Old Cap Crit Crashin - 2010

     I'm sad to report that things couldn't have gone much worse for me on Sunday's Old Capitol Criterium event. I had been successfully executing a racing tactic that was much different than anything I have ever tried before.  Everything was going according to plan with 8 laps to go.  The Cat 3 field was still basically intact, but beginning to show signs of fatigue... I hadn't wasted much energy yet and was poised to unleash a track-style pursuit maneuver that I had co-authored with a guy named Finn, just prior to the start.

This course has a steep downhill portion that dumps down into a 90 degree right hand turn.  I always make sure to show up early each year to this race, mainly to rehearse the line that is needed to make it through this corner cleanly and without braking.  Plenty of hay bails are lined along the base of this turn... a sure sign that the section needs to be respected as having a potential for danger.

Anyway...  a rider to my right named Steve Robinson started to curse on the top of the hill just before the descent.  He was trying to get clipped out... I couldn't figure out why, turned out to be flat tires... as we got half way down the hill Dominic Moranec (yes, bad luck for him as he is still recovering from a horrific crash in St. Louis last year) slammed into him and Steve dumped his bike right in front of mine.  I ran over his tires and then things seemed to slow down....

As I approached the base of the turn, I had a chance to contemplate some things:

----Why do I enter these races considering what is about to happen to me is about to happen to me?

----I wonder if the people who purposely chose to watch the race from this corner in hopes of seeing a crash are going to like the way they feel after they actually witness one?
----Should I dump the bike or go over the handle bars?
----I wonder if my strategy would have worked?  I bet I would have looked something like this...

Hmm, I dumped it last year at the QC crit and that ended up costing me lots of money (scuffed shoes, components, ripped shorts, lots of band-aids etc.).  If I go over the handle-bars I will risk a broken collar bone, however I have been ingesting extra calcium pills for just this sort of thing, so I think I will give that a shot...

----Ok, the decision had been made... the yellow caution tape creeped closer and closer.

BAM!  I hit the curb...

Ok, now things really slowed down.  I was reminding myself to 'tuck and roll'.  I was also wondering if anyone was recording this... what a cool youtube video, or maybe I could even get on one of those reality video shows on TrueTV like "It only hurts when I laugh", or "World's Dumbest". 

I flipped over the handlebars and was airborn... sweet... unfortunately I noticed that I was now going to have to brace myself to hit the cement wall... that sucks... tucking and rolling isn't going to do me much good against a vertical obstacle.  With no other option I tried to see if I could get my life to flash before my eyes just in case... nope, not enough time... I should have started that earlier, I just wasn't expecting that damn wall... maybe I should have slid out instead?

I had completely flipped around  (head-over-heels) one revolution by the time my head hit the wall... CRACK!  Thankfully, that was the sound of the helmet not my head... I jumped up and walked around a bit and then proceded through the stages of grief.  1) shock, 2) denial, 3)sadness 4)anger.   Yes, I threw my water bottle up against a road sign in anger.  That is an odd reaction, but anyone who has crashed in a crit can attest that it is frustrating. 

I raced up to the pit to get a free lap. The ref was wise in waiting for me to calm down before re-entering... my adrenaline was flowing and my head was fuzzy...  We started back in and I noticed my handlebars were severely skewed... Crap! That was the end of my race.  My helmet is cracked but otherwise my body and bike were basically unharmed. 

My step-dad captured some video footage.  Teammate Greg Harper is on the front of this short video as he made the Master's 40+ podium.  The scenes of my race sorrowfully fade to black...

Old Cap Race Weekend Part 1

GOOSETOWN TIME TRIAL

It was a damp and dreary Friday, but that didn't keep riders from kicking off the 2010 Iowa City Racing Weekend with a 10 Mile TT, just south of town.  I believe around 40 to 50 people entered, with 10 of them being Cat 1/2's, testing their legs before the RR and Crits that following weekend.

Some sort of killer 18-20mph wind created a tailwind out, and headwind back.  My warm-up was brief due to the inclement weather, which cost me some time, but I still felt good about placing well in the Cat 3 division, and maybe even overall.

We didn't get the results that night, so a bit anti-climatic, maybe even nerve-wracking... sort of like waiting for test results from the STD clinic (not that I would know).  I knew my time, but had no idea how the others did. Ultimately, I was pleased getting second overall and first in the Cat 3 division.  From memory, here are the the top 3:

Paul Deninger- 22:02 (Cat 1)
Chad Bishop - 22:15 (Cat 3)
Derek Cassady - 22:53 (Cat 2)

IOWA CITY ROAD RACE
Ok, well off to a good start, I was hoping that blasting out a 10 mile threshold interval/race on Friday wouldn't effect my performance at this event.  A competive field lined up to do four rolling laps totalling 52 miles. There was an even larger Pro 1/2 field that started just ahead of us... overall this event has a lot of energy and is a race I always look forward too, despite the fact that it is tricky to master due to all the tactical options and mile-by-mile situations that need contended with.

Everyone was testing each other during this race, especially early on, trying to see if they could get a break to stick and feel out the stronger riders. The gaps always got bridged, however, and toward the latter parts of the race, you could sense that everyone was realizing that 'escaping was futile'. 

There had been so many attacks throughout the race, that by the middle of the fourth lap when Ryan French of All-NineYards got a gap, no one thought too much of it... of course fatigue was setting in just a bit, as well.  Pete Basso of Rasmussen's recognized the potential and bridged up along with Kevin Temple of B2U.  Eventually Pete couldn't hang on, but the other two stayed up ahead, but always within our sights. There was some cooperation for a bit, as a group of about 6 or 7 people, including myself, chased.  Later, I found myself pulling the group as I sensed that the move might not get brought back.  We were approaching the end of the race (that only paid back 5 spots, so sprinting for three places wouldn't be good odds for me).  I couldn't really think of a reason why I should chase, however, and reluctantly let some people go around me. 

I sensed that the two man break wasn't going to get pulled back, as the field wasn't cooperating.  I attacked the field with about 3 or 4 miles to go and ended up in the middle.  I was about to give up, but then I noticed that they weren't really chasing me. Ok, so this is my move... take a shot at getting third place the hard way with a solo breakaway.

Alas, that was not to be, as the field ultimately wasn't interested in letting 3 people up the road, and I was caught with only about 1.5 miles to go.  Another guy attacked... hard... and I unloaded everything I had to get on his wheel and then pull around him hoping he would have enough energy to rotate with me, as I had another gap... nope, he was done... and as the field caught me again my race was over.  I slipped to the back of the now fiercely charging pack that was racing to the sprint.

Ryan French won, with Kevin just behind.  Ryan mentioned that this is his last week as a Cat 3... what a great boost of confidence for him as he moves up to the accomplished Des Moines Based Cat 1/2 team formerly known as All-Nine Yards.

Stay-tuned for Part two, which will feature results and photos from the Old Cap Crit.

Eagle Point & Monika's TT Quick Reports

EAGLE POINT CRIT

This is always a race I look forward too.  I entered the Cat 3 event with about 12 other guys.  Atlas had 4 guys, otherwise there weren't really any teams to contend with.  They launched attacks in a sort of rotating fashion, but there was always someone up for bridging the gaps.  I was hoping to get a breakaway started, but was racing a bit more conservatively (intelligently?) than usual, as I decided not to use anymore races that have payouts as training opportunitites and/or practice. 

I won the first field prime, which was a good sign that maybe I was strong compared to some of the other guys.  I even took a stab at the second prime, but it was near the end of the race, so I backed off, as Brian West unloaded a very intimidating effort.

 Most of the group was still intact as we headed into the last lap.  Fortunately, Ryan Jacobsen of Atlas eventually came to the front and set a workable tempo.  Brian West (Colorbiotics) and Brandon Kealy (Mercy/ICCC) came around the corner to the straight section in the lead, as everyone basically unloaded whatever they had left and the placings somewhat reflected this situation.  I came across the line in third place with a comfortable cushion behind me with Brian and Brandon nearly tying for the overall win. 

EAGLE POINT Cat 3 Top 6 (in the money):

1) Brandon Keely

2) Brian West

3) Chad Bishop

4) Michael Edwards

5) Spencer Oswold

6) Dan Galles

--MONIKA's TT SERIES #1--

Well, it is a little early to be out on the TT bike, however with the Iowa City weekend now featuring a TT event on Friday, this 'grass roots' race was a great chance to test my fitness and warm-up for this Friday's race.  The Goosetown Time Trial on Friday will be the first outdoor TT I have ever entered that has a pay-out, so I am interested to see how that may effect the turn-out, and if I can take home some cash.

Monika's TT #1 was a 10 mile course that had several turns.  I was forced me to sit-up from my TT position several times, so my time wasn't destined to be a PR, by any means, but it was afairly smooth b-level county road with low traffic.  Somehow, I tied with Paul Deninger for first place, at 21:53:80.  Considering the fact that they were timing this to the tenth of a second, I consider this to be very noteworthy (if only I would have shaved my legs smoother).  Also very fitting, as I am sure I will be battling against him from time to time throughout the season.  (Full Results).  The storyline will unfold as new 'characters' make their appearances, as we race against the clock on the road to nowhere.

Cody Race Series #2 - 2010

I entered the second Cody Race on Saturday, April 10th.  This wasn't a large race by any means, however, a spirited 10-lap/25 mile circuit combined with famliliar 'rivals' always makes for a great racing opportunity.  Pictured above is a three-man breakway group comprised of Bryan Moritz(B2U/WOB), Dan Galles (Atlas), and myself.

Lee Venteicher and Bryan were the only Cat 1/2's who entered, so we let them join in our Cat 3 group (which wasn't much bigger).  The pace wasn't fast initially, however slightly geared toward merging with the Master's group that had started just ahead of us, which we did early on in the race.

Bryan Moritz attacked and mentioned that he didn't necessarily intend to break away so soon, as this first move was brought back.  However the group felt soft, so me and Bryan popped out in front of the group shortly thereafter.  Of note, in a rare situation, I had teammates entered in the same race as me (specifically Bill Ford, thanks) who I could count on to defend any moves that I may be apart of.  This made for a somewhat secure feeling once me and Bryan got a gap.

Dan Galles recognized the importance of this move and bridged up.  The majority of the remaining laps were spent with the three of us rotating through fairly equally.

I've been studying theories of intelligence for one of my classess this semester... Oddly, I have been able to understand the various definitions easier when I relate them to bike racing.  For example, one defintion explains intelligence as "your skill in achieving whatever it is you want to attain in life (or a bike race) by capitalizing on your strengths and compensating for, or correcting, your weaknesses (Sternberg, 2004)".  Also, "to act purposefully, to think rationally, and deal effectively with your environment" (Weschler, 1953). 

I contemplated these definitions as I pedalled through Scott County Park's rolling terrain, and even reminded myself of another noteworthy cycling specific intelligence theory that suggests "you shouldn't ever do any 'work' in a bike race unless it has a determined purpose that will faciliate your potential for success" (Bishop, 2010).  This helped keep my mind off of Moritz's socks that had the words "Bitch" stiched into them... were his socks talking to me?  I wish I hadn't noticed his socks... I also wish that I owned a pair of them... Fortunately, as you can see from the image below, he was just as transfixed by the overwhelming size of my rear wheel as I was by his offensive footwear...

I was feeling good and had competed 'intelligently' the entire race.  So, as we headed up the hill just before the finish line I had some decisions to make.  I really had no idea how the other two were feeling, but was interested in at least gapping Dan, as Bryan wasn't technically in my race (and probably strong as hell considering he outspinted the field at Kent Park a couple of weeks earlier).  So, I attacked half way up the hill and the pictures below tell the rest of the story...

Ok, so I didn't win the sprint... but I won the Cat 3 division... so that counts as a victory in my book (and I do mean 'book',... "Chasing Life" is soon to be available at amazon.com).  Teammate Bill Ford also won the Master's division.  Fellow teammates Jon Sulzberger, Josh Long, and Bob Hayes raced strong today as well.