2012 Quad Cities Road Race

I am still rolling along... even starting to get into a training grove.  I have my sights set on a couple of races yet this season, including the Iowa State Road Race, Time Trials, and our American Equity Road Race.

Our team was saddened by the loss of our title sponsor and friend Wendy Waugaman.  I am glad to have known her.   One of the ways that we will keep her spirit alive, not to mention all those who value the cycling lifestyle is through American Equity's first Road Race event. 

Things are shaping up for a phenomenal experience for those who participate.  PRE-REGISTER if you would like to save some hastle on race day.  I know this will make the race director a little less nervous and save you a couple of bucks.

Saturday, July 14th, 2012

The course features an inspiring 9 mile loop that travels through the scenic Iowa country side just Northeast of Bettendorf, Ia.  You can look forward to competitive fields and a well-organized event.

The Scott County"Shoot-Out" Competition will give you a chance to showcase your Cat 1,2,3 team's dominance.  Bring your teammates and try to take home the Team Classification prize in addition to the standard pay-out.

- Link to Website -

Rose Festival Road Race

Well, it wasn't 'pretty' but we actually had a pretty good race... Paul Deninger and Josh Wandrey flew the American Equity flag in the 60 mile cat 1,2 event on Sunday with me.  Our 'plans' fell apart a bit after Josh got caught up at the tail end of a mishap as we were barrelling down a straight-away single file, but I wish him a speedy recovery, and hope he can enjoy the experience as part of the racing experience, by getting back at it, as soon as it makes sense.  He ended up getting 12 stitches on his knuckles and plenty of road rash.  We were cruising along pretty quickly.   I nearly avoided the situation, launching into the ditch, but unfortunately had to witness the impact. 

After that situation, we began to execute 'plan b', me and Paul were in control at times, attacking/counter-attacking and strategically picking places to try and lose the 'favorites' (Mattias Perret, Mike Scencenbough, Will Rekemeyer, etc).   During the last of three laps, me and Paul traded a volley of counter-attacks and I found myself dangling off the front.  The attacks had been dragging up groups of three of four, until everyone finally lost interest/energy.  Well, I gave it a shot, and extended my gap to about 30 seconds over the course of about 6 miles.  Unfortunately, I didn't fully commit, becuase I felt that if I got caught, I would be discharged from the group, having exhausted myself in the effort.  With only Paul in the field to defend my move, it seemed likely that the pack of about 12 remaining riders would eventually reel me in.  In retrospect, however, I got discharched anyway, so I should have dug a bit deeper.  Riding solo tempo is an aspect of bike racing that I am completely comfortable with.  Of course, I was hoping that two or three guys would join the effort so that it could be more favorable, but it was a good experience to be off the front, providing me with a satisfying feelling.


 In the end, the results weren't there, as we just missed out on winning one of the 6 paying spots...  but dang it all, we definately raced it.  Josh would have rounded out our tactics perfectly, so it was great to have him on board, this time, and for future outings.

Hilly Hot Hell - Tour of Galena

I survived the grueling 4-stage Tour of Galena Omnium.  Each stage introduced me to a new form of torture, but I truly had a rewarding experience.  I finished 13th in the Pro/1/2 omnium.   Twenty-two out of the original 28 guys ended up starting all 4 events to contest for the money. The crit and road race had 35 starters, so lots of competition within each stage.  The guys that showed up for this event knew what was coming, and seemed to be prepared.  Having said that, there were plenty of "DNF's" as the heat, hills, and intensity were very challenging.

OMNIUM RESULTS

I will post some reports with photos once I get a chance...

Sherril RR

I participated in the HHS Debate team road race in Sherrill Iowa on Sunday.  The course was the same as the previous Iowa State Road Race course that I did many years ago as a Cat 4.  I remembered it being a challenging course, so I couldn't resist participating.

I was hoping for a small but talented field for the Cat 1,2,3 event, and I wasn't disappointed.  There were only 12 of us racing, but the purse was a generous $400.  I actually enjoy racing against the 'same Iowa guys'.  I hear people grumble about this occasionally, but I like the smaller, more personal battles that occur when you know some of your enemies strengths and weaknesses.  (of course, I use the term enemy lightly, as I consider myself friends with all the guys I race with).

We were racing 70 miles (7 laps) through the bluffs of Dubuque.  The race had a very relaxed start, just the way I like it.  Unfortunately, it didn't pick up much, as the guys in the field were all trying to 'race smart'.  Matias Perret was in the field.  This guy is totally dominating the Iowa Cup and having a great year.  It wouldn't have made sense not to mark him.  However, marking him meant that we were going to race at whatever pace he chose.  And, as a marked rider, he probably didn't feel to confident that he would be able to do too much along the lines of dropping guys and then still having the strength to win in the end.  It was similar to having the yellow jersey in the peloton.  If you were contending for the general classification, then you would be keeping your eye on the jersey the whole race.  To put it another way, it was VERY likely that Matias was going to be present in whatever group was battling at the finish line, so as long as he was present, I knew I was in the right place.

There were several hills that presented opportunities for guys to take a few digs at the field.  William Rekemeyer seemed specifically comfortable pedalling his slight climber's build up the punchy climbs.  I  asked William where he saw himself in 5 years, and he replied "hopefully racing in Europe".   Well, as a junior achieving the kind of success he has, this could very well be a possibility.  Regardless, it is great to race with a guy that has such ambitious goals. 

The field of  12 only got whittled down to 8 riders.  We really did keep things throttled down most of the race.  Not much in the way of attacks.  Paul Deninger was racing with me, so it seemed likely that we could get one of the 4 paying spots.  Maybe we got a bit greedy, as we were possibly entertaining the notion of both of us getting in the money.  In retrospect, we should have tried to 'divide and conquer' as Matias did indeed win the event.  Perhaps if we would have attacked him, then countered repeatedly.  Perhaps not, though, as his teammate, Jeff Barnes most likely would have neutralized our efforts.

Second place went to Brian West and William got third just barely beating Paul to the line.  So, we only got $40 out of the $400 purse.  This would be disappointing, however Brian and Mattias were podium finishers at the 2011 Iowa State Road Race... so you really can't be too disappointed/surprised if you can't quite beat them to the line.  The Hempstead High School Debate Team that put on this event did a great job, and even had custom t-shirts made for the event.   Hopefully they actually did raise some funds for their team, and will put this on again next year, as it was a rewarding experience, and helped sharpen my legs for future races.

Off to the Tour of Galena... I entered the 4-event Pro/1/2 omnium.  Should be quite the experience. 

Melon Snake Critters

Well, nothing too noteworthy happened at the 2012 Snake Alley Criterium or Melon City Criterium Master's events that I entered.  I bit anti-climactic as I figured I could finally get an award envelope at one of these events.  Nope.

At Snake Alley, a guy in a blood-orange jersey with goofy socks jumped from the gun and screwed up my game plan.  We were strung out from the get-go.  I didn't attack, or get attacked, just dealt with the course and ended up in 9th place.  I can't tell if this is good, because the Memorial Day Weekend fields are full of regional riders I don't know.  Probably it is good, but needed 7th to get an envelope. Dang.

At Melon City I was astonished by how fast the race went by.  I think it only takes about 35 minutes.  It is almost literally 'over before you know it'.   I can't actually complain, because I could have entered the Pro/1/2 event if I was hell bent on racing for a bit longer.  That event is a bit over my head, however... over 140 guys entered that thing, with half of them dropping out.  A Cat 2 rider didn't even make the top 30...  I am pretty certain a Cat 2 race division has got to be in the works one of these years... especially at Snake Alley.... if that happens, I will race my Category, if it doesn't I will race master's and be glad to double up once I turn 40, as I think I needed a do-over in Muscatine.

So,  Zealous Racing had several guys and they took turns off of the front.  At some point, a small split occurred that had some promise and really put me on the edge for a few minutes, but it didn't work out to shed many riders.  I was mostly where I wanted to be during this race.  By the time I had a chance to think about making a move, the race was winding down.  It was going to come down to a field sprint.  I got swarmed going down the hill for the last lap.  As I unleashed a pretty nice sprint up the hill, all hell was breaking lose.  It felt like I was storming the beach during a world war, as guys were blowing up/crashing left and right (again, literally left and right of me).   I was ziz-zagging all over the place.  I successfully navigated my way through the carnage to the 12th spot.  Dang, no envelope on Sunday either. 

Disappointing that the race came down to positioning, but things could have easily worked out for me, had I been just a little further up going over the speed bump.  I guess I wasn't anticipating so much chaos up the hill.  "Better luck next year".

2012 Burlington Road Race

I entered the Pro 1,2 Burlington Road Race on Friday.  I enjoyed this race last year and was looking forward to racing on some of my local training routes, as the course makes is way from Burlington towards my hometown of Muscatine, Iowa.  I also like the 'pro' feel of the event.  The referees provide  a rolling enclosure, for example, not to mention the fact that many of the guys that participate in the Memorial Day Weekend of bike racing are licenced as Pros.  As an added touch, their was a ref standing through a sun-roof holding a red sign to lead us through the first neutral part of the course.   I have seen this on TV and appreciated being in a race that offered this level of organization.   There was so much energy, as well over 100 participants rolled out of downtown Burlington.  After about a mile of nervous anticipation, the ref flipped his sign around, revealing the green 'go' side, and we were off.

Boom, the pace skyrocketed from 20 to well over 30.  Just like in the pro events I watch on TV, someone was hitting it from the gun.  As a team we had Jeff Bradley, JJ Bailey, Paul Deninger, Lou Waugaman, Matt Zimmer, Luke Guyton, and myself.  We had determined not to cover anything until about 10 or 15 miles out, as well as deciding who would be our 'protected' riders.

It was tense at first, as I watched a huge pile-up form in front of me to the right.  Cool, I had plenty of time to respond as I grabbed my brakes... Wait, I am still moving pretty fast and this pile-up is swelling right in front of my path... I ended up having to disengage my pedal, but no harm done... oops, I had jarred my right pedal cleat... crap, that was going to bug me, as I feared it was going to fall off.  Turns out the crash did have a few casualties.  Brian Eppen (ICCC) was reported to have went out with a suspected broken collar bone.

Well, after that I was a little tentative, but got back in the action.  This race has a bit of a luck factor to it, you pick your break-away attempts and hope that the field lets it roll.  I rolled off the front early in the race... why not?   The group got a bit of a space cushion but this didn't turn out to be the 'lucky break'. 

Paul Deninger did find the 'lucky break', however, as a group of around 18 guys eventually rolled off the front.  So, we had a guy in the break, which took the pressure of of us to chase.  There were a couple of times when I was on the verge of getting guttered.  This was a stacked field, as I mentioned, so it wasn't too surprising that I would be stressed out from time to time trying to keep with the group.

I was happy to use my home court advantage as we neared the turn-off to Grandview.  I knew there was a corner and subsequent cross wind section, followed by a steep climb.  I launched up to the front, hitting the corner in the lead.  I had a gap with a few guys and we began to rotate.  I wasn't really trying to make a move, but it was looking like that could be the situation.

The field was in hot pursuit, however, strung out in a single file line, as the wind was allowing an opportunity to gutter the weak and/or the weary.  So, my plan was sort of working... I was in the front which gave me the cushion I needed, as guys began to pass me on the right, giving me brief respites from the wind.   By the time we got to the climb, however, the field was shattered from the effort.  Last year we cruised up this climb, but this year it served to further split up the group.  When the smoke cleared I was in a small chase group.  Not the best situation. 

We saw the lead group coming back from the turn-around in Grandview.  They had about 6 minutes on us.  Paul was still representing for the team.  Eventually, I clawed my way back up to the field.  It was reduced, but still a large group of over 60 guys.

I started to think about just making it home.  I got one of those 'feelings', however that the group was getting a bit soft as I casually made my way to the front and then just kept on rolling.  If I would have attacked, there would have been a response, but slipping off the front went without much notice.

Several guys eventually started rotating with me.  I couldn't tell if we were just pulling the field or creating a break.  Turns out we were creating a break!  Sweet, I was in a chase group between the field and the break-away.  This race paid back 25 spots, so we still had plenty of motivation to make this break stick.  If nothing else, it was much more interesting then sitting in the pack.

Some of the noteworthy guys in the group were from Mellow Johnny's, United Healthcare, ISCORP,  and Iowa's top ranked cyclist, Mathias Perret (Mercy-Specialized).  This kind of riding suits me.  Unfortunately, it suits me a little bit too well, as I was doing a disproportional amount of the work. I wanted the break to work, and was feeling good, so I kept rotating through, though it was frustrating to be giving some of the other guys who weren't pulling as much 'free rides'.  I don't think they had a choice, however, as we were in a 95 mile race, and we were all getting tired, hungry, and starting to cramp a bit.

Regardless, this was a great place to be.  I was representing the team in the second group on the road.  Towards the last few miles of the race we let off the pace.   It was obvious we weren't going to catch the leaders, nor be caught by the field.  Oops, there was a third chase group that had been focused on catching us.  Had I known this, I would have given it all I had, because once they caught us, our group swelled to about 15 guys.  Crap, I had secured money spot within my original group of 8 riders, but now was going to have to battle it out on the finishing straight.

Luckily, Matt Zimmer was one of the guys who caught us, so our team effort was improved.  I messed up the finish, however,  jumping when Jerome Rewerts (Zealous) accelerated just before the last uphill past the Case plant.  He was zig zagging all over the place.  This finish requires extreme patience and timing... I timed it wrong.  The guys eventually swarmed around us.  My response was tempered by the accumulated fatigue of the event.  I rolled in toward the back of this field, but still a satisfying result.  This was definately a fun day in the saddle, and I appreciate the fact that I can be a factor in a race that featured so many talented guys from all over the U.S.

Burlington Road Race - Pro, 1,2 Results - 2012

Breeder's Hill Criterium



The field was strung out during the descending portions of the course... trying to brace for Breeder's Hill.

I traveled up to the Iowa State Fair Grounds in Des Moines, Iowa Sunday to compete in the 2012 Breeder's Hill Criterium.  I have entered this race the last couple of years (formerly called the Iowa State Fair Crit) and always had success.  I won the Cat 3 event in 2010, and managed to get 4th in the Cat 1,2,3 event in 2012.  I wasn't as optimistic this year, but I really wanted to enter this race as a way to stay in contact with the sport, while helping me to get back on track.

I like this race because it is essentially a series of hill repeats.  You have to carve out a nice line during the corners, but the race basically comes down to hanging on up Breeder's Hill, then recovering quickly. Those with optimum power-to-weight ratios and cardio-respiratory fitness will have a definite advantage.

The race started and finished on top of the hill this year.  I liked the idea of the way this would shape the finish, but had to first determine what this meant for the start. I lined up with 35 other guys, deciding to really hit it hard down the hill right from the gun.  There is a sort of awkward 120 degree corner on this course that has caused some riders troubles in the past.  It would be nice to get to it ahead of any potential carnage.


Sweeping around the 120 degree turn at the bottom of the hill.

Hilarious... I was in the front row but way on the side... this angle put me about 3/4 of the way back within seconds of the start.   It is frustrating to practically be out of contention before you even have completed a lap.  Luckily, there are some races on my calendar that don't emphasize the importance of a good start.  I have achieved many good finishes, but good starts aren't my speciality.

Anyway, we all made it through the corner unscathed, so now it was time to see what kind of damage the hill was going to do.  OUCH!  The front guys were really setting an intense tempo.  The first lap was discouraging, but there wasn't time to reflect... there wasn't any strategizing... this race was just about survival.

I began to edge up on a few guys during the second time up the hill, hoping that the race would eventually slow down.  The third time up the hill was starting to get a bit out of hand.  The momentum of the group wasn't slowing down.  There wasn't anyone attacking, just a very quick pace that caused a stinging sensation in my legs that is hard to describe.  Unfortunately,  I didn't see anyone breeding on the hill, as it's namesake suggested.  This would have been a nice diversion from the pain.  There was a couple embraced under a shade tree, but I didn't see them making out, so quite certain they weren't breeding, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. 

Everything was happening so fast, but I could tell that I was losing ground.  A split of some sort occurred as the hill repeats began to take their toll.  I ended up in a group with Nate Kullbornm (Atlas) and a couple of other guys from out-of-state.  We kept a nice pace around the course, and were encouraged that we were passing riders occasionally.  At some point, we were being told that the lead group wasn't that far up the road.  



Great shot of the field coming over the start/finish area atop the hill.  The pain associated with crossing that line will forever be etched into my memories, due to the emotional connection of the effort.

Well, I wasn't planning on pulling out regardless of what place I was in.  I had driven about two and a half hours to get here and really needed to train at race pace.  Having said that, it seemed like we really did have a shot at getting back into one of the top ten paying spots.  I was beginning to catch glimpses of riders who were up the road but had now pulled out of the race along the side of the course.  I wondered how many people could possibly still be up the road?

Great, I got to find out first hand as Jeff Barnes came around us with about 2 laps to go.  Nate jumped on his wheel and I dangled just a bit behind, not quite able to match that tempo.  Apparently, Jeff  had attacked the group and was trying to hang on for the victory.  He got caught, however, and the group passed me during their sprint.  I counted back and realized I wasn't in the top ten... dang. Breeder's Hill Results.

Here is the group that remained intact towards the end of the race.  Matias Perret (ICCC) went on to win.



Once again, I am a bit confused by the race situation this year.  Am I slower than last year or is the field faster?  I really do think the field is faster.   Ok, my fitness may be off just a bit, but my theory is that the mild winter has given guys more of a head start on me than in year's past.  This combined with the larger, more stacked fields is attributing to my mediocre results.  I am starting to get used to it, however, and enjoying the fact that I am now able to achieve "success" in ways that don't focus on comparing myself to others.  The only time I plan on comparing myself to others from here on out, is when I do better than them. giggle. 

Keep reading this blog, however, as I am sure there will be some races that work out for me.  My fitness is advancing... my motivation is steady... and I look forward to the hot/humid conditions that suit my particular form of fitness.  I think that a lot of guys are peaking right now and will hopefully be a bit burn-out in June and July.  At this point, I am definitely the under dog in the Cat 1,2 racing scene. The less you expect from me, the more motivated I will be to prove you wrong.  The stage is set for a great story with a happy ending.

Iowa City RR - The Pissing Contest

Ok, this title is misleading... the 2012 Cat 1,2 Iowa City Road Race was completely devoid of any pissing  contests.  As defined by wikepdia: A pissing contest, or pissing match, is a game in which participants compete to see who can urinate the highest, the farthest, or the most accurately.  Although the practice is often associated with adolescent boys, women have been known to play the game, and there are literary depictions of adults competing in it. 

One reason for this void was that many of the upper-tier pro/cat 1 teams weren't here this year.  The total starters for the race was 37, down from last year's roster of around 53.  Missing were team's like Texas Roadhouse, Geargrinder, Trek/Tradewinds, etc.  This left a mostly Iowan field with five Iowa teams notably represented; Mercy-Specialized, Bikes2You/WOB, Thrive, Zealous, and, of course, American Equity.

This suited me just fine... sure some guys attempted to see who could pee the farthest, as we entered brief cross-winds sections or climbed up a hill, but ultimately, it became apparent that we were all basically equally capable of projecting urine.  So, this changed the dynamic to feature the concept of trying to waste as little energy as possible (keeping it in your pants?).  Launching off the front wasn't going to do much but lower your potential for success when the inevitable field sprint transpired. Of course, depending on your team's situation, this didn't mean that it wasn't occasionally justified.

The day was actually rather warm, and the wind was at an angle that made it a non-factor.  American Equity lined up with Lucas Guyton, Jeff Bradley, Lou Waugaman, Paul Deninger, and Myself.  Lucas, Jeff, and Lou are very competent in their ability to finish well in a field sprint, so, even though we didn't officially have a 'plan', we are beginning to gel as a team, to know what situations would justify certain tactics.  The 'plan' became apparent after a couple of laps.

The first lap was pretty quick.  I was feeling good until we got to the main climbing section that heads back toward the start/finish.   I couldn't believe how fast we were pushing it up that section.  I came into the corner hot, and was reminded that I am definitely not any stronger than these guys... Fortunately, I am not necessarily any weaker either.  I am sure everyone had switched their ambitions of winning the pissing contest to their ambitions of not losing their shit (sorry, I am stuck on this metaphor, and it may get worse). 

The Pro/1/2 Iowa City Road Race Start...

It seemed like everyone felt that surge, and things calmed down a bit after that.  A couple guys got off the front on occasion, including Brandon Krawczyk... he is from Wisconsin, and comes down to Iowa to get some early season form... He was a marked rider because of his past success.  Paul mentioned we should let them dangle out their, hoping to take away a little of his snap.  I was happy to be able to sort of police things at the front end of the field most of the race.  Especially, later in the race when Jeff Barnes of Iowa City ended up executing a lengthy solo breakaway.  I wanted to make sure American Equity was represented in attempts to bridge.  I also helped keep the breakaways from getting too far out.  I had to be very careful to try and stay in the draft, and not waste much energy, though, as I could tell I was tapering on the edge of getting dropped at times.   The Mercy-Specialized guys demonstrated a lot of control throughout the race and seemed to be racing with measured strength and cunning.  Speaking of measured strength, I was glad not to see my teammates up near me at times when I was using energy... this made me think we were going to have plenty of fire power left for the sprint.

As a metaphor, a pissing contest is used figuratively to characterise ego-driven battling in a pejorative or facetious manner that is often considered vulgar.  This becomes specifically interesting with what happened during our last lap.   We were so content with not trying to one-up each other in our race, we exposed ourselves to one of the most tragic assaults that the male ego can endure... being beaten by women.  Women are in many, many ways the superior species, but I would like to think that men are somewhat more capable in competitions that favor higher testosterone concentrations.  Well, what an awkward moment when the entire women's field passed us.   Really? the men's elite Cat 1,2 field was getting passed by the women's field.  Yep.  We didn't have any idea what to do.  We decided to neutralize the field and let them roll by.  I guess it was sort of a nice break, but weird to just have to sit their and let them roll by, knowing that we were going to have to pass them again once things started to pick up. 

Brian Eppen attempted a breakaway late
in the race that nearly split up the group.

So, just when I thought their wouldn't be a pissing contest, the women pulled their chamois down and entered the game.   Maybe this was payback for all those times we left the toilet seat up.  I wonder if girls are jealous that we can aim our urine.  I think this would be especially hard for women during the winter months when men are able to spell out our names in the snow.

A couple miles later we passed them again.  I was tempted to try and get some phone numbers, but then realized these girls probably weren't that impressed with us at that moment. (They caught us with our pants UP... embarrasing).  A couple guys had girlfriends/wives in the field, and you could hear them greeting their mates... maybe they were setting the stage so they could earn their manhood back later in the evening.

Ok, time to get down to business.   Paul Deninger had done a good job of conserving his energy, and our three 'sprinter types' were still in good form to go for some glory as the race came to a close.  Bryan Moritz of Bikes2You, had been patiently waiting for his moment to pounce, and did so as the race came to a close.  Paul (with some help from Jeff Barnes, and a couple others) eventually closed this down and used the momentum to from a lead-out for Lou, Lucas, and Jeff.   Unfortunately, Brandon Krawczyk saw this and climbed aboard the train. 

Lou timed his launch to near perfection, blazing around Paul with a powerful burst of adrenaline.  Brandon and Matias Perret (Mercy/Specialized) pounced just a split second afterwards.  From the back it was hard to tell who won, it was close... Ultimately, Lou got on the podium with a third place finish, while Brandon claimed another victory in Iowa.  A nice result for American Equity.

This was a great race.  I liked everything about it, except for the fact that I wasn't able to be a factor at the end.  I have to think that I am on the upswing, however.  And, really, the guys I race against are the at the top end of the game, so it is all good.

Lou Waugaman as he sprints to an impressive third place finish.

T-TIME

I re-read that previous post...  maybe a bit dramatized...  but keep in mind that blogs are basically journals that document thoughts and feelings at a particular point in time.   I feel much better today.

"T-Time"

1) Team - Somehow I want to get more involved with the team aspects of the sport.  I tend to isolate myself, even though I am wearing the same jersey as some other guys, I still don't quite 'get it'...  This will come over the course of the season as I get to know the other guys a bit more.   However, I will need to make a conscious effort to not be so self-centered

2) Training - I really got off track with these last few races.  I work best with a solid training routine.  The races were supposed to be a part of my training mesocycle, however things didn't go according to plan... If I follow the plan I have created using my knowledge and experience I will be able to reach peak fitness in six to eight weeks...

3) Thinking - My head is messed up. If you hopped inside my brain during a race you would probably experience an involuntary bowel movement, as it would be frightening at first.  I am used to it, but it still severly limiting my potential.  Thankfully,  there are some cognitive-behavioral tools that I can utilize to get this back under control.

4) Tactics - I have to promise myself to start really executing tactical racing strategies.   I often ignore the tactics of a race because my head is so pre-occupied worrying about other things.  If I can calm my brain down, I can let my intelligence surface.   I am good at chess, I can be good at bike racing. 

5) Technique - I really don't feel connected to my new bike, nor my new wheels.  I will have to start riding it more.

6) Too Legit To Quit - I need to keep my s*^t together and not take things so seriously... it is just  bike racing... I do it for fun and to stay healthy...  also, I think MC Hammer is due for a come back.

Squaw Creek Park Criterium - The Downward Spiral

Well, the nightmare continues, with respect to my racing season.  I wonder if I will ever wake up, or if this dream has just become my new reality.  I won't be able to persist in this downward spiral forever.  Without positive reinforcement, it simply wouldn't make sense to continue.  I loathe the thought of each upcoming race, wondering what new weakness it will expose.  Yet, I work through the psychological blocks, and try to get some positive energy flowing prior to the start.  The race occurs and I experience a disappointing situation.  I feel bad and use coping skills to get through the agony.  I try to look forward to future events, but it seems hopeless.  You don't have to be a psychiatrist to diagnose this as "Depressive Disorder".  Thankfully, it is very low grade, and actually quite a natural response to traumatizing experiences that generate negative cognitive feedback loops.  I keep re-living the failure in my head, and look forward to each passing day so that I can repress the experiences. 

DIARY OF A MADMAN
This blog may take a very dark turn if I don't experience some sort of positive stimuli from my bike racing in the near future...  I vow to keep blogging, as you may find it interesting to watch me either sink or swim.    Will I perservere, or is this just the early stages of a major life transition.  One that isn't as focused on bike racing.  My ego can't take the constant pounding... it simply isn't a pleasant feeling.  The depression carries over into other aspects of my life.  I start my Mondays after a race weekend with a huge sigh.  I rush to create new experiences so that I can distance myself from my disturbing thoughts.  I search for something that I am good at, and then do it.

THE RACE
I wasn't looking forward to this race... I simply am not in a good place right now. Too bad because I won the master's race last year and then came in third in the Cat 1/2 event.   Turned out to be one of my best results of the season.  Not the case this year.  Cold and dreary... the weather wasn't that great either.

Apparently we had 11 guys from American Equity Racing at the start line for the Cat 1,2,3 race.  This was the best part of the day... being a part of the team...  it was enjoyable warming up as a group and chatting with guys who were 'on your side'...  we communicate a lot via the Internet, so it is nice to see each other in person.

The team agenda that captain Jeff Bradley discussed prior to the race involved racing 'straight up' without regard to categories, even though the race did score the cat 1,2's separate from the cat 3's.  Keeping this in mind, we did have a pretty successful race.  Louis DeWild got in a break of three and ended up in 2nd place, and Josh Wandrey finished 5th overall.

My plan was to get to the front of this race from the start, as I have been getting pinched off the back in recent races.  I lined up in the front row and went down the hill with only a few guys sneaking up in front of me.  This worked great for a few laps, as I felt like I was actually in the race.  Unfortunately, I couldn't maintain the effort needed to stay 'in the action' and shot to the back of the pack on one of the downhills.  The field got a gap and I watched them roll away.  It took a couple of laps before they were out of sight.

Ok, what to do now?  This is where  I may have a different approach then some others.  I process the situation and then ask myself if I am planning on quitting bike racing all together or if I am going to make some adjustments and pick up a revitalized training effort...  If I am going to keep trying, then when should I start?  Why not now?  I have a closed course, a challenging hill, and nothing planned for the next hour, as I had originally marked the time for competing in a bike race.  Well, competing in the bike race didn't work out, but there isn't any point in procrastinating, so I began training for the rest of the season with the remaining 10 laps.  Instead of having a carrot up ahead to chase, I was motivated to see if I could avoid getting lapped during this 1.5 mile circuit.  Quite the challenge considering I didn't have anyone to work with.  Gary McNabb was on my wheel for quite a few laps... then a guy from Thrive took his place for awhile.  I wasn't actually expecting to rejoin the group, so I didn't mind them not rotating. 

I almost made it without getting caught, but right before the bell lap the group of three breakaway riders caught me.  It was Bryan Moritz, Louis DeWild, and Brandon Kealy (they finished in that order).  I wasn't sure if I was allowed to join their group so I just followed behind them until the nightmare ended.  Because they passed me right before the line, I technically didn't get in all 18 laps... Crap, the only thing worse then adding another DNF to my results is a "one lap behind".  The price I pay for training during a race.   I have to say, however,  the crowd was very supportive, and I appreciated their words of encouragement.

To tell you the truth, I have been DNF'ing my workouts as well.  I got dropped during a pretty easyTuesday night ride... couldn't find the energy to travel to Moline for the Wednesday night ride I had planned (a DNS?), and struggled to get through one of my standard workouts.  I started it on Tuesday, then again on Thursday, and finally got through it on Friday.  The trick was I had to do it much slower, as I kept blowing up when I tried to do it as fast as I had done it the month before.

YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST RACE
So true.  I did great at the Squaw Creek Criterium last year, but that doesn't really matter.  The past is just that... PAST.  A word of caution to anyone who is on top of their game right now... you only have one direction to go.  As sweet as success can be... it makes it just that much harder to swallow the bitter taste of failure that will be served on your plate from time to time. 

So, am I at the bottom of the spiral, or is there a bit more to go?  I am thinking I can level things out and then start climbing back up over the next couple of months.  Wait a minute, that almost seemed like a positive thought. Sweet... if I can string together a few more of those I might be able to put together a good training block this week.  later.

2012 Tour of Hermann - Criterium/Road Race

Rolling strong in the crit prior to meeting
the impact zone.

CRITERIUM - Saturday
After the morning Time Trial, it was off to the Stone Hill Winery for the Pro/1/2 criterium.  This was a 19 lap event that featured a very fast and bumpy descent and a torturous uphill climb each lap.  I surveyed the course, and was discouraged to see that the course had been shortened from last year creating a very tight right hand corner.

Essentially, after dive-bombing down the descent, sort of like a jet plane during take-off, you put on your landing brakes after only a few brief seconds of being air-born.  The course last year allowed an extra block to accommodate for the speed and had a much wider right hand turn.  Ok, I was a bit concerned, especially when I heard someone mention an "impact zone" where riders would end up, if they miscalculated the corner.

Realistically, though, the uphill portion of the course is the only real factor that comes into play.  It is very steep and separated the group after about 4 laps.  This might have had to do with the fact that the first three laps included King of the Mountain points... extra motivation for those in the hunt for Omnium points.

Each time we went up that hill was indeed torturous, especially during the early laps while we were all still trying to keep connected to the group.  The first major split occurred over the top of the climb at about 5 laps in to the race.  I ended up in the second group.  Each lap created smaller and smaller groups of riders. 

I found myself in a nice group of about 6 or 7 guys.  We were in about 22nd place at that point.  It was discouraging, with respect to our chances to get any of the ominum points that went back 16 places. However,  no one was planning on giving up, as it wasn't really a surprise that the race had gotten broken up like this.  Plus, many of the guys in this group were from Iowa, so we were sort of comparing our fitness.

I was getting into a groove on the downhill portion.  I found a nice line that navigated through a majority of the bumps.  I was fearless going down the hill, but wasn't quite as sure how fast I could go through the corner in front of the impact zone. It didn't seem to be important to take risks at this point in the race, as we were far from contending  the top 5 paying spots.  From my perspective we were basically doing a series of hill repeats, with the downhill portion of the course being a great time to recover and brace for the ascent.  Jeff Barnes (from Mercy-Specialized) would end up passing me right before the corner, which worked well, as he had a better feel for the situation. 

Unfortunately, another Mercy rider named Mario wasn't as content with this process and opted to try and pass me right when we were in the apex of the corner.  This isn't technically even possible considering the physics involved.  The inside angle was simply too tight at that speed.  So, he washed out on the corner right in front of me.  I tried to tighten my line but ran right into him and then launched over the curb into the dreaded impact zone.  Surprisingly, my equipment didn't even suffer a scratch, and I only had a little bit of blood coming out of my left elbow.  A slight bit of road rash on my left shin as well.   Apparently, I had mostly landed on Mario, as he cushioned my fall. 

Mario was slow to get up as his teammates
help him.  The hay bails weren't quite
positioned within the impact zone. 

This is an upsetting circumstance.  I especially don't enjoy cracking my helmet...  brain injuries are a serious situation.  The helmet did its job, thankfully, and I was fine.  Though, I seemed to be having trouble forming coherent sentences for the next several hours.  The adrenaline was pumping and I didn't feel like I could go on, so I paced around the grass, trying to dissipate the explosion of energy coursing through my veins.  The guy that crashed behind me was very slow to get up, mentioning a possible broken collar bone.  Mario was injured as well, and had broken his handlebar... his tour was done... In some ways I was 'lucky'.

So, the walk of shame back up to the start/finish as I enviously watched the race go on.  I was most upset that I wasn't getting the training.  Essentially, it would be nice to get a result at the Tour Of Hermann, but the early season training is what really brings me down here... win or lose, you will always have a good experience, assuming you don't crash out.

ROAD RACE - Sunday
Well, that just leaves one more event, the 90 mile road race.  I was a little shook up from the crit, but optimistic that I could get in some quality mileage against some of the best riders in the Midwest.  It ended up being a cold day.  I mainly mention this because it was so hot last year.  I went through 8 bottles and still needed more.  Not the case this year, as it was only about 53 degrees.

We paraded through town, but then hit the first hill hard...at least it was hard to me.  Crap, it simply shouldn't have felt that hard.  Was someone attacking already?  The first hill didn't seem to end.  Unfortunately, it was soon followed by another and another and another.  This was only unfortunate because I wasn't as strong as I needed to be to hang on. 

The saddest feeling you can have during a race... getting dropped.

It was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened.    I had plenty of time to think about my training and areas that I needed to improve. My toes were cold, nose was running, and arms were chilled... I wouldn't have had any reservations to finish this race had it been as hot as last year, but being cold and lonely wasn't really working out. 

I occasionally road with groups of guys from my race, but mostly just rode solo.  I reminded myself that I would be doing the same thing in Iowa, so I might as well enjoy some good mileage on this very challenging terrain.  Plus,  teammate Paul Deninger was still out on the course, so I wouldn't be able to drive home until he finished.  Keeping that in mind, I completed two laps and then reluctantly called it a weekend. 

I was really impressed with the Mercy-Specialized team from Iowa.  They brought a very large team for both the men and women and enjoyed a successful tour.  In fact, Mathias Perret and Kim Eppen came in 6th and 1st in the general classification respectively.   Of course, teammate Paul Deninger was solid as ever this weekend... that guy definately knows a lot about bike racing and has the fitness to back it up.

I don't regret going to the Tour of Hermann, it is a great event... one of a kind really.  The field this year was much stronger and larger than last year and my fitness may not have been as effective.  This serves as a wake up call.  I am making some adjustments to my training and diet... I found this experience to be extremely motivating.  I love a challenge, and apparently I have a lot of work to do to get back up to the front part of the results against Cat 1's.  I am up for the fight and have targeted some mid-summer races to be back on form.  Alas, the next few races will be very tentative as I am still in recovery mode.  My confidence is in the rebuilding stages.  It will all come together at some point, and I am excited to look forward to realizing some rewarding experiences in future events.

2012 Tour of Hermann - Part One

Dang... this event ended up being a bit of a troubling experience for me... I gained may things, but positive reinforcement for my cycling lifestyle was not one of them...  I definitely cracked hard after Hillsboro... my weight ballooned and my self-confidence was tentative...  so many 'excuses' but I will try to keep that down to a minimum... though it is nice to vent, so my apologies...
Tour of Herman TT

The Tour of Hermann TT start-house.

The idea was to dig as deep as possible to post a solid time in the TT in hopes of getting some points toward the omnium that went back 16 places.  The TT is a 14 mile out-and-back course that includes quite a few steep out of the saddle type inclines.  Not really my specialty, but a fitting profile for this event, known for its challenging terrain.

I was feeling great when I was warming up... ok, except for the fact that it actually was quite chilly... unlike last year, this year's event was a bit brisk.  Actually, it was probably the exact perfect temp for posting fast times for the TT.  I had to wear full gloves and a base layer, but didn't really think about the temperature at all once things got rolling.

I took off feeling good and pretty confident.  I had a chance to ride my TT bike a few times this year, since we had some mild temps in Iowa.   I also brought more appropriate gearing for the course, remembering how steep the climb was at mile 4.

The field this year was definitely at a higher level.  A guy was wearing the stars and stripes USA pro TT champion jersey, for example... ok, 1st place was off the table.  Another guy had on some sort of USA cycling champ skinsuit as well... A pro from bissel and garmin, etc.  As is always the case, good races grow each year and get tougher.

I executed accordingly out on the course and my effort was solid.   I had a better result than last year. I shaved some time off (I think, unless they shortened the course), and posted an improved average speed.  I checked out the results before the last wave and was happy to see that I was in 9th place... perfect!

Oops, all the big guns chose to roll out on the last wave... I watched my time plummet to 20th out of about 42 Pro/1/2 starters.  Dang... this is going to be a tougher field than last year.   TT Results (includes competitors from the entire event). Teammate Paul Deninger, however held on for 11th, so we were happy to have some points on the board.

I will post the report from the criterium that happened later that day and the road race in a few days once I can find some pictures.  Check back if you like reading reports from riders who had "bad days"... 

In the meantime, I am researching ways to induce anorexia nervosa:  Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by excessive food restriction and fear, irrational fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body self-perception. It typically involves excessive weight loss.

This sounds like exactly what I need to improve my cycling... namely excessive weight loss. I also need to have more of a distorted body self-perception.  Lately, I have been liking the way my body looks. Ridiculous, I am 5 pounds heavier than I was at the Tour of Hermann last year... I just can't seem to stop doing push-ups... Hmm, all those donuts aren't helping either.  Younger guys with inherent talent and good genetics can get by with having a normal build... not me, I need to look ill to be bike fit.  I have been getting compliments from non-cyclists regarding how healthy I look.  This has been devasting to my self-confidence.  I know what that means... and it is nothing but trouble with respect to maximizing my power to weight ratio... So please, let me know once I am starting to look sick... I need a pick-me-up, and that will make me feel a lot better.

Hillsboro Roubaix... "I Can't See Clearly Now..."

"... the Rain Won't Go Away"...

The Pro, 1,2 field as it journeys along the slippery course early on in the 87 mile event.

My race was over the night before this event, as I glanced at the weather forecast and noticed that there was a 70% chance of thunderstorms at the race start.  I loaded up my 'training gear' anticipating lots of equipment damage.  Oh well, there is always next time.  I decided to follow through with my commitment to race, mainly because I didn't want to stick one of my teammates with the bill for a full room fee, since we had reserved them as a block.  Yeah, I know, this is a pathetic situation so far... but just be glad I have to the courage to even post a report, considering that much of the experience was basically a nightmare. 

Many pre-registered riders decided not to race considering the rain that was drenching the course... a course that is already infamous for its narrow, tire-shredding, ego-deflating tendencies.  This race is so popular, however, that their spots were soon filled... and 100 Pro/Cat 1,2's started off on our journey.   The female referee acknowledged our masculinity, referring to our courage to enter the race despite the conditions.  This was a chance to proudly display your 'man-card'...

Why... you may ask... well, you see, everyone in this race is completely focused on only one thing... Staying  near (but not at) THE FRONT. Basically, if you aren't moving forward, you are moving backward.  So, 100 skilled, experienced, and accomplished competitors were all very urgently trying to get nestled in to the top 30 spots.  The course twists and turns, and is very narrow, so gaps form often around the corners.  I don't care who you are, or what steroid you have injected, you aren't going to catch back on to this field if you are at the back of the field.  By the time the lead guy makes it around the corner and is cruising along at over 30mph 100 yards up the road,  the guys in back are still creeping around the corner at about 10mph... it is virtually impossible to catch back up.  Sure you can do it for awhile, but eventually all the extra energy you waste gets the best of you.

So, all 100 of us can't make it to the front.  Hmm, how should we decide who gets to stay in this race, and who gets relegated to the back?  Basically comes down to who wants it more... the "Bike Bullies"... perhaps... the guys at the playground that mock the weak and push there way to the front of the lunch line... they seem to be the ones who prosper in these circumstances.

I could suggest that those with the most courage make it to the front... but, in actuality it is way more dangerous to be in the back of large pelotons.  Statistically, you are far, far, more likely to get caught up in a crash.  So, they don't necessarily have more courage... they aren't smarter (we all know we should be at the front)... they are just more assertive about getting there.  Sort of Darwinism (survival of the fittest)... only the strong survive.  If you have the slightest reservation about the situation, you will lose a ton of places and be at the back of this race.

Iowa racer, Brian Eppen, had success getting to the front of the race, and even managed to establish a three-man
breakaway group that stayed away most of the race.  Unfortunately, a flat tire eventually cost him his chance at victory.

One of the many decisions to make when it starts to rain is whether or not to wear protective eye wear.  Teammate Paul Deninger suggested that it is impossible to see with glasses on, but I noticed others in the field had them on, so I kept them on.  What was I thinking?  Just like a windshield on a car, you simply can't see when it is raining unless you have some way of clearing off the lens.  So, honestly, I couldn't see what in the hell was going on at the start of this race. 

Unfortunately, success in this race depends on executing a great start ... Everyone is trying so urgently to get in front of the next guy, creating a huge amount of inertia.  No one is actually putting the hammer down, so-to-speak, rather they are just trying to stay in front of the handlebars of the guy next to them... if everyone is doing this, then the speed accelerates until it reaches critical mass.  Add the corners, wind, and narrow roads and it wasn't long before the guys in the back were pinched off.

"Can you see me now?"... I definitely can't see you... He, he... I can't even see myself in the photos... very ironic.   

Where was I?  I am thinking that I am the guy in this photo (above) in the blurred out black/green kit... not sure. Still in the race, but not enjoying myself much.  I can't even remember when I got 'dropped'... I really didn't have any idea what was going on... I couldn't see anything, so had no idea where I was or what I was doing.  Sure others had glasses on, and couldn't see anything either, and they did better... it all depended on how you let limited visibility and slippery roads effect you.  Some guys thrive in these conditions... they just have a different internal tolerance to treacherous conditions.  Those guys were smiling at the end of this event...

At some point, the obvious happens, a crash occurs and I maneuver myself into the ditch.  I think this is about where I lost contact with the main field, but there were still so many guys around me that it is hard to say.  At about 20 miles in, however, I was very definitely riding in a much smaller 'chase pack'.  I wasn't completely disappointed, because I finally got a chance to take off my sunglasses ("I can see clearly now").  I literally started singing that song by Johnny Nash.  "Ahh"... Ok, now I just had to contend with the mud being propelled toward my eyeballs.   Do I protect my long-term vision, or my short-term injury exposure?  I went short term.. I have seen a lot in my time on this planet, perhaps blindness wouldn't be so bad.


Good picture that illustrates the effects of the precipitation.
(photos by Dennis Flickinger)

With my new ability to see what was going on, I was happy to notice that I was in a group of some pretty noteworthy guys, including former pro Brian Jensen (Trek/Tradewind) and a guy from the Bissel Pro Development Team.   Hmm, we might just be able to catch back on.  I was trading pulls with these guys, and noticing that not everyone in our group felt comfortable contributing to the chase.  Probably because some of the pulls were downright torturous... these were some strong guys.  I was happy to be getting some good riding in. 

Brian Jensen jokingly suggested that maybe there would be a mass pile-up in the main field that would give us a chance to get back in the race. I appreciated his sense of humor, because ultimately none of us were happy to be chasing the field.  Alas, more carnage presented itself, and we actually got back around the Pro 1,2 follow car.  Maybe my overall placing would end up being a bit more respectable after all.

The race organizer always reminds participants to put on a new set of tires, due to the large number of flats that this race causes.  Dang, I had put on my older set of tires/wheels.  Sure enough, at mile 52 my race officially ended, as I flatted and the group left me behind.  I tried my Vittoria Pit Stop... of course, the hole in my tire was too large.  I hobbled in, deciding to cross the line for two laps, avoiding the dreaded "DNF"... though, in fact, I didn't finish.  I did however crack my HED Stinger carbon rear wheel.  OUCH!  What an expensive insult to add to my mental injury.

This race does indeed have a lot in common with its namesake "Paris Roubaix".  I actually feel like I can relate to the pros I watched on TV the week before.   The narrow roads stretch the field out, making position of utmost importance, just like in Paris.  Thankfully, this is pretty much the hardest race of my season (with respect to the quality of the field and skill/experience level needed to succeed). Sort of re-assuring, as I can now pick on some kids my own size in future events. 


These Bissel/Nuvo guys must actually be "Pros"...

they swept the podium... nice.



FYI... I have never regretted  entering a race... I have only regretted not starting a race that I had already decided to do... so, rest assured, I am glad that I participated in this legendary event, and look forward to utilizing the newly acquired perspectives and experiences.


---2012 Hillsboro Roubaix Pro 1,2 Results --

Kent Park 2012: Operation Anti-Fluffer

This picture sums up my race... Bret Bohanan and me rolling up the start/finish trying to create a break-away.

I had a very enjoyable race experience at the Annual Kent Park Spring Classic.  I was hoping to cap off a great week of training with a hard race experience against some strong Iowa Cat 1,2 racers, and that mission was accomplished.

About 20 competitors lined up in the Cat 1,2 field to complete 6 laps of a 24 mile circuit that includes lots of rolling hills and a very steep start/finish  hill.

I was representing half of our American Equity Team, accompanied by teammate Paul Deninger.  Paul wasn't feeling that he had good legs that day, so he offered to help me get into a break... hence OPERATION ANTI-FLUFFER was born.

The plan was for Paul to "soften up the field" at a very strategic point during the circuit...  Once I felt the group was soft enough, I would attack up a subsequent hill, get a gap, wait for company, then roll out a break-away group.  I don't really get too excited about the concept of field sprints, so a breakaway was my best shot at success.

Heading up the Start/Finish at Kent Park.

The name for our plan is based on the fact that a "Fluffer" is a slang term used in the pornographic industry to describe a person in charge of keeping the male actors "Hard" between takes.  So, Paul was doing the opposite of that (Anti-fluffing the field = Softening up the field)... A similar effect happens when one thinks about baseball, or dead kittens while engaging in intimate relations... this is supposed to extend the experience for those who might have endurance issues.

The operation was executed to perfection on the second attempt, towards the end of the race... I was joined by a Dogfish guy named Brett, who had proved that he was in excellent shape... unfortunately, the Zealous teammate (Lane Anderson) that joined us wasn't quite able to contribute to the effort initially (spent from the effort to make the bridge), and there were still several teams unrepresented in the break... namely Bikes2You.  Derek Cassady (Bikes2You) attempted to bridge up.  Had he made it, this would probably be an entirely different report, as I would have finished no worse than 4th.  However, he didn't make it, and the field brought as back within couple of miles. There were just too many teams still able to chase...they weren't "Soft" enough.

Dang, that was about all she wrote for me...  After we were caught I had some free time to come up with the "Anti-fluffer" blog concept.  I pre-write most of my reports during the race itself.  In this case, I sort of lost interest in the event when it was apparent that this was going to be a field sprint finale, so decided to start working on my report.

Coming around to the second part of the last lap, the field sprint was looming.  I heard someone say they were backing off to avoid the chaos about to unfold (probably from another field, as most of the Cat 1,2's don't back down from a sprint).  I took one last shot at getting a gap when Ryan French (Zealous Racing) attacked prior to the last downhill section.  I couldn't quite catch him and wasted myself trying. This race only really acknowledges the first place finisher, which didn't seem likely for me in this situation. So,  I dialed it back and decided to get a good view of the final two turns as I was pretty sure someone was going to wipe out.  Sure enough Kurt Hantleman (Thrive Racing) went down as he reacted to some braking/wheel slippage.  (He was alright, thankfully, just some road rash and torn shorts). With that out of the way, I navigated to the last uphill and tried to maintain my placing.

I really did enjoy the race.  I am not sure if I am supposed to have so much fun when I don't technically attain "Success", but I do... and I can't see any reason to try and make the experience a negative one.  My definition of winning might be different than others, and it is evolving as I mature.  The guys who showed up were in great shape and very skilled racers.  I am happy that I was able to be competitive amongst such a talented field of Midwest athletes:

RESULTS - Cat 1,2 - Kent Park, - March 25th, 2012

1) Kevin Temple - Bikes to You

2) Mariusz Czarnomski - ICCC

3) Bret Bohanan - Dogfish Racing

4)Jim Cochran - Atlas

5)Lane Anderson - Zealous Racing

6) Steven Robinson - Zealous Racing

7) Derek Cassaday - Bikes to You

8) Paul Deninger - American Equity Racing

9) Daniel Galles - ICCC

10) Joe Hetrick - ICCC

11) Chad Bishop - American Equity Racing

12) Bryan Moritz - World of Bikes

13) Jared Osterlon - Thrive

14) Ryan French - Zealous Racing

15) Jerome Rewerts - Zealous Racing

16) Kurt Hantlemann - Thrive

17) Lee Venteicher 1- Bikes to You

18) Chad Vandelune  - Thrive

19) Will Greenwood  - Bikes to You

Question: How many bikes does a roadie need to have?

Answer:  One more than he/she currently has. 
That seems to be about right.  I think I may be close to having enough bikes.  It took about 6 years, but I may be content with owning 7 bikes... each with a very specific purpose... I need each one.

My garage is set-up nicely to house my collection of two-wheeled vehicles.

1) Commuter Bike - this is an old 1988 Trek 1000... I put a saddle with flames on it, and cheesy yellow tires in hopes of making it less theft-prone...  the down-tube shifting is ridiculous... really a single speed because I don't like shifting old-school, too much grinding... the gears were weird back then... cyclists must have been stronger, because I ride in the small ring, the big ring is too large, I guess...  I think it is a 6-speed... I need to commute more...

2) Mountain Bike - Nothing fancy... Marin hard-tail with front shocks... had it about 10 years... still works fine... I take it up to sugar bottom about twice per year, and also haul my son with it...

3) Cyclo-cross  Bike - I bought a Giant CX bike about 5 years ago for $600... still in excellent condition and I use it for gravel training and the occasional race or gravel brevet...

4) Training Bike (Indoors) - My first race bike (Trek Madone 5.0)  has been demoted over the years, and has now been relegated to its final resting place in my basement.  I ride it all the time, as I am sort of a fan of indoor training.

5) Time Trial Bike - My Trek Equinox is getting a bit outdated, and was mid-level when I bought it, but still does the trick... I have a good areo-wheel/handlebar set-up to compensate for the shimano 105 components that came with it...  I like the fact that it isn't the 'latest/greatest' because then I can blame my equipment if I don't do well in a TT or prologue.

6) Training Bike (Outdoors) - Ok, this is my previous racing bike... I didn't even think about selling it, as it comes in handy for solo training rides,  rainy group training rides and/or recreational rides that don't imply my 'race bike'.

My new bike is still awaiting its 'maiden voyage'...

7) Racing Bike - My new Trek Madone is for racing and group race-simulation training rides.  I haven't ridden it yet... 

Along these lines, I have a three car garage, and only one-car... that seems like more than enough... I like the idea of having 2/3 of my garage dedicated to my bikes.

So, I am sort of at 'critical mass'... in that if I get another bike, it will be to upgrade one of my existing bikes, and I will have to finally part ways with a bike.  Hmm, I suppose if I get a girlfriend/wife, I might need to get a tandem... that seems like a hassle.. I will stick with the current plan which is "to nut-up and die alone".

So, the answer to the question, in my opinion is 'SEVEN'.