Fort Custer time trial

According to the people, I am a time trial specialist. I guess it's fitting for me since I won the Tailwind time trial series today. I sealed off the title with a quality 2nd place at Ft. Custer.

After pre-riding the course the day before, I knew this race would challenge all my trail riding abilities, mostly because it was wet from the rain. The morning of the race, there was even more rain. I crashed on the trail, and also had to run up two hills because I lost traction on wet rocks and bricks. Though physiologically I felt awesome.

The plan is to go into a much needed phase of restitution before beginning a new training cycle for the Iceman. I originally intended for that to be this week, but I am thinking about doing the Stony Creek cross country race where I think I can do well. It just depends on how long I can continue to hold on to my good form. Another two weeks might be pushing it, especially since I am seeking to make great fitness gains between now and the Iceman. We'll see.

All in all, I had a great weekend racing and hanging out with the other elite racers. I always learn a lot when I talk to those guys.

-Randy

Pontiac Lake cross country

I didn't feel like I was exercising my elite racer status very well, so I wanted to make Pontiac a good one. It went well and I came in 6th place.

I got a good position on the front line, but I slipped off my pedal after the whistle blew so my start didn't go very well. It wasn't too bad though because I only had to pass two or three people in the beginning. About four miles in I found myself behind my friend, American Cycle & Fitness rider Robert Herriman. I knew then that I was in a good position. Soon he gapped up to the lead group, but I stayed behind because I was trying to be conservative, having had bad luck in my past two cross country races. This worked out pretty well because my effort remained pretty even over the three laps. However, I did about two thirds of the race by myself because of this. I think had I been more aggressive on the second lap, I could have afforded at least one more place for fifth. After the race I wasn't very tired so I went out for a six mile ride with Robert.

Ore to Shore

What a great weekend. My dad and I left last Thursday for Marquette at about 7:30a.m.. While we were there we did some awesome site-seeing. We rode down a long dirt county road to Big Bay where there was an old light house and a really cool beach. Then we went to Sugar Loaf Mountain where there was an incredible view of Lake Superior and Marquette. It had to be something like 1400 feet high. And of course, we did the O2S hardrock.

I was kind of nervous about not having a fancy preferred start, but that turned out to be a non-issue. I worked with American Cycle & Fitnress rider Bill Clikeman to work through the pack, but unfortunately he got a flat tire only a few miles in. Luckily, I was right with Kona Midwest riders Justin Desilets and Pete Ehman. I worked with them to pick off the racers one by one. Then Justin put the distance on me after a crucial hill section. I decided not to go with him because I knew there were better sections where I would make up time. Next I found myself alone on an open paved road where I wished I had been in a pace line. Sure enough one came roaring by and I jumped on. I was with some pretty strong riders like Jason Lummis. I was tired from riding alone on the road so I hung out in the back of the pack up the paved hill around 30 miles. I decided that I would let the group pull me along until I was recovered enough to gap to the next chase group. But then things got interesting... As the "Love train" was careening down a hill and around a burm, I heard a bang and instantly I was flying through the air, momentarily catching a glimpse of the pace line fading away into the distance. As I was rolling along I could feel myself going from the trail surface into the brush out of harms way. (note: I still don't have any idea what caused me to crash, it was a freak thing really) I stood up to check myself and luckily I was virtually unscathed. I gained my composure and ran over to my bike and checked it out. It was okay too. Now I'm back on the bike.

When I started going again I felt like I was going so slow without any one to draft off. So I went harder to catch the group. "How far up is that group?" I asked the spectators. "Way up there," one said. "Thirty seconds" said another. I knew I wouldn't be catching them by myself. I had to wait for another pack. But by now I had been riding alone for many minutes and still there was no one. Eventually I met up with two other guys to ride with. At this point I was really suffering and tucked in behind them. And only moments later it was my turn to take the lead. As soon as I hit the wind my legs screamed going up a small hill. The two pursuing riders eventually passed me and left me in the dust. Then two more went by. Then another, and so on. I faded and faded and eventually finished 57th. I burned out.

Was I disapointed? Yes. However, the more people I talked to, and the more things I read about this race, the more I realize that there are several forces acting upon you that influence your performance. Only with experience and perhaps luck can you over come these forces. This was my first real Ore to Shore. This is my first year competing in this sport. It is an incredibly difficult race. And so I shall continue to train.

Today I did my usual post race day recovery ride, and I didn't feel too bad. This is a good sign. I'm going to coast through this month and hit a couple more races as my peak wears off. Tally ho!

I'd like to say congratulations to all my racer friends out there who placed well at O2S and especially Mr. Simonson who annihilated everyone and is very impressive.