Saturday, September 26, 2009

XC & CX

picture stolen from roberts flickr.

Last weekend was the Reagan park TT. 120 or so riders came out. By the time i first hit the singletrack i thought it was going to be a bad race. I passed 2 or so on the old reagan side. I got stuck behind one rider as well for way too long. Asking to get by didnt really work, and when i was told to go by, this rider moves over and i almost biff. I won't mention who it was, but I heard after the race that I wasn't the only one who had to deal with that issue. Coming up out of the one trail I put the hammer down to pass 2 riders on the hill leading up to st.route 3. Right before the gravel path leading to the huffman trail, my tires slide out. The ground is soaked. Why?.... I don't know. But I get up and continue on my merry way to pass another 1 or 2 people, ended up 3rd in my group(sport 19-29). Won a michelin tire, and had plenty of monster energy drink.

This weekend was the Stark Velo Cyclocross race. Weather.com's radar showed no rain in the canton area, so I left my rain jacket at home. Bad idea. It poured, and it poured, and it poured some more. The B race was even cancelled due to a few thunder clashes and some lightning. Luckily, it had calmed before our race. Line up in the 2nd row, as I learned last week, I'm not 1st row material. That start was FAST! The course was fun, and was made of 99.4% grass. A few technical sections, which I think I did fairly well on. The 'pain' hill, I actually passed some people on this section as well. Ended up 16th, but I think I raced pretty decent. Hope to be up near the top soon.

Kind of bummed I have to work next weekend, and miss out on Kevin's cross race. On the bright side, that will give me a few more hours to pay off my bike.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

New road bike

2010 Specialized Tarmac Pro SL
Threw on my Bontrager Race X Lite wheels, ultegra pedals, and a Selle Italia SLR kit carbonio. This bike is insane.




Sunday, September 13, 2009

whiskey island

What a beautiful day! Heading east on the shoreway, i could see the sailboats a moving, and the kites a flying. Line up in the front, and start off pretty well. The fast guys made a group, and then it was strung out. I was in a pretty good position (within latching on to the group distance) for the first 2 laps or so. Then I slowly lost probably 4-5 places because I am wimpy. Then I get a flat. Dean from snakebite got me a wheel, but i had some issues getting the brake back on. I probably lost a 1/2 a lap there. FInished.

Reagan park TT next week, just for fun. should be horrible.

Friday, September 4, 2009

bikecation

I am going on a bikecation in pa for the holiday.

Saturday- mountain biking
Sunday- road race - tour de tamarack
Monday- mountain biking

should be fun.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

final westlake of 09



I arrive and get a different colored jersey and shorts thrown in my face. I decide to put them on and get comfortable. I was part of a 4 man break for a few laps with Brian Batke, Zak D, and Bob Martin. We were caught with 5 laps to go. With 3 laps to go another break formed. I bridged up to it. It dwindled down a bit on the last lap. I of course had the worst sprint of the 7 guys left. But, I'm happy with a 7th at that race.

Afterwards was food and drink and merryness. Fun times were had by all.

So now we have cross, and also soon to be Rays season. I just had my good old buddy Steve throw on this RockShox Argyle 409 mint colored fork on since the RST crap that came with it blew a sea,l and is impossible to contact the company.

I would like to do one last hoorah on the road bike at the long street tour if possible.

See ya'll round

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Mohicaning

I went down with Gary B, to meet up with Jim N, Ray H, Derek W, Dave S, and Dave's friend Mike. We broke up in a few groups. I rode with Derek for most of the ride. That is until mile 21 or so when I just endoed on the rock garden. I got up again and tried to haul ass to catch up. Bad idea, 30 seconds later my back end slips out. Now I am so out of the ryhtem, I am just crawling along.

The worst injury i have is my knee is swollen, cut, and brusied from nailing it on my stem. I also have some good dirt rash, and a rip in my nice giordana bibs. Hope the knee can move tomorrow- going for a nice ride with some co-workers

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Monday, August 17, 2009

not pro

I have decided my wheel set up for cross. I will be running clinchers. I know; not pro. But a very wallet friendly setup.

Pit wheels: Xero XSR-3
Pit tires: Bontrager CX jones 34mm
Pit cassette: something cheap or lightly used

Race wheels: Bontrager Race X lite
Race tires: Michelin Mud 2 w/ challenge latex cross tubes
Race cassette: 11-26 sram og-1070

see you at westlake, unless its pouring.