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| Photo by Chris Lucke Robert Sonora 2nd, Charlie Eckart 1st, Pete Lucke 3rd |
Monday, July 30, 2012
Podium photo 45+ Salida RR
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Longmont SM Pro 1-2 criterium video
Thanks to Fred Dixon for sending us this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMffJ8t5nIs&feature=relmfu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMffJ8t5nIs&feature=relmfu
Saldia Criterium 55+ by Steve Matous
Its always a curious thing to be the first race of the day. The town is mostly asleep on Saturday morning at 6:30AM when you get your number and check in for the race. The warm up laps are done while the street is still being swept, the cops are trying to get all the cars off the course and the organizers are still trying to set up and be ready.
Soon enough it all falls into place and you find yourself standing on the start line trying to focus your brain no less get the legs ready to respond. Like all these races someone jumps at the start and sets a furious pace to get us going and create immediate gaps on the un-prepared. Today it was our team mate Steve Birnbaum. As he tore up the street in front of us no one really chased. The other teams kept him insight and slowly reeled him back in after a lap or two.
The race continued like this through out. One of us would go off the front, others would chase and eventually we would be back together again. While there was a slight up hill on the back stretch for the most part the race did not have any true obstacles that would allow a break to get away and stay away. I know, I tried on three occasions with various other riders including my team mate Bill. None of these efforts worked.
During one break led out by another team I was sitting second wheel coming down the fast finishing straight when up ahead a buck (deer) came out into the street. Fortunately for us the moto ref was there and reved his engine, waved his arms etc to get the deer off course. It sprinted like we all wish we could.
The result of all these attacks and pressure on the field was by the time it did come down to the final lap only 1/2 the field (12) was left and more than half of those were far enough back to not be in contention for the bunch sprint. A few turns after crossing the finish line with one lap to go I heard that sickening thump and what I thought was a crash behind me. I was sitting 2nd wheel and the rider in front of me (Dan G of CO Bike Law) turned to look. I yelled at him to keep going as I was afraid his looking behind might cause him to slow and me have to brake, which sets off a chain reaction in the peloton, or even worse for Dan to lose control.
We made it through all the down town turns and were going up the back straight when the attack came. Bob from Natural Grocers was off first and going fast. I went hard but could not close it before the turns onto the down hill finish straight. We were going really fast now and I could detect a slow but certain gain by me (or maybe Bob was slowing or both). Still everyone else was behind and I thought I might have a chance. About 50-75 meters (hard to tell exactly where you are at this point in time) I detected movement from my right. I suddenly realized I was about to be hit by another rider and sat up and yelled at the same time!
Luckily I slowed enough that Callen, Zumxr racing, went across me at an angle from right to left but missed my wheel, just barely. In the same flash of a second I was sprinting again but also saw Bill K going by and then we were across the finish line. Callen won, Bill K 2nd, Bob 3rd and me 4th. Behind was a blur for me but our team mates Steve B and Butch took 8th and 9th respectively for a total team top 10 finish!
In the cool down lap I was happy to learn there was not a crash but rather clipped pedal and stopping with no consequence other than lost placing. Callen apologized and we discussed the need to keep your own line in a sprint. The race was over and since it was not yet 8:30 AM a shower and breakfast sounded good before the drive home.
Soon enough it all falls into place and you find yourself standing on the start line trying to focus your brain no less get the legs ready to respond. Like all these races someone jumps at the start and sets a furious pace to get us going and create immediate gaps on the un-prepared. Today it was our team mate Steve Birnbaum. As he tore up the street in front of us no one really chased. The other teams kept him insight and slowly reeled him back in after a lap or two.
The race continued like this through out. One of us would go off the front, others would chase and eventually we would be back together again. While there was a slight up hill on the back stretch for the most part the race did not have any true obstacles that would allow a break to get away and stay away. I know, I tried on three occasions with various other riders including my team mate Bill. None of these efforts worked.
During one break led out by another team I was sitting second wheel coming down the fast finishing straight when up ahead a buck (deer) came out into the street. Fortunately for us the moto ref was there and reved his engine, waved his arms etc to get the deer off course. It sprinted like we all wish we could.
The result of all these attacks and pressure on the field was by the time it did come down to the final lap only 1/2 the field (12) was left and more than half of those were far enough back to not be in contention for the bunch sprint. A few turns after crossing the finish line with one lap to go I heard that sickening thump and what I thought was a crash behind me. I was sitting 2nd wheel and the rider in front of me (Dan G of CO Bike Law) turned to look. I yelled at him to keep going as I was afraid his looking behind might cause him to slow and me have to brake, which sets off a chain reaction in the peloton, or even worse for Dan to lose control.
We made it through all the down town turns and were going up the back straight when the attack came. Bob from Natural Grocers was off first and going fast. I went hard but could not close it before the turns onto the down hill finish straight. We were going really fast now and I could detect a slow but certain gain by me (or maybe Bob was slowing or both). Still everyone else was behind and I thought I might have a chance. About 50-75 meters (hard to tell exactly where you are at this point in time) I detected movement from my right. I suddenly realized I was about to be hit by another rider and sat up and yelled at the same time!
Luckily I slowed enough that Callen, Zumxr racing, went across me at an angle from right to left but missed my wheel, just barely. In the same flash of a second I was sprinting again but also saw Bill K going by and then we were across the finish line. Callen won, Bill K 2nd, Bob 3rd and me 4th. Behind was a blur for me but our team mates Steve B and Butch took 8th and 9th respectively for a total team top 10 finish!
In the cool down lap I was happy to learn there was not a crash but rather clipped pedal and stopping with no consequence other than lost placing. Callen apologized and we discussed the need to keep your own line in a sprint. The race was over and since it was not yet 8:30 AM a shower and breakfast sounded good before the drive home.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Bill Stalhuth on the 45+ Mt Evans race
Ran into Matt in the school parking lot who greeted me with a good news/bad news report--no Zoldak but Michael Carter will be here to to stand upon our dead bodies while hoisting his victory bouquet. At least we needn't drive all the way to Silver City for the experience. Good to see Peter I at the line just back from his podium at Pikes Peak.
After clearing the sand bar between the school drive way and the road, the group was content to role along at a leisurely pace for the first 6 miles before the real climbing begins, letting a line of non-climbers set the tempo. "No records set today," I joked to Matt. Covered that first stretch in 26:20, compared to the 21:51 Bruce, Kevin, and I did in 2009, while trying to set up Jimi for a sub 2 hour PR.
Found myself at the front with Steve Crowley when the real climb began at the big U-turn. Did a pace that felt like sub-threshold and was surprised when, mile after mile, no one attacked. "Conservative group today," I remarked to Crowley who responded with a wry "Yeah." Wrong thing to say: around mile marker 9 he went to the front and pushed the pace. I took a place about 7th in line and hung on. No longer did we pass the detritus of earlier groups, we flew by them. I had to get out of the saddle from time to time and dig deep just to keep my place. Behind me someone was panting, groaning, and swearing--everything short of pleading. "Thank God someone is hurting worse than me!" Feeling strangely indiferent to my own suffering, I viewed it in a more caculating way: "Can I keep this up and still live to see the summit?" I hoped to stay with these guys til Echo Lake. I looked behind me to see I was the caboose in this train of pain.
We flew past the finish line for the juniors. Looked like a damn good place to end a race to me. Pace is lifted, get out of the saddle, grovel over the handle bars, blank stare at the asphalt, look up again--12 mile marker. F---!
Decided to let them go, figuring I'd see some of them again before the summit. Regretted the decision almost immediately as Echo Lake came into view almost a mile before I expected it. Caught Amgen's Eric Long at the lake and sat in for a little rest, while he dumped a water bottle over his head at the neutral feed, only to find it was some sports drink. Maybe styling mousse will make a come-back.
At the toll gate, Matt caught us. Within a mile we caught a Peloton Cycles guy to make a group of 4. Not feeling too bad, I did a pace that I thought I could carry to the top and after a half mile found myself alone. Often at this stage of the race, alone and approaching tree-line, your place is your place; you can box it and wrap it up. Never-the less, I still had 12 miles of oxygen-deprived paranoia to go--following that beat-up black ribbon through the endless scree-fields that look like yellowed crumbled feta cheese.
On the switch-backs by the shorter steeper ramps around five miles to go I found my paranoia was well founded. Here, I could look down, as from a fire-escape, to view my neighbors on the floors below--and they were closer than I thought--Moosier, Long, and Vawter among them. "S---, I'm a carrot," I thought.
With two miles to go, Eric Long caught me. I got out of saddle to make it more uncomfortable on my wheel and he responded by dropping me. "Now you're my carrot," I thought. However, this is not the kind of game I want to play at 13,500 feet. He just hovered 25 meters ahead of me and I couldn't make up ground. A week ago I was at sea level back East doing a fast Tuesday group ride. Attacking hills I'd get my heart rate into the low 180's (not done since my 30's) and felt a searing lactic acid burn cauterizing my quads. Here, getting out of the saddle to catch and keep from being caught, I felt like a drunken clown on a stair-master.
Slowly, I noticed that when I got out of the saddle on the steeper ramps, I inched forward and nibbled into the gap to Long's wheel. Suddenly, 3 or 4 hair-pins before the line I caught him and then surged past. Whatever I had left I used up both to secure my place and to get this thing which I love and hate over with.
Carter and Crowley finished 9 minutes earlier and Farrell and Haggert had about 6 minutes to find their clothing bags and use the bathroom before I crossed the line 20 seconds ahead of Eric Long. But with 3 Mixer's in the top ten I'm happy with our race. Now Carter and company can go back to planet Krypton and we'll be ready to kick it at Look Out Mountain.
After clearing the sand bar between the school drive way and the road, the group was content to role along at a leisurely pace for the first 6 miles before the real climbing begins, letting a line of non-climbers set the tempo. "No records set today," I joked to Matt. Covered that first stretch in 26:20, compared to the 21:51 Bruce, Kevin, and I did in 2009, while trying to set up Jimi for a sub 2 hour PR.
Found myself at the front with Steve Crowley when the real climb began at the big U-turn. Did a pace that felt like sub-threshold and was surprised when, mile after mile, no one attacked. "Conservative group today," I remarked to Crowley who responded with a wry "Yeah." Wrong thing to say: around mile marker 9 he went to the front and pushed the pace. I took a place about 7th in line and hung on. No longer did we pass the detritus of earlier groups, we flew by them. I had to get out of the saddle from time to time and dig deep just to keep my place. Behind me someone was panting, groaning, and swearing--everything short of pleading. "Thank God someone is hurting worse than me!" Feeling strangely indiferent to my own suffering, I viewed it in a more caculating way: "Can I keep this up and still live to see the summit?" I hoped to stay with these guys til Echo Lake. I looked behind me to see I was the caboose in this train of pain.
We flew past the finish line for the juniors. Looked like a damn good place to end a race to me. Pace is lifted, get out of the saddle, grovel over the handle bars, blank stare at the asphalt, look up again--12 mile marker. F---!
Decided to let them go, figuring I'd see some of them again before the summit. Regretted the decision almost immediately as Echo Lake came into view almost a mile before I expected it. Caught Amgen's Eric Long at the lake and sat in for a little rest, while he dumped a water bottle over his head at the neutral feed, only to find it was some sports drink. Maybe styling mousse will make a come-back.
At the toll gate, Matt caught us. Within a mile we caught a Peloton Cycles guy to make a group of 4. Not feeling too bad, I did a pace that I thought I could carry to the top and after a half mile found myself alone. Often at this stage of the race, alone and approaching tree-line, your place is your place; you can box it and wrap it up. Never-the less, I still had 12 miles of oxygen-deprived paranoia to go--following that beat-up black ribbon through the endless scree-fields that look like yellowed crumbled feta cheese.
On the switch-backs by the shorter steeper ramps around five miles to go I found my paranoia was well founded. Here, I could look down, as from a fire-escape, to view my neighbors on the floors below--and they were closer than I thought--Moosier, Long, and Vawter among them. "S---, I'm a carrot," I thought.
With two miles to go, Eric Long caught me. I got out of saddle to make it more uncomfortable on my wheel and he responded by dropping me. "Now you're my carrot," I thought. However, this is not the kind of game I want to play at 13,500 feet. He just hovered 25 meters ahead of me and I couldn't make up ground. A week ago I was at sea level back East doing a fast Tuesday group ride. Attacking hills I'd get my heart rate into the low 180's (not done since my 30's) and felt a searing lactic acid burn cauterizing my quads. Here, getting out of the saddle to catch and keep from being caught, I felt like a drunken clown on a stair-master.
Slowly, I noticed that when I got out of the saddle on the steeper ramps, I inched forward and nibbled into the gap to Long's wheel. Suddenly, 3 or 4 hair-pins before the line I caught him and then surged past. Whatever I had left I used up both to secure my place and to get this thing which I love and hate over with.
Carter and Crowley finished 9 minutes earlier and Farrell and Haggert had about 6 minutes to find their clothing bags and use the bathroom before I crossed the line 20 seconds ahead of Eric Long. But with 3 Mixer's in the top ten I'm happy with our race. Now Carter and company can go back to planet Krypton and we'll be ready to kick it at Look Out Mountain.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Mt Evans State hill climb championship, one mans view
Saturday July 21, 2012 was a beautiful, clear and mostly still Colorado day. Perfect to head into the mountains and in our case take on one of the hardest and certainly the highest road race around. Mt Evans tops out at 14,265Ft and the road stops just 150 ft in elevation from the top. Starting in Idaho Springs the race goes for 27.5 miles and gains over 6900ft in elevation. While there is some down hill the two stretches are very short and your brain and body are both so tired you just gulp air before the uphill onslaught continues.
Racing for the Mix1 55+ team were Chris Leggere, Bill Kellagher and Steve Matous. A total of 66 riders began the race (only 60 finished) and all the best of Colorado's hill climbers were there so we know it would be a good race.
The first 6-7 miles follow the valley flow with a steady but not too steep up hill climb. Dan Grygier (Colorado Bike Law) winner of both Mike Horgan and Cottonwood pass hill climbs went on front immediately and began to set a good tempo. At one point Chris Beaudin (CP racing) went off the front but did not stay there very long. At the first 180degree bend the road kicks up significantly and the race also heats up.
Dan was still on front and the rest of us were strung out behind. Steve decided to up the pace on the steeper slopes to test the waters and went out front creating a gap fairly quickly. Slowing a bit as the group picked up it pace Steve stayed on front but soon had the group with him again. After repeating this kind of attack 3-4 times, Steve widdled the group down to 7.
Just after the feed/water zone at Echo lake (mile 13) Steve again went hard on front and we were down to 5: Steve, Chris and Bill from Mix1, Mike McMahon from RealD-Amgen and Chris Beaudin from CP Racing. In the next few miles Mike slipped off the back and it was just Mix1 and Chris B. Someone commented later it looked like a Mix1 team ride that Chris B had stumbled into!
Chris B now took over on front and drove a good tempo. As we approached the downhill section by Summit Lake a small gap had formed between Chris B, Steve M and Bill & Chris L. A much larger gap formed riding fast downhill and back up towards the switch backs.
On the switch backs it was just Chris B and Steve on front. Steve realised he needed some food and water and slowed slightly to eat and drink. This allowed Chris B to get a small gap but without fueling up it would have been far worse. As Steve absorbed his food and water he felt better and knew he had to ramp up to close the gap, but the question was how hard and how fast?
Unfortunately Steve did not time it well and the last two bends were rapidly upon them. Sprinting for all he was worth Steve could not close the gap in time and ended second on the day in 2:11:41. This was a PR for Steve so he could not feel bad. 3rd and 4th were taken by Chris L and Bill which meant Mix1 had an incredible day in the mountains.
Congratulations to the new Colorado State hill climb champion, Chris Beaudin. It was a hard fought battle and well deserved.
Racing for the Mix1 55+ team were Chris Leggere, Bill Kellagher and Steve Matous. A total of 66 riders began the race (only 60 finished) and all the best of Colorado's hill climbers were there so we know it would be a good race.
The first 6-7 miles follow the valley flow with a steady but not too steep up hill climb. Dan Grygier (Colorado Bike Law) winner of both Mike Horgan and Cottonwood pass hill climbs went on front immediately and began to set a good tempo. At one point Chris Beaudin (CP racing) went off the front but did not stay there very long. At the first 180degree bend the road kicks up significantly and the race also heats up.
Dan was still on front and the rest of us were strung out behind. Steve decided to up the pace on the steeper slopes to test the waters and went out front creating a gap fairly quickly. Slowing a bit as the group picked up it pace Steve stayed on front but soon had the group with him again. After repeating this kind of attack 3-4 times, Steve widdled the group down to 7.
Just after the feed/water zone at Echo lake (mile 13) Steve again went hard on front and we were down to 5: Steve, Chris and Bill from Mix1, Mike McMahon from RealD-Amgen and Chris Beaudin from CP Racing. In the next few miles Mike slipped off the back and it was just Mix1 and Chris B. Someone commented later it looked like a Mix1 team ride that Chris B had stumbled into!
Chris B now took over on front and drove a good tempo. As we approached the downhill section by Summit Lake a small gap had formed between Chris B, Steve M and Bill & Chris L. A much larger gap formed riding fast downhill and back up towards the switch backs.
On the switch backs it was just Chris B and Steve on front. Steve realised he needed some food and water and slowed slightly to eat and drink. This allowed Chris B to get a small gap but without fueling up it would have been far worse. As Steve absorbed his food and water he felt better and knew he had to ramp up to close the gap, but the question was how hard and how fast?
Unfortunately Steve did not time it well and the last two bends were rapidly upon them. Sprinting for all he was worth Steve could not close the gap in time and ended second on the day in 2:11:41. This was a PR for Steve so he could not feel bad. 3rd and 4th were taken by Chris L and Bill which meant Mix1 had an incredible day in the mountains.
Congratulations to the new Colorado State hill climb champion, Chris Beaudin. It was a hard fought battle and well deserved.
Niwot Colterra Criterium 45+, Pro 1-2 & 35+ race
For the 45s, this was a hard and hot race. The field blew apart and we finished with only about 15 or so guys left in the front group. Todd Robertson, went off the front with 30 or so minutes left and we could not bring him back. His team mate, Larry Marti did some very good blocking through the technical course. Pete Lucke, Craig Hoffer, Adam Asnes and a few other individuals did our best to bring him back. Pete and Craig did the most on that effort for a few laps, but without consistent chasing, we weren't bringing him back. Adam lead out Pete with a hard sprint on the long backstretch straightaway, next two corners and half way up the next long straight. Pete came around Adam and unfortunately Larry Marti was on his wheel. Otherwise, we might have been 2nd and 3rd rather than 2nd and 4th, but still a satisfying bit of teamwork. The promoters did a great job. This is a tough course, and it's always exciting to be in a town center, even a sleepy, charming little town like Niwot.
In the combined Pro 1-2, 35+ race CJ, Josh, Jim, and Lee started what was a fast and furious race. It was nuts, single file for the first 40 minutes, as Mr T would say "prediction, PAIN". Boulder Orthopedics had a bunch of guys and they really rode well. Josh was the only Mix1 one to finish and he took 4th in the masters race behind 3 Boulder Orthopedics riders. They rode very well.
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| Pete Lucke taking 2nd place |
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| Pete Lucke on his way to win the field sprint for 2nd place |
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| Adam Anses |
Monday, July 16, 2012
More videos of recent criterium races
Thanks to Fred Dixon for his videos of these races!http://www.dixonwebvideo.com/Dixon_Web_Video/Better_Bicycling.html
Sonic Boom Criterium 2012 SM 55+ Mix1 wins (Matous)
http://youtu.be/QMrGx6A7kfQ
Colorado Masters Championship, Criterium SM45+
http://youtu.be/jlVonvBlffM2012
Colorado Masters Championship CRITERIUM, Cat SM35+, 1&2 Mix1 wins (Gates)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXbZpwRHeYA
Sonic Boom Criterium 2012 SM 55+ Mix1 wins (Matous)
http://youtu.be/QMrGx6A7kfQ
Colorado Masters Championship, Criterium SM45+
http://youtu.be/jlVonvBlffM2012
Colorado Masters Championship CRITERIUM, Cat SM35+, 1&2 Mix1 wins (Gates)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXbZpwRHeYA
Longmont Criterium Classic, July 15 2012
A mixed group lined up for the 35+ Longmont Crit on Sunday. Josh, CJ, Michael, LT were joined by Henrik, Pete, and Adam (from the 45+ team) for the only 1-2 master's race of the day. The race saw lots of attacking from Boulder Orthopedics, but Mix One was up to the challenge of brining everything back in order to set up a bunch sprint for Josh. There were times when moves looked threatening, but time and time again, the Mix one boys were up to the challenge. With 4 laps to go Boulder Orthopedics put their team on the front in an effort to lead out their sprinter. Josh gladly sat on their train, jumped into the final corner, and held on for the win, his 3rd in four outings at this race! This was a true team effort for Mix One was certainly outnumbered...but not outraced.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Pikes Peak Hill climb July 14, 2012
Several of the Mix1 hill climbers went to the race the Pikes Peak Hill Climb on Saturday. Recently married Marc Holbert, Matt Gates, and Matt Segur racing 35+;1,2, and Peter Ismert racing 45+;1,2,3 category made the "assualt on the Peak". We aren't sure how Marc got away with this, but more power to him (thanks Maryanne). It was a beautiful day for a 7:00 am start up the mountain. Our 35+ guys all held their own on the climb, and so did Ismert. It was Ismert's first race since late May as he has been recovering from an off-the-bike injury and surgery. In the end, dueling it for 1st place in 35+ was our Matt Segur and Mark Schwab from Excel Sports on the last 2 miles of the climb. Mark got the better of Matt in the bike throw at the finish line. Great rides by Mark and Matt with a time of 1 hour, 17 mins, and 57 second. With Matt in second and our other guys in mid pack, it was a good day for team MIx1. Ismert held on for 4th in 45+. Just off the podium, but a good start back to racing this season.
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| Matt Segur 2nd place 35+ race Photo by Peter Ismert |
Friday, July 13, 2012
Sonic boom Crit 55+ photos
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| Steve Matous in breakway Photo by Craig Hoffman (all rights reserved) |
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| Steve Matous taking the win! Photo by Craig Hoffman (all rights reserved) |
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