More damage

There was a small part of me that thought I could still ride the frame with the little damage it had…until I saw this tonight:

Whiz.Bang.BOOM

That was the story of the weekend…TST was this past weekend. One of the staple road races of the year and in my mind one of the only races where the course dictates who’s the strongest and not necessarily by some random attack making it to the finish. The race is basically one big 65 mile loop with the first 30-40 miles being fairly hilly but nothing really to cause a split. The last 20 some odd miles comprise of 3 stupid hard climbs that can really blow the pack apart. This year, the main move went on the first of the three climbs. A group of 9-10 made (me included) over the first climb and stuck together over the second. The 10 miles between the 2nd and 3rd climb saw what was left of the main field only 15 seconds behind at the base. Once on the 3rd climb however, things really began to explode as our lead group dwindled down to 5. Two Hagens-Berman, Symmetrics, Garage, and a Team Race rider. The 5 of us rode in cooperation for the remainder of the race until the attacks came about 4k from the finish. I did what I could to cover what I could but in the end didn’t have the legs in the sprint and ended up 4th. I got 10th last year so this year was a step in the right direction.

Sunday was the Seward Park crit and let me just say I might not be doing it for a while. 500m to go I swerved into the soft grass to avoid a crash saving my body but not my bike. Apparently the top tube hit the curb and let it be known carbon does not dent well:

A HUGE thanks goes out to Kele and Michael for hooking me up with a replacement bike until I’m able to get my bike situation sorted out…isn’t she pretty?

Finally!

This past weekend was the Frozen Flatlands Omnium. I’ll start off saying that I managed to take the overall after making the winning breaks both days.

The first day was a 49 mile loop that took us about 1:50H to complete. We were hauling as I was spinning out my 53×12 for quite some time. Of course, I was suffering like a dog into the headwinds and actually begged for mercy from my 4 other breakaway companions. In the end, I took 2nd after jumping about 400m from the finish without anyone in tow (1st had countered us catching his teammate, so he rode in solo about 30″ up the road).

Sunday netted our team’s first 1/2 team win since it’s inception a number of years ago. After a break of 3 went up the road, I had to help pull it back to preserve my 2nd place overall as the folks up the road could have leaped over me if they stayed out there.

After they were brought back, a teammate of someone in the break countered and I did what I could to hop on to that train. Eventually a break of 4 was established.

Shaun Ongers from Axley was in 3rd overall and was also in position to take the overall if he placed ahead of me. It was a tactical game towards the end as we had established over a 1′ break on the field. In the end, the two Vertical Earth riders played a tactical game to pin Shaun against the edge of the road as I jumped to the other side of the raceway and sprinted about 300-400m for the win! Yes, you read that right, I sprinted for the win…weird.

2nd on Saturday and 1st on Sunday netted me 1st overall! Yeah!

Imports

I just couldn’t pass this up: True Euro Nutella. Some call me crazy, others might call me obsessed. All I know is that my Nutella is free from partially hydrogenated oils.

And, OAD, I’m kicking myself for not taking you up on your offer to import some of the good stuff while you were back in your homeland!

Two for Two on Tuesday

Well, after last weekends malfunctions and break-brigade, this weekend surely had to be an improvement right? And thankfully it was!

After debating the 8am call-up for Saturday’s race, my buddy and I opted to head up to Bellingham the night before to get a good night’s rest and avoid the super-early commute. Good choice! We roll up and see that the predicted rain is holding for the moment and it might be one of those hard-to-come-by rain-free races! The 64 mile race starts with a nice little climb followed by a couple more rollers until about mile 4 or 5 when the next climb comes. At this point the pack is pretty tame until one of the local pros and I decide it’d be “fun” to use each other to slingshot up the hill. He pushes on my shoulder and away he goes! I wasn’t going to let that happen so I ride up, grab his hip and slingshot myself…he returns the favor and after these antics we have a 3 man break :-). A lap later it’s a 4 man break with local fa(s)t guy bridging up. 4 becomes 3 as one of the original 3 flats.

Some 50 miles later we’re told that the pack has blown themselves up trying to bring us back since we were gaining about a minute a lap on the field. Attacks ensue and eventually we leave the LFG™ in the dust. Shortly thereafter we’re told that the race is being cut a lap and we only have 1/2 a lap to go. The local pro quickly drops me and each person of the break rides in solo. Tom Peterson for 1st, me for 2nd and LFG™ for 3rd.

Sunday was a painful day. Sunday was the start of a local TT series being put on by one of our sponsors. It was a 12.5 mile loop, pretty much pancake flat. I thought I was prepared but after yesterday’s effort, plus the previous weeks work, my legs had other plans. Long story short, I came in 2nd, by about 10 seconds, behind my teammate. Average speed was about 28 mph but I was no where near where I should have been. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got all that work built up in your legs. Next time though…next time!