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Only Mark Schwab met me for this classic Boulder lunch-time workout. We chatted up the climb for the first 11+ minutes – to the switchback after the Monkey Traverse parking. Mark then hit the gas and I only hung on for another 3 minutes before popping off the back. I still finished to the junction in a respectable 16:14. Last year that would have been a monstrous time.

Mark didn’t have his shoes and had to head back to work, but I went over to the Monkey Traverse. I haven’t climbed at all this year and decided that I wouldn’t try to send the complete Monkey (V4, 5.12a) without a spot. I switched into my slippers and enjoyed the solitude by the climb. It is rare to see no other boulderers here. I got on the start and the moves seemed a bit unfamiliar despite my countless laps on this thing. I got to the first rest a bit tired and wondered if I’d be able to pull off the second section. To my surprise I felt I had lots of reserves of strength. I easily got to the kneelock rest. I was wearing a heart rate monitor for the bike ride and I relaxed here until my heart rate dipped to 98 bpm. Then I sent the final section, feeling really solid until the last few inches.

I switched shoes, hopped on the bike, and rode by up the Amphitheater to get in a bit of a cool down. Halfway down I nearly pulled a Polderman. I came within a couple of feet of hitting a doe and two fawns. It wasn’t that close, though, since I had come to a stop by that point and was just watching the cute little devil. The fawns were small with white spots and dutifully following their mother.

What a great way to lunch your lunch hour (and a half).

Bill

I was surprised to see Dan Franklin show up for these intervals. Good seeing you, Dan. Kris joined us after the first interval, trying to catch on 15 seconds after we started up the second interval.

Kraig led the first top and I just stayed on his wheel. Four minutes into the first one, Brian came around with a semi-attack and Jason went with him. I stuck to my plan, which was to see if I could hang with Kraig for four laps up NCAR. I wasn’t going to burn any matches trying to beat him on any intervals. Brian blew up shortly afterwards and fell well back of Kraig and I and Jason went on to finish first. Dan was further back. I think Dan did one more interval, but there wasn’t much chance to talk, as we rode down, turned and went again. Kraig doesn’t dillydally when he does intervals. We did the first lap in 6:44.

Kraig led the second one and Brian took off. One was enough for him. Jason was gapped here, but I finished with Kraig in 6:53. Kris finished third, starting late. I led the first half of the third interval and then Kraig came around. I stuck with him, but it hurt. We gapped Jason and Kris, I think, but Kris caught back on or nearly so by the finish. We did another 6:53.

Kris led the 4^th interval with Jason on his wheel, then Kraig, then me. Around four minutes, Kraig comes around hard and I go with him, maxed out. Jason dropped off, as did Kris, and I should have. I stayed on until cresting the last hill, but cracked there and couldn’t even ride Kraig’s wheel as he dropped into the aerobars. Jason caught and went by and finished just behind Kraig. Kraig did 6:54 and I finished in 7:06. That was enough for me and I headed back to work, but Kraig and Jason did a 5^th lap. Kraig, did you get the last one under 7 minutes? Impressive workout. I still can’t hang for four laps, but I’ll try again the next time you do these.

My PR on NCAR is 5:48, but before I got a racing bike my best was 6:40. I don’t think I’ve done three sub-7’s before, so it was a good effort for me.

Bill

March 1, 2006

Okay, here's how it went down.

Rob had only agreed to the Nelson Loop instead of Stazio if there were some "surges" or something like that. Knowing that it was inevitable and preferring to go on the hills where strength is emphasized a bit more than fast twitch, I jumped hard just past the Green Briar on the last hill before Nelson. I don't think anyone came after me, but I wasn't looking back. I shot my wad and sat down to soft pedal until the others caught up. The next thing I know Rob blows by going hard. I turned to see if Dan would chase him down and pull me along with him but his response was, "I led him out."

I waited a long time, then thinking that Rob must have shut it down and he had stopped looking over his shoulder, I went after him. I went hard, but didn't get him before the turn onto Nelson. He did look back and that was all he needed.

After the turn we got held up by construction and Eric Peltier (the Cat. 4 rider that lent me his bike in last year's Boulder Stage Race) was able to get back on. We rolled east for a bit until Rob attacked again. Dan went after him and I went after Dan. We grouped up, but Eric was gone again. We rolled along and Eric caught up again. We took some turns. As we neared 63rd, Rob flicks his elbow wanting me to pull through. I had resisted, waiting to attack from the back on the hill just after the turn. Rob slowed down, forcing me to take over the lead. I went through the turn cautiously and hit it hard. Dan went after me, but I had gap from the turn and held him off until I shut it down.

Dan went to the front and after a bit of easier riding, he attacked and I went after him. I caught up and Dan kept the pace really high, stifling any thoughts of further attacks. Eric got popped off at the turn and that was it for him, as far as I saw. Rob talked with him and Eric said he'd just ride in at his pace. Then Rob ran us down and told us the situation, of which we were completely ignorant.

We rolled along at a descent pace until the rise up to the Diagonal. It's uphill and we always sprint here. I wasn't sure that Dan or Rob knew that we always sprint here, but it's logical and Rob was ready. Dan was leading and I was waiting and waiting and waiting for Rob to go, but it was still too far out. I knew that to have a chance, I had to go early and go hard and hope to break him on the hill. I shifted and punched as hard as I could. I suffered and suffered and no one was coming by. Did I drop everyone? I was nearing the top when Rob came by me. I couldn't match him, but finished just a little ways back. I have no jump and Rob was glued to my wheel from the very start.

Dan peeled off a bit later, as we continued on 63rd to the office park to Jay. On the hump on 47th, where it goes over the Diagonal, where we always sprint for the top, neither one of us went. Rob turned up the pressure, though, and I barely matched him. I don't know if he was doing that to prevent any attacks or just one last workout, but I was shot from all the other sprints and didn't want to go. If he had jumped, I'd have gone after him, but I'd never have matched him.

That was a good, tough, fun ride.

Bill

My First Cyclocross Race

November 6, 2005

For my birthday this year my brother bought me a Lemond Poprad Cyclocross bike. These look like regular road bikes except with wider, knobby tires. There are some other special features like dual brake levels and different geometry, but at a quick glance they aren’t really distinguishable from regular road bikes. Since cyclocross takes place on varying terrain, including grass, bumpy dirt, gravel, and pavement, ‘cross bikes are usually made out of steel because of the softer ride. Cyclocross was started as a way for road cyclists to cross train during the fall and early winter and now that is the racing season for this sport. The courses around here are always loops and involve nearly constant up and down across all sorts of terrain and always including 12-18” high barriers that force the rider to dismount and carry his bike. Okay, that’s my complete knowledge of cyclocross and even some of that might be inaccurate.

Even before I got a ‘cross bike I wanted to try a cyclocross race. My friend Mike Record showed me the ropes many years ago. We only did it once and all of us used mountain bikes. We didn’t have any barriers, but we faked it, forcing ourselves to get off and run with the bikes at specific locations. Some people race ‘cross on mountain bikes and they aren’t a big handicap, certainly not at my level, but most who race use specific ‘cross bikes.

I say that I wanted to try a ‘cross race, but apparently that was only in theory since I had been avoiding actually entering a race. I was intimidated by my lack of mounting/dismounting practice and handling skills. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. I didn’t want to get last. I didn’t want to get lapped.

I finally decided to enter a race today, but it was in doubt right up to the time I turned over my check. I even signed up for the wrong category. They asked and I answered, “Cat. 4”, but I meant to say, “35+, Cat. 4”. I raced the 35+ Cat. 4 division anyway, since I didn’t realize my mistake until the middle of the race when I finally recognized that I had a different series of number on my back. When I finished I called out, “I’m in this race!” and then went back to confirm it with the results people. I hope they get the official results correct, but I didn’t hang around to check.

The race was at the Louisville Recreation Center, only about four miles from my house, so I biked over. It was a bit chilly so I rode over in my armies and leggies and a vest and a hat, but I didn’t race with any of it. They let you warm up on the course even with another race going on. You just had to be away when racers were coming and to get out of the way. It worked out great and I know of no one having a problem with this. The course was a loop that lasted about 6-7 minutes. We started with a fast run on a gravel and then paved bike path, up a hill to a 180-degree turn and then through a volleyball sand pit, where you had to run it if you went down the middle, but I noticed the top riders in the previous race could go along the left side for half of it, then plunge in and ride the second half. I used this technique to good effect in my race.

After the sand pit we rode along pavement for about a 100 meters before plunging down a very steep, very bumpy grass hill with two turns in it. Then we crossed a culvert (with boards laid down over it), and up a very steep hill with two barriers, so you had to run this hill. Then we went a few hundred meters on a flat, gravel bike path before plunging down an off-camber grass hill to a 120-degree turn and back up a steep grass hill (ride-able). Another hundred meters of bike path and we did a similar drop down on the left side, then back up and over the bike path to a steeper drop on the right side to a 160-degree turn to a steep hill with two barriers. Back on the bike path for another 100-meters to a 90-degree left turn where we rode along the dirt/grass for 100-meters to a very steep hill that was ride-able, but just barely. I ran this early in the race because of congestion and rode it the last 3-4 laps. It was questionable whether running it was faster than riding it. At the top of this steep hill, we went along a slight rise with two barriers before dropping steeply down a hill to a 120-degree left turn back onto the starting bike path.

All the races were run criterium-style, meaning they were designed to run a certain amount of time and after a two or three laps they’d put up the “5 laps to go” sign and you’d know exactly when the race would end.

I almost missed the start because it was on the other side of the course from the finish. I didn’t realize this until just a few minutes before the start. I was wondering why the field was so small for my race. As it turned out, we had the largest field so far that day. Fifty riders queued at the start including my friend and competitor Dan Miller of the ICCC racing team. I had one Rocky Mounts – Izze teammate, but I didn’t know him. I knew he was fast, though, as Dan told me about racing him earlier in the year.

Dan won the last ‘cross race he entered and he planned on winning this one, so he was queued right at the front. Dave ?, the prolific race announcer who also worked the Tour of Georgia this year, was on hand to call this race. This guy is outstanding. He makes every racer think they are at the world championships. He hypes each race and does exciting commentary non-stop throughout the race. He mentioned during the race before mine that “You can’t win a ‘cross race in the first two laps, but you can definitely lose it. You have to be in position to be in position to be in position.”

The hole shot at the start of the race is key if you want to be in contention. This being my first race, I was not planning on being in contention and I lacked confidence in my skills and didn’t want to split the field with a crash of mine. I started way back, in about 40^th position. With fifty racers on a bike path, things were a bit crazy for the first lap until things got spread out and by then Dan was off the front and just killing it. He’d go on to win it, tape to tape.

I pulled my sand pit trick and passed a few people but lost a position going down the steep, very bumpy hill. A practice run down this hill had me ditching my water bottle since there was no way it would stay put. I did the race without a bottle and I suspect most racers do the same. There are two opportunities to drink on the course, when you’re on the bike path, and other than that you need to be hanging on to your bars with both hands.

Each lap, I moved up through the field, passing people usually at the top of the steep hills which required running. They’d be gassed from the effort and I’d hop on my bike and put some distance on them on the flat bike path section. I’d always work for a cushion before hitting the difficult off-camber stuff so that I wouldn’t be tempted to push too hard and crash.

The field quickly strung out and small groups were formed. Passing wasn’t as difficult as you’d think. Certainly there were spots where you couldn’t pass, but these were the exception. On the grassy areas, you could easily pass, though it meant taking a bumpier line. All the barrier sections were very wide – three racers could easily take them at the same time. Besides the top of the steep barrier hills, my favorite place to pass was on the uphill paved bike path section. Each lap I’d pass at least a couple riders here, at least until we got within four laps to go and I had found my niche.

I had ridden the sand clean and had lots of momentum going into the finish line with four laps to go. I passed three riders here and hit the top of the steep, bumpy hill just in front of them and doing a ton. I didn’t want to lost my position and took this hill too fast. I couldn’t make the turn at the bottom and went wide, off the course a bit. I was bumping along so badly that I bounced my chain right off the bike. I’d learn after the race that everyone uses something called a “third hand” on his bike. This prevents the chain from dropping off. I need to get one of those before the next race.

I got passed by the three riders when I went wide and one of them called to me as he went by, “You’re crazy!” He had a smile on his face and I didn’t screw him up in any way, so I don’t think he was pissed at me, but was laughing at me bouncing down the hill out of control. Two more riders passed me at the top of the barrier hill, as I put my chain back on.

The rest of the race I tried to move up, but only passed a couple of riders. I was at my limit and couldn’t go any faster. I ran up against the racer in front of me a couple of times, but could never must the severe effort needed to make the pass. I finished a minute or two behind the winner, Dan, and in 10^th place. I really had no idea what place I was in and pleasantly surprised to see that I had moved up so far. Of course, I also did the calculations on the people that passed me when I screwed up down the hill and figured I might have finished 5^th or 6^th without that mistake. Oh well. My teammate finished in 3^rd place.

My friend Jon Baker was 3^rd in the professional race later that day. A former pro mountain biker won the race. I was surprised to see a photo of Andy Hampsten in the paper the next morning. He entered the pro race on a mountain bike and finished 16^th.

I really enjoyed this race and accomplished what I came out to do, which was to gain some experience and confidence. I have lots of room for improvement, but a top ten finish in my first race was a good initial step. With some training (I hadn’t ridden but a few times in the last few months) and a more aggressive attitude, I see no reason why I couldn’t be challenging for a win next year. I plan to do the next ‘cross race on November 19^th as well, hopefully moving up to a higher finish.

I rode up Four Mile Canyon last night. I didn't take the right at the Y that heads up to Gold Hill because the weather was spitting and looked to be even worse up high. This road turns to dirt almost immediately after the split, but the lower four miles is beautiful new pavement.

I rode west for about ten miles (from Boulder Canyon) to where I intersected the Switzerland Trail. I turned left here and followed this route on the Sugarloaf Mountain Road. This road is a bit rocky and wouldn't be recommended on a road bike. I was a little concerned about pinch-flatting here as my tires were a bit low (40 psi) and I had no tools at all with me. Stupid. But I made the top and continued on the dirt road down steeply to the summit of Sugarloaf Road (paved). I cruised down this and then Boulder Canyon back to town. Nothing is that steep on this route but I don't think I saw a single car for 10+ miles. That was pleasant.

Probably did 25+ miles and 3000+ vertical feet, all at a pretty casual pace.

This time I went with Jeff at 6 a.m. I spotted him 3.5 minutes and gave chase. Also, I put on my TT bars for this. I was doing well at the top of the Wall, getting there in 5:48 (159 bpm), but I got to the end of the BSR TT course at 16:36 (153 bpm - but this is at the end of a downhill). I was 16-flat the last time I did this. How'd I lose so much time?

I passed Jeff going up the hill on 93 and got him early enough and fast enough that I didn't think he could come back on my on the high speed descent. I was wrong about that . He surprised me by flying by on the downhill. I was spun out (hit 47 mph for my max speed), so I coasted to the turn and then passed him back early on highway 170.

I got to the bottom of the Hump in 31:30 (150 bpm, but this is after a downhill and then a flat section, I hit 166 on this lap). This was more than a minute ahead of my previous time and I knew I'd PR at that point, but I now wanted to break 37 minutes. I did, finishing in 36:40 (148 bpm, once again at the bottom of a hill. I need to take different splits. I hit 168 climbing the Hump, though).

This averages out to be 21.3 mph.