Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Iceman Cometh 2016

Iceman is always one of those races that can be absolutely terrible or the best day ever. It is November in Northern Michigan after all. Anything is possible. I went in with podium dreams based on what I knew from last years race but I was in for a big surprise. The weather this year had been beautiful so the course was as dry as it had ever been and as fast as it had ever been. This would not play into my favor. I would much prefer the weather to be terrible and the course to be hard. I ended up finishing in 1:50:45 which was 12 minutes faster than my previous attempt but the winner was 1:33! Crazy fast for a fatbike. You can see the ride here; https://www.strava.com/activities/767023703

Looking forward to some more cyclocross with the Battle Of Waterloo this weekend and the ultimate goal of state champs!




Rich Weis and his Old Man Winter mask







Monday, October 17, 2016

2016 Cyclocross

Here is my little recap of 2016 so far and whats to come. It is hard to believe we are 6 weeks into cyclocross season already! It has been fun but also been a challenge. I sacrificed my early season at some of the biggest races that the US has seen to gain some experience working in the pits for none other than Katie Compton. It was very rewarding, very challenging, and also very tiring. Who knew that taking 12000 steps on race day makes things not go well! The results are starting to improve and in the end what really matters, winning a state title, is yet to come. This weekend is the Sun Prairie Cup and Celtic Cross races which are two of my favorites. See you out there!

-Josh McKinney
                              
Catching Katies bike at Jingle Cross
The logs run up at Trek CXC Cup


Giving Katies bike a wash at Jingle Cross

Playing in the mud Friday night at Jingle Cross

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Green Mt Stage Race Recap



Now a month removed from the Green Mt Stage Race, our minds and bodies have recovered enough (not from the racing so much, but all the great Vermont beer drinking!) to post a brief race recap!

Mike and Eric were making their 4th appearance in a row at the stage race, and Heavy G (Greg) was "convinced" to join us.  And by convinced, it means we were all together at a party, Mike and Eric got Greg a bit drunk, and next thing you know we have a laptop out (not what you expected to hear - and who doesn't have a laptop at a party!) and he is registering on-line for the race. He claimed the next day he had no idea what happened!  We also were lucky to have our 1-person cheering squad, Diane, along for the fun. 

The race consists of an uphill 10k time trial, a circuit race, a road race (with a ski mountain finish with gradients up to 20%!), and a downtown Burlington, 6-corner crit. We were putting all our money on Mike given he had been tearing up the WCA road scene! 

With 51 guys starting, Mike was well placed after the time trial, sitting in 7th, with the top couple places going to a former Canadian masters time trial champ and a former pro hockey player turned bike racer). Next up, the circuit race, which was a relatively rolling course with one KoM each lap. On the first lap we went for the KoM with Eric leading Mike out, and he just missed out on taking the max points as someone came around him at the line. Shortly after the KoM, the attacks started coming fast and furious, and unfortunately we missed the move that stuck, with a group of 7 getting away, and then a field sprint finish for the rest of us. Heading into the road race, Greg was worried about a time cut given his VT-beer diet did not help get him down to his climbing weight (but he made it "no problem")!  The course has two major climbs, one about half way in and the other at the finish. For some reason, both Mike and Eric struggled on the first climb and were dropped by the leading group. They did manage to work with a few others to chase and get back to the group not far from the start of the final climb. And then the fun starts as the climb is about 10k of mostly climbing, again with a finish at 20%! Mike had a good finish and took 8th on the day, while Eric and Greg were glad when it was over! (And Diane, just for fun, ran up the back side of the climb to watch the finish!)  On the final day, the crit ended with a field sprint, and Mike held on to a top ten overall finish, taking 8th place on GC after 4 tough stages.

So how does one spend recovery time during a stage race you might ask, take some advice from some experienced racers: (1) by laying together in bed watching the Vuelta (it was tough to keep Greg from wearing his PJs!); and (2) by making award-winning documentaries (see https://youtu.be/8LEuYlQzD5A). Oh, and did we mention drinking VT beer (I think we spent more time picking up local beer than racing!).

A final word of advice, do not let Mike and Eric invite you to a party the weekend before the stage race (unless you want to find out you are now registered!). 


Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Friday, August 5, 2016

Wisconsin State Championships coming to the Madison area!

Next weekend, August 13-14, the Wisconsin State Championships - time trial, road race, and criterium - are going to be held in the Madison area. And four local area teams are promoting the races, Trek Midwest, Brazen Dropouts, Great Dane Velo Club, and MadCity Velo.

The championship weekend starts off Saturday morning with the time trial in Cottage Grove, followed by the road race Saturday afternoon in the Middleton area. And the culminating event of the weekend is the spectator-friendly criterium on Sunday on the streets of downtown Middleton.

All three events will be fun to watch, but be sure to come out for the crit on Sunday as 300+ riders contend for the various state championship jerseys! The start / finish is right in front of the Capitol Brewery in downtown Middleton.

See http://wicycling.org/2016-road-calendar/ for the specific race schedules and locations.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Downer Ave

One of my favorite races of the season is the crit on Downer Ave. in Milwaukee – part of the Tour of America’s Dairyland. I’ve watched it with family and friends for years hoping to one day to race it. The racing is fast throughout the day and the crowd scene is always fun and energized.

Thanks for all the cheers from friends and thanks Sarah, for being the annual host. It’s always good to hang and catch up.

Good job to the other Trek Midwest racers and congrats Tim on earning your upgrade points!

Thanks also to Trek and Colectivo Coffee for being official sponsors of TOAD.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Hillinois Omnium race report

TMT was well represented at the Hillinois Omnium weekend of racing  - the Masters 50+ crew of John "Life Coach" Riley, Greg "Undertaker" Ferguson, Mike "PD" Meteyer, Eric "El Cap" Knuth, and Jim "Beer Meister" Merrifield, and the women's team of Diane Schlipper, Amanda Mack, Heidi Ploeg, and Lisa Harms - enjoyed a great weekend of racing. The three stages included an 8 mile time trial Saturday morning followed by a hilly (and brutally hot) circuit race in the afternoon, and concluded on Sunday with a very hilly road race.

After the time trial, Mike and Greg were well positioned in the standings, 4th and 5th respectively, with GDVC rider Dean Lazenby taking 1st (he recently finished 6th at Nationals in the time trial!).

The circuit course suited our team racing style of attacking as it had a 9% finishing hill which we would pass 7 times during the race. We decided to wait until the 4th lap to 'start" the race as we wanted to see if others were ready to play. Needless to say we rode the first 3 laps as a group (no one came out to play!), and then the 4th time up the finishing hill Mike went hard, opening up a gap over the top with just Eric and 2 others (including the first and second place finishers from the time trial) able to follow. We monkey'd around a bit allowing two others to bridge up, and then the 6 of us were off. As seems to often be the case in a lot of masters races, 3 of the 6 in the group did not want to work, despite our cajoling them to do so. We opened up a big gap with John, Greg, and Jim blocking, and started plotting for the last lap. With a little less than half a lap to go, Dean (GDVC) attacked, Mike and Eric hesitated responding waiting to see if the others would chase him down, and with no response Mike set off after him. Given Dean's time trial prowess, the gap was now too big to close, and Mike was brought back to the break away group. Eric attacked twice in the last stretch forcing the others to chase (with the intent to soften up the guy currently in 2nd place overall), with the last attack leading to the finishing hill. Mike and Dave Stone (Scarlet Fire) went mano-y-mano in the sprint with Mike just missing out on second (see pic - he also had to get around a lapped rider from another field!). Eric took 5th (of course beaten by all the guys but one who did not contribute to the break!), and Greg, John, and Jim finished with the field.



After the circuit race, Mike was in 3rd place for the overall, and Eric was in 5th. The goal for the road race was to get Mike into second (first was out of reach at this point), so as the team mathematician, Eric went to work developing several algorithms as well as booking time on the Cray super computer to determine how the race had to play out to make it happen. Simple enough, all calculations led to the same conclusion: Mike had to win! The road course consisted of three 18-mile laps, with each lap including 4 challenging climbs (3-5 minute climbs). On the second climb, Dean (GDVC) went really hard, with Eric on his wheel, and Mike letting a gap open to see if Dave Stone (Scarlet Fire) could follow. When Dave could not respond, Mike bridged up and a 3-man break was underway. We  went hard the rest of the first lap trying to establish a big gap, and got it up to a minute after the first lap, over 2 minutes after the second, and as it turned out, 8 minutes by the end. Fast forward to the final climb of the last lap, Dean drives the pace dropping Eric at the final pitch of the climb, but Mike is right on his wheel. The motorcycle official reminds Eric to get up there and help his teammate, but the official is unwilling to let him draft behind his motorcycle! On to the finishing straight, Mike launches his attack at the final corner and sprints to victory and to second in the omnium!!






It was a great weekend of team racing, and we were also so lucky to have the support from our beautiful podium girls.





Although the official podium pictures seemed to take forever as we waited for the final results, we did have a good time waiting on the podium!



Thursday, June 9, 2016

Great practice crit last night

It was beautiful weather for last night’s practice crit. We’ll be on again next Wednesday as your last good training before TOAD hits!

Monday, June 6, 2016

Somewhere between nowhere and nothing

I would show you a screen shot from my Garmin map during my sweet ride this weekend, but thought this image had more detail to share...

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Road Racing

I've purposely decided to race less and family/kids more this year.  It's worked out great as I've ridden more on the weekends than I would driving to a Crit and racing for an hour.  Nevertheless, fitness was on my mind going into the LAPT race which I had flagged as "peak" on my training schedule.  

I was happy to see that Mike, Eric, and Jon joined me and Sanjay in the M123 as we could all use the support.  A flurry of attacks during the opening lap went little to nowhere as the stiff wind and fast pace prevented anything much from materializing.  Somewhere around lap 2, a small break of 3 guys went off the front.  I was "doing my part" with the others at the front to maintain the leash on the would be escapees.  Suddenly a black freight train of TMT blew past me and everyone and took up the pace making.  Reeling the break back 100m or so, I was launched off the front and quickly made contact with the break.  Unfortunately, we were soon joined by the rest of the peloton who, I think, read our tactics.  Nevertheless, I'd never felt so "pro" in a race; we worked that move flawlessly.  I later would miss the winning move which gapped to wide for TMT to attempt another round of what we'd done so successfully before.  Judging those around me for the rest of the race, I knew I was in prime shape as I was never taxed into my red zone.  A small bobble in the sprint, but happy to be upright and in at 8th overall.

Coming in the Palmyra Road Race, I was hungry.  I'd had a bad taste in my mouth since last year where a break never materialized and I was overcome with cramps in the sprint.  My home roads, I new every bump on this course and when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.  Happy again that Mike and Eric would join Sanjay and I for the M123.  Opening climb fairly mild as each rider was feeling out the competition.  Having started near the front, this is where I stayed where I could smartly mark any real threats.  Similar to the previous weekend, breaks went but never materialized in the stiff wind.  Coming around the climb the 2nd lap, things were getting a little more serious with attacks coming and going.  I was able to stay up front though wasn't sure where my TMT mates were; I wasn't about to look!  With some smack talk starting, I stayed focused on 3 people I deemed as threats.  When they went; so did I.  Coming into the back stretch of lap 2, the biggest threat went just as a couple of the other favorites had finished a strong move.  We he jumped I followed!  We quickly built a lead of 50m the 100m.  We both were gauging our progress as well as calculating how far we had left - nearly 28 miles!  He asked, "good teammates?"  Yes! I replied, and smart.  True enough, TMT was in full blocking mode slowing the progress and foiling rhythm.    My Polish mate and I worked seamlessly together for the next 28 miles though he was definitely doing the bull's share of the work and a 2-3mph faster pace than I.  

With the pace-moped announcing we had a 1:40 gap with 1/2 lap to go, we each knew we were safe.  Playing small amount of opossum ( I didn't have to act that much...I was toast), I tried to force my breakaway mate around me in the final km...he was too smart for that.  He came around me inside of 100m though skipped a gear and allowed me to pull near.  Given another 30m I may have gotten my tire across first.  2nd on the day next to that guy was winning in my book.

Thanks so much to Eric, Mike, Sanjay and Jon for helping me these last 2 weeks.  I fortunate enough to ride for a great team with great people.  Thanks continuously to my wife and family for putting up with the hours being away riding and racing.  

See you all at New Glaurus and State Roads

Monday, May 9, 2016

LaCrosse Omnium race report

Hey 50+ Guys -
Thanks for all your pain and suffering in punching the 1st and 2nd overall 50+ LaCrosse Omnium podium tickets - Meteyer winning and El Capitan (Eric Knuth) second place.   Having a 7 man team showing up was impressive and surely had our competition wondering how they were going to cover all of us.

Meteyer, ElCap, and Gordy got off to a great start with taking 1st, 2nd, and 5th place in the 2 mile uphill TT. 

That gave TMT lots of options in the road race on Saturday.  Gordy and Barney got the race up to speed just after the start.  We wanted to make the race hard from the start.  Barney took on a flat early into the race. That really sucked since he drove all the way there that morning for a 8:30am start.   He’d been riding strong so we hated to see him out of it.  Gordy pressed on with attacks and after the first time up the climb managed to solo away.   We sure would have liked to have seen at least one other guy go with him with the amount of head and cross wind he had to deal with alone. 

He got up to 30 sec lead before a group of 4 started working to chase him back.  ElCap and Meteyer managed to disrupt their pace line at times but they were intent on getting him back and managed to do so about a mile prior to the second time up the climb.   ElCap took up the pace on the climb.  Half way up, Meteyer lifted the pace to the top.   TMT managed to create a break of 6.   Gordy’s earlier effort caused 4 strong guys to burn some matches. None of those guys made the break. It took a while for the break to get organized but we managed to get up to a minute by the start of the 3rd lap.   A couple of the guys were skipping pulls frequently and looked to be hanging on.  So TMT put in a long hard attack up the final rise prior to the first corner.  And to our surprise it  didn’t drop anyone.  No more free rides after that.  Everyone was made to take their pulls.   

Last time up the climb, ElCap started up at a hard tempo,  again followed up by Meteyer taking over and lifting the pace over the top.   We managed to shed one of our break-mates.  The others showed some signs of cracking and we tried a couple of attacks but they managed to respond.  At a mile from the finish Meteyer attacked and one guy managed to hang on and they went to the finish line.  Meteyer was out - kicked me for the win.  It was probably the right move since one of the guys that he left behind with ElCap was in 3rd place in the Omnium.  But nonetheless he was disappointed that he didn’t manage to take the win.   ElCap out sprinted the other two guys for 3rd .

At the start of the Crit, Meteyer was leading the Omnium and ElCap was in second 4 points behind.  There were only 3 guys that could overtake  TMT for the overall and when we rolled up to the start line only one of those guys showed up.   Gordy, ElCap and Meteyer traded off attacking repeatedly but never managed to get a break established.   At 4 laps to go,  a guy managed to get away and made it stick for the win  and the rest came to a field sprint.  Meteyer took 8th in the crit  which was good enough for him to hold onto first in the Omnium with ElCap in second.  


It was a great team effort resulting in TMT’s  1,2 podium punch.  


Mike

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Tom Hooyer

Our teammate Tom Hooyer passed away yesterday after battling ALS for the past few years.
Thanks for the rides, Tom. You’ve been a great teammate and friend, we’re going to miss you.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Honeymooner

Teammates Diane and Mike got married Sat April 23rd.   The Fast and Furious Crit was Sun April 24.

During our TMT Masters 50 + pre-race strategy ( there are 8 of us ! ) and beer night,  Life Coach John Riley (Dr J) and El Capitan Eric figured it was highly unlikely that I’d be able to show up to race the day after the wedding.  They each put up 10$ that I would not be there.    During Saturday evening and when the Sunday plans became the topic of conversation, the option of me racing came up.  After an initial look of death from Diane, followed by some discussion, her only requirement was I had to be hung over. No problem meeting that requirement and Dr J and El Capitan are paying up.
  


The WCA Masters 50 + races have already had some serious good talent and racing happening.    TMT is in a great position with up to 8 guys in the 50+ towing the starting line.  We have been aggressive and managed to be in every break and have had come away with some decent results.  At the end of 5 races, we have one win, a second, and a couple of 4ths.   El Capitan is leading the overall series,  the Honeymooner is in 4th , and Ferguson in 5th.



TMT 50+ are far from hitting our potential but are starting to get our strategy and tactics worked out – and actually putting some of them into play which makes racing a whole lot of serious fun.   Look out this weekend and LAX !


Mike

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Trek Midwest Grinds Gravel At Dairy Roubaix

(L-R)Glen Jones, Kari Myrland, Amanda Mack, April Beard, Josh McKinney


The Trek Midwest team made the short journey to Prarie du Chien for a beautiful Saturday of riding gravel. The temperature was predicted to almost hit 80 degrees and it did. The team was well represented and fun was had by all through the rolling hills of the ride and hanging out in the parking lot to share stories afterwards.

Amanda Mack laying down the pain. (L-R) April Beard, Diane Schlipper, Amanda Mack

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

New ride!


Damn! Be fine! I picked up my new 2016 Madone yesterday so HAD to ride it home despite a headwind and legs not especially perky. In 2012, I got a 6 series Madone and raced and rode it a couple years. Since I no longer have that older Madone, I cannot do a direct comparison but after one ride, I thought I would share some impressions. The old Madone had much more in common with my Domane than the 2016 Madone.

This is a VERY sophisticated bike. It has a lively feel without being harsh. Very nimble. Responsive to what you put in whether at the pedals or steering. And it feels fast. Hard to say after one ride but in the crosswinds, I was surprised with my speed on a day when I was not trying too hard (still recovering from the last bout of intervals). And did the headwinds feel easier? Headwinds never feel easy but I did get home faster than I expected. Or perhaps it was just the thrill of having a new badass ride!

Jim

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Our first 2016 podium!

Meteyer starts the season with a second place Podium.  So what if it was for a pie contest on Pi Day 3/14.  Winning breeds winning, did Yogi Berra say that?  It was a Meyer’s lemon tart with a pine nut crust.  Hope everyone is putting some good miles into their legs and getting ready to take a few more podiums.  I’m looking forward to hitting the new WCA 50+ category with a bunch of my teammates.

Eric, Greg, and I are talking about hitting some of the Fly-over series including La Crosse and Galena for sure.   Mark your calendars. And if anyone is looking at any of the others let us know.   Eric and I are also planning a return to Vermont over labor day weekend for the GMSR.  Sounds like there is some great racing on the calendar for August!   

So get out there and ride!  So you can eat more Pie!

Thanks for reading,
Mike



Sunday, February 28, 2016

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Shout Out

Our friends at JBL are helping us make this year’s events even better.

You’ll be hearing more from us soon!

Thanks, JBL.