Stage racin'--lows to highs...

Today I post in red to express my emotion of the last week. I ended my last post with rising spirits due to my recent confidence that I have potential to due well in the road racing circuit. Over the last week, I have had a difficult time recovering from the taxing road events of last weekend. I felt like the last month of fighting sickness and inconsistent riding has taken its toll on my racing abilities. I even felt more of the wrath as I started Stage 1 of this weekends endeavour of the Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race. This is a big deal to me, since 1) I've never been much of a roadie and 2) I am riding solo w/o teammates. Riding solo isn't such a big deal in most races, but it's tough lining up against larger teams that have earpieces so they can talk to team managers and other members of their squad. Oh well, I guess I don't have that luxury as a mtn biker trying to keep fit racing some road events.

Anyways, back to the TT that started on Friday night. I felt like someone put lead soles on my shoes and pumped concrete in my legs as I warmed up. Luckily I had the Flyte set up well with TT bars and a little forward tilting seatpost so I had some advantage over just the plain road bike runners. I guess that is as far as the luck would go as I missed my start by 1 minute, so when I actually rolled onto the course I had to battle the fact that no matter what my time was going to be 1 minute more than what I actually put in. My Polar showed me harnessing a 17:11 time where the officials sheet shows 18:11, which set me at 41st place after the 1st stage and 2:44 seconds off the yellow jersey holder, Cesar Grajales of Navigators; the guy who beat Lance up Brasstown Bald a couple years ago in the Tour De GA. Yeah, you read correctly...that's what I have to line up against.

Stage 2 today brought out the lactic feast of a 75 min criterium in Brentwood. I felt better and the concrete must have ran its course thru the night b/c my legs felt light and nimble. Sweeeeet! The race unfortunately started at 1pm in the hottest part of the day, but it had to be done. Oddly enough the race seemed a bit easy as my HR settled into a steady tempo and I didn't have to work to hard to stay in the front 1/3 of the group. I made sure to do this b/c at one point when I slipped back; I was almost tangled in a crash in a straight-a-way. Odd I know, seems like people could handle their bikes going straight and have a little more difficulty in the corners. I knew I felt good as I even had thoughts of proposing to old Lindsey Wilson teammate Todd Shoberg to attack in the tougher part of the course where there were several consecutive corners, since he is an ex-Pro Sobe mtn biker that can handle his bike. Yeah I'm giving you props Shoberg! Anyways never had the right moment, b/c as I tried to move up in the final few laps I got edged into the orange cones blocking off a construction entrance. It was amazing how quick riders got away from me when I nailed 2 in a row. I didn't care...it allowed me to basically coast into the top 15 riders with only 3 laps to go. The next thing I know; I'm on the front leading a group of 50 riders single file. I slowly let off the throttle knowing I don't need to blow up in the last laps. Then Bianchi/Hincappie Pro, Geri Mewett, comes around and I decide to fall in behind as we get the bell lap for 2-to-go. Now the pace increases as we chase one guy that is chasing the lead group of 3 riders. As Geri pulled off with 5 corners to go on the last lap, I was forced to make a decision; trust in my new confidence that I can ride my bike as well as anyone in the group or fall back b/c I don't want to chance blowing up and barely finishing. I chose option 1 as I threw down a few extra watts torqueing the bars side-to-side. I realed-in our lonely 4th place chaser and as I glanced over my shoulder...I had a 5 bike length gap. There I upped the throttle some more up the final rise into the last two corners. More, more, more is all I could think as I rounded the last right turn into the uphill finishing straight. One more look over my shoulder revealed about 10 bike lengths as I clicked a few gears and sprinted across the line. I had won the field sprint and finished 4th overall. Pumped was the emotion to say the least. I had just shocked some people, fellow racers, and myself included. Too bad the promoters are only paying 3 deep, b/c I am out of the general classification for overall time so money would have been the only bonus for me at this point.

Well, besides being a little sunburnt.... I feel great and I'm ready to get hammered in the 55 mile circuit race tomorrow. Goal--stay with the front group so I don't lose any more time, b/c it already appears like a stink according to my overall placing. Off to stretch out the legs and make some pasta for fuel.
Lates for now,
Daniel

A double threat kinda guy.....

The past weekend brought many high points! The first was a fellow WKY rider bringing some much needed mtn bike parts for me so I can get the new off-road steed up-and-runnin. I am sure all the roadies loved me peeling mtn bike tires off disc wheels 20 mins before starting the pro 1/2 race at the White House road race. Oh well, that is the way I roll.

Any ways as the field gathered at the start/finish line; I realized I was going to have my hands full for the day, especially after the last mth of inconsistent training and hindering TN allergies. I noticed the fellow Nashville based Jittery Joe's Jeff Hopkins and Trent Wilson were in attendance, not to mention Eddy Hilger and Kent Bostick. Definitely had to work to finish the 78 mile race. Luckily I was active enough in the 1st lap chasing and making hard pulls that my legs were ready to keep the pace when those boys finally got off the front to stay in the break. I ended up in a chase group of 6 strong riders that kept me pushing to the line. I ended the day feeling satisfied with a 12 place finish. Not bad as I consider myself more of a mtn bike threat than a road threat.

I guess I backed it up again with a 7 place finish in the Coliseum Crit the following day. I have never been forced to race 75 mins at crit spd before but it turned out great. I was again feeling spunky, making people work, and bringing back breaks to help some old teammates out that ended up lapping us. I wish I would have been in the right spot, b/c I know I was strong enough to be in that group that lapped us, but I have to be patient as my road skills are honed and I get a little smarter with tactics. Anyways my finish could only have been 1 place better since we were lapped by the 5 riders that made the break, so I am yet again content.

Now I'm excited as I try to take an easy week as I prep for the 4 day Edgar Soto Stage race this weekend. See you on the road and now the mtn bike is back in action, hopefully the trails too.

Over and out,
D-money

Frustrations, lead legs, and skinny tire racing in Nashville....

I am goin on over a month now of not having a mtn bike to ride. It is really getting to me at this point b/c I was in a good routine of riding weekly and racing. Now I haven't raced since I have had the new bike. Well good new is that Marta and X-lites are on the way this weekend to get the bike rolling.

Bad news is that I just came off of a 3 hr training ride that usually is not sooooo hard and I got dropped on one of the climbs today. I am not happy at this point but I just need to realize that I rode a little over 3 hrs with Trav yesterday and I lifted last night. I have to say that it is not a good idea to break up two 3 hr rides with deadlifts. Oooooohhh butt cheeks sore!

I am getting excited about this weekend. I get to race a local road race and crit. Too bad I have dead legs at this point. Maybe a little rest b/n now and then will get me on form. The crit is in the coliseum parking lot; so hopefully lots of spectators. Check out the photo from last years training series there.

Well definitely going on midnight and need that r-n-r that I mentioned earlier.
See you road racing this weekend!

Finger Lakes training oasis....

My trip over the past 5 days to NY wouldn't usually fit into the cycling posts, but I found a way to relate it. I didn't even take a bike along, lucky for Heather and her family, b/c with the great roads and parks; I would have been MIA for hours each day. Oh well still got to experience a part of the country that I know very little about and have seen less. The last time I went to NY was to collegiate mtb nationals in Plattekill, or otherwise known as "Splattekill," my freshman year of college at Linkey Winkey. Yes that is what some called the prestigious private Lindsey Wilson College....can you imagine that?

Luckily Heather saved me from going crazy by being an outgoing and active person as well. She did a good job of taking me to some unknown hidden falls that required some hiking and wading, as well as the more renowned Niagra falls and Watkins Glen gorge and falls. All were great, but definitely liked the trail less treaded and having to search for the "not so touristy" local spots that we hiked to the 1st day. I loved Keuka lake and the terrain that surrounds it; so I can see attending Kevin's wedding there in August as a chance to take a few extra days and do a fall training camp. I can also see Heather having a bike by then and being able to join me as well. That will be great b/c then I won't have conflicting interests of quality time and riding. That one is tough!

If I can figure out how to download a picture (that's very iffy) then maybe you will get some good pics. Maybe wait until I'm out in Denver b/c Heather can help me since she is a blogging machine. That will be a good time for my blog to get more interesting with pictures from the wonderful Colorado. Hopefully for all you West KY peeps, the "soon to come" images will entice you come visit me.

Over and out so I can figure out these pics from last weekend.
Daniel

For Love of CYCLING

Dripping and dropping,

Weird title I know, but has some meaning. I have been slacking with setting and sticking to personal goal which just doesn't cut it in this sport. I know I wouldn't be here if I haven't proven such a determined mindset thusfar, so why slack now.

During my intern with Endurance Training Network I learned some good things about training, nutrition, and recovery. Now I'm back to putting them in use. Ole Rick Crawford would be proud to see me back to doing the Drip diet. Sounds weird, but where else can I take in thousands more calories than I usually do, recover better, get leaner, put on muscle where I need it, and lose some weight. I realized I must do this to be competitive when I show up in CO next month. The leaner I am, the easier it is to haul my hiney up the mtn. I have already lost a couple lbs and feel leaner than I have in mths. This is a good sign b/c sitting in an office daily just gets me sluggish.

Another recent bit of info is from Athens and Atlanta last weekend. Something I did not realize until half-way home was the reason the crits were so hard, was b/c I had never done a NRC Cat 2 crit. Hmmmm, makes sense! But now I look back and realize I did very well finishing in the top 1/3 of a pack of 100 after being very active attacking and chasing the entire race. Not to mention I hadn't touched my bike days prior to the weekend due to being sick.

Oh well not good finishes but good for me mentally b/c I know where I felt strong and where I need to improve. So this week has been just amped at getting back on the bike and doing some strength training b/c I have been getting a little fatigued in the upper body during the mtn bike races. All is coming together as I get focused for the NMBS in Sugar Mtn next mth. I think the Bump and Grind will lead me into the national stage race very well. I know I will be mentally ready after I take next weekend to travel and relax in NY with Heather. I am officially counting down the days now...that is 6 to go. Yah sappy I know but can't wait.

Well it is officially 6:30 and I am having some french press coffee and an english muffin with soysage and egg whites and kinda pressed to go do some health consulting at the office so I'm off.

Hope to see some tomorrow at the Lighthouse Charity Ride sporting our new WnW uniforms as I try to squeeze in a ride before my sis's wedding.

Later,
Daniel