Moving foward....

A new and exciting team out of Tucson…click here:   Maddog 83
  Roster: 
 Maddox, Randall
 Maddox, Teenie

An expanded Upstate cycling team devoted to participation in cycling, sport, racing, and community...
Greenville Velo
   Roster:  

W	Byrnes, Tama
W	Garrett, Kendra
W	Hoffmeister, Beth
W	Hood, Camille
W	Kinney, April
W	Lindsey, Cristina
W	McNamara, Jill
W	Preyde, Michele
W	Reynolds, Ashley
W	Smith, Samantha
W	Stratton, Kristi
W	Weinacker, Kristen
W	Wood, Emily
W	Weekes, Giselle
M	Baker, Steve
M	Carlson, Chad
M	Dias, Mel
M	Dias, John Mark
M	Freeman, Ray
M	Gallagher, Joe
M	Hood, John
M	Hough, Bobby
M	Lee, Brandon
M	Limbird, Jon
M	McDougal, Randy
M	McNamara, Dan
M	Myrick, Brian
M	Reynolds, Tom
M	Rudin, Brandon
M	Ruggiero, Larry
M	Shafir, Mark
M	Schleihs, Mark
M	Thompson, Brian

New Team Coming

If you've been following along with TEAM headstrong activities this season, you've seen all the great fun we've been having. I wanted to post some news about our future plans.

We are planning to race and ride in 2014 under the name of Greenville Velo. Most of the team will stay the same with the same riders and lots of fun in and out of the saddle, but we'll have a new name and a new look. Stay tuned for some further information about Greenville Velo. We'll point you to our new blog and show you what our cool new kits will look like. Other than our new look, much of the team remains the same.

greenvillevelo.blogspot.com

We hope you'll follow along as we continue to enjoy riding and competing together.

New team mates score big at Alpine Gran Fondo..

Sunday was the Jeremiah Bishop Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. 107 mi, 11832 ft of climbing around beautiful Northwestern Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. Beautiful early fall day. This Gran Fondo is not for the faint of heart. There are somany double digit climbs that you just lose count. The two most memorable was a 3 mile gravel climb gaining 1500 ft. With 3 ramps of 24%. Beth said it felt great when it leveled off to 15%. The other was a 10 mile endless gravel climb some of which was better suited for a mountain bike in places. Finish times : Jim- 7:50,Beth -8:15, Ken Malas -8:25. But the official timing was combining two hard climbs for KOM /QOM. Beth was second QOM overall and Ken was age group KOM winner and I was second behind Ken. Beth also won age group QOM. Great age group winner jerseys. Gearing was 34x28. We'll be back to ride again-a very beautiful area near Harrisonburg Va.

DS's journal entry from France....

2013.08.11   Here's a race recap:

0-5K - Tight scary, many fast braking situations.  Pack is very large.

5-52K - Teenie is on my wheel.  There are several very hard selection hills.   Grupetto has 40 or so riders.   We ride very smart but due to hazards, Teenie let's a gap get between us 4-5 times and I have to close it.  I tell her to stay glued to my wheel and that I will slow to an appropriate speed.  She does and I am relieved of these big efforts.  I wonder if we have ridden so hard we cannot sustain the the climbs?

53K-66k - As as we hit the foothills the 'pretenders' are gone from the grupetto.  By the time we get to the Peyersourde climb, we are with Helen, Randy and maybe 10 others….all the other women are gone.   All three of them drop me fast, as Teenie just rides steadily away.  At the '3k from the summit' sign, I see a headstrong jersey and calculate the time gap to be 30 seconds but it is not Teenie, it is Randy.  I pass him at 2k and he is standing still…..says he is not feeling good.  He finished about 30 minutes back for the day.  Two guys in my AG(I think) pass me inside the 2k marker.  I am steady and feeling OK but a bit shaken.

66-73 - Although I am screaming down the open decent, people are flying by me.

74-88 - Port de Bales Climb is 12-14% for the first 3k.  About 1K up, Teenie is standing in the road screwing with her gearing.  She has miss-shifted and is pissed.  She jumps back on her bike and immediately gaps me by 100 meters.  As I am edging back, I see Helen up ahead.  I pass the two guys that passed me on Peyersourde and never see them again.  Helen is weaving and we come up to her.  She says, later, that the sight of us, motivates her and she takes our pace.  The mountain flattens several times in the middle and I pull them across very fast, passing many riders.  With 3k to go it has steepened….I calculate that we might have 400 meters to climb in 3K?  Is that possible? I leave them as I think Teenie is close to cracking…..Helen too.  They catch me right at the summit, somehow drawing on their inner strength.  I cannot see from the sweat burning my eyes…..I am really hurting and just barely hanging in.

89-105K - Helen, who knows the mountain, leads down.  It is steep winding, wooded and the road is bad.  People are flying by us.  Soon, I am disheartened as a man leads a women by us like 2 bullets.  We hit a long gravel section that was washed out in floods 4 weeks prior…..scary as hell.  My back, neck, hands, arms are all in serious pain……my grip is almost failing.

106-117k - Slight downhill run out to finish. I pull for maybe 2-3K and we are flying.   Every time I look, I am doing 300+ watts and 400+ on the rises.  Teenie takes 2-3 pulls to rest me and Helen is gapped on a rise…..it is Teenie and I in the drops driving and we see 10K to go.   20-30 seconds for her and long as I can go on the pulls.  At 5k, I wonder if I am going to crack.  A woman, and two men pass us and we get on their wheel.  Helen has come up with them and attaches to Teenie's wheel.  I am sure the woman is in Helen's AG (W1/ 18-39).  With 500 meters to go, I give the girls the message.  I put the hammer down and come around the 3 folks on the left, the woman tries to stand as Teenie passes but can't stay up.   We are flying through winding narrow streets….houses right on the road like they have been all day.  We make the turn to the finish and I stand up and sprint.  Teenie and Helen hold my wheel…….it is 1/2/3/4….Me, Teenie, Helen, the unknown women.  

Results:  

Me - 10th……204th overall……4:47:06

Teenie - 1st in W3(50+)….5th Overall Women…..205th overall…..4:47:07

Helen - 3rd in W1…..6th Women overall……..206th overall…..4:47:08

In the long race, Mark had a flat and mechanicals and lost 30 minutes….Emily was 2nd in W3.  All other riders here with us are way behind Randy.  Tom bonked.

Mayor and City Council awarded Teenie a trophy, bottle of good wine, basket of cheese and 3 French cheek kisses before a crowd of about 300 people.  We think our race had about 400-500 in it……not sure yet?  Guy from the Wilier Factory TEAM won overall.

There is nothing in America like this!

Congratulations...

Congratulations to Jill (2nd Women's 50+), Dan (3rd Men's 55+), and Randall (5th Men's 60+) at the North Carolina State Time Trial Championship.....

TEAM FUN

Today was a great ride up the watershed to the Pisgah Omnium road course. Besides the outstanding turnout of 13 riders it was FUN! People were in the mood and hammering themselves into oblivion. Everyone stepped up their game and much of the ride was close to or at race pace. The theme of the day seemed to be FUN in a sadistic way.

Hard as the pace was, nearly everyone enjoyed the route and the effort. A store stop and lunch at Williams Hardware gave plenty of time for camaraderie. Thanks TEAM!

I Dreamed of Breaking Away

I started pinning a number on my back in 2007.   Soon, I dreamed of really racing.   Even though I spent a couple of years off the back and I was 58 years old,  I often dreamed that I could someday attack, counter, go off the front........ solo.

Had I waited too long in life??  Had my time passed?  I was usually racing much younger guys.....I was not getting younger.  The questions haunted me.

I put effort behind the dream:

*  70+ races
*  20-30 Centuries
*  4 Granfondos in Europe
*  About 80 SCTAC A/B Club races
*  15 Shootouts
*  2 great coaches
*  super team mates
*  2 great training partners
*  thousands of hours of training

Montgomery was my day to realize the dream.   It was 44 miles of hot road racing.  Attacks started immediately.   Bird and I worked together to contain things.......we are like watching a concert.....no talk.........but we make music.

We brought in a solo attempt about 20 miles into the race.  It was earlier than planned but I felt the time was right.  I rode up the left side near the yellow line and just rode away.   Soon the moto told me I had 30 seconds and then later, a minute.   The hills were coming and the next to last was the KOM.   I thought, "If I can make it through these hills......".    As I approached the KOM, the field was coming hard behind.  It was mine but I knew after they would catch me.

I was away for 7 miles and about 18:30 minutes....riding solo at 23 mph.

Absorbed, only 5 riders caught me.  I recovered.  Emboldened, I mounted about 5 more attacks before the sprint.....5th place, 1 KOM, 1-2nd KOM, $35.00 and a smile that still has not gone away.

It is never too late to dream and realize a dream......and man, is it fun!

Worthy of Jeff Foxworthy?

You Might be a Bike Racer

• If your jerseys are tattered from pinning on numbers.
• If you shave your legs and you are a man.
• If you have a large supply of Tegaderm and use it often.
• If you would never ride without proudly wearing your full team kit.
• If you not only have all the season races on your calendar but they are also on your spouses/significant other’s calendar.
• If you introduce yourself and tell people you are a ‘bike racer’ right after you tell them your work role.
• If you race in some races you don’t even like to help your team mates.
• If you have ever sprinted for a $10.00 preme.
• If you train when you are hurt.
• If you race when you are hurt. 
• If you have more anxiety when you do not train and race than when you do.
• If bike racing is your favorite past time.
• If you can ride for a hour in drops and feel comfortable.
• If you practice sprinting often.  
• If you look at Results and Rankings in USA Cycling once a month to see how you are ranked.
• If you look in USA Cycling to see who is signed up for the next race. 
• If you can spot most of the contenders when go to the line.
• If you think about when you will attack in the upcoming race and then you do attack.
• If you have a good time in a race when you finish 24th.
• If racing means more than winning.
• If your team winning means more than you winning.
• If you have a training plan.
• If you have race goals.
• If you think you are a bike racer.

Can you think of more??? 

After the SC State Women's 1/2/3 Road Race

Discovery

When I woke up this morning, like many of you, I looked out and saw a gloomy morning.   Fitting for me and the mood I was in and Teenie was in Hew Hampshire.   You see, I have been on the pavement a number times over the past couple of weeks, so to speak.

This week already included about 10 hours solo on the bike, by choice.   One of my trips to the pavement, included a mountain bike crash last week that left me with a broken rib.   I think the 4th such event in my life and very painful.   I felt I needed to ride alone for my safety, others and just the fact that I had little strength.  However, the biggest knockdowns have been emotional........they are tougher.

Yesterday and today I tried to put something together by using the game show routine:  PHONE A FRIEND.   When that did not work, I sulked but figured their was a reason behind me being alone.   "Think outside the box, RM,"  I said to myself.........Boyd Johnson had mentioned to me this week about riding the Swamp Rabbit Trail to SCTAC?   Soon I was on the internet:

http://grvlsc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=d0ffd46ed6ec426490fb1d406144cb20

Above is map of the trail and particularly the eastern section beyond Cleveland Park.   Now, maybe I am the last person on the planet to know this but the SRT goes miles east of downtown.   I debated on bikes....road, townie or MTB.   Wider tires seemed better and maybe some gears?  I was tired and needed some gears......so MTB it was!   Boom, I am in a whole new world in 10 minutes.   How can a guy live in Greenville for 13 years and not know this is around him?

In the next 2 hours, I covered miles of new ground.  I saw a red cardinal, 8 squirrels, a 2 foot long living snake, a cute little fawn and only 2 humans east of Cleveland Park.   Conestee Park is beautiful and you can leave the trail and jump right over to SCTAC as Boyd said.   The infrastructure being created is amazing in terms of bridges and wooden walkways/ride ways.  There is little likelihood that this part of trail will ever be super crowed as it does not follow the train tracks and is up and down, making it harder to use for some.   Let me warn you, you must ride on the street for about 1.5 miles and there is a short unpaved section.   I think when this unpaved section is dry, it is suitable for a road bike but I think you will have more fun on a bike like I took if you have one.

If you do this route, allow about 2 hours from downtown.   This ride has no training value but could carry high emotional value.......it did for me.  That may have been timing more than anything.

Today, brought the week together for me.   Discovery is another term for learning.   I discovered new roads and new places this week but mostly some new things about me.   Kind of amazing that I could learn anything new about a subject I have studied for 63 years?   Some of what came up this week and particularly today will need much more thought.......probably counsel from some of you.

I was reminded of something I have said before, "It doesn't matter how many times I get knocked down,  it only matters that I get up EVERY time."  Today only started gloomy, it was a 'get up' day and a 'get up' day is a bright day.

See ya out there.

And, oh, if you want a guide, I know the way!  This week I will be back riding with others.......thank goodness.  Introspection can be hard work.

 

Gluten Free Breakfast Cookies

Thought I would share this recipe for a Breakfast Cookie.  Although the recipe is Gluten Free, you can substitute the flours for wheat flour and reduce the amount by 1/4 cup.  But this recipe is so good, I don't think you will even notice it is GF.  Enjoy, and please let me know your thoughts.

Breakfast Cookies

Can also be made with regular flours. Eliminate xanthan gum and replace gluten free flour with whole-wheat and replace almond meal with all-purpose flour.

1 cups Gluten Free flour (Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix) 1.5 cups Almond Meal 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp xanthan gum flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 2 cups gluten free oats 2 large eggs 1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened 1 Tbls. almond extract 1/2 cup almond, sliced 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, raw 1/4 cup coconut shredded, unsweetened, dried 1/4 cup raisins 1/4 cup chopped mango, dried 1/2 cup banana chips, dried

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper. 2 Whisk together the flour and almond meal, baking soda, salt and xanthan gum. Set aside. 3 Beat butter until fluffy. Add sugar; beat until well combined. 4 Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add almond extract; beat until just combined. 5 Slowly add flour mixture and beat until well combined. Add oats, almonds, seeds, coconut, raisins and mango. 6 Form dough into 20 cookies and top with banana chips. 7 Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheets. 8 Cookies can be stored in an airtight container up to a week.

Yield: 14 cookies

February in May

Like you, I got up this morning and looked outside.   I put on some shoes and stuck my head out.   The day had lived up to the forecast!

After being off yesterday, I had some energy and I had already decided to go to yoga and, yes, do the thing that terrifies me more than anything in cycling, ride the stationary trainer.

How can time move as slowly as it does when I am on this thing??  I pedal and pedal and look up only to see that 2 minutes have passed.   My legs cry at only a fraction of the watts I put out on the road?

And, sweat.......it pours off me even with the huge ceiling fans pushing air past me.  Today, it is even worse.  The volume and channel selector does not work on the TV and I am stuck on First Baptist of Spartanburg.   The words are displayed for the hearing impaired(me being one).   Let me tell you, this does not make the time pass.

Still, I spin.   I am a little jazzed as the Foundation Pro Cycling Team has just left after a 3 day stay.   The Hoods housed 3 of them and we put up 4.   They were here for USA Crit Speed Week.....7 crits in 9 days.

Also, our daughter and grandson were here.......lots of cycling talk!

After the hour on the trainer, or day and half it seemed, Teenie and I went to yoga.  Upon returning, my thoughts wandered the the Surgeon General.   He once told the American public that 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week was adequate exercise.   Today was very easy rainy day and I just did 2.5 hours.   That makes me good for 10-12 days, I guess.

Right now, I am looking at the Weather Channel on iPhone for the hundredth time today.   Will SCTAC get rain on Tuesday night?  How about Tsali next weekend?  We can only hope for better weather.

See ya out there.

 

The Battle to the SC State Championship

Over the past two years I have battled illness and burnout. It has been a struggle for me to get back in the "Racing Saddle" because I was not at the level of fitness that I could hang with teammates nor was I mentally ready to handle a training program. But then in January, a former teammate, Debbie Gillespie, put me on one of her mountain bikes and created a monster!!! I tagged along on some of Debbie's "hurt locker" rides and she was a huge help getting me back racing.

Debbie and I have been racing the Southern Classic Mountain Bike Series. Within the series there were 3 key races that the overall accumulated points would crown the SC State Champion. I won the first race in Sumter but 2nd and 3rd place in points were close behind. Then Kendra showed up for the second race and helped put a little distance between 2nd place in points, but It was still a battle leading up to the final race because the 2nd place in points was signed up for the final race as well.  As you can tell from the pictures, the final race was a cold, rainy, muddy day!!! My motocross skills definitely came into play on the slippery terrain. I ended up taking the win that day as well as taking the XC3 SC State Championship title.  I would like to give a big THANK YOU for those of you who have helped me along my journey!!!!

You said you wanted to RACE

Well, race season is here in the Carolinas!  Next week is a great time to improve your fitness through racing or, if you are already there, use your fitness.   We have a great calendar:

THE FOUNDATION PRO CYCLING TEAM IS STAYING WITH THE MADDOX'S AND HOODS AND RACING IN THE USA CRIT SPEEDWEEK....THEY WILL BE AT SPARTANBURG ON FRIDAY NIGHT 5/3.  You can race or just watch this exciting event.

Sunday - 5/5 - preride Tsali with Sam, Steve, Kendra, DS and Teenie.

Tuesday 5/7 - 6:00 PM at SCTAC in A or B group - Last week, we had about 15 team members.   You can have great time in either group.   Come out and we will light it up.......see ya there!

Wednesday 5/8 - 6:00 PM at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC.  ------ Carolina TT Series.  Dan, Jill and I are headed over for..see ya there.

Thrusday - 5/9 - Greenville Short Track MTB Series - 6:30 PM is sponsored by our own great sponsor, Carolina Triathlon!

Saturday - 5/10 - 12 Hours at Tsali - We will have a men's and women's team and many solo 6 hour riders.   Some are camping and some of us are at the Lakeview Inn.  We will have the pop up tent set up:
*  Sam/Teenie/Kendra/Linz
*  Brian T/Ray/Brandon Lee*
*  Solo - Bird, DS, Brian M, the Hoffmeisters*/Brandon
I think Mel is coming for support?   Team Zoom, who has some of our loved and great ex-team mates is racing.

* Denotes close friends of TEAM headstrong.

Take bite of this apple.   Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.  We are having some fun racing and if you are not out, you are missing out.

Please comment if there are races/events that I have left out.

It's a BEAST of a Climb!

My chest was pounding, my legs were screaming, and my face was pasted with a dumb smirk as a pedaled furiously up Bearwallow Mountain. Weinacker was back in her element, swaying and dancing up the switchbacks, focused on getting to the peak of mountain as fast as humanly possible. This was the Bearwallow Beast Hill Climb, part of the Lung Buster time trial series, and was a 4 mile climb that I was told, was like climbing the Saluda Grade. Whoever told me that, should be shot, because they lie. This climb had very steep pitches up to 20% grades about half way in.

I a did a little recon of the course (in my car) prior to the start. My poor, old Xterra shuttered under the steepness of the climb. I had a great warm-up, solid and confident. I knew going in that I was not in 'race shape' or at 'race weight', but that this would serve as an awesome way to mentally get back out there after transitioning out of endurance triathlon. The anticipation of what was about to come was more daunting then the actual event. The pain that was surely to occur, and by my choosing. Why do we hit ourselves in the head with a jack hammer? It is simply because it feels so good when we stop.

The start was uneventful as the guy held my bike and I was counted down....5, 4, 3, 2, 1 gooooo! I sprinted out of the gates on the gently sloping beginning of the course. Then.... "it" hit me.... Oh crap, I've started out too fast.. RELAX, breathe! Plug and chug, keep your cadence going... "it" never gets any easier, you only go faster... I repeated my mantra that the great Greg Lemond spoke... It never gets any easier, you only go faster..... As I rounded the last switchback, my chest was literally pounding..... my face grimaced in a fake smile of complete enjoyment and exhilaration. The climb and the view from the top of the mountain were both breathtaking and spectacular. I enjoyed every sheer second of misery on that mountain. It was good to me, taking away my breath, but giving me so much more in return. Thank you God.

Another Spring Classic

Fresh off of Battenkill... if you could call it that... Jim Hoffmeister baits me with "hey we are riding Boone Roubaix this weekend.... should be epic..."  Epic? isn't that what DS said........ another Belgian slug fest with dirt roads, freezing temps, big steep climbs, and guaranteed wet as we have been having our spring monsoon up here.... As to spring.... well maybe in points south, but it is still winter up here........

So I think what the heck.... I have the bike all set up... nothing else planned.. its driving distance..... so I sign up thinking that this may not be such a good idea as Tour de Moore is the following weekend....

It's a 3hr drive to Boone from home... so I head out before the crack of dawn ... it stopped raining during the night but it is only 34 degrees..... that little snow flakey thing on the dashboard is all lit up to tell me I should probably rethink this.....

9am at the start.... the parking field is like a mud marsh... J&B are here, Wes and Art from Sycamore Cycles... 250 person mass start.... all classes start together..... 36 degrees at best..... freezing waiting for the gun...... Bam! off ... across the wet grass and muddy drive....left onto a a 3 mile section of dirt road...... it is all strung out.......

My rear tire feels soft.... I look back and see it has definitely lost some air but not flat..so I just push on....can't hang with my group up the first big climb... Tom Ratajczak (abrc 60+) catches me with 4 others at about mile 20 and we ride together until the next big climb when again I can't hold pace.... aid station at mile 26.... I stop and use their pump and take that rear tire up to 100psi.... seems good.... and go.... up the Koppenburg... this hurts..... catching riders no one really to ride with... mile 35 I see Tom and another rider I chase them down and get on..... we ride the river section doing a 3 man paceline... sweet..... at the turn off we hit a 3 tier climb... I can't hold pace.... they pull away.. Tom drops the other rider.... I catch him but Tom is putting distance on me...... Top out... go go..... Tom is out of sight... not to be.... I enter the marsh field 300 meters to go.... a car coming at me... change ruts.......BAM.. I am down... hard..... back up... on the bike and I ride across the finish looking like a mud drenched Belgian....

Got 2nd in the old guys..... under 3 hours not bad.... Oh and Beth... she won the women's 40+..  So a good day for Headstrong...   And Jim.... well he was ahead of Beth but rode off the course doing a "bethster" losing significant time and place.... but finished .... great course, great ride......lots of fun...

Tour of Battenkill....

April 14^th…

900 miles of driving to ride in one of the largest Pro/Am single day races in the USA… Truly a Belgian classic… weather… cold and wet, oh AND windy… dirt roads 10 sections ..25% of the 65 miles AND a dozen dirt steep climbs.... 

This is one of DS’s “A” races and has been on my "bucket list" for a long time, although I lack some serious training this season.....… a 60+ field … old guys.. but some really really good old guys.... 

9am up having breakfast… we have over analyzed the race at least a dozen times….. 10 selection climbs each about a mile long with pitches up to 13%.... .. 38 degrees.. should be about 42 at our start time of 11am….. (note the 11am)..  DS thinks we could do the course in 3:35 ... just the 2 of us.... I am a bit skeptical thinking about that 15% dirt pitch we rode up yesterday... 

I drop our wheels off at the wheel truck (the guys seems way too much in a hurry), dress … 

DS...“bird, what are you wearing?”…. 

Bird....“I am f^%^*& freezing”…..let’s go for a ride and decide”…. 

out spinning in the wind, in anticipation of race pace…… back at the car dressing again…..

Bird...“Randall, where is everyone?  I don’t see Bernie, or Tom?”… 10:50 ride up to start line……….

no cyclists….nada…. just 2 race officials……..

Bird..“you getting ready for the 60+?”.........

Officials.. "What?"..... “the 60’s went off at 10:10……”   

 “Merde!”

I am off like a scalded dog, as I hear DS yelling …”bird, bird…. slow down… bird….. wait … wait……. We don't have a plan!”

Plan? Plan?  40 minutes late... I mean if it was 5 or even 10 minutes I would be in full chase mode.... wait, I am in full chase mode....... I ease up for DS, and say… “I am racing this thing… 3:35… 3hours 35 minutes … let’s go”………

DS does that slow head shake he does and gets on my wheel……… 100K 2 man time trial….. 5,000ft of climbing with numerous steep pitches….. and 18 miles of dirt roads……

2 old Carolinian's going full out.... DS once made a comment that we have shared a fox hole before.... this was like being behind enemy lines.... trading pulls... no chit chat... no stops... no coasting.....  gotta make it..... 

And so it goes…. 3:43… ride …. we actually caught 2 riders….. not the 3:35 but a helluva a ride over a very difficult picturesque course.....

not our best day…….  but they scored us..... putting us down as 13th/14th.. with our actual time we would have been in the top 10... without the aid of pack....so who knows.... will ever know, as I am not going back.... 

For People at the Boston Marathon...

Thoughts and prayer go out to those affected and their loved ones.

Tour of Battenkill - final prep

Rain continued until this AM.   We rode our bikes to the 37 mile point on course to see the Cat 3's pass and then to Finish.   Really cold as it was about 40F, 10 mph winds and dark/overcast skies.   You might have thought you were in Belgium here today!

Our friend Rod Millot of NYC, got about 40th.   He said about 70 riders (original field was 150) hit the last climb at 56 miles and it broke into 3 groups.......said it was a very slow race.

Some crashes, as dirt was very wet, but not so many.   Course was very slow as riders said the dirt was like pedaling in molasses.

All in all the racers appeared warm as they were scantily dressed.   The town was loaded with people.  There was a field finishing about 10 minutes so it was pretty exciting.  We returned home and turned on the heater.

More to come!

Tour of Battenkill Prep

We got into Cambridge, NY, late last night.   We have a quaint house on little lake 5 miles month of the race start.   I stopped up the toilet and we could not find a plunger so you can imagine our first act this morning.

We provisioned the house, registered and had a sound lunch.   I got Stan's NoTubes in my Gatorskins we headed out to preview the course.

It is a beast!  I has 65 miles, 5000 ft of climbing, 8-9 major 'selection' climbs(.3 - 2.0 miles long), 16 miles of dirt, holes, one covered wooden bridge with serious cracks between the wood, about 40 turns, gravel and did I mention, holes? ......get the picture?  It is EPIC when you include a Master's Nationals class field (37 each 60+ men).

I think there are about 3000 people racing here in next two days?  We go off at 11:00 AM on Sunday.  Right now, that looks like the very best start time we could draw in terms of the weather forecast and road conditions.

We expect a low of 33F and high of 48F with partly cloudy skies.   Not bad since it has been raining/sleeting for about 3 days.

We will be riding our tuned up, cleaned bikes into town in the AM, now that we have installed all the gear we have.   We have about 8-9 pals to cheer on at the finish.   Several are Pro/1's and a couple are 3's.

We just discussed strategy and clothing.   Dinner time, now.

More to come.

Crash N Burn Rock Hill Style

April 7, Rock Hill Road Race

We trained....we went...we crashed

Although this was a beautiful course for a CAT 4 like Moi.........Each  race  hands up a set of circumstances beyond one's control.

We were 5 miles into the race....good pace..good strategy..Teenie, April and in the front of the pack
We shifted appropriately for the wind...slowed down the pace at one point by all 3 of us blocking/pulling the pack. 

Then KABOOM.....one gal had moved over ever so slightly to surge with the front pack and a brand new CAT 4 gal freaks out and turns her wheel quickly to the left and BAAAAAM........5 down...one broken wrist...one deep slash to the forward, a concussion, lots of blood!  April bruised/ helmet smashed! I can't even tell you what happened....the bike went completely over my head..landed hard on my shoulder.  All I knew was in those few seconds before impact my brain said PROTECT your collarbone so I tucked and rolled ....to the right! How does the brain react so quickly?    Once we got ourselves up and our fearless leader Teenie got it all under control with kind words/cold water and hugs...We all looked around and asked HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?   It would have been a good race for all..Teenie, April and I.

Dan had the worst of it ..as he and the Masters Group had to ride by viewing his wife on the side of the road.........Teenie & I were  able to smile and wave him on........He said he raced really well as he wanted to get back to the start line to see his girl!

Take Away for Rock HILL .....Big Note to Self...  CAT UP ASAP!

Mid Season Check

Taking into account that the season starts on Oct 1, we are about half way thru the 2013 and so far, we are having a fine year with dynamic accomplishments:

*  23 people at the Hincapie Gran Fondo
*  20 people at a super camp in Tucson
*  Many winter team training rides
*  Two well attended parties
*  Early season race participation and some results
*  Fully subscribed Pyrenees trip

It is a good time to ask yourself where you are personally.   Here is what each of us committed to:

Each Member will participate in the following to best of his/her ability:

• Support team goals and objectives
• Race minimum of 6 races.
• Train - ride in 12 TEAM headstrong rides and lead/organize 1 training ride
• Attend and participate in the annual meeting and the party (2 events)
• Write minimum of 1 blog post

If there is anyway I can support you in being successful, let me know!

And if you have never participated in TEAM out of town race like this weekend, you are missing what the TEAM is really about.  Come out and give it a try..........real teams race together!   Racing together is one of TEAM goals and objectives!

Some say cycling is dangerous, but not as dangerous as walking!

Yes it's true! Yesterday John and I were walking around the lake at Furman. He looked back over his shoulder at something and when  he turned around he met a sign with his face. He hit so hard it that it dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Unfortunately when he fell backwards he hit a concrete curb with the back of his head and knocked himself out! When he came to he was able to walk somewhat woozily back to the car but sustained pretty good whiplash, gashes in his head front and back and a substantial headache for the next 24 hours. So, next time you see him walking he may be wearing a helmet! Wonder if Nike has a replacement policy for hats damaged in a crash?

Tucson Bike Classic

The TBC is history now.   One of the larger stage races in the Southwest, this year'sk 27th Annual drew riders from California, Canada, Colorado and even SC/NC!  Bird thinks this is an A class race that far eclipses the French Broad Classic.

For Bird and I, this was a training race on the road to Battenkill and we struggled but had a few bright points.   Teenie had set this as an 'A' race and was well prepared.

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With a lightening fast TT on Friday, her 1st place put her in the leaders jersey on Saturday for the RR.  

The RR was 40 miles and 13 masters women came to the line. Three from TEAM DNA in Colorado looked like they could be trouble.   The 40 mile course included 2000+ ft of climbing and was definitely a test with some wind thrown in for good measure.   You guys know Teenie.  She was not going to defend the jersey, but goal set to win the stage.   In a tough set of hills, she broke away at approximately mile 24.   She was solo off the front for 8 miles, but then a chase group of 3 caught her.  At mile 37, the road turned up for 3 miles to the finish and Teenie took the 4 up sprint to gain a 10 second time bonus.   She launched at about 300 meters, despite the wind and grade, and only the 2nd place rider finished with same time.




This morning,  the circuit race was 5 laps x 5.5 miles with a crazy hard climb including about 4 stair steps.   The finish included 2 more hard selections.   The riders were really racing today and launched attack after attack that Teenie covered.   As the race matured, the women were down to about 6 riders and they passed the Cat 4 peleton despite the fact that the 4's had a 3 minute head start and about 30 women.   Up the 2 stair steps to the finish, it was again 4 up but Teenie powered ahead of the other 3.   She gapped the other women, gained time and again received a 10 second bonus.

It was a 3 stage sweep and the GC!  It was pretty thrilling to be here to support her.

Tour de Moore

The 38th Tour de Moore is set for April 27th in Southern Pines.   This has been my favorite race for some years.   The venue is great.   The race starts and ends near downtown at an old estate.   The classic home, community center, parking, trees and a terrific uphill finish are all in walking distance.

The race incorporates some rolling terrain that cuts through Ft Bragg but really omits any real mountain climbs.

The morning round of races are short one lap affairs.   This includes the Cat 5's, Cat 5 - 35+, Women's 3/4 and Men 60+.   Only 28 miles, these races don't leave you trashed and if you are the right age, cat or whatever, you can double up and race again around noon.  Bird, Teenie and I did this last year.

As you may know, women can cross over to men's races and add 20 years so all our women can race Master men 50+ (this is what Teenie did so she could race with Bird and I).

This is one of my 'A' races for the year so I hope you will come join and support me.   I have some big goals!

Oh, by the way, if you are really energetic, the Brick City Crit is the next day in Sanford, about 20 miles away!

Spring's Back

And at the risk of jinxing it, I'll welcome it here. After slogging up/down a lonely Rabbit many times this wetter-than-usual winter, today was definitely splendid. Maybe because it's the first I've ridden in 3 days after a bout of severe lower G-I distress (thanks Taco *@%). Or that it was finally sunny after--yes-- more rain. Or that it's daylight savings time again. Regardless why, the Rabbit was a highway of humanity on a Tuesday afternoon-- doggers, joggers, boarders, bladers, walkers, Cross-Fitters, strollers, street people, and yes cyclists of every type-- were all enjoying the same things: sunshine, warming temps, and Nature's serenade. Tree frogs and other croakers, squeakers, and squawkers were in full song in the low-lying sections. Things are greening up. A hawk and a turkey vulture flew low looking for supper. The Rabbit Café's parking lot was busy-- hope Sam's packing them in. Arriving downtown, it's obvious Greenville is taking off its winter coat and welcoming Spring. Parking lot attendants manned their lots and waved flags for some college baseball at Fluor Field. People strolled Main Street in droves, another reminder of this town's walking perfection. Looping around Cleveland Park, I was pleased to see it bustling, people hustling on the tennis and b-ball courts, dusting off their game. Kids, parents, dogs were everywhere. It's that time of year. Maybe why most people seemed friendlier than usual too. More drivers stopped at crossings and waved us across. Seemed easier to smile at the kids I passed, even though they were sorta in the way. I towed the trio of athletic bladers for a few hundred yards before they thanked me and dropped off. I exchanged friendlier-than-usual head nods and waves at other cyclists. Couldn't resist tossing out "hey, you lost somebody" while passing the dude commuting solo on that old tandem with the American flag on a pole. Hey he laughed back-- bet he never heard that one before. Yes it was a great day to be on the bike. And welcome back Spring, hope you're here to stay a while.

Slow Start

Crazy to think that its the beginning of March but the season is already a month old. When I lived in Wisconsin, we didnt get to ride outside until the first of April! The season started off a few weeks earlier than normal with the Greenville Spring Series. Its been a tough start to the year for me. After 8 months off the bike, my speed isnt coming around as quick as I would like. I think I have the base needed, but need that to translate into some real speed in the coming weeks. At most of my races this year I just cant quite hang with the top group. I couldnt run the pace of the other pros at last weekends mountain bike opener, and in the crits and road races I just cant seem to stay with the front group. Hopefully a few more weeks of focused speed work and intervals along with some more mountain bike races will get me ready for a big month of racing in April. SC Crit Champs, Tour De Moore, Mountain Bike State Champs and finally Tsali first weekend of May! Time will tell!

Brian Thompson ride

Great turnout today of 13 riders to welcome Brian Thompson back to the states! Amazing how strong he was for not having ridden a bike in almost a year!!! Steve lead us on a great 2 1/2 hour ride with some double paceline, friendly coversation and a few opportunities to drop the hammer. Tonight a welcome back party at Sam and Steve's place!

Strava Craze

I have been really thinking about this whole 'Strava Thing' and really getting excited.  You know how Teenie and I are always saying we can take what we learn on the bike and apply it to our 'lives in general'? I decided to put this into action.

A new Strava segment has been created!  It starts at the side of my bed and goes to just beyond the Miele(our famous coffee maker).   This segment allows me to measure how long it takes to get a cup of coffee made in the morning!

Wow!  Already gains are being made by aggregating small improvements.  I no longer put my slippers on.....just hit the cold floor.   No hair combing, tooth brushing or face washing during this 'segment'.   I am sure to come out of bed in an aero position and with momentum.  All this, I am refining.

No longer do I wait for a message saying beans are needed or the waste container is full.   All of you coffee drinkers from camp, know this disappointment.   I take care of these issues the night before.   No reason to waste a great chance at a PR.....it might stall me on a morning when I have a stiff tailwind!

TWO RANDALLS ......... IS THE END OF THE SEGMENT!

I still have ideas for improvement.   I am going to set the timer to start the coffee maker prior to me getting up.   When I arrive, it will already be through the intensely long HEAT and RINSE cycle.  I hate waiting on these.  Can you imagine???  This is going mean a 20-30 second drop in my time.   I could train for years and never make this type gain.  

Look for me soon as the KOM on this segment.   Oh yes.   The coolest thing about this segment is I am the only one that will be doing it............Teenie, I will be the only one, won't I??

I bet the TEAM can find all kinds of great applications for Strava?  Keep me posted!

Southeastern Race Calendar

You can access a list of 2013 Southeastern USA Cycling race events in the sidebar to the left of this post.  

I will update this list as the year progresses.  In addition I added some links (blue type throughout the document) at the top for sites that you might want to check (eg Carolina Cycling, TBRA, GBRA, etc).

If you would like to add an event send me an email with the details (name, date, type, location).  Some of the dates are "place holders" as the event has not been permitted.

I hope this will help you in planning your 2013 season.  I welcome your comments and additions.