Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Heil Ranch
I met John Bevans and Jeff ? of the Rocky Mounts team here at 5 p.m. today. John was riding a single-speed hard tail and Jeff was on a full squish like myself. It was my first mountain bike ride in about five months or more. The riding here is non-technical and involves a sustained climb up to a nice loop, which we did twice - in either direction. There were enough rocks and loose corners to dump a Gumby like myself, but I was pretty conservative and stayed upright.
Both John (32) and Jeff (26) are Expert class mountain bike racers and Cat. 4 road racers. None of us had ever ridden together before. John led us up the initial climb and he was setting a tough pace. I was in the high 150's on my heartrate monitor. After awhile he shut things down a bit, almost as if he was testing Jeff and I to see what we had. That's cool. He didn't drop anyone.
After awhile, Jeff went by John and he did drop us. I stayed behind John the entire time. Jeff was an exceptional rider. He was fit and he was very good technically. He could go up and over vertical boulders of a foot or more as if he was riding on pavement. He wouldn't even slow down as he veered off the trail to travel over these obstacles. On the way down I saw him jump his bike sideways about two feet over a deep ravine while going 20 mph. It was some impressive riding.
We rode for about an hour and fifteen minutes and had a great time on these fun trails. I was riding a new knobby tire on the back of my bike and I need to get a knobby for the front as well. Maybe that will help me control the bike better...
Bill
I met John Bevans and Jeff ? of the Rocky Mounts team here at 5 p.m. today. John was riding a single-speed hard tail and Jeff was on a full squish like myself. It was my first mountain bike ride in about five months or more. The riding here is non-technical and involves a sustained climb up to a nice loop, which we did twice - in either direction. There were enough rocks and loose corners to dump a Gumby like myself, but I was pretty conservative and stayed upright.
Both John (32) and Jeff (26) are Expert class mountain bike racers and Cat. 4 road racers. None of us had ever ridden together before. John led us up the initial climb and he was setting a tough pace. I was in the high 150's on my heartrate monitor. After awhile he shut things down a bit, almost as if he was testing Jeff and I to see what we had. That's cool. He didn't drop anyone.
After awhile, Jeff went by John and he did drop us. I stayed behind John the entire time. Jeff was an exceptional rider. He was fit and he was very good technically. He could go up and over vertical boulders of a foot or more as if he was riding on pavement. He wouldn't even slow down as he veered off the trail to travel over these obstacles. On the way down I saw him jump his bike sideways about two feet over a deep ravine while going 20 mph. It was some impressive riding.
We rode for about an hour and fifteen minutes and had a great time on these fun trails. I was riding a new knobby tire on the back of my bike and I need to get a knobby for the front as well. Maybe that will help me control the bike better...
Bill
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Roubaix Practice
Eric von Coppock and Bernard "The Quebec Express" Vachon met me for a ride on the washboarded roads north of the Boulder Reservoir. We went north on 36 to Plateau Road, just south of Nelson, and then east by southeast on dirt roads. The pace was up tempo, but we stayed together until the base of a short, but abrupt hill. I signaled my intentions by down shifting and Eric jumped like a cat getting its tail into a light socket. I went hard, but couldn't match his power or acceleration. I settled into time trial mode and suffered hard while holding the gap, but not closing it. Bernie was shot out the back.
We regrouped when we hit the pavement (Neva Road) and then went east a bit more to another dirt road, now part of the Boulder Roubaix course in the reverse direction. Once again up tempo riding, but staying together until a long hill as we neared the Res. I cranked up the effort, but didn't try to sprint off the front as that would be useless with Eric. I was hoping the sustained effort would wear him down some and when we got to the steep part of the hill, I stood and hammered for all I was worth, which wasn't much because Eric went zooming by once again. It was time trial mode and I worked hard to hold the gap and then on the last hill before the Res, on pavement at the very end, I closed the gap down quite a bit, but not enough. Eric sat up on the paved Res road and I joined him. Bernie had thrown his chain and it had gotten stuck to boot. We rode semi-easy to Jay and 41st before seeing Bernie again.
I threw down one last attack on the overpass going over the Diagonal and no one went with me. Victory is mine! :-)
23 miles, 1000 vertical feet, countless washboards, two vicious attacks, 18+ mph average, 67 degrees, perfect ride...
Bill
Eric von Coppock and Bernard "The Quebec Express" Vachon met me for a ride on the washboarded roads north of the Boulder Reservoir. We went north on 36 to Plateau Road, just south of Nelson, and then east by southeast on dirt roads. The pace was up tempo, but we stayed together until the base of a short, but abrupt hill. I signaled my intentions by down shifting and Eric jumped like a cat getting its tail into a light socket. I went hard, but couldn't match his power or acceleration. I settled into time trial mode and suffered hard while holding the gap, but not closing it. Bernie was shot out the back.
We regrouped when we hit the pavement (Neva Road) and then went east a bit more to another dirt road, now part of the Boulder Roubaix course in the reverse direction. Once again up tempo riding, but staying together until a long hill as we neared the Res. I cranked up the effort, but didn't try to sprint off the front as that would be useless with Eric. I was hoping the sustained effort would wear him down some and when we got to the steep part of the hill, I stood and hammered for all I was worth, which wasn't much because Eric went zooming by once again. It was time trial mode and I worked hard to hold the gap and then on the last hill before the Res, on pavement at the very end, I closed the gap down quite a bit, but not enough. Eric sat up on the paved Res road and I joined him. Bernie had thrown his chain and it had gotten stuck to boot. We rode semi-easy to Jay and 41st before seeing Bernie again.
I threw down one last attack on the overpass going over the Diagonal and no one went with me. Victory is mine! :-)
23 miles, 1000 vertical feet, countless washboards, two vicious attacks, 18+ mph average, 67 degrees, perfect ride...
Bill
Monday, March 29, 2004
Flag and Monkey Traverse
Jilayne rode with me on the way over to Flagstaff, but she wasn't going to go hard on the climb. We'd catch Michelle on the way up. Mark Schwab was out there doing the climb three times.
It was windy today and I went too hard on the lower part, passing the Flagstaff House in 4:17. I faded and finished with a disappointing 17:16. I'm blaming the wind for not breaking 17. Michelle did a PR of 23:30. Mark did his three sets in 14:28, 14:52, and 14:40! Wow. That's humbling.
Michelle and I went and did some bouldering. We warmed up on my Monkey-Junior Traverse, then did the Tree Slab Traverse and then went to the Monkey. I did it this time without using the first rest, linking the first third and second third into one continuous stretch. Then I sent the finish section and tried reversing it. I got about halfway back to the kneelock rest before I fell off. Thankfully Michelle was spotting me.
Michelle is getting closer to getting the first third of the Monkey and should have it in a couple more visits. I finished up by sending the Pratt Mantle on the way out.
Bill
Jilayne rode with me on the way over to Flagstaff, but she wasn't going to go hard on the climb. We'd catch Michelle on the way up. Mark Schwab was out there doing the climb three times.
It was windy today and I went too hard on the lower part, passing the Flagstaff House in 4:17. I faded and finished with a disappointing 17:16. I'm blaming the wind for not breaking 17. Michelle did a PR of 23:30. Mark did his three sets in 14:28, 14:52, and 14:40! Wow. That's humbling.
Michelle and I went and did some bouldering. We warmed up on my Monkey-Junior Traverse, then did the Tree Slab Traverse and then went to the Monkey. I did it this time without using the first rest, linking the first third and second third into one continuous stretch. Then I sent the finish section and tried reversing it. I got about halfway back to the kneelock rest before I fell off. Thankfully Michelle was spotting me.
Michelle is getting closer to getting the first third of the Monkey and should have it in a couple more visits. I finished up by sending the Pratt Mantle on the way out.
Bill
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Surprise, surprise, Eric did Stazio today. Last-minute change of plans. Didn't see any other aquamen there though. Bummer.
Now you might think that just because it was 40-something degrees and it actually started snowing during the morning, that I'd just go ballistic and drop everybody. You'd be wrong. My combination of shockingly inconsistent training and serious lack of total mileage left me with no real punch today. I was, however, able to run my lungs ragged for 45 minutes, which'll be nothing but benefit down the road.
You know the old adage "never mechanic on your bike the night before a race?" Being the type who takes it to the next level, I toed the line this morning on a new pair of wheels I built yesterday, and a complete new brake cable set. Oh yeah, my mojo is good. The only hitch was 5 minutes before our start I realized I hadn't tightened the cassette lockring. Made it to the car and back in enough time, but I was Joe Last as we lined up. All the better to scope the competition my dear.
The start was pretty unmotivated. By the time we got to the top of the hill, I was halfway to the front. By the time we turned West I was at the front and towing the line. Everybody seemed content with my pace so I got a good photo op at the start/finish after 1 lap. Eventually it started to resemble a cat 4 crit.... it was pinball out there. I've never made physical contact with so many different people during a bike race ever. At one point I was literally being leaned on from both sides. Weirdest thing is I never heard a single crash. Lots of cursing, but no crashes.
About halfway through we were moving at a pretty good clip and it's getting all strung out at the front. Hmmm says I, very interesting. So I slide forward, spin up the climb, and then give it some gas over the top to see what'll happen. Nothing happens, it just stays all strung out, and my turbo doesn't seem to be working. Oh well. A little while later there's a gap at the front, and 4 or 5 guys who haven't come back after a lap. OK, here we go ... I zip across on the start/finish straight. But when I get there everybody seems gassed, and by the top of the hill we don't have a gap anymore. Too bad I didn't have the legs or I woulda hit 'em again right there.
So it's hide out in the pack time, and I get my breath back. Seem to be getting the spin back in my legs too. Good thing, cuz they just went to 5-to-go on the lap board, and lookit here there's another group of 4 dangling out there for going on 2 laps. Very well, says I, and I go across again. Alas, without enough punch, and a long fragile string of single-file riders is clinging to my wheel. This is starting to hurt!
A little group of 4 re-forms, and it's the same scenario again with 3 to go. Doofus (that's me) bridges up again. As I get there the group fizzles, and we commence the process of getting swarmed at 2 to go. Can I get 5 extra laps here to get my sh!t together please? No? Bummer. It's all I can do at this point to hold my place and roll in with the lead group of ~25. Somewhere along the way we shelled a whole boatload of folks. Too bad I had no sprint. Oh well, training races right?
Hope you all slept late and stayed warm!
EC
Now you might think that just because it was 40-something degrees and it actually started snowing during the morning, that I'd just go ballistic and drop everybody. You'd be wrong. My combination of shockingly inconsistent training and serious lack of total mileage left me with no real punch today. I was, however, able to run my lungs ragged for 45 minutes, which'll be nothing but benefit down the road.
You know the old adage "never mechanic on your bike the night before a race?" Being the type who takes it to the next level, I toed the line this morning on a new pair of wheels I built yesterday, and a complete new brake cable set. Oh yeah, my mojo is good. The only hitch was 5 minutes before our start I realized I hadn't tightened the cassette lockring. Made it to the car and back in enough time, but I was Joe Last as we lined up. All the better to scope the competition my dear.
The start was pretty unmotivated. By the time we got to the top of the hill, I was halfway to the front. By the time we turned West I was at the front and towing the line. Everybody seemed content with my pace so I got a good photo op at the start/finish after 1 lap. Eventually it started to resemble a cat 4 crit.... it was pinball out there. I've never made physical contact with so many different people during a bike race ever. At one point I was literally being leaned on from both sides. Weirdest thing is I never heard a single crash. Lots of cursing, but no crashes.
About halfway through we were moving at a pretty good clip and it's getting all strung out at the front. Hmmm says I, very interesting. So I slide forward, spin up the climb, and then give it some gas over the top to see what'll happen. Nothing happens, it just stays all strung out, and my turbo doesn't seem to be working. Oh well. A little while later there's a gap at the front, and 4 or 5 guys who haven't come back after a lap. OK, here we go ... I zip across on the start/finish straight. But when I get there everybody seems gassed, and by the top of the hill we don't have a gap anymore. Too bad I didn't have the legs or I woulda hit 'em again right there.
So it's hide out in the pack time, and I get my breath back. Seem to be getting the spin back in my legs too. Good thing, cuz they just went to 5-to-go on the lap board, and lookit here there's another group of 4 dangling out there for going on 2 laps. Very well, says I, and I go across again. Alas, without enough punch, and a long fragile string of single-file riders is clinging to my wheel. This is starting to hurt!
A little group of 4 re-forms, and it's the same scenario again with 3 to go. Doofus (that's me) bridges up again. As I get there the group fizzles, and we commence the process of getting swarmed at 2 to go. Can I get 5 extra laps here to get my sh!t together please? No? Bummer. It's all I can do at this point to hold my place and roll in with the lead group of ~25. Somewhere along the way we shelled a whole boatload of folks. Too bad I had no sprint. Oh well, training races right?
Hope you all slept late and stayed warm!
EC
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Sunshine Canyon
Eric's perspective
Bill is getting killer climbing instincts. Look out folks.
It was a classic Ullrich v. Armstrong scenario. It went like this....
Bottom of the climb, and Bill ushers me to the front. No problem, I start laying down a pretty good pace in a big gear. I feel pretty darn good, and being serenaded by the sound of Bill suffering just makes it better. I'm feeling like big Jan today. All the way up past Poorman I'm feeling large and in charge. Bill's on my wheel but I can handle him. Things get tough on the wall as expected. Bill comes forward a couple of times but never takes the front. I can still hear him pumping the air in and out, and I'm convinced I've got more left than he does. Maybe I'll attack over the top ... then I go to try it and my legs are empty. Hmmm..... trouble brewing.
Bill's playing poker. He sits on my wheel for the downhill and flat. I continue driving it from the front in a big gear. 23 minutes into the climb and then, yep you guessed it, he goes dancing away on a steep stretch. He even gave me a "look." I don't respond. I'm thinking I'll go after him when it flattens out again, but my form goes completely out the window and my back starts hurting. There will be no heroic chase today. I limp home in 33:44, a little over 1:30 off Bill's time.
Whoo-ee, I'm not dead so I must be getting stronger.
EC
Eric's perspective
Bill is getting killer climbing instincts. Look out folks.
It was a classic Ullrich v. Armstrong scenario. It went like this....
Bottom of the climb, and Bill ushers me to the front. No problem, I start laying down a pretty good pace in a big gear. I feel pretty darn good, and being serenaded by the sound of Bill suffering just makes it better. I'm feeling like big Jan today. All the way up past Poorman I'm feeling large and in charge. Bill's on my wheel but I can handle him. Things get tough on the wall as expected. Bill comes forward a couple of times but never takes the front. I can still hear him pumping the air in and out, and I'm convinced I've got more left than he does. Maybe I'll attack over the top ... then I go to try it and my legs are empty. Hmmm..... trouble brewing.
Bill's playing poker. He sits on my wheel for the downhill and flat. I continue driving it from the front in a big gear. 23 minutes into the climb and then, yep you guessed it, he goes dancing away on a steep stretch. He even gave me a "look." I don't respond. I'm thinking I'll go after him when it flattens out again, but my form goes completely out the window and my back starts hurting. There will be no heroic chase today. I limp home in 33:44, a little over 1:30 off Bill's time.
Whoo-ee, I'm not dead so I must be getting stronger.
EC
Sunshine Canyon
This was my first time up Sunshine on the Magic Bike (tm). That leaves only Sugarloaf of the Fearsome Foursome to go, but the road's under construction up there right now. Only Eric was game to join me and brought along Sean, an unsuspecting Cat. 3 rider from Portland, Oregon. Couch lent him a bike, but he discovered to his dismay that his lowest gear was a 42-23.
We spun up the bike path and then north on 9th to Mapleton. We started the watch at 4th street, the last intersection, as this is the traditional starting point for the Sunshine Canyon climb. This is going to be a stage in the Boulder Stage Race in early May, except they'll continue up four more miles when the pavement ends. Traditionally, we stop at the pavement.
After getting schooled by Eric on Flagstaff last week, I was determined to at least make him work for it this time. I forced him to the front right away and took his wheel. Sean was right behind me. Eric set a hard pace and I drafted close behind. I checked to see if Sean was still in the game after a couple minutes and he was there. After four minutes? Still there. After six minutes? Completely shelled and nearly out of sight. It was now just von Coppock and myself.
This climb is 5.8 miles long and climbs about 1740 feet, for an average grade of 5.3%, but there are a couple of flat sections and even a short downhill section. That means there are a also some very steep parts. Our times on this last year were around 36 minutes, so my plan was to stay with Eric for at least 20 minutes and then see if I could get off the front.
A couple of times, I almost dropped off Eric's wheel, as the pace was so high. I remembered going too hard, too early before and didn't want to make the same mistake, but I stayed with him. He was constantly pushing a bigger gear than me. I don't know how he does it. I don't have the power for that. I wondered a lot about what Eric was thinking. He's a cagey rider and I wondered what he had up his sleeve.
When I joined the Rocky Mounts team, I had to fill out a questionnaire that asked: "What are you strengths?" Hmmm? I just eliminated all the things I wasn't good at and was left with climbing, though I think my real strength is suffering. Actually, sort of long-term, lower-level suffering. Flagstaff was a 17 minute climb and it wasn't long enough for my style of suffering, but here the climb was longer and hopefully would work to my strengths.
On the downhill section I drafted Eric and then rested and regrouped. When we started climbing again, I hung with him for awhile and then as the road got even steeper, I attacked. I went hard, maybe too hard, and got a big gap. Eric wasn't going to match that type of acceleration on such a steep hill, though he can easily drop me with this type of attack without the preceeding 23 minutes. He'd wait until it got flatter and hoped that I had gone too hard and blown up, a real good possibility. It was 23 minutes into the climb, so I figured I only had to stay away for 13 minutes. I steeled myself for a very long 13 minutes.
I started suffering almost immediately. When the hill crested I tried to keep up the effort, but I was going to blow already. I kept looking over my shoulder for Eric and when the gap stayed large, I could rest a bit. I worked hard on all the steep sections and tried hard to get completely out of sight of Eric. Once I had accomplished that, I figured I had him, as long as I kept working.
The end came mercifully quick. I hit the dirt in 32m07. That's over a four-minute PR, mostly due to the Magic Bike (tm), I'm sure. I turned and rode back down so that I could finish with Eric. He was about 90 seconds behind me and feeling his hill-interval workout from Tuesday. We descended again, looking for Sean. We got further and further down the hill. Finally, we saw him. He saw us coming and immediately turned around. I guess he was thankful for the climbing to be over. I was thankful I didn't have to climb back up again. We screamed down the canyon. I attacked on the short uphill and got swarmed by Eric and Sean. Even a sea-level rider is blowing by me! We cruised back on the bike path, enjoying the gorgeous, 70-degree day.
Bill
This was my first time up Sunshine on the Magic Bike (tm). That leaves only Sugarloaf of the Fearsome Foursome to go, but the road's under construction up there right now. Only Eric was game to join me and brought along Sean, an unsuspecting Cat. 3 rider from Portland, Oregon. Couch lent him a bike, but he discovered to his dismay that his lowest gear was a 42-23.
We spun up the bike path and then north on 9th to Mapleton. We started the watch at 4th street, the last intersection, as this is the traditional starting point for the Sunshine Canyon climb. This is going to be a stage in the Boulder Stage Race in early May, except they'll continue up four more miles when the pavement ends. Traditionally, we stop at the pavement.
After getting schooled by Eric on Flagstaff last week, I was determined to at least make him work for it this time. I forced him to the front right away and took his wheel. Sean was right behind me. Eric set a hard pace and I drafted close behind. I checked to see if Sean was still in the game after a couple minutes and he was there. After four minutes? Still there. After six minutes? Completely shelled and nearly out of sight. It was now just von Coppock and myself.
This climb is 5.8 miles long and climbs about 1740 feet, for an average grade of 5.3%, but there are a couple of flat sections and even a short downhill section. That means there are a also some very steep parts. Our times on this last year were around 36 minutes, so my plan was to stay with Eric for at least 20 minutes and then see if I could get off the front.
A couple of times, I almost dropped off Eric's wheel, as the pace was so high. I remembered going too hard, too early before and didn't want to make the same mistake, but I stayed with him. He was constantly pushing a bigger gear than me. I don't know how he does it. I don't have the power for that. I wondered a lot about what Eric was thinking. He's a cagey rider and I wondered what he had up his sleeve.
When I joined the Rocky Mounts team, I had to fill out a questionnaire that asked: "What are you strengths?" Hmmm? I just eliminated all the things I wasn't good at and was left with climbing, though I think my real strength is suffering. Actually, sort of long-term, lower-level suffering. Flagstaff was a 17 minute climb and it wasn't long enough for my style of suffering, but here the climb was longer and hopefully would work to my strengths.
On the downhill section I drafted Eric and then rested and regrouped. When we started climbing again, I hung with him for awhile and then as the road got even steeper, I attacked. I went hard, maybe too hard, and got a big gap. Eric wasn't going to match that type of acceleration on such a steep hill, though he can easily drop me with this type of attack without the preceeding 23 minutes. He'd wait until it got flatter and hoped that I had gone too hard and blown up, a real good possibility. It was 23 minutes into the climb, so I figured I only had to stay away for 13 minutes. I steeled myself for a very long 13 minutes.
I started suffering almost immediately. When the hill crested I tried to keep up the effort, but I was going to blow already. I kept looking over my shoulder for Eric and when the gap stayed large, I could rest a bit. I worked hard on all the steep sections and tried hard to get completely out of sight of Eric. Once I had accomplished that, I figured I had him, as long as I kept working.
The end came mercifully quick. I hit the dirt in 32m07. That's over a four-minute PR, mostly due to the Magic Bike (tm), I'm sure. I turned and rode back down so that I could finish with Eric. He was about 90 seconds behind me and feeling his hill-interval workout from Tuesday. We descended again, looking for Sean. We got further and further down the hill. Finally, we saw him. He saw us coming and immediately turned around. I guess he was thankful for the climbing to be over. I was thankful I didn't have to climb back up again. We screamed down the canyon. I attacked on the short uphill and got swarmed by Eric and Sean. Even a sea-level rider is blowing by me! We cruised back on the bike path, enjoying the gorgeous, 70-degree day.
Bill
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Flag and Monkey Again
So far three weeks in a row of doing Flagstaff and the Monkey Traverse. That's two more weeks than I did last year. Only Michelle agreed to join me. She left a bit early and I told her I'd catch her, pass her, top out, and then return to ride the finish with her. That worked out perfectly! Except that I didn't catch her, pass her, or top out before her. But she did descend and climb back up with me. And she did it with another rider as well. She was scoping out all the riders on that mountain!
Now that I'm the "climbing specialist" on the Rocky Mounts Cycling Team (yeah, yeah, Cat. 4), I assume that means that when we're on a climb, I'm to be treated special. I'm not sure if that means Matson pulls me up the hill with a bungy or if everyone is just supposed to stay behind me or what. I'm still so new to this racing business, but I like that phrase: "climbing specialist." Maybe that was just a nice way to say that I suck at everything else...Nah! Anyway without Eric or Matson to annoy me into going too fast at the start, I fired off a semi-comfortable 16:32.
Michelle and I descended down to the Monkey Traverse and I sent it once again. Without resting much at the two rests either. I'm really getting this baby wired. No warm-up, just walk down there, still breathing hard from the biking and send that baby! Michelle got a bit of rude introduction to bouldering by going straight to the Monkey, but she put in a good effort. Next time I'll be more gentlemanly and take her down to the warm-up area first.
Last time I did this Jeb scolded me for not doing it backwards, so this time I did. I onsighted the first two third of it (last two thirds of it when going from left to right). I'll have to think a bit about doing that last section backwards. Then, I walked right over and sent the Pratt Mantle first try, granted I did it the easiest possible way, by climbing in from the right. I gave one try at the problem just right of this and was pretty high on it. I have might to dig up a bouldering guide to that area so that I can find out what it's called...
Descending, Michelle was right with me the entire time. She is an aggressive downhill rider and is excited about Jilayne's seminars and Title Nine Cycling Team.
Bill
P.S. Sugarloaf or Sunshine this Thursday. If I get a partner, you can pick which hill we do. Sign up now!
So far three weeks in a row of doing Flagstaff and the Monkey Traverse. That's two more weeks than I did last year. Only Michelle agreed to join me. She left a bit early and I told her I'd catch her, pass her, top out, and then return to ride the finish with her. That worked out perfectly! Except that I didn't catch her, pass her, or top out before her. But she did descend and climb back up with me. And she did it with another rider as well. She was scoping out all the riders on that mountain!
Now that I'm the "climbing specialist" on the Rocky Mounts Cycling Team (yeah, yeah, Cat. 4), I assume that means that when we're on a climb, I'm to be treated special. I'm not sure if that means Matson pulls me up the hill with a bungy or if everyone is just supposed to stay behind me or what. I'm still so new to this racing business, but I like that phrase: "climbing specialist." Maybe that was just a nice way to say that I suck at everything else...Nah! Anyway without Eric or Matson to annoy me into going too fast at the start, I fired off a semi-comfortable 16:32.
Michelle and I descended down to the Monkey Traverse and I sent it once again. Without resting much at the two rests either. I'm really getting this baby wired. No warm-up, just walk down there, still breathing hard from the biking and send that baby! Michelle got a bit of rude introduction to bouldering by going straight to the Monkey, but she put in a good effort. Next time I'll be more gentlemanly and take her down to the warm-up area first.
Last time I did this Jeb scolded me for not doing it backwards, so this time I did. I onsighted the first two third of it (last two thirds of it when going from left to right). I'll have to think a bit about doing that last section backwards. Then, I walked right over and sent the Pratt Mantle first try, granted I did it the easiest possible way, by climbing in from the right. I gave one try at the problem just right of this and was pretty high on it. I have might to dig up a bouldering guide to that area so that I can find out what it's called...
Descending, Michelle was right with me the entire time. She is an aggressive downhill rider and is excited about Jilayne's seminars and Title Nine Cycling Team.
Bill
P.S. Sugarloaf or Sunshine this Thursday. If I get a partner, you can pick which hill we do. Sign up now!
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Magnolia, meet the Magic Bike (tm)
Mark Schwab and Charlie Hayes, both Cat. 1 racers on the Excel Cycling Team and climbing specialists, were the only ones brave enough to join the fearless Trashman and myself for our afternoon duel with the dreaded Magnolia - steepest, nastiest, paved road in Boulder County. The last time I had ridden the 5 miles and 2200 vertical feet that comprise this hill was during the 2003 Horgan Hill climb. That was on my triple-crank, steel bike and I turned in my best time of 39m11s. The Magic Bike (tm) came with a 12-23 in the back but I recently replaced that with a 12-27, specifically for this hill, as I didn't want to walk my bike up it.
We met at the wood bridge and cruised west on the bike path to Boulder Canyon. Charlie and Mark had already ridden Flagstaff, so they were properly warmed up. Charlie pulled us up the canyon at what I'm sure was a casual pace for him, but it was a strong pace to me and too much for the Trashman and his mountain bike. Four miles up the canyon, we turned left and up - the start of Magnolia. Mark attacked immediately and I went with him. Charlie was put into difficulty and his form was off. He couldn't match the acceleration and fell back. I shouldn't have matched it, for I was wasted after four minutes and started to fade fast, losing all contact with Mark. I was standing and working hard in my 27, but Mark was seated and smooth in his 25. Something isn't right about that. After eight minutes my legs were so full of lactic acid I thought they'd explode. "Great," I thought, I'm about a fifth of the way up this thing.
I had on a white headband and my helmet was tilted back like a bonnet on my head. I was going so slow that I nearly fell off. Salt caked the sides of my head. I weaved. In short, I looked like the complete dweeb that I am. Still, I suffered on. On the upper section it hurt so bad and was so steep for so long that all I could think about was getting off my bike and walking, walking, walking. Ah, that sounded so good. But I couldn't give up now, I had a substantial lead on Charlie Hayes! The guy who won the biker/runner Flagstaff challenge last year. I was out playing with the big, big boys.
With a few minutes left to go, Mark comes riding down the road. "How much further?" I plead. Mark spun easily next to me while I was nearly delirious. Mark has just done the new FKT of 30m25s. He thinks in mid-season form it might go under 28 minutes for him. I crested the top of the hill in a new PR time of 37m16s, but that was nothing compared to taking Charlie. Like when I beat Kraig Koski on NCAR or the Basic Boulder Marathon. Or win I nearly beat Matt Carpenter in the Barr Mountain Trail Race. Ah, the glory!
Charlie was only a minute back and we rode back up with him and then descended to pick up the Trashman, who wasn't riding the whole thing. He was just riding until it hurt too much. He ended up riding most of the hill. If I had turned around when it hurt too much, I'd have only made it 3-4 minutes. We re-grouped back at the bottom and I paced lined with two Cat. 1 racers back to town! I even took a short turn at the front, trying hard not to look like a Gumby. It was a sweet ride!
Bill
P.S. Okay, okay, Charlie wasn't even trying on Mag, but still, you've got to take advantages of these opportunities. Heck, I didn't think I could stay with Charlie if he was towing his car up this hill. Apparently Charlie and Mark are pretty even on such hill climbs so Charlie would probably be breaking thirty minutes on this climb as well. Now what can that Hartmann character do? He's always enjoying the scenery and being a tourist in the mountains when he should be watching the clock! :-) :-)
Mark Schwab and Charlie Hayes, both Cat. 1 racers on the Excel Cycling Team and climbing specialists, were the only ones brave enough to join the fearless Trashman and myself for our afternoon duel with the dreaded Magnolia - steepest, nastiest, paved road in Boulder County. The last time I had ridden the 5 miles and 2200 vertical feet that comprise this hill was during the 2003 Horgan Hill climb. That was on my triple-crank, steel bike and I turned in my best time of 39m11s. The Magic Bike (tm) came with a 12-23 in the back but I recently replaced that with a 12-27, specifically for this hill, as I didn't want to walk my bike up it.
We met at the wood bridge and cruised west on the bike path to Boulder Canyon. Charlie and Mark had already ridden Flagstaff, so they were properly warmed up. Charlie pulled us up the canyon at what I'm sure was a casual pace for him, but it was a strong pace to me and too much for the Trashman and his mountain bike. Four miles up the canyon, we turned left and up - the start of Magnolia. Mark attacked immediately and I went with him. Charlie was put into difficulty and his form was off. He couldn't match the acceleration and fell back. I shouldn't have matched it, for I was wasted after four minutes and started to fade fast, losing all contact with Mark. I was standing and working hard in my 27, but Mark was seated and smooth in his 25. Something isn't right about that. After eight minutes my legs were so full of lactic acid I thought they'd explode. "Great," I thought, I'm about a fifth of the way up this thing.
I had on a white headband and my helmet was tilted back like a bonnet on my head. I was going so slow that I nearly fell off. Salt caked the sides of my head. I weaved. In short, I looked like the complete dweeb that I am. Still, I suffered on. On the upper section it hurt so bad and was so steep for so long that all I could think about was getting off my bike and walking, walking, walking. Ah, that sounded so good. But I couldn't give up now, I had a substantial lead on Charlie Hayes! The guy who won the biker/runner Flagstaff challenge last year. I was out playing with the big, big boys.
With a few minutes left to go, Mark comes riding down the road. "How much further?" I plead. Mark spun easily next to me while I was nearly delirious. Mark has just done the new FKT of 30m25s. He thinks in mid-season form it might go under 28 minutes for him. I crested the top of the hill in a new PR time of 37m16s, but that was nothing compared to taking Charlie. Like when I beat Kraig Koski on NCAR or the Basic Boulder Marathon. Or win I nearly beat Matt Carpenter in the Barr Mountain Trail Race. Ah, the glory!
Charlie was only a minute back and we rode back up with him and then descended to pick up the Trashman, who wasn't riding the whole thing. He was just riding until it hurt too much. He ended up riding most of the hill. If I had turned around when it hurt too much, I'd have only made it 3-4 minutes. We re-grouped back at the bottom and I paced lined with two Cat. 1 racers back to town! I even took a short turn at the front, trying hard not to look like a Gumby. It was a sweet ride!
Bill
P.S. Okay, okay, Charlie wasn't even trying on Mag, but still, you've got to take advantages of these opportunities. Heck, I didn't think I could stay with Charlie if he was towing his car up this hill. Apparently Charlie and Mark are pretty even on such hill climbs so Charlie would probably be breaking thirty minutes on this climb as well. Now what can that Hartmann character do? He's always enjoying the scenery and being a tourist in the mountains when he should be watching the clock! :-) :-)
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
I'll second that. That was truly dandy. Feel like I've had my first race effort of the year, which was pretty much the point. Too long for a lunch ride, but sometimes ya gotta I guess. :)
NCAR says we averaged around 15mph windspeed during the ride, with a peak gust of 42mph. Yep, I'll vouch for that.
Man, I can't belive that Jeb character. Here I am playing my cards perfectly. We're southbound on gravel between Hygiene and St. Vrain roads. We're up front stringing it out a bit, riding the sweet line through all these nice gravelly corners through agraria. I just rip it up that little power climb coming away from the St Vrain river. Gaps all over the place. This is my moment in the sun!! I'm Vandenbroucke lowering the vandenboom. I'm a Hincapie chappy. And Jeb goes "hey, shut it down, I've got a flat." Does he have a flat? NO. He was just intimidated I guess at the prospect of spending the next half-hour in a 2-man break with the phlegm of flanders. Jeez.
The coolest thing was that we were able to keep the throttle open all the way back to the Res parking area. Have to be pleased at being able to ride uphill on gravel into a headwind in the big ring after 2 hours of that stuff. Definitely a quality effort. Great ride by all, particularly by the Quebec Express who displayed amazing grit and determination in a solo chase that finally reeled in the group on 59th, which he chalks up to missing brain cells.
Eric Coppock
NCAR says we averaged around 15mph windspeed during the ride, with a peak gust of 42mph. Yep, I'll vouch for that.
Man, I can't belive that Jeb character. Here I am playing my cards perfectly. We're southbound on gravel between Hygiene and St. Vrain roads. We're up front stringing it out a bit, riding the sweet line through all these nice gravelly corners through agraria. I just rip it up that little power climb coming away from the St Vrain river. Gaps all over the place. This is my moment in the sun!! I'm Vandenbroucke lowering the vandenboom. I'm a Hincapie chappy. And Jeb goes "hey, shut it down, I've got a flat." Does he have a flat? NO. He was just intimidated I guess at the prospect of spending the next half-hour in a 2-man break with the phlegm of flanders. Jeez.
The coolest thing was that we were able to keep the throttle open all the way back to the Res parking area. Have to be pleased at being able to ride uphill on gravel into a headwind in the big ring after 2 hours of that stuff. Definitely a quality effort. Great ride by all, particularly by the Quebec Express who displayed amazing grit and determination in a solo chase that finally reeled in the group on 59th, which he chalks up to missing brain cells.
Eric Coppock
Hats off to Bill for some nice riding. He was always near the front and pushed the pace hard on a couple of the rollers. After getting gapped coming back into town, he somehow managed to hang in there and hold the gap (and we weren't pulling any punches either). Ha, I kept looking back and was amazed that he was still right there (which forced us to keep riding hard damn it ;). Sitting on in a two person paceline in that strong of a cross wind can be a little challenging too, especially on an open road when your limited on how far over you can go. So instead of actually getting a rest, you were probably working harder than if you would have stayed in the line.
Sweet sweet ride! Ah man, I forgot to squirt Eric with my water bottle! Oh yea, on the way back, Bill is just convinced that he should do the citizens race of roubaix instead of the 4's... FYI Bill, the dude that got dropped long before you, got 6th in the cat 4's at the valley of the sun stage race earlier this year (no small feat).
I also managed to ruin Eric's nice race breaking move on the power climb coming back to saint vrain by mistakingly thinking I had a flat tire.. I swear it felt like I was riding on the rim!! Sorry dude!
Jeb Dunnuck
Sweet sweet ride! Ah man, I forgot to squirt Eric with my water bottle! Oh yea, on the way back, Bill is just convinced that he should do the citizens race of roubaix instead of the 4's... FYI Bill, the dude that got dropped long before you, got 6th in the cat 4's at the valley of the sun stage race earlier this year (no small feat).
I also managed to ruin Eric's nice race breaking move on the power climb coming back to saint vrain by mistakingly thinking I had a flat tire.. I swear it felt like I was riding on the rim!! Sorry dude!
Jeb Dunnuck
Hygiene Hills and Boulder Roubaix Course Preview Ride
Rode with the big boys today, though they don't consider themselves the big boys. There is always another level, but for road riding these are the biggest boys that I'll ever ride with. There was eight of us at one point with the biggest hitters being Jeb, Eric, and Matson. We rode a combination course of two upcoming "Roubaix" races involving lots of washboarded and loose dirt roads. It was a total of just under forty miles and there were a number of accelerations, one flat (mine!), and some regrouping.
At the start of this ride, I was a bit intimidated. Everyone was a bike racer and they all had fancy bikes. Matson had a cross-bike with a single sprocket up front and a semi-knobby tire in the rear. I went straight to the back at the start and just tried to hang on as long as I could. Jeb attacked first and Matson and Eric went with him. I barely hung on and the rest got dropped. We regrouped and then there was another attack and a split in the pack again. I was in the break, but then flatted. We all regrouped while I changed the flat.
More attacks followed and I always covered the move. I never attacked myself as it was viciously windy and no solo riders were ever going to get away. Eventually a break of four formed and we hammered in echelon format. One guy couldn't hang and got dropped. I kept doing my pulls, but then couldn't take any turns. I wasn't using the draft well (so I was told) and I got dropped by Jeb and Eric. I think they were just too strong. I suffered on alone, keeping those guys in sight as I rode into a vicious headwind. I caught those guys when we had to jump a few fences to stay on the Roubaix course. I caught them because they waited a bit while doing this.
We rode on in tremendous wind and going hard on a wide dirt trail. I couldn't hang again, getting gapped in the loose corners and suffered on alone again until we regrouped at the Reservoir, the start of the loop. We rode together for the five miles back into town. It was a great fun workout and took 2.5 hours. That's pushing things way too much for a lunchtime ride when I have to leave early and can't come in early. Probably need to put in a long day tomorrow.
Bill
Rode with the big boys today, though they don't consider themselves the big boys. There is always another level, but for road riding these are the biggest boys that I'll ever ride with. There was eight of us at one point with the biggest hitters being Jeb, Eric, and Matson. We rode a combination course of two upcoming "Roubaix" races involving lots of washboarded and loose dirt roads. It was a total of just under forty miles and there were a number of accelerations, one flat (mine!), and some regrouping.
At the start of this ride, I was a bit intimidated. Everyone was a bike racer and they all had fancy bikes. Matson had a cross-bike with a single sprocket up front and a semi-knobby tire in the rear. I went straight to the back at the start and just tried to hang on as long as I could. Jeb attacked first and Matson and Eric went with him. I barely hung on and the rest got dropped. We regrouped and then there was another attack and a split in the pack again. I was in the break, but then flatted. We all regrouped while I changed the flat.
More attacks followed and I always covered the move. I never attacked myself as it was viciously windy and no solo riders were ever going to get away. Eventually a break of four formed and we hammered in echelon format. One guy couldn't hang and got dropped. I kept doing my pulls, but then couldn't take any turns. I wasn't using the draft well (so I was told) and I got dropped by Jeb and Eric. I think they were just too strong. I suffered on alone, keeping those guys in sight as I rode into a vicious headwind. I caught those guys when we had to jump a few fences to stay on the Roubaix course. I caught them because they waited a bit while doing this.
We rode on in tremendous wind and going hard on a wide dirt trail. I couldn't hang again, getting gapped in the loose corners and suffered on alone again until we regrouped at the Reservoir, the start of the loop. We rode together for the five miles back into town. It was a great fun workout and took 2.5 hours. That's pushing things way too much for a lunchtime ride when I have to leave early and can't come in early. Probably need to put in a long day tomorrow.
Bill
Hygiene Hills and Boulder Roubaix Course Preview Map:
Monday, March 15, 2004
Flag and the Monkey Once Again...
Monday, March 15, 2004
Last Monday Buzz and I rode Flag and then bouldered by the Monkey Traverse. We vowed to do it each Monday, but with Buzz feeling under the weather, it would be just me for the double. Eric Coppock and Jeb Dunnuck met me for the ride though. We chatted on the way over and at the base of the hill, I went to the front and started a pretty hard effort. I was eager to see if my new 12-27 would help my climbing. Eric glued himself to my back wheel with that annoying style of suffer-free riding that is his trademark. Jeb, recovering from a successful crit the day before, was just out to spin up the hill. Eric and I pitched a battle back for forth until the Monkey Traverse area and then he started to gap me good. At the switchback just beyond, I noticed that Jeb wasn't' that far back. Damn. I was suffering, too.
Eric finished in 17:10, I in 17:33, Jeb in 17:59. I was the only one who appeared to put out any effort at all. Jeb said, "I could have caught you guys, but was just spinning. That felt great! Climbing when you aren't redlining is so fun." Yeah, I'll have to try that sometime, but if I did these guys better bring their lunch with them so that they have something to do while waiting for me to finish.
Dang, first Matson, then Krieghton and Ortega, now Coppock. In the movie "Chariots of Fire" Abrams says to his girlfriend, after he was beaten by the Scotsman and she was trying to console him, "I don't run to take beatings!" Seems like that's all I get these days. But each beating is making stronger. Right? Damn, I'm soon going to the strongest man in town. :-)
I consoled myself by sending the Monkey Traverse, first try, no warm-up, no spotter, no pads. I figured after the beating on the bike, I needed to either succeed or get beat up some more. Not to get too big of a head, I promptly went over and failed to send the Pratt Mantle...
Bill Out!
Monday, March 15, 2004
Last Monday Buzz and I rode Flag and then bouldered by the Monkey Traverse. We vowed to do it each Monday, but with Buzz feeling under the weather, it would be just me for the double. Eric Coppock and Jeb Dunnuck met me for the ride though. We chatted on the way over and at the base of the hill, I went to the front and started a pretty hard effort. I was eager to see if my new 12-27 would help my climbing. Eric glued himself to my back wheel with that annoying style of suffer-free riding that is his trademark. Jeb, recovering from a successful crit the day before, was just out to spin up the hill. Eric and I pitched a battle back for forth until the Monkey Traverse area and then he started to gap me good. At the switchback just beyond, I noticed that Jeb wasn't' that far back. Damn. I was suffering, too.
Eric finished in 17:10, I in 17:33, Jeb in 17:59. I was the only one who appeared to put out any effort at all. Jeb said, "I could have caught you guys, but was just spinning. That felt great! Climbing when you aren't redlining is so fun." Yeah, I'll have to try that sometime, but if I did these guys better bring their lunch with them so that they have something to do while waiting for me to finish.
Dang, first Matson, then Krieghton and Ortega, now Coppock. In the movie "Chariots of Fire" Abrams says to his girlfriend, after he was beaten by the Scotsman and she was trying to console him, "I don't run to take beatings!" Seems like that's all I get these days. But each beating is making stronger. Right? Damn, I'm soon going to the strongest man in town. :-)
I consoled myself by sending the Monkey Traverse, first try, no warm-up, no spotter, no pads. I figured after the beating on the bike, I needed to either succeed or get beat up some more. Not to get too big of a head, I promptly went over and failed to send the Pratt Mantle...
Bill Out!
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Returning to our regularly scheduled a$$ kicking...
Biking with Matson
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
After my brief respite yesterday from getting by backside kicked by the trail runners, things returned to normal today with my butt getting kicked by the bikers. Jilayne had told me yesterday about a conversation she had about my perceived increase in performance since I got the Magic Bike (tm). She concluded it couldn't have all been the bike and a significant amount had to be me peaking while everyone else was winding down their season. Today certainly added some credence to that theory.
I rode solo over to the base of NCAR where I was to meet Matson. I figured he was already up on the hill doing a repeat so I headed up, working pretty hard and turning in a 6m41s time (PR is 5m52s, FKT is 4m59s). I turned and headed down and met Matson coming up. I was probably 3/4's of the way down when I turned and joined him. I didn't join him for long, though. Just long enough for him to explain to me that a good workout on this was to maintain 11 mph. He then proceeded to go 11+ mph while I struggled mightily at a somewhat slower speed. I fell further and further behind.
We turned around and heading down again for another lap. On the way down we passed Eric heading up. We continued to the bottom and started again. I vowed to stay with Matson as long as I could. After two minutes I was starting to lose his wheel. My legs were screaming. I hung for nearly three minutes before the gap really started to widen. Eric turned around halfway down the hill and started to give chase. I pedaled on for awhile, suffering, and then thinking to look for Eric. I looked over my left shoulder and saw no one. I guess I hadn't seen him turn around, but I had seen him slow to nearly a stop and figured that was preparation for turning around and going back up with us. Sure enough, when I turned my head back up the hill there he was. Right in front of me! Classic move. I grabbed his wheel, hoping he'd pull me back to Matson. He would have too, if I could have hung on, but I dropped off and Eric went
to join Matson alone. I still worked hard and it appeared like those two were easing up and chatting or something. I blew on by with two hundred meters to go, but Matson blew by me with 50 meters to go.
We headed down again and Eric headed back to work while Matson and I continued over to Flagstaff for some additional suffering. Matson rides everything at a higher pace than I do. I really wanted to take it easy over to Flag and maybe Matson was, but I was constantly falling back. We climbed up a side street just south of Baseline and climbed a steep hill leading to the Enchanted Mesa Trailhead before looping back down past Chautauqua Park and onto Baseline. Once again Matson increased the pace even though we weren't to the start of the TT course. It was going to be a long climb. I searched my mind for excuses, telling myself I'll just grind up this baby, saying to myself that I'm just getting in some extra climbing to build my strength.
Sure enough as soon as we turned up Flag, Matson gaps me immediately. His thighs appeared to be four feet long and as thick as my chest. He's a big guy, like Indurain only larger, much larger. Big Mat. How can a guy that big climb so relentlessly? Excuses were getting tough to come by. Maybe he wouldn't last? He has such power he can take me on NCAR, because that is a short hill, but Flag is nearly 20 minutes...
I caught back up to him and we rode together to the Flagstaff house. I was able to sit down here and I spun away to a little gap. The gap grew. I started to think I might take him, but by the Monkey Traverse, he was starting to close the gap and pulled even with me on the next switchback. I thought he was going by there, but I put down the rebellion for another minute or two. After that his forces overwhelmed me and he went by for good. I worked to limit my losses and finished about 11 seconds down in 17:11. That hurt. I was zero for three in my efforts against Big Mat. It was my turn to get payback for past running transgressions. What goes around, comes around, I guess.
Anyway, it was a great day to be out and the weather was a perfect 65 degrees, sunny, no wind. There suffering to be had. What more is there to ask for? Maybe a victory? :-)
Biking with Matson
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
After my brief respite yesterday from getting by backside kicked by the trail runners, things returned to normal today with my butt getting kicked by the bikers. Jilayne had told me yesterday about a conversation she had about my perceived increase in performance since I got the Magic Bike (tm). She concluded it couldn't have all been the bike and a significant amount had to be me peaking while everyone else was winding down their season. Today certainly added some credence to that theory.
I rode solo over to the base of NCAR where I was to meet Matson. I figured he was already up on the hill doing a repeat so I headed up, working pretty hard and turning in a 6m41s time (PR is 5m52s, FKT is 4m59s). I turned and headed down and met Matson coming up. I was probably 3/4's of the way down when I turned and joined him. I didn't join him for long, though. Just long enough for him to explain to me that a good workout on this was to maintain 11 mph. He then proceeded to go 11+ mph while I struggled mightily at a somewhat slower speed. I fell further and further behind.
We turned around and heading down again for another lap. On the way down we passed Eric heading up. We continued to the bottom and started again. I vowed to stay with Matson as long as I could. After two minutes I was starting to lose his wheel. My legs were screaming. I hung for nearly three minutes before the gap really started to widen. Eric turned around halfway down the hill and started to give chase. I pedaled on for awhile, suffering, and then thinking to look for Eric. I looked over my left shoulder and saw no one. I guess I hadn't seen him turn around, but I had seen him slow to nearly a stop and figured that was preparation for turning around and going back up with us. Sure enough, when I turned my head back up the hill there he was. Right in front of me! Classic move. I grabbed his wheel, hoping he'd pull me back to Matson. He would have too, if I could have hung on, but I dropped off and Eric went
to join Matson alone. I still worked hard and it appeared like those two were easing up and chatting or something. I blew on by with two hundred meters to go, but Matson blew by me with 50 meters to go.
We headed down again and Eric headed back to work while Matson and I continued over to Flagstaff for some additional suffering. Matson rides everything at a higher pace than I do. I really wanted to take it easy over to Flag and maybe Matson was, but I was constantly falling back. We climbed up a side street just south of Baseline and climbed a steep hill leading to the Enchanted Mesa Trailhead before looping back down past Chautauqua Park and onto Baseline. Once again Matson increased the pace even though we weren't to the start of the TT course. It was going to be a long climb. I searched my mind for excuses, telling myself I'll just grind up this baby, saying to myself that I'm just getting in some extra climbing to build my strength.
Sure enough as soon as we turned up Flag, Matson gaps me immediately. His thighs appeared to be four feet long and as thick as my chest. He's a big guy, like Indurain only larger, much larger. Big Mat. How can a guy that big climb so relentlessly? Excuses were getting tough to come by. Maybe he wouldn't last? He has such power he can take me on NCAR, because that is a short hill, but Flag is nearly 20 minutes...
I caught back up to him and we rode together to the Flagstaff house. I was able to sit down here and I spun away to a little gap. The gap grew. I started to think I might take him, but by the Monkey Traverse, he was starting to close the gap and pulled even with me on the next switchback. I thought he was going by there, but I put down the rebellion for another minute or two. After that his forces overwhelmed me and he went by for good. I worked to limit my losses and finished about 11 seconds down in 17:11. That hurt. I was zero for three in my efforts against Big Mat. It was my turn to get payback for past running transgressions. What goes around, comes around, I guess.
Anyway, it was a great day to be out and the weather was a perfect 65 degrees, sunny, no wind. There suffering to be had. What more is there to ask for? Maybe a victory? :-)
Monday, March 08, 2004
Flagstaff and the Monkey Traverse
Monday, March 8, 2004
With the temperature at 65 degrees, I had to get outside today. Buzz agreed to
meet me for a ride up Flagstaff and then some bouldering at the Monkey Traverse.
Jeb joined in for the ride to the base of Flag and then turned around. He had
ridden 6+ hours in hellacious wind the past two days and wisely was taking
things easy to recover.
I was thinking we'd take things easy up Flagstaff as well. Now some of you
won't believe that because of my past behavior, but I had good reason today.
First, I'm sick. Second, I got run into the ground yesterday on a 3.5-hour,
18+ mile, 5000 vertical foot run by the "Big Dogs" of Boulder trail running. I
ended up hitchhiking the last 3+ miles to get back to my car.
Now things didn't go as planned, but here's why. First, Buzz takes the lead
and sets a healthy pace up the lower section. I figure it isn't going to be a
casual spin up Flag. Next, I'm riding next to Buzz and I notice he's laboring
a bit. Third, I feel fine. Fourth, and most important, Buzz was one of the guys
putting the hurt on me on the previous day's run. Maybe it was time for little
payback...
We passed the Flagstaff house at around 4m45s. PR pace is around 4m, so
it was a semi-comfortable start, but the last time I rode this, with Couch and
Ortega, we passed by here at 5m. I spun smoothly and strongly, sitting down
most of the time and opened a big gap on Buzz. I was a minute off PR pace
at the switchback beyond the Monkey Traverse and worked hard to the finish
for a 16m31s time, my 4th fastest ever and best of the year, though way off
my PR of 15m35s.
I rode back down to meet Buzz and he slowed to slap me a high five and
even turned around, I think. We headed back up to the finish again before
turning and heading down to the Monkey Traverse.
I showed Buzz the lower traverse that I like and I did the hand-jam/roof
problem down there first try and it seemed really easy. I did the Tree
Slab traverse (5.11?) first try and it went pretty well. My fingers felt
really strong from all the gym work I have been doing. Then we headed
up to the Monkey Traverse.
Now last year Jeb and I did this exact same lunch time outing. On that
day I PRed on Flagstaff and then sent the Monkey Traverse (V4) for only
the second time in my life. Well, today I repeated the feat, sending the
Monkey on my first try. I screwed up the middle section, but had the power
to hang on and make it to the knee-lock rest. The exit is still scary, but
the killer boulder isn't there any more? How could this move? Am I just
imagining things? You used to be able to almost step off this problem
onto this boulder, but it isn't there any more. Anyway, the finish felt really
solid up until the last reach, but I made it fine. What a day!
Buzz did fine on all the climbing, sending the first third of the Monkey
Traverse rather easily. He also did the high-ball warm-up traverse. Just
like last year, we vowed to do this regularly - every Monday. Now last year
we did this a total of one time. Hopefully we'll fare better this year...
Bill
Monday, March 8, 2004
With the temperature at 65 degrees, I had to get outside today. Buzz agreed to
meet me for a ride up Flagstaff and then some bouldering at the Monkey Traverse.
Jeb joined in for the ride to the base of Flag and then turned around. He had
ridden 6+ hours in hellacious wind the past two days and wisely was taking
things easy to recover.
I was thinking we'd take things easy up Flagstaff as well. Now some of you
won't believe that because of my past behavior, but I had good reason today.
First, I'm sick. Second, I got run into the ground yesterday on a 3.5-hour,
18+ mile, 5000 vertical foot run by the "Big Dogs" of Boulder trail running. I
ended up hitchhiking the last 3+ miles to get back to my car.
Now things didn't go as planned, but here's why. First, Buzz takes the lead
and sets a healthy pace up the lower section. I figure it isn't going to be a
casual spin up Flag. Next, I'm riding next to Buzz and I notice he's laboring
a bit. Third, I feel fine. Fourth, and most important, Buzz was one of the guys
putting the hurt on me on the previous day's run. Maybe it was time for little
payback...
We passed the Flagstaff house at around 4m45s. PR pace is around 4m, so
it was a semi-comfortable start, but the last time I rode this, with Couch and
Ortega, we passed by here at 5m. I spun smoothly and strongly, sitting down
most of the time and opened a big gap on Buzz. I was a minute off PR pace
at the switchback beyond the Monkey Traverse and worked hard to the finish
for a 16m31s time, my 4th fastest ever and best of the year, though way off
my PR of 15m35s.
I rode back down to meet Buzz and he slowed to slap me a high five and
even turned around, I think. We headed back up to the finish again before
turning and heading down to the Monkey Traverse.
I showed Buzz the lower traverse that I like and I did the hand-jam/roof
problem down there first try and it seemed really easy. I did the Tree
Slab traverse (5.11?) first try and it went pretty well. My fingers felt
really strong from all the gym work I have been doing. Then we headed
up to the Monkey Traverse.
Now last year Jeb and I did this exact same lunch time outing. On that
day I PRed on Flagstaff and then sent the Monkey Traverse (V4) for only
the second time in my life. Well, today I repeated the feat, sending the
Monkey on my first try. I screwed up the middle section, but had the power
to hang on and make it to the knee-lock rest. The exit is still scary, but
the killer boulder isn't there any more? How could this move? Am I just
imagining things? You used to be able to almost step off this problem
onto this boulder, but it isn't there any more. Anyway, the finish felt really
solid up until the last reach, but I made it fine. What a day!
Buzz did fine on all the climbing, sending the first third of the Monkey
Traverse rather easily. He also did the high-ball warm-up traverse. Just
like last year, we vowed to do this regularly - every Monday. Now last year
we did this a total of one time. Hopefully we'll fare better this year...
Bill
