4.28.2007
ToV: Stage 4 & 5
Ahh, a morning off. After two, 105 mile road stages, we get a respite this morning and Alex and Ryan have a measly 35 mile crit to tend to this afternoon. As for my view from the "manager's seat" here, I've gained some perspective on the neverending job a ProTour team support staff faces.
It's funny, but the mental attitude of being an off-the-bike part of the team is the exact same one you have as a domestique on the bike. You constantly ask yourself, "What can I be doing to make sure the riders have it as easy as possible, so that when crunch time comes, they are rested and ready to fight?" There is always some job to do: bikes to be checked, bottles to cleaned and prepped, laundry, maps to be studied, GC standings to mull over. And through it all I keep having to stop myself from being too motherly with the guys, "Alex, stop doing dishes and get your feet up!", "Ryan, get out of the sun for that post-race interview!". But like a mother, it's all love. The guys are putting in great rides at a very tough race out here, and we just want to make sure they've got plenty of fight left in them for the final stages.
However, I remember that those overbearing recommendations are what can make an American rider's trip to Europe so tough. Everyone really just wants to help you succeed, but that means even the little old lady at the grocery store barks advice at you or scowls at your dietary decisions while she rings you up. So, I'm trying to let the guys just feel it out and learn for themselves, and they are doing just fine.
The biggest indicators that they are holding up well came after yesterday's Stage 5 - the third 100+ mile stage in a row. Whereas I expected two riders who were just relieved to make it through another tough, rainy stage, Ryan was as chipper as ever and cleaned-up and changed into his podium clothes in record time. And Alex was all full of spit and vinegar and I think wanted to fight anyone in sight because he thought he could have done way better in the hairy, uphill sprint that had 10k of a 40+ mph run-in to a one-lane left hand turn. There's definitely plenty of fight left in these guys.
As for race details, Stage 4 was the "queen" stage with two, killer Cat. 1 climbs: Montebello and Reed’s Gap. Both the guys climbed in the main lead group, with only a few “super-climbers” sneaking off the front. It was mostly the gaps on the descents that forced the splits you see in the stage results. They were insane, steep, twisty mountain descents that even a moto official couldn’t handle! The caravan stared in disbelief as we flew past the beautiful BWM bike mangled in a ditch. Fortunately, the driver was up and o.k., but at least one rider was taken the hospital after high-siding over a guard-rail - nasty, nasty stuff. Alex and Ryan both said they had no problems at all and had complete confidence in their trusty Madone’s outfitted with Aeolus 5.0 wheels and Bonty Pro Tubulars (which, at five stages and two, 5-mile technical gravel sections into the race, are straight as an arrow and cut free!)
Yesterday’s Stage 5 was a much flatter stage, but the challenge came in the form of almost two hours of rain, wet roads, and one of those gravel sections. Alex fell over in one turn after an inferior bike handler’s antics, but worked his way back up through the peloton like a seasoned veteran. There were also some wide-open windy sections and the aforementioned super-high speed run in to the finish (all gradually downhill), but again, the guys had no problem.
I’ve got quite a few pictures to post, and will do my best to get them before tonight’s crit. Thanks for reading.
It's funny, but the mental attitude of being an off-the-bike part of the team is the exact same one you have as a domestique on the bike. You constantly ask yourself, "What can I be doing to make sure the riders have it as easy as possible, so that when crunch time comes, they are rested and ready to fight?" There is always some job to do: bikes to be checked, bottles to cleaned and prepped, laundry, maps to be studied, GC standings to mull over. And through it all I keep having to stop myself from being too motherly with the guys, "Alex, stop doing dishes and get your feet up!", "Ryan, get out of the sun for that post-race interview!". But like a mother, it's all love. The guys are putting in great rides at a very tough race out here, and we just want to make sure they've got plenty of fight left in them for the final stages.
However, I remember that those overbearing recommendations are what can make an American rider's trip to Europe so tough. Everyone really just wants to help you succeed, but that means even the little old lady at the grocery store barks advice at you or scowls at your dietary decisions while she rings you up. So, I'm trying to let the guys just feel it out and learn for themselves, and they are doing just fine.
The biggest indicators that they are holding up well came after yesterday's Stage 5 - the third 100+ mile stage in a row. Whereas I expected two riders who were just relieved to make it through another tough, rainy stage, Ryan was as chipper as ever and cleaned-up and changed into his podium clothes in record time. And Alex was all full of spit and vinegar and I think wanted to fight anyone in sight because he thought he could have done way better in the hairy, uphill sprint that had 10k of a 40+ mph run-in to a one-lane left hand turn. There's definitely plenty of fight left in these guys.
As for race details, Stage 4 was the "queen" stage with two, killer Cat. 1 climbs: Montebello and Reed’s Gap. Both the guys climbed in the main lead group, with only a few “super-climbers” sneaking off the front. It was mostly the gaps on the descents that forced the splits you see in the stage results. They were insane, steep, twisty mountain descents that even a moto official couldn’t handle! The caravan stared in disbelief as we flew past the beautiful BWM bike mangled in a ditch. Fortunately, the driver was up and o.k., but at least one rider was taken the hospital after high-siding over a guard-rail - nasty, nasty stuff. Alex and Ryan both said they had no problems at all and had complete confidence in their trusty Madone’s outfitted with Aeolus 5.0 wheels and Bonty Pro Tubulars (which, at five stages and two, 5-mile technical gravel sections into the race, are straight as an arrow and cut free!)
Yesterday’s Stage 5 was a much flatter stage, but the challenge came in the form of almost two hours of rain, wet roads, and one of those gravel sections. Alex fell over in one turn after an inferior bike handler’s antics, but worked his way back up through the peloton like a seasoned veteran. There were also some wide-open windy sections and the aforementioned super-high speed run in to the finish (all gradually downhill), but again, the guys had no problem.
I’ve got quite a few pictures to post, and will do my best to get them before tonight’s crit. Thanks for reading.
4.25.2007
ToV - Stage 2 & 3: Getting by and Lows and Highs
Tuesday night's Stage 2 Criterium in Lynchburg seems to fit the current standard for US stage races: ridiculously narrow sections of road with a few intense turns. Courses that are perfect for very challenging, spectator friendly events that come down to who's the toughest (or craziest). However, a bit wacko for 150+ guys in a multi-day stage race. It doesn't make sense to test guys cojones on top of their ability.
Fortunately, since this is a stage race on time everyone was pretty well behaved and just grabbed the wheel in front of them to go along for the ride. There were about 20 guys gunning it up front to keep it really fast, and then a two block long line of riders just following their wheels. Near the last couple of laps, I even started easing up a little bit to save the legs for Stage 3. Thus, I finished second to last in the field on the day, but with the exact same time as first place and I probably spent a lot less energy, easy peasy.
Unfortunately, saving the legs didn't help me much today. To make a short story shorter, I just never hit a rhythm and by the third significant climb of the day I was done. I couldn't hang with the group I was in, couldn't hang in the group that caught me, and ended up just hanging it up. I climbed into the van at the second feed zone 85 miles in and went into manager mode - racing towards the finish with James, a local who's helping us out. A quick stop at the convenient store and we had Coke, Water, snacks and cold towels for the guys at the finish. I'm glad we did too, they faced a brutal 25 minute ascent between that last feed zone and the finish, and it was a long, hot brutal day for them.
And the payoff? Our man Ryan Baumann is now in the Under-23 leader's jersey. It's a big deal at an event that prides itself on showcasing America's up and coming talent, and a great motivator for Brett, Alex and Ryan as they face a monster stage tomorrow (Thursday).
The official race photos aren't up yet, but Ryan has a race report and few photos over at his blog.
Fortunately, since this is a stage race on time everyone was pretty well behaved and just grabbed the wheel in front of them to go along for the ride. There were about 20 guys gunning it up front to keep it really fast, and then a two block long line of riders just following their wheels. Near the last couple of laps, I even started easing up a little bit to save the legs for Stage 3. Thus, I finished second to last in the field on the day, but with the exact same time as first place and I probably spent a lot less energy, easy peasy.
Unfortunately, saving the legs didn't help me much today. To make a short story shorter, I just never hit a rhythm and by the third significant climb of the day I was done. I couldn't hang with the group I was in, couldn't hang in the group that caught me, and ended up just hanging it up. I climbed into the van at the second feed zone 85 miles in and went into manager mode - racing towards the finish with James, a local who's helping us out. A quick stop at the convenient store and we had Coke, Water, snacks and cold towels for the guys at the finish. I'm glad we did too, they faced a brutal 25 minute ascent between that last feed zone and the finish, and it was a long, hot brutal day for them.
And the payoff? Our man Ryan Baumann is now in the Under-23 leader's jersey. It's a big deal at an event that prides itself on showcasing America's up and coming talent, and a great motivator for Brett, Alex and Ryan as they face a monster stage tomorrow (Thursday).
The official race photos aren't up yet, but Ryan has a race report and few photos over at his blog.
4.24.2007
Tour of Virginia-Prologue
Sorry for the two and half week delay in reports... with the thaw of the Midwest finally it was time to log some miles in preparation for this week's event: the 6-day, 7-stage Tour of Virginia.
This morning we had a prologue that was originally posted as 5 miles, made it to as long as 5.8 miles by the time the first copy of a race bible was published (yesterday afternoon), was shortened to 4.1 miles in a subsuquent copy of the race bible handed out at the manager's meeting... and in actuality was less than 4 miles. For a TT guy like our own Ryan Baumann, I believe that succession of information lead to an emotional rollercoaster as he worked to prepare himself for the effort at hand. As for me? Well, a TT is a TT. They could have lengthened it to 40k or shortened it to 1k, I'd despise it either way. But you know what happens to guys with attitudes like that? Out of 174 riders, the "luck" of the draw is that I got to be first rider off at 9:01 AM. Good, I say, let's get it over with.
The number that sticks out in my mind in regards to TT's isn't something like 90- for a cadence or 400- as in wattage... it's 111th, as in the place I seem to get whenever I do a TT like at Nature Valley or Valley of the Sun. Today I figured I'd go all out, throw some trick gear on, and shoot for a solid placing among a mostly amateur field out here.
My result... 109th. Damn TT's. In reality, my placing 50 seconds back doesn't mean much when faced with the mountainous 100 mile stages on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So I got that going for me.
Fortunately, TT's aren't about me and are all about guys like new teammate Ryan Baumann. Ryan finished 15th and is quite possibly the U-23 leader going into tonight's 50 minute crit. If Ryan does indeed get to pull on some new threads prior to the start, I'll definitely post some photos.
Stay tuned....
This morning we had a prologue that was originally posted as 5 miles, made it to as long as 5.8 miles by the time the first copy of a race bible was published (yesterday afternoon), was shortened to 4.1 miles in a subsuquent copy of the race bible handed out at the manager's meeting... and in actuality was less than 4 miles. For a TT guy like our own Ryan Baumann, I believe that succession of information lead to an emotional rollercoaster as he worked to prepare himself for the effort at hand. As for me? Well, a TT is a TT. They could have lengthened it to 40k or shortened it to 1k, I'd despise it either way. But you know what happens to guys with attitudes like that? Out of 174 riders, the "luck" of the draw is that I got to be first rider off at 9:01 AM. Good, I say, let's get it over with.
The number that sticks out in my mind in regards to TT's isn't something like 90- for a cadence or 400- as in wattage... it's 111th, as in the place I seem to get whenever I do a TT like at Nature Valley or Valley of the Sun. Today I figured I'd go all out, throw some trick gear on, and shoot for a solid placing among a mostly amateur field out here.
My result... 109th. Damn TT's. In reality, my placing 50 seconds back doesn't mean much when faced with the mountainous 100 mile stages on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So I got that going for me.
Fortunately, TT's aren't about me and are all about guys like new teammate Ryan Baumann. Ryan finished 15th and is quite possibly the U-23 leader going into tonight's 50 minute crit. If Ryan does indeed get to pull on some new threads prior to the start, I'll definitely post some photos.
Stay tuned....
4.07.2007
Cold Weather Thoughts
A rainy & windswept John Fraser Memorial TT was just the beginning. As everyone in the Midwest knows, this past Wednesday the deep freeze came in.
After two days off the bike I went to bed on Tuesday with plans for a long 4 hour ride on Wednesday, and the windows were cracked open a little bit after a somewhat humid day. Thus follows my re-adjustment to the bitter cold:
Wed, 7:14AM: Still in Bed. Did I just see my breath... inside?
7:21 AM: Look outside. you've got to be kidding me.
9:30 AM: Damn it's cold, time for another cup of coffee
12:00 PM: E-mail from Susan Peithman, she rode 4 hours inside... Oh hell no, I'm going out.
1:00 PM: Call from Farrell, "Ebert, you ride yet? It's 22 degrees and dropping..."
"Shutup Farrell, of course I'm riding, I'm just waiting for it to warm-up."
"Bulls&*#, you ain't riding"
2:30 PM: Still 5 hours of daylight left... alright, dig out the thermal gear.
3 PM: Roll out the door, neoprene-ed to the gills. Yeah, I'm tough. Headed to the Fox River Trail for a scenic ride and some shelter from the wind. 4 hours of Tempo so I stay warm.
3:01 PM: I'm crazy, this is the stupidest thing I've ever done.
3:02 PM: My PowerTap head doesn't even want to be out when it's this cold. It's all faded.
3:03 PM: I can't feel my hands. Actually, the wind is so bitter cold I can't feel anything.
3:04 PM: Susan really rode 4 hours on the trainer... must push on.
3:05 PM: How long does it take for frostbite to set in?
3:15 PM: Quick stop at PPC-Batavia to grab an extra pair of gloves that I know Mom has in her car. I won't make it long with my hands like this.
3:18 PM: Oh, that was the trick. An inch of neoprene and fleece on each finger and I'm golden.
3:45 PM: Reach down for a bottle: so that's what those Gatorade Slurpees at 7-11 taste like.
4:15 PM: My blood has finally warmed up after 75 minutes and is circulating to every part of my body. I'm even able to strip off an extra pair of gloves.
5 PM: East Dundee Coffee Shop, 2 hours in: Holy cow I'm hungry. If I sat down to eat a hot panini would I ever leave this place? Better just stick to decaf and a scone.
5:10 PM: Dang, blood stopped flowing to the fingers again.
5:20 PM: Ahh, thermal engine warmed up again, that wasn't so bad.
6 PM: 3 hour mark, granted, I'm pretty toasty and cruising along nicely, but who's really crazier, Susan or me?
I got my long ride in, and then after heading up to my Dad's place in rural Wisconsin, did another 2.5 hours in 28 degrees and 25mph winds on Thursday.
Oh, but how the cold sucks it out of you. During Thursday's ride I found myself comparing the effort to 2 & 3 hour ski workouts I've done. As long as I keep moving I'm fine, but if I let up just a hair the cold sets in fast and regardless, I am one tired dog at the end of the day. Thursday night I was in bed before 10PM, the first time I've done that in months. Then when I tried to do some intensity on the Computrainer Friday I started out strong and I was stoked about the numbers... but then I hit the wall about 30 minutes in.... oh well.
This morning? Woke up to snow. At least it will keep me from trying to be a tough guy.
Have a great Easter.
After two days off the bike I went to bed on Tuesday with plans for a long 4 hour ride on Wednesday, and the windows were cracked open a little bit after a somewhat humid day. Thus follows my re-adjustment to the bitter cold:
Wed, 7:14AM: Still in Bed. Did I just see my breath... inside?
7:21 AM: Look outside. you've got to be kidding me.
9:30 AM: Damn it's cold, time for another cup of coffee
12:00 PM: E-mail from Susan Peithman, she rode 4 hours inside... Oh hell no, I'm going out.
1:00 PM: Call from Farrell, "Ebert, you ride yet? It's 22 degrees and dropping..."
"Shutup Farrell, of course I'm riding, I'm just waiting for it to warm-up."
"Bulls&*#, you ain't riding"
2:30 PM: Still 5 hours of daylight left... alright, dig out the thermal gear.
3 PM: Roll out the door, neoprene-ed to the gills. Yeah, I'm tough. Headed to the Fox River Trail for a scenic ride and some shelter from the wind. 4 hours of Tempo so I stay warm.
3:01 PM: I'm crazy, this is the stupidest thing I've ever done.
3:02 PM: My PowerTap head doesn't even want to be out when it's this cold. It's all faded.
3:03 PM: I can't feel my hands. Actually, the wind is so bitter cold I can't feel anything.
3:04 PM: Susan really rode 4 hours on the trainer... must push on.
3:05 PM: How long does it take for frostbite to set in?
3:15 PM: Quick stop at PPC-Batavia to grab an extra pair of gloves that I know Mom has in her car. I won't make it long with my hands like this.
3:18 PM: Oh, that was the trick. An inch of neoprene and fleece on each finger and I'm golden.
3:45 PM: Reach down for a bottle: so that's what those Gatorade Slurpees at 7-11 taste like.
4:15 PM: My blood has finally warmed up after 75 minutes and is circulating to every part of my body. I'm even able to strip off an extra pair of gloves.
5 PM: East Dundee Coffee Shop, 2 hours in: Holy cow I'm hungry. If I sat down to eat a hot panini would I ever leave this place? Better just stick to decaf and a scone.
5:10 PM: Dang, blood stopped flowing to the fingers again.
5:20 PM: Ahh, thermal engine warmed up again, that wasn't so bad.
6 PM: 3 hour mark, granted, I'm pretty toasty and cruising along nicely, but who's really crazier, Susan or me?
I got my long ride in, and then after heading up to my Dad's place in rural Wisconsin, did another 2.5 hours in 28 degrees and 25mph winds on Thursday.
Oh, but how the cold sucks it out of you. During Thursday's ride I found myself comparing the effort to 2 & 3 hour ski workouts I've done. As long as I keep moving I'm fine, but if I let up just a hair the cold sets in fast and regardless, I am one tired dog at the end of the day. Thursday night I was in bed before 10PM, the first time I've done that in months. Then when I tried to do some intensity on the Computrainer Friday I started out strong and I was stoked about the numbers... but then I hit the wall about 30 minutes in.... oh well.
This morning? Woke up to snow. At least it will keep me from trying to be a tough guy.
Have a great Easter.
4.02.2007
Hillsboro & JFMTT
Man, I'm glad that's over. The last 5 days included a few, 12+ hour days helping the new shop and getting ready for the ABD TT series finale, a drive back and forth to St. Louis, a 90 mile suffer fest in Hillsboro, a windy, rainy John Fraser Memorial TT, and throwing my back out somewhere along the line. But now the TT series has been wrapped up in style, Prairie Path Cycles Batavia is open for business, and I managed to get a couple of great race efforts in.
Most importantly, ABD members are the best — such good people. We packed Qi Yong's Mr. Samurai restaurant last Wednesday night for some great food. It was great having so many of us together. Then over the next few days everybody chipped in huge in to pull of the JFMTT: Brian Hildreth pulling late nights to catch up on the waterfall of registrations (325 people!), Susan P. and Big Tom setting up prizes, Alex Sharon chauffering me to Hillsboro while I plugged away on last-minute TT details in the passenger seat, and then all the volunteers on Sunday who braved "Wizard of Oz"-like conditions. I snapped a few photos over the last week that I'll try to get up to the ABD site tomorrow morning.
The Hillsboro race, as always, was b-r-u-t-a-l. Due to whatever I did to my back I hadn't ridden in three days and when I woke up on Saturday I couldn't stand up straight. I wasn't even going to race but told the team I'd go with the first move and they can play off of that. So, less than 5 miles in and 83 miles to go, the first move is: me, Bryce, Reid, Puffer, Jelly Belly pro Brian Dziewa, former Pro Brian Jensen, former Pro Andy Crater, Jensen's teammate and Jordan of IScorp. Oh boy... I just sat on policing things for the team and I still averaged 260 watts for the first two hours of the race. It was insane. After 40 miles or so everyone started attacking and blew apart. After an hour or so of being in the 3-man chase group we were caught and I finished out the race with the remnants of the field in order to get some miles back in my legs. Even after "pulling the ripcord" and riding it in, I still ended up averaging 240 watts for 4 hours. Props to teammate Schroetlin, whose lack of outdoor riding hasn't hindered him a bit. He was attacking like mad in the last hour to try and get away from a chase-happy field and finally put in a monster attack to shatter the will of all but a few guys.
The JFMTT, on the other hand, really wasn't too bad except for the wind. A 22 minute effort was nothing compared to Saturday, and riding it aboard the Trek TTX was a bonus. I'm not much of a TT guy, but that bike was fast and comfy and after I'd spent a couple of hours dialing things in, fit like a glove. My previous experience on TT bikes have been somewhat harsh, but not so on Sunday. Of course, having to focus more staying upright in the 30mph gusts and driving rain probably took a little bit of my attention from either the suffering or the bike.
Thanks for reading, gotta run.
Most importantly, ABD members are the best — such good people. We packed Qi Yong's Mr. Samurai restaurant last Wednesday night for some great food. It was great having so many of us together. Then over the next few days everybody chipped in huge in to pull of the JFMTT: Brian Hildreth pulling late nights to catch up on the waterfall of registrations (325 people!), Susan P. and Big Tom setting up prizes, Alex Sharon chauffering me to Hillsboro while I plugged away on last-minute TT details in the passenger seat, and then all the volunteers on Sunday who braved "Wizard of Oz"-like conditions. I snapped a few photos over the last week that I'll try to get up to the ABD site tomorrow morning.
The Hillsboro race, as always, was b-r-u-t-a-l. Due to whatever I did to my back I hadn't ridden in three days and when I woke up on Saturday I couldn't stand up straight. I wasn't even going to race but told the team I'd go with the first move and they can play off of that. So, less than 5 miles in and 83 miles to go, the first move is: me, Bryce, Reid, Puffer, Jelly Belly pro Brian Dziewa, former Pro Brian Jensen, former Pro Andy Crater, Jensen's teammate and Jordan of IScorp. Oh boy... I just sat on policing things for the team and I still averaged 260 watts for the first two hours of the race. It was insane. After 40 miles or so everyone started attacking and blew apart. After an hour or so of being in the 3-man chase group we were caught and I finished out the race with the remnants of the field in order to get some miles back in my legs. Even after "pulling the ripcord" and riding it in, I still ended up averaging 240 watts for 4 hours. Props to teammate Schroetlin, whose lack of outdoor riding hasn't hindered him a bit. He was attacking like mad in the last hour to try and get away from a chase-happy field and finally put in a monster attack to shatter the will of all but a few guys.
The JFMTT, on the other hand, really wasn't too bad except for the wind. A 22 minute effort was nothing compared to Saturday, and riding it aboard the Trek TTX was a bonus. I'm not much of a TT guy, but that bike was fast and comfy and after I'd spent a couple of hours dialing things in, fit like a glove. My previous experience on TT bikes have been somewhat harsh, but not so on Sunday. Of course, having to focus more staying upright in the 30mph gusts and driving rain probably took a little bit of my attention from either the suffering or the bike.
Thanks for reading, gotta run.
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