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'.

Iowa Spring Classic Report

I enjoyed an excellent day of racing and training on Saturday at the Iowa Spring Classic near Iowa City.  It was very windy but warm.  My old race bike is out of commission this year, so I had no choice but to bring my cyclocross bike with 38mm wide tires.  I knew this wasn't going to be the right equipment, especially when I saw that the gravel was very dry and firm... almost like pavement.  At first, I wasn't worried because I saw a few guys with cross bikes/tires... then as I started seeing the aero-wheels... crap.  So much for this being a light-hearted training race... I reluctantly took off my flat pack (can't have that extra weight) and pumped my tires up to their max... 80 psi.

Ok, a nice field of about 20 guys lined up to race 7 laps of the 44 mile course.  Of note was the 'entrance' the Iowa City Club made.  They all road out to the race, so a large field of around 25 blue-clad cyclists could be seen as they arrived... very impressive organization, and a little intimidating.  Most of my teammates were at training camps, so I was riding solo.  Unfortunately for me, there were team tactics from the gun, as Zealous, Bikes2You/WOB, Mercy-Specialized, Rasmmusen's, and Atlas had multiple riders.  The Zealous guys had just got back from a training camp in Arkansas, so they were definitely 'prepared'.

My main objective was to get in some  outdoor race-specific miles, but I didn't want to get shelled from the start, which would defeat the purpose.  My fitness seems great, and this notion was reinforced as the race progressed.  After some hard hitting attacks/tempos, the field had dwindled down to about 14 after the first lap.  I stayed true to my mission of not leaving anything behind, and worked to pull back the solo breakaway during the second lap.  I nearly lost touch with the group when there was a counter attack followed by the dreaded gutter-ball/cross-wind section, so I decided to chill out after that (once bitten twice shy).  After the second lap we were down to 10, with Bikes2You/WOB having established a two man break up the road (Kevin Tempel/AJ Turner).

Jerome Rewerts (Zealous) led a vicious chase that had most of us on the ropes during about the 3rd or 4th lap.  The gravel section was a series of rollers,  that culminated in this odd 'vortex of pain', in which the combination of head wind and gradient totally put my legs at their limit.   Oddly, after I rebounded from that corner, I seemed to have wings and was able to catch back on to the group.   My 38 mm cross tires could be heard 'whizzing' with power as I really was able to turn over a solid tempo once we hit the pavement.

At the start of our 4th or 5th lap we hit the rollers section, but also came across the other fields.  Things got really confusing.  Someone in our field was stringing things out at this exact same time... I pedalled at my limit, having no idea what was specifically going on.  After everything shook out, there was a group of 4 up the road with about 6 of us chasing.  I took up the cause for awhile, but then decided to look behind me to see why no one was helping...  crap, they all had teammates up the road.  No worries, I love chasing (life), and this fit my agenda.

Two of the Iowa City guys dropped off (Jeff Barnes and Ryan Nenninger, I believe), as  their teammate Mario eventually got dropped from the lead group.  I noted he had a cross bike, as well.  He wasn't able to help chase, so I pulled him along with Steve Robinson (Zealous) and Lee Venteicher (Bikes2You/WOB).  Jerome Rewerts (Zealous), Kevin Tempel (Bikes2You/WOB), and Nate Kullborn (Atlas) were up the road, but within my sights.

The race paid back three spots, which I considered as I plodded along.  A predictable outcome transpired as we neared the conclusion of the race.  Not quite being able to catch the break, the three guys behind me came around me just before the last corner, and sprinted about 200 yards to take up the 4th, 5th, and 6th positions.  If the race had paid back 5 spots, I probably would have played the tactics, to try and get in the money. Luckily, it didn't, which meant I didn't have to think a whole lot during the last part of the race... just pedal hard, and enjoy a great competition.

Afterwards, my chase group companions thanked me accordingly, and noted that I had some good form.  It is nice for my self-efficacy, to get some verbal feedback from my peers.  Congratulations to Bikes2You/WOB, who seemed to control most of the race, and can boast having won this race for the third year in a row.

I felt like crap after the race, and couldn't function for a few hours...  that is one of the most rewarding feelings.   Thanks to the promoters for giving us Iowans some great early-season racing opportunities.  They only placed the guys who finished, which ended up being 10 of us:

Men P123,  - 44 miles
1 - Kevin Tempel
2 - Jerome Rewarts
3 - Nate Kullboom
4 - Lee Venteicher
5 - Steven Robinson
6 - Mario Czarnomski
7 - Chad Bishop
8 - Drew Wilson
9 - Matt Nagel
10 - Matt Gumm

The 1st Annual Quad Cities Road Race

Though the details are FAR from being finalized, we are committed to the date (July 14th), and pretty sure about the name of  American Equity Racing's 2012 road race...

The Quad Cities already has a well-known criterium... now they are going to have a Road Race...
Check our website out in a few weeks for details once we start to get things finalized...  We are putting a lot of effort into presenting a solid racing experience for midwest cyclists.  Road races are few and far between, yet many racers seem to enjoy participating in them, so we decided early on to produce an event within this discipline.

RACE PROMOTION
Ok, my eyes have been opened to all that goes in to promoting a race, now that I am actively engaged in the process.  I am very surprised with how complicated things can get.  I have raced in tons of events, but never really paid attention to all the minor details, just enjoyed participating. I always made a point of not complaining, though as I knew the promoters were doing all they could to make the event run smoothly.

My biggest delusion was that you could actually make money by putting on a race...  Well, by the time you pay for the referees, the USAC surcharge, traffic enforcement, facility rental, signage, porta-potties, race forms/numbers, IBRA/ICA fees,  registration, pay-outs, etc.   there really isn't any chance of having any surplus revenue.  I can say I will never question the cost of an entry fee again, as I now realize that promoters are just charging what they need to, in hopes of not losing too much money.  Racing clubs put on events for the simple principle of contributing to the sport that they love, and should be applauded for their efforts... a lot goes into organizing racing events, especially if they are permitted with pay-outs and large fields. 

IOWA SPRING CLASSIC
I am planning on getting a nice training race under my belt this weekend in Iowa City at the first Iowa Spring Classic.  This event is a gravel/road race.  I am just going to ride my cyclocross bike this year, regardless of the road conditions, as I am simply focused on grinding out a solid effort.  I had some success in this event last year, getting in the winning  break with Andrew Fagersten (Bikes2You/World of Bikes) and Jerome Rewerts(Zealous Racing).  I came in second overall, and  had a blast slogging it up and around the Iowa City back roads.  Not sure what to expect this year, but again, results are secondary to 'not leaving anything behind' ... which means my tactic will most likely be to not race with any tactic...  confused?  I sure hope I will be... check back to see how  (or if) things panned out.

Marching to the Beat of a Different Drummer

That title made me giggle...  not sure I can follow it up with an actual post. 

Blogging is sort of a joke sometimes.  I often wonder why some people are prone to write blogs and others are not.  Do we need the attention?  Narcissists?  Extremely bored?  Disposable time? Seeking a creative outlet? etc.

Maybe I didn't get enough attention as a child and I am constantly seeking approval.  Not sure, but I do know that one therapy I studied at WIU was called Narrative Therapy.  It basically suggests that having an audience can provide therapeutic relief for certain maladies... I can attest to this. However, I would still blog even if no one else read it.  In fact, sometimes it is wierd that people read my blog.  I often run across people at races who seem to know me, but I don't know them.  Initially, I feel bad, like I forgot meeting them, then I realize that they probably just follow my blog from time to time.

Some people simply enjoy reading blogs,  while others seem to have a major issue with the whole concept.  I know that archiving my cycling lifestyle is very rewarding for me.  I find it enjoyable to reflect on my experiences, as this is a great way to relive the experience while attempting to extend the educational potential. 

I decided that I am going to write pre-reports for some of my races.  I think it is noteworthy to compare my thoughts prior to a race to the ones I have afterward.  I also think it will provide readers an opportunity to look forward to the result.  Did I write a check my butt couldn't cash, for example.

SELF-EFFICACY
Essentially, if you believe in your ability to accomplish a certain ambition, you are more likely to succeed.  Several things contribute to self-efficacy including VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE (observing someone similiar to yourself participating successfully), VERBAL PERSUASION (encouraging feedback from peers), and PAST PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (having succeeded at it before).

Past performance is the most influential... think about how much more confident you are the second time you attempt something that you have already been exposed to. Looking ahead to my race calendar, I will be aspiring towards self-efficacy in all of my races.  I do regret, however, that I didn't race the Cat 1,2 Old Cap Crit last year.  I won't have the specific past performance confidence that I would have, had I lined up in 2011.  Unfortunately, I have also witnessed many of my Cat 2 peers become discouraged when they were unable to finish the race, so I can't specifically call on vicarious experience to increase my self-efficacy for this event.  Maybe someone can give me some verbal persuasion as the race gets nearer to help get my psyche in check.

I also have a low self-efficacy regarding flat 6/8 corner crits.  I really struggle with those things, especially if it is a large field. 2012 is a new year, so I am not planning on revisiting any of these doubts...  I just had to get this off of my chest (ah, catharsis, another reason I write a blog).

It is all about self-efficacy from here on out... I have raced a ton, and have a full year as a Cat 2 under my belt... not to mention the fact that I have my training down to a science (literally)... so I am not going to let self-doubt be a limiting factor this year... sports psychology 101:  positive imagery and self-confidence... the beat of this year's drum is going to be... well different than last year.

Gold Medal - Iowa State Championship Series

The 2012 Cat 1,2  Iowa State Championship Podium:
Kevin Severs (Silver), Chad Bishop (Gold), and Austin Turner (Bronze).

I elected to travel to Ames Iowa for the 2012 "Ames Assault Roller Race" on Sunday.  I was hoping to defend my 2011 Gold Medal in the Championship Series, while also qualifying for the raffle for a new set of Krietler Rollers.  My rollers work well, but they are about 5 years old and I really wanted to replace them.  However, a roller system with resistance fan is over $500, so winning a set in a raffle would be sweet.

Upon arrival, I was informed that they would be separating the Cat 3 racers from the Cat 1,2 racers for the state medals... hmm, I probably wouldn't have drove up to Ames had I known that, as Travis Jass was the one threatening my Gold medal, and he was a cat 3.  Well, luckily I didn't know that in advance because I ended up winning the drawing for the Krietler rollers!! Yes, that made it all worth it. 

As far as the race in Ames goes, I really didn't have the best result compared to my previous efforts.  I wasn't motivated to beat my own time of 4:59.8, as that is the 'bar' that I want to try and overcome next winter...  and beating a teammate is never a specific objective, so I was sort of confused about what I wanted to accomplish as I stepped up to the rollers.

Travis Jass had a great ride that day, posting the time to beat at 5:02.7.... which became my soft target.  Right from the gun I knew something was wrong... I had changed out my rear cassette since the last race, and unfortunately my speed/cadence information wasn't  in sync with the equipment used to measure the results at this race.  This threw me off, as I spun up to my usual cadence and was shocked to see that this was only going to create a finishing time of around 5:08 (usually it reads 4:55). I tried to pedal harder, and then even shifted to a harder gear (this is NEVER a good sign for me).  Confused, I rode it out.  The only thing I could think to aspire to was still getting on the podium.  Kurt Hantleman had posted the current third place time at 5:15, so that was my goal.  I finished with a 5:12 which was third, right behind team mate Kevin Severs. 

Unlike other races, I was just barely out of breath, and my legs didn't feel like concrete after I finished... Hmm, did I give it my 'best effort'?... sort of anti-climactic and initially discouraging.  I was 'discouraged' because I really did feel like I was going to improve my three race average... I felt good and my training was on track.  I guess it has to do with not being mentally driven that particular day...

Of course the upside is that I am again the the Iowa State Indoor TT champ and my journey to Ames was rewarded by winning the raffle.  Actually, the main upside is that I enjoy competing indoors, which specifically motivates my winter training efforts, putting me in great form as the road season begins.  I have to say, it is sort of exciting to have the indoor racing season behind me, though, as I can now start to slowly crawl out of my cave, and begin to enjoy the beauty of outdoor bike training and racing. 

I won three USA Cycling State Gold Medals last year as a Cat 2 (Rollers, Gravel, and Time Trial), so it nice to know that I will be able to have at least one Gold Medal result in 2012.   Thanks to Harper's Cycling and all the clubs and bike shops that support the culture of cycling by putting on this series.

Heat Acclimation

Being 'heat acclimated' actually worked out well on
my trip to Arizona last winter.

Believe it or not, this is the time of the year that I start to think about the effects of heat acclimation.  This concept plays a part in an individuals ability to withstand training in hot and humid conditions.  It takes about 9-14 days of training in the heat to become acclimated.  In my case, I experience year-round heat acclimation, based on the tropical training conditions that I endure whenever I exercise indoors.

Because I am 'heat acclimated' I experience the following adaptations:
1) I sweat more
2) I sweat sooner (my body's threshold is reduced in anticipation of stress... in fact I am sweating right now)
3) My sweat excretes less electrolytes
4) Decreased heart rate at sub-maximal efforts
5) Expanded blood plasma volume
6) Decrease in core temperature

So, this is all well and good in the middle of summer.  I seem to do best in hot/humid conditions.  Unfortunately, this also makes me a big cold weather wimp.   I used to chalk the whole thing up to having less body fat to insulate myself.  This theory didn't withstand empirical testing, as the guys I was training/racing with had similar body compositions.

I did notice, however, that my sweat puddles were always twice as deep as those I was training with.  Hmm, this must be it... It couldn't be my pain tolerance, because I thrive on painful situations... yes, heat acclimation is my excuse.  My body is very efficient at cooling itself, which doesn't do me any favors in cold weather.

So, I have to tolerate the first few races of the season, as I don't look forward to any race that involves 'layering'...   I always over dress, and my clothes are water logged by the end of the race... this really messes up my power-to-weight ratio.  Once the arm warmers come off, though... it is go time...  I am motivated and ready to do battle.

Luckily, a couple of the early season races on my calendar are many miles due south of Muscatine... this is no coincidence... I mostly suck in cold-weather races, so try to limit my exposure, accept for the sake of training.

Ok, I understand that I may want to consider acclimating to cold weather, by riding outside as much as possible...  hmm, makes sense, but I don't mind taking a few months off from outdoor training, and winters seem like the best time to do that. 

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Do you or a loved one suffer the devastating effects of HEAT ACCLIMATION?  The warning signs include ride discrimination, verbal abuse, hazing, excessive snot, frozen toes, and deflated self-esteem during the month of March.  You are not alone...  help is available.  Visit www.coldweathertrainingsucks.com for more information.

Speaking of cold weather, I am stoked to be entering the Iowa Spring Classic Series March 10th.  This is a cool race series that gives Iowa racers an opportunity to battle it out, while testing their early season fitness.  See ya!

Going for the 'Yellow Jersey'?

The Iowa Roller Race Championship Series is a lot like a stage race for time trialists.  You compete in at least three events across the state and your average is compiled to award medals to the top three results in each category.  So, even though I don't compete in every race, I still have to keep track of the other results as they are counting towards the championship.

Similar to a stage race, you don't have to win every stage (or even ANY stage) to win the overall championship (general classification?)...  Well, I am in a situation where I have to decide whether or not I want to travel to Ames for the last race of the year... I have a great three race average, but Travis Jass of Sioux City would be able to overtake it, if he opts to compete in Ames and posts a solid time. This is because it will offset his worst time, and expose mine (5:22 and 5:14 respectively).

It is tempting to have a mid-state showdown (East Vs. West)...  I am quite certain I don't have to win the event to get the Gold Medal and defend my 2011 title, yet this all depends on what kind of result Travis accomplishes compared to mine.   Also, If I opt to make the journey, I will be eligible to win a set of rollers (must race 4 times), which adds incentive.

Hmm, not sure, as I feel quite content with having accomplished my personal goal in Burlington, and might enjoy focusing on some other aspects of training for awhile.  On the other hand, the dream scenario would be that team mate Kevin Severs wins the event, and I do what it takes to improve my three race average, winning the 2012 Roller Race Series.  Not to mention the fact that I really do seem to enjoy Racing Against the Clock.

There is a new website called 'TheFullSked.com"  that seems to be a good resource for Midwest Endurance Athletes.  They have posted the following results:
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Congratulations to Chad Bishop for breaking the 5-min barrier at the Bickell's roller race on Feb. 11.

With two races to go, the fastest rides to date are:
Open Men (all cats)
1. 4:59.8 Chad Bishop at Burlington
2. 5:04.3 Travis Jass at Ft. Dodge
3. 5:04.6 Chad Bishop at Harpers
4. 5:05.5 Kevin Severs at Iowa Bike Summit
5. 5:07 Travis Jass at Iowa Bike Summit

Women
1. 5:52 Connie Inks at Iowa Bike Summit
2. 5:57 Connie Inks at Harpers
3. 6:34 Lisa Vetterlein at Iowa Bike Summit
Masters 40+
1. 5:36 Rod McKillip at Valley West Wipeout
2. 5:40 Rod McKillip at Iowa Bike Summit
3. 5:49 David Hammer at Iowa Bike Summit
4. 5:50 Randy Catron at Iowa Bike Summit
Junior
1. 5:38 William Rekemeyer at Iowa Bike Summit
2. 5:44 William Rekemeyer at Valley West Wipeout
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My respect to all that participate in the winter Roller Race series... regardless of your specific result, I am sure you are enjoying watching your fitness evolve. Showing up and laying it all out there takes a bit of courage, in my opinion.  This is one of many ways to commit to a healthy lifestyle during the wintery midwest months. Congrats!

The Sub 5 Club... Bickel's Roller Race

Enjoying a nice moment on the glorious Roller Race 'Podium' with Lee Venteicher and Bryan Moritz.

I am happy to report that I accomplished my PR at the Bickel's Roller Race in Burlington, Iowa on Saturday.  I felt a little pressure to try and post a time under 5 minutes, so I was a bit apprehensive about what kind of pain that meant I might have to endure.  Not to mention, the fact that digging that deep could potentially result in blowing up and completely wasting my effort.  It all worked out and I posted a time of 4:59.8!

This particular journey started weeks before, after getting a time of 5:04.6 at the Harper's Cycling Race in Muscatine, and feeling like I had little more to give.   I decided to make a conscious effort to get a time under 5 minutes.  Ok, to be honest, I always start pedalling with this goal in mind, it just usually dissipates within the first minute, as the lactate starts to build up...

Not this time, I dialed it into my 'sweet spot cadence' and decided to try and ride it out. Prior to the start, however,  I had a little technical difficulty, in that the reflection from the overhead lighting was obscuring my view of the speedometer... If you have ever done a roller race, you might be able to relate to how important it is to try and focus in on something...  I grabbed a pair of cheap sunglasses, but they just made it darker...  It would have been nice to have some Oakley's... lesson learned...

I tried wearing sunglasses as I raced Lee Venteicher in the infamous "Flying Mile"...  1 mile with no resistance...
 sort of dangerous as you spin up to the point where you start to wobble off the rollers...

At about half mile in, I was feeling confident, as I was holding around a 4:55 pace.  As I rounded the first mile I was at around 4:57, and mentally I was still thinking positively...  crap this is going to happen...  Ok, with half a mile to go I was still encouraged as I could see the 'finish line'.

Unfortunately, I 'blew up' with .3 of a mile to go.  The cadence I was holding began to slip and I felt the energy in my legs completely drain.  Really, I am going to come this close and settle?  Regardless of my mental resolve, my legs just didn't respond, my cadence slipped every couple of seconds... I was just trying to hang on...  Dang, I knew I was going to fall short, as I was down to the last 10 seconds or so but I had no strength left and I was right at 4:59.6...  I opted to try and summon up some adrenalin by executing a gutteral scream...  Miraculously, the clock held steady at 4:59.8 as I watched the distance culminate at the 2 mile mark.  Sweet!

I will refrain from commenting about future implications, rather opt to enjoy the realization of one of my cycling goals.  Along those lines, however, not even 30 seconds after I was finished, Lee suggested that I needed to break the 4 minute barrier next... give me a break.  So, I only have one regret regarding my pre-race bravado...

As promised, I had my time tattooed to my butt... crap, what if I get 4:59.7 next year? 

Fembots in the Feedzone

I appreciate all the effort that goes into putting on a cycling event... but I understand that all good things must come to an end....each year I see a couple races disappear from my calendar... they are usually replaced but just a quick thanks for the ones that seem to be gone (but not forgotten)...  FYI, if you bring them back, I promise to race in them... Thanks to all for your past and current efforts.

Two Bee Races: Conn Day and company put on lots of low key, yet challenging events that were instrumental in motivating and developing my early racing days.  I always thought the February races were noteworthy, due to the precarious weather.

DICE Races: These guys used to put on a ton of races...  I especially liked the Cody Park Race Series at Scott County Park, the Mississippi Bluffs Road Race and the Hummer Hammer.

Finford Roubaix: I won the my Cat 3 racing debut here, so I will always remember the race fondly...  Unfortunately, I also rode off of the course the next year, so I suppose I just wanted a chance to redeem myself.

Brent Mitchel and Steve Robinson share the Cat 3 podium in Finford.

Eagle Point Crit: I raced this event every year, and was excited to give it a try as a Cat 2, unfortunately the Dubuque club stopped promoting the event last year.  It was a great course, assuming you didn't clip your pedal. 

The Eagle Point Crit circled along the bluffs of the Mississippi.

Fortunately, I am able to have a hand in maintaining the Midwest bike racing scene.  I help promote the Melon City Criterium, and I am helping with the American Equity Racing Team's debut road race this July. We don't have all the details worked out, but it is going to be legendary...  I have proposed a 'shoot-out' format, and wild-west saloon maids to do the hand-ups...

Some of the guys are still insisting that we use Fembots for the feed zone... If we go the Fembot route, we will need to decide which one... what do you think?

Rolling the Course

I sometimes wonder what advantages I might enjoy if I didn't read facebook posts and blogs... I always question what I am doing with respect to my training when I read updates from fellow cyclists...  should I be riding outside more?  is my cross training the right choice?  should I be working out more/less? why didn't I get invited to that ride? etc.

Well, I always come to the same conclusion, that I basically know what works for me, and am enjoying the process.  So, I am "Staying (Rolling) the Course"...

To that end, I will continue to enjoy the wonderful world of indoor fitness.  Speaking of which, a midwest sports website called "TheFullSked.com" is tracking the Iowa Roller Race Series, and listed these results for the fastest times:

With two races to go, the fastest rides to date are:

Open Men
1. 5:04.3 Travis Jass at Ft. Dodge
2. 5:04.6 Chad Bishop at Harpers
3. 5:05.5 Kevin Severs at Iowa Bike Summit

So, a nice cluster of results between myself, team mate Kevin Severs, and Travis Jass.  It is fun to compete in this manner, and reinforcing to have people notice.

I really do think I have engineered a nice training plan for this season.   Studying for the American Council of Exercise (A.C.E.) personal trainer exam is providing me with additional insight to make some adjustments to my agenda.  I thought I knew it all, but I guess I was wrong...  My eyes have been opened to a whole new level of human potential.  It will be interesting to see if I can get it to all come together.

Soggy Bottom Boys

Riding outside the other day reminded me of this movie...

"Gray would be the color if I had a heart"... Great, I am quoting NIN songs.  Yes, that's right, you guessed it... I'm conflicted... with respect to outdoor riding.  I guess I am supposed to ride my bike outside when it is 'nice' out, as is the case lately... really throws off my game plan... I have tons of indoor workouts that I am excited to get through, and wasn't planning on spending the extra time riding around outside.  Something must be wrong with me, as I found it completely miserable to ride outside the other day.

Ok, wasn't quite this bad out... but sort of the same 'feeling'.

To write this post I did a search for "miserable gray winter gravel road photo"... oddly enough, the top result was for a race called "The Triple D Winter Race"... which occurs near Dubuque, Iowa...  Probably a pretty cool event... the organizer mentions that "misery loves company"... sounds about right...

If you asked me to list some words or phrases that came to my mind when thinking about my tuesday gravel ride they would be "loud (windy in my ears), snotty, muddy, gray, devoid of color, litter everywhere, death, dead things (trees, grass, etc).  dirt, soggy, chilly, boring, pointless, annoying, depressing".

Ok, I would run to the doctors to get some medication for depression, but then I tried the same exercise when I thought about my last indoor cycling workout:  "challenging, rewarding, intense, exciting, nervous, fitness enhancing, inspiring, motivational, sultry, therapeutic,  re-affirming, painfully pleasurable"...

Sure the weather is rideable, but that doesn't mean that we still don't have limited daylight and mucky roads....  If you have the extra time necessary to ride outside (gearing up, washing self, clothes, bike) etc.  then go for it... but if you have other commitments and/or reservations...  I am hear to say "It's alright"... you are not alone...  riding indoors this time of year IS a healthy part of a well-rounded yearly training agenda...  It IS alright to not like having a soggy butt... taking a break from traffic for a few months is NOT a bad idea...  trust me, I am not complaining... as this is the best Iowa winter I can imagine... I am just suggesting that it is ALL good...

Our emotions(feelings) effect our thoughts and behaviors, and my butt feels wet...  I think I will let it dry off.