USGP Sun Prairie Saturday

Jim Merrifield

It was a bright and sunny morning! Wait! That can't be right! There is a cross race today. I had looked at the weather forecast and I was expecting cool and light rain - much more like cross season. But who was I to argue? Surely by the time my race started at 10:30, the weather would turn crappy. I had gone up to Sun Prairie the day before to help set up the team tent and ride the course. This course was designed for the big boys so I was a tad nervous, my handling skills being what they are - lousy. And sure enough there were a lot of interesting sections but not SO bad. Anyway, I got to the race a bit early, got myself set up, warmed up and when the course was open got out again and then went to the call-up area, just as the single speed guys were getting called up. Hmmmm - where were the old guys? Already called up, of course. So instead of being in the middle of the pack, I was at the back. But I figured if all went as it did last year, that I would be at the back soon enough anyway. And there were only about 30 folks on the line so it did not make much difference. Wrong! The entire first lap, I was contending with all the folks whose handling skills were worse than mine. What?!? Worse? Hmmm - maybe yesterday's practice helped. And stranger still, I was passing people!. Of course the single speedsters who started 30 seconds behind us started passing me pretty soon but I jumped on each and every one and tried to mirror their lines. Pretty soon I was settling in, powering thru the long flat sections and then trying to hit the lines and trying to chase people down. That did not last as long as I hoped - just a couple laps. Then it was on to something I did not do much at all last year - battling with people who were pretty much my speed and trying to either out-handle or out power. It was quickly apparent that my nemesis would be a big guy from the SRAM Factory Team - very strong but had a tendency to overcook corners and slow way down. I would take a better line thru the corner and let it run a little more on the following descent and open up a lead. Then he would blow my doors off on the long power section. I thought I had him when he went way too wide on a corner and a single speedster and I came thru fast. I followed him thru the corners and then traded pulls in the power sections and I was giving it what I had, hoping to discourage the chase. But he was the fitter and the single speedster was running outta gas. He blew my doors off starting the final lap and all the effort I could muster and the diving (for me, anyway) into the corners were not enough to bring him back. But what fun! Better than TTing thru the woods - which is what my races felt like last year. I finished 19th and if I had started where I should have...... yeah, that's the story! Must be the new bike! Sweet!

From there, it was on to marshaling duties and watching the races for the rest of the day. Greg looked good close to the front of the 45+ race despite a cold. And Eric - well Eric always looks good - he was just a bit further back in the same race. And in the AM, David looked good despite a broken butt. And I was thinking, MAN, I gotta race tomorrow but I had prior commitments. Later, I heard about the mud on Sunday.......

And lest you think I did not suffer, the attachment shows me trying to put one foot in front of the other on the "Strangler" run-up.

USGP Saturday Elite Women

the ladies
Saturday
when it was dry (-er)

http://www.vimeo.com/29682465

USGP Sunday Elite Women

short video of a muddy race

the ladies

http://www.velovivid.com/usgp_planetbikecup2011_day2/h1fe2469b#h31a5744f

USGP!

The Planet Bike Cup was a rockin' good time!
Check out this bad compilation video of shots I took on Saturday.
The muddy Sunday clips might be next?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN5dcBleuxI

Instruction: Bike Handling Skills

For anyone who needs some inspiration to improve their bike-handling skills check out this video of Danny McAskill kicking it in Europe

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Cj6ho1-G6tw&vq=medium

hooyer

Gim'me Five!

dblomme
Some of the fast "cool dudes" from Team Magnus dragged my sorry arse out of bed to ride at 6 am Saturday for some great cross practice. Travis's previous night's tasty, salty wounds were not going to slow him for the early morning ride. As the sun was rising, I also managed to wake a few sleeping scouts with my screeching brakes as they were camping in tents.
Thanks guys!

 

7:30 Fog

dblomme
Season's changing for sure. Nightly commute requires mandatory lights.

 

First cross race of the season, in the books

Jackson Park, Chicross

Made the long drive down to Chicago with Mere P and Mike M to do the 40+ and 30+ races. Field sizes were HUGE. Seventy guys (and one gal!) in the 40+ and 100 guys in the 30+. Crazy. Plus they had not one but two Cat 4 fields of 100 each. Huge fields all around.

Having been in China for 2 months this summer I am heading into cross season in a "building" phase; as in building endurance from next to nothing. So was pretty pleased with a 5th in my first 45 min race and 16th in my second, immediately following the first; especially given the huge fields and starting about 4 rows (of 10) back in each race.
I am older and slower, but my bike is faster!
One minor altercation near the end of the first race and one dramatic crash near the beginning of the second race (that apparently no one I know saw) and after I check out my Cronus CX today I think I will say "no worse for the wear!"

USGP Planet Bike Cup in Sun Prairie this coming weekend.
It's going to be HUGE!

A new training goal

The last several weeks I've enjoyed my "down time".  I've rode when I want, how I want, where I want.  The rigors of "training" have relaxed and I've taken to more wandering rides and mountain bike excursions.  I've had the chance to puase and reflect on my season since then and slowly I've come to appreciate the ride it was.

 

I wound up winning the points race for the WCA CAT 3 division; something I had set my goal this season.  My other goal, to finish more consistently, didn't turn out as I had planned....racing rarely does.  I decided to put my statement on the rest of the CAT 3 field in the final NEW Wheeling Weekend to solidify and justify my holding of the first place position.  Matt Kamphuis was there in the 3's for both days to assist me in my efforts.  Day 1 in Manitowoc saw a basic 4 cornor course with only a slight hill but some pretty stiff winds.  The other breaks earlier in the day had all been reeled in.  Noticing the smaller field, Matt and I decided to keep our noses clean and out of the wind.  There was a surge roughly 20 mins in that normally would have been barely noticble but with the wind a break soon formed.  Matt found himself following a wheel who decided to stop pedaling just at the wrong time and joined a small group dangling as close as 30 meters but unable (or sometimes willing) to reconnect.  I found myself unknowingly in the "winning break" of 8 or so guys. 

 

I was feeling good, so good, in fact, that I talked a lot and gave several fake attacks just to see who was willing to cover and how people were feeling.  I was sure of one thing, I felt good.  Keeping near the front but out of the wind for the most part I slowly developed my plan- I would attack and attack hard...it would be late and I would win...I just didn't know how yet.  Crossing the line for the start of the bell lap, all 8 riders were calm.  The the attacks had stopped and we had just crawled around the past 2 or 3 laps.  Just then, ahead of me, I noticed one of the faster guys talking with another rider....to my left another couple riders engaged in a discussion....yet another reaching for a bottle.....I didn't even think....I stood and shifted.  I had rounded turn 1 and was full into the worst of the wind before I looked under my arm for a hint what I had done....I saw nothing; heard nothing.  Fearing of being caught I never looked only pedaled and stayed low.  I thought "this is nuts!" and thought of other times I'd done similar stunts and it failed in the final meters.  I kept it on hard and I could feel the cramps that might end my shenanigans tinge in my legs.  Rounding the final corner I finally was able to look back from where I just came from.....I saw no-one...the field hadn't even entered the back stretch; I'd succeeded.  I sat up, did the jersey zip, had time to hear the congrats and raise both hands.  It's the feeling I'd grown to love and not experienced enough of this year: winning.  Any win is a success but this one was special, I'd done it and done it big.  The long car ride home was filled with calls to family and friends to share my news.  Home to rest, tomorrow's race would come quick.

 

The next day I was a little stiff, and little tired, but a whole lot of confident.  I wasn't done and felt I had the legs to go again.  I've learned my biggest strength is being in the right place at the right time.  I would know it but lap 2 turned out to be the time on Sunday.  A push from 2 other guys had me jumping and latching on.  That jump would have us 3 working together holding back a charging field.  Lap after lap I talked the younger and more nervous co-break riders through the course: head down! ease up! nail it. steady.  We were getting fed the wrong times from spectators and my fear of getting caught never left....we didn't get caught and in fact, we caught the field....something I'd never done. 

 

They say hind-sight is 20-20....for me, it is a year of wondering "what if".  I worried to much about the other 2 guys in my break and gave the race away to them.  I attacked just as we hit the back of the peloton.  Yelling over to Matt, who was near the front of it, he chased up to me and pulled long enough for me to catch my breath.  We slowed a bit and I hit it again hard.  "I've got this" literally thought..."I'm going to double win"  Crossing for the bell lap I still held.....but didn't know I had been chased that whole time and was caught soon after turn 2.  I feel some 10 spots before merging in.  There ahead of me was the worst site, 1 of my fellow break-away-ers some 5 spots above.  Try as I might my sprint pulled me closer  but not enough.  I'd just got second but couldn't enjoy it; I knew better than that....I am better than that!  This would take a while for me to digest.

 

The days wore by and slowly I forgot of the mistake I made and looked back at what I'd done.  I'd just won the WCA and that was my goal for the season.  It didn't happen at all how I envisioned it but rarely do things worth having work out how we wanted them to.  I am fortunate to have the ability, the time, the resources, the bike, the family, and the team to help me realize this achievement.    It is something I'll always have and look back on.

 

I've been mountain biking and racing lately.  Last weekend I did my first WORS Comp race in 5 years and only my second race on a single speed.  I WON my catagory and placed high overall.  There was no pressure and I had fun doing it.  Next weekend I take on my first Chequwamie....on a single speed.....again for the fun of it.  I've decided that is my training goal for the season: Fun.  cross, mtb, or hike the dogs!

 

Cross season already?!?

Jim Merrifield

It seems like just a couple weeks ago that the last race of the road season took place - the Centurion. Since then, I have been doing the bike commute thing, getting in some good base miles, rebuilding my endurance and enjoying getting out in the cool AM. And not feeling like I have to have a certain heart rate or power output. Kinda relaxing! But it has been very clear that the summer is rapidly fading and fall is here. When I first started the morning bike commutes right after the Centurion, I put on the rear blinkies for safety but in truth, I was easily visible. No headlights - I could easily see the road even if the sun had not quite peaked over the horizon. On the ride this AM, however, the sun did not come up till I was ¾ of the way to work and I needed the front headlights to make sure I did not run into a pothole, to say nothing of being visible to cars (and I counted this AM - I got passed by 15 cars in the first 30 miles of the commute - the last 4 - 7 miles are when I get on the busy roads so I never bother with counting cars then). And pretty soon, I am going to need the lights on the way home also. Last weekend, I closed up the pool, harvested apples and should have picked the grapes! Even surer signs that summer is over.

And I decided it was high time I took some vacation time! With work being busy and racing most every weekend, I did not feel like I wanted or needed to take some time off. Normally, Jan (my beloved) and I go backpacking in the late summer/early fall. This year, however, she had burned thru all her vacation time in connection with canoe racing (doing the Ausable Canoe Marathon amongst other things) and so I was casting about for things to do. I wanted to have fun but not TOO much fun (for marital harmony). I thought about bike tours (the busman's holiday), Outward Bound courses, all sorts of things but decided to do a solo backpack thru the Wind River range in Wyoming. THEN I found out about the cross clinic and preseason race the MadCross taking place on the day I was planning on returning so had to rearrange things just a little. It was a solid day and a half of driving. I left after work on Wednesday and after a good dinner in Lander, drove up to the trailhead to spend the night. The trailhead was at about 10,000 ft and wanted to get acclimated as fast as possible. It was a beautiful night and I could hear the elk calling in the distance. The next day the fun began. I like to hike and ended up hiking 6 - 7 hours a day. And in the spirit of poor planning, I "planned" on 6 meals, not the number of calories I might need. So ended up doing the same distance on 5 days and not 6 and just barely had enough food. I had hoped to catch some trout but hopes do not feed the hungry! It was a great trip - good weather 4 or the 5 days and since I was not chatting while walking, I saw a lot more animals than usual. Got back in town Friday afternoon, fried from the road and glad I did not have to drive anymore when I got a call from Eric - "I got your new cross bike!" Honey, wanna drive up to Madison? I'll take you out to dinner. Eric had to put rocks in the bike box to keep it from floating away. And I was SERIOUSLY tempted to put it together that night and race it the next day but I have made THAT mistake before. Still I could not resist building up the bike. How light! How pretty! I have ridden just a little but it is a HUGE step up for me! Pics attached (I have the road wheels on so I can shake the fit out during my commute).

So it was the old Vitus cross bike that went to the cross clinic and race. Trek-mate Greg F was one of the instructors and it was excellent - course, I need all the help can get! Got some good tips and a chance to work the kinks out. And so it was time to race. I was hoping to do OK - the course was not as technical as it usually is but still had its fair share of pain spots including the sand pit. David B shot right to the front. I did not have the gas or the confidence so settled into my usual place towards the back - and then started to pass people. This does not happen with me! I race in the 55+(cats 1/2/3) and I am the only slow guy who insists on continuing to race. There were people behind me for once! I was doing my best to stick on people when BOOM! My front wheel washed out. Now normally, when I go down, there is no concern - no one is behind me! This time however, I had to scramble to get outta the way. DAMN! I was thinking the course felt a little bumpier, not thinking that the temperature had gone up a bit since I pre-road the course. Shoulda let a smidge of air out of my tires! Or maybe I hit a slick spot that others missed. I did not think I hit it too hot! So got up, twisted the brake levers back to where they should have been and got going. The folks who I was trying to stay with were way up the trail but I quickly caught a group of men and women who shot by while I was down. Followed them for a while getting my act back together. A few rode away. A few, I rode away from. And remembered just how mush-like my legs could feel after a week of backpacking - was that just a couple days ago? I was pleased that my remounts were better - I was passing people thru the sand pit by getting moving faster than they. On the run-up over the barriers, I still felt like an old man, though. Will those ever get easier? Will I ever get younger? Finished towards the back but with quite a few behind me and just a minor red spot on my hip where I slid. And so it begins. And cannot wait to get on the new Cronus CX for some serious riding!

See You There!

 

Cronus CX

At least 10 of us on the team will be rolling this rig.
Great review here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/cyclo-cross/product/review-trek-cronus-cx-45230
Thanks Bike Radar!!

Iceland

I had the pleasure of visiting Iceland last week and discovered that bicycling is alive and well in the northern latitudes. However, a sign outside of a bike cooperative made me wonder if there is a lack of "limited zones to fix your bike that are free from discrimination, sexist, racial or other ideas based on domination in any form" in Iceland. I also had the pleasure to ride a Trek 3700 with a rusty chain. I can ensure everyone that it's no match for my Madone 5.5.

hooyer

CX is ON!

Wednesday practices are in full swing, the air is getting cooler, and the season approaches...

Helped out my friends at Madcross this past weekend with a CX clinic, followed by a practice race. It was an excellent format for learning, and I hope the students got a lot out of it.

Picked up my sweet new Cronus CX last week and raced it for the first time Saturday. Luckily the bike is light and strong, as my early season fitness is rather "China like". Faded near the end of one race, where I used to fade at the end of the second race...

Wednesday practices, 5:30. Good, hard times. AND educational.

This Sunday? Go to Jackson Park in Chicago, or not? That is the question...

Then it's USGP week!