Thank you Momma Karen for being the best host ever known to mankind!!! You are by far the best cook too!! Thank you soooooo much!!!
Race Report:
Thank goodness we didn't have a hot 1st lap prime...Of course the race started off pretty quickly. I went for the first $100 prime and kept drilling it from there till we had a break going. I'm not sure how many people we started with, but the break grew to 12 guys and some BIG tymers in the break!! We had about a 30 second lead over the main group. For some odd reason people were attacking each other and no one wanted to work...Super Squadra even had 3 guys at one time in the break...So we were caught about halfway I think.
I tried going for multiple big time Primes, but missed each one. One of the primes was $300...yup...I missed that one too by 2 places...
My good buddy, Travis, started to lead me out with about 2 laps to go and was toasted about halfway through the last lap and I was 4th wheel. Wohlrabe was pulling, but he was toasted just trying to draft off Travis. Then the last lead out was Ian, he attacked on the last long straight and then I was swamped by 4-5 riders. I just tried to fight for position and took 5th place.
I wasn't too happy with my placing, but hey, I can't complain. I'm glad I stayed upright the whole weekend.
Till next time folks!
"Sugarland Criterium"
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
MATRIX CHALLENGE DAY 1
I want to start off with thanking the Promoters, Officials, and Volunteers of this event!! Thank you guys/gals!! You were all amazing!! The event couldn't have gone any more smooth!!
Race report:
The race started off with a Hot Lap Prime, of $140. I told Travis I was going for it. After the 3rd turn, I dove down in turn 4 and got about "30 degrees from the ground", as Travis described it later. I exploded out of the turn and no one came with me. I took the Prime and I decided to keep on truckin'! 2 laps later they called a $100 Prime and I was still off the front by 20 seconds! First 3 laps I already had $240 cash!! Sweet way to start off the race!
A few attacks went off here and there. Peter Carey was off the front for awhile and they called a Pack $100 Prime...I'll take this one! I attacked just as they called it and I bridged up to Peter, to capture the Prime...$$$
After Peter and I were pulled back, Wenger, Sol, and Christian attacked and got in a breakaway. At that time there was a nasty wreck on the up hill section. I believe the rider broke his collarbone, hope you get to feeling better guy. John Trujillo was also in the wreck and he didn't look too good the next day...Get some X-rays John!
At the time they were driving in the Ambulance and I was for sure they were going to stop the race. While all this was going on, Stefan Rothe, bridged up to the breakaway. There you have it, the 4 man break that got away.
There were several guys trying to bridge across, but no cigar. A 6 man chase group formed late in the race and some how I missed it. With only 3 laps to go, I had to make a move and try to bridge across. I barely missed the chase group and they attacked with 1 lap to go, so I just tempo'd in to the finish and took 11th place.
Congrats to Stefan Rothe to his victory, who is also owner of http://www.rothetraining.com/. Great Guy!
End of Day 1.
Race report:
The race started off with a Hot Lap Prime, of $140. I told Travis I was going for it. After the 3rd turn, I dove down in turn 4 and got about "30 degrees from the ground", as Travis described it later. I exploded out of the turn and no one came with me. I took the Prime and I decided to keep on truckin'! 2 laps later they called a $100 Prime and I was still off the front by 20 seconds! First 3 laps I already had $240 cash!! Sweet way to start off the race!
A few attacks went off here and there. Peter Carey was off the front for awhile and they called a Pack $100 Prime...I'll take this one! I attacked just as they called it and I bridged up to Peter, to capture the Prime...$$$
After Peter and I were pulled back, Wenger, Sol, and Christian attacked and got in a breakaway. At that time there was a nasty wreck on the up hill section. I believe the rider broke his collarbone, hope you get to feeling better guy. John Trujillo was also in the wreck and he didn't look too good the next day...Get some X-rays John!
At the time they were driving in the Ambulance and I was for sure they were going to stop the race. While all this was going on, Stefan Rothe, bridged up to the breakaway. There you have it, the 4 man break that got away.
There were several guys trying to bridge across, but no cigar. A 6 man chase group formed late in the race and some how I missed it. With only 3 laps to go, I had to make a move and try to bridge across. I barely missed the chase group and they attacked with 1 lap to go, so I just tempo'd in to the finish and took 11th place.
Congrats to Stefan Rothe to his victory, who is also owner of http://www.rothetraining.com/. Great Guy!
End of Day 1.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
MS Gran Prix
The MS Gran Prix was a wonderful event! Thank you Promoters, Officials, and Volunteers! This race wouldn't happen without you guys!
I got an opportunity to race with Team San Jose this weekend. Carlos Vargas, Heath Blackgrove, and Barry Lee - What a great bunch of guys!
Heath was very talkative guy with a great heart to help someone out. He used to race for Toyota United last year. On the bike I had a hard time understanding his New Zealand accent. The only thing I understood was, Ronnie, to the front mate! lol
I've never really talked to Carlos off the bike before. It was great to get to know him off the bike. The only thing I remember from him last year was throwing a bottle at me at Super Week...haha He's definitely a different guy off the bike, very nice, and always cracking jokes.
Barry - If you were to know anyone, you should know Barry! Super great guy! Has tons of stories that will knock you off the edge of your seat...haha
Race Report:
Stage 1 - Friday night Crit
We started the race with more than 200 riders...It's a night crit! At the beginning of the race the officials advised us to stay to the middle of the road...the edge of the roads dropped off...scary...
As usual, attacks went off but nothing stuck. Finally Heath attacked and a few others went with. That was the break of the night that got away! Heath took the victory and Carlos finished 5th, I was 6th and Travis was 12th. Travis led me and Carlos out.
Stage 2 - 75 mile Road Race:
I have to say, in other states, they don't really enforce the yellowline rule has much as Texas does....lol We had tons of riders crossing the yellowline and nothing was done about it.
The course had a few rollers in it with a slightly long climb to the finish. We had to do 3 laps of a 25 mile loop. The start of the last lap, Carlos and Christian Helmig attacked an got off the front. By this time all the other teams were toasted from attacking so much early on, so that break wasn't going to get pulled back.
We were about half way around the last loop and somehow, Russ Walker, Travis, and I were about 20 meters off the front and I saw a potential opportunity to attack, which wasn't a great move, but I thought it might have been, sorry Heath, won't happen again =). Andrew Dahlhiem pulled the group up to me and he started yelling at me, and I was like, dude, you just pulled the whole group to me...
We were about to get to the last climb and Heath told me to attack up the hill as hard as I could. I did that and the group blew up and Heath and Travis attacked! Got in a break in pursuit to catch Carlos, Christian, and Peter Carey.
Carlos won and Heath was 2nd. Travis was 8th and I finished 11th. Not bad for the day =)
Stage 3 - TT 3.8miles
Great conditions, slight cross tailwind. I rolled the 1080 front wheel with the Sub 9 rear.
The times were real close. Heath won on a Road bike, Travis was 3rd, Carlos was 8th and I was 18th. We were all within 20-30secs of each other.
Stage 4 - Crit/Circuit Race 80 minutes
This was a fun crit. It started to pour down rain on us as we started to line up. I'm talking BIG phat rain!! The rain let up has the race started and the sun came out shining!
In this race, we had the overall wrapped up and the team overall wrapped up, as long as we didn't let anything get away. We just played a little cat and mouse.
Carlos and I took the time bonus halfway through the race. I was hoping Travis was going to get there, but he couldn't get there, so I took it from Christian...hehe
The race was coming to an end and I think we had only about 20-30 racers left out of the bunch. 2 laps to go, we had a train and VW was trying to crowd us and disrupt the train. Before the last lap, Heath, asked me to lead them out on the last lap. Come on Mate! Love it!
Bell Lap! I got on the front and started to hammer it on the backside. I ramp it up to 30mph up the false flat backside. Peter Carey tried to attack on the right and I went to pull off and block and Heath covered his attack. I looked back, Heath, Carlos, and Travis, all together and a gap after them, so I jumped in behind those guys...I was cramping by this time...haha
We took 1st, 2nd, & 3rd for the day and I finished 8th. Not bad after a lead out!
We won the Overall Team:
Heath - 1st
Carlos - 3rd
Travis - 4th
Ronnie - 13th
Barry- 21st
I got an opportunity to race with Team San Jose this weekend. Carlos Vargas, Heath Blackgrove, and Barry Lee - What a great bunch of guys!
Heath was very talkative guy with a great heart to help someone out. He used to race for Toyota United last year. On the bike I had a hard time understanding his New Zealand accent. The only thing I understood was, Ronnie, to the front mate! lol
I've never really talked to Carlos off the bike before. It was great to get to know him off the bike. The only thing I remember from him last year was throwing a bottle at me at Super Week...haha He's definitely a different guy off the bike, very nice, and always cracking jokes.
Barry - If you were to know anyone, you should know Barry! Super great guy! Has tons of stories that will knock you off the edge of your seat...haha
Race Report:
Stage 1 - Friday night Crit
We started the race with more than 200 riders...It's a night crit! At the beginning of the race the officials advised us to stay to the middle of the road...the edge of the roads dropped off...scary...
As usual, attacks went off but nothing stuck. Finally Heath attacked and a few others went with. That was the break of the night that got away! Heath took the victory and Carlos finished 5th, I was 6th and Travis was 12th. Travis led me and Carlos out.
Stage 2 - 75 mile Road Race:
I have to say, in other states, they don't really enforce the yellowline rule has much as Texas does....lol We had tons of riders crossing the yellowline and nothing was done about it.
The course had a few rollers in it with a slightly long climb to the finish. We had to do 3 laps of a 25 mile loop. The start of the last lap, Carlos and Christian Helmig attacked an got off the front. By this time all the other teams were toasted from attacking so much early on, so that break wasn't going to get pulled back.
We were about half way around the last loop and somehow, Russ Walker, Travis, and I were about 20 meters off the front and I saw a potential opportunity to attack, which wasn't a great move, but I thought it might have been, sorry Heath, won't happen again =). Andrew Dahlhiem pulled the group up to me and he started yelling at me, and I was like, dude, you just pulled the whole group to me...
We were about to get to the last climb and Heath told me to attack up the hill as hard as I could. I did that and the group blew up and Heath and Travis attacked! Got in a break in pursuit to catch Carlos, Christian, and Peter Carey.
Carlos won and Heath was 2nd. Travis was 8th and I finished 11th. Not bad for the day =)
Stage 3 - TT 3.8miles
Great conditions, slight cross tailwind. I rolled the 1080 front wheel with the Sub 9 rear.
The times were real close. Heath won on a Road bike, Travis was 3rd, Carlos was 8th and I was 18th. We were all within 20-30secs of each other.
Stage 4 - Crit/Circuit Race 80 minutes
This was a fun crit. It started to pour down rain on us as we started to line up. I'm talking BIG phat rain!! The rain let up has the race started and the sun came out shining!
In this race, we had the overall wrapped up and the team overall wrapped up, as long as we didn't let anything get away. We just played a little cat and mouse.
Carlos and I took the time bonus halfway through the race. I was hoping Travis was going to get there, but he couldn't get there, so I took it from Christian...hehe
The race was coming to an end and I think we had only about 20-30 racers left out of the bunch. 2 laps to go, we had a train and VW was trying to crowd us and disrupt the train. Before the last lap, Heath, asked me to lead them out on the last lap. Come on Mate! Love it!
Bell Lap! I got on the front and started to hammer it on the backside. I ramp it up to 30mph up the false flat backside. Peter Carey tried to attack on the right and I went to pull off and block and Heath covered his attack. I looked back, Heath, Carlos, and Travis, all together and a gap after them, so I jumped in behind those guys...I was cramping by this time...haha
We took 1st, 2nd, & 3rd for the day and I finished 8th. Not bad after a lead out!
We won the Overall Team:
Heath - 1st
Carlos - 3rd
Travis - 4th
Ronnie - 13th
Barry- 21st
Ten Speed Drive Team
After Fort Davis, I decided to resign from the team and Travis Burandt followed suit. The teammates were a great group of guys, but the director and I did not see eye from the start.
There were no more Team events planned after Gila and I didn't see a reason to continue on Ten Speed Drive.
It was a great opportunity to race at San Dimas and Redlands.
As for the rest of the year I will be guest riding with teams Nationally.
My BH Team bike experience: This bike is definitely not built for racing with the relaxed upright geometry. You will probably have to get a negative stem just to get to the position you need to. After riding the BH and then going over to a Cervelo S2...The S2 is MUCH more stiffer and responsive than the BH. You can purchase your Cervelo at http://www.bayareaschwinn.com/
I recently put my Look 595 Ultra back together. I had to send it off to Calfee to get it repaired. She is as good as new!
There were no more Team events planned after Gila and I didn't see a reason to continue on Ten Speed Drive.
It was a great opportunity to race at San Dimas and Redlands.
As for the rest of the year I will be guest riding with teams Nationally.
My BH Team bike experience: This bike is definitely not built for racing with the relaxed upright geometry. You will probably have to get a negative stem just to get to the position you need to. After riding the BH and then going over to a Cervelo S2...The S2 is MUCH more stiffer and responsive than the BH. You can purchase your Cervelo at http://www.bayareaschwinn.com/
I recently put my Look 595 Ultra back together. I had to send it off to Calfee to get it repaired. She is as good as new!
Fort Davis Stage Race
A lot has been going on these past few weeks, that's why I haven't posted much.
Fort Davis:
When I got back from Redlands Classic, my body was just about wasted, so I didn't ride much before this race. It was about a 10 hour drive from Houston to a little town called Fort Davis. Thanks again to Kevin Burandt for driving me and Travis.
Race Report:
Stage 1 - Uphill Road Race
It was a chilly start, very windy in the town of Fort Davis. We had a neutral start through town and once we left town, things got rolling! A few attacks went off, but nothing got away. Carlos Vargas attacked with Sol Frost and Ian Dille...I was saw a great opportunity and went with it! The four of us started to hammer it and no one was chasing us down...Big mistake.
We worked up to about a 4 minute lead on the group. on the slight uphills Sol kept gaping me and wearing me down. When approached the first long hill climb, Sol attacked and I was done. It was up to the three amigos to try and stay away. I went in to my "own pace mode".
About the top of the first long climb, Heath Blackgrove, Chris Wherry, and Pat McCarty came flying by me like I was standing still! The main group was to follow a minute later. I jumped in with the main group and tried to hang on.
We finally got to the bottom of the straight up climb to the observatory and I was glad I had my compact crank!! haha I think I ended up finishing 1:30 behind the main group. Tough day.
Stage 2 - Time Trial:
The winds picked up to about 30 mph, gusting at 45+mph!! The course was pretty much an out and back course. Headwind going out and tailwind coming back! Crazy!! I did something before the race that no one should ever do and it's change your position on the TT bike. I put an adjustable stem on and slammed it down to get more aero...During the race, I couldn't even get low, I was cramping in butt the lower I got.
The way out on the TT course, I think I averaged 16mph and on the way back I averaged 45mph...Does that tell you something about the wind?? haha
Stage 3 - 75mile Road Race
We started at the Prude Ranch, which an awesome Ranch by the way. We were neutral all the way in to town. When we made the right turn down to the TT course, the attacks began! It was crazy attacking!! Attack after attack!! Stefan Rothe was one of them instigating all the attacks. Of course nothing got away. The group finally slowed after awhile and at one point we were all just rolling at 10mph!! haha
We approached the first climb...I have to say, when I was a Cat 4 doing this race, that climb felt like the longest climb I've ever done!! Doing this race as a Cat 1, after we crested over the top, I was surprised it was already over! I think they shortened the climb since then...hehe
I actually stayed with the group the whole race, which was a shocker to me. I didn't expect to finish with the main group. Correction, the last climb, I ended up off the back about 30 seconds from the main group.
Race done...then the drama begins...
Fort Davis:
When I got back from Redlands Classic, my body was just about wasted, so I didn't ride much before this race. It was about a 10 hour drive from Houston to a little town called Fort Davis. Thanks again to Kevin Burandt for driving me and Travis.
Race Report:
Stage 1 - Uphill Road Race
It was a chilly start, very windy in the town of Fort Davis. We had a neutral start through town and once we left town, things got rolling! A few attacks went off, but nothing got away. Carlos Vargas attacked with Sol Frost and Ian Dille...I was saw a great opportunity and went with it! The four of us started to hammer it and no one was chasing us down...Big mistake.
We worked up to about a 4 minute lead on the group. on the slight uphills Sol kept gaping me and wearing me down. When approached the first long hill climb, Sol attacked and I was done. It was up to the three amigos to try and stay away. I went in to my "own pace mode".
About the top of the first long climb, Heath Blackgrove, Chris Wherry, and Pat McCarty came flying by me like I was standing still! The main group was to follow a minute later. I jumped in with the main group and tried to hang on.
We finally got to the bottom of the straight up climb to the observatory and I was glad I had my compact crank!! haha I think I ended up finishing 1:30 behind the main group. Tough day.
Stage 2 - Time Trial:
The winds picked up to about 30 mph, gusting at 45+mph!! The course was pretty much an out and back course. Headwind going out and tailwind coming back! Crazy!! I did something before the race that no one should ever do and it's change your position on the TT bike. I put an adjustable stem on and slammed it down to get more aero...During the race, I couldn't even get low, I was cramping in butt the lower I got.
The way out on the TT course, I think I averaged 16mph and on the way back I averaged 45mph...Does that tell you something about the wind?? haha
Stage 3 - 75mile Road Race
We started at the Prude Ranch, which an awesome Ranch by the way. We were neutral all the way in to town. When we made the right turn down to the TT course, the attacks began! It was crazy attacking!! Attack after attack!! Stefan Rothe was one of them instigating all the attacks. Of course nothing got away. The group finally slowed after awhile and at one point we were all just rolling at 10mph!! haha
We approached the first climb...I have to say, when I was a Cat 4 doing this race, that climb felt like the longest climb I've ever done!! Doing this race as a Cat 1, after we crested over the top, I was surprised it was already over! I think they shortened the climb since then...hehe
I actually stayed with the group the whole race, which was a shocker to me. I didn't expect to finish with the main group. Correction, the last climb, I ended up off the back about 30 seconds from the main group.
Race done...then the drama begins...
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