Bre's New Bikes

Trek Madone 4.7 WSD

Cycleops Sport 100

If you're gonna rock, rock like these guys

Check out from 1:15 to 1:25, now that is the face that rock gives you!

UCA Points Series

Last night was the end of the year banquet for the Utah Cycling Association point series leaders.  I ended up 3rd in the state for the Cat 3s over the 2008 cycling season.  Got an etched mug and medal.  My body feels tired.  

John Butler Trio

LOTOJA

I don't have much to say about LOTOJA. It was long and difficult. At mile 130 I was with the front group. It was a 1, 2, 3 pack that I was racing in. There were 3 big attacks trying to get a break off the front. I was in the first 2 of these that did not last. I knew that the next one would be decisive and it was. I tried to go with it and was around 10 meters from getting on. That was the break that won it. I had a teammate in there so when I got back to the pack I began blocking. This lasted for about 30 miles. I didn't get any food in the last 70 miles as Bre missed the last feed zone so at 10 miles to go I was cooked. The difference between 10th and 22nd was the pack I was in. At 6 miles to go I just let them all go free and struggled in for 22nd place. All I could think about at the end was that commercial of the Wendy's hamburger with the 3 patties on it...with a ton of mayo on it. I don't even eat hamburgers and I hate mayo. It was the worst I have suffered physically ever. I think with food in the last part of the race I would have done much better but in a 206 mile race you have to feed perfectly. I think I am done with LOTOJA. It has been a week since the race and I have no desire to do it again.

the century of wind

Bre, Kate and I are up at the cabin for the week prior to racing LOTOJA. Yesterday I road the Jackson and back which is just over100 miles. The weather was great and I felt great through the ride. There was no wind until I turned back from Jackson and the wind picked up. Then it was a massuve afternoon head wind all the way back to the cabin. Yuck. Great ride and good training for next saturday's 206 mile race up here. This morning we drove up to Jackson and ate at Bubbus. Fantastic.

Sanpete Classic Road Race

Yesterday was the Sanpete road race. 98 miles, rolling course, one 3 mile climb near the end that is not steep. We had 7 Ski Utah guys and so could control the race. I was marking Jess. He attacked many times but never got rid of me. At about 30 miles in, I went in a break with Clint, Jes and his teamate, Sam (porcupine) and a canyon rider. This was going ot be the break that made it. There was some trouble with people pulling through and the rotation was not smooth. In the pack, Dustin tried to bridge but then canyon would have been the only team without 2 riders in the break. They put 3 guys on the front and brought us back. I think that if we would have just put our rotations together we would have made it. In any event, shortly after, Cameron rode off the front and 4 riders, one by one, bridged to him. So there was a 4 man break up the road with Cameron from Ski Utah, and a guy from Cyclosmith so our 2 teams were not working and just controling every attack (there were alot of them). One of the 4 came back to us, a single from Contender). Cameron ended up 3rd over the line. When we hit the climb I drilled it and dropped Jess. Gary stayed on my wheel. Dustin attacked and Tyler Wall went with him with 2 other guys. I played cat and mouse with Gary at he was in 3rd in the UCA rankings behind me by just 1 point. At 800 meters to go I put in my attack (too early) and held him off until inside 200 meters) he came around me at the line and I took 9th. Great result for Cameron (3rd) and Tyler (6th) for our team. Laura Patton took 1st in the cat 1,2,3 women.

Next race (and last for the season) is Lotoja in 2 weeks.

tapering

Tapering for a race is a pain. You would think that riding less hours at easier paces would be easier but it isn't. Maybe it isn't easier because you loose some of the focus you need to complete weeks where you are working hard. In any event, I can't wait to race this weekend.

The week after

The week before the Tour of PC I got the weakest virus from my daughter. I hardly thought about it and by the start of the race I felt great. Well, after burying myself at the race I think the virus had free reign and I was knocked down from Sunday to Tuesday. Wednesday I felt well enough for 1:30 of easy as it gets pace. Thursday was good enough for about 70% effort up Emigration. Friday afternoon Bre, Kate, and I drove up to the cabin for the weekend. We got there about 5:30 and I unloaded the car and took off on my bike for the Freedom-Thayne loop. At the furthest point from the cabin a sheet of rain, and what felt like hail, began pounding me. I TTed the rest of the course and got back with a PR on the course. Not a great thing to do when you are recovering from a cold. Anyway, Saturday (today) I got out early and did 60mi up Snake River Canyon averaging 22MPH and felt very strong. After we all took a nap and then Kate and Bre went to a show and I'm taking it easy. I'll probably do about 50-60mi tomorrow before heading home.

I've got 2 races left for the season, Sanpete and LOTOJA. currently I've got enough points to upgrade to CAT 2 but I have no desire to go. There is some great competition in the 3s right now and I'm having a great time with the Ski Utah 3s. I'll put in a hard off season and see what 2009 brings.

Tour of Park City

Yesterday was the 170 mile Tour of Park City. It was probably the hardest race I've ever done. The course goes from Kimbal Junction in Park City up through Coalville and then follows Chalk Creek Road to Evanston, WY before turning back toward Utah. You then climb over Bald Mt. pass in the Unitas (10,800ft) before decending to Kamas UT and finishing over several hills back to Kimbal Junction.

The Cat 1,2, and 3s all raced together. The last time I raced with the pro 1-2s was at Tax Day circuit race this last spring. It was like death.

We rolled out of Kimbal Junction at 7:05am and my teamate Jan went to the front and began pushing the pace. I thought that was ambitious considering the length and difficulty of the course coming. But Jan did one better. At 10 miles into the race he went right off the front and built a solo lead that topped out at about 6 and a half minutes. With jan out front we (Ski Utah) went to work controlling the front of the pack. There were about 5 of us and Jan made 6 teamates. When someone would launch an attack, there was a Ski Utah teamate on his wheel, over and over again. We sat on any paceline that started and went with any attack. Nothing got off. I got yelled at by a few cat 1-2s but they of all people should know the tactics we were employing. It was great.

Once we got to Evanston, WY and turned back toward the mountains we hit the head wind and Jan's lead began coming down fast. An attack from FFKR went and Jeremy Smith covered that one. They got about a half mile up the road when Mark Shafer came up beside me. He's a Pro 1 and a former national champion. As soon as he launched his attack I was on him. We got half way between the pack and Jeremy when he asked me if I wanted to bridge. We worked together and bridged to Jeremy and the FFKR guy. The 4 of us pacelined for about 15 minutes before catching Jan. He hooked on the back of us to recover.

The climb starts at about 3-4%. I guess the FFKR guy was missing pulls when he missed a pull and let Mark and I get a gap on him, Jan and Jeremy, Jeremy let the gap widen to about 200m before attacking and bridging solo to us. This left us with 3 in the lead break, Mark Shafer from Paul Tracy Racing and Jeremy and I from Ski Utah. The 3 of us pushed up the long, long climb. I had never ridden up this side of Bald Mt pass (though we come the other way in the High Uinta Classic) and I didn't know where the top would be. I kept telling myself that it would be around that corner up there, and then "that's the last corner right there". I had been out of water for an hour and knew that this was the winning move. I had to stay with those guys. I took 4 clif shots with caffine and kept at it. I can't believe I was able to hold the climb with those 2 pro 1-2s but we went over the top together and hit the feed zone. I grabbed 3 bottles of water (minis! those stupid mini bottles!) and we began the decent into the head wind. For the first 7-10 miles it is fast (50+MPH). Then we began pace lining into the wind. About 10 miles before Kamas, mark hesitated on a pull so Jeremy attacked. I sat on Shafer's wheel and watched jeremy slowly go out of sight. In the end Jeremy would win first place by 4 minutes, solo, into the wind. I sat on Mark's wheel. With my teamate going for the win I had no reason to do any pulls. We went through the last feed zone and I got no water. THis was the second feed zone that I did not get any water in. Mark had his wife at every feed zone with water and food for him. I was begining to cramp. As it turned out the water i got at the top of Bald Mt pass was the last for me (50 miles to go). Shafer began attacking me on the hills outside of Park City but I held on to him. He ws angry thinking that I would just attack him at the line and take 2nd after sitting on his wheel but in the end I didn't have enough to come around him on the sprint. He took 2nd and I took 3rd. The 4th place rider came in 9 minutes later. After the podium photos they gave me a check for $500 for 3rd place.

It was awesome team tactics and an awesome finish for the team and me. On the way home I picked up 40 lbs of ice and poured it in the bath tub. 20 minutes later I felt better, got takeout at the Bombay House (chicken coconut kurma and nan, great) and then went to bed.

Chalk Creek RR

I only have one thing to say about this race: convection oven.

Gate City Grind Stage Race

Jan and I prior to the start of the TT
Me going into the last corner on the 10 second time prime lap
Ski Utah

For much of the race I was covering Jess from cyclosmith

Gate City was a grind this weekend but with 8 Ski Utah riders we were feeling confident for a good showing. Cameron, Kirk, Tyler, Clint, E.T., Todd, Jan, and me. The road race was hot and windy. Our plan was to hold the race together through 2 laps and then attack over and over till something stuck. What stuck was a counter attack by Jan and a fairly even representation by the other teams. The packs pace slowed and the gap grew. After some time the break attacked itself and Jan lost contact so we drove the front and closed the gap to try again. Other attacks went but nothing stuck like Jan's so we planned on the sprint. I led out at about 500meters or so to try to string it out. Attacks came, day light closed and it looked like we had at least 2-3 riders going for top 5 in the sprint. A logan rider skipped a gear, swerved and sent E.T. into the dirt (still got top 10!) and almost sent Clint off the bike. None of us were in the top 3 where the time bonuses were but we all had the same time otherwise.

The TT shook things up and placed me 2nd in the GC 3 seconds off the leader, 2 seconds to 3rd place (Jess Dear) and 11 seconds to Gary Swain and others.

We knew the crit would be essential to the GC win for us and that it was well within reach. There was one 10 second time bonus and then bonuses at the finish but if we could get the 10 second prime for me it would leave only one rider (Jess Dear) that could take first and only by winning the crit (20 second time bonus) so we slotted Clint to take that away from him. The crit was go from the gun. we were all together when they rang the time bonus prime bell. I attacked up the side of the peleton hard and went into the turns hot with a gap. I heard E.T. yell out and figured someone was coming. As I rounded the last corner Jess was about 20 meters off and I got the time bonus we needed. E.T. and Clint went to work controling the front. An attack by the 4th GC rider went and Tyler went after him and clonsed it. 4 guys further down in the GC went off the front and got a small break of about 15 seconds. I was following the wheels of Jess and Gary who were now 2nd and 3rd in GC. They were attacking over and over but never got a gap. The break was coming down though and was 10 seconds when the chaos occured. I was sitting 2nd wheel on Jess' wheel, in a strung out peleton when I slid out on a corner, and went down. I hop up immediately, feel fine, bikes fine, and the peleton is still passing me so I go to hop on my bike and join in but an official standing there tells me I have to go to the wheel pit with him, I told him no and that I was riding and he said "no, you have a free lap and you need to come with me to the wheen pit". So I throw my bike on his cart and he drives me up to the pit. The team has sat up to get me. I grab my bike and say to the head official "free lap" and she says "we messed up, you don't have a free lap, the pit is closed". I take off chasing now a half a km down. Meanwhile the official pulls all the Ski Utah riders who sat up to get me. I chase for 5 laps and am gaining on the pack (the 4 man break is now up by about 30 seconds from the pack). The official then pulls me with 2 laps to go "for safety" So I contest immediately. The first thing out of the officials mouth is that she screwed up the race. She didn't know what lap it was, she thought the pit was still open, she told them to bring me to the pit for the free lap, she made an error in pulling the teamates that sat up, and that they should have let me hop on my bike instead of making me come to the wheel pit. I'm livid and just lost it. My mother would have been so disappointed. To make a long and frustrating story short the officials stated that in stage race rules if I crash happens after the pit is closed, that the riders gets the same time as the pack that he crashed in got. I've never seen this before and am still not conviced that the officials didn't just make the decision to treat their screw up with this decision but there it was. One of the guys in the 4 man break went into the crit 28 seconds back, won the sprint to get the 20 sec time bonus and even with my 10 second prime beat be by less than ten seconds for 1st place in the GC. I got 2nd in the GC. There was a lot of arguing and no one, certainly not me, was happy with how the race was handled and ended. I didn't want 2nd place like that and really didn't want 2nd place anyway. There was plenty of time left, plenty of teamates left and I feel completely confident that we would have been all together with in 3 laps of the slide out, finishing in a sprint for 1st place.

Everyone did great this weekend. There were other strange things that happened, like ETs TT start where the guy that holds you up in the start house let Eric fall over. Not sure what they were doing there. The team worked really hard and looked great. I really enjoyed the tactics and appreciate the votes of confidence.

High Uinta's Classic Stage Race

This last weekend was one of the best races of the year and one that killed me last year. It is an 80 mile road race on Saturday from Kamas, UT over bald mountain pass (>10,700 ft) and then down to Evantson, WY. Sunday morning is the time trial, a 10 mile out and back course. Sunday afernoon is the criterium, a 1.3 mile course with a 6 block climb (painful), followed by a zig-zagging decent, and then a straightaway leading through the start-finish line back to the 6 block climb. Last year I pulled out of the crit because I thought I was going to vomit. This year I was planning on improving.

Saturday's road race began with a rolling (overall up hill) first 22 miles before a 7 mile climb that is steep and hard. I held with the leading group until about 3 miles form the summitt when I got popped off the back. Near the summitt I got caught by the first chase group (about 12 riders) and went over the top to begin the chase after the 10 or so riders in the lead group. We pushed the pace and pulled their lead down to under a minute. I had 2 other teamates in the chase group, Clint and Tyler. At 2 km from the finish Clint launched but blew up and I passed him holding the wheel of about 5 riders to the finish. In the end we were only 26 seconds off the lead group. My placing was 16th I think but only 26 seconds off the leader going into the time trial. After the race I took an ice bath and ate...alot.

The time trial was my first TT with my new TT bike. I have ridden it about 4 times and felt good. I knew that i would need to average about 27-28 mph to do well. I started out and hit 29mph before my computer died. I held the pace as high as I could and focused on keeping my position tight. I passed the guy who started 1 minute ahead of my before the turn around. This gave my alot of encouragement. In the end I finished with a time of 22:22 and placed 3rd in the TT. Now I was up to 5th place in the over all and only 19 seconds off the leader going into the Crit.

The crit would have one 10 second time bonus prime for lap 6, a $20 cash prime for lap 7, a $100 cash prime for lap 8, and would end with lap 10. I lost my 2 teamates on the time bonus prim lap as everyone wanted that. The pace was blistering with attack after attack. Ali ended up getting the time bonus putting him in the lead by 7 seconds overall. I can't recall who got the $20 cash prime but the 8th lap I led the climb, attacked at the top and didn't touch my breaks through the downhill zigzags. By the finish straight I had about 20 seconds on the pack and easily got the $100 prime. With only 2 laps to go, I figured that I would give it a go for the win and went at it trying to beat off the pack solo. After the 9th lap they rang the bell for the final lap and I had about 30-40 seconds on the pack. 2 teams came forward and worked to bring me back and I was finally caught at the top of the climb. We flew down the zigzags and all sprinted out for the finish. In the end I finished 6th place overall with prize money of $95. That added to the $100 prime was a nice ending to a great weekend of racing. Over all I felt good on each stage.

Next weekend is another stage race (road race, TT, crit) in Pocatello, ID. After that I go into a transition in training before my last build period of the season.

State Championships (AKA Little Mt. Road Race)

I can say that I did everything I could to not have the race end up in a bunch sprint but in the end it did so I led out my teamate who has a bigger sprint than I do for 2nd place.

The race was a 16 mile circuit with a 3/4mile climb (steep) on the front side and a more minor climb on the back side. We did 5 laps. I figured my best chances were to either exploit the steep climb or get in a break so on the first time up the steep climb I drilled it and ended up on the top with only one other rider. But within a half mile from the summit there were 30 riders with us again. So the 2nd time up that climb I went harder and ended up on the top alone. Again within a half mile there were about 30 riders with me again. I repeated it again on the 3rd time up with the same result. i realized that the climb was not long enough to get a big enough advantage to stay away from a pack of guys with great flat terrain power so on the 4th lap I went with a guy that attacked on the minor climb, went over the top of him and ended up with a break of about 200 meters. A great climber was the next guy on the road so I held up slightly for him and the two of us worked hard to put a sizable lead on the pack. He had several tamates in the pack and I had about 3 so i figured we would have some help with blocking. In the end the pack caught us brought back my a teamate of the guy I was with in the pack!. I couldn't believe it! that guy is a moron. Anyway, we then hit the steep climb for the 4th time and I had not recovered from the attack, got dropped and worked hard to get back to the group (with Dustin's help). For the last lap I sat in realizing that I wouldn't get out of a bunch sprint (eventhough we were now down to about 20 riders) so I was now working for my teamate Clint. I could have used one more waterbottle and on the final time up the steep climb I could feel my calves cramping. The finish line is about 3 miles from the top of the steep climb and is 3% grade from 0.5k out. I went to the front and strung out the group with my teamate 3rd wheel. When I had given it all I pulled off and they went at it. My teamate got 2nd. I think I was in the mid-teens.

I was happy with my efforts but would have liked to get a break going. I couldn't understand why after each of the first 3 steep climbs, when I would be joined by a few riders, they wouldn't want to work and keep the advantage they had earned by their effort on the climb. Anyway, next week is High Uinta Classic stage race with a massive long climb so I hope that turns out better.

Garden Creek Gap Road Race

The Saturday of Memorial Weekend was the first day of a week long vacation and the Garden Creek Gap Road Race in Arimo, ID. It is a 25 mile loop with a 3 mile climb each lap that averages 6-9%. Bre and Kate came up with me to support me. We did the loop 3.5 times for a race length of about 85 miles. The climb is the key factor in the race as this is where all the separation will happen. I led the climb on each of the frist 3 trips up it, thinking it was better to ride a high pace that was mine than trying to respond to the pace of other riders. After each climb the group was progressively smaller and smaller with 7 riders going over the top into the final lap. The make up of the 7 riders were myself and Chase from my team, 2 guys from Timm's, and 3 solo riders. As a result, the 3 solo guys did not want to do any work during the last lap as they were out numbered. The two guys from Timm's tried to hatch a scheme with me to attack the other 3 solo riders in the final climb but in the end I wanted to set Chase up for the win as he is leading the UCA point series (and he is a cool guy). In the lead up tot he climb the weather began changing for the worse with big wind, hail and freezing rain. Again, I led the climb at the fastest pace I could maintain to discourage attacks. It worked as no one attacked until 200meters from the line. Chase went against Jess from Timm's taking 1st at the line. I finished 5th. It was fantastic!

Here's Chases race report:

"On the final lap we were down to 7 guys, including Spence and myself. I talked to Spence and asked him to push the pace up the final climb to set me up for the win. He did a fantastic job and kept everyone from attacking.

"The whole final climb was a battle with my patience. I had to really control myself so i didnt go too early and end up getting passed at the line. We got to about the 300 meter mark and Jess decided to put in a final attack and when he did this all the stops were out for me. I barely felt the last 200 meters because all the pent up energy of waiting came out in a rather violent in the saddle effort. I crossed the line soaking and pleased.

"I really have to put in a special thanks to Spence, he is a fantastic teammate and i have no doubt i wouldn't have been able to win without him. His climbing today was very impressive and i am sure we will see more great results out of him!"

Chase

I wrote a race report in response:

"Last year Garden Creek Gap was the worst ride I have ever had and I really wanted to exercise the demon this year. It was nice being the the lead group and even nicer to have Chase there the last 2 laps. On the decent for the begining of the last lap, Jess went off the front and got a sizable lead. No one wanted to do any work so Chase and I brought him back practically on our own. The 7 inour group consisted of Chase and myself from Ski Utah, Jess and Taylor from Timms, and 3 other solos. Jess wanted to hatch a plan for one from each of our teams to attack the field, have the 3 solos bring it back, with the other 2 of our teams drafting until the catch and they they would attack, etc. It may have been a fair idea but in the lead up to the final climb I knew that Jess and Taylor were concerned about Chase. Working their plan would have benefited both our teams but it would have deminished our chances of actually winning the race so as we neared the gap I went to the front and set the tempo with Chase either on my wheel or in 3rd position. I didn't have the snap in my legs that I would have needed to cover attacks so I tried to set I high enough pace to discourage attacks. It worked. At 200m the field picked it up, coming around me, and so Chase was ahead of me a few riders. I saw Jess come by me in the attack and yelled "left!" hoping Chase would get the jump. He did and took 1st place.

"I spent last year riding in support of a certain to-remain-un-named teamate on another team. In an attempt not to dig up dead bodys, I'll spare the details and explanation of why this was such a caustic situation. In any event, I just wanted to say that I love riding with the 3s on Ski Utah. When Chase asked me to play a role in the finish for him, I was all over it. There is probably one motivator bigger than riding for yourself and that is riding for a teamate you respect and enjoy riding with. After riding with one role last year, and having so many more class act teamates this year, I'm excited to see what we can do tactically."

So it was a great race! What a way to begin a week long vacation.

Bre goes for the gold!

Bre was in a race at the Real Salt Lake soccer game at half time. The tubby girl on her right knocked her over so, yes, that is Bre turfing it. She's about 5 months pregnant by the way. Look at the pregnant lady recover and pick it up the the end!

The goal of every student is the same: independence.

Bear Lake Classic Road Race

Bre, Kate, and I drove up to Bear Lake for the race Friday night. We stayed in possibly the worst hotel on the planet and slept on THE worst matress on the planet.

Saturday was a 104 mile race, twice around Bear Lake. The course is fairly flat with a rolling section on the back side of the lake. I knew that the finish would be dangerous in a bunch sprint and had no intention of having it end up like that so I tried to get into any break I could. Several formed but nothing got away. At about 60 miles into the race there was one lone rider up the road out of sight. I noticed one of his teamates begining to jump solo so I went with him. The two of us worked together to bridge the gap to his teamate. The threee of us then embarked on a 40 mile shell-out of pain. My teamates in the peleton did a great job of blocking and thwarting chase groups which was key to the break's survival. At about 2 km from the finish the stronger of the 2 I was with attacked me. He is super strong and I think I probably spent my sprint trying to pull him back. I knew that if I caught him that his teamate who was on my wheel would then attack me. I never pulled the first rider in and then proceeded to play cat and mouse with the other rider. He went and I couldn't cover. I ended up a very satisfied 3rd place. Ski Utah managed to take several places in the top 10 of the CAT 3 race. Those guys in the peleton were awesome today.

build week

This week was a big build week totaling 14 hours with daily times of:

Mon 1.5 hours easy
Tues 2.5 hours throwdown climbing (Emigration to Big Mountain)
Wednesday 1 hour with 30 minutes of tempo and 30 minutes of all out TT (it was raining and I had to get back before freezing to death)
Thursday 3.5 hours climbing (City Creek Canyon and Emigration Canyon)
Friday 1.5 hours easy
Saturday 4 hours heavy climbing (Emigration to Big Mountain to East Canyon and back)

Next week is Bear Lake RR and then I taper for Garden Creek Gap the Saturday of Memorial Weekend. It is 9pm and I'm going to bed.

Ogden Crit

This week's race was the Ogden Crit, a square 1.3 mile loop, flat profile and wind out of the west. After riding the course it was apparent that breaks would be hard fought to succeed and that it would most likely end in a mass bunch sprint, not my favorite. About half way through the race we were all together, several breaks going off and lasting less then half a lap or so. I planned on getting the next prime lap and waited to hear the bell anouncing tht the first person over the finish line on the next lap would win a prize. I attacked and road away solo with 2-3 other riders failing to get on my wheel. They faded back into the peleton and I gained about 45 seconds on the pack before crossing the line for the prime. I figured I'd see just how long I could hold the pack off as there were about 5 laps still to go. I ended up holding them off for 3 laps. It ended in a field sprint and I took 14th. I ended up winning a jacket (shown) and providing the excitement for an otherwise boring race.

Next week's Downtown Crit has been canceled and instead there is a Crit at the RMR (lame). So I'll be doing a long training ride instead.

We are having another girl!

Bre, Kate, and I went to the doctor this week for Bre's ultrasound. Everything looked great and its a girl. Kate is so excited! I didn't care if it was a girl or boy but what is nice about having another girl is that we already have a ton of girl clothing that will be the right seasons for the size (or so Bre tells me).

East Canyon Photos

East Canyon

It was a great day. You may not know it by looking at the results so let me explain. In each of the last 2 races I finished with the unsettling thought that I could have gone harder, I could have attacked a few more times, I had enough to dig at a critical time in the race but didn't. It is an unsettling feeling, no, it sucks! So, I planned to finish the East Canyon Road Race having nothing else I could have done. Here's how it went down:

From the start my team was on the front, setting pace for the 4 or so miles to the first climb. I set the pace up the first section of the climb, about 6%, it then kicks up to about 8 or 9%. I think this is where Aaron from FFKR attacked solo. In any case, no one chased him and for the next 15-20 miles he was out of sight. There were a few attacks, all brought back in short order. I even attacked with Todd my teamate. At about 20-25 miles into the race it was becoming clear that the pack would be content to stay together until the final climb at about 8 miles to the finish and just race that last section, but I wanted to race for 64 miles not 8. I went to the front and put in a fairly easy pace. I look back to find that I had rode off the front by about 20 meters. I figured that if no one wanted to follow the fairly easy pace I was setting that I wasn't willing to stay in the pack. I downshifted and took off in a violent attack. I didn't know how far ahead Aaron was but I was determined to bridge solo to him and make this a race. After a few rises, I could see the lone leader and powered to close the remaining gap. I think Aaron may have been surprised to see me and initially I didn't think his heart was in our new 2 man break so I gave each pull serious effort so he would know that this was THE break of the race. After a few minutes, Aaron came through in ernest and said, "Alright, lets give them somthing to think about". The course is out and back so after we went through the turn around at about 32 miles we were heading back toward the chasing pack. I think we had about a minute on the pack at the turn around and drove it up to about a minute and a half. I learned after the race that the peleton put together a 15 or so man paceline to try to bring us back and that look some serious effort by the pack. We were in a head wind for the last 10-15 miles before the final climb at 8 miles to the finish. This wind began to slowly bring down our advantage but with the climb coming, and hoping that my teamates were blocking for me, Aaron and I kept pouring it on. We got on the final climb and I was able to continue to work with Aaron until about a mile or 2 from the summitt when I came unhitched. Aaron rode away and I tried to settle into the pace I could maintain and kept at it. About halfway to the summitt a pack of 3 riders flew by me and I had no chance of catching on. They eventually caught Aaron at the summitt and he was able to stay with them to the finish for 4th place. I caught on to another group of riders from the splintered peleton, summitted and raced down the decent. We could see the group ahead of us but few in my pack of 7 or so had anything left to work in a pace line and close the gap. I had one teamate with me and he led me to the 1 km climb to the finish line. Two of us had a sprint left in our legs and went. That is a brutal finishing climb to the line. The other rider in my group beat me to the line and I finished 15th overall.

In thinking about it after, I would much rather risk it all on a big attack, bridging a large gap to a leader solo, giving it all in a 2 man break for about 35-40 miles of a 64 mile race, and then get caught by a 15 man paceline that may not have caught us if the wind was just a hair different or the teamates in the pack put more energy into blocking. The wind and the blocking teamates were out of my control but I know that I couldn't have put anything else into my effort or decisions so it was a great day. Much better than sitting the the pack drafting for 56 miles and then racing the last 8.

Triple Valley Stage Race, Tax Day Circuit Race

Two weeks ago was the stage race. It was made up of a 62 mile flat road race, an 8 mile time trial, and a 32 mile circuit race. Eventhough I was in around 20 attacks in the road race, nothing survived and we all reached the finish line for a bunch sprint on a very narrow road. I ended up 10th. I was not looking forward to the TT as I do not own a TT bike, disc wheel, or aero helmet like the rest of my competitors but I was determined to see what I could do. There was one climb in the course that would be my only advantage. As I got the bottom of the clomb, the guy who started 20 seconds behind me was now right behind me. On the climb I was able to distance him and ended up beating him by 45 seconds over all. I took 13th in the TT and was now 11th overall going into the circuit race. The course for the circuit race was a 5 mile lap that we would do 7 times. There was a climb on the back side. From the 3rd lap we were drilling up the climb and shelling folks off the back. By the last lap there were about 12 riders left. My teamate was 1st the GC going into that race so I went ot the front to lead him out for the final sprint which was down hill. I began the sprint out, went into the fian straight 1000km from the finish, looked back and found I had gapped my teamate and the field by 20 meters. I sat up rejoined and took my sprint with the pack finishing 7th overall. Come to find that my teamate, who is 17 and required to use junior gears, had spun his highest gear out trying to stay with me. Anyway, that perfomance ranked me the 10th place cat 3 rider in the state.

Tax day was last weekend and it is a 60 mile circuit race with a 5-6 mile lap that has a big climb for about 2km of each lap. This is also the lony race where the cat 3s ride with the pro 1s and 2s. Riding against the 1s and 2s was difficult to say the least. From the first lap they were attacking and attacking. They hit the first climb and drilled it. Actually, they drilled it every lap up that climb. I held for about 4 laps and on the next lap fell off and never re-entered the pack. I soloed the last 2 laps and finished 18th place. I was happy with the placing. It kept me in the 10th place in the state rankings.

Tomorrow is East Canyon Road Race. 60 mile out and back with one decisive climb at about 7 miles to the finish. Should be fun...

Easter Weekend in St. George

Bre, Kate, and I went to St. George over the weekend to see her parents and get some great weather. It was mid 70s and there was plenty of sun. I met Chad in Mesquite Sat morning and we rode out over Utah Hill and back into a monter head wind all the way up. It was about 65 miles and 4 hours of riding. Sunday I went out alone up Telegraph, by Quail Creek Res, up the frontage to Highway 17, down to Laverkin, up the climb toward Zion for about 8 miles then returned the same way. Once I got back to Washington, I did the Washington Fields loop and then returned to Bre's parent's house. Totaled about 70 miles and 4 hours of riding. I felt great for the first 50miles and tired for the last 20. All in all it was 8 hours and 135 miles over 2 days in great weather.

Eating lunch in Argeles-Gazost between climbing Luz Ardiden and Hautacam in France

Climbing the Col de Sarenne (back side of Alpe d'Huez)

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.
- Mark Twain

Newport Beach with Kate

This was the last day of our trip to California. Here we are at the wedge, my little girl and me.

The Huka from Bre and my trip to New Zealand

Hard week

I have planned that this week will be all out pain in anticipation for the family vacation I'm leaving for in the morning. The week ended up with 4 days of interval work and the rest spinning. It was a large load of work. Happy it is over. I have set up workouts while on vacation that will be recovery with likely no interval work and about half the time.

SNSR Crit

St. George weekend

Bre, Kate, and I got out of town Friday 2/8 and drove to St George for the weekend. It was great. Weather was high 50s, sunny and no wind. Friday night Bre and I went and saw the movie Juno (pretty funny) while Kate stayed with Bre's parents. Saturday I rode from Washington up to Veyo by way of Gunlock and then went to the top of Utah Hill before returning to Washington. It was about 87 miles with an average speed of 18.4 mph. That night we went to see Jill, Roger, Nick and Chris. Sunday I rode from Washington, by Quail Creek Res, up the I-15 frontage for 20 miles to highway 17 and then took that through Laverkin. I turned left there and headed to Zion National Park for a good climb before turning around ad taking highway 9 back to Washington. About 55 miles total. We had a great dinner and drove back home getting in about 9:30pm. It was a great weekend of riding and relaxing.

How's this for a line of research using EPO?

Erythropoietin Improves Mood and Modulates the Cognitive and Neural Processing of Emotion 3 Days Post Administration

Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 611–618;

Abstract:

Erythropoietin (Epo) has neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects and is a promising candidate for treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorder. Recently, we demonstrated that Epo modulates memory-relevant hippocampal response and fear processing in human models of antidepressant drug action 1 week post-administration, and improves self-reported mood for 3 days immediately following administration. The present study explored the effects of Epo (40 000 IU) vs saline on self-reported mood and on neural and cognitive function in healthy volunteers 3 days post-administration to test the reliability of the rapid mood improvement and its neuropsychological basis. Neuronal responses during the processing of happy and fearful faces were investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); facial expression recognition performance was assessed after the fMRI scan. Daily ratings of mood were obtained for 3 days after Epo/saline administration. During faces processing Epo enhanced activation in the left amygdala and right precuneus to happy and fearful expressions. This was paired with improved recognition of all facial expressions, in particular of low intensity happiness and fear. This is similar to behavioral effects observed with acute administration of serotonergic antidepressants. Consistent with our previous finding, Epo improved self-reported mood for all 3 days post-administration. Together, these results suggest that characterization of the effects of Epo in a clinically depressed group is warranted.

Pushing to the top of Alp D'Huez

Work out

Since SNSR I have been doing recovery for 1.5 hours a day. Thursday my legs began coming back and friday I felt good enough for work but planned on today (Saturday) for interval work. I road 20 minute warm up, 40 minutes at threashold, 15 minute spin, alternating 30 seconds all out with 1.5 minute recovery for 8 cycles, 15 minute spin and 35 minutes of threshold. Ended with a 20 minute spin. 2.5 hours all in all with 75 minutes of threshold and 4 inutes all out once it was all said and done. Total for the week was 11 hours and 45 minutes.

Alpe D'Huez Throwdown at the 2007 TdF

Road to Mithril Hall animation

Silly is you in a natural state, and serious is something you have to do until you can get silly again. - Mike Myers

Southern Nevada Stage Race

"Under promise and over deliver" -Scotty Johnston

Climbing Alp D'Huez at the TdF 2007

This is me up on the Col de la Columbier in the France Alps during the TdF 2007

Bre, Kate, and me in Maui 2007. Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Southern Nevada Stage Race Cat 3 Race Report

I was informed by Shane and Patrick that I need to write the race report so here is the skinny on the Cat 3s. Eric, Patrick, Cameron, and I represented Ski Utah in the 3s. We also had a great time riding and racing with Brandi, Shane, Scott and Laura, and Shanna. It was great to get about 3 hours of riding and racing with everyone over the 3 days of the race. On Friday morning we made our way to the TT course about 30 miles north of Las Vegas. We positioned the Ski Utah vehicle and trailer for maximum exposure and went out for a 2-2.5 hour ride prior to the TT. I wan't expecting much from my TT so when Patrick kindly whispered that I still had my saddle pouch on my road bike and Shane asked if I really wanted my wind vest on I figured it wouldn't make much difference. It was an out and back course with a descent-flat-ascent to the turn around. For Shane's race he had a gale force tail wind pushing him out and trying to keep him out on his way in. Conditions changed for the 3s with a smaller tail wind going out and tail wind coming back. I don't remember much about the TT after I started but I do remember seeing the blur of Patrick flying past me on the climb to the finish. I think he started 3 minutes behind me. This perfomance put Patrick 5th for the stage and the GC, 50 seconds behind the leader. Eric and Cameron had good showings and looked strong. As we looked forward to the Crit the next day, Patrick was our GC contender.

On Saturday we had our fill of Denny's breakfast and headed for Boyd stadium for the crit; a 0.8 mile course with little in the way of technical corners. The weather was fantastic with plenty of sunshine. We set up the Ski Utah camp, complete with Reynolds Wheels tent and warmed up. We watched Shane in the 4 group first. He had great positioning in the pack and looked to have a top 10 finish coming up but in the last 1000m he was forced wide into a pot hole and flatted. We cheered for Brandi and Shanna as they raced and Scott and Laura. As the master's group finished, the officials hadn't opened the course yet for the 3s to take a lap. Patrick held us up until they did, and good thing too as every cat 3 rider who went out on the course was held back in the wheel pit for about 10-15 seconds at the start of the race. This included the GC leader. At the gun Patrick attacked and got a substantial break with only one other rider meeting up with him in the first lap. Cameron, Eric and I went to work spoiling the pursuits. One by one they went off after Patrick and we would join and sit on. "Hey, pull through" "I've got a guy in the break" "I don't give a f***". This was the banter of the pursuit groups we were spoiling. It was great. Each lap Patrick's break went up, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, 28 seconds, 35 seconds, 45 seconds. Several riders in the peleton would say "Let's put it together and bring them in" only to hear the voice of reason...I mean Eric.... chime in "They're gone, we can't do it". In the end Patrick missed 1st by a tube. clinching 2nd, and since he had the 20 second time bonus prime, was the new GC leader. In a subsequent race that was staging, a racer was heard saying "I hope no one pulls a Ski Utah at the start of this". So I guess in the SoCal, Phoenix, and Las Vegas racing circles, attacking at the gun = a "Ski Utah".

Sunday morning it began to pour. It was fairly cold and very wet. We drove to the road race staging area and again positioned the Ski Utah vehicle for maximum exposure. By the way, we did get a ton of folks ask us about our team, the kits, and skiing in Utah. I was amazed at the number of people who struck up a conversation about our team and Utah's greatest snow on earth. Anyway, back to the raining final stage. Shane was off first and after trying to warm up in the trailer on his trainer, we all cheered him on at the start from the warmth of the Ski Utah GMC. Brandi started next and again, we cheered her off...from the vehicle. Scott and Laura noticed a racer in brandi's group with a helmet mirror on. Well, I guess if I can TT on my road bike with my saddle pouch still on, that racer can have her helmet mirror. We all had a good laugh. As the later starting times neared I think we all changed our clothing a few times. The 3s went off and there was about a 4 mile warm up (I guess we weren't the only one's who wanted that) and then Eric began repeatedly attacking. He'd get chased down just to go off again. The course was an 8 mile climb, 10 mile descent (about 50 MPH, rain and wind) an 8 mile climb, 8 mile descent (did I mention the rain and wind) and then a 10 mile climb with another 8 mile decent (wind from the left was intense) for a total of about 7200 vertical feet of climbing. With Patrick the GC leader, Eric and I tried to keep him out of the wind on the first climb. The group was pretty much together over the summit but broke with the descent. It was very sketchy. On the 2nd climb Patrick told me to go with any lead group "and win this". Oh, the pressure! I should have eatten something at this point. I stayed with the leaders until just before the 2nd summit when a few attacks unhitched me. I went over about 200m from the group and never got on before the 3rd climb began. I could see then just ahead and began pulling them back but exploded and bonked. I hadn't eatten anything until this point which was a huge mistake. It probably wouldn't have changed the results but it kept me from crying into my pillow last night to think it may have. The winner ended up putting 13 minutes into me by the end and I finished 17th with a GC of 17th. It was a painful climb. Patrick and Eric came in feeling similarly torched.

All in all we got in about 9 hours of riding with everything from easy spin to cross-eyed painful hallucinations of the chupacabra and unicorns. It was great to hang out with everyone and to compete and see what our January form was. I need to work on my TTs, I'll start by taking off my saddle pouch. That's good for say...3 seconds. I still need to figure out how to close the other 3min 27 seconds patrick had on me in the TT.