The Beer Hand-up (and/or) Mission Accomplished

Let me start the race reports for Psychlofest and Middle Park Madness where the story basically ends. Below, I am pictured to the left at the start on Sunday. What you should notice is the expression of a man who isn't too excited to be there... "What have I gotten myself into?"

The field was way too strong and eager looking. Didn't everybody stay up late? Below is a picture of me realizing I should have stayed in bed. I believe we are about 4 seconds into the start of the race....

So, how did I get to that point? Let's now go back to the beginning.

---- Psychlofest Cyclocross, Bettendorf, IA, Saturday ---

Headed up to the race with Nick Campbell, and was feeling pretty good. It was bitterly cold out, which may have affected the turn-out a bit. The course was fast and featured several areas of pavement and hard-packed dirt, so I had a feeling I could do well.

I was focused on placing as high as possible, as I was currently in 2nd place in the DICE 4 race series, meaning I would win additional cash if I could hold a top 3 finish in the series. I looked around to see who was and/or wasn't there, and it looked like Bryan Abbot and Kyle Williams were going to be the main threats to my ranking in the series points.

Tracy Thompson of Bikes2U lined up in the Cat 3/4 race next to me. Hmm? He has got to be fast (I believe he is a Cat 1 on the road, maybe 2), though I was surprised he in wasn't in the more prestigious Open Race. Looked like about 17 or so in the race... and we were off.

I stuck a good pace as me and 3 other racers began to create a gap, Abbott, Williams and Thompson (aka Tater). Teammates Abbott and Williams were setting the pace early as me and Tracy were sort of 'hanging on' at first. After a lap or two Abbott began to slip away.

My strengths were on the hard pavement and dirt sections, but I was markedly slower on the uphill riding and running sections. The Tatenator was able to seemingly rocket up the hill, leaving me in the dust. He definately had a little extra grease in his frying pan when it came to that hill. Later, though on the run-up, his french was a little fried, whereas Abbott and Williams were always able to gain a little ground on us.

With Abbott eventually out of sight up ahead, I was trying to keep Tracy and Kyle in my sights, as they were sort of pulling away. I began to smell a respectable 4th place finish coming on, but I wasn't giving up yet.

Awesome, Tracy and Kyle had a technical 'incident' on one of the corners, and were running their bikes up. This allowed me to catch up, and advance ahead of them. This didn't last long, as Tracy used his uphill power to disappear from view towards the last couple of laps.

Me and Kyle, however were still side by side. He was nailing me on the most painful 'phil's hill' run-up, whereas I was always able to gain ground on the flats. We traded spots a couple of times as the last lap was underway. I knew my only shot at beating him, was to get to the run-up before him, because if he got there first he would easily win, because the finish was just 100 yards past the run-up.

I gave it everything I had, but he had just a bit more, as he got to the run-up just ahead of me, and pulled away to get third. Dang, that run-up was one of the most leg burning obstacles of the season.

Ok, I won some cash, and maintain my 2nd place position in the series with 90 points. 10 points behind Abbott, but 6 points ahead of Adam Price and 9 points ahead of Kyle Williams.

----Hawkeyes Vs. Minnesota----
Ooops, I was hosting a sort of football party that night. Hmm? Maybe I don't need to race Sunday, it is just money, and I did get a great workout in at Psychlofest. No, don't be a wimp.
Wait, what is that sound, was that a beer can being opened? Yes, it was, wait, no, there is a cold filtered, wide mouthed silver bullet heading toward my mouth. Must stop it... ahh no, the brewed substance had made it's way into my mouth and down my throat.

No worries, I can have a beer or two and still have a great race.... Crap, those beers keep launching themselves into my digestive system. Man, the hawks are doing great! Forget about it, there is no way I can go to the race tomorrow, so I decided to just sort of 'relax' the rest of the night. This decision seemed my only option as the clock was claiming it was 2:30 am as I was devouring Taco Bell Burritos like 'there was no tommorrow'.

---8:15am--- Ah, man, I had my first RAGBRAI flashback. I felt like crap with a full day of bike riding ahead of me. Oh, but alas I was not on RAGBRAI, and starting to feel extremely guilty and foolish for not being able to race today at 100%. Oh well, back to sleep, to hide from the shame of not racing.

8:20am--- Well, I can't sleep. Did I eat sandpaper last night? My mouth felt like it. I headed to the store and got a mega sized 'Rock Star' energy drink, maybe that will help. Ok, now I felt really energized and tired at the same time. That will have to do, because I knew that If I merely finished the race I should be able to get 3rd in the series and win $50.

I brought my sister and brother-in-law for support and off we went.

THE RACE-
Much improved weather, great for the spectators. Can't wait to be a spectator and get this race over with. I know that is a horrible attitude, but, hey I have about 43 races under my belt this year, give me a break.

I lined up inadvertantly in the front row. The field was much larger and much stronger than saturday's race. Moritz told me my brake was rubbing as we waited... man this is going to be a long race. I took off as strong as I could and quickly, very quickly slipped back to the middle of the pack. I hit the first set off barriers so fast I almost lost the handle. Unfortunately I didn't, so I had to keep racing.

The course was 'soggy' which really slowed it down and made even the flat sections painful. The run-up was mild compared to yesterday, that was a plus. Midway through the first lap I counted back and realized I had already fallen back into 14th place.

One lap down, 6 to go. I just kept telling myself I had to finish, that's it just finish. Still not sure if this was possible. About half way through the race I actually started to feel better. I had found some good lines, and was gaining ground on some racers ahead. Cool, I was going to finish, get in a great work-out and most likely win some cash.

Wait, there is Kyle Williams just up ahead. If I can stay close to him, I will get 2nd Place in the series instead of third. Dang it, I couldn't do it, as he eventually slipped up ahead out of sight.

I did pull back a few people, which is nice. My fitness is still strong (all things considered) so as endurance became more of a factor, I began to show strength.

That crafty Williams couple, Kyle was out of view, but his wife Robin, just happened to be right ahead of me. I couldn't help but to notice that Robin was a woman. Well, technically she wasn't even racing against me, but it is always nice not to get beat by a girl, so I caught up with her.

My plan was to drop the hammer on sections that I seemed to be strongest at, get a gap and try to hold on to it. Due to my poor pre-race nutritional decisions Satruday night, my only strength today was the down hill section. That is sad, I know, basically just using gravity to do what my legs couldn't.

As the last lap approached she was still on my wheel. I wished she would quit following me, as I needed some RAGBRAI 'alone time' as the race was very exhausting. Nope she seemed interested in making my last lap just as painful as the first 6.

Wait... then it dawned on me, I was in position to accept my first beer hand-up of my racing career. I figured I earned this reward, since I really was in no contention for glory, and sort of celebrating the fact that it looked like I was going to finish this race, amazing. Actually, it was even more amazing that I started this race, but I digress.

I had my bike over my right shoulder and my left hand outreached, in anticipation of the Coors silver bullet saving my day. I grabbed the beer, chugged down some large gulps as I continued to make forward progress. I then threw the beer so that it would splash all over the spectators watching (sorry bout that), and remounted my bike. Man, that tasted like crap, but what great delights await me, as this nightmare is about to be over.

Oh yeah, Robin is still back there. Please, let me finish ahead of you. I am a nice guy, my intentions are good and I am not sure my ego can handle you out-racing me. With just the long straight finish section left, I punched it with what meager bit of strength I had.

And, then, playing me like a fool, she emerged from my wheel and schooled me in front of all those watching at the finish line.

I quickly went over to the cooler and began to drown my sorrows. Wait, I am not actually sad, because 'mission accomplished', I most certainly came in third in the series, so I had $50 waiting for me on the podium after the Open race.

During the Open Race, some of the B2U team was on the hill pounding down Bud Lights and heckling the field. It was fun to join in as a fan, watching the others suffer over the same course we had just got done breaking in for them.

Then, Brian Abbott busted out a trombone to encourage the racers. It was then that I decided to race the 'A' Race next year. Not because I am planning on being a stronger rider, but because the quality of the heckling was so much better than the cat 3/4 race's. Oh, how I could have used a trombone blast to keep my mind off of the pain.

I really should have just picked one or the other races to do, but ultimately it did work out. I sort of regret not being able to 'race' Sunday, at least not with my health in tact, but I am, on the other hand, proud that I showed up.

I am planning on hitting it hard tuesday and wednesday for training, then a sort of a two day taper before Jingle Cross Rock. I am only racing on Saturday, so no worries about a repeat retardance by racing Sunday. This way, I can cheer on Mt. Krumpit with the others Saturday after my race and watch the awesome UCI field of pros and Cat 1 amateurs battle it out.

(Photos by Dad of Moritz)

2009 Iowa Bike Racing Schedule

If you haven't noticed, the 2009 Bike racing schedule is posted, check it out:
Bike Iowa Schedule

Some positives:

1) Iowa City Time Trial Series. Barry Carter is putting on 3 TT's, one a month. Awesome, that will be great motivation for me to continue where I left off with last season's successuful TT racing.

2) Rasmussen's Death Squad is putting on a race weekend in Des Moines. Not sure I will make the drive, but good to see that team putting together some racing this year.

3) Cedar Rapids Criterium. Cool, a great town, centrally located, that could end up being a very well recieved event.

4) No Single Speed Championships listed... I don't race that, not sure what it is or why it exists, so won't have to miss out on more medal opportunities. I noticed that most single speed racers at last years champs were bike shop owners and/or employees... hmm, interesting?

5) Gravel Road Race Championships... Ok, I don't know what that is either, but I imagine I can just hop on my cyclocross bike, slip around on back county roads and win some sort of medal. I would much rather have a RR in early september, but maybe racing on gravel is similar enough to still make my racing calendar.

Some negatives:

1) The roller races are all in Central or North Iowa except for Muscatine and Cedar Rapids. I miss the Quad Cities and Iowa City options. Oh well, I will still go to at least three, otherwise it is a long, raceless winter.

2) DICE Road/Circuit races gone... Crap! Doesn't look like we will have the Scott Co. Park series or Hummer Hammer this year. There is still time guys, come on, somebody step up and fill Mike Z.'s shoes. Luckily, I know they put on two TT's and one RR in Illinois, just across the river thanks to Donnie Miller, but perhaps they can still be persuaded to do an Iowa circuit race or two?

3) Two Bee Racing... Yep, it's over, Conn is putting on kent park but the rest of the races aren't listed. That means about 30 or 40 races aren't on this year's calendar. That will definately make it harder for me to be competitive, since I relied on those as 'training races' and a source of michelob ultra and brownies.

4) Iowa City Criterium Champs... No one has stepped up to take that over from the former Pella team. I hope that doesn't end up in Des Moines or west Iowa. With Two Bee races gone and DICE racing limited, my race calendar is getting more and more travel oriented. Maybe I can put on a criterium in August? QC has a crit in Illinois, but how great would it be to have the State Champ Crit in Davenport or Bettendor Iowa? Maybe that Hummer Hammer race?

Actually, I imagine the 2009 calendar is still tentative, as spring fever is bound to inspire a few more races. No DICE cyclocross races are even listed, so unless that team is disbanding, I imagine they are still yet to plan their 2009 race calendar. In the meantime they are putting on an awesome series of races this fall, good job.

Heading to bettenforf, hopefully twice this weekend to race cyclocross. My fitness slips just a bit each week, so luckily there are only two more weeks left. I am at a severe disadvantage toward the end of the racing season, because I don't ride outside at all, except to race. Doesn't mean I am not in good shape, just means I have to keep my goals realistic for late fall racing.

Iowa Bicycle Racing Association Wish List

I guess this weekend is when the race directors and Iowa racing enthusiasts get together and try and map out next year's racing calendar. Here are some quick ideas from my perspective...

1) State Road and Time Trial races rocked, hopefully they stay the same. For the 108 mile Road Race, though, only 8 Cat 3's out of 21 finished last year. Maybe it should be three laps for Cat 3's instead of 4?

2) I hope an Iowa City and Quad City team opts to put on a Roller Race this year. Otherwise, they seem to cluster around the Des Moines area. It would be cool to have an 'east' and 'west' conference for these, and then the two meet at the end of the season for a play-off where each conference sends their top ten to battle for the best cumulative times.

3) I hope the B2U team puts on a road race and/or a crit. I think last year they just put on a roller race. There seems to be some available dates in the summer. A strong team like that would have a great race, and this would be good promotion for the sponsor.

4) Speaking of summer, the racing season around here seems to peak in the spring. I wish there were a few more races in July and September (august is stacked).

5) State Crit? Where/when will it be? I liked having it in August, because all of the state champs then were in the same month. Where? I am not a fan of those flat, 8 corner plus courses, but I suppose that would be the most obvious. Maybe somewhere that had a 'cool factor' with spectators, perhaps restaurants right on the course like at the IC crit. I enjoyed when intoxicated patrons begin to cheer for us.

6) Two Bee Races.... Are these really over? Say it isn't so. I raced almost 15 of those last year. Obviously my results in other races were aided by attending these. I guess Conn is still putting on the famous 'kent park' race, that serves as a sort of spring opener for the new season...cool. But, guys, please consider maybe still putting on one or two more this year! Maybe instead of hosting 40 + races each year, maybe just do a handful. Maybe a spring classic, a summer classic and a fall classic, with a Time Trial or two mixed in? Please reconsider pulling the plug on all of them. Either way, thanks for the great races over the years.

7) DICE cycling... I really missed the Scott Co. Park races and Hummer Hammer. Hopefully they can bring those back. Again, if not the entire 3 part series of races, then just do one, but thanks for the past races.

8) Single Speed Championships? What the hell is a single speed? I oppose the whole concept, and handing out a huge pile of state medals to the select few who race this discipline. Having said that, if there were more single speed races prior to the championships, and everybody rode a 53/17... ok, I'm in. Sort of like that Little Indy 500, 'cutters' deal where everyone races the exact same bike, elimating equipment as a variable.

9) Iowa Racing Tour... We all watch the pros race on these multi-stage events and have their times calculated over the course of the events. It would be awesome to have an opportunity to race like that here in Iowa. I guess they did try that with the Memorial day weekend races once.

Moline Illinois Cross Report

Cold and grey was the day.

I had just put on some new treads, and overzealously pumped them up. Why is that of importance? Because this created a very bumpy scenario. Ok, I am putting this in writing, so I make sure to never inflate my tires to over40psi for a race. Everyone I talked to was inflating to around 33psi. Hmm, I thought maybe I could have an advantage by going with 50psi, but I didn't... it was bumpy and uncomfortable.

Speaking of uncomfortable, my fingers were becoming numb from the cold. I was hoping to start the race just to get warmed up. Actually, I was thinking about not starting the race and going home. Not an option as I had already paid my entry fee. Fine, let's race.

So, line up for the Cat 3/4 race, get called a sandbagger a few times, and tear off. I had the jump on everyone and led a good portion of the first lap. Am I on time for a next day delivery, or is everyone plotting against me, waiting to attack? I didn't like the feeling of all those people following me, so I laid off a bit. Sort of made me self-conscious. Maybe I laid off too much, because about 8 people passed me...

Hmm, that is less than ideal. At least everyone wasn't staring at me anymore, being the leader is a lot of pressure.

Ok, pedal harder... bumpy and I was braking too much. Being in ninth place was hard on my ego. Why were people I beat last race ahead of me? Well, no use stressing myself out over that, I can use this time to figure out what I am going to do later in the day. Probably won't be hungry, perhaps thirsty. Too bad I don't like football, I could watch TV and eat potato chips.

Wait a minute... I don't actually suck. Sure I did graciously except a Lance Armstrong poster at the registration desk, but that doesn't mean I have to follow in his footsteps of mid-pack finishing at cross races. Hmm, maybe some people, like Lance, are just better on the road, and others are better on the dirt. It would be great to just be awesome at everything, but maybe not as realistic.

Fine, now that I have lost contact with the top three racers (Abbot, Adam Price and Kevin McConnel) I can start in with some mantras... Let's try 'keep it smooth' for a while. Alright, that is working. I am not falling behind anymore. In fact, the group ahead of me is going slower than what I fell like going.

Pause the report... the squeaking of my front brakes is overwhelming. I really wish my front brakes didn't squeak, I feel guilty about all that noise pollution, plus I think sometimes I startle the riders ahead of me.

Ok, Carl Buchanan was watching the race and shouted out 'dig deep' to me. Cool, let's try that mantra for awhile... Bingo.

I set my sights on my taking back some glory. First target, ben shockey. His rear wheel slipped out from under him, for just a split second, and as if a shark smelling blood, I knew he was weakening. Attack, pass, gap, next target...

Chris Reed... Same plan, another guy who is a great racer, but who I felt I could beat, so I did. Follow for awhile to get a feel for his rhythm... Attack, pass, gap, next target...

Will Greenwood... Ah, always fun to pass the B2U uniform, though usually next too impossible. But, alas this one was worn at half mast, whatever that means, so I followed his wheel for a bit, realizing that I would be able to overtake his position, just a matter of timing.

Ok, now is good, on a straightaway, since I seem to suck on barricades and run-ups. Add a little salt and pepper and ask the waiter for the check.

Well, I suppose it is a bit too early to leave the restaurant, since the race is only half over and still plenty on my plate. Next target... Kyle Williams. Attack, pass, gap, next target...

Ok, that is a lie, he was just a bit too far ahead and holding his position well. Fine, what position does that leave me in? Fifth. Whatever, I will take it. So, time to go into defensive mode, which basically means don't lauch yourself into a tree, or slide through a corner. I was getting a larger gap on the 4 guys behind me with each lap. How many more of these bumpy laps are left? 3.

Three laps... this is the part of the race that is very uneventful. Because cross racing is sort of like a time trial in some ways, you are at some point locked into your pace, in that you pedal as hard as you can, and that is what it is.

A DICE guy had snuck into the mix somehow and was sort of closing the gap as the last lap began. Cool, that will give me something to focus on while I wait for the race to get over.

Through the first bumpy section. Pedalling hard, but not effectively as the rear wheel seems to be hopping all over the place. Now for the barricades... squeak of the brakes, scaring off some birds, then turtle toe through. Now for a less than graceful 'superman' remount.

There was a cool part of the course where you could fly downhill and get a sort of adrenaline rush as you almost caught air. That was fun, then a patch of sidewalk. I really do enjoy pavement. Maybe I should try some road racing next spring.

The race paid back 6 places so I got a fancy typed envelope with green bills inside. Always fun to win money.

Perphaps the courses will suit me better in two weeks in bettenforf, and I can time a good fitness peak. Optionally, this course did suit me, and I will continue to fall down the rankings. Can't wait to find out.

Drop and give me 50

Not much cycling related to talk about since I didn't go to altoona last weekend to race. So, might as well share part of my current fitness routine.

BOOT CAMP:

I am in week two of 'Sargeant Stange's Boot Camp'. This class meets twice weekly and we do all sorts of 'basic training' type exercises including: push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks, side steps, step ups, lunges, planks, supermans, jump ropes, line jumps, iso squats, jump squats, power cleans, grasshoppers, up-downs, etc.

I haven't been in real 'basic training' for the military, but I assume our instructor has, so this is possibly good insight into some of the preparation soldiers experience as part of their service to our country.

Each effort goes to the point of physical failure, then we keep going. Very intense and good to build both physical and mental strength. The extra muscle won't help much with my power to weight ratio this fall, but come winter, I will enjoy having an increased metabolism, especially at rest, since muscle burns more calories.

Is this good for my cycling? Of course... many of the bike races are basically 'battles' against the enemy forces. Sure they aren't wearing camoflouge, rather bright clashing colors. And perhaps, the only weapons, or their highly inflated egos and well trained cardio vascular engines, but still, some parallels.

When a race comes down to that final effort, maybe I will be able to push through that last mental obstacle and win the battle. If not, then I will live to fight another day, because just because I didn't win the battle, doesn't mean I can't win the war.

Now, on to the front lines (aka, my basement), for an all out assault against the forces of the fitness dvd, that threaten to dominate my winter.