Queen City Crits and coming attractions

With a weekend of racing only 2.5 hours away and free place to stay at my sister's house, my teammate Matt P. and I rolled into Springfield, MO. With several other teammates racing KS grass track, we were the only Colavita/Parisi riders. The categories were split up into cat 4/5 and 3/4 so I had the opportunity to race 4x over the weekend.
Started with the 4/5 race saturday eve, felt like I had a great opportunity to win but it wasn't to be. Spent the majority of the race on or near the front. I was covering attacks left and right and bridging gaps which took it out of me. The race had no real flow to it and I couldn't get into any sort of groove. On top of that my legs were a bit groggy. I'm coming to find that I need to keep the efforts up the day before a race to keep my legs in check. - A rider went off the front solo and no one followed so he got away for good. I had a weak last lap and could only pull out a 5th place finish. $45 in the bank but I felt like crap and didn't pony up for the 3/4 race. Also I wanted to save it to redeem myself for Sunday's 4/5.

Matt did well in the 3/4 race. Broke away for one prime and sprinted for a second. That's 2 $50 dollar primes and an 11th place finish for $35 - not bad.

Crashed at my sister Kim's place (thanks again) and awoke ready to roll. Historically the second day of racing my legs are more responsive, they were a bit fatigued but still feeling better than saturday.
Lined up for the 4/5 and was off. Pace was kept in check for beginning until they called for the first prime. I launched at the line and was trying to solo the whole way around. Got a good gap formed and held on to the final stretch where I ran out of gas and got passed by 2 in a sprint...damnit. Settled in again and as we neared the end found myself more on the front. As attacks started coming I found myself having to cover and make some bridges. I wan't looking to break away though and the guy from team sound pony who made the solo break yesterday and who kept attacking the group today began to get agitated that I wouldn't work with him. At one time he looked back at me, made some smart comment and began to sprint away in an attack like he was about to drop me. Not sure what that was all about but I stuck his wheel and let him whine a bit more. Later in the race he bitched more but I ended up finishing ahead of him.....whatever. Basically last two laps were hot and and about 5 of us got away enough that guaranteed me a top five. Jumped a wheel on the last two corners and sprinted it out, got hit at the line for 2nd so I finished 3rd. Decent race

Felt good and jumped in the 3/4 race - first taste of the 3's and it was nice. Smooth, fast, consistent. Felt amazingly comfortable eventhough we had a good pace going. About halfway through was trailing teammate Matt P. into a corner when he went down right in front of me and I crashed into him. Got a bit banged up but we'll both heal. Front wheel got a beatin' but Britton at Volker Bicycles got me true as soon as I rolled back to KC. ----
I can't say enough about the support we get from our team and Volker bicycles. It is definitely unmatched for an amateur cycling team. They've helped me get: my Jamis Xenith, Pearl Izumi shoes, lazer helmet, SRAM components, everything. Definitely couldn't have afforded half that stuff at any other store - They hook it up. A special mention to my new Vittoria Open Corsa Evo tires - so smooth, great feel. Had to switch it up after both of my Schwalbe Ultremo's split.

So with the road season winding down I'm looking forward to toning it down a bit. But I will embark on first cyclocross season. Once again Volker has the hookup with a cross bike. Scooped up a used Jamis Supernova frame. In exchange though, the cross bike has to become my new commuter bike as well and I will sell my current commuter bike and part out my MTB for good. When it's all said and done though I'll likely have a little money left over after selling everything.

Cross

I've been bitten by the cross bug and I haven't even raced a single cross race. Parting out the MTB, selling my SS commuter, in with a steel cross bike/new commuter/winter and crappy weather trainer.

Watching youtube videos of cyclocross is dangerous.

Omaha Race Weekend

Just a short 3 hour drive from KC, it was hard to pass up the Omaha cycling weekend. Matt P. and I left Saturday morning and picked up fellow teammate David N. in St. Joe on the way up. I spent much of the previous week not riding as I attempted a bit of recovery from Lawrence. I did however, join up for a lovely 50 mile scorcher wednesday night in lawrence known as the wescoe ride. I was interested to see how I'd rebound after blowing up after the KU circuit race the previous Sunday.

Made it to Omaha with plenty of time to warm up for saturday's Papillion Twilight Criterium. There was a time trial that morning but we opted out and slept in instead. The course was alright...lots of turns, with a few slight uphills, small downhill, back up a steep but short section, into a long fast descent, sweeping turn and 90 degree into the finish. Thought maybe beforehand I had a good chance on this course with the climbing.
Lined up near the back with teammate David and we were off. Pace got hot fairly quick and struggled through traffic. The turns combined with quick accelerations ate me up. I was suffering and being stuck midpack couldn't recover. David meanwhile was able to move through the garbage and settle near the front. Racers were all over the place and although I fell from the front group and got passed by more in the last 7 laps they still scored me as 16th out of 40 something. Not sure that was entirely correct....maybe 20th - who knows. Either way I felt like crap and I was trying to comprehend why I couldn't stick it. Fatigued?...race just too fast?..do I need more rest? During those last few laps I rode solo every thought went through my mind and I was settling on the idea that I shouldn't race the road race on sunday. However, after talking with David and Matt after the race I snapped out of it and got my shit together. David ended up taking 4th in the crit. there were lots of strong riders and it was a great result.

Sunday we had the Babcook Road Race. 52 miles, 7 laps, one moderate climb per lap. Was just lining up and going to see what I could do to not get shelled off the back like yesterday. Had a nice 3 mile neutral rollout came upon the first climb. first time up was tough, seemed like some were attacking but it does take me awhile to get the legs proper. I was struggling to recover and doing everything to maintain a top ten spot out of the wind...(I'm great at not riding in the wind). Got in the groove and the rest of the climbs came and went fairly easy. People attacked but nothing ever stuck, bridged a few small gaps that formed, riding well....started to get really windy, and the rain began to move in. On the second to last lap David and another rider who ended up winning shot off the front. I thought david was attacking so I didn't follow. As a train of riders blew by me to catch I couldn't jump on the back. Luckily got back on a few minutes later with a group of 4 - that was almost the end of my day though. Turned out the one rider thought it was last lap so he was attacking hard for the win.
Last lap was slow up the climb and as we got in the final 3 miles speeds slowly ramped up. there were about 15 of us riding into the finish looking for the win. A rider launched off the front on a downhill with 700 to go, I jumped david's wheel in 4th position. The 4 of us on the front cranked it the following hill up and crested with 500 to go. All 4 of us were sprinting in a single file line. 50 meters to go I looked back and saw a mass of riders getting ready to pass us. Stood on the pedals one last time and one person jumped me for 4th. Actually got passed for 6th place but threw my bike ahead to take back 5th. David wound up 3rd. Good day overall. Money in the bank.

Tour of Lawrence

Was looking forward to this race weekend for a long time. I had it in the books as an "A" priority race so much of my last month was spent towards this race series. Saturday had the downtown crit. My parents came up to visit and got their first dose of bike racing watching this race. Was feeling good prior to the race - until I realized I forgot my road shoes at home in KC. Drove back to get them and made it in time to see part of Jane's race in the 3/4 women.
Jane did well. Hung with the group and finished 5th of all the cat 4 women. Her first payout ever! $25.

Got a decent warm up in, and made sure I had good position on the line for the start. Big field, over 50 riders with a lot of teammates. My plan was to keep it near front and watch for certain riders attempting breaks - something I was prepared to do if the right people went. The team did a great job putting in a bunch of attacks - Thomas got in on some after recently finding some long lost fitness. David grabbed a prime and Dan hammered on the front for awhile. I stayed out of trouble and was waiting for the laps to wind down - felt good for the majority of the race. With about 3 laps to go, people started getting jumpy and attempted to move up. Saw some strong riders make their way to the front, I followed and settled in at about 4th-5th wheel. Last lap and some young looking guy jumped. I hadn't seen him the whole race and didn't follow. Finally a SKC rider launched on the downhill and I worked my way to his wheel, took the last 2 turns with some good speed and it was a sprint for 2nd place. That kid who attacked early had the juice and was far enough away for 1st. I was closing on the SKC guy but came up short and took 3rd. I'm not sure but I think there was some space before the 4th place rider.

My first podium in the 4's and in a good race too. Was really happy with the result and felt that I raced a smart race and for the most part did everything I could do (except jump the wheel of the 1st place finisher) - the $130 wasn't too bad either.


Sunday was a different story. The KU campus circuit race was a really hilly 4.5 mile loop. 5 laps and nearly 2500 feet of climbing. Prior to the race I was alright. Legs were definetly stiff - a few hours on my feet after the race on saturday didn't help either. Rolled out and settled in near the front. First lap was tough, took a few hills before I really found my legs. On the second lap near the last climb, the road narrows to a driveway entry and some boulevard racer a few bikes in front of me rode straight into a haybale and held up the rest of the field. After a brief pause, we made our way through, riding between the gates, his bike, and him. This caused a bit of a gap to form. I began to bridge and made it about halfway before my teammate David N. picked me up and dragged me and a few other riders back up. So on this 3rd lap we started hitting the hills again and I just couldn't recover. Didn't have power I had on the first two laps and was breathing hard. right there I knew I was done. Mentally I was fading too.
So with some tired legs, a bridge attempt that I couldn't recover from and just a tough course I was OTB. Crap. Just blew up right there. Took me nearly the whole next lap to recover fully and got passed by about 7-8 riders including all my teammates except david N. who was still hanging in on the front (he took 4th in the race). Each time a teammate rode by they offered a wheel and I couldn't hang it. Last 2 laps or so and began to collect myself and rode the rest of the race by myself. For the majority of that time Eric Schaumberg and Steve V. were 100 meters in front of me. Eric Schaumberg, Steve V, and I took 22, 23, 24.

Overall the weekend was great. Amazing courses with good money and good turnout. This was a first year event and hope it sticks around.

So coming up it's back to some hard workouts. I've gotten away from riding bigger miles. The last several weeks have been short workouts but high intensity. Not sure if that's put me in some hole or not. But I'm planning on a 55 mile group ride on Wednesday in Lawrence with some teammates. Hopefully heading to Omaha next weekend to race. Car pool up and split the hotel with 3-4 guys. Racing on a budget.


Photos are from the Tour of KC weekend, and courtesy of Kim Morris.