Saturday, September 30, 2006

With all these miles, I could've ridden someplace interesting

Well, I've had the TCR for two months now, and it's seen some serious use. As of today I've logged 900 miles on it. In that time, I have replaced the saddle, got some new pedals, and switched out tires. The pedals and tires are winners, but the jury is still out on the saddle. I'm headed in the right direction with the overall design of the saddle, but on longer rides my rear is telling me I could use a bit more padding. I'm gonna give it another couple hundred miles before I commit to changing it out.

I'm still quite pleased with the TCR C3. It's stiff, and responsive. The Shimano 105 and Ultegra components work like a dream. I can't imagine Dura Ace working THAT much better...at least enough to warrant the price difference. My opinion of the brakes hasn't changed any, as I've not been in a situation (steep descent) to really see how they work under a big load. The only part of the bike that I'm not overwhelmed by is the wheels. The Xero XSR-3s are heavy (over 2000grams), and they do not spin well (if you give them a spin with your hand it won't take long before they come to an abrupt stop, as if your brakes are rubbing.). To their credit, they are strong. In 900 miles they are still rolling straight and true.

If things go my way, my next addition to the bike will be one of these.
I have a lead on a good price on one, so if I'm lucky I'll be able to score one. Using it will help me to take my training to the next level. I'm not gonna say anymore about it until I have confirmation... I don't wanna jinx it.

Stink

Another day.

Another ride.

Another set of intervals.

The only thing that set this ride apart from the others was having to hold my breath as I went past a roadkill. Ick. Nasty.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Rockin' the Blur

I just didn't feel like doing any road training today, so I did the group mtn bike ride this afternoon. It's not the best atmosphere for doing long intense efforts, but I had fun, and that was the important thing. Tomorrow I'll be back to my training.

It's official, I'm doing the 12Hrs of Pinelog on a team with Cal, Rachel, and I think Phillip. Those names don't mean anything to you, but they are all FAST folks. On the road ride the other day, I was doing 27mph and Cal sprinted past me like I was dragging an anchor. It's gonna be fun. That will be my last race effort of the year.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Post Mortem

I just cannot get over the intensity of the Tues group road ride...Day-um! The legs didn't have the snap to them, but I still hung in there. I managed a few pulls at the front, and other than getting dropped for a bit I was able to hang with the group. I think I would've done better if the legs had been more awake. There are only 2 or 3 more group rides left before the time change and they end them for the year, but next year I'm gonna make the group ride part of my training. If I can hang with that bunch, then I can handle anything a mtn bike race throws at me.


Time: 1:17:30
Distance: 31 miles
Avg Speed: 23.8mph
Max speed: 35mph


I'm beat, so I'm off to bed.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Make a path people!

If I learned anything from this past weekend's debacle, it's that I'm gonna be more aggressive when it comes to passing. I'm going to ask to pass in a friendly, loud, and clear voice and I'm only gonna ask once. I will then announce to the person that I'm coming by whether they like it or not... "I gave you a chance to let me by, so don't get mad at me if you end up in the bushes."

Goin' for some group ride action this afternoon. Gotta try and get as many in as possible, because as soon as the time change occurs the group road rides will be done for the year.

Monday, September 25, 2006

What went wrong?

It'd be easy to just say that everything went wrong at Jacksonville, but then that wouldn't make much of a post, would it? My emotional state is a wee bit better, so I'll break down what happened on Sunday.

I'd almost wish that I could say that I raced as hard as I could and got my ass handed to me, but alas, that's not the case.


The start is where the damage was done and the race was decided for about 85% of the field. This year the race organizers combined all the 30-something riders into one group, which made for a field of about 34 or 35 riders. From the starting line the course ran along the treeline for about 500ft or so before turning right onto a dirt road for another 2-300ft, and then you had to make a hard (emphasis on hard) right turn into the trail...and that was where the real trouble began. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Let's get back to the start of the race. I thought I'd gotten to the starting line with enough time to get a place on the front row, but everyone else had the same idea and I was relegated to the second row. As the whistle sounded the guy in front of me fumbled getting into his pedal and any chances of a really good start went out the window. I start working my way along the outside, making some ground as we hit the dirt road, and then comes the entrance to the trail. Imagine 30+ people trying to get thru a door as fast as they can...it looked like a bunch of monkeys humping a football. Riders were falling, getting tangled up with each other...it was a disaster.I waited almost 20 or 30 seconds to get on the trail. One guy who was right in front of me, was trying to get going and kept getting hung up on some roots, and when he did get on his bike he just rode off the trail and passed 3 or 4 people in the process. HELLO!?!? Course cutting is against the rules A-hole! (I'll remember you #140...cheating motherf&%@!*) That ordeal gave the first 4 or 5 riders onto the trail valuable time, time that would be almost impossible to overcome considering the course. I probably entered the singletrack close to the back of the pack (upper 20s or so).

Hanna Park is VERY tight and twisty, which means there are hardly no places to pass. There were a couple doubletrack sections and a couple of dirt road segments that allowed some passing, otherwise you had to ask permission to get by someone...and this is where things went from bad to worse. I have never seen so many poor sports in a race. It was like nobody wanted to let you by. There was one really fast section that allowed you to pick up some speed, but I spent that section in a friggin' parade. I couldn't get them to pick up the pace and they weren't too intent on letting me by. I tried every trick in the book. After pointedly asking to let me pass I tried a different strategy, I asked them to let me in front so I could bridge us up to the group in front of us. That didn't work either. When we'd come to the road or doubletrack sections, you'd think they'd let the faster riders get by. But no, they'd actually speed up! We hit a wide area for me to pass and I can get past one fella, but then the others would sense me coming by them and then they'd speed up to keep me from passing, only to slow back down on the singletrack so they could recover from that hard effort. What the hell is that all about!?!?
One guy in particular was REALLY bad though, and he cost me the most time. I kept asking to get by and the dude was ignoring me. Then a guy from another class slips by me, and I was like "I'd like to go faster myself, but this dude won't let me pass". This guy wouldn't even let the guy from another class get by. On the wide areas this guy would actually go out of his way to block someone trying to get by.
And that is how I spent the bulk of the race, trying to battle past the weaker riders...weaker riders who didn't have the decency to let the faster ones go by.

I finished 15th, 16th, 17th...I'm not even sure, and to be honest, I don't really care at this point. Being stuck behind the slower riders I couldn't go as hard/fast as I'm capable of. When I pre rode the course on Sat my avg speed was 9.5mph. My avg speed on race day was 10.1mph...10.1mph!!! When I came across the finish line I had gas left in the tank. I couldv'e easily done another lap, and that is what pissed me off the most. If I raced as hard as I possibly could and I was beaten then so be it. I gave it my all and just wasn't good enough on that day...that's racing. But to not be able to give it 100%, that's a hard pill to swallow. It really hit me hard. All this training and I wasn't even able to use it.

Hanna Park has no business being a race course. You NEED places to pass, and Hanna doesn't have that. The race promoters should've either A) split up the 30 something racers, or B) had a longer run up to the entrance of the singletrack, so the field could get spread out and not get log jammed. No race should be decided at the start, that's totally retarded.

Yesterday has caused me to make a shift in my plans for the remainder of the season. I had zero fun yesterday, and every race I've been in has been fun (and they weren't fun because I won. 2 of my 3 races I didn't know how well I did till the results were posted.)... fun, because I rode as hard as I could, and gave it everything I had. So, it's time I have some fun on the bike. I'm going to race at Tallahassee in 2 weeks and then I'm gonna be on a team for a 12hr race at the end of October and then that's it for 2006.

As far as the 2007 season. I'm gonna focus on mtn events. I'll do the SERC events that take place in the mtns, the NORBA Nat'l in Sugar Mtn, the Nat'l Championships in Vermont, and then I think I'll also hit up one of the NORBAs out west, and maybe the BUMP n Grind. I won't be doing any of the Florida Series next year, except maybe Tallahassee, since it's so close.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

FUBAR

FUBAR...that sums up everything about that race today. I'd go into more detail, but I just don't feel like it right now. Maybe tomorrow.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

I'm off

In the morning I'll be leaving bright and early for Jax, so don't expect too much till after the race.

Time for bed. *Yawn

Friday, September 22, 2006

Race of truth

It's probably not hard to guess, but I decided to man up and do the Time Trial today. They call the TT "the race of truth"...just you against the clock. Not to oversimplify things, but the secret/s to a successful TT are A) try and catch the riders who went before you, and B) try not to get caught by the riders behind you.
The turnout for this month's TT was small compared to last month, but there were still 15 or so riders out there to test their legs against the clock.


This is only my second TT, and being new to the whole roadie and TT thing I've not been too concerned with how well I do compared to the other riders out there. My plan was to use the TT to gauge my fitness. Last month I rode the 10 miles in 26:22, so obviously I wanted any time lower than that. One of the worst things you can do in a time trial is to take off too hard...something that the guy who went before me found out the hard way. I got a good solid start and ramped it up over the first 5 miles, so that on the return trip I was zoomin'. I knew I was doing well when I past both my 1,2 & 3 minute men. I came across the line with a time of 25:44. I was hoping to shave a few seconds off my previous time, but I wasn't expecting to go below 26 minutes since I don't have aero bars or any of the usual TT accoutrements. Even more surprising was the fact that I ended up with the fastest time of the day!
Of course, it doesn't mean a whole lot as the two fastest guys weren't in attendance today. I am pleased though. I've only been riding a real road bike for about a month and a half, and in only my second TT I go home with the fastest time...beating riders using aero equipment.

Since I couldn't say no to some competition and went ahead and did the TT despite my initial hesitation, it is safe to say that today WAS my last hard effort before the race. I'll chill out on Friday, pre-ride the course on Saturday, and then it's race time.

Ohh, I almost forgot. After the TT I went with a couple of my buds for a little mtn bike time. I figured it'd be good to get time out in the woods. That too went well... right up until I realized that a damn stick broke a spoke. So, what does Sean get to do tomorrow? Take his wheel to the shop to get a new spoke put on. Drat!

I'm beat, I'm goin' to bed...later.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Race day approaches

Only 3 more days till my race. I did some descending intervals (30 sec on, 30 sec off, 5 min,4,3,2) today, as well as some 5x2 min max intervals, and overall they went well. I completed 4 of the 5 2 min intervals, but on the 4th one I felt my power dropping some, so I bagged the last one.
Tomorrow is the monthly club road TT, and I want to do it, but I think that I should make today the last of my intense efforts...give myself plenty of time to recover and be fresh for Sunday's race. I think I'll see how the legs feel in the morning. If they're kinda lifeless then I'll forget doin' the TT this month.

On a completely different note...
I think the 90+ degree temps have said goodbye for the year. Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. Too bad every day can't be like it was today.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Every cloud...

Has a silver lining.


The "cloud"?... An approaching thunderstorm.

The "silver lining"?... A tailwind caused by said thunderstorm.

Between yesterday's intervals, and 50 minutes of Tempo today, I'll be taking tomorrow off.
I'll ride Wed. and Thurs., take a break on Fri. and then pre-ride the course on Sat.. Sounds like a plan.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

6 days and counting

The first stop on the FSC series is in the books, and it still chaps my hindquarters that things played out the way they did and I couldn't attend. I can't focus on that though, what's done is done. This coming weekend is race #2 in Jacksonville, and I'm gonna be ready for it!

I did some descending intervals, and 2 minute max intervals and they went off rather well... so you could say I was pleased with today's training. Now if I could just totally recover from that damned trip.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

That felt good!

Got out on a real bicycle for the first time in over a week, and it felt muy good.

Despite pangs of disappointment I think I made a good decision not to do Reddick. I'm still very tired, and I think it's gonna take me at least another day to get fully rested up.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Home

After a terribly long and uncomfortable plane trip, I'm finally home.

Tired.

Need sleep.

That is all.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Sin City

Sorry for my absence, but I'm still in Vegas, and at $11 per day for internet access I've been holding off on updates. Vegas is...well, Vegas. I wasn't able to take my bike (which is a whole other story), I found some joints in my room, I've even been propositioned by a hooker right in the lobby of the MGM and I'm not even due to leave for another 24hrs.
Since I didn't have my bike, I was relegated to exercise bike hell.


Not exactly the view I was planning on.


The Reddick race is on Sunday, and I'm pulling the plug on attending it. I think I'm asking for a poor result if I go. I will be flying during the night on Thursday, and won't get home till Friday morning. My body clock will be on Pacific time, and I will have to try and get a good nights sleep Friday and then get up early Saturday to drive the 5+hrs to Reddick, get a couple of good practice laps in, and then try and get some sleep...now dealing with still being on Pacific time and being in the Eastern time zone. If it sounds confusing, that's because it is. The bottom line is, I think I'll get to the race on Sunday morning tired and feeling like crap.
I'm upset at the prospect of not attending this race, as I want to make a run for the series title, and this will certainly make the task that much harder. As upset as I am, I can't help but feel that I won't be able to give the race 100%... and while I can't control things like flat tires, chains breaking, or some sandbagger showing up, I am going to these races to win, not 2nd or 3rd, but 1st. So if I can't go to win...well, you get the picture.

Next weekend is Jacksonville, and I'll be fully rested and ready to kick some butt.

This weekend I'll be back to regular updates.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Revelations

I finally made it out for one of the Tuesday group road rides...and what an eye opener it was. As the group was assembling, it was intimidating seeing some of the serious equipment that was being amassed for what was in essence a "fun ride".When I did the TT, there was a fella with a Cervelo P3 Carbon, and the same guy was there for the group ride, and he was sporting a Soloist Carbon...that's almost $7 grand in frames alone, God knows what the complete bikes cost.
Once the ride started it didn't take long to realize that riding in a 'peloton' takes quite a bit of concentration. You're constantly having to assess and adjust your positioning so you don't lose the wheel in front of you, get to close to that wheel, or because of someone moving in on your position.
I was able to handle the pace nicely, and one of the highpoints was taking a pull at the front at almost 30mph. Not knowing the ins and outs of riding in a bunch led to a mistake which resulted in me riding alone for almost half the time. After taking my pull at the front I lingered along side instead of filing all the way to the back of the line. The reason I didn't, was if there was some sort of break, I didn't want to be all the way in the back when it happened. I should've ignored my competitive notions and joined at the rear. As it was, we hit a hill and the peloton had momentum on its side and before I could latch on I had been spit out the back.
I spent the rest of the ride in a no mans land. The only consolation I had was that I caught and passed two stragglers later on.

I can see where riding in a group on occasion can do wonders for your fitness. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get back out there at least once more before they wrap it up for the year. I can tell you one thing though, I won't get ejected off the back like that again. No sir.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Head Scratcher

Ok, I'm totally stumped on this one.

What...

Is...

This?

And what the heck is it for? Any ideas? If you don't know, feel free to make something up. At this point I'm open for any and all ideas.

Sexy Beast

Despite having a nice road bike, I'm having a serious case of bike lust. What exactly is the object of my new found affection? The redesigned Orbea Orca.

That is one elegant, sexy ride!