Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Colorado Death Ride.....
The Colorado Death Ride, sponsored by the RMCC on July 4, 2010.....just the mere mention of this ride makes my knees quiver and my teeth chatter!!! 226 miles, over 15,000 vertical feet.....This event, the 2nd (and longest) stage of the Colorado Triple Crown stage race...brings back a myriad of bad memories.....During the 2009 edition of this event, I suffered more than any other race I did in 2009! The long climbs and high altitude definitely took their toll during this long ride...but the scenery was breath taking at times!!! Some of Colorado's most breathtaking landscapes are located in the San Juan Mountains...I'm hoping to suffer a bit less during this year's event than I did during the 2009 campaign!!!
http://sz0076.ev.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/2009DeathRideProfile.pdf?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=107220&part=3
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Race Recap: The Terrible Two...Somewhat "Terrible" Day on the Bike!
Last Saturday (6/19/10), I participated in the Santa Rosa Cycling Club's "Terrible Two," (http://srcc.memberlodge.com/TT), the third and final double century of the California Triple Crown stage race...Although the race was extremely well-supported and incredibly beautiful, the day was a disappointing one: I flatted 3 times in the first 40 miles (likely because of a faulty rear rim), which doomed any glimmer of hope I had of advancing onto stage race podium.....
I spent the rest of the day mostly riding alone through the hilly (and often incredible beautiful) mountains surrounding Santa Rosa, Occasionally, I would join forces with small bands of riders who were lagging behind, trying to "survive" the ride in the fastest time possible...but the rest of the day was mostly a solitary effort...I finished in 12:57, well off the pace of the lead riders.
Although the results of Saturday's TT were disappointing (to say the least!), the ride was very beautiful and several of climbs were incredibly steep! Temperatures were perfect (from a Colorado perspective), with temperatures ranging from the 60s along the coast to the low 80s along Skaggs Spring Road, which lies to the south of Lake Sonoma. (This 35-mile-long road often experiences temperatures greater than 100 degrees in the summer months, giving the Terrible Two its nasty reputation!) The weather for this year's edition of the Terrible Two was not nearly as "terrible" as it could have been and I was grateful for that!!!
My hat off to Marc Moons of Petaluma, CA, who captured the overall title for this year's California Triple Crown Stage Race. Marc is a super-strong climber and has a lot of invaluable experience in California's Double Century racing scene. He's a ferocious racer, but very gracious and humble off of the bike!!! Don't pick a fight with him on an uphill bike race, because he'll probably win!!!
Many thanks to the Santa Rosa Cycling Club! They put on a very classy, well-organized event...perhaps the best supported double century in the country! If any rider is considering trying an out-of-state double century, either as a race or just for the sake of trying one, this would be the ride to try! The ride support and post-ride banquet is superb! Just be wary...you only have 16.5 hours to complete the ride to earn an "I DID IT" T-shirt!!! And you better bring some climbing gears...many of the climbs are super-steep, with sustained grades between 10-18 percent, and some pitches steeper than that!).
I also want to thank Brian Meadows from the RMCC, my home-town club. Brian had driven out from Colorado a few days early to participate in the TT and was kind enough to pick me up at the Sacramento airport, saving me the hassle of getting a rental car! Brian is a TT veteran, and his insights into the course were very helpful!
Well...enough whining! Time to get back on the saddle and get back to work!!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Terrible Two.....How Terrible Is It???
This weekend's cycling adventure takes me to Santa Rosa, California for the Terrible Two (http://srcc.memberlodge.com/TT), the third and final race of the California Triple Crown Stage Race (http://www.caltriplecrown.com/). The race, which is 200 miles in length and has over 16,500 feet of vertical gain, notoriously earns its reputation from its steep climbs and punishing heat! Certain parts of the course have recorded temperatures well over 100 degrees during past editions of the race.....hence the name the "Terrible Two!"
I was a bit disappointed with my performance during the first two events of the California Triple Crown Stage Race, the Mulholland Double and the Devil Mountain Double. During the Mulholland Double (http://www.planetultra.com/), which featured over 18,500 feet of vertical gain over 206 miles, I was plagued by cramping for almost 120 miles. By the end of the race, my entire body was in a state of tetany! During the Devil Mountain Double (http://quackcyclists.com/), I was the unfortunate recipient of a flat tire about 55 miles into the event. As a result of the flat, I was forced to burn a lot of calories to chase down the lead pack of riders, which I caught by 85 miles into the race. After 120 miles, however, I started to experience a mid-race "bonk" and then experienced my most bizarre over-use inury to date...a left foot sesamoiditis, an injury that slowed me down for the remainder of the race. My foot problems have continued to plague me for the past 2 months and have definitely hindered my training!
So, I really don't know what to expect this weekend's race...I enter the event undertrained and with a slowly healing left foot. Probably more importantly, I'm ill-prepared for the intense heat I'll likely encounter during the race! So how terrible is the Terrible Two? I'll have to let you know!!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Well...if it works for Fabian...
Let's face it...doping has plaqued the world of professional cycling for decades! Tempted by lucrative paychecks and the desire to win at all costs, many pro cyclists have resorted to extraordinary means to place high on the podium. Recently falling under scrutiny is Swiss time trialist extraordinaire, Fabian Cancellara, who has been accused of "mechanical doping," racing with a bicycle that is powered by a small motor discretely hidden in the bottom bracket shell. This video attempts to explain how Cancellara could have won this year's Paris-Robaix and Tour of Flanders with a "motorized" bicycle. See for yourself!!!
Well...after watching this video, I've decided that if it works for Fabian, then maybe it could work for me! I've decided that my next custom Seven will have a small motor--just like the one Fabian used--implanted discretely in the bottom bracket shell to give me the extra power when I need it the most! I can just imagine the look on my friend's faces when I show up at a weekend 200 km brevet on my new "motorized" Randonneuring bicycle (fully equiped with a rack, panniers, and fenders, of course!) and promptly crush my opponents, who are trying to hang on to my wheel for dear life! I can just imagine them say to themselves, "how does he do that??? He rides just like Fabian Cancellara!!!." Well.....I'll tell them the secret to my success is the added comfort of my custom Seven.....a properly fit bicycle makes all the difference! The rest will be our little secret!!!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
bicycle ballerina
Ahhh.....bicycle handling skills.....something that anyone who rides a bicycle can benefit from!!! Check out this video that has been circulating the internet for the past several months. It clearly demonstrates the bicycle handling skills that every rider can only dream on having!!!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Bicycle D-Day (Dirt Day)...Boulder and Beyond!
Having lived in the Denver area for my entire life, I'm still amazed at the number of roads right here in my own backyard that I've never ridden before! There are many...and the more I ride, the more I discover!
Saturday's D-Day (Dirt Day!) ride was no exception. Riding my Seven Mudhoney cyclocross bike, I decided to tackle a loop that I had never attempted before! The route included Boulder's famed Magnolia Road, the Peak-to-Peak Highway, Rollins Pass Road, Coal Creek Canyon, Gross Reservoir, and Flagstaff Mountain! This is my last "longish" ride before the RMCC Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic Bicycle Race, 180 miles with 13,500 feet of elevation gain!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35998383
Rollins Pass Road...can you actually ride a cross bike up this thing? I chickened out after about 3 miles and 2 falls...could have benefitted from a hard-tail 29er with a front suspension and disk brakes......hmmm......I don't think I have one.........yet!!!
Descending the back side of Flagstaff Mountain...a welcome sight for sore eyes (and legs) after climbing up the north side of Gross Reservoir!
My Seven Mudhoney after a hard day of work (i.e., play!)...only 80 miles, but over 50 of it on unfamiliar dirt roads and over 9000 vertical feet!
She's Alive!!! My new Axiom SL!!!
Here's the specs: Shimano Dura Ace 7900 components, Seven 5E fork, Rol Race SL wheelset (custom built with DT Swiss 240s hubs and extra spokes), Chris King "Sotto Voce" headset, Thomson Masterpiece seatpost, Thomson X4 stem (11 cm), Deda Newton shallow handlebar, Specialized Phenom SL saddle.
More reviews to come on individual components later!