Cross Racing in Bergan Park, CO - Not so fast there, Tex

I went to bed after watching the weather and knew that the racing was going to be epic. At 0800 then next day, both my cell phone and home phone rang at the same time. On the home phone, Rich was calling to say that his ankle is still hurting from twisting it during the Boulder/Interlocken race on Saturday and he is going to sit this one out. On the cell phone, Dash is calling to let me know he is going to be late getting to my place so that we can carpool to the race…. and oh, by the way, his knee is hurting from Saturday’s race and that he is just going up to provide moral support. I think they both just bruised their pussies and it manifested in an ankle and a knee.

Dash and I stop by KBC and pick up a couple cups of pre-race Java and a breakfast burrito. We say howdy/later to the KBC weekend regulars such as Jonny Grinder and Daryl Funk. No time to talk bikes today guys…. we are finally getting some cross weather and it’s time to go race!

Driving up Floyd hill and traffic is rolling along. I got the truck in 4wd but I am not pushing to hard as we will get there in plenty of time. Next thing ya know, the highway goes from wet and possible ice to pure ice and we are in a 4 wheel power slide. The rear-end of the truck comes around to the right and we are nearly sideways down the center lane of the interstate. I counter-steer into the slide and slightly over correct causing the rear-end to come back and slide to the left. I counter-steer back into the slide one more time and catch it just right this time. The whole time Dash is nerves of steel. He never even makes the slightest reach for the oh-shit handle on his side of the truck. It is over in a few seconds and we are still rolling up the road at 40 mph. Dash takes a sip of his coffee (he has be casually holding his cup during this whole event) and comments with a low key “Nice save.” In an effort to match Dash’s coolness, I try to look/act like I have done that a dozen times before. Not sure whether I pulled off the look or not but we sure got all the other traffic to slow down. Somehow I got us to the race with no further incidents

Needless to say, the conditions were epic and the race is a blast.

We check the results afterwards and I finish 10^th. Hell yeah, man! My very first top 10!!! I start looking down a bit farther and notice that the Scott’s exported Jackson terror, Tim Kelley is listed at 20^th. Uh oh, gotta get that fixed because we all know that Tim won the race. I roll over to the race ref, let him know of the problem, and give Tim a heads up as well. Then it hits me… I am going to have to hold off on that top 10 shit. I just got dropped to 11^th. Check out some of the other sites for more on the scoring this weekend. I agree with some of the comments on those sites. The scorers are doing the best they can with a manual system. Whether you have large fields with tons of lap traffic like Saturday or you have something like this race where we are racing in a driving snowstorm, they are not going to get everything perfect every time. As long as they get the top 20 correct, specially at a BCR/BCT race, that is all I can ask.

After the race, we got news about Chuck losing his battle with Cancer and the complications there after. Deep down, I think all of us knew it was coming so there was really nothing to react to. I really dislike anything that is not fair and cancer leads the list in that category. I fricken hate cancer. Hell, I thought that Lance Armstrong guy quit racing so that he could fix all this cancer bullshit. Why did it have to go and kill my friend?

The next race is in Boulder so I am sure the crowds will be back. Until then, if anyone needs high end Italian cycling shoes (DMT), stop by the booth at Veloswap. We are blowing them out this year!

The Late, Late Frisco Report – AKA The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Completely Stupid.

I am sure you have noticed that Rich has been keeping up most of the blogging duties on this site. I would offer an excuse or two, but it would just end up sounding like whining.

The Frisco races looked like a great weekend of competition with good cross-like weather. I had to miss Saturday’s race as I was off with Serotta Bikes / MAVIC Wheels in Moab, Utah handing out goodies to roadies who were trying to get in one last ride for the year. During the downtime at the event I took the opportunity to do a bit of maintenance on the cross bike. The front brake was much more of a “speed modulator” than an actual braking device so I took the time to reset all the cable tension and make things nice and tight. Little did I know this “touch-up” was going to haunt me on Sunday.

The Good

The weather did not turn out to be as epic as I had hoped. If fact, it was nicer in Frisco than it was in Moab. Some moisture would have knocked down the dust during the race but after the first lap is was not worth even whining about. About half way thru the race I am rolling by start finish and Dave Towle calls out across the PA that I am doing a fantastic bridge up to the group in front of me. When I heard this, two thoughts went through my oxygen-staved brain at nearly the same time… Thought 1) How cools is this!?!?! A couple weeks ago I was listening to Dave make the call at CrossVegas shouting out names like Trebon, Heule, Powers, and Wicks and now he is calling out my name! Thought 2) Dear Dave, bridging my ass…. The way I am gasping for air, all I am doing right now is a bad imitation of a frickin’ goldfish on a bike.

By the way, if Dave Towle ever calls my name out in direct conjunction with his patented “XXX and YYY are exchanging body blow after body blow out there right now!!!!!” I will immediately pull off the course and start drinking the Belgian ale because my cross-racing career will have reached it’s pinnacle at that time.

The Bad

With 3 to go I am passing a guy on the inside of a left-hander. Half way into the turn, the front wheel starts to slide out. Through a combination of 99% luck and 1% hanging on, I don’t go down. 10 seconds later, I feel the front trying going soft. 20 seconds later, it is flat.

The Ugly

My first though was on the order of “Thank God! The pain will soon stop now.” But then I remember Rich saying that he left a spare set of wheels in the pit. Next thought “ I wonder how far I gotta run my ass to get to the pit?” which is then followed by “Hey, would you look at that? The pit is just around the next corner….. and I can see fine set of team wheels right in the front!” So… you remember the whole “Hey, let’s tighten up that front brake” idea I had earlier. Well, guess who is having a hell of a time getting his front cantilever brake cable loose? My first wheel change during a cross race contained the following sentences:

Damnit! Why the hell did you have to make this so tight!

Hey Moron, if you take off your glove, that might help.

Why the hell did you not grind off those lawyer tabs!

Man, right now, I really hate lawyers!!!!

OK…. Wheel back on… now just need to get the cable back on.

Must….get……cable….. back….on....SHIT!!!!!! (cable slips out of my hand for the umpteenth time)

Do I dare ride the race without a front brake?

One more try….. got it!!!

45 seconds later and I am off. As I catch a pass Tom from ICCC. Tom knows that Rich and I are part of the Rol Wheels / ACA neutral support program for the crits during the summer. He yells out to me “Nice wheel swap! I know some guys who do a great job of that all summer long, perhaps you should talk to them?”

The Completely Stupid

I start the task of trying and gain back some of the spots I just lost. After about ½ a lap, I am coming down the long downhill run before a hard left with a dismount and run-up up a steep embankment. During the race, thanks to a tip from a team-mate, I figured out that if I went to the far right side of the run-up, I had to power through some soft dirt but I could ride it instead of running. Knowing that I am prone to the dreaded Flying Bike Punt, I am all about riding instead of running. As I am bombing down the hill I overtake a racer. I don’t see a number so I figure it must be a 35+ open guy out doing a course inspection. Being the always-helpful guy that I am, I shout out, “Hey, if you let me by on the right side, I will show you the line in order to ride this next obstacle.” He pulls over to the left and I keep my speed up as I go down the right hand side of the course. I take the hard left and promptly bury the front wheel in the soft stuff. In an instant, I go from Mr. “Hey, let me show you my mad skilz and how to kick this hill’s ass.” To a 215lbs mass of flesh doing a high-speed over-the-bars human missile maneuver that culminates in a face plant right into the side of the embankment. As I lay there quivering for a couple seconds, the other racer seamlessly dismounts, runs up the left side, remounts and is off. I drag my carcass to the top of the hill, stumble back on the bike and weave on down the course. I finally catch the same rider later in the next lap and notice that he indeed has a race number on, it just wasn’t pinned on the shoulder. At this point I am certain that he has to believe that I am the biggest idiot/asshole/entertainment factor on a bike. First, I just gotta tell him to get out of the way so that I am show him the right way to ride the course. Then I take the opportunity to give him front row seats to mass carnage. Needless to say, I had to find him after the race and apologize. He let me off the hook pretty easy…. But I have a feeling he is going to tell the story of “the guy who once tried to show him how to race cross” for years.

Brian

A fallen friend......

Subject: Chuck Bolden

Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:54:00 -0700

It is with a broken and heavy heart that I let you know that Chuck died this morning.

Diane Bolden

Chuck loved cycling more than anything. He was at all the races taking pictures, laughing, telling jokes and putting a smile on everyone's face. He would call me up and ask if we were heading out to the races since I run the neutral support program for ACA. He would come over and we would laugh about this race, those wheels and the state of cycling in general. We had lot's to talk about since we are both cancer survivors. You become very in touch with someone when spending 7 hrs in a car at 18mph following a road race that is going to last all day.

Chuck was a fixture of the Twin Peaks Cycling Team and was also a member of the Frites en Mayo VC for cross.

Our condelences go out to his family in thier time of pain.

RIP my friend, you will be missed and I will talk with you soon.......

Another double header on tap this weekend

Well, after a week off from racing, another double header is on tap for the weekend. Saturday's race is a nice mix of up and down, grass and some sand. Sunday is all new, a first in CO for some time, up in Bergen Park. Weather is supposed to be cold, high of mid 40's with snow/rain mix.

Last week down in Gunnison, Mike had some excellent finishes with a 3rd and 7th. Moved up to 11th in BCR points for the SM4's.

As Mike was out killing it for points, alot of us were out celebrating Dash's 45th birthday down at the Cheeky Monk. It is kinda crazy that you can spend 6 hrs at any place and still have money in your pocket at the end of the night. Started out with dinner and big 1/2 Litre of Hoegaardens. Then moved to the Leffe Blond, Kwak, Delirium, Blanch de Bruxelles and then to finish it off with De Koninck. Let's just say that Saturday's ride was a bit slower because of it. We did get to meet the owners of Urthel Brewery in Belgium. Located betweek Gent and Weveglem, it seems to have everything that you would want.....good beer, great food and ever better bike rides. Might have to look them up during the hard man's tour of the Spring Classics.

On Sunday, we got together with our wellies on and did some laps over at GP Betz in the rain for about an hour. A couple of flat tires, crashes and soggy chamois and we were done and looking for some warm drinks and food.

In other racing news from around the US and World:

Catie killed it again at the 2 UCI races in Ohio. She won both days with a handy margin at the end. Boulder's own one man dope crusader, Brandon Dwight had a great showing with a 4th and an 8th against some very stiff competition.

On the East Coast, Lyne Bessette won both days in Gloucester with Jeremy Powers winning on Saturday and Jesse Anthony winning on Sunday.

Across the pond on Saturday at the GP de la Region Wallonne, Sven Nys was warming up with a win in anticipation of Sundays opening round of the Superprestige. A great ride for both Ryan Trebon and Jonathan Page to a 7th and 9th place finish, respectfully.

On Sunday, a request for a later start to show it on TV4 in Belgium, had Bart Wellens panties in a uproar. The opening round of the SuperPrestige in Rudervoorde had Bart "walking over every obstacle, I couldn't pass wherever I wanted" and "I was 40 riders down on the best in the world after the first lap" had him chasing from the gun. Nys won over Zdenek Sybar and our whining Belgium Champion Bart.

Suck it up Bart, that is how alot of us race from time to time.

Update from the Gunny ACA races from Mike

With the races this weekend in Gunnison and a 4 hr drive to get to them, the wife threw out the "hell no" to this weekend. Which after riding early in the week, is probably a good thing. The legs feel like cement and had no speed at cross practice on Wed night.

Mike and Courtney did make the drive down. They raced it last year and loved it so they packed up the Subbie and made the drive. Below is the Saturday race report:

Well with a crazy euro course at Gunny today. Tons of tight cornersmade for alot of re-accelerating. Grass made for some good fast crashes, but being a euro course it only had one dismount which was alot diferent from the typical 5 of ColoCross. 13 year old YonickEckmen took the 4's on the line with Adam Rachubinski in second. It was a good day for me and when I saw an oppertunity to take the last podium place with 2 1/2 laps to go I grabed it and fought it to the line. Bummed that more Frites en Mayo riders couldnt be out here. Even without Frites riders it was a better turnout than last year. Tomorrow should be interesting as foul weather is heading in and alot of people are heading back to Denver. Ill try to give a report about tomorrow and see if I can stay off the ground and on the podium.
Peace, Mike

So here is the post from Mike today about Gunny:

Its rain/sleating and freaking cold! this is gonna suck...I love CX!

Congrats Mike on the first podium for the Frites en Mayo Velo Club in our history....well, we have a short history of only 5 races, so looks like we are doing well at this point.

More posts about Mike's travels and Sunday's race when we get them. Also, the report on why the most of the team was not in Gunny this weekend, it deals with birthday's, Belgium beer and The Cheeky Monk.

Racing this weekend and cross updates from around the globe

While the racing was HOT up in Frisco this weekend, the temps were down right cold at times.

Saturday was nice and sunny but with a 25+mph headwind up the front straight of the course, the temps started to fall. The course was good with a climb in the middle and then some fast downhills and lot's of dust. Had a good start but the dust filled my lungs after 2 laps and fell off the pace. I was hoping for wet but got dry conditions. Not much you can do, you are already racing so just keep pushing on. Not the greatest finish in the world at 30th but not bad after not being able to not breathe for a couple laps.

Sunday was colder still with temps in the low 30's but the sun was shinning. Lined up at the back since I knew the dust would be back. Rolled along at the start and started to pass people on the road sections and through the technical sections and barriers. Was bridging up through the top 20 and saw Big Brian only 10 seconds ahead of me. He had a front flat and took the 45 second wheel change to let me back in the race. Right as I was ready to catch, I hit the deck hard. Got caught up in the soft stuff and went ass over tea kettle....lost my top 20 spot at that point. Just rolled in with a little dirt on the kit. Overall it was a good race, Brian was 22nd, I was 26th and Dash was a lap down at 28th.

Mike and Ryan raced the 4's around 12.30 and temps started to drop. Mike raced on Saturday and got 20th.....and on Sunday he was 15th. He is killing it at this point. They guy eats, sleeps and dreams of Cross. He and wife are heading down to Gunny this weekend for the races. With a low turnout expected, it has been in the past, Mike has a great chance of winning both days if the cards go his way.

Go gett'em Mike!! We will drink beer in Denver and root you on!!!!

In other cross news from around the world:

Katie killed them again at the UCI races in NY. Winning both days on those new ROL Racing CX38 Carbon wheels. Erwin Verveken won on Saturday but only barely over Barry Wicks. On Sunday, Wicks turned the table and got the best of the rest. Verveken's rear der exploded and he limped off the course with half a lap to go. That is not the way any race should end for someone. But he did say that this happens at least 2 or 3 times a year...DOH!!!!

In the TOI TOI Cup in Unicov, Czech Republic, it was my man Zdenek Mlynar won round 3 of their national series. No suprise though, he won last year also.

And for the first time ever in the history of cyclocross, there were no major races in Holland or Belgium. Someone must DIE for this. Actually, it is the UCI's fault. Since they gave the US of A this date for the American round of the WC and that never happened, it was a week off for Sven, Bart, Niels and the boys to get ready for the opening round of the Superprestige Series on Sunday in Ruddervoorde. It is about 20km's south of Brugge.

Look for another sponsored ROL Racing rider, Jon Baker, to be there tearing it up for the stars and stripes. Check out how he is packing and what he needs to take with him for 4 months of "living the dream" http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/13487.0.html

The season is now getting started

After being home for a full week and getting in some training, the season is now ready to start up. Glued up the tubbies over the past week, changed brakes to something that will actually stop me and the weather is a changin.....

This weekends races are up in Frisco, elevation of 9200 ft or something like that. Weather forcast is downright awesome

Saturday - possible showers and highs in the 40's
Sunday - possible snow showers and highs in the 30's

Now, this is cross season

A million excues and a rare DNF

During the race season, everyone can come up with an excuse why they did bad in a race.

Getting home from Vegas on Friday night and finally getting to bed at 1:15am is never good even if you are not racing the next day. I only had to go to work at 8am though. Sit and answer the phone and watch some YouTube videos on the 'net.

Our team clothing arrived while in Vegas so that needed to be sorted and bagged for everyone. Dash rode over to work and that made it go a bit quicker. Went and had a team dinner at the Cheeky Monk, handed out clothing and drank some Hoegaarden.

Sunday morning and it is a little brisk out. Not Belgium weather yet, but heading in that direction. Meet up with Brian and we ride the 1 hr out to the race course. Figure it is better to get a long road ride in since I have not been on the bike since last weekends race. Get half way out there and I am already thinking of the excuses:

• Have not been on the bike in a week
• Walking around "the show" and on my feet for 3 straight days
• Travelling half the night to get home
• My new little guy has a cold...does my throat feel funny?
• New clothing - the rule is "never race in new clothing..you are bound to crash"
• My legs feel like cement and can barely turn over the pedals even though it is downhill

Once we get to the course and take a few laps, the legs still feel bad but starting to come around. The course is typical Colorado course, dry and fast this time of year. Nice quick start up the bike path, run around the outside of the volleyball course, down some singletrack up the big run up, rutted with rocks, up another slight hill and a double barrier. Some really cool twisting downhill singletrack back to the bike path. The race ended with that run around the volleyball court.

I line up at the back since I have many excuses at this point. Through the first lap and I am riding top 20 and moving up. Second lap in and something is not right. Start down the twisty singletrack and then I feel it...all sqirmy and loose underneath me....damn, I am getting a flat tire. Since we rode out, there are no spare wheels today....and our main sponsor is a wheel company!!! Ride another 2 laps and people are passing me by like I really do have a flat tire. It is holding air but you cant hit any rock or it bottoms out. No need to damage the wheels only 5 races into the season.

Lap counter say's 3 to go and I am thinking, I can make it around 3 more times. Down the quickdown hill into a sharp right hander that has more sand than Seal Beach and the whole bike just disappears from under me. I never go down but it is all over the place at this point. Run up the big hill with gusto only so I can make myself feel better knowing that I will have my first DNF in two and half years. Lucky for me it is not a points race, so it is only training at this point.

Limp back to the start/finish area and there is Dash standing on the sidelines with a flat tire. Brain finishes 24th and when he get's home he has a flat tire also. In the SM4's race, Ryan finishes on a flat tire, he too just home from the show. Mike has a great ride and finishes 24th also. John and Pete are racing the uber competitive SM3's and finished mid pack. The 3's and 35 Open are by far the toughest fields in the state.

Up next, double points races in Frisco and then a road trip to Gunnison, some 4 hrs from Denver for a weekend of racing.