Anyone doing the road bike race at the mall this weekend!?
Sometimes I really think people around here just give up, and don't expect much from courses anymore. This course probably does a half-way decent job of making a course from what the area provides... but come on! This is supposed to be a UCI race with NACT status.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A Bit More From SSCXWC'10
Some more good video... another one from the qualifiers (believe me, the camera doesn't do justice at all, to the steepness or length of "bum hill";
And some good video showing a few different portions of the course on race day. Especially since the live coverage didn't show very much of the course, with their mostly static cameras.
Catch my full family-friendly update from the weekend over at the Gates Carbon Drive blog! I love this picture, generously provided by Glenn Bunselmeyer, since it does a good job showing the condition of the course, and especially because it caught my own cheering squad at the top of the hill! Thanks for coming out Nickle and Janine!
Well... I guess it's back to racing in the jack-hammer hard-packed "grass" this weekend. Ugh. Though they're running a special deal on the races this weekend! That's right... they attached an NACT logo onto the flyer, extended the single speed category to 60 minutes (at least that part is cool), and offered up special pricing; The usual $25 for the first 45 minutes of racing, and then $1 for each minute after that. Fucking lame.
And some good video showing a few different portions of the course on race day. Especially since the live coverage didn't show very much of the course, with their mostly static cameras.
Catch my full family-friendly update from the weekend over at the Gates Carbon Drive blog! I love this picture, generously provided by Glenn Bunselmeyer, since it does a good job showing the condition of the course, and especially because it caught my own cheering squad at the top of the hill! Thanks for coming out Nickle and Janine!
Well... I guess it's back to racing in the jack-hammer hard-packed "grass" this weekend. Ugh. Though they're running a special deal on the races this weekend! That's right... they attached an NACT logo onto the flyer, extended the single speed category to 60 minutes (at least that part is cool), and offered up special pricing; The usual $25 for the first 45 minutes of racing, and then $1 for each minute after that. Fucking lame.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
SSCXWC'10 Qualifier Races
Here's an awesome vid, to give you an idea of the qualifier race, for the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships!
The race was a total roll of the dice for out-of towners. We were armed with a VERY vague map of the course, and sent out to find our way through Seattle on open roads, bike paths, tunnels, stair cases, parks, bridges, and highway embankments - while making sure to hit several different checkpoints.
The rule of the day was "Find the fast Seattle guy in your group, and stick with him"! Four riders from each heat qualified, so right from the gun, I helped force a selection of four, and then we all worked together to drive the pace and make sure we all qualified. The legs felt great, and I was happy to do as much work as possible letting everyone know, "Just tell me when to turn!"
Awesome. I haven't had that many pre-race jitters in a long time, and they were all wiped clear once the race was over and I had won the "sprint" for our group!
The race was a total roll of the dice for out-of towners. We were armed with a VERY vague map of the course, and sent out to find our way through Seattle on open roads, bike paths, tunnels, stair cases, parks, bridges, and highway embankments - while making sure to hit several different checkpoints.
The rule of the day was "Find the fast Seattle guy in your group, and stick with him"! Four riders from each heat qualified, so right from the gun, I helped force a selection of four, and then we all worked together to drive the pace and make sure we all qualified. The legs felt great, and I was happy to do as much work as possible letting everyone know, "Just tell me when to turn!"
Awesome. I haven't had that many pre-race jitters in a long time, and they were all wiped clear once the race was over and I had won the "sprint" for our group!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
SSCXWC'10
It's time to head West for the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships! Should be a real good time!
And it looks like the weather is going to "cooperate"... that is if you were hoping for real North-West cyclocross weather!
It might not be the best weather for us desert inhabitants coming from Colorado. But with any luck, I think we just might have an advantage using the Gates Carbon Belt Drive if it gets ridiculously muddy. Nothing like some proper product testing!!
(Thanks @Raleighs_Sally for the picture!)
But don't worry! No matter where you are this weekend, you don't have to miss the fun. Catch the live stream, and on demand, at MFG Cyclocross!
And it looks like the weather is going to "cooperate"... that is if you were hoping for real North-West cyclocross weather!
It might not be the best weather for us desert inhabitants coming from Colorado. But with any luck, I think we just might have an advantage using the Gates Carbon Belt Drive if it gets ridiculously muddy. Nothing like some proper product testing!!
(Thanks @Raleighs_Sally for the picture!)
But don't worry! No matter where you are this weekend, you don't have to miss the fun. Catch the live stream, and on demand, at MFG Cyclocross!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Winter Approaches
Last weekend I just wasn't motivated to hit the Interlocken cross race, even though it's usually a pretty cool, grassy course. Sounds like it was a super power-sapper, and the grass was wetter than ever. No biggie, it was cold and grey and my winter laziness was creeping in. So instead I went out to hit some of the top-secret singletrack near the house, on the cross bike. I think the weather had scared everyone out of the mountains, and so it was super quiet and no one was out, not even on the roads. Some of the trees were still looking pretty sweet, though the camera did a bad job (or rather "I did") of catching the true colors.
Sunday I couldn't resist the lure of a new cyclocross course, so I piled into the car with Carlos and went out to Beuna Vista for the On the River cross race. Definitely a long drive for a 45 minute race, but at least it's usually quite scenic, and it's good to support the smaller race promotors that are brave and put on a race that's far from the front range!
Warming up it wasn't the most "crossy" of cross courses, but once up to speed in the race, it was at least a pretty fun course to ride. I had two stumbles in the race, which took me out of contention, but I was fairly happy with the legs at least. I posted a quick race report over on the Team Gates Carbon Drive Blog. Finished up in 3rd and then another long drive back home.
Some more high-country racing planned for the weekend, doing the Aspen race up in Allenspark. That should be pretty fun, and it will be intersting going the "wrong direction" from the house, for a bike race. I might even double-up, since the scheduled is switched up, and not the usual (stupid) mandated schedule that nearly all the races have.
In the meantime, Gates put together a sweet video introducing the team and high lighting our race at Cross Vegas!
And coming up next week? SSCXWC!!!!
Sunday I couldn't resist the lure of a new cyclocross course, so I piled into the car with Carlos and went out to Beuna Vista for the On the River cross race. Definitely a long drive for a 45 minute race, but at least it's usually quite scenic, and it's good to support the smaller race promotors that are brave and put on a race that's far from the front range!
Warming up it wasn't the most "crossy" of cross courses, but once up to speed in the race, it was at least a pretty fun course to ride. I had two stumbles in the race, which took me out of contention, but I was fairly happy with the legs at least. I posted a quick race report over on the Team Gates Carbon Drive Blog. Finished up in 3rd and then another long drive back home.
Some more high-country racing planned for the weekend, doing the Aspen race up in Allenspark. That should be pretty fun, and it will be intersting going the "wrong direction" from the house, for a bike race. I might even double-up, since the scheduled is switched up, and not the usual (stupid) mandated schedule that nearly all the races have.
In the meantime, Gates put together a sweet video introducing the team and high lighting our race at Cross Vegas!
And coming up next week? SSCXWC!!!!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Cross Catch-up
Two weekends ago Craig and I jumped into the car to head out to Frisco for some cross racin'. The Frisco races are always fun, the courses are well-done and a bit unique, the altitude is a dizzying 9,500ft and you never know what the weather is going to do. Plus, I like going up "into the mountains" to race; I love the atmosphere up there, and think it's only right that we should go up there a few times a year, after we make them drive every weekend to do the same (mostly boring) courses the rest of the weekends.
Check out the Gates Blog for a race report that I threw together on the race. More specifically, for me, the race started BLAZING fast. I was just off the lead group going into the single track, and felt horrible after the start - taking a full lap to recover. But then I started feeling better, and with about 3.5 laps to go, I was able to go nice and hard again. Thanks to the awesome announcing, I knew I was getting closer, but I had let the gap get to big in the early part of the race, to be able to close things back down. That's okay though, I was stoked to see the team take 1st and 2nd, and being able to ride that fast and hard at the end of the race is a good thing. with any luck I'll start to have the form coming back around, as I still work to blow the 30+ road races out of the legs from this long season.
This past weekend I was feeling lazy on Saturday, I think the colder weather rolling in, was working to kill all motivation. So no racing for me, though I got out for a great ride on some "top secret" trails near the house, on the geared cross bike. I had to wear way too much clothing, but at least the weather scared people away, so it was a nice quiet ride. A little brain-flossing.
Sunday was going to be a long day as Carlos and I were heading out to Beuna Vista for the cyclocross race out there. Quite a long drive, but it's a new (last year) course that I haven't done, so I figured what the heck. There was a decent chance of rain and/or snow, especially at that altitude, but it held off for us. Though there was an evil, steady, hard wind to make the course that bit harder. We had a smaller field, but with some real quality there. I was riding pretty well, minus two bobbles that I had, forcing me to run the sand once, and stepping off the bike on this steep decent another time. But I (mostly) chased back on both times. And while I ended up racing just for second, I was able to do a ton of work for Carlos, to make sure he would secure 2nd place, while I could hold on for 3rd, after managing to drop the other guy that was making up our group. Not great, but the legs were better.
I wasn't able to grab a picture at CrossVegas, that really captured the course and the atmosphere, but leave it to my man Elgee! Check it out! ...you were expecting strippers, weren't you!?
Check out the Gates Blog for a race report that I threw together on the race. More specifically, for me, the race started BLAZING fast. I was just off the lead group going into the single track, and felt horrible after the start - taking a full lap to recover. But then I started feeling better, and with about 3.5 laps to go, I was able to go nice and hard again. Thanks to the awesome announcing, I knew I was getting closer, but I had let the gap get to big in the early part of the race, to be able to close things back down. That's okay though, I was stoked to see the team take 1st and 2nd, and being able to ride that fast and hard at the end of the race is a good thing. with any luck I'll start to have the form coming back around, as I still work to blow the 30+ road races out of the legs from this long season.
This past weekend I was feeling lazy on Saturday, I think the colder weather rolling in, was working to kill all motivation. So no racing for me, though I got out for a great ride on some "top secret" trails near the house, on the geared cross bike. I had to wear way too much clothing, but at least the weather scared people away, so it was a nice quiet ride. A little brain-flossing.
Sunday was going to be a long day as Carlos and I were heading out to Beuna Vista for the cyclocross race out there. Quite a long drive, but it's a new (last year) course that I haven't done, so I figured what the heck. There was a decent chance of rain and/or snow, especially at that altitude, but it held off for us. Though there was an evil, steady, hard wind to make the course that bit harder. We had a smaller field, but with some real quality there. I was riding pretty well, minus two bobbles that I had, forcing me to run the sand once, and stepping off the bike on this steep decent another time. But I (mostly) chased back on both times. And while I ended up racing just for second, I was able to do a ton of work for Carlos, to make sure he would secure 2nd place, while I could hold on for 3rd, after managing to drop the other guy that was making up our group. Not great, but the legs were better.
I wasn't able to grab a picture at CrossVegas, that really captured the course and the atmosphere, but leave it to my man Elgee! Check it out! ...you were expecting strippers, weren't you!?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Cross Vegas Wrap
Last week the Gates crew jumped into planes, trains and automobiles, and headed west for good ol' Interbike. It sounds like the Gates crew had a great time at the outdoor demo, with lots of people stopping by to check out the bikes! With limited time off, I wasn't able to make the outdoor demo, and got in late the day before the show started. Jesse was traveling with me, and first thing in the morning, after a few more asprin, we were off to the show.
Overall, I was pretty dissapointed in the show. It seemed pretty much like a repeat of last year, with just a few minor additions being shown off. Though I've got to say straight away, I'm pretty much in hardcore lust with the new Raleigh SSCXWC carbon cross bike, setup with the Gates Belt!
I must have one! The smoothness of the 1,050g carbon, the new Enve cross fork, the crazy-smooth belt-drive... with some proper handbuilt tubular wheels and safe parts pick, you're looking at a ride in the 15lb. range without even trying too hard. Speaking of single speed parts... the new TRP RRL Singlespeed brake levers. They combine the Campy 11 and new Shimano style levers into one, that somehow feels even more like the original Mektronic lever. Awesome. I hope Hudz gets to work on a aftermarket hood for those!
Anyway, after a couple hours on the show floor, it was back to the hotel to prepare for the Wheeler's and Dealers Cross Vegas race! Whew... the legs were definitely feeling the hours on the show floor. I'm glad I chose to ride the bike out to the race, even though it was uphill and a hot headwind the entire way. Then it was time to meet up with the Gates crew before the race, chat, and do some pre-laps together. In town were Carlos, Derek, Brad, myself, and Peter riding with us from "The Michigan Branch".
The pre-ride confirmed my thoughts going into this race... the 99% grass course was going to be hard as hell for me. Being a smaller guys makes it tough when it's time for courses that favor absolute power. On the good side, I LOVE grassy corners that you can just rail, technical sections and ridiculously fast barrier sections. This year the course had three barriers, which definitely made me smile.
It was going to be a downright vicious start, as callups were based on registration, so plenty of fast guys would be surging to get to the front right away... and that's exactly the way it played out. Luckily for me, while in 60th place, I had Matty Pronovost directly in front of me, and Mike Robson directly behind. With the three of us, we attacked hard, winding our way through the crowd together, until I had to leave them to go on their own. Carlos absolutely drilled it and made it up to the front group... yes, with all the geared guys!
I moved up well at the start, but then mostly just held my position, moving up a bit through the race, and not getting caught in the no less than 3 crashes that were right in front of me. I was feeling good on the bike, but it was hard, hard work. Hard enough that I was actually wishing for some of those dry, loose corners that we have in Colorado, where I can make some time. The crowd was much bigger than expected, already for our race, and that definitely helped the motivation! Some vid that lets you see the course, and a couple good shots of me and Derek and some other Gates kits in there;
In the end, Matty Pronovost had an incredible ride (on his sweet 14lbs. Moots - that he's now sad isn't built with a belt!) took the single speed win, with an incredible 7th place finish overall. Gates faired quite well ourselves, with Peter in 2nd, Derek in 3rd, Carlos in 4th or 5th, and myself in 6th! After the race, all the pressure was off, and it was time to drink some beer and watch the pros go at it. I wish I would have ridden better, but if nothing else, it was a super fun race - plus Colorado riders took the SS and Overall wins! I have no doubt the entire team had a great time at the race, and I know all the Gates crew that were still in town from the Outdoor Demo, had a great time cheering us on as well - all while providing incredible support for us! The Mantis...
And for your tech update? Everyone's belt drives were incredible! Just spot on, without a single creak or issue, and everyone was completely stoked with the performance from the system. No doubt, it was super-smooth and felt great.
And then... more time out on the town in Vegas... getting back in quite late... or "early" depending on how you look at it. The next day was more time at the show, and the highlight being an autograph session with Ale-Jet himself. Awesome! That will be a good one for the collection. It was also a good chance for probably my favorite part of the weekend - watching the laugh from Pettachi when Jesse told him; "You make me so happy when you beat Cavendish".
The weekend was a bit more quiet, after a very busy week. And feeling a bit under the weather, I decided to skip the racing. That's okay, because the team absolutely CRUSHED it. Carlos won on Saturday, with Ben making his first team appearance in 5th, while on Sunday Mitch took the win, and the team went 1st thru 5th in the results! Instead, I snuck out for a mountain bike ride with Craig, in Golden. It was the first time I had been on gears in several weeks, and man... it felt like cheating. But some relaxing flow on the mountain bike did wonders for clearing the head!
Overall, I was pretty dissapointed in the show. It seemed pretty much like a repeat of last year, with just a few minor additions being shown off. Though I've got to say straight away, I'm pretty much in hardcore lust with the new Raleigh SSCXWC carbon cross bike, setup with the Gates Belt!
I must have one! The smoothness of the 1,050g carbon, the new Enve cross fork, the crazy-smooth belt-drive... with some proper handbuilt tubular wheels and safe parts pick, you're looking at a ride in the 15lb. range without even trying too hard. Speaking of single speed parts... the new TRP RRL Singlespeed brake levers. They combine the Campy 11 and new Shimano style levers into one, that somehow feels even more like the original Mektronic lever. Awesome. I hope Hudz gets to work on a aftermarket hood for those!
Anyway, after a couple hours on the show floor, it was back to the hotel to prepare for the Wheeler's and Dealers Cross Vegas race! Whew... the legs were definitely feeling the hours on the show floor. I'm glad I chose to ride the bike out to the race, even though it was uphill and a hot headwind the entire way. Then it was time to meet up with the Gates crew before the race, chat, and do some pre-laps together. In town were Carlos, Derek, Brad, myself, and Peter riding with us from "The Michigan Branch".
The pre-ride confirmed my thoughts going into this race... the 99% grass course was going to be hard as hell for me. Being a smaller guys makes it tough when it's time for courses that favor absolute power. On the good side, I LOVE grassy corners that you can just rail, technical sections and ridiculously fast barrier sections. This year the course had three barriers, which definitely made me smile.
It was going to be a downright vicious start, as callups were based on registration, so plenty of fast guys would be surging to get to the front right away... and that's exactly the way it played out. Luckily for me, while in 60th place, I had Matty Pronovost directly in front of me, and Mike Robson directly behind. With the three of us, we attacked hard, winding our way through the crowd together, until I had to leave them to go on their own. Carlos absolutely drilled it and made it up to the front group... yes, with all the geared guys!
I moved up well at the start, but then mostly just held my position, moving up a bit through the race, and not getting caught in the no less than 3 crashes that were right in front of me. I was feeling good on the bike, but it was hard, hard work. Hard enough that I was actually wishing for some of those dry, loose corners that we have in Colorado, where I can make some time. The crowd was much bigger than expected, already for our race, and that definitely helped the motivation! Some vid that lets you see the course, and a couple good shots of me and Derek and some other Gates kits in there;
In the end, Matty Pronovost had an incredible ride (on his sweet 14lbs. Moots - that he's now sad isn't built with a belt!) took the single speed win, with an incredible 7th place finish overall. Gates faired quite well ourselves, with Peter in 2nd, Derek in 3rd, Carlos in 4th or 5th, and myself in 6th! After the race, all the pressure was off, and it was time to drink some beer and watch the pros go at it. I wish I would have ridden better, but if nothing else, it was a super fun race - plus Colorado riders took the SS and Overall wins! I have no doubt the entire team had a great time at the race, and I know all the Gates crew that were still in town from the Outdoor Demo, had a great time cheering us on as well - all while providing incredible support for us! The Mantis...
And for your tech update? Everyone's belt drives were incredible! Just spot on, without a single creak or issue, and everyone was completely stoked with the performance from the system. No doubt, it was super-smooth and felt great.
And then... more time out on the town in Vegas... getting back in quite late... or "early" depending on how you look at it. The next day was more time at the show, and the highlight being an autograph session with Ale-Jet himself. Awesome! That will be a good one for the collection. It was also a good chance for probably my favorite part of the weekend - watching the laugh from Pettachi when Jesse told him; "You make me so happy when you beat Cavendish".
The weekend was a bit more quiet, after a very busy week. And feeling a bit under the weather, I decided to skip the racing. That's okay, because the team absolutely CRUSHED it. Carlos won on Saturday, with Ben making his first team appearance in 5th, while on Sunday Mitch took the win, and the team went 1st thru 5th in the results! Instead, I snuck out for a mountain bike ride with Craig, in Golden. It was the first time I had been on gears in several weeks, and man... it felt like cheating. But some relaxing flow on the mountain bike did wonders for clearing the head!
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