Fun With Numbers 2010/105/220

I admit I've been sort of lost these past months without any particular plan to follow or event to prepare for. But some invaluable lessons have been learned along the way, namely; never give up what you love and certainly never agree to sell a bike for appliances! In any case, I am definitely looking forward to putting that all behind me and getting back on track and in MY groove again.

The Last Day of Base

Thanks to the help of Michele and Clara I managed to complete my last base ride today - four and a half hours in the wind. Although I have been disciplined about riding the trainer this winter and hoped it would eventually pay off, this weekend makes me wonder just where my fitness is. The problem is there's no headwind in my livingroom when I am on the trainer, so I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised at how much harder it feels when you're riding in the elements. In any case, I am looking forward to watching the Tour of California and enjoying a rest week.

Valentine's Day: Our First 2009 Team Ride

(L-to-R: Sam, Susanne, Clara, Brooke, Rebecca, and Natalie)

Saturday we met at Brooke's for our first team ride and an opportunity to discuss the 2009 race schedule.

The Gloucester Grand Prix: Take Me To The Beer Tent!

As I explained to Cathy Rowell, half seriously, half jokingly...I am beginning to come to terms with why I suck at cx. My level of aggression, on a 10 point scale, is like a 2..."would you like to go ahead? Oh, by all means, please do"...to me, this weekend more closely resembled chinese downhill rather than a cx race...apparently you need to be prepared to ride around, over, and sometimes through your opponents....and etiquette?...there is no etiquette...it's a smash and grab...bull in a china shop...type of affair....I guess I was just a little dismayed by the level of aggression and amount of full-contact...I guess surfing the pavement a few too many times this year has taken it's toll...I am just a little more cautious...a little more hesitant...and you just can't race cross like that. It has to be, as my teammates would say, "racks to the max."

Ok, so preface aside...here's the Saturday race report:

With a grand total of exactly (drum roll please)...zero UCI points, I lined up in the third row. Got a decent start as we sprinted up the hill. As we transitioned to the first winding grass section little did I know the chinese downhill was about to begin - complete with full contact. Apparently I have been taking this cross stuff entirely too lightly. The thought had occurred to me "maybe a pre-race meal of raw meat would be better than a gu?" In any case, 3/4th of the way through the first lap a certain rider in a plaid kit would go down in front of me. I basically rode over her (unintentionally). That is, until our bikes became entangled (which I am sure amused the many spectators sitting high above on the big rock.) I then watched (perhaps too calmly) as she helter skelter gasping for breath tried to literally rip our bikes apart! As she hastily remounted (at this point, practically hyperventilating) she nearly took us out AGAIN!

Concerned with my bike and annoyed with the unnecessary roughness I was of the mindset "you wanna go...by all means, please GO!...just get away from me!" Mentally that was pretty much the end of my race as I eventually DNF'd. The highlight of my day was riding the sand pit...which I later realized would have been smarter (and faster) to run (doh)!

Sunday I enjoyed spectating from the beer tent! (Special thanks to Sal and the fine service of Tami!) But not nearly in as much style as Cathy Rowell!!! Check out the Lederhosen!

Calgone Take Me Away!

This was an email sent to a close friend, but I thought it was worth posting since it's an accurate account of the state of things at the moment.

Calgone take me away...
What's happening to me...?
As Gloucester approaches the inevitable seems to be happening all over again...
I think I have developed an allergy to cross...one minute everything is fine and the next I've had it...ready to hang up the bike...why, why, why...? Like clockwork it's happening again...same week, different year.

Arggghhh...I couldn't have been less interested in cx practice tonight...
I'm tired all the time...(I sit all day, how can this be?)
And, worse...I am hungry all the time...
What is wrong with me.....???

PS I submitted an offer on a condo in my bldg - there was a higher offer...I think the universe is trying to tell me something...but it seems to be in some type of code I can't decipher...

Green Mountain CX - Verge Series 1 & 2

Sue Fred, "the Major", and I

Looks peaceful (looks can be deceiving.)

Up and over the whoop-dee-doo!


Running the barriers or catapulting over!

Leaping over the barrier in a single bound (in theory anyways!)
Ok, not exactly faster than a speeding bullet either...but hey...I'm working on it.

Portsmouth Crit

I suppose it was fitting to end this road season crashing in the last corner of the last crit!

Amesbury Cross - 6th!

Much to my surprise I had a good start. I figured if you can’t be in the first row the next best alternative is to be behind Mo, Rebecca, or Amy – and fortunately I was behind Amy, who of course, bolted off the line! Unfortunately good starts are only that if you can’t maintain your position! Usually the middle of the race is where I become unraveled, but in this case, I was able to focus on maintaining an effort without exploding and just riding as smoothly as possible, minimizing mistakes – and only two riders passed me. So that’s progress!

But this race definitely reinforced two things – (1) look where you want the bike to go and (2) think thoughts where you want the bike to go - not where you don’t want the bike to go! The first time I approached the off camber section (after the fence) I was going entirely too fast and nearly wound up getting wrapped up in the tape. All I could think was “oh my God, don’t roll down the hill, don’t get caught in the tape…” (ok, there was no mention of God, just an expletive)…but my point is, if you’re into mental narration, better to say something along the lines of “take the corner smoothly, stay to the right, follow the high line”…and chances are much higher that disaster will be averted and friends with cameras (ie Geoff Martin) won’t have an opportunity to capture a Kodak moment! :-)

Mo

Amy

Rebecca

The Black Mail Photos

Ah yes, but whose plate is that next to mine?

I am not the only one eating badly. (Oh Andrew...)

Gate City Crit

Jeff, Dave and a Few Sheep!

Dave before he graciously allowed me to lead over Smuggler's Notch

Jeff & Dave at Manhattan Pizza downtown Burlington Saturday night.

Beautiful house, beautiful view (lots of grass to mow!)

Would you believe - Merino wool sweaters?

Baby merino wool sweater!

"C" is for Concussion

Today's blog entry is brought to you by the letter "C". It was a toss up though...the letter "V" almost won - V is for vicodin, which I do not recommend.

OK, so the weekend's dizziness and nausea has passed...but my head still feels like it's been used on a cheese grater. I just can't shake the headaches. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since the crash. Sorry Bruce, I still can't recite the alphabet backwards, nor do I know the words to "Mary Had a Little Lamb"... :-) Ask me another question!

This afternoon I am off to see one of our sponsors - Robert Yauckoes at the Natural Wellness Clinic, for my first acupuncture treatment. I am not exactly sure how it works, but if it alleviates some of the pain...it's worth a try.

"C" is also for cookie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhUFxaauNTE&feature=related

PEI Stage 5: Charlottetown Crit

"Frankenbike"

zip ties, cardboard, and some epoxy

According to the local shop there is no Campy on the island.

Is this an episode of McGyver or a bike race?

PEI Stage 4: Dalvay to Stratford (120 km)

Mary and I at the start. (I'm smiling because I still have all my skin.)

This is what happens when you follow the Chinese! Before you know it, someone locks up their brakes and you're on the ground.

I'm not sure what is more dangerous in a UCI race - going fast or going slow. The crash was completely ridiculous. We were packed in like sardines - just before the feedzone...this would be the second day I did not get a bottle in the feedzone...only this time because I was too busy CHASING like a madwoman, trying to surf the caravan to get back into the main field. (Kori Seehafer, the race leader would also go down in this crash.)

As soon as I hit the ground I was thinking about getting right back up...but as I picked up my bike I would soon realize my left shifter was turned completely upright - like a Campagnolo bullhorn - terrific! So off I go...no front brake...I knew I would be in trouble if I had to do the rest of the race in the big ring, but fortunately the shifting mechanism could still be pushed over. So mechanical issues on the left side...and on the right side...I somehow managed to fall awkwardly on my right hand. Turns out I ended up bruising my right thumb (right where the hoods hit the meat of your thumb) and my pinky...making index shifting a wee bit painful. Little did I know I also managed to do something to my neck and head...the marbles are still rolling around my head (it's now 4 days later and I still have a headache - off to the doctor's tomorrow.)

Basically when you fall in a race like this, there is no option of not finishing - you have to or else you can't race the next day...and given the length of the stage, there is great incentive to use as much adrenaline to chase back on...'cause you don't want to ride the rest of the race by yourself! So this was day two of surfing the caravan to get back in! The first day was cool...the second day...not so much!

Eventually with less than 20 km to go the main field would break apart as another crash occured and we entered a particularly windy stretch. At this point I was out of water but couldn't call up the team car from the caravan (you can't feed once you're within certain proximity to the finish)...and the wind would get the best of me...after a short chase I would catch back up with Natalie (or more accurately "Nat-a-lee Du-mon" as french speakers would say) and Reem of Chapstick Advil. The three of us would ride in together.

Considering all that happened I was feeling very lucky to finish the race. Although looking at results alone it wasn't a great finish, but...I was proud of the work I had done to chase back on...it took presence of mind and tenacity to not only pick myself up off the ground and overcome mechanical issues, but to also chase...not once but twice. To me this was progress in developing greater mental toughness. Let's hope further improvement in that department doesn't involve losing anymore skin...or damage to my bike (replacing Campy record is expensive!)

Geesh, and I was concerned about scars from mountain biking...let's just say, I won't be wearing a bathing suit anytime soon!

PEI Stage 3: Kensington to North Rustico (120 km)

Day one was about nerves, day two (the TT) was to be survived...but day three, that's when I thought we would begin to settle in and really race. And that may have actually been the case had an attack not been launched in the feedzone...by none other than our guest rider Leda! By the end of the day CycleLoft had certainly made a name for itself! Let's just say other teams were not too thrilled with her by dinner. She's lucky they didn't drag her out to the parking lot and throw a few punches!


In any case, the attack certainly caught people off guard - and all hell broke loose from there. Of course, the feedzone was conveniently located on a hill...so the field basically splintered from there. Depending upon where you were coming in...would determine where you would end up in the chase. For a while I had to surf through the caravan (kinda cool) and eventually caught up to a group which ended up with 10 riders. Fortunately Rebecca and Sally were also in this group.



I would have to say there wasn't much more one could do. Circumstances neutralized the "real racing" that I had anticipated. We worked as a group, keeping a decent pace...but I never really knew where we were in relation to the lead group or other chase groups. As we neared the finish an Ontario rider decided to sprint early, with a Cascade rider following (which was ridiculous considering how far back we were) - these efforts would fade and Rebecca, Sally and I would be the first three of our group of ten.

Although there is a generally acknowledged unwritten rule not to attack in the feedzone I guess the lesson is...in UCI races, all bets are off! You can never let your guard down. I didn't feel I was riding badly at all that day, but who knows what may have been different had I not gone for a bottle - had we all skipped trying to get a bottle??? Just another lesson in keeping your head up and making split second decisions that can make or break your race.

PEI Stage 2: The Confederation Bridge Time Trial

I'll grant you - the bridge is beautiful, a feat of civil engineering genius, a source of PEI pride...but in my opinion...something best to be enjoyed and appreciated IN THE CAR and not on the bike!!! (Is the race director listening???!!!) These were the windiest, most awful conditions I had ever ridden a TT in (of course, did I mention I avoid TTs like the plague?) The only thing preventing me from stopping, was the fact that I so badly wanted off that bridge! At 107 lbs those winds were attrocious. Not that it would have made that much of a difference in my case, but I'm told the winds picked up for those with later start times. While I was thoroughly humiliated and disgusted by my performance (latern rouge - isn't there a jersey for that?) both Sally and Rebecca would have fantastic results - Sally was 3rd!!! And Rebecca 7th!!! We all very proudly watched as Sally stood aside the Menikini riders on the podium!!!

PEI Stage 1: Summerside Circuit Race

As excited as I was to start my first UCI race I have to admit there was nothing I wanted more than for it to be over! Because the race was scheduled to start at 3:30 in front of race headquaters (the Loyalist Hotel), just down the street from our hotel - we decided we would ride over as a team and pre-ride the course.

Although far from home, the condition of the pavement made me feel very much at home - lots of cracks and filled in potholes. Half way around the course there was an S curve which would prove to be an interesting test of the group's cornering ability and a back straight that was open and windy. Then around another right hand corner with cones marking the inside, which the Cuban riders would later completely disregard and not only dive into, but cut through - and then back into town, with a fast 1 km leading into a narrow chute of barriers bringing you to the start finish. Little did I know that this would become the most dangerous part of the course.

The entire race would be about position. Constantly moving up, trying to gain ground in every corner (not to mention escape death) and get a feel for the various riding styles in the field. I think by the end of the day we each had strong opinions about the bike handling of various teams.

About half way through the race, I'm not sure if it was a sprint lap, but coming across the start finish one of the motorcycles would go down. Although I narrowly escaped it caused a huge crash behind. That was when you begin to realize the potential danger of the course and the particular way the barriers were narrowly set up to guide the riders through the finish. I am usually not one to spend too much time worrying about safety but given the speed, level of aggression, and size of the field, I was definitely mindful of the potential dangers. Unfortunately Rebecca would go down in the crash, but was also able to get right back up and chase back on. One of the Stevens riders' was not quite so lucky and would end up with bruises and road rash beneath her eye and on her chin. ("Does my Blue Cross Blue Shield plan cover plastic surgery?" I began to wonder. Yikes!)

Approximately 3/4 of the way through it started to rain, not hard per se but enough to make it messy. By the time we got to the last lap I still wasn't sure whether to be conservative or really try to take part in the sprint. Fortunately or unfortunately the wind would pick up on the last lap. As we came up the incline before the S curve the last time people were clearly fighting for position. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mary riding through someone's front lawn! Not by choice of course, but because she got forced out. "Surfing the gutter" can be good in that it gives you the ability to move up and/or bail out, but it's also dangerous in that you've got to hold your position and not allow anyone to push you out. But it was sort of strange - the entire week you would see things happen in the peloton that were "interesting" and under any other circumstances you might comment to teammates or chuckle, but then you'd realize you better pay attention to what you're doing and save the "did you see that? for later! (For example, Natalie getting punched by one of the Cubans.)

So after making it through the last corner, I half felt as though time passed in slow motion. You knew the sprint was coming but when would it take off? For me I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't on the far right or left as we entered the barriers - and not knowing the field you really didn't know which wheel to be on (granted Rochelle Gilmore's would have been good!) With one km to go, the sprint was on. I basically just wanted to maintain the speed of those around me, hoping everyone would hold their line. Fortunately everyone would cross the line and safely roll through. Phew! What a relief!

The entire race you needed to have eyes in the back of your head - total awareness of what was happening around you. I was sort of thinking it would be a long race (60 miles), but in the end it didn't really feel that way because you really needed to stay focused the entire time. I was very happy to get the first day over and done with! Onto the dreaded TT!

Preparation for The Tour of PEI

O Canada!

Our home and native land!

True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

The Kanc: Lincoln to Bartlett

We set out from the Loon parking lot to do 4 hours, nothing more, nothing less! (Both Jen and Andrew will be quite pleased we do in fact listen...on occasion!)

On our way back Special thanks to James for his help with my derailluer!

Tour of Somerville

To steal a quote from Andy Jacques-Maynes "my goal was to stay off the ground!" (BTW there's a great article about Andy in the latest Velonews - check it out.) After the crash at the Kelly Cup/Bike Jam ("jam" being the operative word) I decided not to race the RFK crit on Sunday. Although the road rash looked bad it was really my neck and shoulders that bothered me most that Sunday morning. So I thought it was best to be a bit conservative and give my body (and my bike) a day to recover.

That being said Monday at Somerville ended up being a great day. I was a little apprehensive about getting back in the mix. I never worried before about crashing, but after Saturday I realized sometimes you don't have any control over what happens. No one wants to be dangerous or cause a crash but at the same time we are all competitive and want to ride aggressively. In any case - all went smoothly.

I was very happy to have the chance to line up behind Tina Pic. I thought to myself, "ok, she has two legs two arms...seems human...but what makes her so fast???!!!" Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

While I did see some sketchy moves and a few crashes, I thankfully stayed out of the fray. On the last lap I followed Brooke around the last corner (near the front), and was in great position...and then the sprint began...well, this is progress...and also a work in progress. I had great position, but now I've got to work on developing a sprint. The good news is - there's room for a lot of improvement!!! Eventually Rebecca and I would roll in together, along with my friend with Nashville roots, Robin Farina. All in all it was a great race and maybe more importantly I managed "to stay off the ground!"