New Fit
So I went see Eric over at Austinbikes for a bike fit this week. Great experience, as usual everybody there is friendly and knowledgeable. I ended up much further forward than I had been (which I expected was going to occur). The fit finished up yesterday, and I decided what better way to try out than to go race a crit? Somewhat kidding.
Regardless, the crit went pretty well, I spent some time up near the front and that was exciting. So much better going through turns when you don’t have to slow down and worry about people going all crazypants on you. After chatting with Drew a bit after our strength workout on Wednesday (that I’m still sore from, thanks, Drew ;) ) I was looking for a few new things in an effort to try and move up and stay up. While I did get pushed back at some point, and then had to chase back on, I stayed in it and did move up a little towards the end. I had a bad side stitch, though, and that was making the stay put and rest vs. moving up battle a little bit harder. However, in the end I avoided the crash and finished up 18th.
At least I’m being consistent. I don’t plan on racing next week right before our trip as a safety precaution and because I’m sure we’ll be busy. But I have two more crits after I get back and I intend to go all out. After I get back I believe my training is going into official “base season.” The first race is at the end of January, so now is the time to start getting down good long, steady miles in preparation for the intensity that will start to come around the new year.
Also, I might try and do cyclocross. There is that entire issue of needing a bike, however. This is still being investigated.
I am going to hit ATC tomorrow with one of my teammates. Hopefully Jacob and I can hang in longer than I did last time (2nd climb on Southwest Parkway, eesh). It is really a ride of attrition. I hope to get a good spin of the Dam Loop in after the inevitable drop, so it should be a solid 3 hours of quality riding.
I also need to start looking for jobs when I get back from the trip. I am trying not to think about it too much… job hunting is just one giant ball of stress. However, I am hoping when I get back the weather will have really turned a corner and it will really feel like Fall.
The highs are going to be in the 40s in Norway. Yeah, that will be a shock.
Time for New Cleats
You know it is time to get new cleats when you unclip twice in a 30 minute race. Yikes.
The first time my right foot hit my front wheel. The second time there was no wheel contact. Unfortunately, both times I dropped back significantly and had to chase back on. That seemed like one of the fastest 4/5 races of the year last night. I unfortunately did not make it back into the top 20, though I feel like I worked harder for longer in that race than any one yet.
I need to get better at moving up. I’m not sure what I’m missing at this point. Last night, even though I felt the effort in my stomach, I could tell that my legs had plenty in them. So I think I could have moved up, but I just never seemed to get a “good” opportunity. Whatever that actually means… I am starting to believe there is never really a good opportunity, you just have to make one.
I would occasionally move up some, and then next thing I know I had slipped back. There is just something that I’m not thinking of or looking for or something. I don’t know. If I get anything out of the remaining few Driveway crits this year, I hope that I figure out how to move up to the front and defend that position.
But it was a good night, all-in-all. It was nice to actually ride out there and ride back, getting a little extra mileage is always good.
Hopefully I can get a short spin with the aero-bars on this afternoon to keep the legs loose and make sure the bar position isn’t terrible. Packet pickup closes at 6 (weak) so I don’t have too much time to work with.
Happy Friday, everybody!
Saturday recap
The day started out well. Woke up, had some tea and breakfast, got ready, watched a little bit of the vuelta. We packed up the truck and started to head out to the race. But as I was driving out of our parking lot I realized I ran over something. Turns out it was my front wheel. Whoops. I had taken it off and leaned it against the truck, and forgot to put it in the truck. It now had no axle as I had managed to shear off one side of said axle.
Luckily, I had my old shimano front wheel upstairs, and it even had an unused tire and tube on it. So I threw that in the truck, and Carrie and I headed out.
Got warmed up, and the race started. I unfortunately lined up in the back, but I was able to quickly move up to around the middle. We started at the bottom of the corkscrew, and I kid you not, somebody crashed going up the corkscrew less than 30 seconds into the race. In fact, there were so many crashes in this race, it was hard to count. I had to pull a cyclocross move and go offroad for a bit because a crash pushed everybody to both sides of the course. It was sort of nutty.
But I survived with a pack finish. In all honesty, the race wasn’t that hard. I probably should have used more energy to get myself up closer to the front in the last few laps. I was a little hesitant to be up near the very front because I wasn’t sure how I’d handle the two over 90 degree turns at a faster speed. I usually went through that part of the course near the back, so I could see where I needed to be, and we were going much more slowly.
Oh well, the next two days are much more classic crit courses. Flat with 90 degree turns. Should be fast races as there won’t be any course features slowing things down like today. So with my less than stellar time trial, and today’s pack finish I have yet to accomplish either of my two goals. However, there are two races left and I am confident I have the legs to reach my goals. And hopefully I won’t run over any more bike components! ;)
Time for sleep!
Getting Ready
This weekend (tomorrow, in fact) starts the Tour De Austin. One time trial and three criteriums. I am very excited, as I sort of circled this on the calendar a long time ago. I was very excited when Drew told me that he wanted this to be my big target for the summer. I’ve had a few training interruptions along the way, but I am feeling pretty good. I did my last ride early this morning… now all that’s left is to wait.
Have I ever mentioned that I’m not the world’s most patient person? ;)
I am not expecting to do too great at the time trial. I mean, I’m going to go out and give it my all, but I know there are some cat 4s out there with some bigger engines than me, and with probably nicer setups than me. It’s short, so the time differences aren’t going to be huge. The crits I think I have a better shot at. I had my best result of the year last week at the Driveway, so I think my legs are where they need to be.
I have two goals for the weekend. I would like to crack the top 10 in the one of the crits and I’d like to get myself some omnium points. I’m feeling confident, and I think I can get it done.
I have been drinking a lot of tea lately. Since I basically cut out coffee during the heart thing, I have been trying different types of tea to drink during the day. Some with caffeine, some without. While I was at Costco the other day I noticed they had nice little stainless electric pitchers on sale, so I got myself one. I love this thing. I can boil water at my desk and I don’t have to wait on the microwave down the hall anymore.
Well, that is it. I’ll post my race reports as the weekend goes on.
Lucky
Last night at the driveway it was a small group for the cat 4/5 race. With all the rain we had received that afternoon, I wasn’t surprised by this. It wasn’t raining at the track, however, so I was expecting a good race.
After the first lap my brain was convinced that the track (even though there was standing water) was as grippy as ever. With the small group things stayed pretty calm. I just hung out at the back (not necessarily intentionally) and kept up with the pace with no problem. I felt really good. Even though I had to get out of the saddle every so often to keep attached after a turn or something, my heart rate was staying down in a very manageable level.
The lap cards came out, and I figured this was going to be a good finish. I saw the 3 to go card, and decided I would take the next 3 laps to try to move up and get towards the front. We go through the finish, go into the turn, and I see it plain as day in front of me. A guy dives into the corner, and then he loses his grip. He goes down, starts sliding. The guy next to him goes down, starts sliding. I’m headed right towards both of them. I hit my brakes… my rear wheel locks up. I release the brakes, catch my grip, and accept the fact that I am about to t-bone one of the guy’s hamstring. I get my feet out of the pedals, and I put my heels down, and slam right into the guys leg, bounce around, but I stay up.
I consider myself lucky. I have no idea how I didn’t end up on the ground. I go to click back in and realize that I have of course dropped my chain. My race is done.
All I got from the incident was a few cuts from my chain ring on my calf, so I definitely feel lucky. Lessons learned:
- STOP RIDING IN THE BACK, DUMMY!!
- repeat #1
- the pavement at the driveway is super sticky even when wet
- I am getting more confident in turning
- I still need to get better and more confident in turning
- I need to learn to not give up positioning to more aggressive riders so much
All in all, it was good to get out and race.
On the bathroom front, both bathrooms are now fixed and functional. We are currently letting the caulk and grout cure, but tomorrow we should be back in business. Taking a shower in my own bathroom, how novel.
Finally, on the photography front, I did complete JiBW2. While I have not posted the pictures to flickr yet, I did take them. I believe I did miss two days of the month. It definitely seemed harder this year. But it was interesting nonetheless.
Happy weekend!
Transition Day
In the grand tours they often have, “transition days.” These are the days in between mountain stages. For example, there are usually a few relatively flat days as the peloton travels from the Alps to the Pyrenees during the Tour de France.
Tonight, after the Driveway (more on that later), we are heading home to Baton Rouge for the weekend. We have a wedding on Saturday night, and it gives us some nice time with family. But all day I just feel like I’m heading toward the trip home. There is nothing hard about it, but I know at the end of the day we’re getting in the car and driving for seven hours. It’s just a weird feeling.
JiBW2 is getting off to a slow start. This week has just felt somewhat condensed. I’ll have good opportunity for pictures this weekend with the baby ducks, the wedding, and being in a different place.
The theory tonight is that Carrie is picking me up at the race and we’re heading out. That is, if I do the race. I really want to do it. It’s the course configuration where I first completed a race, so I do feel this configuration is good for me. I’m just nervous about having to leave the house and then get picked up to head straight out. Plus, I sort of have to travel home stinky. Though, if it keeps raining I’m not going to go out there. We’ll see.
Anyway, I’ll close with saying that I finally got our cruise pictures posted. Here’s a small sample. Enjoy!
