Sunday, July 29, 2012
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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