There has been a lot of team email traffic lately discussing tactics and strategies for the various races. Such discussions remind me how much fun it is to race as a team and to have teammates who are willing to work as a team (versus only for individual glory), and when a team works well together, it can really influence the outcome of a race. The team aspect of bike racing is often an aspect of racing that is unseen by the non-racer, the moment-to-moment actions and reactions, the "chess" like planning of moves, ...
Our team results so far this year (both individual and the team as a whole) have been excellent, and they are due in large part to the selfless collection of racers who comprise the team. So not only do we have the sharpest looking kits and bikes in the peleton, but we have the racing results to go along with looking so "pro!"
Looking forward to rest of the season!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
WOW race report
t. hooyer
Volunteer
1st things I did this season was volunteer for the Vo2 max study that was posted on the WCA website. I thought it might be cool to breathe through a hose---well it's not. The chap that administered the test was Tyler Stein who is writing a thesis titled: DIFFERENCES IN MAXIMAL EXERCISE DURING RUNNING AND CYCLING AS A FUNCTION OF MODE OF EXERCISE FOR TRAINING AND COMPETITION which really just rolls off your tongue, right? He's looking to earn his doctorate in physiology so that he can get a cool hat that comes with the doctorate. Currently he's helping coach the UW Whitewater cycling team, but would like to branch out. So if you need a coach drop Tyler an email at Steintd30@gmail.com maybe you can help proof read his thesis.
I also built my new team Madone and have been trying to make it to races where my schedule permits. Also trying to keep my three boys in line Charlie(9), Rex(7), & Tommy(5). Recently they've all been subjected to watching the Tour of California. So much that Tommy suggested that I get a Cannondale because of all the commercials. That's when I sat all three of them down and told them how a little red barn in Waterloo in the year of 1976 changed and shaped cycling forever.......and that's why we ride TREKS!
j.cassady
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Numb
That is the word that best describes my knee after I've iced it using the Game Ready ice therapy machine some friends have so generously lent me to use. I'm very grateful because it's been a huge benefit to my recovery especially in the first couple weeks with post surgical swelling and stiffness.
It's also the word comes to mind with sitting on the trainer as part of my recovery. Though I'm so glad I can turn the pedals since it's a great sign of my progress, it's so BORING. I mean come on, it's almost JUNE and here I am on the trainer when I'd much rather be on my Madone out in the sun. *sigh*
Shelley Smith
It's also the word comes to mind with sitting on the trainer as part of my recovery. Though I'm so glad I can turn the pedals since it's a great sign of my progress, it's so BORING. I mean come on, it's almost JUNE and here I am on the trainer when I'd much rather be on my Madone out in the sun. *sigh*
Shelley Smith
Hill repeats out the front door
Jim Merrifield
A most unusual occurance - neither I nor my beloved were racing over Memorial Day weekend. Jan was planning on doing the General Clinton Canoe Regatta in Bainbridge, NY - seventy (yes, 70) miles from Cooperstown to Bainbridge. For better or for worse, she and her partner decided not to do it. Maybe for better - it was a low water year and she would have likely had a finishing time around 9 hours - a long time to be paddling. My racing options were few and so I suggested "road trip" - go visit some friends in Rochester, NY whom we had not had much chance to see in a while. Rochester is a very nice city near the south shore of Lake Ontario - lots to do, great food, nice riding. It is in the gently rolling section of the state. Not to be confused with the hilly southern tier or eastenr border near Massachusetts or Vermont. I brought my bike with the idea it would be a good place to do a little practicing fot the Lake Geneva RR coming up on June 2nd. My friends live near the top of one of the little ridges in the Rochester burbs. From the base of the street, a little bit away from the Erie Canal to about their front door was about a 3 minute climb in my 34 x 23. In Wisconsin, this would have been called an escarpment or the like and would have had a NAME and would have been a major feature of the Terribly Tumultuos Century or some such. In Rochester, it was just the back way to Wegman's. But it was not windy the whole time we were there!
A most unusual occurance - neither I nor my beloved were racing over Memorial Day weekend. Jan was planning on doing the General Clinton Canoe Regatta in Bainbridge, NY - seventy (yes, 70) miles from Cooperstown to Bainbridge. For better or for worse, she and her partner decided not to do it. Maybe for better - it was a low water year and she would have likely had a finishing time around 9 hours - a long time to be paddling. My racing options were few and so I suggested "road trip" - go visit some friends in Rochester, NY whom we had not had much chance to see in a while. Rochester is a very nice city near the south shore of Lake Ontario - lots to do, great food, nice riding. It is in the gently rolling section of the state. Not to be confused with the hilly southern tier or eastenr border near Massachusetts or Vermont. I brought my bike with the idea it would be a good place to do a little practicing fot the Lake Geneva RR coming up on June 2nd. My friends live near the top of one of the little ridges in the Rochester burbs. From the base of the street, a little bit away from the Erie Canal to about their front door was about a 3 minute climb in my 34 x 23. In Wisconsin, this would have been called an escarpment or the like and would have had a NAME and would have been a major feature of the Terribly Tumultuos Century or some such. In Rochester, it was just the back way to Wegman's. But it was not windy the whole time we were there!
Racing Something New
I am going to try a new racing venue this weekend: the Senior Games in Mankato MN. The Senior Games are the qualifying event for the Senior Nationals held every other year. In 2013 the Nationals will be in Cleveland, OH. There are 4 cycling events: 5k and 10k time trail and the 20k and 40k road race. I am racing the 10 time trial and 40 k road race. This is one of the few masters events for women.
Arrietta Clauss, Ph.D.Asst. Editor, Journal of Chemical EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth." Mark Twain
Italy + Novecolli
dblomme
Just got back from Italy and riding in the Novecolli Gran Fondo last week Jessica and Hans. Over 12,000 racers participating. Had fun, met a lot of really nice people and gathered some great insights to take back home. Road cycling and its culture of racing was thick in the air – it’s awesome!
Was able to catch the Ferrari museum as well. The museum itself was a beautiful as the cars.
The first few minutes of this video link are fun to check out
http://www.swissretreat.com/cycling-sportives/nove-colli-gran-fondo
Official event site:
http://www.novecolli.it/?Lang=en
New Glarus for ... ice coffee?
Studner took us on the Fat Cat Coffee Works tour
hot!
hot day for a nice ride.
hot!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Stay within the lines
I had a great result in the Leland Grand Prix road race last weekend, 2nd in Cat 3's. The course was suited for me well, a long hilly road race with an uphill finish. Knowing the Cat 3's, I figured there wasn't going to be a breakaway in the race: no one wants to work with each other, especially on a 90 degree day in May.
My plan - stay in the main pack, don't work too hard, be near the front at the final climb, and let the final climb sort out the field. It's a good plan, knowing I always do well in the hills.
With 300 meters to go, a rider mid-pack created a small gap, accelerated HARD, crossed the virtual yellow center line all the way to the other side, and sprinted to the finish in 1st place. Now... at the pre race briefing of EVERY road race, don't the USAC officials talk about the yellow line rule? They did at this race too, and specifically mentioned this rule applies to the finishing stretch of this race (being an uphill finish, you can't see very far ahead).
Immediately after the race, 6+ riders stopped at the finished line, appealed to the judges, and the rider was relegated to 3rd place (everyone else got dropped pretty hard in the final meters). Therefore my 3rd place on the road became 2nd.
Had it not been for that rider, and I was able to stay with my plan as stated above, a win could have been in the cards for me. I was sitting about 3rd in the pack when that rider jumped. Naturally, I chased after him and another rider grabbed my wheel. That rider was able to come around me at the line. Had I been able to sit 3rd wheel until the last 50 meters when I still had a little left to give...
Anyways, I'm very happy with my result - my best for a road race in years - especially since I didn't feel all that great that day. This weekend - the L'Aple Bl'Huez 10 mile time trial. 7 miles flat and then 3 straight up to the top of Blue Mounds State Park. No tactics to worry about, just ride hard and fast uphill, which is what I do well!
Thanks for reading,
Curtis
My plan - stay in the main pack, don't work too hard, be near the front at the final climb, and let the final climb sort out the field. It's a good plan, knowing I always do well in the hills.
With 300 meters to go, a rider mid-pack created a small gap, accelerated HARD, crossed the virtual yellow center line all the way to the other side, and sprinted to the finish in 1st place. Now... at the pre race briefing of EVERY road race, don't the USAC officials talk about the yellow line rule? They did at this race too, and specifically mentioned this rule applies to the finishing stretch of this race (being an uphill finish, you can't see very far ahead).
Immediately after the race, 6+ riders stopped at the finished line, appealed to the judges, and the rider was relegated to 3rd place (everyone else got dropped pretty hard in the final meters). Therefore my 3rd place on the road became 2nd.
Had it not been for that rider, and I was able to stay with my plan as stated above, a win could have been in the cards for me. I was sitting about 3rd in the pack when that rider jumped. Naturally, I chased after him and another rider grabbed my wheel. That rider was able to come around me at the line. Had I been able to sit 3rd wheel until the last 50 meters when I still had a little left to give...
Anyways, I'm very happy with my result - my best for a road race in years - especially since I didn't feel all that great that day. This weekend - the L'Aple Bl'Huez 10 mile time trial. 7 miles flat and then 3 straight up to the top of Blue Mounds State Park. No tactics to worry about, just ride hard and fast uphill, which is what I do well!
Thanks for reading,
Curtis
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