Fiesta Time

It seems that in San Antonio instead of Eater there is just a big Fiesta! LOL ok maybe not completely but it is Fiesta time there and this year they brought back what I was informed used to be a big time Texas race … the Fiesta Grande. So D’go was planning to go with me to this but found out his grandmother was coming in town for Easter so rightfully so he bail to spend time with his grandma. This left me with a last minute attempt to get a travel companion. My attempts to get people to travel with me to these far away races have never worked. In vain I sent my e-mail out and lo and behold I get a response from Daniel Wisner. It seemed that he and his fiancé were planning on going to this race but they were sick the week before and she had to reschedule a med school exam to the Monday after the race. We got organized and decided to leave around 5:30 the Friday before Easter.

We arrived in San Antonio early in the afternoon and we went to Daniel’s hotel room. Daniel wasn’t able to cancel the room because he used some online website to book it. The plan was that he was going to chill in the Hotel room and I was going to still stay with my friend that recently left NOLA and lives just outside of San Antonio. Since we were there about 3 hours early Daniel checked in and I took the opportunity to grab some sleep before the evenings TT.

TT….

We got there early to register and check out the course. I’m not great at TT’s but wanted to get some good numbers off of the SRM. After registering I had enough time to take my time getting ready, restroom, dressed, and a little pre-ride of the course. It’s a good thing I did the last of these three things. The course was 2 laps of a five mile circuit and had a headwind sections followed by a wicked fast tailwind then 3-4 technical turns. The course was on the military base in San Antonio and it was kinda cool because some of the military families stepped outside of their houses and would cheer as you came by. The TT was being timed by the officials and by the chips that were attached to our left ankles. This was a first for me. LAMBRA has talked about chips but it’s pretty expensive and as far as I know the best way to attach the chips are on the fork of the bike. Who knows it was cool regardless and the results were pretty timely (which almost never happens at local races). This weekend was being conducted as an omnium and it showed in the results. Only the TT studs showed up for the TT. I ended up being 24th of 25. I was passed by 2 riders – the rider that passed me before the first turn got third place on the day. My numbers for the SRM were a personal best and the best of the season so far.
Additionally I was pretty happy with my pacing. This is probably hung over from my days MTBikning. My second lap was only 10 seconds slower than the first … in all a good effort.

After the TT I dropped Daniel off and was on my way to meet Mer and her parents for dinner. After a shower that evening I tried to watch a movie with Mer but lasted about 15 minutes before I turned in; the morning would come early.

Crit…

My crit wasn’t until the afternoon so I usually try to sleep as long as possible. Unfortunately Daniels Crit was in the morning so I ate and with Mer with me we went to pick up Daniel and go to the Crit. His Crit was a CAT3/4 race and he was only a CAT 4. I told him it would be a victory to finish in the group with these guys. He got his victory riding in with the main pack.

P/1/2 Crits are always fast but usually are scripted. Attack, Attack, Attack, Break Goes, Tempo, Tempo, Break Comes Back, Attack, Attack, Tempo, Sprint. These guys must have lost there scripts at home. It was so windy and I swear the first 20 minutes were the easiest of the race. From Minute 20 on it was single file line. I got popped at 55 min in the 70 min crit – they were still single file.

That evening we went to the Gristmill to eat. The last time I was there was at Matt Thomas’s wedding back in 2005 before Katrina. It was great food! Daniel and I both had the baby back ribs – they were AWESOME!!! I’ve wanted more ribs ever since.

RR…
Well we get there and find out that the start’s been postponed. Then my race got shortened. We roll out and almost immediately the field screws up (this happens more times then you might think. Road Racers aren’t real good about knowing courses and most of the time just likes to follow the little motorcycles. Well they didn’t follow the little motorcycle and unfortunately about 20 riders made an unnecessary turn. The field was polite and waited for everyone to regroup, and then they started attacking. The wind was the main factor again. We were single file line more often than not and I ended up being behind some idiot that sat up on a climb. Off the back I went never to see the race again.

I did get back to the Start/Finish in time to see Daniel finish and for the second day in a row he got his victory and finished safely in the group. He seemed a little don that he didn’t finish better but I don’t think he realizes how well he actually did.

On the way back we stopped at Buckee’s the most amazing gas station in the world!!! and then continued on back to NOLA. We made great time and were in at a reasonable time! It was a good weekend of fast training! Next weekend MS Grand Prix.

Tour de ……….

Well Saturday’s Crit was Tour de Crazy and Sunday was Tour de Freezing but together they were the Tour de Tuscaloosa.

Saturday:

Get picked up by Chase and Ali at 7:35 (they were 10 min late)

4.5 hour drive to Tuscaloosa

Get kitted up and spin around with Ali and Chase (Chase was warming up for his 2pm race)

Chase races and does a great job! He comes in 7^th in a hard Crit!

We decide to get a hotel instead of crashing with Eric. (A Big thanks for the offer! Next Time Buddy. Thanks!)

Chase gets cleaned up after the race while Ali and I nap before ours.

Ali goes to the race and finishes with the pack (it’s the first time he’s finished with the pack in a 4’s Crit)

Chase comes back and picks me up from the hotel and shuttles me to the race

Warm up for the Night Time Crit.

Line Up

The peleton gets harassed by the officials for number placement, lineing up without wanting to take a lap and we wait while they “try” to light the course with car lights.

We start by racing down the hill going 40+ with no lights!

I decide the Hill with no Lights is “Stupid Dangerous” and pull out at the end of lap 2.

Watch the finish

Go to Hooter’s Get the BIG DADDY Beer!

Chat with our waitress Becca, hoola hoop with a couple girls on the way out!

Back at the Hotel we crash – it’ll be an early morning

Sunday

Wake Up 6:45, Shower, Eat Pack!

7:40 leave for race, 8:10 arrive at race – 8:30 start its 45 degrees out!

Wait on starting line shivering.

Race starts and …..

ATTACK from the gun (this is more of a function of trying to get warm than actually getting away!

Draft Draft Draft

Attack, get caught, attack on next hill, never get a good gap, down the wicked fast hill full speed with turn at bottom, ATTACK, caught, attack, sitting out in front being strung along = sit up and back in the group, Counter attack, they get 30 seconds, I attack to bridge up!, get to feed zone hill and no power, a group of 4-5 bridge up to me and I can’t hang on, peloton comes by, no cigar, off the back and race over.

Then I take pictures (see below)

Finally ride home 5 hours (a lot of Po Po were out)

NEW GOAL

GOAL: Finish in the pack of a P/1/2 race with more than 50 riders with an avg power less than 200w and a NP of less than 220 - 230.

Chrismas in March!!!

We should get this stuff in our hands next week! Thanks to Bill Marshall, Jeph Blanchard, and Hector Mendoza. Most importantly a big thanks to our clothing sponsor for 2009 VERGE!!!

THANKS & MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Moto

I think motor pacing is just as much an exercise in teamwork and patience as it is cycling fitness training. Last night I did the lakefront circuit behind the moto. It’s always mixed feelings when doing this but I definitely felt better than I remember it being last year. After the first 15 min I was thinking “this is a little too hard” as I was pushing up the bridge. Looking down I realized I had a flat front tire L. I put in another tube and then continued to pinch the tube flattening it too! I hadn’t done this in years (got a pinch flat while changing tires / tubes). I rode to the Triathlete area and didn’t recognize anyone. They sure do have a lot of new triathletes; I’m hoping we can convert some to road racers after the Ironman is over. I used to be able to pull up in the triathlete group and know at least half of them. Anyway, I saw Julie Ardoin climbing out of the lake in her wet suit. I asked if she had an extra tube in her car and she was nice enough to help, giving me a 650 tube that she had in her car! The tube stretched after some working at it and fit and I was off to the motor again. (I know Julie from back in the day when I used to do adventure racing. She stayed with the adventure racing and I kept progressing with more aggressive racing and fields – first MTB racing and now Road Racing. Julie’s a stud and has done Primal Quest, Florida Coast to Coast and even a race in Southern Africa.) I finished up the motor pacing and headed home to download and e-mail the data. Today I get off while I prep for the race this weekend. Back on the bike tomorrow.

RR’s cont. cont. ……

So the week immediately before the first “real” race of the season I was busy trying to get all the ducks in a row. Get food ready, train, sleep, eat, work, then there is the bike stuff which is a week in itself. New cassette, chain, clean bikes, new bottom bracket, install SRM on TT bike, switch pedals, tune up bikes, swap out wheels, check tires, etc….

I left on Friday after lunch and drove to Houston through some not too nice traffic / construction in between Lake Charles and Beaumont. Once in Houston I met up with Chris, Justin, Matt, and Becca. We all went to eat pizza and because Chris knew the waitress we ended up getting some free beer (always a good thing). We kept telling Chris he should take her out on a date – she was a cute girl and definitely looked like she could be fun to hang out with. Back at Chris’ house I crashed and with a wake up time of 5:30 am there was no time to waste.

Saturday and Sunday went by in a blur!

Saturday
Wake up
Drive to Race
Packet Pick-up
Team meeting
Road Race (65 miles)
Drive to Hotel
Eat / Sleep
Drive to Race
Warm up
Time Trial (6 miles)
Drive to Hotel
Eat /Sleep

Sunday
Eat
Drive to Race
Race (95 miles)
Drive back to NOLA (eat while driving :-)

Saturday and Sunday Highlights!
Saturday was the first time that I finished with the pack, in a regional road race. My numbers were pretty high too: 257 NP, 200w avg., finish time 2:48. I still need to improve in the TT. I did a 16:20 and that was one of the slower times. I did hit the marks on my power goals for the TT so I was happy about that. Sunday I got dropped in the road race at mile 80 of 95. I think it was more of bad positioning than not having the strength. I also got to hang with some teammates. Here are some points of interest!

TEAMMATES
Kolt’s a verified stud and riding super well!
Scott thinks he’s Lance and as such twitter’s nearly every time you look at him.
Adrian has big feet (Thank Scott for pointing that out)
Bill if he’s ever on a good day will tear the legs off of everyone (he rode all weekend with Diarrhea!)

Until next time….

RR’s cont.

After the Rouge Roubaix (RR) road race (rr) I was scheduled for an off day which by Wednesday progressed into some unscheduled rest and relaxation (R&R) to try and get better. At first I thought I had some bad food and had food poisoning. 36 hours later liquid was still coming out where it shouldn’t and medicine was quickly taken. The medicine helped and I was able to sit on my bike longer than 45 min again. But now I was only about a week away from the first team race weekend that I would be going to this year. I was prescribed some intervals over the weekend and in the rain on both Saturday and Sunday (I’m going to count that as rr too!) I went out and nailed it. I felt better about going into the race but still a little apprehensive; after all the races in Texas are always pretty hardcore! We would also have a maxed out field of 100 and included a handful of Pro’s. To be continued …….