Ok well there's not much to say about this race. This was the longest race I had ever been in, and the second longest distance I had put on a bike in a single day. With that in mind, I didn't do too bad. I would have placed much much better if my back hadn't acted up. At one point, I actually got off of my bike to stretch my back out because it was bothering me so bad. My legs felt great during and after the race, but I know that I am not strong enough yet to truly CAT up. I'll give it another month of good training and go from there.
I bought a weight vest that I am going to be training with from now on. Anytime I'm on the bike, I'll be lugging my weight vest. It's only going to come off for races.
View the full race results here:
https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2008-680
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
2008 Northwest Arkansas Spring Classic (5th out of 35: CAT 5)
I woke up a little after 4am this morning and heard the thunder outside. The curtains ruffled as a wet breeze gusted through the open window. Lightning lit up the sky for a split second. "Today should be fun."
I loaded everything into my truck and got to Brittney's house around 5:40 AM. Nate came a little later and we loaded the car up. The breakfast bar at Shoney's wasn't set up all the way when we got there, but we eventually got to eat that morning. We drove through heavy rain and loads of lightning almost all the way to Fayetteville, but I was happy to have it clear up before the race.
I can't really say much about this race. Every single thing went perfectly. I rode the best I have ever ridden, and I did so while ridding smart. I placed myself through the field almost perfectly, and there isn't anything major I can think of that I would have changed.
I did; however, finish 5th. When the finish line came into view, one rider jumped early for his sprint. I sped up to ride his wheel for a few seconds before pushing off to pass him. I had 1st in the palm of my hand, but I lost it at the last 30 yards due to a mechanical problem with my rear derailer. While the bike had ridden well the entire race, it had decided to release enough tension in the cable just as I went to sprint to the finish to cause chain to bounce around the cassette. I went from 1st to 5th in the four to five seconds it took me to reach the finish line.
I was really upset and threw my bike down whilst cussing at it. Then, deciding this wasn't enough, I continued to throw my helmet and glasses as well. The bike is perfectly fine minus the now slightly rusted chain from riding in the rain all day. The cheap, found-on-the-side-of-the-road-three-years-ago women's sunglasses were also fine. I did manage to crack the nice helmet my cousin gave me. I'm pretty bummed out about that, but at least I have a spare one to use until I replace the broken one.
The CAT 5 men were awarded trophies through 5th place. Here is a picture of mine:
View the full race results here:
https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2008-62
I loaded everything into my truck and got to Brittney's house around 5:40 AM. Nate came a little later and we loaded the car up. The breakfast bar at Shoney's wasn't set up all the way when we got there, but we eventually got to eat that morning. We drove through heavy rain and loads of lightning almost all the way to Fayetteville, but I was happy to have it clear up before the race.
I can't really say much about this race. Every single thing went perfectly. I rode the best I have ever ridden, and I did so while ridding smart. I placed myself through the field almost perfectly, and there isn't anything major I can think of that I would have changed.
I did; however, finish 5th. When the finish line came into view, one rider jumped early for his sprint. I sped up to ride his wheel for a few seconds before pushing off to pass him. I had 1st in the palm of my hand, but I lost it at the last 30 yards due to a mechanical problem with my rear derailer. While the bike had ridden well the entire race, it had decided to release enough tension in the cable just as I went to sprint to the finish to cause chain to bounce around the cassette. I went from 1st to 5th in the four to five seconds it took me to reach the finish line.
I was really upset and threw my bike down whilst cussing at it. Then, deciding this wasn't enough, I continued to throw my helmet and glasses as well. The bike is perfectly fine minus the now slightly rusted chain from riding in the rain all day. The cheap, found-on-the-side-of-the-road-three-years-ago women's sunglasses were also fine. I did manage to crack the nice helmet my cousin gave me. I'm pretty bummed out about that, but at least I have a spare one to use until I replace the broken one.
The CAT 5 men were awarded trophies through 5th place. Here is a picture of mine:
View the full race results here:
https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2008-62
Monday, March 24, 2008
PREVIEW: Northwest Arkansas Spring Classic
Well as usual, I rode with Nate and Brittney to go preview a course before we raced on it. This week was the NWA Spring Classic in Prairie Grove. Not much to say about this course this time other than it looks like it should be fun. Hopefully I can pull out another win. We took a lot of pictures of the ride, so hopefully I can get some on here later.
The results were corrected for the Hell's Kitchen Road Race. They have me down as 8th now, and it is also corrected on my USA Cycling profile so check it out.
Also, I received the medal for my first place finish at the Salt Creek Criterium. The address isn't correct on it, but I still got it and that's all that matters.
The results were corrected for the Hell's Kitchen Road Race. They have me down as 8th now, and it is also corrected on my USA Cycling profile so check it out.
Also, I received the medal for my first place finish at the Salt Creek Criterium. The address isn't correct on it, but I still got it and that's all that matters.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
2008 Hell's Kitchen Road Race (8th out of 51: CAT 5)
EDIT:: Results edited and corrected.
Sunday the 16th was my third race. This was the Hell's Kitchen road race in Hogeye, Arkansas. I don't really have much to say about this race, nor do I have any pictures of the race. I am almost certain that I was the strongest CAT 5 in the field, however due to lack of experience and poor positioning on my part, I did not win the race. While I am a little disappointed I didn't finish as well as I had in my previous races, I still had a blast. The race was excellent, the weather was fair, and I had a great time. I tired myself out pulling the peloton and bridging gaps, and in the end it cost me. I did ;however, manage to catch the lead group three times, losing it each time on the hills. I have two weeks before my next race so I'll have plenty of training to better prepare myself next time. Currently, I can't say what place I finished since I'm labeled as DNF. I believe to have finished 10th, but on the official results 11th place is open. Eleventh sounds like a fair number to me.
Nate finished 3rd in the CAT 3 field. I'm really glad he's starting the season off on a good note.
I'll update this info as the news breaks.
View the full race results here:
https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2008-158
Sunday the 16th was my third race. This was the Hell's Kitchen road race in Hogeye, Arkansas. I don't really have much to say about this race, nor do I have any pictures of the race. I am almost certain that I was the strongest CAT 5 in the field, however due to lack of experience and poor positioning on my part, I did not win the race. While I am a little disappointed I didn't finish as well as I had in my previous races, I still had a blast. The race was excellent, the weather was fair, and I had a great time. I tired myself out pulling the peloton and bridging gaps, and in the end it cost me. I did ;however, manage to catch the lead group three times, losing it each time on the hills. I have two weeks before my next race so I'll have plenty of training to better prepare myself next time. Currently, I can't say what place I finished since I'm labeled as DNF. I believe to have finished 10th, but on the official results 11th place is open. Eleventh sounds like a fair number to me.
Nate finished 3rd in the CAT 3 field. I'm really glad he's starting the season off on a good note.
I'll update this info as the news breaks.
View the full race results here:
https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2008-158
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
First group ride of the year.
We had a nice turnout today at 5:45 for our first group ride. Sixteen people showed up, and we had two new people there. Hopefully we continue to have a lot of riders show up so the club can cater to more levels of riding. I enjoyed a nice pace today with three other riders, one of which was a new guy. The four of us ended up dropping the rest of the group. Tuesdays are generally the "faster" days, so I hope that no one got upset or discouraged after being dropped only a mile into the 26 mile ride.
Either way, I had an excellent training day, and I can't wait for this weekend.
Either way, I had an excellent training day, and I can't wait for this weekend.
PREVIEW: Hell's Kitchen Road Race
The Hell's Kitchen race is next weekend on March 16th, and takes place in Hogeye, Arkansas. This excerpt is taken from the Dickson Street Cycling Club (Accelorade) website:
Nate, my cousin Brittney, and I carpooled over to Hogeye yesterday to ride the course once around. The "Hell's Kitchen Climb" part of the course isn't nearly as challenging as I feared it would be. In fact, aside from the steeper pitch at the top, I hadn't realized we had began climbing Hell's Kitchen until I was told we were already on it. Don't get me wrong, the hill is a killer, and taking it at race pace will really sap your energy.
Overall, I think the course is going to be blast to race on and I think I'll do very well.
This is me rounding the hairpin turn about 5 miles into the course. The truck had a stop sign.
This is me a little before the Hell's Kitchen Climb enjoying the ride.
And this is me after the ride. Nate was supposed to be taking pictures of the buffalo, but he snapped a picture of me real fast.
"March 16th, 2008 - One of the most difficult road racing events in a four state area. Held South of Fayetteville in Hogeye, AR this 20 miles course offers no flat roads. Large rollers lead to a to a one km climb at the seven mile mark and then it’s to the now famous Hell’s Kitchen climb. This beast attacks your legs with its 3 km distance, 15% grade and pea gravel surface. This is the end of the race for a lot of racers and saps all strength even from the most gifted climbers. Never expect a bunch sprint in this event!"
Nate, my cousin Brittney, and I carpooled over to Hogeye yesterday to ride the course once around. The "Hell's Kitchen Climb" part of the course isn't nearly as challenging as I feared it would be. In fact, aside from the steeper pitch at the top, I hadn't realized we had began climbing Hell's Kitchen until I was told we were already on it. Don't get me wrong, the hill is a killer, and taking it at race pace will really sap your energy.
Overall, I think the course is going to be blast to race on and I think I'll do very well.
This is me rounding the hairpin turn about 5 miles into the course. The truck had a stop sign.
This is me a little before the Hell's Kitchen Climb enjoying the ride.
And this is me after the ride. Nate was supposed to be taking pictures of the buffalo, but he snapped a picture of me real fast.
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