Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Burnham Super Crit Cat 4/5's - The Circus Race
According to race director Jason Knauff "this was the 4b's race (think the circus race during cross season)" well it sure didnt feel like it! My teammate Drew started the race off like a cross by attacking from the start, i attempted to go with him, but we were quickly caught by the pack.
The pace is intense, i get shuffled on and off the front, everyone is trying to rip the legs off each other, everyone wanted this race to be fast, it was going to make it safer and i wanted to do my part to push the pace. So did the rest of my teammates, drew, dan, trent, keith, bryan, and todd all took hard pulls and attacked ensuring that the pace remained high.
The pace remained high as bryan pulled some of his typical moves by hunting for the last prime of the day, a new sram chain. (he pipped chris jensen of half acre at the line) Chris and i seemed to spend a lot of time durning the two races of the day next to each other, chris said that was because liked the smell of the embrocation sean of burnham gave me earlier in the day, great product.
With a lap and a half to go i throw down an attack or what was suppose to be an attack, i got about ten meters off the front and ended up pulling the pack into the final turn, except the next thing i know i am in the grass and i hear bryan yell "what are you doing in the grass" i think "how'd i get here?"
None the less i got dropped after my adventure in the grass, i spent the last lap trying to chase down the pack who were soooo close, but really they were really far away, the bridge back never happened and i crossed the line 38th off the back, it happens, i raced hard and two days later i would be diagnosed with phenomena, so i guess finishing two races was an accomplishment enough.
It was a great day of racing, thanks to everyone who came out, especially all the spidermonkey fans inculding my Dad and Greg Witry (who sported a rakish derby).
Next race is Hillsboro, cant wait!
The pace remained high as bryan pulled some of his typical moves by hunting for the last prime of the day, a new sram chain. (he pipped chris jensen of half acre at the line) Chris and i seemed to spend a lot of time durning the two races of the day next to each other, chris said that was because liked the smell of the embrocation sean of burnham gave me earlier in the day, great product.
With a lap and a half to go i throw down an attack or what was suppose to be an attack, i got about ten meters off the front and ended up pulling the pack into the final turn, except the next thing i know i am in the grass and i hear bryan yell "what are you doing in the grass" i think "how'd i get here?"
None the less i got dropped after my adventure in the grass, i spent the last lap trying to chase down the pack who were soooo close, but really they were really far away, the bridge back never happened and i crossed the line 38th off the back, it happens, i raced hard and two days later i would be diagnosed with phenomena, so i guess finishing two races was an accomplishment enough.
It was a great day of racing, thanks to everyone who came out, especially all the spidermonkey fans inculding my Dad and Greg Witry (who sported a rakish derby).
Next race is Hillsboro, cant wait!
Burnham Super Crit Cat 4's - "the crash-fest"
What a way to start the usa cycling racing season! The race was great even though what seemed like half the field forgot how to race over the winter which turned into quite an issue on the last lap where crashes seemed to happen around every turn, but by the grace of god and a trip into the grass i crossed the line 18 spots behind my teammate Mike Shea who won the race and had the best post up of the day.
FUN FACT - Mike has been thinking about this race since January.
Okay here is what happened during the race from my view:
First couple laps, speed up with wind at our backs, slow into the wind, the pack struggles to get through the s-turns without taking each other out, speed up again with the wind, repeat.
I think the fourth lap; Guy crashes, it was going to happen again.
1 to go, move up to find some teammates and start to try and get the lead out train ready for shea
CRASH, Shea has to go into to the grass, i realize he might not be able to make it back for the sprint, i get out of the saddle to try ot connect to the back of bryan's wheel, who has dan in front of him.
Dan and Bryan and I are lined up on the for the sprint, CRASH - I dodge left into the grass, come back on the road look to the right and see shea sprinting to the front, he takes off, i power as hard as i can to the back of bryan's wheel, and we cross the line arms raised as shea celebrates his first 4's win
What a way to start the season!
Congrats to Mike "get off my lawn" Shea for the first spidermonkey win of the season!
FUN FACT - Mike has been thinking about this race since January.
Okay here is what happened during the race from my view:
First couple laps, speed up with wind at our backs, slow into the wind, the pack struggles to get through the s-turns without taking each other out, speed up again with the wind, repeat.
I think the fourth lap; Guy crashes, it was going to happen again.
1 to go, move up to find some teammates and start to try and get the lead out train ready for shea
CRASH, Shea has to go into to the grass, i realize he might not be able to make it back for the sprint, i get out of the saddle to try ot connect to the back of bryan's wheel, who has dan in front of him.
Dan and Bryan and I are lined up on the for the sprint, CRASH - I dodge left into the grass, come back on the road look to the right and see shea sprinting to the front, he takes off, i power as hard as i can to the back of bryan's wheel, and we cross the line arms raised as shea celebrates his first 4's win
Congrats to Mike "get off my lawn" Shea for the first spidermonkey win of the season!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
And the Victory Goes to Mike Shea!!!! (Burnham Super Crit Cat 4's)
A BIG thanks to Geoff Scott for taking great video!
Photo by Little V
Friday, March 26, 2010
Making breakfast for tomorrow's super crit
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Thursday, March 25, 2010
JENS!!!!!!!
Photo: © Roberto Bettini
How do you not love this guy???
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Time to boycott PTI
See what Tony Kornhieser thinks of cyclists.... Last time I watch his show, he should stick to sexually harassing his co-workers (ie hannah storm)
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/what-a-complete-f-ing-idiot-armstrong-25415
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/what-a-complete-f-ing-idiot-armstrong-25415
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Training @ Night (insider soldier field)
Monday, March 15, 2010
"Did you just call me fat?" Kenosha Velosport 3-14-10 Cat 4's and Cat 3's
(picture credits: Liz Wolfson Kimezich)
After a day of green beer and jayhawk basketball (rock chalk, who is the number 1 overal seed again? oh yeah we are) Sunday started off a little hazy, but after a cup of coffee and some girl talk on the speakers I knew I was ready to go race my bike. Three spidermonkeys made the trip to kenosha to take part in the 31st annual Kenosha Velosport training crit. Andrew Zens and Bryan Witry took part in the 4's and the 3's (you got to love ABR) and Ben Levitt took part in the 3's (thanks to ben for the video of the 4's). The course was a flat .7 mile loop around an industrial park (with a sweet smoke stack to boot).
The 4's race started with racers attacking off the front to test their legs (including bryan on lap 2 and me on lap 3), all attacks had the same result, they died on the back stretch as they went straight into the 20mph wind. The race progressed and for the next 20 mins the same routine repeated its self, speed up with the wind at our back and slow down when we hit the wind. With about 5 laps to go racers, including myself, started positioning themselves for the finish. it was about at that time this conversation took place:
One of the junior IS corp riders asked me: " is the wind was tough with those zipps?"
I replied "no"
he said "i am getting blow all over the course"
i replied, "i am not really having that problem"
he commented "well you have a little more weight than i do".
I replied "did you just call me fat" and then he rode away. That’s right a 14 year old told me I was a fat kid, wow!
With two laps to go I made sure to tuck in to the front of the pack. With a half lap to go I attacked into the fierce head from about 8 wheels back and yelled at bryan to grab a hold of my wheel and come for a ride. Little did I know this violent attack had split the group. As I peddled in anger the gap grew and then i finally exploded and pulled off as i yelled to bryan "attack" i hoped my efforts would pay off. Indeed they did as spidermonkey cycling notched its first top five of the season as Bryan crossed the line 4th. Teamwork was the key in this race and to accomplish a team move in March in a 4's race was a big accomplishment. Can't wait to do it all again next week, maybe we can even convince Dan to sober up and come race too…..
The Cat 3's started 10 mins after the 4's, i hung for 20 mins until the legs said 'no mas" it was a good plan to race twice but the attack in the 4's emptied the tank.
A big thanks to Kenosha velosport and ABR for a great day of racing.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Its that time again?
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Don't call it a comeback
Alright, after a couple crazy weeks of work I am ready to blog again. I am going to change the focus from training to reporting on my races. First race is this sunday in kenosha weather permitting.
Zens
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