Pride CX #2

The Pride race was held at Glazebrook park this time. A very, very, flat park. But, its a park they want us to use so we are not complaining. Just making it the best we can. The course was laid out over 2 soccer fields that were next to a paved path, so that was used also.

I thought I felt pretty good riding around before the race. I knew it was a horse power course. Lots of drag strips out there with a few tight turns. Not really a course that suites me. When the race started it was Jay, then Ron Bridal, then Paul from Gateway, then me coming out of the first corner. It stayed this way for most the 1st lap. I made one small move to get to third wheel but it didn't last to long.

About the end of the 2nd lap I started fading. I don't know what my deal is. I was gagging from my sinus problem for what seemed like a couple minutes. That's never good. By the end of the 3rd lap going into the 4th, I had slipped back to 5th. I kept the dogfish rider in sight for most the race. He was only about 7 seconds up from me for about 1 1/2 laps. Which on that course equaled about 10 minutes of racing. It was only a 6 laps race. I sort of gave up chasing him the last lap.

I finished in that spot. I felt kind of crappy about it but didn't let it bother me to much. Its to early in the year to let it bother you.

I bought a set of rollers to train on this winter. With the time starting to change im eventually going to have to bring it indoors for mid week training. I tried a regular trainer last year but being in such a fixed position hurt my knees and my ass, which means I didn't use it very much. I think the rollers will allow me to be more fluid on the bike and move around a little which will hopefully allow me to train pain free. I didn't get to much training in last year and this year I would like to be in the top 15 every week by the end of the season.

Hopefully with a lot of focus, and a little luck, my results will be better this year.

Cool photo with the clouds.


Crossing the line a little bummed out.

Photos by Eville Mike.

This was the first time I used my HR monitor during a cross race. Average was 186 with a max of 195. I guess that seems about right. Not really sure... Like I said earlier, this course does not suite me. I like the technical courses better. Time will tell.

AltoniaEvilliaHermannia

Kind of a short post about 3 recent races. Been sort of unmotivated blog wise the past couple of weeks. Been busy, tired, and stressed about work contract stuff.

Any way..

The first Alton Cross race was Sept 11th. We layed out a pretty cool course the day before the race and thought it was good enough. Then it rained its ass off Friday night which provided some slick corners and one little bog sections. Just enough to make you smile and not hate life. With the course being on such a hill, most the water drained off. My legs were pretty flat from being on my feet so much in the previous days. Not bad, but not fresh.

Some fast guys showed up as well. Josh Johnson, Jeff Yielding, Jay Strothman, and a few others. Didn't know what to expect but these were the 3 I was expecting to see the back of. And that's exactly what happened. Rode pretty easy the first couple laps just easing into it. Josh came around me on the second lap and that was is. Jeff and Jay were already in front of me. I felt decent and the fact that on the last lap Josh still had about a third of a lap more to ride to lap me was kind of a good sign. Not sure how hard he was going but he usually would lap me or be close to it. Maybe I am better this year. So Josh, then Jay, then Jeff, then me...Scott. I think your name had to start with a J to be on the podium if this race.

Good day of good racing. People seemed to like the course which was a plus.



The very next day I went to the first annual E-ville crit. Cool figure 8 course. Low turn out, lots of wind and it was pretty warm too. Legs weren't feeling so great after racing cross the day before. Only about 40 riders in the 3's race also. So with that I stayed near the back trying to save as much energy as possible. About 15 minutes in I looked up the road to see a break had formed and I wasn't in it...

At the 30 minute mark they had a prime lap. I stayed on the back. Going throught the start finish I was watching the 3 guys that went for the prime. As soon as they crossed the finish line about 40 yard ahead of us they grouped together and began working, pulling away. Nearing the end of that lap they had put nearly 50 more yards on us now putting there total gap to about 100 yards. Fuck that. I ain't missing the second break. I sprinted from last place and bridged up to the break. Now 4 strong we started working together were pulling away from the peleton.

Nearing the end of the race I was feeling the weekend on my legs. They were hurting. With 1 to go, and since we obviously weren't getting caught by the peleton it was game on, and game over for me. I was in the hurt locker trying to stay on. We almost caught the original break away, about 10 seconds down from them. I did what I could to stay with it but finished 8th on the day. Didn't really care, just thought it was cool to be in a break that makes it.


Hermann night race.

Leslie came out and did her first cross race. She hurt like hell, and loved it. She actually had a smile on her face after sitting in the car with the AC on(it was 88 out).

The course was great. Had everything a course should have. Some drag strips, tech stuff, barriers, more tech stuff.

This was a long day for me. Helping Leslie out means the day started really early for me, and my diet was pretty horrible also. By the time my race started I felt empty, legs felt hollow. When the gun when off I stayed back falling into about 3rd or 4th. Didn't want to be on the front setting pace. Just wanted to follow. Felt fine for the 1st lap. A group of about 8 was quickly formed. 2nd lap felt fine as well, still with it, but noticed how quickly my legs went from feeling hollow to feeling like a boat anchor. Not good. Third lap I started to fall off pace, so were others. Nothing I could do but pedal smooth and ride the tech stuff with out making mistakes. The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. Finished 11th. I am happy with it but know I could have been much further up with better race day prep.

Sunday was canced due to a flash flood washing most the race equipment away as well as almost washing some cars away. That really sucked, especially feel bad for the promoter Jeff Yeilding. Put a ton of work into the course only to have it all washed away... literally.

Cross pic


Cool close up


Proof!! I finally made the break.

www.ficksphotos.com

Holla..

Gateway Cup days 3 and 4

The race on the hill was hard. 5 laps in I knew I was in trouble. I was struggling right from the get go. Before long I found my self on the back tail gunning. I almost pulled the plug but that would have been stupid. Actually, the motorcycle referee told me to get back in there when he noticed I was starting to slip off the back. Thanks for the motivation. With 5 to go I made an attempt to move up. If I was lucky, I got past 15 or 20 riders in the 5 laps and probably finished 80th or worse.

Monday at Benton Park. First of all that was the best crit course I have ever raced on. More of a circuit race because of the 1.8 miles in length. 10 corners. Awesome!
I wanted to start at the front of the race because that's the only place to be on a course like this. Lucky me, I started on the very back and payed for it. The yo yo affect was bad coming out of every corner. Riders were dropping quickly. I only lasted about 20 minutes before I dropped off. It was hard. I tried to stay with it but sprinting from 15 to 30, 10 times per lap, for the 5 or 6 laps I was on killed me. I kept rolling though, it was so much fun to ride the course I figured why not? I got pulled with one lap to go because the main field was probably going to lap me.

So, I struggled like hell the last two days. Even though I got dropped Monday, I still had about a 24.5 average for the race. I think my fitness is ok..? Friday and Saturday seemed easy to me. Im really just getting back into higher intensity riding.

The first cross race is this Saturday. The last crit race is this Sunday. And with that, cross is pretty much in full swing. I cant believe its that time of year already...

Here is the sequence from the sketch, bang 'em up, crash, action that ruined my hopes of a good result on Saturday. It doesn't look like I was even involved, but I was all over the brakes.

Gateway cup day 1, 2

Friday night I had great legs, low heart rate, and my breathing was good. Rode near the front all night. With 5 to go I moved up to probably top 20 or so. Last lap, second to last corner a crash happend right in front of me. Had to jam on my breaks and watch 100 other rides come around. Finished in 95th or so. Bummer.

Saturday I had really great legs, low heart rate and my breathing was even better. Never even touched my water untill 5 to go. Rode near the front all day. With 5 to go I stayed in the top 20 or so. The roads are so wide in the first two races its difficult to do much better because you get swallowed up in every corner. Anyway, last lap, coming into the second to last corner someone skipped there pedal off the ground and caused a ton of riders to lock up there breaks. I had to do the same with some riders going down behind me. So... same as Friday, I finished way back in the pack, like 80th or something. Hope the next two days brings some better luck for me.

Cross.... less than one week!