Northern Ohio seems to be a hot bed for great clubs putting on great races. The newest on the block is the Greenford Road Race put on by Dan Quinlan and the Elves and More Charity race team.
For a first year race it did pretty well on attendance, but i bet with an earlier date and 2nd year status and a lot of happy racers spreading the good word it will be like Shreve and grow and grow. Its also for a good cause as well.
Ive been thinking about this race for awhile now. I was excited because of the climbing*, but a bit scared because though I am a Cat.2, I dont race very long road races. So at a reported 64 miles and 3900' of climbing over 8, yes 8 laps, it was going to be a test for sure.
*it was more gradual long grades, all in the big ring and all done fast!!
It all started with my Team Columbus Team mate Brian Batke locking himself out of his car. A AAA guy came and sorted him out, but left him with virtually n time for a warm-up. So I didnt attack early and when people did jump I was quick to jump on board till Brian was good and ready. Dan Quinlan was sending off some early warning shots and when Brian started to cover them I knew he was ready.
Cioccio took off and Batke covered it. It was my turn to cover the next move, but poorly positioned and a bit gassed I let Chris go, but Brian didnt. They got a decent gap that came and went. I covered everything that seemed a threat to bring it back, but I did not race negatively, but I do think I snuffed out the will of the pack to chase. Eventually they tired and were brought back. I am not 100% sure, but I think we were 3 laps in now and I countered there move I think on the rollers on, appropriately enough Roller Road and held the gap for a couple miles when I was reeled in.
But I was only joined by 4 other guys including Ryan form Virginia Pro cycling (very tall, VERY strong rider Ive never seen before), Jake Lifson from Indiana Medical, Dan Quinlan of Elves and More and of course Brian Batke. Long story short the next 3 laps were hard. Fast pace (25mph) rotating paceline that never relented, even in the feed zone. I was sucking down goo and eating a bit of energy bar quite often.
I was in my deep aero position in the drops for so long my triceps and neck were aching to go along with my tired legs and back. I had to stay like this because it was a windy (and sunny and warm) day. Especially going North on Lisbon. Headwind all the way.This was a hard break and I was glad we had 5 guys. Rotating this hard with only 2 others would have been a LOT worse.
3 laps to go and I am thinking about one more attack or raised pace and I'll never make it another 24 miles. But I survive lap 6 and 7 with the same pep talks to myself. Just hang on, go till you cannot go anymore. And when Ryan who had been pulling through harder than anyone all race long and pulling us 440 watts up the climb on W. Middletown Road attacked and took Brian with him I tried to play good team mate, but Jake Lifson lit it up on the descent coming up to the tight downhill corner onto Roller Rd. and brought us back.
We went through the feed zone and for the first time no one seemed interested in racing their bikes anymore so I pulled through and got the paceline going again. But my pulling through was getting weaker by the lap. I was so close to being dropped on the 7th lap I warned Batke to not get stuck behind me if I went pop.
When we made it a ways down Washingtonville Rd. there is the longest grade. Not steep, definately big chainring, but hard enough, especially after 7 laps. This is where I believe Rudy Sroka attacked ot break up the Masters race. I didnt want anyone to attack Brian yet so after I had rotated off the front and the pace had seemed to die I rolled off the front from 3rd wheel only hoping to disrupt attacks and put everyone but Brian on the defensive.
But this is where it got strange. I roll off dont hit any high wattage or even stand up, but a minute later the 4 guys are a speck behind me. I roll down to Roller rd and expect the worst from my legs, but I run a high cadence to try and save my legs, but still try to push hard on the pedals down hills or up when need be. I am so paranoid I keep looking back ,looking back. I mean I am so fried and not having thought about holding a gap to the line I am really in hurtsville.
I make it to the final two rollers on Roller Rd. and the steep little climb before turning right onto Lisbon for the maybe 2 mile stretch to the line. I can see way behind me the whole time and still no one. Is this for real? I see the 1km sign and I finally allow myself to start to really back off.
I finally make it to the line and I yell as I cannot believe my good fortune and the level of effort physicaly and mentally it took just to finish, but to win!?!?! NO WAY this just happened, but it did. As soon as I rolled to and past the finish line I wanted to fall over in the grass in the fetal position till all the pain went away!! And I was in a lot of pain.
So what do I do? What any amateur racer does, I rode up the road to the water bottle I tossed a few laps ago so I wouldnt forget to pick it up!! Thats how I roll baby. Cheaply!!
And even though we were all marking Ryan as the threat due to how well he ripped our legs off all day (is he a Cat.1 or semi-pro?), Brian got away too and rolled in for 2nd. Yessiree a Team Columbus 1-2!! Can Idedicate a win? I'd like to dedicate this one to Tris and his new baby girl!! YOu would have savored the suffering today, but alas we had to do it without you. Brian and I did think about you as we cooled down.
So that's how it went yesterday. And this closes my road racing Calender I believe for 2008.
And what a Year its been. Starting with tearing my MCL in February cross country skiing and barely training for a month. I rode pretty aggressively at Malabar farms on barely any training. I won a few Time Trials (2nd and 3rd at others) including my age group at States, went to Masters TT Nationals where I was only 15th in my AG (46th/200 men overall), but without a doubt had my best TT performance ever!! I got upgraded to Cat.2 (a lifelong dream) and backed that upgrade up with 3 road race wins. And in almost every race where I either podiumed or had a field finish I tried very hard to play my part in getting Tris or Brian a win or podium as well. And they definitely played a huge part in all my wins. I even won a Biathlon (374 entries)last week. Thanks again to my great team mates and to my great coach. Its been one heck of a year.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Ohh, I forgot about that part!!
I rode my Cyclocross bike on and off today. Alternating from easy riding to hard sprints across gravel parking lots and grassy and hard packed paths by work and also around the Shaker lakes not far from my house. I had fun hopping curbs and bunnyhopping over uneven concrete sections and riding through some pretty rocky or rutted areas. Hey, I bunny hopped pretty high that time. Unclip, dismount and run?? OH dear-I'm afraid of falling (and hurting my left knee again) on my ass splayed all over the ground with my bike on top and laughing truck drivers and truck repair mechanics...oh no better wait to practice those on grass and in private!!
Thinking about last cross season you remember, at least in a glorified way about the suffering, the pain, the mud and ice and slush and the good and bad finishes. The filthy bike and rusty chains too.
You especially recall snapshots or mental short films like the funny moments when 4 guys are trying to get your one shoe off or the epic battles like Zak Dieringer and I at Orrville. Or that ridiculous hill at Spin's Cross your Heart. Everyone remembers that hill. And talking about that hill and how some guys got to the top that morning and like your first time downhill skiing you werent sure how you were going get the courage to get back down the hill after getting to the top.
You remember the Shawn Adams and Ernestos and Paul Martins disappearing from view in the first lap only to be seen again when your getting lapped, or charging the whole race to not get lapped. Thats it the effort, thats what cross is all about. The one hour or 45 minutes of excruciating suffering. The lactic acid buildup that you often feel when a road race or criterium starts to get good and fast, only this is non stop. If your in first or last its there. King for the day or pack fodder, your in pain till the end. But now you feel it in your back, your thighs, knees, wrists and your arms. Everything from your eyesockets full of mud and sand to your frozen and bruised toes cries for the sound of that glorious bell lap because your so tired.
Bells? Oh glorious cowbells and horns and screaming family members or racers who are about to race or have finished lining the course and sticking it out in the cold and rain or snow to yell and show there love for the sport and anyone brave enough to partake. Your cheered on and it gives you energy for one more lap.
But, but , but the one thing you forget till your first ride on those knobby 32c tires on skinny 700c rims and rigid forks and super stiff made for speed frames is the unbelievable punishment transmitted through the pedals and handlebars. And as you race across those fields full of gusto and all of your acquired road fitness from a summer of battling on black smooth strips of tarmac is the seemingly uncontrollable and erratic movement of the bike under you, the wheels bounding and stepping out a couple inches each way and the steering going light, then heavy as you sprint across the grass with all of the hidden little or big holes and hard lumps and hidden roots. YOu imagine yourself pitched high over the bars like a flying squirrel till splat, face plant, spread eagle and hands over your head.
Oh my goodness, I think to myself, I enjoyed this? This mayhem and crazed bike riding? The huge effort that leads to such a slow terminal velocity? Like running away form the boogie man in one of your nightmares? Why didnt my brain warn me? Its only been 8 months, has it forgotten or...???
But thats it, you want more of it and you cannot wait to do it again. Maybe your primitive brain likes it too and knows to get you back you have to forget a few things till your sucked back in for good or at least till January. And the after that, whats there to look forward to base miles?? OH yeah, base miles at slow pace, fingers and toes freezing, sit bones numb and sore and 6 layers and frozen water bottles...See I already forgot about that. Good job brain.
Thinking about last cross season you remember, at least in a glorified way about the suffering, the pain, the mud and ice and slush and the good and bad finishes. The filthy bike and rusty chains too.
You especially recall snapshots or mental short films like the funny moments when 4 guys are trying to get your one shoe off or the epic battles like Zak Dieringer and I at Orrville. Or that ridiculous hill at Spin's Cross your Heart. Everyone remembers that hill. And talking about that hill and how some guys got to the top that morning and like your first time downhill skiing you werent sure how you were going get the courage to get back down the hill after getting to the top.
You remember the Shawn Adams and Ernestos and Paul Martins disappearing from view in the first lap only to be seen again when your getting lapped, or charging the whole race to not get lapped. Thats it the effort, thats what cross is all about. The one hour or 45 minutes of excruciating suffering. The lactic acid buildup that you often feel when a road race or criterium starts to get good and fast, only this is non stop. If your in first or last its there. King for the day or pack fodder, your in pain till the end. But now you feel it in your back, your thighs, knees, wrists and your arms. Everything from your eyesockets full of mud and sand to your frozen and bruised toes cries for the sound of that glorious bell lap because your so tired.
Bells? Oh glorious cowbells and horns and screaming family members or racers who are about to race or have finished lining the course and sticking it out in the cold and rain or snow to yell and show there love for the sport and anyone brave enough to partake. Your cheered on and it gives you energy for one more lap.
But, but , but the one thing you forget till your first ride on those knobby 32c tires on skinny 700c rims and rigid forks and super stiff made for speed frames is the unbelievable punishment transmitted through the pedals and handlebars. And as you race across those fields full of gusto and all of your acquired road fitness from a summer of battling on black smooth strips of tarmac is the seemingly uncontrollable and erratic movement of the bike under you, the wheels bounding and stepping out a couple inches each way and the steering going light, then heavy as you sprint across the grass with all of the hidden little or big holes and hard lumps and hidden roots. YOu imagine yourself pitched high over the bars like a flying squirrel till splat, face plant, spread eagle and hands over your head.
Oh my goodness, I think to myself, I enjoyed this? This mayhem and crazed bike riding? The huge effort that leads to such a slow terminal velocity? Like running away form the boogie man in one of your nightmares? Why didnt my brain warn me? Its only been 8 months, has it forgotten or...???
But thats it, you want more of it and you cannot wait to do it again. Maybe your primitive brain likes it too and knows to get you back you have to forget a few things till your sucked back in for good or at least till January. And the after that, whats there to look forward to base miles?? OH yeah, base miles at slow pace, fingers and toes freezing, sit bones numb and sore and 6 layers and frozen water bottles...See I already forgot about that. Good job brain.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Introducing Audrey Hopkins Everyone!!
Hey all,
Born yesterday morning (August 27th) was a little girl to racer extraordinaire Henry "Tris" Hopkins!!
Audrey Kaye Hopkins
Born at 8:09 am, 27-Aug-2008
8lbs, 15oz, 20.5"
Mother Sharon, daughter Audrey (and dad) all doing great.
Ray
Born yesterday morning (August 27th) was a little girl to racer extraordinaire Henry "Tris" Hopkins!!
Audrey Kaye Hopkins
Born at 8:09 am, 27-Aug-2008
8lbs, 15oz, 20.5"
Mother Sharon, daughter Audrey (and dad) all doing great.
Ray
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Cyclo cross is coming.Thank you is not enough
I had originally planned on having Zak Dieringer make me my own line of Cyclo cross frames to sell. I had some pretty cool ideas (nothing revolutionary, but cool), but I got stuck when I inquired of the type of custom steel tubesets I needed to make this dream a reality I realized I didnt have the economies of scale to make this a reality. one off tubesets arent a dime a dozen as you can expect.
One thing lead to another and I had Zak build me a Cross frame anyhow using Dedacciai main tubeset and his choice of Columbus stays with some custom bends. The one idea I contributed was my rear brake cable stop that eliminated some brake cable housing and heavier cable stops and bridges. Less weight and less friction was my goal. OH and to look cool too.
The frame ended up very light for a standard steel frame. 1759 grams including the seat collar and 27.2 aluminum insert for the seatpost.
As you can see it came out gorgeous and the TIG wleding by Zak is really nice and clean. Although the Spectrum powder coat is first rate, they didnt even come close to the color I wanted. How far off well imagine a burnt orange metallic and getting a purple that looks orangy brown in the dark. Yeah that bad. But I like the color just fine so it wasn't worth sending it back in this case. if it were a road bike I would have, but as a cross bike I thought it would actually look great covered with mud!
Now here is where the Thank is not enough part comes in!! I didnt really have the funds for a project like this so Thom let me borrow his build kit from his Fixie/SS project hopefully coming in the late fall. Thank you td and Zak for helping me out.
Wanna see it? I bet you do!! Well here it is...
Now a lot have asked me why I am doing a SS this year when more speeds make you faster. Well, I have my reasons and they are no secret. I'll try and cover why later. I think they are good reasons!!
One thing lead to another and I had Zak build me a Cross frame anyhow using Dedacciai main tubeset and his choice of Columbus stays with some custom bends. The one idea I contributed was my rear brake cable stop that eliminated some brake cable housing and heavier cable stops and bridges. Less weight and less friction was my goal. OH and to look cool too.
The frame ended up very light for a standard steel frame. 1759 grams including the seat collar and 27.2 aluminum insert for the seatpost.
As you can see it came out gorgeous and the TIG wleding by Zak is really nice and clean. Although the Spectrum powder coat is first rate, they didnt even come close to the color I wanted. How far off well imagine a burnt orange metallic and getting a purple that looks orangy brown in the dark. Yeah that bad. But I like the color just fine so it wasn't worth sending it back in this case. if it were a road bike I would have, but as a cross bike I thought it would actually look great covered with mud!
Now here is where the Thank is not enough part comes in!! I didnt really have the funds for a project like this so Thom let me borrow his build kit from his Fixie/SS project hopefully coming in the late fall. Thank you td and Zak for helping me out.
Wanna see it? I bet you do!! Well here it is...
Now a lot have asked me why I am doing a SS this year when more speeds make you faster. Well, I have my reasons and they are no secret. I'll try and cover why later. I think they are good reasons!!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Valley City Race Pictures
Tris and Eric on an Epic 44 mile breakawaySeems like Team Columbus has been doing these LONG breaks all year. Its so unbelievably tough, but so worthwhile when it ends in a W!!
I brought us back to 4th on the roadI left it too late to bridge solo to the 3rd and 4th place break. Stupid of me!! I mistakenly thought someone else would bring it back...silly me. lol But I brought us back to fight for 4th through town and the fun twsisties out of town before I bailed on the sprint about 200 meters after this shot. And-do you see any hair under that helmet?!?!?! I might need to spend some time with a fine tip Sharpie!!
These pictures courtesy of Rick Adams. Great pics!!
and thank you so much to Snake Bite racing for a great race. Last year I worked the top of the Lester Hill. It was a lot more fun racing it!!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Valley City Masters and JCB Biathlon-quickie post
Tris Hopkins Wins the Valley City 35+ Masters Championship in a 2 man 44 mile breakaway with Eric Lesco of Stark Velo. I (and Team Lake Effect and Stark Velo) raced hard from the start finish line on lap 1 to make it possible for Tris and Eric to launch there move. I sat up when they launched then jumped on every bridge move for the next lap. Then once they were out of sight after 2 laps i tried launching one attack after another, but the Masters were too tough and chased everything down. Thanks to Brett Davis (Solon), Pete Scacheri (Snake Bite) and the ever aggressive and fun to race with John Lowry (Stark Velo) for trying so hard to break up the race. and Spin was very active all day with Tom Humprhey in my mind showing some great legs. I could have sat in ALL day with my first biathlon ever the next morning at 8:30am, but I ahd this odd revelation mid race that I could get a flat coming out of the parking lot of the Biathlon so I tried hard in the race. But it was all for not as I sat-up after topping the last climb on the front. I was toast and didnt want to do another dead leg sprint.
Sunday in the JCB Biathlon several hundred people lined up for the popular Eastside event. I finished the 3 mile run top 20 in 19:50 and the bike in 29:47 for the rolling 12.9mi TT course. The lasting vision from the run was making the 180 on Belvoir at Silsby and seeing how many runners there were!! Literally a mile long line of runners, Wow!! My legs felt great (after 2 touch and go miles) and I hammered it hard on the bike. Sadly Rudy Sroka who started the bike leg 30 or 40 seconds faster went off course mid way so who knows who would have won. I was catching everybody on the bike, but catching Rudy and passing him are two totally different things. I did it in 51 minutes total which is about what the winning time was in 2007 on the same course.
A great weekend where I had super, great legs in both bike races and a personal best run. I may have even run the first mile in 6:15 or so, though thats just a guess. And Tris won Saturday which feels as good as a win for myself and then in my first Biathlon I win!! Wow, what a summer of racing its been for me!!
Also, Robert Sroka and Chris Martino won the Relay (Robert's 13), Gary Burkholder and Mike Vanucci were 1,2 and Rudy was 1st in age group and Christina Vanncci repeated as overall female champion!! Great job!!
Thank you to Sean Gilbert for the great coaching and motivation on the bike and especially now the running. Two more road races (one road , one TT)then its Cross time!!!
Sunday in the JCB Biathlon several hundred people lined up for the popular Eastside event. I finished the 3 mile run top 20 in 19:50 and the bike in 29:47 for the rolling 12.9mi TT course. The lasting vision from the run was making the 180 on Belvoir at Silsby and seeing how many runners there were!! Literally a mile long line of runners, Wow!! My legs felt great (after 2 touch and go miles) and I hammered it hard on the bike. Sadly Rudy Sroka who started the bike leg 30 or 40 seconds faster went off course mid way so who knows who would have won. I was catching everybody on the bike, but catching Rudy and passing him are two totally different things. I did it in 51 minutes total which is about what the winning time was in 2007 on the same course.
A great weekend where I had super, great legs in both bike races and a personal best run. I may have even run the first mile in 6:15 or so, though thats just a guess. And Tris won Saturday which feels as good as a win for myself and then in my first Biathlon I win!! Wow, what a summer of racing its been for me!!
Also, Robert Sroka and Chris Martino won the Relay (Robert's 13), Gary Burkholder and Mike Vanucci were 1,2 and Rudy was 1st in age group and Christina Vanncci repeated as overall female champion!! Great job!!
Thank you to Sean Gilbert for the great coaching and motivation on the bike and especially now the running. Two more road races (one road , one TT)then its Cross time!!!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Got a serious butt-whooping tonight and liked it.
So you can dish it out, but can you hack it too? I was invited to do the 2-man Spin Time Trial called the Two headed beast on the very bumpy and windy Marginal tonight. Thanks Thom for inviting me again.
The format I THINK was an internal battle between Spin's Multisport guys and the Roadies. A 2-man TT with mostly random (and two dream teams, one multisport, one roadies) pairings which I thought sounded like fun.
I was paired with young track racer and road racer Mitch Gable. He showed up in skinsuit, aero helmet and bars. I was on my trusty Dale with no aero stuff, except my wheels. I only bring that Minor point up so that I have an excuse...read-on please.
We took off and the last thing I said was catch everyone we can see!! Very mistakingly thinking i would push the pace tonight I asked Mitch to take us out at whatever pace he felt comfortable with. The course ran along North marginal going east to 55th do a U-turn and back to 9th street and do another U-turn. Two 5 mile laps.
Well if youd say I couldnt even stay on Mitch's wheel, maybe pulled once or twice in the first 2.5 miles to the first turnaround and averaged 5.4 w/kg (349 watts) is me being the stronger youd be very mistaken. Mitch (and I following him) averaged 23.8 on the headwind out leg and with the tailwind I was able to finally take some 30 to 32mph pulls and we averaged 27.3 on the way back for lap1.
Lap2 on the way out Mitch again pulled most of the way and had to slow down for me!! Ouch, thats brutal on the pride, but he rode awesome and I was his team mate tonight so who's complaining. On the way back in I took my one or two pulls then faded and again Mitch had to tow me home yelling encouragemenmts like "are you ready-we got to hammer it home now", "Lets go, were running on adrenaline now". I was like "hammer it home with what?? I am done, toast, Finito!!"
Man, you got to know how badly I was hurting and he was again slowing down to not leave me behind. We did pass a few teams and we finished strong averaging 28.3 on the way in the last time and 29.4 the last mile or so and sprinting to the line. I definitely left it all on the Marginal.
Results? We won by a tenth of a mph and thats a win I think for the roadies (and trackies?)!! I am thinking to myself man I wish I brought my TT bike and helmet, but it wouldnt have changed the fact of how strong Mitch rode-Great job and yes, I can hack it! It hurt, but I took it and am glad for it.
Thanks Spin!!
The format I THINK was an internal battle between Spin's Multisport guys and the Roadies. A 2-man TT with mostly random (and two dream teams, one multisport, one roadies) pairings which I thought sounded like fun.
I was paired with young track racer and road racer Mitch Gable. He showed up in skinsuit, aero helmet and bars. I was on my trusty Dale with no aero stuff, except my wheels. I only bring that Minor point up so that I have an excuse...read-on please.
We took off and the last thing I said was catch everyone we can see!! Very mistakingly thinking i would push the pace tonight I asked Mitch to take us out at whatever pace he felt comfortable with. The course ran along North marginal going east to 55th do a U-turn and back to 9th street and do another U-turn. Two 5 mile laps.
Well if youd say I couldnt even stay on Mitch's wheel, maybe pulled once or twice in the first 2.5 miles to the first turnaround and averaged 5.4 w/kg (349 watts) is me being the stronger youd be very mistaken. Mitch (and I following him) averaged 23.8 on the headwind out leg and with the tailwind I was able to finally take some 30 to 32mph pulls and we averaged 27.3 on the way back for lap1.
Lap2 on the way out Mitch again pulled most of the way and had to slow down for me!! Ouch, thats brutal on the pride, but he rode awesome and I was his team mate tonight so who's complaining. On the way back in I took my one or two pulls then faded and again Mitch had to tow me home yelling encouragemenmts like "are you ready-we got to hammer it home now", "Lets go, were running on adrenaline now". I was like "hammer it home with what?? I am done, toast, Finito!!"
Man, you got to know how badly I was hurting and he was again slowing down to not leave me behind. We did pass a few teams and we finished strong averaging 28.3 on the way in the last time and 29.4 the last mile or so and sprinting to the line. I definitely left it all on the Marginal.
Results? We won by a tenth of a mph and thats a win I think for the roadies (and trackies?)!! I am thinking to myself man I wish I brought my TT bike and helmet, but it wouldnt have changed the fact of how strong Mitch rode-Great job and yes, I can hack it! It hurt, but I took it and am glad for it.
Thanks Spin!!
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