Not to worry, Bob and I fixed the shield today. Then we went to the hideway bakery and enjoyed coffe/tea/cinnamon roll/brouche. We then discussed cycling and running. Fun was had by all.
Below are some pictures of crater lake. Enjoy.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Oregonia
A heat shield is a thin piece of aluminum that protects the gas tank from other heat producing components of the car. Mine was dangling below my car, so that any change in road grad or surface inconsistancy yielded the scraping of said heat shield on the tarmac. Not only is it terribly annoying, It probably is a necessity when wanting your car not to combust.
Not to worry, Bob and I fixed the shield today. Then we went to the hideway bakery and enjoyed coffe/tea/cinnamon roll/brouche. We then discussed cycling and running. Fun was had by all.
Below are some pictures of crater lake. Enjoy.
Not to worry, Bob and I fixed the shield today. Then we went to the hideway bakery and enjoyed coffe/tea/cinnamon roll/brouche. We then discussed cycling and running. Fun was had by all.
Below are some pictures of crater lake. Enjoy.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Fort Collins/Denver/Boulder
I arrived in the RM state In Fort Collins and went out with Ian, Jared, Matt, and Rob. We had some beers and were one of many groups commuting around on a friday night.
On saturday, Amanda took me on a ride up to Horse tooth reservoir. It was nice to get to know her a little more and hear her story. P.S. She dropped me.
On sunday Marco, Dave, and I went up to Greenwood on the bikes from golden. Muy climbing today. I felt way better here than I did at Puerto Rico. My theory is that the climbs here are more steady, one can get into a rythem, whereas PR gradient was widely varied.
More to come...
On saturday, Amanda took me on a ride up to Horse tooth reservoir. It was nice to get to know her a little more and hear her story. P.S. She dropped me.
On sunday Marco, Dave, and I went up to Greenwood on the bikes from golden. Muy climbing today. I felt way better here than I did at Puerto Rico. My theory is that the climbs here are more steady, one can get into a rythem, whereas PR gradient was widely varied.
More to come...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Puerto Rico- Coqui Dorado
Just returned from the states from the Coqui Dorado. Had Landen not had bad luck, he would have rolled into 5th place in the overall. Alas, he flatted and I gave him my wheel. Below are some pics and a recap of the weekend.
Day one Cayey road race.
Prior to the road races starts, Puerto Rican racing dictates neutral starts and sponsor acknowledgement. We had 10 KM of decent down switchback in the middle of the rainforest. Restarted the race, and then everyone there went for the hole shot. the first climb was supposed to be ~20 minutes, we trained on that road the day before. The race distance was apparently changed, and the climbing lasted for 40-50 minutes. I and a dominican pull our group around for the rest of the race. We did one more climb for the day and had a flat finish. I ended up 35th and landen got 5th. Marco was 15th in the masters race.
Day two Caguas road race
~80 km with 40 km of rolling hills prefaced by two 10-15 km climbs. I kept some matches in the book for the 40 km flat section. The first day, I tried to pull hard, keep wheels, and match the small climbers acceleration. Today, I road within myself on the climbs, setting a steady tempo when the pace slowed, or attacks were uncorked on the climb. I then had a lot left on the finishing flat section, taking second in a group of 30, while marco went up the road with 3 km to go.
Day three Cayey Circuit Race
96 km circuit race. I attacked at the end of the first lap and then landen attacked at the start of the climbing section. He got away, and then flatted. Because of his GC status and fitness, I stopped and gave him my wheel. Day over for both of us. the pace was to high to catch back on.
Day one Cayey road race.
Prior to the road races starts, Puerto Rican racing dictates neutral starts and sponsor acknowledgement. We had 10 KM of decent down switchback in the middle of the rainforest. Restarted the race, and then everyone there went for the hole shot. the first climb was supposed to be ~20 minutes, we trained on that road the day before. The race distance was apparently changed, and the climbing lasted for 40-50 minutes. I and a dominican pull our group around for the rest of the race. We did one more climb for the day and had a flat finish. I ended up 35th and landen got 5th. Marco was 15th in the masters race.
Day two Caguas road race
~80 km with 40 km of rolling hills prefaced by two 10-15 km climbs. I kept some matches in the book for the 40 km flat section. The first day, I tried to pull hard, keep wheels, and match the small climbers acceleration. Today, I road within myself on the climbs, setting a steady tempo when the pace slowed, or attacks were uncorked on the climb. I then had a lot left on the finishing flat section, taking second in a group of 30, while marco went up the road with 3 km to go.
Day three Cayey Circuit Race
96 km circuit race. I attacked at the end of the first lap and then landen attacked at the start of the climbing section. He got away, and then flatted. Because of his GC status and fitness, I stopped and gave him my wheel. Day over for both of us. the pace was to high to catch back on.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sporting career - Aug 10 1997
On the eve of my 16th birthday, a couple friends and I decided to go camping at a neighbors acerage. Following a bit of a docile evening, rain started as a drizzle, followed by a violent pour. My camping companions and I noticed a truck and light trespassing on our neighbors land, so we decided to go investigate this evil crime.
We drove down the grave road, and the truck noticed that he was not alone. The truck sped off, and we followed. After a mile of pursuit, the gravel came to a t-intersection. Our truck driver may have thought that this was a gradual turn, I am not positive, but what followed was us rolled over in the ditch, following a 30+ mph power skid. The cab eventually crushed under the weight, but luckily, we got out before the cabs metal gave full way.
My compatriots were badly bruised and cut, with possible head injuries. I had no shoes nor shirt, but decided I would go to the closest farmhouse, miles away. I ran on gravel that felt like shards of glass. In the freezing rain, I might add. I kept telloing myself, just one more mile. I got the the closest house, 5 miles away, but the was no answer to my evening call. I decided, for the good of the group, that I would break into the house, use the phone, and slip out under the shroud of night.
Having accomplished the aforementioned breaking and entering list, I noticed that the owner was, what I could only assume an avid hunter, or perhaps a marine. He had a gun rack and gun case at his back door, luckily, he was unaware of my B/E that night.
We drove down the grave road, and the truck noticed that he was not alone. The truck sped off, and we followed. After a mile of pursuit, the gravel came to a t-intersection. Our truck driver may have thought that this was a gradual turn, I am not positive, but what followed was us rolled over in the ditch, following a 30+ mph power skid. The cab eventually crushed under the weight, but luckily, we got out before the cabs metal gave full way.
My compatriots were badly bruised and cut, with possible head injuries. I had no shoes nor shirt, but decided I would go to the closest farmhouse, miles away. I ran on gravel that felt like shards of glass. In the freezing rain, I might add. I kept telloing myself, just one more mile. I got the the closest house, 5 miles away, but the was no answer to my evening call. I decided, for the good of the group, that I would break into the house, use the phone, and slip out under the shroud of night.
Having accomplished the aforementioned breaking and entering list, I noticed that the owner was, what I could only assume an avid hunter, or perhaps a marine. He had a gun rack and gun case at his back door, luckily, he was unaware of my B/E that night.
Tour of KC race weekend
Lindsay, Bryan, and I drove from the beautiful land (IOWA), to Kansas City for the tour of KC.
The Twilight criterium friday night looked to be a good race. Two good climbs, and on sharp fast decent to take the juice out of everyones legs every lap. Following a fast start, 70-80 category 3's got up to speed around the course.. At 10 minutes into the race, I uncorked an attack. I am told, Justin and Bryan did a great job blocking for me following the attack. I was away for 4 laps, and then the field caught me. Following one lap, a racer road into me in the bottleneck portion of the race, and I crashed on the tarmac. After that bell ringing, I received my free lap, and got back into the pack. I immediately attacked and went off the front again, this time only for two laps. With 2 to go, bryan attacked and I went to the front to block, he stayed away with the win, and I road it in for 17 place.
Day two of the tour of KC. I woke up with a swollen arm and sore back from the crash. Luckily, the crash did not affect my breathing, or positioning on the bike. Today was the cliff drive classic, the race that everyone wants to win. It was wet and muddy, and the roads were slick. Luckily, no one in our field crashed today. 9 laps of a ~3 mile course with two substantial hills. After lap 4, I attacked and one rider was able to get my wheel. Kelly Benjamin from Cheerwine! Why was a female in the field of threes, you ask? She was training for next week at donner's grove, and needed some big pack experience. This was that big pack. I pulled most of the lap until the hill, and she pulled around me. She gapped me off on that hill, but I did not need to get here wheel, because I knew I would catch her on the crest of the hill. Following another mile, I flicked my elbow for her to pull around. She said she couldn't help. Oh well. I road tempo until the s-bend area, and we were swallowed up by the field. Ended up 29 on the day.
Day three was overland park. Figure 8 course. Bryan and I started very far back in the field. We moved up every lap. With two to go, I got in top 10, but a guy in front of me lost his grip on the road. I locked my breaks, ran up on the curb, and managed to bunny hop back on the course, and saved myself from another crash. I lost 20 wheels, and ended up getting 23rd on the day.
The Twilight criterium friday night looked to be a good race. Two good climbs, and on sharp fast decent to take the juice out of everyones legs every lap. Following a fast start, 70-80 category 3's got up to speed around the course.. At 10 minutes into the race, I uncorked an attack. I am told, Justin and Bryan did a great job blocking for me following the attack. I was away for 4 laps, and then the field caught me. Following one lap, a racer road into me in the bottleneck portion of the race, and I crashed on the tarmac. After that bell ringing, I received my free lap, and got back into the pack. I immediately attacked and went off the front again, this time only for two laps. With 2 to go, bryan attacked and I went to the front to block, he stayed away with the win, and I road it in for 17 place.
Day two of the tour of KC. I woke up with a swollen arm and sore back from the crash. Luckily, the crash did not affect my breathing, or positioning on the bike. Today was the cliff drive classic, the race that everyone wants to win. It was wet and muddy, and the roads were slick. Luckily, no one in our field crashed today. 9 laps of a ~3 mile course with two substantial hills. After lap 4, I attacked and one rider was able to get my wheel. Kelly Benjamin from Cheerwine! Why was a female in the field of threes, you ask? She was training for next week at donner's grove, and needed some big pack experience. This was that big pack. I pulled most of the lap until the hill, and she pulled around me. She gapped me off on that hill, but I did not need to get here wheel, because I knew I would catch her on the crest of the hill. Following another mile, I flicked my elbow for her to pull around. She said she couldn't help. Oh well. I road tempo until the s-bend area, and we were swallowed up by the field. Ended up 29 on the day.
Day three was overland park. Figure 8 course. Bryan and I started very far back in the field. We moved up every lap. With two to go, I got in top 10, but a guy in front of me lost his grip on the road. I locked my breaks, ran up on the curb, and managed to bunny hop back on the course, and saved myself from another crash. I lost 20 wheels, and ended up getting 23rd on the day.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Four!
Notice the two Lines labeled "hook" and "slice". This is merely a visual diagram of my Monday.
I went golfing with my brother and his fiance, Heide. We were going to golf nine holes, catch up on life, and not drink.
It may be hard to stomach, but yes, I did golf without boozing. Interesting to note, one cannot golf once a year and expect one's golf game to improve.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Cogui Dorado cyclista international
Following the RR, I had a chance to talk to Marco. Looks like I will be packing my bags and bike following KC this week and Spending my 27th birthday in Puerto Rico for the aforementioned stage race.
The three day stage race consists of two road races and on crit. The road races are not that long, but have 4-5 climbs that are 300-1000 ft in elevation change. I guess I shouldn't have had that DQ last night.
UNMC/Team Kaos - Marco, Landen, Spence, Dewey, and I. Will be a great week.
The three day stage race consists of two road races and on crit. The road races are not that long, but have 4-5 climbs that are 300-1000 ft in elevation change. I guess I shouldn't have had that DQ last night.
UNMC/Team Kaos - Marco, Landen, Spence, Dewey, and I. Will be a great week.
Iowa State Road Race
Competed in the Iowa State Road Race two days ago. Kip Spaude from Is Corp won the 108 mile race. My goal was to make the final selection on the fourth lap. That did not happen. I was pretty concerned about getting fed, so while everyone was attacking in the feed zone, I was stocking up on liquid. If you miss a feed in an 108 mile RR, you are screwed. Thinking of it now, I should have told the girls to set up in the other feed zone.
A big thanks to Lindsey Wetzels two friends for feeding us for 5 hours.
Ah yes, results. Of the 60 ish riders, I finished 19 overall and I guess 3rd in the 3s.
It was great to race with some good talent from Iowa, Cody, Dave L, Jared, Lou, Dewey, Sean, etcetera.
A big thanks to Lindsey Wetzels two friends for feeding us for 5 hours.
Ah yes, results. Of the 60 ish riders, I finished 19 overall and I guess 3rd in the 3s.
It was great to race with some good talent from Iowa, Cody, Dave L, Jared, Lou, Dewey, Sean, etcetera.
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