NorCal Cycling News

Today was mayhem in Penn State.

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We had the first serious rain of the event during stage 4 of lay’Tour on Friday. Buckets opened up about an hour in and dumped on those poor schleps for most of the worst parts of the race.

It was insanity.

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The stage started uphill after a few miles and never really relented. There were hard-nosed rollers for the guys to pound over, and long k’s of categorized climbs that ended up sending half the pack in one direction, half the pack in another. VMG/Felt/babyChipotle’s Stetina is a climbing beast and he showed it again today. He tried like all hell to stomp away from the field - but a select group of a dozen joined him and they fought it out for the ‘V’ and shook up the GC.

Behind them were the yellow-jersey’d JohanBruyneelies … chasing like dogs through the rain and muck and fucked up pave of central PA. We had 2 boys in that group … a pack of 30-odd that stayed ballistic all the way into the finishing town of Latrobe or Liebold or something lavicious like that. It’s smash-mouth racing for sho’ when you do 6K of climbing in less than 63 miles.

The PA Lightning guys are one of the few teams left with all riders in tact. But today, i was worried. In the first 10 miles we had 3 of our guys in the “pack” that found themselves 3 minutes down by the end of the initial KOM. The race today had no feedzone, so the battle became trying to feed riders up and down the race course, minutes and miles apart, with one car.

Most teams didn’t even try. They just stayed with the lead pack and gave the rest of their riders to the fates and whatever they could scavenge from other teams.

We were the “other team(s)”. PennState has a cool crew who stuck with a middle group of 10 riders … feeding them through the day and making sure they had wheels in case of emergency. We went back and forth from the pack at the back up to the front group 3 times trying to feed as many racers, from ANY team, as possible.

Reid Beloni is our mechanic for PA and i’ve got him behind the wheel as well, since SRAM neutral is supporting all wheel flats. With him driving, it frees me up to mic safely to the riders and feed out of the passenger window. Yesterday was 105 miles in heat, wind, and averaging almost 25mph. and we fed half the peloton.

Today we fed the rest. The riders thanked us, even if some of their support staff were clueless douchebags.

Late in the race, we were approaching 20k to go, and the limit of feeds from the car, and I NEEDED to get our 2 guys fed in the front after going back yet again to feed our riders, other riders … other teams.

The COMM didn’t like it, but i just told our driver to floor it and pass straight through to get to our guys. Fine us the swissfrancs, yell at us and think we don’t know what we’re doing, do what you want - but i’m getting my boys nutrients.

After the race i happened to be walking past a team that made a comment of derision about how we were screamed at by the COMM … to which i responded that i had to feed my boys, since i’d been feeding their fucking team they’d left behind.

ah well.

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We had the ZTeam podium girls Sara and Cindy in our car as “guests”. Originally, ZTeam owner HunterZ was going to ride with us because he gave his seat up in his own team car to none other than Senator John Kerry. Kerry did the morning flight into town, and would be on a plane to the Middle East later in the evening … but in the meantime, he got some quality sits with Frankie Andreu in the caravan, witness to some up-close barbarism of what it is to be in a high-stakes, higher-stress bike race where weather and road conditions conspire to knock out teeth and end careers.

Before the race, Hunter brought me over to meet Kerry … but he was giving an interview to Versus and so i watched him for a few minutes … studying the man who i’d seen for so many debates, so many campaign efforts. He was good and precise and gave all the right answers about the benefits of the race to the community, the good a bike can do for people’s health and wellfare and blahblahblah.

so, of course, i introduced myself to him and gave him a bit of, “John, drop the senator-speak, baby. We need more disco and less politico, man … keep it real.”

he didn’t understand and couldn’t figure out if i was bullshitting him, or what. but, it got his young’ish personal assistant laughing ass off, so i figure it’ll be explained to him later and he can decide whether he wants to get jiggy.

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Anyway, some South African yayhoo ripped the overall off of some Belgie’s shoulders … doing it the hard way and i don’t mind too much. But, after yesterday’s exploit by Stetina and his further attempts today … i’m kind of hoping VMG will hit the afrikaaners in the face a few times and shake that GC up even more.

maybe we can exploit the chaos.

that seems to be my M.O.

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off to ‘work’.

it was an amazing last 2 turns put in by Daniel Halloway to beat the Kelly’s Benefits sprint train.

he maneuvered, he risked safely …

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he unleashed the sac.

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great f’ing finish.

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i’m lost in PA for a bit … dunno when interwebs will be back. hopefully tonite.

hope all are well.

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It’s that time of the year where you can’t shake a stick but find some drama out on the tarmac.

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Up at the Nature Valley GP … Charles Grathous has been sending out awesome wrap ups of the event - i’ll try and log them together and put them on a NVGP re-cap page. Very, very cool.

Sutherland and the HNutz are the DeathStar of the american peloton, right now. You’ve got a guy pulling domestique duty for Sutherland who just set a blistering sub-50minute 40K at Sattley (the slowest, crappiest 40K at elevation this side of Bogota).  Word scuttled about that it’s a course record and that’s something i love to hear.

Well done, RKillit.

So, you know that squad is running en fuego when one of the hired guns is spinning that fast and still be but a man to slave away at the front for Sutherland.

right on.

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Over in Harlem, there’s a wondrous bit of phot-age that shows some kid sticking it to RockRacing and then slipping himself all over the floor in celebration.

oy, its gotta burn to have that chasing you around on the tongues of east-coast baggers.

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still, great gawdamn win.

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but racing in New York just holds so little appeal to me.

except for a velodrome, maybe…

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NEVADA CITY, baby!

awww yeah, NevCity was yesterday and a great race to watch. Sara Bamberger dominated it solo for the women and not a person you’ll ever find who didn’t approve of that action. Bamberger is one of NorCal’s own and it was incredibly pleasing to see her put a stamp on the record books for all to remember.

Yup, it’s the 48th running of those sierra foothills … and i just can’t wait for the 50th ~ what a party that will be.

Justin England saw a sliver of crack in BMC’s Nydam with 3 laps to go and shot away for a 2nd win of the event. The Toyota-United team is looking for sponsors next year … and you gotta think races like this are what prospective advertisers want to see. England was magic for the local media and every one of the thousands at the race yesterday heard that brand echoing around the town.

money well spent.

My VOS-mates were awesome all weekend. Dan Martin cuh-rushed the field for another beautific solo win. Angermann of Specialized and chico rider Andrew Barlow were the podium grabbers in the 35s … and, lo and behold ~ BigBubbaMelcher finally got his Nevada City crown in the 45s. That was satisfying to see.

ALMOST as satisfying as seeing my old-skool homie from Reno, Spencer Erickson, win himself the Elite 3s race. It was a GREAT 3s race that saw Spencer somehow stay away solo in the final agonizing laps … away from a hard charging pack sprint that would see young Chris Stastny (wearing my VanderKitten jersey, yo. he had forgotten his kit at home and needed something to race in! hell yeah, my kind of bike rider) take a bike throw in front of Sycip’s Aaron Bonar.

excellent race.

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And last Friday Night kicked it all off with our last event in June.

whew …

cuz i need a rest. The next event will be hosted by Velo Bella on July 11th … and i can tell you ~ they have big plans.

set your calendars, folks.

In the meantime, go check out some of KenConnelly’s sweet pics if you’d like to see some of the night’s shenanigans.

Friday Night Racing has entered into the rulery fray … you see, our officials are strictly enforcing laws of the sprint. Last Friday we had a HUGE move thrown down by Kieran in the a Match Sprint round.  He swung under WorldCup rider Steve Palaez in dramatic fashion and drilled it to the line, with Palaez fading back in half-protest well after Kieran’s pass underneath.

But the officials relegated Kieran for an illegal pass as Palaez retained the sprinter’s lane and Kieran entered the blueband to overtake.

It was a very, very hard call … but one put down and enforced for safety.

however, it must be said … what an amazing attempt by the Kieren. I see big things for this sprinter in the coming years. He just has to improve those puny calves of his!

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We also had US Scratch Champ, Dave McCook, relegated in the Miss-n-Out for swinging down on Palaez in the final pull-lap.

It was down to BB, McCook, Palaez, and Tamel. Tamel took the initiative and drove most a lap with BB in hot pursuit. The final elimination looked locked between McCook and Palaez as they positioned themselves a bit off and behind BB’s wheel. McCook had Palaez trapped in the pole as they passed the 200m line, but Cookie tossed in a flick just too far beyond the pale of the officials and was relegated.

heady, heady times indeed.

Nobody wants to water down the racing in these parts … but, when it comes to safety ~ thems are the rules.

I can’t wait to see a rematch in the coming weeks.

Hellyer Velodrome … best racing around.

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more later, gotta scoot for now (apologies for non-editing … as always).

m

ok, time to indulge ~

Healthy meet Happy!

yep, i’m giggling like a schoolgirl gone C-cup because i was able to walk away from a couple CatsHill races and a heaping dish-full of Velodrome pedaling last weekend and still be on the straight and narrow.

i don’t want to say i’m being a ms.Priss about staying healthy right now … but, if there’s even the faintest twinge or crinkle in the legs or lumbar as i play with the other kids ~ i wrap up my dolls and go home.

Speaking of the other kids ~

Yesterday i went on the cheap and easy spin with the lunch crowd work-a-days who roll out and up the sCruzian coast for an hour. Of course, this had to be the day that the Jack-Maynard brothers showed up.

meh.

Watching BenJM spin his 28t at 100rpm up a 10% pitch …. that just sucks. He must have been crossing close to 400w and barely a butt jiggle as he pipped those pedals over and over … and away up the hills. beautiful.

But … when AndyJM unleashed his fury on the way back … ooooweee, that was a sight for sore eyes.

The Jacques-Maynes brothers are an interesting phenomenon ~

Ben is like a smooth european roast of coffee, you know? He’s a bit refined, urbane, and reaches the top shelf without any effort at all.

Andy is … pure truckstop espresso. he’s a raging inferno, dripping ambition and desire.

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you combine those two cats … and it’s game over for the american pelOton.

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But there were race reports requested …

My favorite pic of Cat’s Hill is the Junior Women’s Podium. It has Ruth, Jasmine and Taylor … three of the hippest young riders we have mixing it up on the NorCal circuits right now.

It was so cool watching those three step their bikes up that 23% grade … the images of them clawing and busting muscle up and over those final few pedalstrokes is all the inspiration i need to get out there and train.

thanks, you killer cats!

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Let’s see … on to some race reportage ~

Women’s Prosey ~ well, Amanda Eaken of MetroMint played it perfectly at this year’s Cat’s Hill.

Eaken is one of those riders that is all barbarian on the bike. She has great sufferfaces and can throw herself at danger whether there’s a safety net involved, or not.

She’s all guts.

So, I’ll admit that i was pretty damn pleased as i saw the sprint develop after that wicked-tight right hander at the bottom of the descent. The favorite, PROMAN’s Shelley Olds was shockingly 4th wheel out of the turn, while Eaken dropped like a bomb through the turn in position 1.

Olds made a damn good run at it, taking back the bike lengths she spotted Eaken through the turn … but, i tell you this ~ you put a finish line and open road in front of MetroMint’s big Eaken … and you’re gonna see her cross that thing in first more times than not.

She won’t give up. Ever.

Great ride.

Topping out the podium was the ever-bubbly Flavia Oliveira … a great result when you think about how much terrain she lost due to sprinting on the hoods.

oy, flavia … we need to talk.

And ~ how about the next few riders on the results sheet … Rosenthal (Tibco), Burgess (SugerESpecials), Hecht (A/V), and Hanan AH (unattached). These are all riders with a TON of development in front of them. With Hecht and Hanan … you could see two of the real up and comers of the sport in NorCal.

Big talents, all of them.

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In the Men’s Prosey event ~ meh, it was ok. Poor JStew and MSayers were pretty much marked out of the race by all the local kids. I didn’t mind. They garner enough glory on their road trips for BMC … so, if they get shut out of the regional races … i’m sure there’s not much spilt milk cried into.

Still, i’d have like have seen Stewart take on Rapinski in that sprint.

Anyway, how did the race develop?

Well, the beauty of Cat’s Hill is that you can attack pretty much at any time of the race and get a bit of a gap. But, as in most hard-case courses … getting away is one thing, making it stick is another. The fatigue levels of driving hard on the flats of the course really do shut down your power to get up and over Cat’s Hill with enough speed to withstand the constant accelerations of the pack.

But, somewhere in the final few laps of banging heads around … a winning break did launch loose ~ and as a couple more kids dribbled up to it … the race in the pack became one of scraping for left-overs. I didn’t mind.

In the Geezer’s race earlier in the day, we’d had lap cards showing for most of the event. And when you see a dozen laps left, you sort of have an idea that the race will go on forever, so there’s no real urgency to smash mouths with the other boys up front.

But in the Prosey event, i kept seeing a blank lap card … over and over again, and kind of got to wondering if the race was going to be a mystery distance event, or something. But finally, I heard Simpson yell out that we had 5 laps remaining, and that WAS a bit of a shocker, to be honest.

With 3 to go, the break was still within spitting distance - but there really wasn’t anyone left to chase since most the teams were represented up in the break. BPG/Montano Velo had a huge squad there and had been at the front from lap 1 - but with their man Rapinski in the break … they were quite satisfied. . the CalGiant Strawberries had launched Tyler Dibble and Briggs up into the move … so that was golden for them, as well. MetroMint had their hairy adonis Ryan Parnes in the move … a very impressive ride by that squad again … so no chase from them.

Anyway, you catch the drift.

So ~ Rapinski won the sprint out of the break with a clean set of wheels showing … and out of the pack, there was splintering and slugfests and eventually a few guys rolled across in the lead group, me a wiggling turd at the anus-end of it.

but let’s talk Rapinski for a moment, shall we?

I first met Rapinski about 5 or 6 years ago at a no-name crit in Nevada. He was there with the Davis Club … fresh off the boat from Belarus, as i recall.

All i remember of him was that he smelled of sour meat and had the power of a Soviet Bloc tank. I remember being overcome by the image of Vlad the Impaler, a dark ominous beast that chewed on throats and held no mercy for the weak.

truly, no country for old men.

Viktor’s rise through the ranks was swift and with authority. As a U-23 world-ranked TT rider, he already had the goods to get him some attention … but, eventually he would sign from team to team and end up racing quite a few Euro semi-classics and pull in some impressive results on our continent, as well.

and then he disappeared.

The first time i’ve seen him since ~ was last weekend at Wente, where he looked a bit bloaty and just back on the bike. And this weekend, he took Cat’s Hill with brute force.

Victor may be back, folks.

time to sharpen the stakes.

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In the Geezer’s race at Cat’s Hill ~ the SpecialKids whooped it up pretty good, but i’ll say that they got quite a bit of help from our race being shut down for medical assistance late in the game. Before we were stopped, the front of the pack had FINALLY stopped being a sea of red S’s all over the place and was looking at least a fair bit square for the rest of us chickens.

But, even if that med-evac hadn’t occurred ~ i really don’t see anyone beating the Special’s BillyInnes that day. He’s on pure-form right now and has all the crew working well. So, hats off to that kind of action.

The final lap was kind of silly. Innes shattered us all with a beautifully timed attack at the top of meowbox … it was one of those attacks that i was waiting for, and thought prepared for … but, just had it handed to me, nonetheless. Awesome.

From that point on, Chris Phipps did a valiant effort at trying to get across … but, it really was a race for 2nd from that point on. meh.  So, when Nolan and Laberge stormed the inside of the final turn and swung in front of us … i tipped my hat again and pulled on out of that melee. Their race, no doubt.

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kind of sucky reporting, now that i (almost) think about re-reading and edit.

naw … think i’ll spend the rest of my lunch out on the bike.

lates, ya’ll.
~m

yeah, i’ve been slacking on the site.  and so, to fill in some space … the return of RANDOMS!

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Tour of the Gila ~

yup, it’s here again … that logistic nightmare of a race held in a dying mining town in southwest NewMexico.  Racing in New Mexico is like dating the less attractive sibling of the person you’re really interested in.

and if you’re not careful, you might like it.  and then where does that leave you?

Apparently, ValueActCapital’s hired gun Leah Goldstein was able to destroy herself more than the rest of the girls and take the new Stage 1 out in Mogollon.  Historically Gila has begun with the TT … setting in stone a lot of the team tactics as boys and girls meter their efforts accordingly the final 4 days of racing.  But this year, with the TT as stage 3 … i think it’s opened up this race like x-mas.

The men’s opening stage was trounced by the messicans from Tecos.  I always remember those guys coming up and stinking shit the first couple days at Gila … then rocking everyone to smithereens on the final climbing stage.  This year they get to ride at the front from stage 1 and see what it feels like.  I’ll be very, very surprised if that team survives the Inner Loop stage today.  But, wouldn’t that be awesome for us brownies!

The Inner Loop stage is one i’ve always loved … the climbing is shorter and more position-oriented, and the descents are MADNESS!  It’s a stage for the hard all-arounders and I just don’t see Tecos able to keep all those Tour of Georgia legs under control.  I know a few legs were heavy coming straight from the southeast to Gila … so, look for today to be an absolute streetfight.  damn … wish i was there.

I think ValueAct will be able to defend the big Israeli’s lead for the women’s race.  And, i dont’ think there will be anyone who can challenge Goldstein in that TT … she knows it like the copious veins on the back of her hands.  I remember she and a teammate of hers at the time stayed with us up in Reno for a couple weeks to do some altitude training … and all i can remember of her was that a) she is like some military commando who can kill 200lb men without spiffing her hair-do or breaking a sweat; and b) she was so, so, soooo pro.  This chick took biking to bidness, if you know what i mean.

So, i think she’ll run rail to rail at this year’s Gila … but it will be hell-work for those VAC chicks.  Allpress, Ruiter, and their new recruit from Proman Zell are positioned well in the GC … so, can mark attacks if needed or just line up and ride tempo for their leader.  Should be interesting.

And since logistics are so daunting for this race, it looks like rival teams are in the 3-5 range for numbers … which will make it even harder to push VAC off the hot seat.  My guess?  look for Aaron’s to try and rock the GC.

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Hey, and our own Max H-Stiles is sitting well in 4th in the incredibly competitive Cat2 field at Gila.  As we know, Gila has been the launchpad for a number of young pro’s making their way into the public eye.  Nice work, Max … keep it cool, calm and collected today, bud.

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Giro day Italia ~

you know, i think this race is starting soon.

. . . Y A W N . . .

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Wente Crit redux ~

well, i have to say that i’m growing more and more into the fanclub of the women’s EastonSugarCRMSpecialized team.  But that team name … ?

jayzuz, we gotta work on that ~ i think i’ll just call them the SugarESpecials.

Anyway, the SugarESpecials were all over the Wente crit … sealing the deal with another field sprint win for MaryEllenAsh.  Ash has won or podium’d on big event cross country mtb races, SuperD’s,  road races, and even a track shindig, or two.

i mean, c’mon … that’s my kind of rider.

But having the juice in the legs to finish off a 300m headwind sprint is one thing ~ staying safe and well positioned in the pack is another.  The SugarESpecials do their work in riding as a team … spreading responsibilities and thinking on their feet, er… pedals.

excellent squad to watch.

But, it’s probably a good idea to talk about some of the crashes out at Wente this year.  In the women’s race, there was a 2nd $100 prime that was viciously fought for by a number of riders.  The effort was massive and Hanan Alves-Hyde was able to nip it across the line.  The acceleration for the prime strung out the pack for 70-80 meters down the finishing stretch … and, predictably the front sprinters began to slow down and recover, waiting a few seconds for the pack to catch them.

Well, like any strong field will do … the slow down after the prime sprint jump started a few riders to launch counter attacks.  It’s a perfect time to do so, but also a tricky bit of bike negotiation if there is a swarming of the pack … because a swarming can shut the door in an instant on your attack.  In this instance at Wente, some counter attacking rider(s) saw an opening inside of one of those slowing prime sprinters … just enough room to the right of the rider and the curb - it was narrow, but there was room.

Now, diving inside a rider isn’t against the rules and often can be no danger at all … however, it is still ALWAYS a risk and absolutely contingent on communication.  Sometimes, a quick “inside” spoken (not yelled) to the rider you want to dive under is all that is needed to keep that rider from over-reacting when they feel you swoop by on the inside.  But, if that rider isn’t expecting you to dive under and … well, maybe is a bit in the red after a hard effort … mayhem can ensue.

And at Wente, mayhem did ensue.  The prime sprinting rider wasn’t prepared for the inside pass of another and reacted instinctively by moving left to avoid the inside diver.  That caused a bump from the rider on her left, and … the falling began.

It’s all riders responsibilities to choose actions that will ensure safety, in my opinion.  It’s like the proverbial tango taking two.  So sometimes … it’s just not worth it.

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and related … is the bad habit of corner diving.  As we all know … sometimes the pack will take a line through a turn that is neither the fastest nor, sometimes, the safest.  However, often the unsafe-r thing to do is dive into that corner to move up a couple spots.  Hopefully we all know what i’m talking about … cuz i’m out o’ minutes on the blog-O-meter.

But to take a moment more, if there is room on the inside of the corner for you to dive into … remember, there may not be room AFTER the corner as you drift into the line the pack is now taking.   We all do it … but it’s certainly a more advanced move and one that we should know the consequences of if using it.

but whatevah, i’m out o’ time.  lates,

~m

oh gross …

Pulled the bike out of sputnik for the first time since the Madera road race on Sunday and there was some sort of mystery solution caked and dry-bubbled all over the saddle.

i mean … that’s disgusting.

You see, for quite a few years there’s been a bit of twist and shout going on in my pelvic region. No, not that kind of action … more the kind that slings you out of alignment and has things like bulging discs and herniated gluteous-puteouses, snapping tendoligamentitis and irksome myofascial illiobandies.

but, it’s never been that big of a deal. i mean … occasionally there would be a few races that would see me shoot off the back of the pack like they voted me off the island … often accompanied with a few heads scratched in expressions of “jeeezus, he’s on shyte-form today, isn’t he? maybe he’s hung-over again…”.

i didn’t mind much at being dropped, though ~ cuz it happened only every other blue moon … or, at least not often enough for me do much more than shrug and put up a fist of “you’ll get yours next time, dammit!”

BUT NOW ~

frickinfrackindoublepooponasticksumbeetch … well, what i think it stems from is those back-to-back crashes last year at Minden and Dunnigan. oooooweee, those were both stupid, stupid crashes … my own personal karma shivs to the gut, you dig?

Now, i don’t want to say i deserved those crashes and my ensuing biomechanical madness, but … let’s just say i’ve got skeletons queued-up just waiting for a chance to moonwalk themselves in to my closet(s).

ah well, ah well.

Anyway, the point is that i’ve been pedaling in a decent amount of discomfort these past couple months and haven’t been able to rub 2 coins together on the powermeter since it seems like forever. yep, i’ve fallen below the power poverty line. I’ll just say, it sucks being poor and left wanting.

On the other hand, the pain tolerance seems to be shooting through the roof … which brings me back to the Madera road race and that mystery “ick” on my saddle. You see, Sunday was ~ well, it was just bloody. The SpecialKids were in effect and doing their best to throttle all us mortals into obedience.

and i always curdle under that kind of yoke …

So, my response was to stand in front of the tank and shoot rubber bands at them all day long. Unfortunately, since the pain in the nether regions was a bit distracting, i didn’t designate more than a couple brain cells to monitor the heat levels ~ either outside the system, or for the internal combust machinery.

and so … it combusted.

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Our strategy of VOS’ness in that road race was for me to bash and banshee-wail against the Specials’ superior firepower to try and set up the Jeffe to get himself in a squeaker move that might only have 1 or 2 of the Red Armada in it … maybe allowing him to rise up the GC and, though not taking it outright, maybe planting him on the podium or at the least, nabbing a stage win.

and oh, we were so close.

After 412 attacks and much gnashing of teeth, a wee breakaway skidaddled off the front of the 35s , consisting of Craig ‘the vine’ Roemer for Specialized, Mark ‘biceps’ Trujillo for Clover, and square-peddling little ole me. We weren’t given much leash by the SpecialTroops … and enough of the other GC teams were skittish about the move as well, even though it wouldn’t have affected their standings at all since Trujillo was 20 minutes down after missing a turn in the TT and i was over 5 minutes down after BLOWING UP SPECTACULARLY in mine. Roemer was ahead of most in GC anyway … so if the field would have let the move go, nobody would have lost much on the pay-scale.

But that wasn’t the intent of the move, anyway. The intent was to stay out there and try and burn off as much of the Special sauce as possible, weakening their tempo-riding ability so that a secondary break could shoot out of that pack and hopefully contain Jeffe and the right GC contenders. The Specials had 11 damn good men in that field and we needed to wear down their workers and hope to get a bit of luck in the draw, too.

And lo and behold, on the last lap … when Trujillo and Roemer were almost dropping me with every one of their pedal turns … up comes the anticipated move with Jeffe and a small group. In it is Special’s ever-pro Innes with his smoothie-stroke and game-face etched in stoic cement. And so, with him AND Roemer in the mix, you’d think that the deal would have been sealed. But alas, both the Specials and TeamSanJose shoveled coal and the move was brought back just as we turned to enter the cobbles.

damn.

I’m pretty disappointed that SanJose didn’t put Foy or Wire in that secondary move … because i think if they had, there might have been a chance the move would have stuck. We certainly needed one more big engine in it since we had fatigue levels set to ’stun’ and a bit of gamesmanship being played out. Out of that move, i think Innes or EMC’s Holtz would have won it because Jeffe and I were doing our best to drill it for time against the charging field … but, we’ll never know.

Anyway, tactics and fun-meter aside ~ just before we were overtaken by the pack, i put in one last hail-mary acceleration for our group … hoping that one or two of the strongmen out of the chasing pack might jump across and give impetus for our move to continue and snap shut the pack’s hungry maw. but alas, all was for naught and we were swallowed up easily.

i should have quit right then. but of course i couldn’t. oh lordie, it was utter misery … and the teams were only riding a moderately hard tempo to discourage counter attacks and to set up for the field sprint. Oh, the agony as i flittered off and on the back of that damnable pack through the cobbles. i was like a dead fish strung through the lip, whipping feebly in the wake of a puttering boat trolling for dock.

and then we exited those damnable cobbles. oh thankfully exited … and with the smoother pave came one last impulse to the engines in attempt to put jeffe in better position for the sprint, or maybe launch one last attack on the k before the line to disrupt the sprinters’ remaining trains and allow Jeffe to use his superior race saavy and hardman sprinting skills to win the race.

but alas … the thermometer popped, and this turkey was done.

i remember my teammate, bigbadErnieGallardo coming up from behind and trying to push me over the final couple rollers. i remember throwing up a couple times. i remember somebody pushing a gel into my hands at some point. i remember being laughed at by Bosch. i remember … some ice getting shoved down my pants and somebody giving me a hat, or a towel, or maybe it was just a vulture hovering over me.

but i was cooked.

and now there’s some mystery blech on my saddle and i can’t get it completely off.

good times.