bunches of roads meander along the Shenandoah, the one above is between HWY 9 and 340.

Sometime between these two pictures I got a phone call. I thought it was my friend back in California who is having hard times. I asked him if he was riding and he said he had been riding the mountain bike for a while but was just switching back to the road bike. When he said he had been racing since December I suddenly realized it was DeWald and not the guy from California. The whole time we talked he just agreed with me even though I am sure he had no ideal what I was talking about!

You can't really tell because my photo taking abilities are inconsistent but the tree above has about 50 blue bottles slid onto the branches for some reason. Some kind of West Virginian art maybe.

I have ridden past the building above and the train tunnel below quite a few time, but on the other side of the river from this part of Harper's Ferry. I just recently started exploring this side. Pretty cool stuff - and some steep climbs.

C & O canal near Harper's Ferry

The ride that got everyone in trouble (but me)

2011-01-01T15:48:00.005-05:00

I used to ride out near Sperryville, 211 and Page Valley often but lately I have spent most of my time in the mountains on the North side of 66. I always wanted to find a way over skyline from Tanner's Ridge or Redgate and rumor on the street was that route was through Big Meadows but it seemed like there was a fire road that paralleled the Old Rag hiking trail and I was determined to find it. The picture below was from my ride North of Harper's Ferry but it seemed to be the theme of my New Years Eve Ride.

The route I chose started in Etlan off of Fort Valley Road. We simply would go along it, cut off on some back roads go up and over 211 out of Sperryville, up Red Gate, down Old Rag and end up back at the cars. Simple route, little over 50 miles and it should have been well under the 3 and a half hours Eli and Jeremy told their significant others we would be back so they could celebrate new years.

Unfortunately I failed to account for over 7000 feet of climbing, snow and ice covered passes (up to two feet in spots) and golf ball sized gravel. Oops.

Climbing Red Gate in the summer is hard. Climbing Redgate with snow is harder, but it was very challenging and fun. At one point I thought Eli had turned around but he was going steady turtle and made it to the top first.

Jeremy on the other hand was probably one of the strongest of us but was defeated by a snow packed cleat and did the walk of shame in the last few hundred meters before the top at Skyline.

I am still learning how to do video (like not having the camera sideways).

When we got to the top those two were already late and in trouble. I thought the adventure would begin when we explored our way back on old rag but it really began climbing Red Gate. As we looked for the fire road off of Skyline I could feel the irritated energy from the guys and Eli kept asking if we knew where we were going (or something like that). I did, but as we rolled up and down the rollers on Skyline that turn off couldn't come soon enough. Finally we found it, and of course - it was snow and ice packed. Cool.

I have no pictures of our decent down Old Rag because it was white knuckled navigating and negotiating through the snow and ice. When there was not snow and ice it there was huge gravel. I thought it was fun, but Jeremy and Eli both called it interesting. I think if they were not two hours late by the time we got back to the cars they would have thought it was fun too.

We were supposed to ride again on New Year's Day but I got emails like this:
8:25 AM (7 hours ago)
Still in trouble over yesterday. Sorry man

I told one of them to blame it one me and he said "I can use that one only so many time".

Anyways, it was fun. My new rule though is to ride time limited rides on roads I know and do the exploring by myself or with people who don't have time restriction.

Chestnut Hill Loop

2010-12-30T17:40:00.010-05:00

Today I did the Chestnut Hill Loop with Eli from the Unison Store through Harper's Ferry. This is day 5 of the Rapha 500 and my total so far is 579 K (or 359.7 miles).

Most of todays route paralleled the Appalachian trail. At some point I am going to hike a large chunk of it.
This building looks pretty cool and kind of reminds me of a mini castle from that old U2 album.

Out in the middle of nowhere is this huge tunnel. It's crazy, someone in West Virginia decided they needed to put this mega tunnel on this single lane back country road. I wonder why?

Here I am trying to pose like Mr. Cash, but Eli failed to let me know I was doing nothing like the photo. C'mon man!

Photos taken by Eli Hengst

River Loop revisited Rapha Day 6

2010-12-29T16:26:00.013-05:00

Today I took Eli Hengst on the loop I did yesterday and we sort of just cruzed it. The weather has been much better and the wind has died down some. It is amazing what you notice when you just cruze, like a this interesting way to look at Christmas:

Along today's route we we found a cool seasonal out door fruit market with the country version of the Big Comfy Couch:

All throughout this region are Methodist Churches and of course your ocasional gun shop:
Which here they probably need because of the bear problem.

What exactly does a black bear checking station do? Any way, here is todays route:

So total for the Rapha 500 on day 6 is 305 miles or 491 kilometers. one more day to go!

Photos by Eli Hengst

Shenandoah River Loop - Rapha Day 5

2010-12-27T15:34:00.008-05:00

So now I have 243 miles (with 2 days off) or 391 kilometers of the Rapha 500 kilometer challenge with a couple of days to go! It looks like the weather will be favourable the next two days. All of my rides have begun and/or ended at the Raw Talent Ranch Annex at the Unison Store. The riding out of here in this area is the best that the Mid-Atlantic has to offer.

Today I explored some new roads on the other side of the Shenandoah from the blue Mountains. These roads were spectacular! The river was to my left pretty much the whole way as the roads rolled along with a few hills, some super old buildings and tons of horses, sheep and cows. Most of the roads were dirt and tree lined.

I normally cross the river on HWY 7 or 50 which isn't so bad because they both have huge shoulders but today I found this little tiny single lane bridge in the middle of nowhere. I am going to start incorporating it in my training rides.

Adventure with Jay Rapha Day 2

2010-12-25T10:54:00.004-05:00

One of the hardest rides I have ever done. 40mph gust headwinds, 10000+ feet of climbing, below freezing temps and finished in the dark on a 5 mile dirt climb.

I knew it was going to be a long day in the saddle so I ate as much as I could in the morning. The predicted profile said there would be around 7000 feet of climbing so it was also going to be hard.

When Jay got to the Raw Talent Ranch in Unison we immediately decided to scrap the original route and find some scenic back country roads (instantly adding another 15+ miles to the ride). What was funny is Jay describes roads by there numbers like route 629 and such, where I describe roads by there names - so we were having a language barrier problem. I realize now his method makes way more sense because roads change names and continuing roads, despite dog legs and stuff keep the same number. The map Jay was using showed some roads that I did not know existed on the other side of the Shenandoah river. I can't wait to show other people these great rolling roads. Seriously we were passed by 1 car over about a 15 mile stretch and you could see the Blue ridge Mt's the whole time.

I am glad Jay came along because I would have probably stuck to the same ol roads, but he has a great sense of adventure that really livened the ride up. The other constants were a continuous headwind and an unending elevation gain.

There was a moment I thought we weren't going to make it and the phone call of shame may be in order "Hi, Audry? Yeah, um...we need a ride..." You know that phone call that ends all sense of accomplishment. That brief moment of fear happened after we went the wrong direction exploring some brutal dirt rollers, after Jay's first flat when I thought my bottom bracket had frozen with what turned out to be a pebble logged between it and my crank arm. With the flat fixed and the rock out the call of shame was avoided.

The last moment of worry was as we were climbing the 3rd to last pass I realized we had two more climbs to go and limited sun. Jay said we would be fine as long as we got to the final climb out of Lost River/259 by dark because there would be no traffic up the dirt possibly snow covered road. It was pitch dark when we got to the base and it was comforting knowing I would be warm because we would be climbing the last 5 miles to the Raw Talent Ranch. It was surreal like a dream. I had no ideal where the top was, I just kept pedaling and suffering in the dark. For a few miles some hound dogs with LED lights on there collars trotted along side us. They keep us company and were non threatening.

When the sun dropped the temp drooped from around 30 f to the low teens but because of the climbing I was unaware of the change. The last mile to the Ranch is downhill and I became very aware of the cold but Audry had hot soup, pizza and a fire waiting for us. One of the best rides EVER.

Also, still learning to use the GPS stuff. Mileage, total feet of climbing, ride time and stuff is right. Max speed of 90+ Mph is wrong (I wish!).

Also see Jay's much better write up of the ride: http://www.rawtalentranch.com/2010/12/25/rtrunison-to-rtrlost-river/

Day 1 Rapha Ride and the Raw Talent Ranch

2010-12-23T18:13:00.004-05:00

Today I knocked out the ride from The Raw Talent Ranch in West Virginia back to Unison (the Raw Talent Ranch Annex) and ended up getting a little over 80 miles. I should have gotten around 74 but I went the wrong way for a few miles and luckily realized it before I was too far. The wind was screaming today so it made for some fast flat sections and some hairy descents. The GPX file needs to go through the software because it says I got something like 44000 feet of climbing and I know it was just over 4000. Imagine how hard a 81 mile ride would be with 44000 feet of climbing! Is that even possible? Many of the roads along the way were absolutely amazing and I was constantly reminded why I ride out here, if I never have to pedal another revolution of MacArthur, River Road or Hains point I will be just fine. It reminded me of a point to point road race where the terrain is constantly changing - in fact, when I left the Barn I was pushing through snow! What was a trip was the dirt decent from there got more sun than the main road up so it was a lot less sketchy and had no ice. Thank God the wind is supposed to die down some tomorrow because the return trip is going to be hard enough with all of the climbing.

Lost River, WV to Unison, VA

2010-12-22T18:48:00.003-05:00

Day 1 of the RAPHA Challenge tomorrow! I am going to drive to the Raw Talent Ranch in West VA, drop off my car and ride to the Raw Talent Ranch Annex at the Unison Store in Unison. Next day I gotta ride back, but at least I will have company with Jay Moglia (a true cycling mountain goat). Day 1 will be a dream, only 4500 feet of climbing, 7100 feet of descending and the wind at my back! Day two may be the nightmare, 7100 feet of climbing, 4500 feet of descending into a possible headwind. Hmm...at least I will have company, but I think he chose the wrong direction to attend. Soon I will be doing versions of this ride with dirt sections and more off the beaten path roads but I gotta wait for the snow and ice to melt.

Chestnut Hill

2010-12-19T16:16:00.004-05:00

It is crazy how warm 30 degrees feels after you have been training in the teens and twenties. I have a new favorite loop that goes from the Unison Store (Raw Talent Ranch Annex) basically to Harpers Ferry, up Chestnut Hill and back through virginia to Unison. Small group today, Eli Hengst, Jeremy Edwards, Stephen Robinson (the new MABRA Masters BAR Champ) and myself. We cruised, our moving average speed just over 15 mph, but between the mild cold and almost 5500 feet of climbing I feel pretty beat up. If you are ever in this area you have to check out these roads, they are very scenic. Chestnut Hill is basically a mini Mt Weather.

Getting ready for the Rapha Festive 500

2010-12-18T16:46:00.005-05:00

Today I did the 7am and the 10am. I haven't been out there for a while because I have been spending my time after work at the Raw Talent Ranch Annex in Unison on Saturdays in Unison near Middleburg, VA. Unison is the perfect place to start your rides from, not to far from DC and basically right up against the mountain. Mt Weather, Blue Mtn and Chestnut Hill are long climbs that are really close. Above is the 10am, but it is really my test for documenting my attempt at the Rapha 500 see:
http://www.rapha.cc/the-rapha-festive-500/?cm_mmc=email-_-151210-_-textlink1-_-500

Normally it would be pretty easy to knock out 500k in a week, but it has been very very very cold. I am lucky to get a ride in when it is above freezing or not snowing - which makes for a difficult attempt. Probably what is going to be even harder is getting the miles in on Christmas Eve and Christmas (without disrupting the tender balance of riding and the wife's happiness), but I think I got that solved. Ride super duper early on Christmas eve and hopefully sneak a short to medium size ride on Christmas when everyone is absorbed in their gifts.

Here is a picture of the Raw Talent Ranch Annex (and my glove)

The Hardest Climb (so far)

2010-08-04T08:32:00.003-04:00

When I first started riding here in the DC area I asked a rider next to me where the good climbing was. He said we were about to do a few. After going up Old Anglers, Great Falls and Brick yard, I asked someone else where the climbing was. He told me Sugarloaf.

I like to climb, I am not great at it - in fact I regularly get dropped by the guys I train with in the mountains but I do not consider Sugarloaf a climb.

Then I discovered the Jay's Lost River Barn. That is the best climbing but I am keeping this to within 2 hours of DC.

About a year and a half ago Dave Fuentes introduced me to Mt Weather. That's a pretty good climb. No real switch backs though and the hardest part looms right in front of you like a road to heaven.

The next climb Steve Grant told me about. Blue Mtn near Sky meadows. Really cool climb - plenty of switchbacks and it tops out to a dirt road. If you do a loop of it you can include Naked Mtn which is pretty short but is a nice part of Leeds Manor that passes a winery.

Skyline seems to have the rest of the great climbs around, startin of with the 4 mile climb from Front Royal to the Visitor center. Kind of steep, switchback and shaded.

Another good one starts in Speryville on 211, goes up to Sky line and goes down to Lurray (or the reverse). This used to be my favorite.

Yesterday Joe Dombrowski introduced me to what is the hardest climb so far. It is just off the Page Valley course on a road called Tanner's Ridge. This climb starts of with a beast of a wall that resembles the hardest part of Mt Weather and immediately put me in a 39x25. From the gun I was fighting wanting to paper-boy from one side of the road to the other. That first wall is followed by 5 or 6 more just like it but with some lulls and flat spots between them. The non-wall spots are not long enough though for you to recover - unless you completely stop. Right when you think it can't get any harder it turns to gravel. You know your close to the top when you see the graveyard on your left and you finally to the top when you hit Sky line and Joe D and Kevin Gotleb are kind enough to be waiting for you.

Next up is the climb up Red Gate

08/03/2010 Route
Find more Bike Rides in Marshall, Virginia

Lost River

2010-07-24T18:41:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite races. As I type, I feel my legs ache - I am not a very good climber so finishing it pretty much beats me to a pulp. I am surprised more people don't start it because it seems to be or like it is going to be one of the MABRA classics.

I have been in breaks before when riders have suffered mishaps, flatted or whatever and we let up until that rider caught back on. Today, I had a mishap and the 6 riders let up and I quickly caught back on. I have always waited because if by chance I won I would like to know I did on strength, tactics and merit. It is nice to know that other riders in the MABRA scene think the same way.

Nick Bax is a machine. I wish I was 20 and that strong. Very similar riding style to Joe Donbrowski and they both destroy the climbs.

Congratulations to Keck for winning - great attack on the second to last climb, no one was able to respond and we were border line death marching to the finish. What a crazy tough course.

Thanks for the wheel Mr Fang.
Thanks for the hospitality Jay and Audry.

Greg LeMond - How Have Steroids Changed Cycling?

2010-05-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

Mt Joy

2010-04-10T19:51:00.002-04:00

Race Report by Michael Flanagan

Race was 52 miles. 9 laps of a 5.8 mile course. Some good hills, not really climbs, but not rollers either. 60-90 second power climber kind of stuff, a few of them each lap.

Around 30 guys started. Probably similar deal at Walkersville--windy as all get out. I like the wind, so I was excited. The first mile is a false flat uphill and I was middle to the back of the pack, but I could see the pack was having trouble with the wind. It was just causing havoc.

Right around mile 1.5 we turned and had 1k into a horrible cross wind. I did sort of a stealth attack, seated, just really hard with lots of power. I got a good gap, then nailed it up the first power climb hill. Brown tried to bridge, but he wasn't making it without dragging someone. I kept the gas on for the next and biggest hill of the loop. I went up as fast as I can go uphill. Rugg launched. We linked up perfectly at the top of the hill.

We were off! We just drilled it for the next 5 miles or so. The next section was super fast. Net downhill and strong tailwind. I was rocking the 808s, and we were just flying through there. Sometimes spinning out the 53x11. When that would happen, the other guy would pull through.

Gap went to 30 seconds at the end of the lap.

Lap 2, the gap was 60 seconds, and we were only within sight in a few sections. The goal was out of sight out of mind.

3 = 1:05
4 = 1:15
5 = 2:00

I was starting to feel some little tweaks and twinges with 5 laps to go. Not exactly ideal. Rugg was phenomenal. The kid is a monster right now. On laps 4-8 he was actually giving me strong pushes up the hill. We're not exactly ideal break partners, since he climbs better, but we were getting around the course faster this way...haha.

They kept telling us 2:00, but apparently it was up to 3 or 3:30. We decided for me to cross the line in first just cause I needed more points than Rugg did.

Brown can update the race from his vantage, but he did a phenomenal job shutting everything down. The field was just demoralized that he was all over everything. He said the chase was really on for about 15 minutes at the beginning from a select group of guys, but they never made a dent. Apparently when we got 1:30 and were out of sight, guys in the group said, "They're gone! We're racing for 3rd." He ended up in a small chase group of 5 guys. They finished 3:00 back.

When Rugg and I crossed, we went straight back to the start finish to see Brown seal the deal. We knew he would do it, but it was so friggin' awesome to see it happen. Just surreal. The S/F was just past a little overpass. We saw the car, then Brown. He was still 150 meters out, but he showed everyone wheels. Rugg and I were cheering our lungs out, and seeing Brown dominate and seal the 1-2-3 for Harley eased the pain of the 50 mile breakaway. He beat Ryan Simpson from Haymarket by a good 3-4 bike lengths.

Money was good. We split $300 evenly, so $100 each. We ate some grub at Sheetz and rolled home.

Oh yeah, with like 2k to go I got a very slow leak. Probably was down to 40 psi at the line, but it wasn't a concern. We had neutral support and time to change anyway, if I needed.

It was great teamwork, and an awesome team effort. We're all working on getting points, so we can race with the big fish in the big pond soon enough. We drove up in one car, raced as one unit, and raced hard...the way Harley rolls.

2nd Battle of Bull Run

2010-04-03T13:01:00.002-04:00

What a cool course.

Today I got crushed by Joe Dombrowski and Jerimiah Bishop on the dirt and gravel climb.

At least I didn't flat like Dave Fuentes who was off the front. Or Jared Nieters, who was with Joe and Jeremiah.

The group was pretty much all together at the halfway, around Middleburg. After that, Dave and the Scottish Dude jumped away. Jeremiah and Joe D chased, and most every one rotated.

They were still off by the dirt climb, which is near the finish. At the beginning of the climb, which was steep gravel, most everyone left dropped me. Slowly I caught guys, passed Dave who flatted, passed Jared who flatted and passed the Scottish Dude who thought he flatted but didn't. Last on the dirt climb was Jeremiah and Joe who were riding side by side talking. When I finally made contact with them, the upped the tempo and dropped me. I followed there lines in the dirt down the decent, rode by myself in the head wind and came in 3rd.

Jeremiah said Joe won by suddenly throwing his bike at the line as they talked.

Today, everyone seemed stronger than me, but it was a difficult hard and fun course. Can't wait till next time so I can be humbled again.

Best of D.C. 2010 - Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar !!!!

2010-03-31T08:29:00.000-04:00

Best of D.C. 2010
Best of D.C. » 2010 » Food & Drink » Staff Pick: Best Wine Bar

Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar
223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; (202) 544-8088
Best Wine Bar
Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar
With its split-level, split-personality ambiance—informal enoteca on the first floor, formal dining room atop—Sonoma allows you to sip wine according to whatever mood you’re in. Even better, you can sip deep and wide, from a variety of wine regions, even if the restaurant’s list clearly speaks with a California accent. The restaurant’s ambitious wine-by-the-glass program is second only to Tallula’s, offering 40 different options for patrons who want to mine it for new discoveries. With Sonoma’s Capitol Hill address, you might even have some unexpected company when the business of Congress scares legislators out of their halls and into the wine bars.
—Dick Rosano

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestofdc/2010/foodanddrink/staffpicks/best-wine-bar

Jeff Cup

2010-03-29T08:03:00.002-04:00

Yesterday the young Cat 3 Joe D handed the entire 1,2,3 field their butts.

In the cold rain Joe bridged by himself across a huge gap to the break and beat out some pretty experienced Cat 1s.

I have never heard of a 3 winning a 1,2,3 race. I think it is time for Joe to upgrade, to a 1.

To the guys who were sitting on my wheel...HaHa! I didn't make the break - and you didn't either!

Wind and Mountains

2010-03-04T18:59:00.002-05:00

I haven't been going to Hains Point that much in the last 2 months, but I guess no one has. I enjoy it more when there is a stff wind, and that is what we got today. A few of us, including Brian Butts and Chris Regan just kind of slipped of the front in the head wind and rotated prety steady for the next 5 laps. Ended up being one of the best workouts I have had in a while that did not include a mountain.

Speaking of Mountains, if anyone is up for it, I think I am going to do one of thoose loops out of Marshal on Tuesday at 10 am. Not sure where people park there yet.

The new training ride.

2010-03-03T16:19:00.005-05:00

While I was out west, some of the guys where using google images and Google earth to plot rides. It was really cool. A few places we had to go around fences or ride long sections of dirt - which I don't mind, but often I was surprised that you could get here from there.

About a month ago, that Scottish Guy (I know his name is Steve Grant, but I think he prefers this name) told me about the climb on Blue MT - the backside of Sky Meadows Park. I am determined to find a way to connect Blue MT road to the park with out touching 17 or 50. I have all ready tried some routes that included super steep dirt climbs, but the mud and eventually several feet of snow deterred me. As soon as it melts, I am going to find the way.

By the way, the climb the Scottish Dude told me about is one of the best around and can easily be incorporated into a mt Weather ride. It is of of Howellsville rd. Long switch backs that you can see the next switch back, turns to dirt for about a mile then back to cement. Very cool training.

View BlueRidger Rides in a larger map

Mt Weather/HWY 9 climbs

2010-01-17T08:16:00.003-05:00

Mt Weather/Hwy 9

http://www.bikely.com/

This is the ride I am doing Mon, leaving at 10am from the gavel pkng lot next to 200 Stonewall ave.

Whites Ferry

2010-01-01T17:07:00.005-05:00

Not sure where to put the "'" in Whites, so I won't do it. Day 1 of training after riding 4 times in the last 5 weeks. Took the C & O trail with Brian and what should have been a 4 hour ride to whites ferry via the C & O and back down through Virginia became 6 hours because of snow. Ouch, but alot of fun.

The Dirt

2009-12-17T16:41:00.002-05:00

This morning I rode along that dirt path between Georgetown and Great Falls. The dirt was very hard packed because it was frozen and I flew along like I was on cement. I have never ridden that trail until today, and I can't wait to explore it further. It kind of reminded me of the riding the levees in the delta between Sacramento and San Francisco back home - just much more windy and more trees. Very scenic views of the Potomac and historic land marks here and there.

It is much colder here in the DC region than it is back home in Northern California, and I have always complained I can't seem to keep my hands warm. I would switch between glove combinations, use hand warmers and even started wondering if my position was so squat that I bent my wrists to much cutting off circulation. While complaining to Derick Brochard Hall a month or so ago, he suggested I get a good vest, or keep my torso warmer and it would solve the problem with my hands. I have been taking his advice, and now I use one pair of gloves and they are thinner than any of the ones I used in combination. This winter will be much more enjoyable.

Today was day three of training for next year, or 4 if I count the 5 miles I rode on Monday, and I have been to Hains point twice. When did everyone there get so fast? I wanted to contest the sprints on Tuesday, but I am so out of shape and my derailleur wont go into my 13. Maybe if I don't fix it I will learn how to spin?

I hope it snows on Saturday and tons of guys show up for the 7am and the 10. That would be pretty epic.

What happened Dave?

2009-12-13T05:46:00.001-05:00

2010

2009-12-12T07:25:00.003-05:00

Much has been happening here in MABRA, most notable is that Keck Baker infected the MABRA list serve with his digital version of H1N1.

Team news is starting to trickle. Haymarket is going to be pretty solid, and I know Kelly is going to be very good because many of the riders I wanted to come to my team went there. There are also rumors of Russ, formerly of my team and Josh Frick doing something - damn, that is going to be a REALLY good team.

Another thing being talked about are amateur and master riders doing and getting popped for drugs. What is the reasoning behind doing drugs as an amateur or master? "I am going to cheat everyone and risk my health because I can really use that box of power bars and neon pink arm-warmers I might win". Seriously, if you want to do well racing as an amateur, just rearrange your life so that you have more time to ride - sacrifice your time, not your life.

Speaking of ridding, I have not been on my bike for a few weeks. I can't wait to ride, but if you haven't noticed, I walk pretty gimpy. I am trying to completely rest my body to heal up for what is going to be a very hard 2010 season. I spend much of my time looking at maps of the region and planning rides I am going to do once I am back on the saddle.

I get to purchase my first MABRA championship jersey! They give you one for cheap, but the rest are twice as much. I thought I should get three for cheap since I won three events, but no I only get one for cheap. I probably won't be able to afford one right now anyway with Christmas and all - plus I am trying to get money together to go to the Tour of the Bahamas in January so I have some early season form before the NRC races in California in February.

Music for the slow ride

2009-11-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

My Bullet Proof Wheelset

2009-11-07T16:48:00.003-05:00

A few years ago I bought a set of Zip Team CSC wheels. They looked cool, were light and the first 20 feet I rode on them before a spoke broke was wonderful. I replaced the spoke, but every other ride I did on them a spoke would break. Everyone I know who had them said the same thing, and one guy even sold them on EBAY only to have them sent back. My cool wheel set became a house for spiders in my garage.

I kept hearing about some magical-wheel building-mad scientist dude who worked at Spokes, ETC who could rediscabumalete (my word) my wheel set. His name Bill Mould, a retired military guy with a web site http://www.billmouldwheels.com/shop.html about building wheels. I dropped my wheels off to Bill and picked them up two days later.

Seriously, I get nothing out of this, no sponsorship or anything - but today when my bottom bracket was creaking, my derailleur not shifting and all kinds of other funky stuff I realized my wheels are still perfect. I have been riding 250 - 500 miles per week on these for five months and have not had to true them once. I commute to and from work in the dark and hit about every pot hole and bit of debris in the road. I even flipped a few weeks ago and watch my bike bounce for an eternity - and despite the need for a new tire, bar tape, a right shifter, a left pedal and handlebars, I still had perfect wheels.

I can't remember who first told about Bill, but who ever it was, thanks.

Ouch

2009-10-26T17:56:00.001-04:00

And I thought bike racers crash hard!

What I listen to while I ride

2009-10-23T19:45:00.003-04:00

Recently I went to the Bike Raker Heads blog http://bikerackheads.blogspot.com/2009/10/fun-with-pie-charts-explosions-and-male.html and clicked on a link to the worst song I think I have ever heared. I wondered if maybe it would appeal to me if I was ridding and listening to it and then realized I would probably end up smashing my bike into a tree repetitively if that song was in my headphones.

A blog I do check out for music is Jims http://unholyrouleur-jim.blogspot.com/2009/10/friday-fun-time.html on Fridays, he always has music videos, and most of the time I like it, but probably would not train to it.

I listen to different playlists depending on the ride, here are some of my haines point songs..

and

and the Saturday 7 and 10 am rides are more rock like and slower...

and

but if I am by myself and just cruising

and

So these are a few of the songs I am listening to when you ride with me. Have you ever wondered what Brian Butts listens too? I don't because one day when we were late for the 7am, I walked in on him dancing to this song in his spandex (true story)..

There are others I see whoo listen to music and I wonder 'what is he listening to?'
like:

Dave Fuentes, Russ Langley, Ken Young and Chris Reagan - all strong riders. Do you ever wonder if the guy who is riding you off his wheel is listening to Barry Manolo or Cher? I mean it all ready sucks to get dropped, but what if you were getting dropped by someone listening to some cheesy music too.

Get Better Chad

2009-10-11T10:07:00.001-04:00

Translated from Ciclonews...
Dear Director,
as I have done with the site www.tuttobiciweb.it please publish this letter because the story Gerlach is close to my heart since I have not been asked before you put online news so delicate, I would now explain some important moments of relapse of Chad Gerlach.
First the news that you have posted is incomplete, not because of you but of Gazzetta.it which in my opinion deliberately omitted the entire section on the position of our team and myself in this sad story (which at present is that cyclingnews.com the Sacramento Bee, U.S. newspaper where the news was taken).
I would like therefore to explain everything because I know I'm doing everything in my power to help Chad. It all started in early September when he should have been a regular at the start with our team Univest Grand Prix in Pennsylvania. However, just three days before our departure I received a e-mail in which he asked me to stay home because his first daughter was born soon after. Since my time father of a child of two and a half, I went in his shoes and I've no intention to force him to run, so I told him that I disagreed with his own family.
I could never imagine that I was already lying and now I no longer even since. At that moment because Chad had already left home, had already left his girlfriend about to give birth and have lived under a bridge.
I have always believed that everything was fine because I was sending constant e-mails in which even asked me to extend my contract for next year because it had also received proposals from other teams not only attractive American (something which I was very proud of it) . Again, everything went according to our programs and he would have had to run to Las Vegas in the U.S. Final Crit (race spectacular that closes the show each year Interbike). About ten days before this race I try to call him repeatedly to tell the program but the phone was constantly switched off. Then I try with the mail, addressed to both him and his girlfriend, sends the ticket to Las Vegas, hotel and car vouchers, pay the registration, in fact I do everything I've always done the normal administration . Even in this case, however, no one answered. Trial and error like a madman, asking him to contact me.
Especially the fact that even his girlfriend did not answer puzzles me. My concern to be honest was not addressed to Chad, because I never believed such a thing because I repeat never gave us signals, even small, of a relapse. I was worried because I was afraid that something bad had happened to the child at that time was already due to be born.
Eventually, when most did not know what to think, I get (in the very same day that should have been at the start of the criterium) a phone call from our ds Gaggioli (which being his friend EC had proposed last October) and as I had done in four to help him and similarly in those days had done everything to find him, who tells me he received a short message on Facebook mate Chad from which we stated that Chad had abandoned them, was again depressed and relapsed into drugs and alcohol. At that moment, I collapsed the world on him.
You can not imagine. I immediately put in touch with the leaders of the television show Intervention last year Chad had taken off from the street and taken to a detoxification clinic to see if they were aware of what had happened but they were all in the dark . So I immediately put in telephone contact with his father and with the family. His sister and brother told me that Chad with his behavior has destroyed their family and they now no longer intend to do anything for him.
But his father, as you can imagine desperate, I said that Chad had lied to them all for months and none of them, although they had noticed his behavior was not the same anymore, he thought the situation had degenerated until after the day drunk had been stopped by police. After this incident Peter Gerlach, her father tried to convince him to return to the community, but after having initially accepted, only two days after he escaped and never returned home. Will not talk to anyone, even it is not even gone to witness the birth of his daughter and the only way to find it is to turn the streets of Sacramento. Aware of all this my father told me and Gaggioli to fly the United States to immediately return it to Italy, but not because we want to retrieve the athlete, cycling has nothing to do with this thing and when they hired a year ago we did so only to give him the chance to do the thing I loved most, because this would certainly away from certain temptations. Our goal was and still is to help the human being. Despite our insistence, but Gerlach's father thanked us but asked to remain for the time in Italy because Chad is in a psychological situation so critical that it could also make things serious.
At this moment needs psychiatric care and to return to the community to clean up. Our position at this moment is to help in any way Chad, with all our might. Are in daily contact with his father, the only one that still manages to communicate with him, which I shall regularly monitor his condition. Again, I have spent entirely at the disposal of Gerlach family for any kind of help you may need to save Chad and I am ready anytime to go to Sacramento.
I respect the decision of Peter Gerlach and will be asked until I'll stay in Italy, inter alia, by the news he gave me seems to have voluntarily decided to return to this community and for the moment is the most important victory. After that, I and Gaggioli fly in any case in America and try to bring back to Italy. I know he wants to go racing again next year but now is not important, we just want it back here, do it live in our retreat with the other kids, making him stay away from anything that is permanently destroyed, making him work with us regardless of the tasks and giving all our moral and psychological support. Just as we have done until June, when all was well. However to do this we need a sign of his good will would not think it will be easy to recover this time.
Dear Editor, if I have not spoken to the press first the situation in Chad Gerlach was solely to protect it. This is not about cycling, this is a man fighting for his life and that is in a psychological situation so delicate that it could degenerate at any one time. Chad is a very sensitive person, perhaps the most sensitive I've ever known, is fragile, very intelligent, and despite the situation in which it is informed. He did not even want to talk to reporters of his city much less with the TV people who saved his life, so what would think if I went out with a press release that he was concerned? We do not know how he could react, to be honest do not even know at this time.
Like all those who are in these situations, could also make something silly, so why worsen a situation that in itself is already desperate? And if I decided to respond right now is because the Sacramento Bee published an article which you have published a part. Chad understands well enough the Italian and continuously monitor all sites including ciclonews.it cycling, so I hope you read this letter understand even more that we all, including his teammates, the neighbors and we are ready for anything help in every way.
Strength not to give up Chad!
We thank you for your cooperation and I offer cordial greetings to you and all the editors ciclonews.it the signs of my highest consideration. Cristian Fanini
PS -- We join the call by Cristian Fanini confident second miracle. If we see Chad, strength, not give up now that the Gpm tree More than uro of life is near. All you expect in Italy to continue to help. Do not throw away your life!

Video Of Ireland

2009-10-02T20:09:00.001-04:00

Thats me driving the 1st lap..

Every lap, chunks of riders are falling of the pace.

In case you missed it.........

2009-09-25T20:06:00.000-04:00

http://www.velonation.com/default.aspx

GMSR Crit

2009-09-25T16:34:00.018-04:00

In the field...

The Attack...

Off the front...

The crowd prime rings

The crowd prime, $300+, mostly dollar bills

You can't train to win this...

2009-09-24T18:51:00.001-04:00

http://www.gamjams.net/vote-in-the-gamjams-kelley-acres-podium-candy-contest.html

New Years Resolution

2009-09-21T19:59:00.004-04:00

I ended up 19th at Military Worlds in Ireland. There was around 40ish guys left, and it ended in a field sprint. I hate field sprints.

The race was pretty controlled, mostly by the Germans, Slovenians and Belgians. Myself and Ian Holt (on the US team) got in some quality breaks, but it just wasn't happening.

The US was represented in every break, but the problem was the Germans were too, and they weren't working - for good reason, they knew they could sprint and ended up sweeping the podium 1,2,3!

I tried to jump the field with 5 K to go, but as I was flying by on the left, the field shifted left and I locked up my rear wheel fish tailing with no where to go. I did not go down, but that woke me up, and I found myself at the beck of the strung out field.

I slowly clawed my way back up, looking for Ian (the only other US rider left). When we came back into town, the roads got way narrow and I made up tons of places weaving around crashing riders. It was exciting and terrifying.

It reminded me of the level of an NRC race because when you are off the front, you have to just drill it to stay away, and the attacks never stop. What a great finally to the end of a pretty good season. I want to race in Europe again.

I know it is not the new year, but I plan on starting my resolutions now. I am taking a break, and when I start again, it will be with the focus of next year.

I seriously need to start stretching. I see Russ doing it, and other quality riders doing it - but what really makes me want to start is now that I am not training really hard I find when I am just sitting, my muscles start tightening. I pulled out the old 80's Stretching Book, and it seems to alleviate the tension.

My other resolution will probably put several gummy and candy factories out of business. Starting 2 days ago, I am going to try to fuel myself with quality. In general, I think I eat pretty well; I juice, eat local produce, get plenty of carbs and proteins. It's the extras.

Goodbye sweet and sour gummy bears. It's not you, it's me.
Goodbye gummy worms. I think the gummy bears knew about us anyway.
I am going to miss you black and red licorice.
I am going to miss you too JuJu Fruit.
I always loved you Swedish Fish, even when you weren't the real thing.
Chocolate, we can't even go there. (Don't worry chocolate, we'll still meet in the occasional Mocha)

Oh yeah, I am not giving up coffee and wine. I am sure there are great arguments to keep these indulgences, and just knowing there may be arguments out there is enough for me.

So, for a couple of weeks, I am not riding at all. I am going to try not to do anything physical - just rest, and plan out long training rides for base miles - and plan out how I can possibly get the time off work to get these base miles in (starting late October).

I hope next year is my year.

Ireland

2009-09-10T13:19:00.002-04:00

The US Military Cycling team is on twitter here: http://twitter.com/MilitaryCycling

Ireland is beautiful, the people are nice and they all drive on the wrong side of the road.

We travelled here from Boston a few nights ago and spent a day zombied out from jet lag. Today is the 1st real day of existence. The road race course is cool, and has a climb a bit like Jeff cup - which isn't really a climb so I like it. There are 10 countries with eight riders, and a huge range of fitness levels. The Netherlands are probably most like us, different services and military different uniforms. Some countries have guys who don't even have military uniforms and have Olympic Gold Medals or have won stages of the Tour of Italy.

The craziest part of training here is the wrong direction traffic thing. When you come to an intersection, you look left and suddenly a car buzzes you from the right. Or, you cross the street to go left, get to the right side of the road and realize oncoming traffic is heading at you. Worst yet are the round a bouts.

Great thing is, I do not have cell phone coverage and had to wait in line to use this computer. One of the 1st times ever I have completely focused on riding, eating and sleeping. I wonder how my work is doing? OK, I am over it.

Last thing, the Crit at Green Mtn was pretty fast. I sat in and told myself that after 20 to go, I was going to put all of my eggs in one basket and go. At 15 to go, there was a lull after a time bonus sprint and I went. After 2 laps I had the biggest time gap of the day for any break and they rung the bell for a $600+ crowd prime to two places. I knew this would doom my break, so I decided to change plans and burn all of my matches for the prime. Out of the last turn my 30+ second gap was down to 4 seconds and I still had to cover the 200 meters up the hill to the line. I gave everything and the line wasn't coming fast enough. Right at the line I got nipped and the field went flying by. I had nothing left in the tank and could not even get in anywhere and watched the field go by. Turns out, they split the 2 place prime down the middle and I ended up making more money than the GC or stage winning guys!

Green Mtn Stage Race TT

2009-09-06T15:39:00.004-04:00

Time trial went well (for me). I had good legs and enjoyed that it was a TT without TT bikes. They allowed for disc wheels and areo helmets though. My 30 sec guy missed his start, but I quickly found my minute guy and almost caught him on the first climb. When it leveled out, his disc wheel kicked into action and I could just hold him. When the road had a rise again, I passed him and started working on my minute and 30 guy, who also had a disc wheel, but I never caught him. I ended with 48th out of over 120 which is good for me, I am normally in the bottom 3rd in 1, pro TT's.

The picture above is the before first sprint spot in the 1st road race. I flatted both wheels sprinting for the 2nd sprint spot in a pot hole, but still managed to get 5th. I thought I only flatted my front, got a change, chased, caught and at the base of the climb realized my back wheel was going too. The wheel change took so long that I went from thinking about catching the field to thinking about making the time cut! More to follow later....

Lucky Chucky

2009-09-02T18:31:00.000-04:00

I have never been to Ireland, in fact, the only country I have been to outside the US is Mexico. The last few weeks have been pretty focused, with training, planing and getting things in order. The Armed Forces Cycling Team offers a great amount of support, but even then when opportunities are so important I find myself working out tons of details and putting out small - and in some cases self created - fires.

I have been taking my pedals on and off so much for traveling that I sometimes get lazy in re greasing the threads. Well, my pedal and my crank arm became one inseparable piece of medal. That would be fine if I never had to remove it again, but I do to pack it for the upcoming flights. I scrounged up enough money for new pedals and Bill Jacobus from the Armed Forces Team spotted me a set of cranks. Things like this only seem to happen before big events, but live and learn.

To save up a little money, we cut back on snack foods and quick eats around the house. I never realized how much I "graze" until I started bonking on rides. I thought I could get away without the steaks before long rides and just eat the normal 3 meals a day. I was wrong. I need to eat constantly or I run out of calories and then the misery starts. When the 1st of Sep hit, I was so glad to have a full fridge!

Tomorrow I leave from Boston to Vermont and do a time trial on Friday. No TT bikes, just straight road bikes - with the exception of disc wheels and areo helmets. Pretty cool I think, a more even playing field. We are using the Green Mtn Stage RAce in prep for Ireland, but who can line up at a start race and not race? If I get 5th, 59th or 70th, it is not because I didn't try, it is because that is what I have earned - I just can't help but race.

I did not really take a break last winter because I felt I needed to keep pushing forward and up my level of fitness. I kept hearing that I would burn out, or get flat, but I felt I needed to keep training to be competitive for 2009. This year I am taking a few weeks off around when it starts freezing. When I get back, I am going to enjoy riding in the wonderful fall weather here, but when I can't figure out the right glove combination to keep my hands from hurting in the freezing cold, I am taking my (probably well deserved) break.

Last year I was 2nd in 5 different Jersey events. That means I was the first guy to cross the line or be in the standings that was not going to get a jersey, 5 times! I used that as motivation to train through the winter, I wanted to win a jersey this year. There are not enough events left to be over taken in the MABRA Senior Men or Masters BARs, and Greenbelt, although it was a training race series, is done. I lucked out at Page Valley and got 2 jerseys in one race, the MABRA road title and the Virginia Road Tittle. Getting 2nd didn't end last year though, I still got 2nd at the MABRA Crit Championship and the Masters TT Championship. Wow, this was a great season, and it is still not over. I leave early next week for Green Mountain Stage Race and then to Ireland! I am lucky.

MABRA BAR Senior Men
208 Charles Hutcheson Battley Harley-Davidson
115 Dave Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson
110 Ken Young Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo
95 Brian Butts Battley Harley-Davidson
87 Jeff Brandon LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
86 Todd Hesel LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
85 Mike Githens Immediate Mortgage - Artemis Elite
80 Jose Escobar Battley Harley-Davidson
76 Keck Baker Battley Harley-Davidson
70 Todd Hipp Battley Harley-Davidson

MABRA BAR Masters Men 35-49

185 Charles Hutcheson Battley Harley-Davidson
90 Chris Hayes Haymarket Bicycles
89 Stephen Robinson Squadra Coppi/IM Saab
76 Ramon Benitez Immediate Mortgage - Artemis Elite
68 George Opria Evolution Cycling Club
64 Chip Hoover Team Latitude/ABRT
64 Dave Osborne Immediate Mortgage - Artemis Elite
61 Ralph Muoio LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
57 Michael Bradbury Evolution Cycling Club
56 Arthur Brown Team Latitude/ABRT
54 Dave Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson

Greenbelt Park Training Race Results
Series A Standings
76 Charles Hutcheson
63 Evan Fader
50 David Bozak
25 David Osborne
14 Ralph Muoio
13 Kenneth Young
12 Brian Butts
11 Timothy Brown
10 Chip Hoover
8 donald brew

Army News

2009-08-19T14:39:00.000-04:00

http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/08/19/26230-old-guard-soldier-pedals-to-victory/

Page Valley

2009-08-09T19:09:00.004-04:00

I have been thinking about Page Valley all week. I even borrowed a set of wheels a week ago and FedExed them, but they did not get here in time so I had to ride my trust old heavy Cosmics. I wanted to do well at Page Valley because I could secure the MABRA BAR and it is the Virginia State Championship Road Race - where I live and the MABRA Championship Road Race, where my team is from.

The news said it was going to be hella hot so I busted out my cooler for the first time this year and packed it with 10 water bottles and ice to hand off to Michelle, Jose's wife. Thank God she comes to the races!

On the 1st lap, Kevin Long, the moto ref who probably moonlights as Santa, pulled the whole field over, and he was pissed. Although there was not a yellow line on the road, we were all violating the center line rule. I had always thought that when there was not a center line, the center line rule was not in effect, but judging how angry he was, not only did I not say anything, I started scooting to the right side of the road in a way not to bring attention to myself. When you think about it, the center line rule when there is no center line makes perfect sense because we are not out there to block oncoming traffic or worse run into it.

On the second lap, I drilled it for a while and I was hoping others would do the same to make the field smaller, but when I pulled off, a pretty good group rolled off to include Evan Fader, Mike Githens, Brian Vaughn and a Kelly guy. Who was missing was Harley, DC Velo and NCVC. If this group would have stayed away I would have been the catalyst for their escape and that would have been a huge mistake. Luckily Brian Butts set tempo and we flew by them a lap later on the long climb like they were standing still.

Later that lap Nate Wilson and I got away and were joined by Ramon Benitez, Chebacca (Jason Meidoff) a ABRT guy who could climb well and later by Jeff Brandon - who decided to go straght into the grass when everyone else was taking a sharp left. We never saw Jeff again.

I think we got a good gap because all of the teams were represented, except for NCVC. Going up the climbs we went easy and waited for the guys who fell off the pace a little. At one point we got 3 minutes.

When the moto ref told us our gap dropped to 1 minute and 40 I took a long pull. At the base of the climb the moto said we had 2 minutes and 30 on the pack and 45 on the chase. What chase? I looked back and only Nate Wilson was on my wheel so I realized the chase was the other 3.

The last lap was the hardest. I tried half hearted to get rid of Nate in hopes he would just pop, but he hung strong. Right before the long climb he suddenly stopped pedaling and I had no ideal why, but he later told me he was cramping. He clawed his was back. I sat on his wheel up most of the climb because I pulled the last one, and as we crested I could see a Harley Jersey on it's way. The moto said there was one guy coming across, and I did not tell Nate it was one of my teammates, I just sat on him (we were going very slow) looked back and waited for which ever teammate it was of mine to catch on.

When it was obvious the rider behind was not going to catch on I pulled up next to Nate and we began sprinting. About half way up the hill, I unclipped and thought it was over - but I could see the finish and hear just about everyone cheering for Nate. I think all of that cheering is what I needed to click back in and kick it past him to the line. I know this may be one of the last times I beat him because he is on the rise and I am getting older.

The rider behind us was Jose Escobar, who just recently upgraded to a cat 1. Every race he is better and better and is doing well be it crit or road race.

After the sprint I felt like I was going to die and every muscle in my body hurt. I could barley ride back to the cars.

The Explosion

2009-07-30T19:53:00.008-04:00

................................................................................................................................
This was my first race with the Armed Forces Cycling Team, and the support is great. We got here 4 days early, I rode the course a million times, and I got to use a sweet set of wheels. I almost got a Cervelo, I heard, but guys on the team keep breaking theirs and I am the last guy on the totem poll. Needless to say, they ran out - so my trusty old Cannondale won't have to get dust and stuff.

My Aunt took the picture above, I need to call her soon because we are going to get dinner, but I am fried from the race.

The U-23 race exploded on the first lap, so we figured we would expect that in ours too. I marked EVERYTHING the first lap, and even bridged across to a couple of promising looking groups. I am not that great of a climber, but every lap I somehow made the separation. The first half of the race, I made sure Armed Forces was represented in every group. After one of the climbs, Ian Holt (on my team) made a split of about 7 that included the very dominate Cal Giant team. I was relieved, the climbs were starting to kick my but.

With one lap top go (17 miles) there was about 25 of us left out of 200. We were flying up the first climb and the break was coming back fast. We made contact with the break on the 2nd and final climb of the lap and I exploded. My faking I could climb had come to an end. God made my pedals start magically pedaling squares, and if I were not suffering so bad I may have thought it was cool.

I recovered at the top of the climb and was joined by about 7 other dudes. We rotated in to finish.

The Birthday that wll change the world...

2009-07-27T17:19:00.002-04:00

My son's birthday is on August 1st, but we will be celebrating it on August 2nd which is my daughter's birthday. Paris (my son) will be 4 and Geneva (daughter) will be 14. If he is half as gifted in cycling as she is art running this birthday will be the day the Earth changed.

He is getting a bike.

My wife and I we perusing (just wanted to use a big word, probably did not spell it right), we were perusing Spokes Ect when Paris hoped on this thing started pedaling and was flying around the store. People got out of his way. I knew then what needed to be done.

I am in Bend Oregon right now getting ready for Elite Nationals with the Armed Forces Cycling Team, so my wife went to Spokes Ect and got the bike today. I am sure it is dialed in.

I have plans.

I am thinking, before he starts doing any real high speed or sprints, he is going to need some endurance. We will start off with real easy laps around the block which I will video tape for form the first few weeks - and adjust his bike as necessary for maximum power output and aerodynamics. It may be a little early for wind tunnel testing, maybe in a few months.

Without crossing any streets, our block is about a quarter of a mile. During the video/adjustment period he will do no more than 10 laps, which will be timed. I will not do anything crazy like push him too hard or anything but I know he will have it in him to start knocking out well over a hundred laps before the winter comes.

When the winter comes I will fix the bike to the trainer and make shift something like a high chair so he can eat and watch Spiderman and Penguins of Madagascar - which he loves, If he is not on the trainer he will have to watch Barney and Dora - which he hates.

By next spring he will be fit enough to begin interval and sprint workouts and I am thinking about getting him a heart rate monitor and sneaking Brian Butts power meter stuff of his bike and retro fitting it to Paris's bike and getting some historical data thing going like Lance and Chris Charmical.

Next summer, Sol, Parsis's younger brother will be old enough for a bike too, and we will probably get a bit faster bike from Spokes Ect for him than we got for Paris to level the playing field. I can see it now, mini crits around the block, and eventually 50 mile road race around Fort Belvoir.

I can't wait to get home to see his face when he gets that bike!

Notes

2009-07-19T21:28:00.003-04:00

When old people give you advice, listen.

-A month and a half ago Phil Hepburn told me I seemed tired and needed to rest some. I got real busy at work, took a few days off of riding (so I rested, though not by choice) and came back flying.

-The best wheel builder in the world works at Spokes Etc on Quaker Lane. If you ever get sick of constantly changing spokes on a wheel, there is a guy named Bill there who knows his stuff. Thank God someone recommended him to me! I never give shop plugs, but I am so happy I am not having to race, ride and train on the same set of wheels all of the time - it is good to have someone who knows what they are doing rebuild the wheels that were accumulating in my garage. Which makes me think, I can probably ride sew-ups now. The reason I don't is that I don't trust anyone else to glue them on and I definitely don't trust myself, but I am thinking he knows his stuff well enough that he can do it.....

- Thanks to Art Brown I may soon be a TT contender! I have his old TT bike and have been riding it once a week. I am going to buy it, but before I can afford it he is letting me at it. It is crazy how quickly you get better on a TT bike if you keep riding the same one!

Giro Di Coppi

-Russ came down to support me. It is great to have a team mate in these masters races. With out a team mate these races can seem harder than big events. It is almost like I am being marked.

-Russ and I had planned on jumping from the group on the climb on the second lap, but guys were all ready attacking and going of the front on the 1st lap. Russ ended up in a group of six that included strong guys like R Munio and Mark Warno. I was stuck in the field still trying to warm up. I looked around and the realized with the exception of Bryan Vaughan, Chip Hoover and Ramon Benitez all of the fire power was up the road. Damn, I did not feel like going yet - my mind said yes but my body said no. I counted to 5, took a deep breath and jumped across. Luckily Russ wasn't pulling until I came across and when I connected it was game on. We never saw the pack again.

Russ did tempo before the climb and up the climb, and as we crested the top, Mark Warno Jumped him. If you know Russ, you probably know he stewed for the next lap. In the exact same spot, next lap, Russ did the same thing back to Mark Warno and disappeared in the distance with R (who names their kid with just one letter?) on his wheel. When the gap was right at what I knew I could barely close I jumped across. The three of us worked well together and came across 1,2 and 3.

Tom Buzas, our team manager came out to feed us. It is so cool how well he supports us! Since the race was so short, I did not need any water - but I wanted to acknowledge that he came out, so I gave him water by squirting him with my bottle.

Besides the bobble head trophy of Coppi, the best thing about Giro Di Coppi is that the parking lot is on a hill. If you car runs like mine, you know the importance of a hill - it negates the starter problem. Lame thing is, right when I am about to pop my clutch, some lady, staring at me like I owe her money walks out in front of me and I have to brake. Luckily there was enough hill to get coasting again.

Jose Wins! Hagerstown/Iron Hill, my car sucks and Vote for Jim Patton

2009-07-13T12:07:00.003-04:00

Jose Escobar (very cartel sounding name), won the Dawg Days Circuit race yesterday. I honestly can't believe a break stuck, but we all felt confident that Jose would pull off the win if it did. I think he only needs 3 points now to get his upgrade to a 1. Yeah, that's right, if you were up in that break, you got beat by a cat 2! Actually, I guess we all got beat by a cat 2, but he is on my team.

At the Haggerstown MABRA Championship, Dave won..... again. I got 2nd.....again in a field sprint. Unfortunately I slid out in a turn and Blair from LSV hit me and face planted - broke his jaw. Hope he heals soon, he is getting pretty strong.

Iron Hill was pretty cool. Huge crowds yelling, cameras flashing, and the smell of bear and cigarettes wafting through the air. Night time crits are fun, and scary as hell. There was only four of us there, but thanks to Russ we made a couple handfuls of cash. http://racethemuscle.blogspot.com/2009/07/iron-hill-twilight.html

I was pretty tired after leaving Haggerstown. After the race, I found my auto tire flat and Sean Orourke went to get fix a flat. It worked for about 7 mile, when I was on the freeway heading to Iron Hill looking for a gas station en route to get it fixed for reals. So, I am driving along, minding my own business when my what I thought wasn't flat anymore tire starts humming to me. The hum in a very quick progression changes to a ogre like gurgle then a Flap! Flap! Flap - then I turn of into the 'Pennsylvania Welcome Center'.

I all ready had reservations about going to Iron Hill with crashing, all ready racing, my auto flatting when a crack of thunder ripped through the air. Cool, I get to change to my spare in a down pour. Worse yet, I needed to pump my spare with my bike pump. 45 minutes later and several thousand pumps I was on my way. It stopped raining when I pulled out of the Welcome Center parking lot. I am sure it was the same rain that delayed the Haggerstown cat 4 race.

I need to get a new tire now, but I don't want to waste money on it when I really should get a new car - my car has so many issues it may not make it through the next couple months - problem with that is I can't get financing now because someone with all of the same information as me in another state, except they spell their last name Hutchinson instead of Hutcheson has laid waste to my credit.

I used to always carry my bike in my car because I would fit training in here and there, but now I carry it because I may need it when my car decides to head toward the light. So, when you pass an abandoned KIA on the freeway, and 2 miles later you see some dude in flip flops on a road bike carrying three back packs, you know what happened.

On another bike racing note:

We are lucky to have the people in MABRA that we have representing us. I think MABRA is a great district to race in, and we should support the people who make it happen. I believe the voting opens Wed on the USA Cyclinng web page, so type your stuff in, click and vote!

Vote for Jim Patton Candidate for Re‐Election as USCF Trustee, Eastern Region

Experience 30+ years in Cycling
• Racer
• Promoter
• Team Manager (founded US Navy Cycling Team)
• Motor Referee • Cyclocross Referee
• Track Secretary Positions in Cycling
• USCF Trustee (2003‐2009)
• USAC Board of Director’s (2004‐2009)

Goals
• Continued emphasis on improved communication
• Simplify USA Cycling licensing and race permit process
• Continued improved USA Cycling Membership value

Questions? jim@jimpatton.net

Congats to Russ

2009-07-04T19:57:00.006-04:00

Today Russ got 4th. With the field as stacked as it is here, that is absolutely outstanding. The climb today was pretty tough, and the first few laps we blazed it - feeding was out of the question. I finished with the second group on the road. Although it was a road race, we did an 11 mile circuit with a pretty long climb 10 times. The last few times were miserable, and I cracked from the front group with 1 to go. I ended with 49th. Wow, that was a lot of work for 49th! It looks like we are down to 123 riders left from 171. The crit is going to be crazy with that many riders.

Jose Escobar, our Cat 2 got 2nd in the 2's race! He is riding well and will be a 1 soon. Him and his wife-type Michelle really are one of the best things we have on this team. Thanks for feeding us Michelle!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday in the circuit race I got 16th. The field was so shattered I moved up from the 120's to the 60's on GC.

I am still impressed with Russ's ride today.

My roommate here at the dorm is an Aussie kid named Michael Freebird. Really it is Freeburg, but with his strong accent it sounds like he is saying Freebird. He is a track rider doing this for training.

Keck raced today despite his horrific crash yesterday. He borrowed a bike from SRAM, and was pretty strong all day - even attacking and being in moves.

Oh! The Carnage!

2009-07-03T20:21:00.004-04:00

Honestly, the field here at Fitchburg is the strongest I have seen in years. If your a good US rider and your not starting the Tour tomorrow, your probably here. It is a NRC race.

Today's race was a 70+ mile circuit race. The distance does not phase me, but this nasty little hill we have to climb 24 times did. About three hours before the race, the weather forecast called for thunder, lightning and hail. Great. Russ warned me that the hard part of the race was not the hill, but the section after the hill - which proved to be true.

By the time the race started, the weather report had changed. Thank God, though it did start raining about half way through. The first three laps were hella fast, and I heard guys were getting dropped immediately. That was good because we had over 170 starters. Groups would get away, and groups would come back and it was steadily super fast.

Then it started to rain. Guys were sliding out, overlapping wheels and tearing out spokes. One good thing was we were going easy through turns, but the accordion affect was creating an insane sprint down the straight aways. I am sure tail gunners did not last long. At this point, I was focusing on staying up right.

Before the rain, a group got away on the flat after the climb where we sprinted for points. The 6 of them stayed away, and got close to two minutes on us, but Bissel brought it down to 15 seconds by the time we crossed the line to protect Zirbel's lead.

At about 12 to go, we were waved to one side of a traffic median we normally split for. There was an ambulance and people all around someone. I did not know it then, but it was Keck. He is fine, but he did have to go to the ER to find out if he had carbon fiber in his arm from his frame.

I did not get a picture of his seat or top tube because he took that with him to show the x ray people what the were looking for. There is a word for what we found out. Serendipity I think, but his wife Jen, in the same hour he crashed, crashed her car! She sent this picture

Now, what are the chances of that happening! She is all right, but the car is totaled. At least they got all of that out of the way at once.

Oh yeah, I heard I got top 15 today, but I don't know yet for sure. I had tunnel vision sprinting up that hill. If I did, that will be one of my best results given the level of competition here.

Also, I finally got selected by the Military to do an event! I am going to Nationals with them. I am pretty excited because this is my first opportunity to represent the services as an athlete. When I first found out I was so happy I ran into my Commanding Officer's office and punched him in the arm with the intention of telling him the good news. He was on the phone talking all serious and kind of glared at me. I realized what I had just done and left immediately, but he never said anything of the event. Out.

Fitchburg Time Trial

2009-07-02T19:26:00.002-04:00

I hate time trials. Besides sprinting and climbing, my worst thing is time trials. The individual time trial is how I ended up getting 2nd instead of first overall at ToWC. My legs felt great, in fact they never hurt at all, it was my head. I kept thinking about things like work and stuff. I ended in the middle, not the front middle, or the middle middle - you get my point.

Tomorrow is the 75 mile circuit race with a pretty big hill. we climb it 20+ times. The day after that is the 120+ mile road race. It is funny I look forward to the hard road races and I dread the less than 10 mile individual time trials. Maybe it is because there is all the action in the mass start race that keeps your mind busy.

We are all in the wireless center here at Fitchburg University are all on lap tops, and Keck is sitting next to me with a book. He couldn't find the PDF somewhere? Just kidding.

Also, the weather here has been crazy. Thunder, lightning, rain. I was sure that they would cancel the TT for safety, but the thunder and lightning ended (although it continued to rain). Russ is next to me blogging too. He had a good TT.

Reston

2009-06-29T20:27:00.003-04:00

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.

Poolesville Masters and Senior races

2009-06-28T18:50:00.002-04:00

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.

Working Man Day 3

2009-06-26T16:37:00.003-04:00

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.

Working Man's Classic

2009-06-25T14:17:00.002-04:00

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

Racin'

2009-06-22T20:57:00.003-04:00

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.

Yesterday and Today

2009-06-07T16:28:00.003-04:00

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.

I think it was Ekimov

2009-06-03T20:50:00.003-04:00

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.

An Easy Day

2009-06-01T18:30:00.005-04:00

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.

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.

Happy to finish.

2009-05-31T17:42:00.002-04:00

This weekend is probably the hardest weekend of racing for me this year. I am sure you have heared, Gerlach is in town, and I told him I would do 6 hours with him Monday. That is before he and 100 plus other pros unleashed a whipping of pain for a combined 170+ miles over 2 races.

Have you ever been suffering so bad that you start loosing your bike handling capabilities?

I guess it is cool to be fit enough to be able to push yourself to the limit where your balance, dextarity and hand eye cordination start to be impared. In the back of my mind though, I tell myself it is cooler to finish - with the highest result possible, so that next year I can improve on it. After these last two weeks of racing, I am going to be flying I think.

There were times during the races where I thought, 'this is great, these ARE the real races, and I am participating!" That make me smile.

Looking Forward to this Weekend

2009-05-29T10:01:00.002-04:00

Last year at the Air Force Cyling Classic the average speed was over 29 MPH for 93 miles. Ouch!

Last year Magnus Backstedt flexed at the Clarendon Cup. Ouch!

I am lucky to be able to do these races in the Pro events. I would hate to be on the sidelines watching it and I am glad we get the invite. Word on the street is that in the road race the big pro teams are going to keep it together for a field sprint, or for a 'what's left of the' field sprint.

Battley Harley is going to look good because:
This year, we have Jonathan Page so we have a top level sprinter.
Russ is focused on these races, and he always puts on a good show.
Dave Fuentes is injury free this year and this last week his motor seems to be dialed in.

I heared DC Velo got in, that's cool - it increases the probability of locals getting in the results.

The only down side is my rear wheel situation. (in order of racing wheel preference)
Wheel 1 - Cosmic, spokes taken out at Bike Jam by a front skewer, with mavic for repair
Wheel 2 - Mavic Team CSC, spokes broke on first ride out of box, at shop being rebuilt
Wheel 3 - Ultegra, super heavy, spoke broke at Ricola, going to try to get it fixed today.
Wheel 4 - Mavic Performance, piece of junk, but it is straight and works.

See you out there!

Steve Larsen

2009-05-21T21:44:00.001-04:00

Wow, at some point I will post a story - but not now. You will be missed. Chuck

Brian Butts to-do list

2009-05-17T11:46:00.002-04:00

OK, I understand fixing the bike- which was done, and paying the credit card - which wasn't done, but who puts on their to-do list "is the Slap Chop for real"? Poor Brian, controlled by infomercials. He is the only person I know who wipes his bike down with sham-wow, turns his light on with the clapper and probably has a cleaner colon than a 2 year old.

Break Dancing in Delaware

2009-05-16T21:43:00.002-04:00

Wilmington was the first race I can remember where I never saw the front. I got a terrible start and just picked my way to the front, and only had to jump across one gap in route. By three to go I was top 20, and on the last lap I was in 8th spot in the lead out train when I slid out in a turn. I somehow did a 360 and bounced.

People told me it looked like I was break dancing. Miraculously, I have no road rash, my clothes did not get hurt and my bike is fine. Along with my ego, my butt may be bruised.

I heard Evan Fader's mom took a picture of me after the race wiping my junk with a towel and hopefully this will be my debut on the blog 'You Got Dropped'.

Fort Ritchie and Another Dam Road Race

2009-05-11T19:50:00.004-04:00

1998 Another Dam Road Race (which was really the name)

What a great Ideal it was to go to the race in the desert early. Without hesitation, Chris Baumann turned off the road and we made our own path with the sand kicking up behind the van billowing into a cloud behind. Our bicycles which hung on the makeshift bike rack on the back of the 79 VW Van were being pelted by all kinds of debris - but we didn't care because these four friends were going camping.

Luckily we were not only 20 miles from the race course, but about that same distance from the local Search and Rescue. After a night of beer drinking and story telling around a fire, we woke to find that the van had sunk into the desert sand. Ryan Smith and I thought it was funny, but realized after several hours of failed attempts that we were screwed. We even tried various twigs and rocks and placing them under the tires to gain traction, but to no avail.

We pulled our bikes off, kitted up and headed for the populated area. Luckily, the first building we came to, in big black letters on a red wall said "Search and Rescue".

The big red neck dudes who followed us behind our bikes had no sense of humor, and apparently this doesn't happen all the time. Also, our fire was illegal.

2009 Fort Ritchie.

Fort Ritchie is a cool coarse. The weather was great, and Joe Jefferson was spinning records and yapping up an exciting commentary on each race.

When we walked up, he said over the load speaker ," Uh-oh, is that Chuckie Hutcheson?, Look out Chuckies in the house", so I waved and felt all special. Then he did it to Dave, and that made me feel less special. Then I noticed he knew and recognized EVERYONE, and I was just one in several hundred! Joe, I thought it was just "Chuckies in the House!"

Dave Fuentes and I decided to do both the Masters race and the 1,2 race as training for all the big races coming up.

I didn't warm up, and just hoped in my bike and started racing. The plan was to sit in and maybe sprint at the end and then really race in the 1,2, but we ended up in a break on the 2nd lap. On the 3rd lap Dave was away from the break. On the 4th lap I jumped across to him and we were gone. We pulled half laps each, and that jerk made me pull on the down hill and tailwind sections! We lapped the field and started to pull in the break, but when we got pretty close, decided to save some for the 1,2 race. When he asked me who gets the win, I said 'Me, you got it last week', but he heard ,'let me win for my kids', or something.

The 1,2 race was a blast, pretty big field and tons of attacks. Josh Frick went from the gun, and I bridged up a lap latter. We were out there forever, but by the time the field caught us it was pretty small. Although there were some promising breakaways which were comprised of some strong riders like Jason Meidoff (aka Chewbacca) and Mark Sommers (the Ferret), they all got pulled in. In the end, Dave ended up leading out Todd Hipp and Dave Bozak and another DC Velo (not sure who it was - took a weird line and disappeared). I was next and coming out of the turn let some space open up, and as soon as I was sure Todd was clear started sprinting for what I thought was the line. Right before I got to that line I got swarmed, but apparently the real line was sooner and I got 3rd in a photo finish with Jared Neiters. After bouncing around in some pot holes on the outside of the coarse, Dave ended up 6th.

Payout at this race was trippy.
$300 to 6 places for the Masters
$300 to 8 places for the 1,2

We made much more money in the Masters.

Bunny Hop

2009-05-03T20:27:00.006-04:00

Last year I got 5th in the 1,2,3 race and 3rd in the masters 35+. This year I got 5th in the 1,2,3 race and 3rd in the masters 35+. The difference? It was hot as hell last year, and this year it was raining. There was also a difference in my form. I was fitter last year, and this year I am on my third week of training after letting my form go for a month to ramp it up in preparation for the NRC races and the UCI race I will be doing in the next few months.

When your getting fit for the first time, or getting back into racing after a very long break (8 yrs for me), I think you have to get every mile you can and just beat your self into submission. Once your competitive at an elite level, you go through cycles of build up and let go. For me, it is hard letting form go, but I realize the benefits. I am not a believer of avoiding burn-out, if you burn out from doing what you love you probably are fooling yourself and don't really love it at all and need to do something else. I think the real worry is getting flat, stale. What ever.

My wife bought a few records at the thrift store yesterday. She doesn't really know the 70's rock, but she'll buy them all and right now I'm blasting 900 watts of record crackling guitar screaming "Frampton Comes Alive", and if I get any more pumped I might throw a beer bottle through the window. Oh yeah, I'm having a few beers right now. Perfect post race meditation.

During the 1,2,3 race I yelled "If you can't sprint drop back", I was halfway joking. One guy (who I will not name) said "I can sprint!" Three corners later, out of the last turn, I heard a wet swoosh and a Batman like "SMASH" "BOOM" and "POW". I was told he crashed. Maybe I jinxed him? I hope he is OK.

A very good rider in the 1,2,3 race told me pre race that only 3 racers he knew of that were cat 1's blogged. Myself, Russ Langley and Pete Cannell. He said the only reason he saw for blogging was to say "HEY! Look at me, how good I am!" or "This is my excuse". He then promptly went home and posted on Facebook how well he did. I will probably be de-friended now, but I'm just saying... Funny thing after he told me that, another person said I should blog more, like once a day. If social acceptance is what I needed, I would be bi-polar.

I got to the race way early and watched the juniors, women, cat 4's and a bunch of other races. If Steven Black, the Junior, sticks with racing he is going to crush everyone.

On my way to the race, I had an incident. Leaving 495 to branch ave the cautionary sign says '25mph', so I did 15mph cause I drive like an old lady. As I got onto Branch Ave, my car started fish-tailing. I over corrected what seemed like 10 time, but was more like 4 and succeeded in sliding backwards facing traffic - which was doing an excellent job of avoiding me. I handled it like Jason Borne (if he almost shits his pants in these situations). I was breathing heavy and I could feel my heart pound in my ears as I looked at the cement wall I was parallel parked inches from. The the first car to come off the off ramp came flying at me and had to skid around me and into Branch ave. More cars came skidding around me as I tried to start my reluctant car. Finally, it started and I started driving as fast as I could backwards down Branch ave. After about a half mile, I stopped, then luckily God decided to stop toying with me like a cat with a half dead mouse and all 4 lanes of traffic stopped. I did a U-turn and drove right past my exit. I just kept going straight until my heart calmed and I could let the death grip off of the steering wheel to shift gears and use my turn signal.

Ephrata Crit

2009-04-26T19:44:00.006-04:00

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 .

Ephrata Team Time Trial

2009-04-26T12:22:00.003-04:00

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.

Ephrata Road Race

2009-04-25T17:16:00.002-04:00

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.

Ephrata

2009-04-23T19:13:00.005-04:00

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.

Battenkill

2009-04-20T10:10:00.003-04:00

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.

Harley Wins Tysons!

2009-04-05T21:07:00.002-04:00

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.

That sucked.

2009-04-04T15:46:00.002-04:00

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.

Jeff Cup

2009-03-30T08:26:00.002-04:00

This year's Jeff cup was pretty easy to sit in, but hard to stay off the front. On the 4th lap I tried to shatter the field on the rise past the start finsh, and even manage to string it out and break it up into little groups, but before the next hill most everyone was back. On that same lap I got away with Mike Githens and we were drilling it, but still got caught - he is pretty strong. On the last lap on the climb Brian Butts and 3 others got away. DC Velo and Richmond Pro strung it out trying to real them in, but never made contact. A DC Velo guy tried a solo bridge before the turn onto the start finish. In the field, Ryan DeWald was on my wheel for a lead out. At 1K I started the lead out, and we flew by the DC Velo guy. At around 500 meters I heard DeWald laughing and when I looked back, we were well clear of the field , so we rode in easy side by side talking for 5th and 6th. Brian Got beat in the break away sprint in a photo finish. So, we got 2nd, 5th, 6th, a broken rear derailer hanger, 2 flat and outs and 2 crashes. Lame.

Day 2 of Jay's Barn

2009-03-20T18:11:00.002-04:00

Last night Jeremiah Bishop hijacked my computer and posted the brush your teeth thing, it could have been worse.

Today we started by doing the Lost River Classic course. It was difficult, two punch you in the quad climbs which were short but hard enough to help determine the outcome of the race. People better have some handling skills too. If I do it, I hope it is only about 5 laps long, any more than that and it's a death march.

About 3 hours into the ride we split into two 6 man groups and did lead out sprints side by side. Damn that was hard! 3 guys would rotate for about 5 k, then the next two would all out followed by the sprint. After 5 times of this, we could barley pedal. It took about 2 hours to get back to the barn and we went up the difficult climb to the barn on the back side. I think Keck made it to the top first followed by Jeremiah and Jose then Brian.

Road Camp.

2009-03-20T09:08:00.001-04:00

Brush yo teeth brush you teeth brush yo god damn teeth!!!

Peace out.

JB

Haha ha ha

Jay's place, day 1

2009-03-19T19:08:00.002-04:00

Ouch.

OK, that was fun, but ouch.

We did a 3 and a half hour ride, lots of climbing, talking and laughing - and Russ got mad at me for going nuts on every climb. He was right, but it felt good to be able to fly up the climbs this year compared to last year when I had to hold on to the truck half the time. I thought I had a 27 cog, but I only have a 25 and zig zaged up the dirt climb back to the barn. I did well on all of the short climbs, but on the long dirt climb Jeremiah showed us why he has multiple national championship jerseys and put what I think were minutes on me.

When we got back to the barn, Jay's girlfriend Audry had chili waiting - it was perfect. NCVC left us a pretty good selection of beers (thanks guys). So, full belly, beer in hand and sore legs from riding, I am in heaven.

I can do that!

2009-03-17T15:21:00.002-04:00

What's up with me! When I was younger I trained long distance with a steady hard tempo, and it made me (in my mind) pretty fast all round. Now, I don't start feeling good until 20 or 30 miles into the ride, and then I am flying. Cool if I am doing a road race, but if I am doing a crit, I have to show up an hour and a half early! Seriously, at tradezone last week the old legs finally kicked in on the last lap. If I hop out of the car at hains point, I never get a chance to really warm up. I guess having to warm up before an event is better than not being fit at all.

Les Doerfler posted a link to this picture of my new team mate..http://www.downwarddogphotography.com/p1033367721/h381643d8#h381643d8
and the first thing I think is "I can do that", but fact of the matter is I have never really tried - but it is tempting because it looks real cool, like doing a wheely on a road bike (which Page, Hipp and Dewald all can do). I want to be able to do stunts on my road bike! If you see me with a cast on my leg and a black eye, you know what I tried.

Training Races

2009-03-15T16:44:00.002-04:00

Well, the training race season is over for me, and in a few days I go to my team training camp for awhile.

I worry more about how hard training camp will be than races. Like Eli said last year "Great! I get to ride in the mountains with a bunch of ex-pros". I know what he means, but, guys on the team who were never pro (and even recently were cat 2), are the ones really killing it on the climbs, like Jose and Sean Berry!

My training crit season went well. I got 2 wins, 2 seconds and a seventh. I wish there were training road races closer to home like there was in California. I felt like trash in one race but still got 7th, and screwed up tactically in another and got 2nd.

Last thing, we got a new rider! His name is Jeremiah Bishop, and if you google him, he is pretty damn good. Looks like Harley will be stronger this year than last year in the NRC.

Kicked off Harley?!?!

2009-03-05T15:00:00.004-05:00

"And, your old too!" Eli yelled while simultaneously showing me his middle finger as he rolled away.

Let me start from the beginning.

After reading the MABRA list thing, I brought it up with Eli after the lunch ride that we had too many people registered at Jeff Cup and we needed fewer. When I was done talking, he said "OK, and.."

Me- "So we should do something about it now!"

E- "OK, your off the team."

Me- "But I'm the face of the team"

E- "No, that would be Dave, your too ugly"

Me- "The bad boy of the team?"

E- "Russ"

Me-"The new guy, the dark-horse?"

E- "That would be Sean O'Rourke"

Me-"The crazy/weird guy who everyone likes?"

E-"Ken Johnson"

Me- "What about that time I sharpened the pencils for the Hotel survey, that's got to count for something!"

E- "Sorry, we need to have less guys at Jeff Cup."

Me-"Fine! I'll go join a team and rival you guys then!"

E- "That would be Evan"

Then Eli flipped me off, said what he had to say and rode off into the sunset.

So, I called Mark Sommers (AKA "The Ferret") and asked about being on DC Velo. He told me to meet him by "the duck pond" and hung up. I found a duck pond and waited for several hours, but he never showed. While I was waiting I called Evan Fader about getting on Richmond Pro. He said I hurt his feelings too much to help me out, and like Mark, he hung up on me.

What to do now?

This and That

2009-03-02T10:33:00.005-05:00

Going down Beach Drive Sat I saw this dude on the fattest tired mtn bike ever. How fun would that be today in the snow! I don't mind the snow, got to sleep in from work and school got canceled. I even enjoy shoveling the front and back walkways of the house and digging the cars out - mindless manual labor is kind of zen-like. These bad weather days worked out perfect with my last block of training, it's nice to sit around the house for a few days hanging with the family, reading/studying and eating.

Sean Berry on my team normally registers us for the races, but since he went to Africa I volunteered to register the team for Jeff Cup and Walkersville.

I logged on to the Bike Reg account and looked around, it seemed it would be no problem. With reg opening for Jeff cup at 9, I sat at the computer and kept hitting refresh starting about 8:55. I did not want to be the reason we, or some of us did not get in before it filled. Everything was fine until little details started getting kicked back for Bike Reg info versus USA Cycling stuff, and the extra stuff I had to do to get Dave and Ken their special BAR champ reg stuff. In the end it all worked out.

Speed, Freezing Rain, Oil and Gravel...

2009-02-27T18:57:00.002-05:00

...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!

This just in..

2009-02-21T21:09:00.002-05:00

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...

Uh-oh

2009-02-19T15:15:00.002-05:00

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.

Tradezone and the MABRA BAR party

2009-02-16T17:27:00.002-05:00

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.

Tick Tick Tick...

2009-02-13T20:33:00.002-05:00

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.

Is that my feet?

2009-02-09T20:20:00.002-05:00

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.

Racing starts next week! (kinda)

2009-02-08T18:23:00.002-05:00

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!

Sorry Davis

2009-01-25T16:06:00.003-05:00

By the late 80's the Coors classic was no more, but some of the races survived. The one crit stage in Sacramento CA with the quarter mile of cobbles which still existed was sponsored by the California Lottery and brought huge loud crowds. It was equivalent to an NRC race today and brought teams like Coors Light, Schwinn-Wheaties, Celestial Seasonings and 7-11. It was huge and was also one of the first races I did as a cat-2 (junior).

I remember being on the start line (actually really far back from it) and looking around and being terribly intimidated because the guys around me were the same people I would read about in cycling magazines. It seemed larger than life.

When the race first started, I used everything I had to get in the front half. After about three laps I was pretty blown and the cobbles were kicking my ass. I vaguely remember seeing something like 60 or 70 laps remaining as I was slipping backwards fast and the single file line of riders was passing my on both sides. Before I knew it I was hanging on the very back by a string that was about to snap.

To my luck, at some point the race slowed down and when it picked up again I found myself in the top 10. Suddenly being up front gave me new life and I was pumped hearing the crowds. I did not want to slip back again and I was giving it everything to hold my spot, to the point where I was getting tunnel vision and going cross-eyed.

Then it happened. In the turn, going off the cobbles my front wheel skidded out on someones water bottle that had been dislodged from the vibrations. I slid left in the right hand turn and my handlebars hooked into the orange snow fencing standing my bike sideways for the rest off the single file field to plow into. It was chaos.

Some how I was fine, so I began to look for my bike in the carnage. It was next to Davis Phinney who was holding his extremely bloody hand and yelling all kinds of obscenities. All I could think of saying was "Sorry" as I hopped back on my bike and rolled to the pit where there was a huge gaggle of other riders waiting to get back in. I finished the race, but barely.

At a crit in Oakland the next day, Davis's hand was all hospitaled up. Apparently he split it between his fingers on my chain ring. Ouch. As I heard him yelling to officials, or somebody something about juniors should not allowed in the elite races I slinked back to try to stay out of his sight.

That wasn't the end of it. For several years, no matter how well I did at races I would be known as "that guy who crashed Davis Phinney". To make matters worse, I have seen that crash on TV (more than once) on shows like Bloopers, Bleepers and Practical Jokes.

So, although I was a junior and it was over 20 years ago, sorry Davis.

Coaching Revisited

2009-01-22T15:57:00.002-05:00

Since starting my blog, I have gotten to talk to and know many riders from our area. I realize that there are riders here who would love to upgrade, but just never seem to be getting better. When I talk to them about pretty basic stuff from training to racing I either get a blank look, or acknowledgement that they know, but just haven't put this knowledge to action.

Riders in this district seem to have some cash. I'm not saying they are millionaires, but when you do a training ride and most guys around you have 4 or 5 thousand dollar bikes, you have got to think these people have money.

So what I am thinking is instead of throwing 1 or 2 thousand dollars into another set of wheels, maybe people should get some coaching - just long enough to get some basic fundamentals like how to ride in a pace line, or the why and how to train your weakness.

I know a lot of what a coach might teach you at first will seem obvious, but maybe paying for it instead of having someone tell you for free (or reading it on GamJams or something) might help it stick. The money side of it will make the information more real.

There are plenty of coaches - Pete Cannell, BJ Basham and a ton of other guys linked to GaJams, and they are hella expensive but people would probably have a more enjoyable time racing their bike if they knew what they were doing and practiced some pretty basic stuff.

Good to Go

2009-01-21T20:28:00.002-05:00

Day 1 of training after a week off and my legs didn't feel like they missed a beat. Went to Hains point, and right out off the car and into the rotation with Ken Johnson and Sean Berry. We went steady, not real hard and were eventually joined by the Ferret aka Mark Somers and Chris Schmidt. Its supposed to be warmer tomorrow (above freezing), so I can't wait to get the miles in.

The Ferret is ridding well considering he's pushing 65! One day I'll post the story of how the Ferret got his nickname while swindling Mexican kids out of the Chicklets they were selling on the border - but it's a long story and I just don't have time right now.

The balancing act

2009-01-14T16:43:00.002-05:00

I'm sick.

For the last year and a half, my rheumatologist says I either have ankylosing spondylitis or reactive arthritis. What is certain is that my immune system gets really pissed of and lays waste to my joints, tendons, ligaments and just plain jacks me up leaving me unable to walk or even move sometimes. It plain sucks.

Good news is that the medication I have been taking for the last year works and stops my big ol' bad immune system from doing it's thing.

Bad news is that it stops my immune system from doing it's thing.

That's the trade off, I can walk, ride my bike and bend my spine, knees and ankles. Great stuff. But the lame thing is if one of my boys has a sniffle, I get a sniffle, a cough, a sore throat and a migraine.

For this reason, I hate when people don't wash their hands and such. I really don't like shaking peoples hands or sharing food or drinks, it's risky. I also rest as much as possible and have been juicing pretty religiously lately to give my immune system a chance.

Well, both my little boys got sick last week, and so did I. I took a bunch of days off and started riding again yesterday - where I did Hains Point but I went easy.

Today I decided to up it, and try to fly. I never seemed to find my rhythm and felt that I could never go real well. I was cranking the pedals and the only person seeming to hurt was me. Wow, I thought, I guess being sick really took me down this time. I even started thinking that I needed to call Fuentes and tell him I'm not riding tomorrow - I don't want to slow him down. When I was done riding, I went to my car and realized my front wheel was askew and my tire was rubbing on the fork THE WHOLE TIME! Great, I am not as slow as I was thinking I was. I just pulled the dorkiest ultra rookie move in the book, but I got a great work out.

Ryan Raymond Smith - Part 1

2009-01-11T14:00:00.005-05:00

In the mid 90's I was mounting my third comeback of my cycling career when I met a guy at a bike race named Chuck May. He told my he was on a team named Sierra Speed Gel that was looking for riders. I told him I was interested and so was my friend Chris Baumann, and before we knew it we were driving back and forth from Sacramento to Visalia where the team an most of the riders were located.

The team consisted of a bunch of guys trying their best but mostly having fun. It was manged by a guy named Mike Camarena and some guy who said he was an ex-Belgian pro. I remember Shawn Bagley, the sarcastic mechanic/racer Danny Rondon and most memorably Ryan Smith who was a last year junior.

By the time the team had run its course, it had had some pretty impressive riders. Most of them were my friends and connected to the team through me. We had former Irish National Champion and ex- 7-11 rider John Brady, former Tour de France rider Nathan Dahlberg, current pro Tony Cruz, of course Chis Baumann and Ryan Smith who ended up riding for Sierra Nevada and even Chad Gerlach. There were even two Dutch riders, Remko Krammer and Ono and some crazy Italian-Canadian dude named Lucca Segato. The team somewhat reminds me of Battley Harley in that it was composed of ex-pros and up and comers. We won many races, and NRC race and the sprinters jersey and even top 10 Redlands. It was a lot of fun.

All of us non-Visalia riders would stay at Ryan Smith's dad's house we called Club Med. The place was huge, giving each rider their own bed. It even had a jacuzzi, pool and what seemed to be endless groceries at our disposal. There was even maid service once a week. I was the first to stay there, and on that first night created quite the mess while trying to bunny hope onto rollers after too many beers, no food and a 5 hour ride.

Ryan Smith, Chris Baumann, John Brady, occasionally Chad Gerlach and I would form a core group of riders that would switch teams together, travel all over the country and Mexico in Cris's vintage VW bus and just create general mayhem wherever we went - sometimes getting kicked out of races or even towns. We had as good of a time you can have racing bicycles and still win.

My predictions...

2009-01-10T16:43:00.002-05:00

The other day I was talking to a current pro and he said something to the affect that there are only about 5 really strong guys in this area. I wonder who they are?

Anyway, I have two MABRA rider predictions:

1. Brian Butts is going to have a stellar season. From years of racing at the an elite level, it would be hard not to recognize this, but he has all the qualities I think it takes to make a good domestic pro. He took time off, and has been building and at this point is consistently riding strong for the duration of every ride I have done with him.

2. Josh Frick (if he races much), like Brian, is also going to have a great year. When I first started riding, I heard much about him, but I never saw anything in races. As of late though, every time I have ridden with him, I am starting to see what they were talking about.

I hope both my predictions are right. Brian because he is my teammate. If Josh did well again, his teammates would probably follow suit and MABRA racing in the 1,2 field would be a whole lot more interesting and more fun.

Team ride

2009-01-04T18:03:00.003-05:00

OK, now I am sore. Today pretty much my whole team (8 0f us and 2 others) meet at Dave Fuentes' house to do a 90mile Mt Weather loop that also included that climb up Hwy 7 that is in two parts.

Brian and I separated ourselves from everyone on the first kicker before you turn on the hwy that takes you to Mt Weather. He was tapping away pretty steady and it was a cool pace. When we swung onto the long strait up Mt Weather, I dropped my chain and had to put it back on with my hand. I hated watching him go up the road. While I was putting it back on, Ken Johnson and Dave came flying around the corner and Ken almost hit me. While I was getting back up to speed, Jose caught me. We worked together to try to catch Brian and Ken who had made contact, but could never close the gap. Ouch.

On the climb up Hwy 7, we all stayed together until the last 2k that I big ringed and went well clear of everyone. I had to cause I got punked on Mt Weather. When I asked Brian where he was when I went, he said he dropped his chain. What-ever, I really did drop mine.

All and all, it was a really good ride. I have cool teammates and there are little, if any personality conflicts. What's important is they all realize I am their King. Just kidding.

It looks like I'll be taking Tuesday of the bike cause the weather report says 'wintry mix', so easy ride tomorrow.

My Day

2009-01-03T15:54:00.003-05:00

When I know I am going to ride pretty far at an intense pace, I have a pretty much ritualistic breakfast.

First thing I do is get the espresso machine going.
Then I wash and cut the fruit/vegetables that I am going to juice. Today was 5 apples, 10 carrots, a beet and a chunk of ginger. I love my Champion juicer.
While I am prepping the fruit and veges, the espresso finishes and I drink it as I do everything else.
Before I start actually juicing I take a steak out of the fridge and throw it on the grill outside. Steak is great for not bonking on long rides.
When I come back in, I juice everything and put it in the freezer - then I prep 4 eggs and get the cast-iron skillet warmed.
I go outside and flip the steak.
When I come back in, I cook the eggs (over-easy).
Once the eggs are done, I retrieve the steak and pull the juice from the freezer.
MMMM...

Today I did the 7am and the 10am. We are lucky to have so many cool group rides in DC, and it is cool to be able to do these two back to back if you want the miles.

I went pretty steady on the flats, and hard up the three hills on the 7am. I figured I would roll hard on this ride and sit at the back of the 10am. I even sprinted at the end, which I don't usually do because of how sketchy this sprint has been in the past - but Ken Johnson, Brian Butts and Jose Escobar led it out so well that the only guy left was DC Velo's Dave Bozak. It was a pretty fun head up sprint.

After the ride we went to Einsteins bagels and ran into Russ. He came in, giving us the evil eye and asked "why are you guys blowing up my place?" I was pretty surprised to see him because I heard he was having some nerve problem in his hip and hadn't been ridding.

As we rode out to the 1oam, we picked up the most fire power I have seen on that ride. All hopes of just sitting on the back comfortably went out the window when Nick Bax and Matt Cooke joined the ride.

Well, when the ride hit the fast part, it did just that - weren't fast. Russ and Matt pulled Nick and I away from the group. The group caught back up, the Russ took a gnarly pull and him Matt and I were clear - for good. I was definitely the weak link, and doing the 7am didn't help. I pulled, Matt pulled harder then Russ pulled and I was cross-eyed (Matt later said he was 'on the rivets'). After this, Russ pulled off and disappeared. I am glad he was gone because he was killing us. Matt and I went easy/steady the rest of the ride and never saw the group again.

Good food, good rides = good day. Can't wait for some beers and the NFL play-offs.

Climbing

2008-12-30T07:03:00.006-05:00

On top of my family being in California and with all of the holidays, military leave and passes I have not been working very much this later half of December, instead I have used this time as a sort of solo pre-season training camp.

I'm starting to get to know the rangers at the Shenandoah National Park. Like many fellow bloggers, I have been going there often - 3 times in the last 4 days, the other day I did a loop with Dave Fuentes that included Mount Weather and 3 other climbs.

I am surprised not to see more riders on Skyline Drive climbing into Shenandoah. Although I have read other peoples accounts I have only seen two, neither of whom I knew. Last year at this time I avoided hills, the three short climbs on the 7am ride on Saturday seemed epic! Working through the suffering and the accomplished feeling of completing back to back to back climbs on Skyline (and the views) has me addicted to climbing.

The ride I did with Dave was pretty cool. With all of those great roads and climbs in his backyard no wonder he is so fit! We started out into a head wind, and just rotated pretty hard and steady across the flats through the rollers and up the climbs. Great roads, very little traffic. He dared me to big ring Mount Weather.

His dare had the air of a triple-dog-dare, so I had too.

When we swung off the highway and onto the road leading to the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center I was in my 53x14 out of my saddle tapping away. As that long strait into heaven climb extended before me, my cadence dropped and soon I was in my 15.

Tapping away in my 15, I looked up to the summit - which now seemed farther than when I first started and dropped to my 16 for comfort.

The ache started to set in my legs and I could feel my heartbeat in my teeth but one look at the summit and one look back at the dot which was Dave and I knew I was half way.

Soon I was in my 17 and before I knew it in order to maintain cadence I was in my 18.

OK, three gears left and I'm starting to cross my chain. At this point I can see a county line sign - if I could just make it there, the summit is meters after it - I'm going to use my 19.

By the time I got to the sign I was sweating rivers and pedaling about 40 rpm. Those last few meters were insane and I was starting to wonder if I was going to be blown for the rest of the ride and have to sit on Dave's wheel the whole way home, but it took him FOREVER to get to the top so I was completely recovered. Just kidding, but not really.

We rode home pretty steady and rotating and didn't let up until we got to a bike trail which we rode for about 5 miles. While we rode the trail I was reminded why I hate bike trails as a steady barrage of recumbents came shooting around the corners like heat seeking missiles trying to take us out. Exiting the trail, his house was right there and I thanked him for the ride. My legs ached the whole drive home.

Channelling your inner Eddy Gragus

2008-12-25T07:06:00.006-05:00

During the summer of 95, or possibly 96 I was on a composite team with Sacramento natives Vince Gee, Cory McKraken and some guy named Mike S. (who would later ride for some pretty good domestic pro teams). This was when I got the nickname 'tumble weed', while travelling across the country from California to a pretty big race in Idaho sponsored by a bank. We did the Idaho State championship the day before, and Mike, who was riding really well, won.

The bank race was cool. It was at night, with huge runway lights at our backs out of each turn on the course. The crowds, which were thick along the entire course, were given thousands of clicker things that produced an insanely loud blanket of sound that was only slightly rivaled by cheering. On top of all of this, every lap had at least a hundred dollar preme - so it was basically single file for over an hour.

Before the race, we decided to split everything even four ways. The goal was for each of us to collect as many premes as possible, then in the final laps I would hold us near the front and Cory and Vince would lead out Mike. I was told to key of of a guy I had meet earlier named Eddy Gragus.

When I meet Eddy, he was showing off some really cool looking wheels called Spynergys. Except for his wheel set, nothing about him seemed cycling intimidating. He was short, bald and hella funny - which led me to think it would be no problem to hold his wheel and then come around him, if he was even there in the end.

This four corner left hand turned race was insane. There were crashes every where and the smell of burning rubber in every turn as we skidded single file though them. Since it was at night, some of the crashes would just disappear into the darkness, which was kind of spooky.

We collected so many premes it was ridiculous! I would here our names constantly over the loud speakers. Although I got a lot of premes the effort to get them would leave me begging my body to recover as I battled to get back into the line. At one point I followed Eddy for a $500 preme. It was nuts, we were cutting, weaving, diving, skidding and eventually sprinting out of the last turn. He somehow maintained speed as I was skidding toward the crowd. In retrospect I think he chooses a jacked up line on purpose to shank anyone off his wheel to the curb. Crafty little SOB.

In the final laps, every thing went as planned. I collected my teammates, we went to the front and I found Eddy. With a thousand dollar 1st place on the line, guys were taking huge risks and crashing left and right. I remember looking around and seeing bandages everywhere on racers from earlier crashes. I was spooked. To make matters worse, Eddy's rear wheel was going 'click, click, click click' - AND he kept looking back at it. I was positive it was going to disintegrate and I was going to roll over him.

Then it happened, one lap to go and a lull. When things got sorted out, we were mid pack. Damn. From here to the line was the scariest ride of my cycling life. Again, we were weaving, cutting, diving going around guys sliding on the ground and even riding over one guy (which untrued my back wheel). The whole time Eddy's back wheel is going 'click, click' AND he keeps looking back at it.

Before the last turn we were all on the front. The combination of being positive his wheel was going to explode in the sprint and knowing he was going to take a jacked up line through the turn led to me letting his wheel go and taking the inside line. I heard a huge pile up behind me. Then the drag race to the line ensued. I was on the front with my team and what was left of the field in tow. Eddy was on the far right, by himself, and I suspect that anyone who tried to follow his wheel through that last turn was now mingling with the crowd. I led it out as long as I could then blew sky high but still coasted in for a top ten with the rest of my teammates. Eddy's strong ass little legs held everyone off, and Mike got 2nd.

Wow.

When I asked Eddy about his wheel after the race he said something to the effect that it always did that.

His style of winning was a combination of 'go ahead and follow my wheel, but it is your fault if you crash' mixed with a little trickery - a dash of craftiness and a pound of 'my strength and leg speed will kick your ass' .

Don't fear the Chuckster (or the reaper)

2008-12-18T19:34:00.006-05:00

Today I drove to Skyline Drive for the first time and did climbing repeats to the visitors center. I wanted to do that 60 mile loop, but didn't have much riding time cause I broke my derailleur hanger and had to track one down and replace it before I left. I love that climb, it reminds me of California - but not as steep. I called some of my teammates before to see if they wanted to come, and here are their excuses:

Dave Fuentes - Had to do something to represent his job (meaning = scared to ride w/ the Chuck)

Todd Hipp - Had to travel for work (he gets scared when ever Dave is scared)

Russ Langley - Had to work, but wanted to come (scared but to proud to show it by pretending to have a job)

Keck Baker - I think he just peed himself and hung up. (very scared)

Sean Berry - School (yeah whatever, isn't it Christmas break? meaning = scared)

Brian Butts - Didn't answer the phone (pretending to be racing in China by passing off pictures of his twin brother who is really there to be him).

Evan Fader - Fearing the call, quit the team and joined Richmond Pro. (Need I say more?)

At this point I gave up, and just went at it alone. Come on guys, were all buds and I'll wait for you at the tops of the climbs!

Rock Racing Done?

2008-12-15T16:54:00.004-05:00

That's what I keep hearing. I hope it's just gossip, cause that would suck if yet another team folded.

2nd AGAIN!

2008-12-13T06:22:00.005-05:00

This year, I was consistantly the first loser. I got 2nd at the MABRA Crit, 2nd at the VA State Crit, 2nd at the VA State road race, 2nd in the VA Omnium and now to cap things off, 2nd overall in the MABRA BAR. AGGGHHHHH!!!!! I came so close to having a jersey, but came up short by one place 5 TIMES!!! Next year. Next year. Next year.

1 213 David Fuentes Battley Harley-Davidson
2 149 Chuck Hutcheson Battley Harley-Davidson
3 109 Ken Johnson Battley Harley-Davidson
4 93 Todd Hipp Battley Harley-Davidson
5 86 Evan Fader Battley Harley-Davidson
6 75 Kenneth Young DCV/Clean Currents/Beyer Volvo
7 73 Brian Butts Battley Harley-Davidson

W.O.W.

2008-12-10T15:00:00.004-05:00

To motivate myself to ride today, I decided to work on my cycling weakness. If you have read my blog, or posts on other peoples blogs, and you even half-way care to remember - you know I can't sprint, climb or time-trial very well. I am good at everything else, just not these three. After thinking how these are my three weak event I start wondering 'how do I do well in races?' I guess the ideal is to break away with someone who is weaker at these events and hopefully beat him to the line. I just really rely on luck. My racing life is like some geeked out fat kids World of Warcraft role playing character, and every once and a while he does well on his roll of the dice - and I make it up the hill with the front group, solo in ahead of the field or win a sprint.

Power File 12.6.08: 3x10s

2008-12-06T12:16:00.004-05:00

OK, I stole this ideal form Mike May's BRILF.net . I thought it was funny. I don't own a power thing, so when I see guys posting their power files they look like sound files to me.