FALLing

Hmm, not much going on... I finally got some breathing room today at work. I actually took a deep breath and enjoyed the feeling of having gotten my life caught up.  I think the recession is over... seriously, people are starting to feel comfortable about spending money again, and this means I am busier, and eventually richer.  I really do think the economic situation was caused by the gas prices shooting up to $4.00 a few years ago.  It just took awhile to have its effect.  People drove just as much, only had less money because they were spending $80 at the pump.

Anyway, everytime I have gotten some free time, I start considering training for cyclocross.  I have been merely maintaining my an active and healthy fitness lifestyle, not improving my cycling specific efficiencies. Feels like my cycling motivation is 'falling'.

Maybe it is wierd, but I love indoor training.  I am in the process of ordering a top of the line treadmill and exrercise bike.   I can't really justify training inside right now because it is too nice out.

I really do wonder if I am going to race anymore on my bike this year.  My cross bike sucks... I am sure of it.  The frame geometry is odd, the tires are too thin (28mm, while everyone else seems to be rolling on 32 or 35mm), the wheels aren't true, the brakes squeak, the power transfer is suspect...  maybe it is just the guy riding it.  I hop on other people's cross bikes from time to time, and they ride more like road bikes.  Mine seems to ride like a cross-trainer bike that my grandma would appreciate. I've seen pictures of me in races, I look goofy on that bike.  I raise the seat but it always lowers after a ride or two.

All for now... now back to enjoying my Fall.

Ego Defense Mechanisms

It was the father of psychology, Sir Sigmund Freud who originally coined the phrase 'Ego Defense Mechanisms'. Such concepts as projection, minimization, denial, sublimation, etc. are used to describe processes that have become a component of human behavior when an individual struggles to resolve the confilct between their perception of themselves and the apparent reality.

What?  Well, I guess this phenomenon just seemed relevant because my ego took a bit of a hit this weekend, and I have been utilizing ego-defense mechanisms to keep my motivations in check (the rest of this blog entry is text book ego-defense).  While I am still in good shape, my priorities have shifted away from bike racing(ego defense mechanism = rationalization) , yet I continue to race... basically setting myself perform below my potential.

So what?  Not having the time to train during the week lately (ego defense mechanism = distortion), what better way to keep in shape by entering races despite having concerns about readiness.

HARVEST HAMMER DUATHLON
So, I entered the Harvest Hammer Duathlon on Saturday.  I was very impressed with my 5k time of just over 19 minutes.  I had a great lead over most of the duathletes.  Yes, I have been running more, out of a desperate attempt to continue to execute training workouts that can be done in less time.  I felt way better than last year(ego defense mechanism = distortion).  However, duathlons aren't won with great runs, especially this one, because it only has one running segement, so it favors the strong cyclist. I took advantage of this last year to win the event(ego defense mechanism = compensation)  This year, however, my time was a full 3 minutes slower than last.  I have let my cycling power/strength slip, while my running specific cardio-vascular strength is very prominant(ego defense mechanism = delusional projection). 

Bryce Mead, a very accomplished racer was able to pass me about 11 miles into the 21 mile bike segment.  I couldn't catch up.  In fact, I suffered from the same exact cramp of my left calve muscle that I did last year.  This knocked about 30 seconds off of my time, as I soft-pedalled(ego defense mechanism = dissociation).  .  I felt disappointed with my result, since it was so much slower than last year, but inspired by how good the run felt(ego defense mechanism = distortion).

BOBBERS CX
On Sunday, I decided to enter a cyclocross race.  I am not fully comitted to racing cross this year, however, I suspect that I may get more interested in competing as my schedule gradually opens up a bit(ego defense mechanism = denial).   To that end, I didn't want to fall too far behind, so I decided to drive up to Corallville Lake to enter the Masters event.

The day was a bit cold, dreary and wet... but seemed quite fitting for a cyclocross race.  The whole race seemed to go in slow motion.  Slogging through the grass, mud and sand, racers were gradually slipping off  behind me or gaining ground on me up the road.  No attacking, just pedal at your limit and see where you end up.

I came in 5th, just shy of the money.  Really didn't feel that great about how the race went for me, but glad I participated, because I feel a little more prepared for future competitions(ego defense mechanism = delusion).   I guess it is all relative, as the guys who finished ahead of me are well respected and accomplished cyclists, so I really can't feel that bad about finishing behind them (ego defense mechanism = rationalization).

Doing the Running Man

Left: Post race group photo featuring Muscatine runners.  Right: Time Trialing w/o a bike... time check right at the finish.

I have never been so busy as I have been the last several weeks.  I have been trying to hang on to my fitness, but it has been a struggle.  Regrouping for the fall season, however was ultimately in my best interest.  I read an article about cyclocross peaking that mentioned how a lot of roadies start the fall season in great shape, then burn out by mid october because they don't take enough time off between seasons... well, inadvertantly, I did take some time off... maybe a good thing as I am starting to slowly get my life back in order and can realistically see myself being somewhat competitive.

Training for cyclocross is very confusing for me... some workout plans suggest to add running to your weekly routine... ok, so I did.  I even entered a couple local 5k running events and was rewarded with getting a couple of 1st place medals (ok, they were age-grouper style, but still noteworthy).  I tried riding around in a park near my house to simulate a cyclocross race... I got a flat... maybe a sign?

I am seriously looking into doing an indoor triathlon this winter to give me a goal event. I will be able to look forward to adding swimming to my workout options this winter.  I am also in the begining stages of organizing a duathlon that will take place at Wild Cat Den State Park (between Muscatine and Quad Cities) next May.  This will be a great experience, and will motivate my early season fitness.

I think I will try and do about 5 or 6 of the Eastern Iowa Cyclocross Series events and see if I can finish in the top 4. 

If all goes according to plan, I will have some race reports/photos from some of the cyclocross races this season, and maybe some of the other events (running, indoor tri, duathlon, misc.).  I will maintain the right to totally skip cyclocross this year, but really can't see that happening, as I have a bit of an addiction to competitive cycling... Of course, my apologies in advance for any posts that get a little funky... I am a bit out of sorts in the fall and winter, so my mind ventures in some odd places.

Bobbers Cross in North Liberty, and the Harvest Hammer Duathlon in Morrison, Il are racing options this weekend,  so  I might write a report or two next week.

East Village Criterium 2010

The 2010 edition of the East Village Criterium was held Sunday, August 22nd, on a very hot day with heat indexes around 102 degrees.  I entered the 'main event'... the pro/1/2 race.  About 25 competitors lined up to race 70 minutes for 15 paying spots on a challenging course that is directly in front of our state's capitol building.  There actually was a pro rider who entered the race...hometown hero Nick Frey.  If you follow the link, you will see that he is the real deal. 

The East Village Crit course is a bit like a roller coaster... here the group is coming down off the descent at around 34mph.

This race started out intense and never let up.  There is a two block uphill gradient that really ended up making a big difference, as riders were falling off the pace from time to time, not quite able to hang on.  Of course, the heat made the task of staying with the group just that much more of a challenge.

I really do like races that have hills and lots of heat... I guess I can't say that I "like" them, so much as I have better results in races that capitalize on my strengths while minimizing exposure of my weaknesses.  The course and the weather conditions really suited me. 

I was very active and found myself in the front of the group quite often.  In fact, I ended up winning three primes... This is especially noteworthy because I didn't sprint for any of them, I was just coincidently leading the group often enough that it worked out that way.  Again, the challenges of the course and the weather combined with the strength of the field really kept riders in check.  Sprinting for a prime could have been a death sentence, I don't think anyone wanted to take too many risks. 

I took it upon myself to follow some moves, bring back a break or two, and of course, I sat in quite often as well. Though there really isn't anywhere to hide on this course, so riding within the draft wasn't that big of an advantage.

There were quite a few dangerous moves that got up the road.  It seemed like there was an attack of some sort during almost every lap, especially on the uphill section, as we were basically recovering over the rest of the course... sort of bracing ourselves for the next time up the climb.

Above: Riders hammering it up the steep part of the course led by Brian West and Jared Osterloh.

Somewhere past the halfway point of the race, I noted that there were only about 12 people still in our lead group.  Considering that the race paid back 15 spots, I was starting to get excited about my odds of finishing this race with a successful outcome.  I am still a rookie Cat 2 racer, so I really was thrilled to be competitive against this field.

It became apparent that Nick Frey was a very respected participant in our race.  It seemed like you were in good company if you could stay in his group.  He brought back a couple of breaks and raced very confidently.

Above:  Pro 1/2 participants as they race through Des Moine's East Village.

Toward the latter part of the race, Nick made his move.  His attack was timed to perfection, in such a way that no one could answer.  He didn't get too far ahead, at first, but he inched up his gap lap by lap.  Once Nick was out of sight, a group of two that included Jared Osterloh of Team Zealous attacked and formed their own gap.  I looked back to see a bunch of guys wearing blue (ICCC and Zealous).  This meant that those two were going to be gone unless either Brian West or myself chased them down... nope not going to happen.

So Nick Frey held on for the win with 2nd and 3rd crossing the line shortly after.  Fourth place, however was still up for grabs within the remnants of the field.  I hit the hammer at the bottom of the hill and was pleased with the response from my legs.  I came around the last corner to the short finishing stretch in about the first position.  Two guys were able to come around me, as I believe I passed someone as well.  This gave me the 6th position... not too bad.

Team Janis Sutter Home Pro Nick Frey - Winner of the 2010 East Village Criterium

This was an epic battle fitting to be the last stand of the 2010 Iowa Road Racing season.  Congrats to all that faced up to the challenge and even greater props to those who held on to the end.

Category 1/2 Men (25 Starters)

1 Nick Frey, Jamis-Sutter Home
2 Jared Osterloh, Zealous Racing
3 Jeff Barnes, ICCC
4 Shadd Smith, Mercy Elite Cycling
5 Ryan Nenninger, ICCC
6 Chad Bishop, Harper’s Cycling and Fitness
7 Michael Sencenbaug, Zealous Racing
8 Brian West, Colorbiotics
9 Matias Perret, ICCC
10 Jerome Rewarts, Zealous Racing
11 Adam Price, ICCC
12 Greg Harper, Melon City Bike Club
13 A.J. Turner, Colorbiotics
14 Chris Eastburn, ICCC
15 Derek Cassaday, Workld of Bikes/Bikes to You
16 Tracy Smith, Mesa Cyclers
17 Steve Robinson, Zealous Racing
18 Finn Kolsrud, Colavita Racing
DNF Lane “No Free Lap” Anderson, Zealous Racing

2010 Big Creek Road Race

This 2nd annual event was held just north of Des Moines at the Big Creek State Park.  There were several race divisions that all started a couple minutes apart beginning with the 57.5 mile Cat 1,2,3 race that I entered.  It got a bit confusing as we began passing other races, but also sort of fun to watch other groups compete as we passed by.  The first lap was fast and I noted that we were averaging 27mph. I also was relieved to notice that there were quite a few solo riders taking up the duty of chasing down attacks by Team Zealous and Mercy-Specialized, as both teams were well-represented.

After I watched several attacks get brought back in, and felt that the field had softened up a bit, I started looking up the road for a break to bridge up to.  I saw a guy from Zealous (new guy on team named Michael) and Brian West (Colorbiotics) and thought that seemed promising, so I went for it.  Several riders bridged up and a break started to form.  This was a critical part of the race as everyone was trying to get up to the break or defend their teammates move.  Iowa City got a guy up eventually (Ryan Nenninger), as Brian West swapped with his teammate Austin Turner.  Derek Cassady of Bikes2You made several attempts to join the break, but was unsuccessful, leaving B2U unrepresented. 

The Cat 1/2/3 breakaway group, as it works together trying to create a gap.

A closer look at the Chase group led by Kevin Temple of Bikes2You.

I was very motivated to make this break stick, but became a bit discouraged when it ended up having 9 people in it... that is a bit large for a race that only pays back 7, but none-the-less, things were looking good.  Iowa City and Zealous both had 2 guys in this lead group so the pack was probably struggling to find enough riders to work the chase.

The leading group of 8 (soon to be nine once Jeff Barnes joined), rotating through attempting to create a definitive gap.

I will have to admit that I wasn't really in sync with the group intially.  I was scolded for pulling through too hard but eventually settled in to their rhythm.  Towards the final laps of this 10 lap course, we knew our break would stick, so our pace slowed down a bit, as riders were starting to cramp and/or fatigue.  It didn't seem that hot at the start of the race, but it got hot quick, and two bottles just wasn't enough.

Towards the very end of the race our break still had 8 riders,  as Mike (Team Zealous) and Ryan Nenninger (ICCC) got a gap... Unfortunately, the other two solo riders weren't helping bring this back and Clark Priebe launched himself off into the gap.  So I was in a very confusing race situation... as Jared Osterloh (Team Zealous) and Jeff Barnes (ICCC) were doing a great job of defending their teammate's moves (checkmate?).

I tried to get up the road  by creating a gap instead of pulling everyone, but the five riders were stuck to me like glue.  I slowed way down a couple of times but no one came around me.  And then, rather predictably, with about 500 meters to go, the riders behind me attacked, and I blew up.  My tentative 'chasing' didn't work out well for Clark either, as I kept the group just close enough that they caught him before the line. 

So, I really did have an enjoyable experience despite finishing one spot out of the money in 8th.  Sure, I would have faired  better if a smaller lead group had formed but being in the winning break is a thrilling experience and much better than chasing one down.  The organizers stepped things up a notch from last year's debut, and it was really appreciated, thanks for all who put this race together.

2010 Iowa State Time Trial Champion!!

I am pleased to announce that I won the 2010 Iowa State Time Trial Championships, taking home the Gold Medal in the Cat 1,2 division.  It has been a goal of mine for several years to someday accomplish this result, and it feels very rewarding to have achieved success.

---Link to 2010 results---
1st - Chad Bishop - 51:47:51  (28.8mph)
2nd - Paul Deninger - 52:48:60  (28.2mph)
3rd - Jeff Barnes - 53:00:82  (28.1mph)

I really did put a lot of focus on training for the Iowa State Road Race this year, and wasn't sure how that might effect my Time Trialing performance.  Things didn't really go according to plan at the road race, so I was sort of bummed out afterwards (maybe just late season burnout).

Here is a picture of me at the awards ceremony.

Apparently, all of the pain and suffering was worth it, as I couldn't have asked for a better result at the TT.  The time spent training for the State Road Race ended up creating a nice late season fitness peak.  I felt strong and focused the entire race.  

Maybe a good time for some history:
---2009 Iowa State TT Top 3---
1st - Paul Deninger - 52:34
2nd - Jeff Barnes - 52:38
3rd - Chad Bishop - 53:35
---2008 Iowa State TT Top 3---
1st - Jeff Barnes - 52:53
2nd - Chad Bishop - 53:28
3rd - Sean Walker - 53:57
---2007 Iowa State TT Top 3---
1st - Paul Deninger - 54:05
2nd - Sean Walker - 54:30
3rd - Nathan Moenck - 55:01
(13th - Chad Bishop - 58:23)
Congratulations to all who showed up to "race against the clock".  

Heading up to Des Moines this weekend to sort of wrap up the 2010 Road Racing season at the Big Creek Road Race and East Village Criterium.  Then things get a little funky as I have two duathlons on my race calendar and maybe even some cyclocross. Below are two videos of the 2009 East Village Event to get you all fired up:

Thanks for reading and happy rides.

2010 Iowa State Road Race... The Wrath of ZEUS!

Zeus (the greek sky god, who controls the weather, especially rain and lightning) really had his sights set on West Branch this year...

I had trained for the worse case scenario, as I looked forward to the 2010 edition of the Iowa State Road Championships.  I was anticipating hot and oppressively humid conditions, and spent a lot of time riding in the midst of the summer heat.  I was determined to have a stronger finish then in the previous two attempts, which were plagued with cramping and de-hydration...
 
Ok, I guess I did accomplish this goal... however, it wasn't as much a result of my focused training regimine... it had more to do with the fact that it rained most of the race, creating rather 'pleasant' riding conditions with respect to the physical demands.  Sort of disappointing, because I was actually looking forward to suffering.
 
Yes, we did suffer a little due to the reduced visibility from the rain spatter... but really, it was a nice, cool day, and the rain allowed for a comfortable riding situation with respect to hydration and body core temperatures.  For example, unlike last year, the hand-ups weren't as crucial. In fact, I ended up with more bottles than I needed, and even saw guys tossing out full bottles toward the end.  We just weren't sweating that much, nor riding that hard, which neutralized the importance of the feed zone.
 
EUROPEAN STYLE RACING... the 'natural break'
 
Always nice to get some culture, as I experienced some 'european style racing'....
ok, what I mean is  "Hey! U R PEEING"... 
There sure was a lot of urinating going on... Brian Abbott confirmed this suspicion, as he was the follow vehicle.  A very simple explanation... a lot of us were hydrating as if the rain would stop and the heat would pick up, but it never happened.  Thus, lots of fluids needed to be evacuated.  In fact, a few of the guys who held it the entire race could later be seen  'watering' the flower bushes in front of resident's homes... not able to hold it any longer.  I suppose the 'adult diaper' approach, and/or the 'jealous female astronaut tactic'  was also being employed throughout the race, as the rain could potentially mask any fluid's that might be surreptitiously streaming from rider's pedals.  Such a difference from years past, as our bodies were holding onto every precious drop of moisture... not the case this year.
 
ZEUS... I FORSAKE THEE!!!
Did I pee?  You bet... it was a sort of  'pee protest'... as I protested to the great gods of rain for denying me the pain and suffering I had been anticipating all year long.  "Zeus!  I smite thee, alas receive my golden damnation!"
------------
Really?  Am I going to write an entire race report that  features a recap of how often we peed?  Well,  you know, sorry, but I think that is going to be all I got this year... This race is awesome, even with the rain, and I will mark it as a goal event next year... but there really aren't many highlights.  We basically just rolled around for about 4.5 hours and then had a field sprint at the end.  A few guys might have gotten dropped, but most of the people that fell off the pace had some sort of technical issue.  It should also be mentioned that quite a few of the Cat 1 strongmen weren't present this year, which also contributed to the lethargic tone of this race.  108 miles is a long distance for the typical Cat 2 or Cat 3 rider... without some of the 'big guns' there to stir things up... well, things didn't get stirred up much.
 
Having said that, I am very happy to have gotten 8th in the Cat 1/2 field that paid back 10 places.  My training for this race did pay off, just not in the way I envisioned it.  I am already thinking about next year... hopefully Zeus has  heard my outcry and accepted my sacriledge with the disdain I intended.. I demand that he show mercy on us next year by allowing for the summer heat to destroy the field... praise the sun god Helios... may her wrath forsake us in 2011...

Men Pro/1/2 - Iowa State Road Race (108 Miles)

1. Jeff Barnes, Iowa City Cycling Club - Mercy-Specialized (IOWA CITY, IA) [Gold]
2. Lee Venteicher, Bikes To You / World of Bikes - (WAUKON, IA) [Silver]
3. Ryan French, Team Emu - Zealous Racing (DES MOINES, IA) [Bronze]
4. Brian West, Central Iowa Cycling Club - Colorbiotics (CEDAR FALLS, IA)
5. Adam Koble, Speedfix Racing p/b Zubaz - (EAU CLAIRE, WI)
6. Robert Chorost, RIDECLEAN - (TUCSON, AZ)
7. Jerome Rewerts, Team Emu - Zealous Racing (NEVADA, IA)
8. Chad Bishop, Melon City Bike Club Inc. - Harper's Cycling & Fitness (MUSCATINE, IA)
9. Steven Robinson, Team Emu - Zealous Racing (DES MOINES, IA)
10. Carson Christen, Iowa City Cycling Club - Mercy-Specialized (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA)
11. Gregory Springborn, Peoria Bicycle Club - Proctor Cycling Team (PEKIN, IL)
12. Michael Sencenbaugh, University of Arizona - (CARROLL, IA)
13. David Paquette, Team Wisconsin - Team Wisconsin / MC2 (DECORAH, IA)
14. Jonathan Nelson, POWERADE - INDEPENDENT FABRICATION (SIOUX CITY, IA)
15. William Greenwood, Bikes To You / World of Bikes - (IOWA CITY, IA)
16. Brandon Krawczyk, Speedfix Racing p/b Zubaz - (WAUKESHA, WI)
17. Finn Kolsrud, Colavita Racing Inc. - Colavita Racing (IOWA CITY, IA)
18. Matias Perret, Iowa City Cycling Club - Mercy-Specialized (IOWACITY, IA)
19. Adam Price, Iowa City Cycling Club - Mercy-Specialized (DURANT, IA)
20. Robert Brokaw, Team Mack Racing Assoc. LTD - Team Mack Racing Assn (ROCHESTER, IL)
DNF. Ryan Nenninger, Iowa City Cycling Club - Mercy-Specialized (IOWA CITY, IA)
DNF. Clark Priebe, POWERADE - INDEPENDENT FABRICATION (SIOUX CITY, IA)
DNF. Garrett McAllister, Team Wisconsin - Team Wisconsin / MC2 (DECORAH, IA)
DNF. David Lippold, Team Emu - Zealous Racing (WEST DES MOINES, IA)
DNF. John Olney, Iowa City Cycling Club - Mercy-Specialized (IOWA CITY, IA)

River Nymph Sightings while training for the IA State Road Race

How do you prepare for a 108 mile Cat 1/2 road race?  I don't have a clear-cut answer, but it seems obvious that putting in lots and lots of mileage couldn't hurt.

To that end, I decided to head to West Branch on Sunday to pre-ride the Iowa State Road Race course. 
Man, I gotta say, that sure was boring...  The course is great for the race, but hard to endure as a solo training ride.  I decided that this had a lot to do with the fact the roads are somewhat straight and wide open... right after you crest one gradient, the next one presents itself, so you sort of end up anticipating the next climb, even though it is way up the road... very mind numbing.

I almost started wishing some bike-hating motorists would heckle me, just to give my mind something to process.  Whatever happened to the art of 'mooning'.   It would have been somewhat entertaining to have someone's ass streaking by me at 55mph.  I suppose if I could hand-pick the method of interaction that I was 'exposed' to, I would have to request some sort of drive-by female 'flashing' scenario.  That would have kept my mind off of the various aches and pains that were occupying my thoughts as I endured mile after mile, under the hot summer sun.

Thankfully, I was rewarded with some heat-related delusions toward the latter part of the training ride that helped get me through the effort...  This race course crosses the Cedar River twice per lap.  I began to envision myself jumping in, enjoying how refreshing it would be.  Some of the cheerleaders that had flashed me earlier, just happened to be sunbathing along the bank... and offered me some ice-cold Cytomax and a six-pack of GU.  They then grabbed some of the sponges that they had been using at their fund-raising car wash earlier that day, and trickled ice cold water across my forehead and on the soles of my burning feet.  As I prepared to leave, they asked if I wanted a lift back to West Branch, but I heroically declined their offer, and rode off into the sunset as they gasped in awe.

The delusions continued and got a little bit odd as I crossed the Cedar River for the last time, at about mile 95.  I looked over the bridge and was delighted to see three River Nymphs... some sort of a flashback from the movie 'Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"...

What a welcoming sight, as the three of them approached me and began to pour a delicious brew of mysterious fluid down my dry throat.  I wasn't sure what exactly to make of the jug's label...'XXX', but I could definately say that it wasn't filled with Gatorade. 

Ahh, how refreshingly intoxicating... but then reality set in, as I came to my senses and realized I still had several miles of riding left.

It seemed important to finish the training distance, so I completed all 109 miles.  I basically felt good, just mentally bored (aside from the delusions)... Putting in a fair amount of milage year after year seems to be having a cumulative effect on my strength as an endurance athlete and should put me in good form for this Saturday's State Champ RR.

Well, getting there is half the fun, so I won't have any regrets, regardless of the outcome, I can't wait to ride the course with the company of some of the state's finest athletes on race day.  I would suggest not following my wheel during the river crossings, however, as you never know when the urge to search for those river nymphs and their triple X brew might cause me to launch off the bridge.

Iowa State Road Championships - 2010 Category One/Two Preview

On August 7th, the 2010 Iowa State Road Championships will be held in West Branch, Iowa.  Pro 1/2 and Cat 3 participants will be racing 4 laps totalling 108 miles (175km).  I nearly soiled my chamois back in 2008 when the Iowa City Cycling Club took over this event and introduced the 108 mile distance.  A lot has changed for me since then, and I am much less intimidated by this event. So, here are my thoughts regarding this year's competition.

MERCY-SPECIALIZED (Iowa City Cycling Club)

Mercy-Specialized are a crazy strong team and will have ear-marked this race as one of their goal events. They will be prepared to battle accordingly. Last year they got two guys on the podium (Jeff Barnes and Dewey Dickey), and will be dreaming of similar results. They dominated last year's race getting 4 guys into the top ten. Adam Price, Brendan Kealey, Carson Christen, Matias Perret, Joe Hetrick, Ryan Nenninger, Brian Eppen... all guys who could contribute to the team's success. They are currently leading the Iowa Cup Team competition, followed by Bikes2You, and would be happy to extend their lead.

ZEALOUS RACING

This Des Moines area team is very deep in terms of talent and strength, not to mention a good tactical sense.  With so many 'cards' to play, this is their race to lose, but I wouldn't count on that.  Their main threats seem to be Lane Anderson (finished 5th last year) and Jared Osterloh (7th last year), with strong support from the likes of Jerome Rewerts, Ryan French, Dave Lippold, Kurt Hantelmann, etc.  I predict that they will basically engage in two plans.  Plan A... get one of their strong men into an early break and see if it sticks.  The rest of their guys won't have to chase, saving their legs for later in support of their protected rider, if the break is caught (Plan B).  These guys are great at defending moves and creating favorable racing scenarios for themselves.  They executed this move to perfection at the 2010 Clear Lake Road Race, with Jared in the early move.  Eventually that move was caught, and Ryan and Jerome later took on the task of setting up Lane Anderson for the win. They should have a couple guys in the top ten, but yet to be seen if they can get on the podium to earn one of the three available state medals.

VELOSPORT RACING

This team has been consistent throughout the year with their cat 1/2 team basically consisting of Jeff Bradley, Lou Waugaman, and Paul Deninger. Jeff was the 2009 winner, and has some serious credentials that provide him with huge amounts of respect within any race he enters. Lou always finds a way to finish strong (9th last year, 4th-Clear Lake RR, 1st-Kent park, etc.).  Paul Deninger has been successfully racing for over two decades, and has been a dominant Time Trialist and all-rounder.  He will look to his expertise and physical strengths to create racing situations that allow for the highest probability for success.

BIKES2YOU/WORLD OF BIKES

This is a very different team from years past, with Sean Walker and Tracy Thompson absent for the 2010 racing season.  Things seemed to go downhill for these guys when Tracy cut off part of his finger (aka... nubbie).  Fortunately, there was a silver lining to this unfortunate loss, as Derek Cassady joined their ranks along with a couple of strong Cat 3's (Kevin Temple/Grant Headley, etc.).  Bryan Moritz is in great shape and currently leading the Iowa Cup race, followed by his teammate Derek, so they are obviously having a good season.  This could be the race where it all comes together with respect to showing off their team strength.

Lots of other riders should be factors (Bryan West, Clark Priebe, Cody McCollough, Jim Cochran, etc.), not too mention out-of-state and solo riders.  So many variables to contend in a 108 mile road race, so who knows how this race will actually shake out. 

For those who make it to the final lap, it is always a battle of wills with several groups of riders strung out throughout the course... some merely satisfied to finish, others queing up for an opportunity to be the 2010 Iowa State Road Champion... good luck to all.

Superweek - Day 3 - Pro 1,2 Lake Front Road Race

I entered the Pro 1,2 Lake front road race on Wednesday.  I was excited to be lining up in my first regional Pro 1,2 race with about 90 or so very talented riders.  I enjoyed rolling along next to some of the pros from Team BMC, Fly V Australia, etc.

I was basically having a great time throughout this event.  The field would get stretched out into a single file line at  various points throughout the course, which was an awesome sight, as this was a huge field.  I also found it thrilling during the times we were descending about 46mph along the lake front... The beach was filled with shiny happy people, and lots of energy at the feed zones.

My favorite part of the course were the uphill portions.  The energy of the field made them very managable.  The worst parts were after 90 degree corners, as the guys in the back were 30 or 40 seconds behind the front guys, and usually had to break into a full on sprint until the group came back together. 

About 45 miles into the race, the first crash occured going up Ravine Road.  We were only going about 19 mph but it still took out quite a few guys.  Someone said "we're getting tired", and I knew exactly what he meant, riders were starting to lose some of their riding faculties based on fatigue.

This race did have a somewhat technical downhill chicane.  It wasn't as bad as I anticipated because we were in a single file line, but still an area to be cautious.  It actually had a 10 foot patch of water  running across it, which didn't seem like a big deal, but I guess I was wrong...

With only 7 laps to go, I was smiling ear-to-ear, because I was feeling good, and starting to entertain notions of trying to place well overall.  The peleton had broken up into two, with a lead group of about 11 guys up head of us.  I was in the back group, but still very happy and really focusing on enjoying the moment.

Heading down the chicane, a fatigued rider crashed ahead of me... It seemed like it was far enough ahead that I could get around it.  I steered to the left and applied the brakes as other riders were going down limiting my space cushion.  I hit the wet patch and went sliding down the hill... I ended up rolling and counted 11 different areas where I had broken the skin on both sides of my body.  The only scary one was on my chin... breaking a jaw would have been less than ideal.

Whew, I was basically alright (nothing broken)...I popped right up an got on my bike... crap, it was useless (handle bar turned, break pads rubbing, etc).  This crash took out the entire Iowa field (ok, it was just me and Jeff Bradley, but still a true statement).  Jeff had actually won this event when it was the US National Championship back in 1978, so that was a fun stat... not so fun that he got caught up in this pile up.

Looking at the results, a lot of guys must not have finished.  I am almost certain that I was going to place, as I was 50 miles in with only about 34 to go, and feeling more and more confident with each lap.  I don't regret entering this race, despite the outcome, because I feel that I have gained great perspective and experience that I can use in future races.

Superweek - Day Two - Bucyrus

Great course, good field, well organized, unfortunately for me it only took a few pedal strokes to predict a field sprint... this sort of drained my enthusiasm, but still had a good time.  The course was a short one at only 28 miles (took just over an hour).

Racing against these master's is like playing chess with myself... everyone knows each other's moves and seems to have similar skills.  Having raced agressively yesterday only to have everything brought back together, I decided to try the opposite, and sit in... hmm, that seemed to be everyone else's plan too... go figure. Jeff Bradley and Lou W. of Iowa have joined in on the tour and are also listed on the results.

This race ended up being more of a casual affair, and inspired me to enter the Pro 1,2 race today in Milwaukee.  It is the Lake Front Road Race.  It is on my 'bucket list' to enter a regional pro 1,2 event, so might as well give it a go.   I am hoping for some good training for the upcoming Iowa state road race.  This is a 93 mile event with two noteworthy climbs and will have guys from all over the world (Columbia, Australia, etc.). 

I have realistic ambitions, just hoping to be listed amongst the finishers, but more imporantly, I just want to feel like I got a chance to race my ass off.  If I pull off to the side of the road deliriously exhausted, I will have a smile on my face the whole car ride home. Of course, I hope this happens just after the finish of the race not during, but I will take what I can get, as I have no idea what to expect... racing at this level is entirely new to me.

Superweek - Day One

In entered the Master's Cat 1/2/3 event in Whitnall Park (Hales Corners, WI) on Monday.  There were about 45 guys lined up to race around 30 miles (13 laps) over a course with rolling hills and soft corners.  This was called a 'road race' but really did feel more like a criterium, due to the short duration and multiple number of laps.

The usual racing situations emerged with gaps forming and people bridging up in hopes of creating a break.  I reluctantly brought one back early on, but this was sort of the norm in this race, as everyone was capable of performing well, and didn't want too large of a break to get away.

Two guys ultimately got up the road, as others took their chances each lap to get up the road.  I went on my breakaway rampage about 20 miles in.  I got into (or started) about 4 seperate breaks, but ultimately nothing stuck.

Well, that tactic was sort of an "all or nothing" approach, which didn't give me enough left for the finish, which was sort of an uphill grind.  No one really came around me, but I didn't gain any spots either, to finish 26th. 

If I would have sat in the whole time, I most likely would have been able to get in the money, basically saving my 'attack' for the finish line. I only say that because it reminds me that the field's up here are tough, but not so bad to be discouraging... there is a certain combination of tactics, strength and luck that will work... hopefully I can find this combination at one of the next two races.

Winning the Illinois State Champs... ABR style

If American Bicycle Racing were a beer... it probably would be a PBR (aka... Pabst Blue Ribbon)...  a little funky tasting but gets the job done.... If USA Cycling were a beer, it would probably be a Sam Adams... a bit more expensive, with a richer taste... but in the end beer is beer... if I were a beer I would probably be an Icehouse... sort of cheesy, but with more booze and a wicked aftertaste that makes you want to drink something else. (really not sure what I meant by any of that... apologies).

Anyway, I traveled just on the other side of  the river to Illinois to enter the Mississippi Bluffs Road Race, which was this years ABR Illinois State Road Championships.  Yes, the subtitle of the this blog is "Racing Bikes in Iowa"... you guessed it I am from Iowa, so wasn't eligible to win the State Champs jerseys or actual title of ABR Illinois State Champ, but was eligible to poach some cash, assuming things went well for me.

I entered the Open Category event, which was 4 laps over 100k, with a few noteworthy hills to use as launching pads.  It was hot, so the group was timid... The first lap everyone was feeling each other out.  It is strange entering these ABR events in Illinois, because I had no idea who anyone was, so wasn't sure which wheels to mark.

As we headed up the steepest hill to end the second lap, someone attacked and I followed the move.  I pushed it over the top as a group of three of us began to rotate through... that was the last I saw of the field.

I tried to feel out my breakaway partners... at some point I had an inadvertant gap on them... I looked back and it seemed like they were conspiring against me, as they seemed to know each other... not the best situation... perhaps a bit of interstate rivalry? (probably not, but more fun that way)
About midway through the last lap, one of the guys got a flat... hmm, that was sort of lucky for me, because the other guy was the softer of the two, mentioning that he had just gotten back into cycling after a horible accident he suffered last year.

Eventually, he indicated that he was happy to get second, (which would still be a cash payout and the jersey/title since he was an Illinois resident and ABR member)... ok, so we just had to make sure not to get caught.  I eventually dropped him on the last climb and rode it out to win the race.  Thanks to Donnie Miller and the gang at ABR for hosting this event...

Now I am heading to Milwaukee to do three of the Superweek races starting Monday... cheers.

Clear Lake Race Weekend

Well, I entered three races and got paid three times, which is a noteworthy accomplishment, considering the many challenges of this race series.  Thanks to North Iowa Spin for this bike friendly weekend of activities.
(Link to my results)

MASTER'S 30/40+ CRITERIUM

I couldn't resist the opportunity to try and get comfortable on this very technical 8-corner crit course, so I entered the Master's event, hoping that it wouldn't end up being too hard, so that I could save some energy for the Cat 1/2/3 event later that day... nope, I was wasted after this one.

While the race started casually enough, the guys in blue from Team Zealous raced to perfection.  Jerome Rewerts got off the front and stayed about 25 seconds ahead of us the whole race.  His teammates managed the field as Duane Dickey, Paul Deninger and myself ended up being their main threats.  Unfortunately, we aren't on the same team, though we sort of aligned forces as the race situation progressed, noticing that the Zealous guys had a serious advantage.  I was chasing down every move I could, hoping to finish within the top 6 paying positions. 

At some point Lane Anderson of Team Zealous bridged up to a solo attack, then dropped that guy and joined Jerome in the break... this was very impressive.   They acknowledged this accomplishment as they crossed the finish line.

Eventually the field seemed to implode as I found myself in a group with Jared Oserloh of Team Zealous and Paul Deninger of Velosport Racing... Ok, things were looking good, as the worst I could finish is 5th, assuming our break stuck.

Jared, perhaps just a bit fresher since he had been racing defensively, but mostly just because he is a gifted racer, managed to get a 5 second gap on me and Paul and then hold it for several laps to finish 3rd.  The Team Zealous guys finished 1,2,3 with Paul, Me, and Dewey finishing 4, 5, 6 respectively (yeah, that stings a bit)...

CAT 1,2,3 CRITERIUM

Ok, time for the main event.... 39 participants lined up to race 60 minutes for 19 places and $2,000.  The headline of this report is a guy named Brandon Krawczyk of Speedfix Racing... This is the same guy that put down such a fast Cat 3 race last year, that only about 1/3 of the field could hang on...  so here he is again doing the exact same thing... crap!  Researching his background, it turns out that Speedfix Racing is a team that specializes in Track racing... ah, now it makes sense.

Ready, set, go... the race was on and was full tilt the entire time.  Before I even had a chance to think about moving up the field Brandon, Bryan Moritz (Bikes2You) and Ben Anderson(Team Wisconsin) were off the front.  They stayed that way the entire race with Jeff Barnes (ICCC) maintaining a solo move between the break and the field to finish 4th, and Brandon getting first.  Ok, so this meant everyone else was left to chase, and as far as I could tell they were chasing fast and furious.  We were probably averaging about 28mph.

CRAZY COUSIN'S CORNER
So, every family seems to have a 'crazy cousin'.. sort of the black sheep of the family...  well this crit has a crazy corner that seems almost impossible to completely master.  It is located off of the lakefront straitaway as we turn back into the neighborhood.  I will have to admit I was fighting this corner in both races and wasted valuable energy.

Despite the fact that this race was faster than the Master's race I previously entered, it wasn't as physically demanding (I was always in a draft).  It was however, very technically demanding.  You had to really fight to hold your position.

Fatigued from the first race, I wasn't up for the fight... In fact, I sat in the tailgunner position the whole race.  This gave me a good perspective of the carnage, as about 17 guys fell off the pace by the time things were all said and done.   I was never in danger of being dropped, but was also never able to find the strength or opportunity to advance.

I was happy to have finished 19th, which was still a paying result.  It is hard to resist 'doubling up' but I may consider only racing one crit event next year, as I was spread a bit thin.

ROAD RACE (82 Miles)

Ah, time for the road race.  There were 40 Cat 1/2/3's lined up racing for 16 spots.  Always a great pre-race vibe as the famous Surf Ballroom is race HQ.  This race reminds me of a pro-tour stage race in that it is point-to-point and has a 4 mile neutral start, as we 'parade' through town.  Unfortunately for me... it is basically flat, so would be considered a 'day for the sprinters', had Bob Roll or Paul Sherwyn been commentating.

No one stuck a flag out of the sun roof to signify the actual start of the race, but it was obvious as the pace quickened.  The 'early morning break' was very dangerous.  It contained Clake Priebe, Paul Deninger and Jared Osterloh.  Fortunately for the solo riders, it didn't contain a couple of major teams such as Bikes2You or Mercy Specialized.  This suggested that it would eventually get brought back as some of the teams would sacrifice riders in an effort to give their teammates a chance at the top money.

It was a very casual pace for the middle portion of the race.  The field was keeping the breakaway in mind, but letting it slip up the road.  With about 30 miles to go, it became apparent, however, that the chase was on.  I was in the back of the field, so I don't know exactly who was doing what, but they were chasing at around 32mph most of the time, and it was often a struggle just to keep in contact with the peloton.

The cross winds proved to be key variables in this race.  Towards the latter parts of the race, we were riding single file along the 'gutter' with very little draft.  The wind direction combined with the fierce chase began to drop riders.  As we began to catch the three-man break, I could see the guys who had been responsible for the 'catch' slip past me(exhausted from the chase).  And then, one-by-one... Clark, then Paul, and eventually Jared slipped through the field and off the back.  Their move would have easily stuck had it not been for the motivated field.

Not sure why, but the pace didn't really let up after we caught them, making this one of the hardest phases of the race, with the cross winds still a factor.  I was praying for the race to change directions so I could get some relief from this situation.

As we turned into the final stretches there were only 18 riders left.  Alot of things had transpired to set up this situation, but now it was time to finish things off.  The group began to attack each other in these last few miles, and I was able to get myself into several favorable situations.  Ryan French and Jerome Rewerts did a good job of setting a high tempo, as their team still had 4 guys in the race.  In fact, their teammate Lane Anderson followed the moves to perfection and won the field sprint.  I finished 13th out of this group, which felt rewarding... all things considered.

Whew, that was a great weekend.

Cedar Rapids Racing Weekend

25 Cat 1/2's lined up to race 40 laps around the downtown of Cedar Rapids in hopes of earning some glory at the annual Iowa State Crit Championships.  The course is a basic 4 corner .6 mile loop with wide and smooth corners.  Ends up feeling sort of like a track.

Bryan Moritiz of Bikes2You attacked right off the bat and I got sucked onto his wheel in a quick break.  When that didn't work, the reality of how aggressive this field was began to set in, as the pace was fast and furious... and it never let up. 

At one point, I found myself in a nice break with two guys each from Bikes2You, Zealous Racing and Mercy-Specialized...yes!  I was a bit tanked, but tried to contribute as I could.  Ryan French attacked from within the break, which broke up the momentum (at least for me). We were eventually reeled back in. 

The breaks weren't working, so I just tried to hang on, and focused on the sprint.  I held my position well to end up 13th... I finished 13th last year in this event as a Cat 3, so just that much better to do it at the Cat 1/2 level.  Derek Cassady of Bikes2You raced to perfection, winning the Gold medal.  Adam Price of Mercy-Specialized earned the Silver, and Lane Anderson of Team Zealous got the Bronze. Congrats.

SQUAW CREEK CRITERIUM - 6/27/10

On Sunday, we raced 20 laps over a 1.6 mile circuit that had one noteworthy climb and a steep descent on a corner.  I was feeling pretty good, and decided to protect my 'yellow jersey' as I was getting tour fever.  In my fictional scenario, I had just one stage left to defend my lead, so it was important that I didn't let any of the GC contenders slip up ahead. 

To that end I participated in this race quite significantly.  Below is one of the many breaks that formed, this one featuring myslef, Bryan Moritz and a guy from Team Zealous...

I found myslelf launching off the front quite a few times, and led on the downhill more times than not. There were all sorts of combinations of riders that took their chances at creating a gap.

Dewey Dickey seemed to be the marked rider, especially towards the end of the race.  He would pick up the pace on the uphill portion, and then look to see if there was a big enough of a gap.  Usually he didn't like what he saw, and dialed it back.  It took quite a few tries before his breakaway actually did succeed. 

When it did there were seven off us, briefly... but only Dewey, Jared Osterloh, and Jeff Kluck (A Cat 3 on Team Powerade) could hang on.  This was the decisive moment of my race. As can be seen in this photo, I was joined by Paul Deninger, Brian West, and a third rider (from Zealous Racing?), as we chased down the lead group of three while hoping to fend off the field. 

 Our group of four was brought back with about 2 laps to go, while Dewey, Jared and Jeff stayed up the road.  We were exhausted, as was the front of the field that had chased us down.  David Lippold of Zealous Racing took advantage of this opportunity, and slipped up the road.

This race had a combined cat 1/2 and 3 field that had ultimately dwindled down from about 33 riders to 15.  So, the Cat 1/2's were sprinting for 4th, and the Cat 3's were sprinting for second which can be seen below:

I still had a good finish, crossing the line 5th out of those involved in the field sprint. Paul Deninger was the first Cat 1/2, and Brendan Kealey was the first Cat 3.

Senior Pro/1/2 - Squaw Creek

1 Jared Osterloh DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing
2 Duane Dickey COKATO MN Mercy-Specialized
3 David Lippold WEST DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing
4 Paul Deninger IOWA CITY IA Unattached
5 Jeff Bradley DAVENPORT IA Velosport Racing IA
6 Christopher Eastburn CEDAR RAPIDS IA Mercy-Specialized
7 Bryan Moritz DAVENPORT IA Bikes To You / World of Bikes
8 Chad Bishop MUSCATINE IA Harper's Cycling & Fitness
9 Michael Sencenbaugh TUCSON AZ University of Arizona
10 Brian West CEDAR FALLS IA Colorbiotics
11 Jerome Rewerts NEVADA IA Zealous Racing
12 Carson Christen CEDAR RAPIDS IA Mercy-Specialized
13 Lane Anderson ALTOONA IA Zealous Racing
14 Gregory Harper MUSCATINE IA Melon City Bike Club Inc.
15 Ryan French DES MOINES IA Zealous Racing
16 Finn Kolsrud IOWA CITY IA Colavita Racing
17 Lee Venteicher WAUKON IA Bikes To You / World of Bikes
dnf Kurt Hantelmann ALTOONA IA Zealous Racing
dnf Jonathan Nelson SIOUX CITY IA POWERADE - INDEPENDENT FABRICATION
dnf Derek Cassaday AMES IA Bikes To You / World of Bikes
dnf William Greenwood IOWA CITY IA Bikes To You / World of Bikes