Hey all,
Thank you for following Sonic Boom Racing over the years. We have a big 2011 planned and to help us achieve our goals we are increasing our Internet presence. We now have a bigger and better website and will no longer be updating this blog.
All new content including race reports, rider diaries, training tips, pictures, videos and more will be updated in new channels listed below. Please switch to our new RSS feeds if you follow us that way, "like" our Facebook page, and follow our Twitter stream. I am really excited about our new channels and I think you will be as well.
Website - http://www.sonicboomracing.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SonicBoomRacing
Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/sonicboomracing
Matt
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, December 24, 2010
Final Cross Race of 2010
State cyclocross championships were two weeks ago. Nationals are now history. But there was one more race on my calendar this year.
Why? Money.
It was the final race of the Boulder Series, and it actually offers overall prize money in the thousands. So, after two weeks of slow, painless rides I headed to Lyons for one more bout of violent intensity (cyclocross).
Without mentioning brands, I'll tell you the day's preparation was pretty classic, as my shifter fell apart in my hand 15 minutes before the race. To be more precise, I shifted and the shifter remained perpendicular to the brake lever. After a few expletives, I lifted the rubber hood to see what was wrong and the entire shifter mechanism fell onto the ground. I was waiting in line to use the bathroom, so it made for good conversation. And after that, how could I not race the bike as a two speed? I would just be a sniveling brat if I used my pit bike.
So, with two gears at my disposal (38x16 and 46x16) I started out onto one of the more ridiculous courses of the year. There were not one, but two, unridable dirt slope climbs that seemed to be freshly cut through brambles and vines; a BMX track with five banked corners; another dirt pile that we ran up only to remount seconds before descending an equally steep and soft slope in the middle of which was a chicane.
The race was rather uneventful compared to the catastrophic failure of my shifter. I hung on for fifth in the SM Open race. Which amounted to third overall in the series.
Money.
Chris Case (cross cat 1)
Why? Money.
It was the final race of the Boulder Series, and it actually offers overall prize money in the thousands. So, after two weeks of slow, painless rides I headed to Lyons for one more bout of violent intensity (cyclocross).
Without mentioning brands, I'll tell you the day's preparation was pretty classic, as my shifter fell apart in my hand 15 minutes before the race. To be more precise, I shifted and the shifter remained perpendicular to the brake lever. After a few expletives, I lifted the rubber hood to see what was wrong and the entire shifter mechanism fell onto the ground. I was waiting in line to use the bathroom, so it made for good conversation. And after that, how could I not race the bike as a two speed? I would just be a sniveling brat if I used my pit bike.
So, with two gears at my disposal (38x16 and 46x16) I started out onto one of the more ridiculous courses of the year. There were not one, but two, unridable dirt slope climbs that seemed to be freshly cut through brambles and vines; a BMX track with five banked corners; another dirt pile that we ran up only to remount seconds before descending an equally steep and soft slope in the middle of which was a chicane.
The race was rather uneventful compared to the catastrophic failure of my shifter. I hung on for fifth in the SM Open race. Which amounted to third overall in the series.
Money.
Chris Case (cross cat 1)
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Life As a Cat 1: Keep a race log
What was my best race?
What was my worst race?
What did I learn this year?
To help me with this I keep a log that I fill in after ever race. With nearly 50 race days last year I’ll never remember all the details if I don’t jot them down. My best races are not the ones with the highest place and my worst are not always the races where I finish as the caboose.
In my notes I record my own race tactics as well as my team’s race tactics. Did I execute my job properly? If I did what was the result? If I didn’t, why couldn’t I? Was I ill prepared, tired, too focused and didn’t let the race play out the way it wanted?
It’s easy to dwell on the details when you are looking at this info and get bogged down. The point of all this is more so you can recognize situations. You can use it to adjust your training before hand to try and reproduce big weeks and better pinpoint when you’ll have them but this can also be a tool to help you recognize when something is going wrong in your season before it takes too big of a toll. It also is a great way to remember what you’ve tried but should never be an excuse as to why you shouldn’t try something new in your training. As a great friend of mine once said “don’t stop and look at the past, just glace at it and let it move you forward.”
The post is part of a regular series by Tim Srenaski, Cat 1, rider for Feedback Sports Racing p/b Raining Faith Massage Road Team. These posts will complement his race reports to give a bit of a glimpse into the life of a cat 1 cyclist in Colorado.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
2010 Colorado Cyclocross Championships
Congratulations to Feedback Sports p/b Raining Faith Massage riders Chris Case (cross cat 1) and Todd Brady for great results in the 2010 Colorado Cyclocross Championships held on December 4-5 at Monarch High School in Louisville, Colorado.
Todd took a nice 13th in the SM 35+4 race on Saturday and Chris took a sweet 7th place in the SM Open race on Sunday. Here is a video of Chris shot by teammate Martins Putelis (road cat 2).
Todd took a nice 13th in the SM 35+4 race on Saturday and Chris took a sweet 7th place in the SM Open race on Sunday. Here is a video of Chris shot by teammate Martins Putelis (road cat 2).
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Lookout #2 and Boulder #4 Cross Race Reports
The following race reports about the SM Open races were written by Chris Case (cross cat 1).
The Lookout Cross race was another incredible day for cyclocross. It didn't hurt that I was racing at my home course (the site of our local Wednesday night practice races) and I had another great start (last weekend I had two great starts with finishes of 7th and 10th). The first lap was relatively easy which is rare for CX, but this course was just one big turn, twisting and turning and dropping and climbing.
A group of five of us started to pull away from the rest of the field. Soon, Jon Baker would trip over a barrier and plant his chest firmly in the dirt. It looked fairly catastrophic. But he did get up and continue on, though we never saw him again. For the rest of the race BRandon Dwight, Brady Kappius, Matt Pacocha, and me were off the front and our lead just grew. Then, a bobble by either Brady or Matt let Brandon get a bit of a gap. And he tok advantage of it. The three of us gradually started to spread out as we were all, now, just going all out.
A few passes back and forth amongst the three of us, but eventually Brady used his bunny-hopping skills to take Matt into the last corner and out sprint him, and I drifted back just a bit. But 4th wasn't too bad. Actually, it reminded me of yesteryear when I could actually hang and compete with the front group, rather than dangling in no man's land off the back of the group (like I did last week for 7th and 10th).
Feedback Sports first family the Hudsons had a great day as well with Doug taking 6th in the SM 3 race and Lisa taking 4th in the SW Open race
The Boulder CX #4 race (Sunday, Nov. 28) was another pretty good day. This was a new course at the Westminster Sports Complex complete with six flights of stairs (probably about 10 stairs per flight). Brutal. Went out strong with the same group as always but ended up in no man's land earlier than I would have liked. And, there were two more guys from BCS today than there were yesterday. I ended up 6th.
Next weekend should be a great race, especially the battle up front. I hope I can be a part of it.
The Lookout Cross race was another incredible day for cyclocross. It didn't hurt that I was racing at my home course (the site of our local Wednesday night practice races) and I had another great start (last weekend I had two great starts with finishes of 7th and 10th). The first lap was relatively easy which is rare for CX, but this course was just one big turn, twisting and turning and dropping and climbing.
A group of five of us started to pull away from the rest of the field. Soon, Jon Baker would trip over a barrier and plant his chest firmly in the dirt. It looked fairly catastrophic. But he did get up and continue on, though we never saw him again. For the rest of the race BRandon Dwight, Brady Kappius, Matt Pacocha, and me were off the front and our lead just grew. Then, a bobble by either Brady or Matt let Brandon get a bit of a gap. And he tok advantage of it. The three of us gradually started to spread out as we were all, now, just going all out.
A few passes back and forth amongst the three of us, but eventually Brady used his bunny-hopping skills to take Matt into the last corner and out sprint him, and I drifted back just a bit. But 4th wasn't too bad. Actually, it reminded me of yesteryear when I could actually hang and compete with the front group, rather than dangling in no man's land off the back of the group (like I did last week for 7th and 10th).
Feedback Sports first family the Hudsons had a great day as well with Doug taking 6th in the SM 3 race and Lisa taking 4th in the SW Open race
The Boulder CX #4 race (Sunday, Nov. 28) was another pretty good day. This was a new course at the Westminster Sports Complex complete with six flights of stairs (probably about 10 stairs per flight). Brutal. Went out strong with the same group as always but ended up in no man's land earlier than I would have liked. And, there were two more guys from BCS today than there were yesterday. I ended up 6th.
Next weekend should be a great race, especially the battle up front. I hope I can be a part of it.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Alpha and Cyclo X Cross Races - A tale of two courses
Race report written by Feedback Sports p/b Raining Faith cross cat 1 rider Chris Case who races in the SM Open category for cross.
Saturday was Alpha Cross. A refreshing spread of grass in a community park. Brilliant. But, it has been a month since I raced (Given the expense of racing the UCI races [the license alone is close to $200], and the fact that those of us without UCI points start at the back of the field, I've just decided not to do those races this year. That took care of two weekends; a third week was ruined by a cold. And here we are.).
It's like we're back at the beginning of the season. And racing at the front of the pack felt nearly as bad as racing that first weekend. For the first couple of laps I was riding with the lead group that seems to be developing every weekend; among them are multiple national champions, including Brandon Dwight, Jon Baker, Pete Webber, Allen Krughoff, Colby Pearce, and Matt Pacocha.
And then, I just couldn't hold the pace. Another rider, Spencer Powlison, had kept up with them for much longer, then started to drift off the back of the group. Jon Tarkington snuck past me. I spent the rest of the race slowly but surely bringing back Spencer, hoping I would get within striking distance to kill myself on the final lap to out sprint him.
Amazingly, he was able to hold me off; by the end I think we were both in a total stupor. I finished up 7th; my reward was a feeling that I might have developed a pulmonary embolism from the exertion.
Sunday was Cyclo X and it was one of those days where you wished you had just gone bird watching rather than race. That is, the course was a combination of drag race straights on dirt marbles and abandoned and neglected BMX pump track and table tops. Stupid.
Immediately, the same elite group was off the front, and a second group formed behind. I felt a little out of place beside the tree trunk thighs of Chuck Coyle and Christian McCarthy, and it was all I could do to hang with them on the dragways, only to face the rutted rhythm section while having an anaerobic fit. Nonetheless, we hung together lap after lap. With two laps to go I bobbled, drifted back, but somehow caught the group with about a lap to go.
I was a little impatient and learned that I shouldn't try to out-diesel a diesel. My thought was I should pass them before the more technical stuff. Well, I just went before the wrong technical section too far from the finish and ended up being out-motored. Well, I beat Chuck. Now I just have to do that in a crit and I'll feel satisfied. Another top-10 (10th) finish. And only three or four races to go.
Saturday was Alpha Cross. A refreshing spread of grass in a community park. Brilliant. But, it has been a month since I raced (Given the expense of racing the UCI races [the license alone is close to $200], and the fact that those of us without UCI points start at the back of the field, I've just decided not to do those races this year. That took care of two weekends; a third week was ruined by a cold. And here we are.).
It's like we're back at the beginning of the season. And racing at the front of the pack felt nearly as bad as racing that first weekend. For the first couple of laps I was riding with the lead group that seems to be developing every weekend; among them are multiple national champions, including Brandon Dwight, Jon Baker, Pete Webber, Allen Krughoff, Colby Pearce, and Matt Pacocha.
And then, I just couldn't hold the pace. Another rider, Spencer Powlison, had kept up with them for much longer, then started to drift off the back of the group. Jon Tarkington snuck past me. I spent the rest of the race slowly but surely bringing back Spencer, hoping I would get within striking distance to kill myself on the final lap to out sprint him.
Amazingly, he was able to hold me off; by the end I think we were both in a total stupor. I finished up 7th; my reward was a feeling that I might have developed a pulmonary embolism from the exertion.
Sunday was Cyclo X and it was one of those days where you wished you had just gone bird watching rather than race. That is, the course was a combination of drag race straights on dirt marbles and abandoned and neglected BMX pump track and table tops. Stupid.
Immediately, the same elite group was off the front, and a second group formed behind. I felt a little out of place beside the tree trunk thighs of Chuck Coyle and Christian McCarthy, and it was all I could do to hang with them on the dragways, only to face the rutted rhythm section while having an anaerobic fit. Nonetheless, we hung together lap after lap. With two laps to go I bobbled, drifted back, but somehow caught the group with about a lap to go.
I was a little impatient and learned that I shouldn't try to out-diesel a diesel. My thought was I should pass them before the more technical stuff. Well, I just went before the wrong technical section too far from the finish and ended up being out-motored. Well, I beat Chuck. Now I just have to do that in a crit and I'll feel satisfied. Another top-10 (10th) finish. And only three or four races to go.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Schoolyard Cross at the Boulder Reservoir
Todd Brady on his way to a sweet 4th place in the SM 35+4 race at the Schoolyard Cross event!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Gorgeous Day and a Great Team Training Ride
The team took full advantage of a gorgeous Colorado fall day today and had a great team ride.
The original route was to go up Coal Creek through Wondervu to Nederland and back down Boulder Canyon. Due to the Dome Fire though Boulder Canyon was closed this morning so we adapted the route to take Gross Dam Road over to Flagstaff.
The road is dirt but in fine condition for a road bike. It is beautiful back in that area by the Gross Reservoir. Be ready for some steep climbs and descents!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Boulder Cross # 3 - Louisville Rec Center - aka Bowl of Death
Race report by Todd Brady
There was a good showing at the cross race this weekend at the rec center in Louisville. This is one of the hardest races of the year, at least for me. The race is in and out of the BOWL of death with two major run ups two nice descents and a steep climb that is ridable unless you have a roadblock of guys in front of you.
In cross they call you up to the start line in the order you placed last year and then in the order you registered. This is critical because the hole shot can be the difference between riding or running a section.
There were 90+ guys in my field and I was sitting 80 something at the start. I ended up 25th after chasing the whole race. Had a great time.
Jerry Kopalk finished 26th in the open 35. Well done.
Chris Case finished 10th in the open class. Fantastic finish!
Chad Kumbler finished 45 th in the cat 4 field. Also a great job.
I think we all had fun on this brutal course.
Looking to do it again on Sunday. This week is at the Flatiron mall.
There was a good showing at the cross race this weekend at the rec center in Louisville. This is one of the hardest races of the year, at least for me. The race is in and out of the BOWL of death with two major run ups two nice descents and a steep climb that is ridable unless you have a roadblock of guys in front of you.
Chris Case
In cross they call you up to the start line in the order you placed last year and then in the order you registered. This is critical because the hole shot can be the difference between riding or running a section.
There were 90+ guys in my field and I was sitting 80 something at the start. I ended up 25th after chasing the whole race. Had a great time.
Jerry Kopalk finished 26th in the open 35. Well done.
Chris Case finished 10th in the open class. Fantastic finish!
Chad Kumbler finished 45 th in the cat 4 field. Also a great job.
I think we all had fun on this brutal course.
Looking to do it again on Sunday. This week is at the Flatiron mall.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Todd Brady takes 1st at the On The Cross Cyclocross Race
Congratulations to Todd Brady for taking 1st place in the SM 35+_4 race at the On The Cross Cyclocross Race held in Denver on Saturday 10/16. From Todd --
The race this weekend was really fun and very interesting. For those of you who may not understand cross, the start is extremely important.
You are called up in the order the you finished the last race in the series and in this weekend’s race it was how you finished last year’s event. Then it was based on your bib number. As you can see below, I was at least 43rd back in the start.
The course was much faster than last weeks slog fest, so I red lined it from the start and caught the top five guys on the first dismount. There was a long run, followed by a twisting hardpack fast section. If you were following someone here you could not carry the speed as you could if you were in front, so I made sure that I was up in front.
A gap opened and four of us never looked back. This is what made it so fun is that the four of us, including John Twa (Louisville Cyclery) were pushing one another the entire race.
Next up Boulder CX Series #3 at the Louisville Rec Center otherwise known as the Bowl of Death!
See you there!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thanks Kit For Making My Season Most Ejoyable
Post written by Matt Gibble
This season has been two fold for me. It has given me a chance to be back on my bike on a regular basis and delve into the world of competitive regional racing again. And while it has been fun and thrilling to do that, personal results don’t give me the fulfillment or satisfaction that they did when I was much younger.
There has been another aspect of the season and this team that has been a pleasant surprise; racing alongside the younger riders on the team. In particular I’ve thoroughly enjoyed racing with Kit Recca this season.
My first race with Kit was back in March up at a USAC race in Boulder. It was the first race of the season and we had a good turnout of Feedback riders present. Late in the race one of our riders was dangling off the front for the win. However, it looked like they might be caught and Kit was at the front of the field with me. I had only met this kid an hour earlier but I looked at him and said “Kit, if he gets caught it’s your job to go for it at the end.” As it usually happens the break did get caught but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised when Kit delivered with a 3rd place finish.
A few months later Kit went on to race down in New Mexico at Tour of the Gila in the SM3 race. I checked the results daily and was surprised that he wasn’t having such good rides down there. I know that it must have been challenging for him to see his peers putting up some good results ahead of him. But I think sometimes as riders it is important to hit a valley because it develops perseverance and character while keeping us humble. I think humble is an adjective that describes Kit’s personality. As the season progressed I saw him put in some very good rides but he never got cocky or in people’s faces. It seems as though he knew that success in this sport can be fleeting and it takes hard work and often a good bit of luck to find consistent success.
In July I was able to experience some highlights of the season racing with Kit. At our team race, the Scott Kornfield Classic, an opportunity arose where Kit and I were able to launch a two pronged attack. Kit drilled it and I hung on until we established a gap. We stayed away for quite a few laps and I wished we had made it until the end. I know I’m getting older when I tell you that as I was riding at max heart rate and effort on Kit’s wheel I literally got a little teary eyed thinking that the oldest guy on the team and the youngest guy on our SM3 squad were off the front together. This was the proudest moment of my season even though it only lasted seven minutes or so.
A week later, Kit, Matt Duncan and I headed to Salida. The three of us represented Feedback SM3 squad for the weekend and boy did we have fun. In the criterium we rode hard and were rewarded with 1st, 3rd and 5th with Kit coming in 3rd. The next day Kit rode in exemplary fashion in the road race repeatedly establishing the important moves at the top of the climb. He rode well enough that day to finish 3rd in the omnium. Shortly after that Kit upgraded to Category 2 to continue his development as a bicycle racer.
On the drive home from Salida I rode with Kit and Tim Srenanski, our resident Category 1 on the team. As often happens you get into some great conversations during long car rides. I told Kit how much enjoyment that all of the riders on the team received because of riding with him and seeing him become successful. Repeatedly Kit has stated that the other riders on this team offer him so much more than just being a teammate on the bike. He learns from them about what it means to be responsible, to be accountable and how to achieve goals; life goals as well as goals on the bike.
There are a lot of teams in Colorado. Some are grassroots with over a hundred members. Others are more elite fielding mainly Pro/1-2 squads. Still others focus on teams comprised of primarily master’s riders, the biggest growing demographic in the ACA. But I believe that Feedback Sports has evolved into the kind of team that develops riders. We try not to develop just riders but also help to develop people that are moving into adulthood. Kit Recca is an example of the program and he is worthy of shining in the light. Thanks Kit, for helping to make my season most enjoyable.
This season has been two fold for me. It has given me a chance to be back on my bike on a regular basis and delve into the world of competitive regional racing again. And while it has been fun and thrilling to do that, personal results don’t give me the fulfillment or satisfaction that they did when I was much younger.
There has been another aspect of the season and this team that has been a pleasant surprise; racing alongside the younger riders on the team. In particular I’ve thoroughly enjoyed racing with Kit Recca this season.
My first race with Kit was back in March up at a USAC race in Boulder. It was the first race of the season and we had a good turnout of Feedback riders present. Late in the race one of our riders was dangling off the front for the win. However, it looked like they might be caught and Kit was at the front of the field with me. I had only met this kid an hour earlier but I looked at him and said “Kit, if he gets caught it’s your job to go for it at the end.” As it usually happens the break did get caught but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised when Kit delivered with a 3rd place finish.
A few months later Kit went on to race down in New Mexico at Tour of the Gila in the SM3 race. I checked the results daily and was surprised that he wasn’t having such good rides down there. I know that it must have been challenging for him to see his peers putting up some good results ahead of him. But I think sometimes as riders it is important to hit a valley because it develops perseverance and character while keeping us humble. I think humble is an adjective that describes Kit’s personality. As the season progressed I saw him put in some very good rides but he never got cocky or in people’s faces. It seems as though he knew that success in this sport can be fleeting and it takes hard work and often a good bit of luck to find consistent success.
In July I was able to experience some highlights of the season racing with Kit. At our team race, the Scott Kornfield Classic, an opportunity arose where Kit and I were able to launch a two pronged attack. Kit drilled it and I hung on until we established a gap. We stayed away for quite a few laps and I wished we had made it until the end. I know I’m getting older when I tell you that as I was riding at max heart rate and effort on Kit’s wheel I literally got a little teary eyed thinking that the oldest guy on the team and the youngest guy on our SM3 squad were off the front together. This was the proudest moment of my season even though it only lasted seven minutes or so.
A week later, Kit, Matt Duncan and I headed to Salida. The three of us represented Feedback SM3 squad for the weekend and boy did we have fun. In the criterium we rode hard and were rewarded with 1st, 3rd and 5th with Kit coming in 3rd. The next day Kit rode in exemplary fashion in the road race repeatedly establishing the important moves at the top of the climb. He rode well enough that day to finish 3rd in the omnium. Shortly after that Kit upgraded to Category 2 to continue his development as a bicycle racer.
On the drive home from Salida I rode with Kit and Tim Srenanski, our resident Category 1 on the team. As often happens you get into some great conversations during long car rides. I told Kit how much enjoyment that all of the riders on the team received because of riding with him and seeing him become successful. Repeatedly Kit has stated that the other riders on this team offer him so much more than just being a teammate on the bike. He learns from them about what it means to be responsible, to be accountable and how to achieve goals; life goals as well as goals on the bike.
There are a lot of teams in Colorado. Some are grassroots with over a hundred members. Others are more elite fielding mainly Pro/1-2 squads. Still others focus on teams comprised of primarily master’s riders, the biggest growing demographic in the ACA. But I believe that Feedback Sports has evolved into the kind of team that develops riders. We try not to develop just riders but also help to develop people that are moving into adulthood. Kit Recca is an example of the program and he is worthy of shining in the light. Thanks Kit, for helping to make my season most enjoyable.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Inaugural Season a Success for Feedback Sports Juniors
“Thanks for the attention and encouragement you have given Eric, I can see you have left an indelible imprint on him that he will carry the rest of his life.” -Todd Steele, parent of Feedback Sports Junior Eric Steele
2010 marked the first year that the Feedback team has fielded a team of Juniors. Max Arias, Sam Peketz and Eric Steele comprised the Junior team. The team was formed in autumn of 2009 with the goal of providing the riders with a core group of people and riders to learn from. The boys have been racing for a few years on different teams but Feedback gave them part of something to really belong to. Living in Broomfield and Erie it was possible for them to participate in weekend team rides gaining valuable experience and knowledge from more seasoned riders on the team.
Eric says, “Joining the Feedback Sports team has been a great experience from me. Whether it be the training plans or the tips and lessons on racing, the mentorship from both Matt (Gibble) and Nate have helped me develop as a cyclist.”
Nate Llerandi was instrumental in providing each of the riders with a detailed weekly training plan to work from. It took them from off season preparation into the pre-season and through the tedious months of actual racing. It paid off tremendously for each of them. In May Max Arias led a podium sweep at the Superior Morgul Classic with Sam second and Eric third. At the Colorado Mini Classic Eric won the overall and Sam took fifth after three races in two days. Come season end Sam Peketz ended third overall in the Best All Around Rider competition for Junior Men 17-18.
The juniors also competed in Category 4 Senior races to help improve their skills in riding in the field and understanding race strategies more completely. Eric Steele ended up excelling in the Cat 4’s and earned an upgrade to Category 3 by season end. He earned a stellar victory in the SM 4 Salida Road Race and garnered eight other victories in Junior races throughout the season.
The results added up to a successful season on the bike but each of these young men excelled in the area of responsibility and accountability as well. I had the privilege of accompanying Sam and Eric to the Colorado Mini Classic in Silt, Colorado in July. It was a busy weekend of racing and important to stay on task and schedule for eating, sleeping and racing. The boys were always on time, never argued and were focused for the weekend. It paid off in their results but they also learned valuable life skills as well.
Feedback Sports Racing thinks that it is important for the junior riders to develop as young people as well as bicycle racers. Hopefully, the experience they have riding on the team and interacting with the older riders will prove valuable as they graduate from high school and move on to university.
Written by Matt Gibble
2010 marked the first year that the Feedback team has fielded a team of Juniors. Max Arias, Sam Peketz and Eric Steele comprised the Junior team. The team was formed in autumn of 2009 with the goal of providing the riders with a core group of people and riders to learn from. The boys have been racing for a few years on different teams but Feedback gave them part of something to really belong to. Living in Broomfield and Erie it was possible for them to participate in weekend team rides gaining valuable experience and knowledge from more seasoned riders on the team.
Eric says, “Joining the Feedback Sports team has been a great experience from me. Whether it be the training plans or the tips and lessons on racing, the mentorship from both Matt (Gibble) and Nate have helped me develop as a cyclist.”
Nate Llerandi was instrumental in providing each of the riders with a detailed weekly training plan to work from. It took them from off season preparation into the pre-season and through the tedious months of actual racing. It paid off tremendously for each of them. In May Max Arias led a podium sweep at the Superior Morgul Classic with Sam second and Eric third. At the Colorado Mini Classic Eric won the overall and Sam took fifth after three races in two days. Come season end Sam Peketz ended third overall in the Best All Around Rider competition for Junior Men 17-18.
The juniors also competed in Category 4 Senior races to help improve their skills in riding in the field and understanding race strategies more completely. Eric Steele ended up excelling in the Cat 4’s and earned an upgrade to Category 3 by season end. He earned a stellar victory in the SM 4 Salida Road Race and garnered eight other victories in Junior races throughout the season.
The results added up to a successful season on the bike but each of these young men excelled in the area of responsibility and accountability as well. I had the privilege of accompanying Sam and Eric to the Colorado Mini Classic in Silt, Colorado in July. It was a busy weekend of racing and important to stay on task and schedule for eating, sleeping and racing. The boys were always on time, never argued and were focused for the weekend. It paid off in their results but they also learned valuable life skills as well.
Feedback Sports Racing thinks that it is important for the junior riders to develop as young people as well as bicycle racers. Hopefully, the experience they have riding on the team and interacting with the older riders will prove valuable as they graduate from high school and move on to university.
Written by Matt Gibble
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
A look back on the 2010 road season
A few team members have shared their recap on the 2010 road season and how whether they met their goals or not...
Brandon Mitchell
"I aimed high this past season and hope to do the same for next year. I made or exceeded my race quota. I lost down to 155lbs by the end of the race season started at 165lbs (nov) I wanted to see around 150. I missed my steamboat goal"
Chris Mitchell
"I think I fell short on all of my goals. It has really fueled my fire for next year! I may have aimed to high, I learned a LOT this year. I fell short on my goal of getting the points needed to cat up tp a 3. I did how ever get some good results this year that im proud of ,7th in GC at Rocky Mtn Omnium, 7th in raising hope crit , 6th in the morgul street sprints, 3rd Rocky Mtn Omnium RR and 21rst over all at morgul bismark. I also learned how to train again.. Considering how out of shape i was in November im pretty stoked on those results. Im ready to break people in 2011..
Matt Duncan (Donuts)
"Early in the 2010 season after crashing at the CSU criterium and separating my shoulder I did not think I would achieve my season goals but I actually achieved more than intended! I won a race, had multiple podium finishes, helped my teammates on numerous occasions, helped the Cat 3 team lock up the BAT title for the second year in a row, upgraded to cat 2, had a blast traveling to races with the team, and I completed 36 races in the region. So overall 2010 ended up being a very good year for me."
Martins Putelis
"The SKM race went off spectacularly and I learned what it takes to put on a great event. I was very competitive at Tour of the Gila and took 7th GC with a few podium placings. I believe the most important thing I learned is that I belong racing at an elite level and I will strive to continue to be competitive. I also have learned that my heart is bound to this team and I am committed to seeing it be one of the most aggressive and successful team in Colorado."
Nate Llerandi
"By and large, I was pleased with 2010. I learned that Pro/1/2 racing is a different animal than the 3s, with the ability to race explosively being of paramount importance. In some respects I exceeded my expectations; in others not so much. Highlights were top 10 at the Dead Dog stage race and several hill climb races."
Hal Clark
"My goals were to do six races and not fail out of P-school. Also to get some racing miles in my legs for the winter and next summer. I did 12 races or 11.5 and knocked myself out, which wasn't a goal but I'll take it. I did finish school too!"
James Hammond
"I had a good 2010 road season, but it was definitely a lesson in goal making! I found that many of my goals were either too easy or too hard. One that was just right though was making it to Cat 3!"
Sam Peketz
"I didn't hit every one of my goals such as race majority cat 4 races and place in top 25 in BAR for 4s but i did make one that was top three in JM 17-18. Although not every one of my goals were met or come close to meeting, I still had a pretty good season and am ready to race 4s with pack finishes (or more) next year!"
Jared Berg
"I had a very mediocre Road Season but did exceed my 10 race goal thanks to the street sprints! Started out pretty good with a 5th or 6th at Lookout Mtn Hill climb and a 2nd at the Boulder Roubaix. This was the theme I was hoping would carry on for rest of the season. …well I went on to crash a few times and they coincidentally happened during a big race weekend or before some of my favorite hill climbs. With that being said, I did happen to come with a pretty good mtn bike season giving finishing 6th overall in the Winter Park Series Pro-category. …sorry that doesn’t do anything for Feedback. My plans for 2011 is to do a lot of the same races I did this year but do them better. Do I want to Cat up to a 2? I wasn’t concerned with it when coming to this first season but because everyone else is doing it, I suppose I should try to pedal my way up there too. So you’ll see me at the challenging road races, hill climbs but very few crits. I plan to do fewer mountain bike races but maybe a few triathlons because I don’t have enough attention span to only bike; plus I am more fit on the bike when I am racing triathlon anyway. Thanks for all the fun fast friends Feedback!"
Andy Johnson
"After a year off to enjoy my budding new family, it was fun to re-engage with the team and friends I don't see nearly enough of when not training. The early season somewhat snuck up on me and I found myself cramming in the training to keep up. It ended up paying off with a couple of early and okay hillclimbs and a great team time trial. Mt. Evens was a break through day for me, being the first Feedback guy up the hill in the 3's and nearly matching my best time of 2:06. The next day was possibly the most meaningful day of competition I have had in years. The SMK crit was a bit a break through, where I realized that I could not only race a crit but totally own it. The icing on the cake of my season was after the SMK crit and getting the A+ grade from the team cycling professors - Duncan and Gibble. I will never brake through another corner again! Being a part of a team, who not only doles out more nicknames than I have ever had, but wants and sometimes demands of me to reach new levels of competing athletically is pretty powerful. I am energized for next year, and it has been a very long time when I have finished a season feeling that way. Thanks to the team, young and old, for the inspiration to keep the train rolling."
Peter Dunlap
"I had mixed success with my 2010 goals, at least as they were written. I had some empirical goals like increasing my threshold power to 330 watts and getting my weight under 180lbs. Done. In fact, that was done by April. My other goals were: Get my sprint back, top-10 finish in a long road race, and a top-20 finish in a well attended 35+ crit. I never felt like I was sprinting well this year and I probably should have entered some 35+ crits if I wanted to chase that top-20 finish! I did finish 6th in the road race stage of the Dead Dog stage race and 9th in the road race of the Steamboat Springs stage race, neither of which I would have predicted at the beginning of the year. So 3 out of 5 isn't too bad. Normally I might be a bit disappointed except I had so much success in areas that I wouldn't have dared to list as goals before the season started. Three podium finishes from long 30+ minute breakaways in crits (and one ended up in victory)! Top 5 GC finish at Dead Dog! Upgrade to cat-2! No I can't complain about this season. Racing 15-20 lbs lighter than last year certainly helped, but I feel like most of these results can be attributed to having the confidence to take some chances and try things in races. Lots of times these went nowhere and a few times I ended up nearly in last place but several times the risk payed off. I'm excited to start next year as a 2. Even though I know it will be brutally hard I hope to start next year in even better shape and continue to race aggressively."
Brandon Mitchell
"I aimed high this past season and hope to do the same for next year. I made or exceeded my race quota. I lost down to 155lbs by the end of the race season started at 165lbs (nov) I wanted to see around 150. I missed my steamboat goal"
Matt Gibble
"I think I was too afraid of failure to actually put any on paper for the world to see. I need to get beyond that. Unspoken goals were to win a few races, (won one but really wanted to win a Cat 3 race), and to podium five times, (Got seven of those). Helped the team to BAT which felt good but felt like I underperformed in some of the BAT races. Looking at my results it's obvious I'm a crit guy which I knew beforehand but wasn't sure how it would all play out after a couple of years away from racing."
Eric Steele
"I am very happy with the way this season turned out. My goals were to win a cat 4 race and to upgrade to cat 3s, and achieved both of these. "
Chris Mitchell
"I think I fell short on all of my goals. It has really fueled my fire for next year! I may have aimed to high, I learned a LOT this year. I fell short on my goal of getting the points needed to cat up tp a 3. I did how ever get some good results this year that im proud of ,7th in GC at Rocky Mtn Omnium, 7th in raising hope crit , 6th in the morgul street sprints, 3rd Rocky Mtn Omnium RR and 21rst over all at morgul bismark. I also learned how to train again.. Considering how out of shape i was in November im pretty stoked on those results. Im ready to break people in 2011..
Matt Duncan (Donuts)
"Early in the 2010 season after crashing at the CSU criterium and separating my shoulder I did not think I would achieve my season goals but I actually achieved more than intended! I won a race, had multiple podium finishes, helped my teammates on numerous occasions, helped the Cat 3 team lock up the BAT title for the second year in a row, upgraded to cat 2, had a blast traveling to races with the team, and I completed 36 races in the region. So overall 2010 ended up being a very good year for me."
Martins Putelis
"The SKM race went off spectacularly and I learned what it takes to put on a great event. I was very competitive at Tour of the Gila and took 7th GC with a few podium placings. I believe the most important thing I learned is that I belong racing at an elite level and I will strive to continue to be competitive. I also have learned that my heart is bound to this team and I am committed to seeing it be one of the most aggressive and successful team in Colorado."
Nate Llerandi
"By and large, I was pleased with 2010. I learned that Pro/1/2 racing is a different animal than the 3s, with the ability to race explosively being of paramount importance. In some respects I exceeded my expectations; in others not so much. Highlights were top 10 at the Dead Dog stage race and several hill climb races."
Hal Clark
"My goals were to do six races and not fail out of P-school. Also to get some racing miles in my legs for the winter and next summer. I did 12 races or 11.5 and knocked myself out, which wasn't a goal but I'll take it. I did finish school too!"
James Hammond
"I had a good 2010 road season, but it was definitely a lesson in goal making! I found that many of my goals were either too easy or too hard. One that was just right though was making it to Cat 3!"
Sam Peketz
"I didn't hit every one of my goals such as race majority cat 4 races and place in top 25 in BAR for 4s but i did make one that was top three in JM 17-18. Although not every one of my goals were met or come close to meeting, I still had a pretty good season and am ready to race 4s with pack finishes (or more) next year!"
Jared Berg
"I had a very mediocre Road Season but did exceed my 10 race goal thanks to the street sprints! Started out pretty good with a 5th or 6th at Lookout Mtn Hill climb and a 2nd at the Boulder Roubaix. This was the theme I was hoping would carry on for rest of the season. …well I went on to crash a few times and they coincidentally happened during a big race weekend or before some of my favorite hill climbs. With that being said, I did happen to come with a pretty good mtn bike season giving finishing 6th overall in the Winter Park Series Pro-category. …sorry that doesn’t do anything for Feedback. My plans for 2011 is to do a lot of the same races I did this year but do them better. Do I want to Cat up to a 2? I wasn’t concerned with it when coming to this first season but because everyone else is doing it, I suppose I should try to pedal my way up there too. So you’ll see me at the challenging road races, hill climbs but very few crits. I plan to do fewer mountain bike races but maybe a few triathlons because I don’t have enough attention span to only bike; plus I am more fit on the bike when I am racing triathlon anyway. Thanks for all the fun fast friends Feedback!"
Andy Johnson
"After a year off to enjoy my budding new family, it was fun to re-engage with the team and friends I don't see nearly enough of when not training. The early season somewhat snuck up on me and I found myself cramming in the training to keep up. It ended up paying off with a couple of early and okay hillclimbs and a great team time trial. Mt. Evens was a break through day for me, being the first Feedback guy up the hill in the 3's and nearly matching my best time of 2:06. The next day was possibly the most meaningful day of competition I have had in years. The SMK crit was a bit a break through, where I realized that I could not only race a crit but totally own it. The icing on the cake of my season was after the SMK crit and getting the A+ grade from the team cycling professors - Duncan and Gibble. I will never brake through another corner again! Being a part of a team, who not only doles out more nicknames than I have ever had, but wants and sometimes demands of me to reach new levels of competing athletically is pretty powerful. I am energized for next year, and it has been a very long time when I have finished a season feeling that way. Thanks to the team, young and old, for the inspiration to keep the train rolling."
Peter Dunlap
"I had mixed success with my 2010 goals, at least as they were written. I had some empirical goals like increasing my threshold power to 330 watts and getting my weight under 180lbs. Done. In fact, that was done by April. My other goals were: Get my sprint back, top-10 finish in a long road race, and a top-20 finish in a well attended 35+ crit. I never felt like I was sprinting well this year and I probably should have entered some 35+ crits if I wanted to chase that top-20 finish! I did finish 6th in the road race stage of the Dead Dog stage race and 9th in the road race of the Steamboat Springs stage race, neither of which I would have predicted at the beginning of the year. So 3 out of 5 isn't too bad. Normally I might be a bit disappointed except I had so much success in areas that I wouldn't have dared to list as goals before the season started. Three podium finishes from long 30+ minute breakaways in crits (and one ended up in victory)! Top 5 GC finish at Dead Dog! Upgrade to cat-2! No I can't complain about this season. Racing 15-20 lbs lighter than last year certainly helped, but I feel like most of these results can be attributed to having the confidence to take some chances and try things in races. Lots of times these went nowhere and a few times I ended up nearly in last place but several times the risk payed off. I'm excited to start next year as a 2. Even though I know it will be brutally hard I hope to start next year in even better shape and continue to race aggressively."
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Feedback Sports off-season training - Equestrian style
Feedback Sports road and mountain team member Jerry Kopack (sporting the mountain bike team kit) shows off a new form of off-season cross training.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Boulder Series Cross - Xilinx
SM Open Race Report by Chris Case
The first Boulder Series race was held at the Xilinx campus on Saturday the 25th, and I was fixin' for some redemption. It's early in the season, but all I really want to do is prove to myself that I can still race CX like I used to. It's more fun when you ride smooth, ride away from people, and ride strong to the finish. So it's not cool when Allen Krughoff bobbles in front of you at the start and you have to stop to avoid him, as the rest of the field swarms around you and heads up the hill, and you're left bleary eyed, sprinting for all you're worth to pass the last 10 guys in the field. Damn that Allen Krughoff, for he is undoubtedly much stronger than I. Not only did he mess up my start, he won the race. Needless to say, I still have some work to do.
After a blistering start on pavement, the course goes into a series of off-camber swtichbacks, over logs, over a river, and through the woods. Slow going, especially when you're at the back--this is where the accordion effect is most acute. If you're racing for glory, you don't want to find yourself back here. Alas, I sat on, patiently waiting until the course opened up to dash around a few riders. It did; I dashed. Then it turned to single track again and it was back to being patient. Brian Hludzinski (who runs Boulder Racing) had set up a bizarre little course for us today, one that made passing that much more difficult. A few more snaking turns led to an irrigation ditch to be crossed--it wasn't rideable, probably 2 feet deep and three feet across. Dismount number 2 for the lap. Dismount number 3 was a mere ten meters on, as you had to remount, ride a steep hill, drop down and recross the same irrigation ditch. Bloody slow going; you felt ridiculous trouncing about in the brush and lumps of Xilinx's famous prairie dog village. After that, a few nice long sandy sections were all about power. Sand is a telling, and sometimes even fun surface on which to ride a bike, especially if you are strong and know how to stay relaxed. This section would come in handy as lap after lap I seemed to cruise through here and pass a few riders who wobbled and weaved their way through the trap. That's not to say it was easy; every time through the section I would see stars, bright glorious daytime stars. Or was that me on the verge of blacking out?
More rolling dirt jumps, tight corners, and rutted singletrack and we were back onto the starting stretch of pavement. And every time it came, I had to put my head down and give an all out sprint for a couple hundred meters to try and catch slower riders. The full-out sprints of 20 or 30 or 40 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of coasting, followed by 20 or 30 or 40 seconds of full-on power are the definition of CX. This is what I got for letting myself get bogged down at the start. The result? A lot of work clawing my way back--on/off, on/off, on/off for an hour--all for 11th place. No redemption today; but certainly more fury for the next race.
Todd Brady was also at the race in the SM 35 +_4 race and overcame a dropped chain and a big chase to take a nice 5th.
The first Boulder Series race was held at the Xilinx campus on Saturday the 25th, and I was fixin' for some redemption. It's early in the season, but all I really want to do is prove to myself that I can still race CX like I used to. It's more fun when you ride smooth, ride away from people, and ride strong to the finish. So it's not cool when Allen Krughoff bobbles in front of you at the start and you have to stop to avoid him, as the rest of the field swarms around you and heads up the hill, and you're left bleary eyed, sprinting for all you're worth to pass the last 10 guys in the field. Damn that Allen Krughoff, for he is undoubtedly much stronger than I. Not only did he mess up my start, he won the race. Needless to say, I still have some work to do.
After a blistering start on pavement, the course goes into a series of off-camber swtichbacks, over logs, over a river, and through the woods. Slow going, especially when you're at the back--this is where the accordion effect is most acute. If you're racing for glory, you don't want to find yourself back here. Alas, I sat on, patiently waiting until the course opened up to dash around a few riders. It did; I dashed. Then it turned to single track again and it was back to being patient. Brian Hludzinski (who runs Boulder Racing) had set up a bizarre little course for us today, one that made passing that much more difficult. A few more snaking turns led to an irrigation ditch to be crossed--it wasn't rideable, probably 2 feet deep and three feet across. Dismount number 2 for the lap. Dismount number 3 was a mere ten meters on, as you had to remount, ride a steep hill, drop down and recross the same irrigation ditch. Bloody slow going; you felt ridiculous trouncing about in the brush and lumps of Xilinx's famous prairie dog village. After that, a few nice long sandy sections were all about power. Sand is a telling, and sometimes even fun surface on which to ride a bike, especially if you are strong and know how to stay relaxed. This section would come in handy as lap after lap I seemed to cruise through here and pass a few riders who wobbled and weaved their way through the trap. That's not to say it was easy; every time through the section I would see stars, bright glorious daytime stars. Or was that me on the verge of blacking out?
More rolling dirt jumps, tight corners, and rutted singletrack and we were back onto the starting stretch of pavement. And every time it came, I had to put my head down and give an all out sprint for a couple hundred meters to try and catch slower riders. The full-out sprints of 20 or 30 or 40 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of coasting, followed by 20 or 30 or 40 seconds of full-on power are the definition of CX. This is what I got for letting myself get bogged down at the start. The result? A lot of work clawing my way back--on/off, on/off, on/off for an hour--all for 11th place. No redemption today; but certainly more fury for the next race.
Todd Brady was also at the race in the SM 35 +_4 race and overcame a dropped chain and a big chase to take a nice 5th.
Chris Case at GMSV #1 - Lookout Cross - SM Open Race Report
Race Report by Chris Case (cross - cat 1, road cat 2) on his way to a nice 7th place in the SM Open field at the GMSV #1 - Lookout Cross race.
A rude awakening, with a side of dirt lung. That's how I would describe my first CX race of the season.
Why, you ask? Let me count the ways.
1) My last race was Mount Evans in July 2009, about 14 months ago
2) I've been training for about a month since returning from Europe, where I watched some inspiring racing, wandered about France, and, most importantly, backpacked through the Alps.
3) It was 95 degrees
4) My lungs bled
5) I didn't ride the appropriate bike for the course, which would have been a full-suspension 29er
6) Not having raced last year, I was banished to the last row
7) I didn't get to wear a fanciful, tight, seductive skin suit like I'm used to (no Feedback skinsuit)
But, at the end of the day, having torn through some tumbleweed patches, avoided all prickly pear, sucked down a pound and a quarter of fine Colorado topsoil, I passed a few here and a few there and held on for 7th.
A rude awakening, with a side of dirt lung. That's how I would describe my first CX race of the season.
Why, you ask? Let me count the ways.
2) I've been training for about a month since returning from Europe, where I watched some inspiring racing, wandered about France, and, most importantly, backpacked through the Alps.
3) It was 95 degrees
4) My lungs bled
5) I didn't ride the appropriate bike for the course, which would have been a full-suspension 29er
6) Not having raced last year, I was banished to the last row
7) I didn't get to wear a fanciful, tight, seductive skin suit like I'm used to (no Feedback skinsuit)
But, at the end of the day, having torn through some tumbleweed patches, avoided all prickly pear, sucked down a pound and a quarter of fine Colorado topsoil, I passed a few here and a few there and held on for 7th.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Recruiting new riders for 2011
We have some big plans for 2011 and are looking for p-1-2, sm 3, sm 4, and junior men riders to add to our roster.
If you are interested in joining our team please complete our new rider questionnaire and send it back to the email listed along with any questions you have about our plans, benefits, etc.
If you are interested in joining our team please complete our new rider questionnaire and send it back to the email listed along with any questions you have about our plans, benefits, etc.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Peter Dunlap upgrades to Category 2
Peter had an outstanding 2010! He had multiple podium finishes throughout the year including a sweet victory at the BRC Criterium (pictured below). We always knew Peter to be strong at time trials and criteriums and in 2010 he added climbing hills to his strengths. His new found ability to go up hill almost as well as the mountain goats was highlighted with a superb 4th place GC at the Dead Dog Stage Race. Congrats Peter on a great year and welcome to the cat 2 team!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Pictures of the Steamboat Stage Race 2010
Here are some great pictures of the 2010 Steamboat Stage Race courtesy of Todd Steele -
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Feedback Sports at Eurobike
Our title sponsor, Feedback Sports, had a sweet booth at Eurobike this past week...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Check out our team sponsors on Facebook
If you like our team sponsors as much as we do, check out the great content they have on their respective Facebook pages, "like" the pages, and share the pages with your friends!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sam Peketz takes 3rd at Raisin Hope JM 17-18 Criterium
For having not ridden since Tuesday, I had a pretty good race! It was a fairly small gorup (as always with the Jr races) but it was still pretty fast. We worked it down to a 3 man breakaway with a ColoBikeLaw rider, a Ridgview rider, and me. After constant attacks that never stayed away from all 3 of us, the ColoBikeLaw rider finally made an attack and held it to the finishline and all three of us rode in solo.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Gareth and Martins showing off Ryders Eyeware at the top of Longs Peak
Cat 2 team member Martins Putelis has hung up his road bike for the season and is enjoying some other activities like climbing 14ers in Colorado. Here is a video of Martins and Ryders Eyeware US Sales Manager Gareth Richards at the top. They did the round trip in 6 hours and 25 minutes! You get a taste of their fast descent in the video...
A hot weekend of crit racing in Colorado!
The team had a solid weekend of racing in very hot temps at the Raisin Hope criterium and the HART criterium.
Sam Peketz lead the results with a very nice 3rd place in the JM 17-18 race at Raisin Hope. Chris Mitchell also had a great race taking 7th in the SM 35+4 and Andy Johnson continued showing his new found excitement of criteriums by taking 10th place in the SM 3 race.
Tim Srenaski doubled up on 17th in the p-1-2 race on both days and for the first time ever Donuts was quite happy with 38th place as he made his cat 2 debut at the HART criterium. Brandon Mitchell also had a good day at the HART criterium taking 11th in the SM 3 race.
A few of us (myself included) have called it a season but some of our guys will be hitting Deer Trail this coming weekend and then the Steamboat Stage Race in a couple weeks.
Raisin Hope
P-1-2
Tim Srenaski - 17th
Greg Ross - 24th
Kit Recca - 27th
SM 3
Andy Johnson - 10th
Eric Steele - 21st
Brandon Mitchell 23rd
SM 4
Isaac Karsen - 20th
SM 35+4
Chris Mitchell - 7th
JM 17-18
Sam Peketz - 3rd
HART Criterium
p-1-2
Tim Srenaski - 17th
Kit Recca - 31st
Matt Duncan - 38th
SM 3
Brandon Mitchell - 11th
Peter Dunlap - 22nd
Steve Schwarting - 33rd
Andy Johnson - 34th
SM 4
Chris Mitchell - 17th
Isaac Karsen 21st
Sam Peketz lead the results with a very nice 3rd place in the JM 17-18 race at Raisin Hope. Chris Mitchell also had a great race taking 7th in the SM 35+4 and Andy Johnson continued showing his new found excitement of criteriums by taking 10th place in the SM 3 race.
Tim Srenaski doubled up on 17th in the p-1-2 race on both days and for the first time ever Donuts was quite happy with 38th place as he made his cat 2 debut at the HART criterium. Brandon Mitchell also had a good day at the HART criterium taking 11th in the SM 3 race.
A few of us (myself included) have called it a season but some of our guys will be hitting Deer Trail this coming weekend and then the Steamboat Stage Race in a couple weeks.
Raisin Hope
P-1-2
Tim Srenaski - 17th
Greg Ross - 24th
Kit Recca - 27th
SM 3
Andy Johnson - 10th
Eric Steele - 21st
Brandon Mitchell 23rd
SM 4
Isaac Karsen - 20th
SM 35+4
Chris Mitchell - 7th
JM 17-18
Sam Peketz - 3rd
HART Criterium
p-1-2
Tim Srenaski - 17th
Kit Recca - 31st
Matt Duncan - 38th
SM 3
Brandon Mitchell - 11th
Peter Dunlap - 22nd
Steve Schwarting - 33rd
Andy Johnson - 34th
SM 4
Chris Mitchell - 17th
Isaac Karsen 21st
Thursday, August 19, 2010
ACA Colorado Senior Road Race Championships P-1-2 Race Report
Race Report by Nate Llerandi
Having never ridden out at the AFA, I wasn't sure what to expect from the course aside from the very real potential for a stiff wind. The AFA is the location for the strongest winds in CO and the gustiest winds in the entire country. Plus, the parcours had changed from previous years so the lap configuration was new to all the racers. We'd all be seeing it for the first time on the first lap of our respective races.
The Pro/1/2 race was to be 9 laps of a 9-mile circuit, winding its way around the Academy. Someone in-the-know informed me that overall the course was mostly flat with one long, gradual climb of nearly 2 miles and a second steeper, punchy climb which would take somewhere between 30-45 seconds to top. We would hit this climb just a couple minutes after the first, longer climb.
The token break of 2 riders went away at the gun while the rest of us settled in with little sense of urgency. And it didn't take long for the break's lead to balloon to nearly 5 minutes over the course of the first 2 laps. My legs felt great - very fresh and strong. Accessing the watts was not an issue, but I also realized the race had yet to heat up. It was on the 3rd lap where things started to get interesting . . .
The 2 climbs were smack in the middle of each lap. Our third time up the long climb, a couple riders initiated a blistering attack that immediately shattered the peloton to bits. I was riding in the top 20, so was in a fairly good position to react. As I latched on to the back of the small front group of about 12 riders, I noticed that a couple of the heavy hitters were nowhere in sight. I also went right by one of the stronger Cat 1 riders as he appeared to be wrestling his bike to the ground; he looked really uncomfortable! Covering the attack put me in the hurt locker, but I recovered quickly over the top of the climb and on to the twisty descent before the sharp 2nd climb. On the descent, I looked over my shoulder and there was a sizable gap to the rest of the field. At that point, I figured going with the move was the smart thing to do. Unfortunately, things came back together and we were one happy family of about 60 again.
But, it was clear that the long climb, gradual as it was, would be the stomping grounds for shelling riders on every lap to come. The fourth time up this climb, my bike started making funny noises, like my chain wasn't quite shifting gears cleanly. I shifted up and down through my mid-gears and everything checked out OK. By the time we hit the climbs on lap 5, the noise was so pronounced that it sounded like a handful of marbles being ground together. Some guys around me made comments about how loud my bike was. My bottom bracket was coming apart.
The upshot is that the friction caused by the bearings grinding against one another quickly made it feel like I was riding with a brake rubbing against my rim. I fell off the pace the fifth time up the climbs as my legs got completely overloaded with the effort and increased friction. Luckily, a group of about 6 caught me as we approached the short, steep climb. I fought like hell to stick with them and subsequently had to sit on the back to recover, skipping way more pulls than I took. Miraculously, we caught the small front group of challengers and were back in the thick of things . . . just in time to hit the climbs on lap 6.
The timing could not have been any worse. By this time, my BB was so messed up and my legs were so torched that I got jettisoned immediately. And there was no hope of catching back on this time. As I crossed paths with the front group the remainder of that lap and during the 7th lap, I noticed that the pace had slackened enough where the group remained together until the final attacks on the 9th and final lap.
Me? I was out of the top 20 and, thus, well out of the points. My knees ached, my bike was effectively broken. So, at the end of the 7th lap, I veered off the course and rode up the parking lot to my car. A disappointing way to finish a race that started out with some pretty good promise.
Despite my bad luck, I absolutely loved the course. Definitely challenging enough, even without the wind which, by the way, materialized but never gained its typical gusto. It's a race I'd like to get back to next year.
Having never ridden out at the AFA, I wasn't sure what to expect from the course aside from the very real potential for a stiff wind. The AFA is the location for the strongest winds in CO and the gustiest winds in the entire country. Plus, the parcours had changed from previous years so the lap configuration was new to all the racers. We'd all be seeing it for the first time on the first lap of our respective races.
The Pro/1/2 race was to be 9 laps of a 9-mile circuit, winding its way around the Academy. Someone in-the-know informed me that overall the course was mostly flat with one long, gradual climb of nearly 2 miles and a second steeper, punchy climb which would take somewhere between 30-45 seconds to top. We would hit this climb just a couple minutes after the first, longer climb.
The token break of 2 riders went away at the gun while the rest of us settled in with little sense of urgency. And it didn't take long for the break's lead to balloon to nearly 5 minutes over the course of the first 2 laps. My legs felt great - very fresh and strong. Accessing the watts was not an issue, but I also realized the race had yet to heat up. It was on the 3rd lap where things started to get interesting . . .
The 2 climbs were smack in the middle of each lap. Our third time up the long climb, a couple riders initiated a blistering attack that immediately shattered the peloton to bits. I was riding in the top 20, so was in a fairly good position to react. As I latched on to the back of the small front group of about 12 riders, I noticed that a couple of the heavy hitters were nowhere in sight. I also went right by one of the stronger Cat 1 riders as he appeared to be wrestling his bike to the ground; he looked really uncomfortable! Covering the attack put me in the hurt locker, but I recovered quickly over the top of the climb and on to the twisty descent before the sharp 2nd climb. On the descent, I looked over my shoulder and there was a sizable gap to the rest of the field. At that point, I figured going with the move was the smart thing to do. Unfortunately, things came back together and we were one happy family of about 60 again.
But, it was clear that the long climb, gradual as it was, would be the stomping grounds for shelling riders on every lap to come. The fourth time up this climb, my bike started making funny noises, like my chain wasn't quite shifting gears cleanly. I shifted up and down through my mid-gears and everything checked out OK. By the time we hit the climbs on lap 5, the noise was so pronounced that it sounded like a handful of marbles being ground together. Some guys around me made comments about how loud my bike was. My bottom bracket was coming apart.
The upshot is that the friction caused by the bearings grinding against one another quickly made it feel like I was riding with a brake rubbing against my rim. I fell off the pace the fifth time up the climbs as my legs got completely overloaded with the effort and increased friction. Luckily, a group of about 6 caught me as we approached the short, steep climb. I fought like hell to stick with them and subsequently had to sit on the back to recover, skipping way more pulls than I took. Miraculously, we caught the small front group of challengers and were back in the thick of things . . . just in time to hit the climbs on lap 6.
The timing could not have been any worse. By this time, my BB was so messed up and my legs were so torched that I got jettisoned immediately. And there was no hope of catching back on this time. As I crossed paths with the front group the remainder of that lap and during the 7th lap, I noticed that the pace had slackened enough where the group remained together until the final attacks on the 9th and final lap.
Me? I was out of the top 20 and, thus, well out of the points. My knees ached, my bike was effectively broken. So, at the end of the 7th lap, I veered off the course and rode up the parking lot to my car. A disappointing way to finish a race that started out with some pretty good promise.
Despite my bad luck, I absolutely loved the course. Definitely challenging enough, even without the wind which, by the way, materialized but never gained its typical gusto. It's a race I'd like to get back to next year.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
ACA Colorado Senior Road Race Championships at the Air Force Academy
SM 3 race report written by Derek West except for the intro quote written by Matt Gibble
"Really super job to anybody that rode the race today. First time up the hill, I thought, "Is this it?" Second time, "Oh, sh&t", 3rd time, "F$%#@", 4th time, "Forget it, I quit" 5th time "I'm glad Donuts is here or I'd quit" 6th time "Glad I'm not running like those cadets in fatigues". Super glad we didn't do nine laps like the big boys."
I had been targeting this race as a priority all season long since it was the State Championships. Plus, the course played to my strengths - six laps of an “L” shaped 9 mile circuit, with the key section being a 2.5 mile up-hill stretch heading west towards the main campus. The up-hill section isn’t terribly steep, but had the potential to be decisive since we’d be ascending it six times. In the weeks leading up to the race, my training had been consistent (finally), and I felt confident knowing Feedback would have a strong squad that could play many different tactical cards. My confidence was tempered, however, knowing that the rest of the field would be strong and the pace aggressive with state champion bragging rights on the line.
The weather also worried me. While driving to the race, things took a turn for the worse at the outskirts of Colorado Springs. The wind picked up, grey clouds rolled in, and rain looked possible. While the wind would help keep things cool during the race, it would also create a tough cross-wind during the up-hill stretch. And there would be a block headwind the entire 2 mile homestretch. As if the course weren’t challenging enough, Mother Nature decided to up the ante a bit. Before the race started, I told myself to stay as sheltered as possible during the first few laps. Energy conservation would be key. After that, I figured the race would start to shake out as the hill took its toll, which is exactly what happened.
The pace was kept in check the first lap. The stronger teams (including Feedback) positioned themselves at or towards the front and made sure things were honest but reasonable. The first time up the hill was fast enough to wake up the legs but not so fast to put anyone in difficulty. At the crest of the hill, I was relieved that my legs were now awake and ready for more. But then came a few “fun” surprises. First, I was totally unprepared for the tight turns and chicanes that quickly followed. I found myself wondering – is this a road race or a crit? Second, the steep kicker right before the feed zone took me completely off guard. I had no idea that little surprise of a hill was coming, but I sure felt it at the top. I was having flashbacks to Koppenberg, except without all the bikes/bodies flying everywhere. I was relieved that the fun part of the course quickly followed, as we screamed back down the hill towards the homestretch. Once we hit that section, things slowed somewhat with the wind now in our faces.
The homestretch turned out to be a bit tricky, tactically speaking. I knew being sheltered was essential, but with a 180 degree turn looming in the distance, being close to the front was important. Otherwise, I worried that the leaders would rocket out of the turn with the winds at their backs. I wasn’t surprised to see Gibby, with several Feedbackers in tow, moving fast along the right side of the road to position themselves for the turn. Although I wasn’t able to jump on their train, I managed somehow to make the turn in good shape, without having to accelerate out of it at full gas.
About midway down this stretch, I pull up alongside Andy and give him a little nod of the head. He looked antsy, like he was ready to make something happen. A minute later he leans over to me and says something like – “I need out. I’m moving up.” So I create an exit for him and he quickly rolls to the front. I sit patiently for the next few minutes waiting for Andy to light it up. Sure enough, about half-way up the hill, Andy and a couple others quickly create a gap that looks promising. I smile to myself while waiting to see how the peloton reacts. Unfortunately, the group is agitated enough that the attack is closed down before the end of the 2nd lap.
The third time up the climb I have a feeling something’s going to happen. By this point, some race fatigue has sunk in and the hill is starting to take its toll. I felt antsy at the base of the climb, but was calmed when Donuts rolls up beside me and asks if I need anything. I tell him I had downed a Hammer Gel and should be good to go. Turns out, my timing with the Gel was perfect, as it gave me the boost I needed to stay in contact with the leaders once they floored it towards the top of the climb. It wasn’t so much of an attack as a hard tempo to the top of the hill. I think to myself – “this is it; this is the race.” I could either go with the leaders, and risk blowing up, or sit back and stay with the group. I opted to take myself to the limit and go for it. Turned out to be the right choice.
The peloton was now seriously stretched out and whittled down. A group of about five or so crested the hill first, with another few of us about 10 seconds behind. On the backside of the course, our small chase group worked hard to reel in the leaders, which we managed to do by the homestretch. We now had a decent sized group, which was made stronger by the arrival of George and a few others. If we worked together, we could stay away to the end. Easier said than done. The group was disorganized from the get-go. Despite much cajoling (and at times yelling by me), the group could not (or would not) form a decent pace line. I had no idea why. A few of us were left doing the lion’s share of the work pulling the group along. Although frustrated, I was ok with that. I desperately wanted to keep our group off the front.
The fourth lap played out basically the same way, with the strongest few guys creating a separation at the top of the hill and a smaller chase group latching back on. But the fifth time up the hill, the final separation by the leaders was created. I wasn’t able to go with them, so I rode within myself and stayed with a smaller group of about 6 guys. We worked pretty well together, and were motivated to catch the leaders the last time up the hill, but it wasn’t to be. Half-way up the climb, Luis Rodriguez from GS Boulder says to our group – “no way we can catch them; they’re too far ahead.” That must have egged on one of the Primal guys because just then he attacked like a bat out of hell. I doubted he could stay away, so I opted to ascend the hill at a more consistent pace. By the top, we were in small groups of twos, trying desperately to keep anyone from catching us. The last time up the feed zone hill, my legs were jelly. I moved in slow motion. I’m sure the few remaining spectators at the top of the hill must have thought we looked pretty damn silly going up so slowly. I do recall seeing a contingent of Feedbackers still there for support, though. Thanks guys!
As I screamed down the backside, I stole a quick look back and, to my chagrin, saw a chase group of about 5 or 6 guys coming up fast. At that point, I knew the better tactic was to relent, sit in with this group, and save everything I had for the finish. Before the homestretch, we caught a few guys as I waited patiently and saved up for the imminent sprint to the finish. There was a bit of maneuvering during the last mile (nobody wanted to be caught in the headwind), but I positioned myself well and was poised to wind up a strong sprint. For the first time this season, I found some real zip in my legs and managed to finish 4th in our group of 9, which put me 10th overall.
I was really pleased with my race. Two of my goals this season were to finish top 10 in a road race and contribute BAT points to the team. Mission accomplished on both fronts. But I’m most pleased with my effort. I took myself to the limit when it counted and am thrilled with my effort. The race was hard and honest. Congrats to everyone who was out there!
Other Results --
Peter Dunlap 19th
George Green 20th
Andy Johnson 21st
Matt Duncan 26th
Matt Gibble 28th
Bart Abriol 29th
Brandon Mitchell 44th
"Really super job to anybody that rode the race today. First time up the hill, I thought, "Is this it?" Second time, "Oh, sh&t", 3rd time, "F$%#@", 4th time, "Forget it, I quit" 5th time "I'm glad Donuts is here or I'd quit" 6th time "Glad I'm not running like those cadets in fatigues". Super glad we didn't do nine laps like the big boys."
I had been targeting this race as a priority all season long since it was the State Championships. Plus, the course played to my strengths - six laps of an “L” shaped 9 mile circuit, with the key section being a 2.5 mile up-hill stretch heading west towards the main campus. The up-hill section isn’t terribly steep, but had the potential to be decisive since we’d be ascending it six times. In the weeks leading up to the race, my training had been consistent (finally), and I felt confident knowing Feedback would have a strong squad that could play many different tactical cards. My confidence was tempered, however, knowing that the rest of the field would be strong and the pace aggressive with state champion bragging rights on the line.
The weather also worried me. While driving to the race, things took a turn for the worse at the outskirts of Colorado Springs. The wind picked up, grey clouds rolled in, and rain looked possible. While the wind would help keep things cool during the race, it would also create a tough cross-wind during the up-hill stretch. And there would be a block headwind the entire 2 mile homestretch. As if the course weren’t challenging enough, Mother Nature decided to up the ante a bit. Before the race started, I told myself to stay as sheltered as possible during the first few laps. Energy conservation would be key. After that, I figured the race would start to shake out as the hill took its toll, which is exactly what happened.
The pace was kept in check the first lap. The stronger teams (including Feedback) positioned themselves at or towards the front and made sure things were honest but reasonable. The first time up the hill was fast enough to wake up the legs but not so fast to put anyone in difficulty. At the crest of the hill, I was relieved that my legs were now awake and ready for more. But then came a few “fun” surprises. First, I was totally unprepared for the tight turns and chicanes that quickly followed. I found myself wondering – is this a road race or a crit? Second, the steep kicker right before the feed zone took me completely off guard. I had no idea that little surprise of a hill was coming, but I sure felt it at the top. I was having flashbacks to Koppenberg, except without all the bikes/bodies flying everywhere. I was relieved that the fun part of the course quickly followed, as we screamed back down the hill towards the homestretch. Once we hit that section, things slowed somewhat with the wind now in our faces.
The homestretch turned out to be a bit tricky, tactically speaking. I knew being sheltered was essential, but with a 180 degree turn looming in the distance, being close to the front was important. Otherwise, I worried that the leaders would rocket out of the turn with the winds at their backs. I wasn’t surprised to see Gibby, with several Feedbackers in tow, moving fast along the right side of the road to position themselves for the turn. Although I wasn’t able to jump on their train, I managed somehow to make the turn in good shape, without having to accelerate out of it at full gas.
About midway down this stretch, I pull up alongside Andy and give him a little nod of the head. He looked antsy, like he was ready to make something happen. A minute later he leans over to me and says something like – “I need out. I’m moving up.” So I create an exit for him and he quickly rolls to the front. I sit patiently for the next few minutes waiting for Andy to light it up. Sure enough, about half-way up the hill, Andy and a couple others quickly create a gap that looks promising. I smile to myself while waiting to see how the peloton reacts. Unfortunately, the group is agitated enough that the attack is closed down before the end of the 2nd lap.
The third time up the climb I have a feeling something’s going to happen. By this point, some race fatigue has sunk in and the hill is starting to take its toll. I felt antsy at the base of the climb, but was calmed when Donuts rolls up beside me and asks if I need anything. I tell him I had downed a Hammer Gel and should be good to go. Turns out, my timing with the Gel was perfect, as it gave me the boost I needed to stay in contact with the leaders once they floored it towards the top of the climb. It wasn’t so much of an attack as a hard tempo to the top of the hill. I think to myself – “this is it; this is the race.” I could either go with the leaders, and risk blowing up, or sit back and stay with the group. I opted to take myself to the limit and go for it. Turned out to be the right choice.
The peloton was now seriously stretched out and whittled down. A group of about five or so crested the hill first, with another few of us about 10 seconds behind. On the backside of the course, our small chase group worked hard to reel in the leaders, which we managed to do by the homestretch. We now had a decent sized group, which was made stronger by the arrival of George and a few others. If we worked together, we could stay away to the end. Easier said than done. The group was disorganized from the get-go. Despite much cajoling (and at times yelling by me), the group could not (or would not) form a decent pace line. I had no idea why. A few of us were left doing the lion’s share of the work pulling the group along. Although frustrated, I was ok with that. I desperately wanted to keep our group off the front.
The fourth lap played out basically the same way, with the strongest few guys creating a separation at the top of the hill and a smaller chase group latching back on. But the fifth time up the hill, the final separation by the leaders was created. I wasn’t able to go with them, so I rode within myself and stayed with a smaller group of about 6 guys. We worked pretty well together, and were motivated to catch the leaders the last time up the hill, but it wasn’t to be. Half-way up the climb, Luis Rodriguez from GS Boulder says to our group – “no way we can catch them; they’re too far ahead.” That must have egged on one of the Primal guys because just then he attacked like a bat out of hell. I doubted he could stay away, so I opted to ascend the hill at a more consistent pace. By the top, we were in small groups of twos, trying desperately to keep anyone from catching us. The last time up the feed zone hill, my legs were jelly. I moved in slow motion. I’m sure the few remaining spectators at the top of the hill must have thought we looked pretty damn silly going up so slowly. I do recall seeing a contingent of Feedbackers still there for support, though. Thanks guys!
As I screamed down the backside, I stole a quick look back and, to my chagrin, saw a chase group of about 5 or 6 guys coming up fast. At that point, I knew the better tactic was to relent, sit in with this group, and save everything I had for the finish. Before the homestretch, we caught a few guys as I waited patiently and saved up for the imminent sprint to the finish. There was a bit of maneuvering during the last mile (nobody wanted to be caught in the headwind), but I positioned myself well and was poised to wind up a strong sprint. For the first time this season, I found some real zip in my legs and managed to finish 4th in our group of 9, which put me 10th overall.
I was really pleased with my race. Two of my goals this season were to finish top 10 in a road race and contribute BAT points to the team. Mission accomplished on both fronts. But I’m most pleased with my effort. I took myself to the limit when it counted and am thrilled with my effort. The race was hard and honest. Congrats to everyone who was out there!
Other Results --
Peter Dunlap 19th
George Green 20th
Andy Johnson 21st
Matt Duncan 26th
Matt Gibble 28th
Bart Abriol 29th
Brandon Mitchell 44th
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
BRC Criterium 2010 SM3 Race Report
Race Report by Peter Dunlap
It's getting towards the end of the season and for the first time in three years I'm healthy and not recovering from some kind of pavement-induced injury. Although it's been a long season it's exciting to be able to do some new races that I haven't tried before. One of these is the BRC criterium, also the last BAT crit of the season. Joining me at the race were Donuts, Matt Gibble, James Hammond, Brandon Mitchell and Eric Steele. Since the BRC race flyer says something about a "hill" (a word that always makes me apprehensive) I made sure to check out the course before the race. There is an obvious fairly steep kicker after the last turn leading up to the finish line but it is fairly short. The rest of the course is downhill false flat followed by a couple turns then uphill false flat. On my warmup lap the grade seemed fairly innocuous.
At the start I did my worst job of clipping in all season and found myself nearly at the back of the pack. Donuts and Gibble followed their usual script of setting a very fast pace from the gun and the first few laps hurt a lot. Since this was a BAT race and BRC was (and still is) quite close to us in the BAT standings I was carefully marking their riders to ensure that no one got away alone. There were several attacks early in the race -- Pavel Prchal in particular seemed to be off the front for a very long time and collected a bunch of primes. Somewhere around the 20-25 minute mark Matt Jaeger from BRC launched an attack. I was a tad slow in responding but I gave chase and when I caught up near the corner before the start-finish we had a respectable gap so I pulled through and kept going. A short while later Garret Suydam chased on making us a group of three. Based on the dynamics of the race so far I expected to get chased down at any moment but we kept the rotations going and settled into a decent rhythm with the three of us sharing work well. After a few minutes I looked back and realized we had a decent gap. Since over 1/3 of the field consisted of BRC and Feedback riders I realized then that we had a good chance of success. Then I looked at the time to go and saw 30 minutes and my heart sank. Why do I always get in these crazy long breakaways?
We continued to share the work evenly but towards the end of the race the climb to the finish was wearing on me significantly. I did my best to hide this fact from my breakaway companions. As we got closer to the end my thoughts once again turned to how I could pull out a win. This was my third long breakaway of the year and in the previous two I came in last each time relative to the other riders in the breakaway. I was still happy with those results but I didn't want to make a habit of it. Although I continued to pull through at the end I tried not to work too hard on the downhill sections into the wind when it would not accomplish much. We continued to rotate until the last half of the last lap, then I parked myself on Matt Jaeger's wheel as we headed towards the finish line. It was a nervous time because I didn't really want Garrett to make the first move but I didn't want to go to early either since it was all uphill to the finish. At what seemed like about 100yards from the finish corner I attacked as hard as I could, shifted up twice, cranked on the bike some more, then swept into the finish turn. From there I stood up and put everything I had into the sprint, half expecting one of those guys to sweep by me at any moment. When I crossed the line alone in the lead I was ecstatic! It's hard to crack the top 10 in a race, an order of magnitude harder to step onto the podium and yet another order of magnitude harder to get the win. Matt Gibble got 7th, Donuts got 13th, Eric Steele scored an impressive 14th and Brandon Mitchell also had a good result at 20th. For both Eric and Brandon this was only their second 3's race.
One thing we were completely unaware of towards the end of the race was that Pavel Prchal had attacked and made very good progress towards chasing us down. In some pictures of the final sprint he is just turning the final corner which means he was frighteningly close. If we had stopped pulling through any earlier he would likely have caught us. Just goes to show that in a breakaway you have to take care of making the breakaway successful before getting too focused on the win. Fortunately the three of us continued to work nearly to the end.
Of course a large factor in the success of the breakaway was the blocking from Feedback and BRC. I'm just happy I was able to bring home a win this time and it was nice to be able to savor that win while I was getting my but kicked at the Air Force Academy Road Race the next day.
Side commentary from Matt - While BRC is a rival team (in a good natured competitive way) I have to say a few supportive words about their criterium. I was disappointed to see small fields at this race. Racers, what is going on this year? These guys and their sponsors worked real hard to create a great race with very nice payouts. We are all continually griping about some races that don't have good prizes. Races like the BRC criterium have the potential to show other races why good prize lists are a good thing but if we don't show up there is no incentive across the board. Organizing race costs and getting sponsors to provide bigger prizes is not easy. Anyone reading this who has tried knows what I am talking about. When teams like BRC take the extra steps to put on races that do have nice prize lists we as a racing community need to show up and show them that their investments were worth it. If we don't play our part in the racing community by showing up to races don't be surprised to see lots more watter bottle cages and socks as prizes.
It's getting towards the end of the season and for the first time in three years I'm healthy and not recovering from some kind of pavement-induced injury. Although it's been a long season it's exciting to be able to do some new races that I haven't tried before. One of these is the BRC criterium, also the last BAT crit of the season. Joining me at the race were Donuts, Matt Gibble, James Hammond, Brandon Mitchell and Eric Steele. Since the BRC race flyer says something about a "hill" (a word that always makes me apprehensive) I made sure to check out the course before the race. There is an obvious fairly steep kicker after the last turn leading up to the finish line but it is fairly short. The rest of the course is downhill false flat followed by a couple turns then uphill false flat. On my warmup lap the grade seemed fairly innocuous.
At the start I did my worst job of clipping in all season and found myself nearly at the back of the pack. Donuts and Gibble followed their usual script of setting a very fast pace from the gun and the first few laps hurt a lot. Since this was a BAT race and BRC was (and still is) quite close to us in the BAT standings I was carefully marking their riders to ensure that no one got away alone. There were several attacks early in the race -- Pavel Prchal in particular seemed to be off the front for a very long time and collected a bunch of primes. Somewhere around the 20-25 minute mark Matt Jaeger from BRC launched an attack. I was a tad slow in responding but I gave chase and when I caught up near the corner before the start-finish we had a respectable gap so I pulled through and kept going. A short while later Garret Suydam chased on making us a group of three. Based on the dynamics of the race so far I expected to get chased down at any moment but we kept the rotations going and settled into a decent rhythm with the three of us sharing work well. After a few minutes I looked back and realized we had a decent gap. Since over 1/3 of the field consisted of BRC and Feedback riders I realized then that we had a good chance of success. Then I looked at the time to go and saw 30 minutes and my heart sank. Why do I always get in these crazy long breakaways?
We continued to share the work evenly but towards the end of the race the climb to the finish was wearing on me significantly. I did my best to hide this fact from my breakaway companions. As we got closer to the end my thoughts once again turned to how I could pull out a win. This was my third long breakaway of the year and in the previous two I came in last each time relative to the other riders in the breakaway. I was still happy with those results but I didn't want to make a habit of it. Although I continued to pull through at the end I tried not to work too hard on the downhill sections into the wind when it would not accomplish much. We continued to rotate until the last half of the last lap, then I parked myself on Matt Jaeger's wheel as we headed towards the finish line. It was a nervous time because I didn't really want Garrett to make the first move but I didn't want to go to early either since it was all uphill to the finish. At what seemed like about 100yards from the finish corner I attacked as hard as I could, shifted up twice, cranked on the bike some more, then swept into the finish turn. From there I stood up and put everything I had into the sprint, half expecting one of those guys to sweep by me at any moment. When I crossed the line alone in the lead I was ecstatic! It's hard to crack the top 10 in a race, an order of magnitude harder to step onto the podium and yet another order of magnitude harder to get the win. Matt Gibble got 7th, Donuts got 13th, Eric Steele scored an impressive 14th and Brandon Mitchell also had a good result at 20th. For both Eric and Brandon this was only their second 3's race.
One thing we were completely unaware of towards the end of the race was that Pavel Prchal had attacked and made very good progress towards chasing us down. In some pictures of the final sprint he is just turning the final corner which means he was frighteningly close. If we had stopped pulling through any earlier he would likely have caught us. Just goes to show that in a breakaway you have to take care of making the breakaway successful before getting too focused on the win. Fortunately the three of us continued to work nearly to the end.
Of course a large factor in the success of the breakaway was the blocking from Feedback and BRC. I'm just happy I was able to bring home a win this time and it was nice to be able to savor that win while I was getting my but kicked at the Air Force Academy Road Race the next day.
Side commentary from Matt - While BRC is a rival team (in a good natured competitive way) I have to say a few supportive words about their criterium. I was disappointed to see small fields at this race. Racers, what is going on this year? These guys and their sponsors worked real hard to create a great race with very nice payouts. We are all continually griping about some races that don't have good prizes. Races like the BRC criterium have the potential to show other races why good prize lists are a good thing but if we don't show up there is no incentive across the board. Organizing race costs and getting sponsors to provide bigger prizes is not easy. Anyone reading this who has tried knows what I am talking about. When teams like BRC take the extra steps to put on races that do have nice prize lists we as a racing community need to show up and show them that their investments were worth it. If we don't play our part in the racing community by showing up to races don't be surprised to see lots more watter bottle cages and socks as prizes.
Monday, August 16, 2010
"The Matts" move to next level!
Matt Duncan (aka Donuts) and Matt Gibble, together sometimes known collectively as "The Matts" (borrowed from the Bobs in Office Space) both upgraded to ACA cat 2 today!
For Matt Gibble this is a return trip. Matt raced as a cat 2 back in the late 80s and early 90s.
For Donuts this is a brand new chapter that has been a long time coming. Both Matts had an awesome time with the cat 3 team and are now very much looking forward to helping out the p-1-2 team as well as doing some 35+/45+ open racing.
For Matt Gibble this is a return trip. Matt raced as a cat 2 back in the late 80s and early 90s.
Matt Gibble in Italy - 1985
For Donuts this is a brand new chapter that has been a long time coming. Both Matts had an awesome time with the cat 3 team and are now very much looking forward to helping out the p-1-2 team as well as doing some 35+/45+ open racing.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Peter Dunlap Wins the SM3 race at the BRC Criterium!
Peter Dunlap out sprinted breakaway members Matt Jaeger from BRC and Garrett Suydam from Primal to win the SM 3 race at the BRC Criterium! Awesome job Peter! Race report to follow soon....
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Brandon Mitchell - Now a 3!
Congratulations to Brandon Mitchell who upgraded to cat 3 this past weekend at Bannock! Brandon, along with his brother Chris, has hit just about every race this year which has been wonderful for team exposure. He will hit his 40th race of the year this weekend at the Air Force Academy Road Race!
Monday, August 09, 2010
Bannock Street Criterium - SM 3 Race Report
Race report by Matt Gibble
Bannock Street Criterium is a race with more history than I can tell you about. I know it's been going on for a long time and may have been part of the Coors Classic but I can't be sure. I love this race because it's spectator friendly, there are cool little cafes and bars lining the home straight and with eight turns in a mile it is great to race.
The 3's squad consisted of Matt Duncan (Donuts), Peter Dunlap, Andrew Bagnato and our newest upgraded riders Eric Steele and Brandon Mitchell. In fact, Brandon had gotten 3rd in the SM 4 race earlier in the day and got an upgrade in between races. I rounded out the squad that hit the line with 68 other racers for the day.
The race was fairly quick with eleven primes on the line. We were doing 50 mns as opposed to the normal 60 for a 3's race. The Feedback squad looked great with the exception of Andrew Bagnato who had a fashion faux pas of racing without socks. Andrew, I'm not sure if I've ever had anybody ask me if I had an pair of extra socks while I was sitting on the start line!
Seriously, I was stoked to see Brandon and Eric sitting top ten and twenty for most of the race. So much of this sport has to do with mental fortitude and morale. I constantly tell riders that they need to believe that they deserve to be in the race and fighting for position and wheels.
Peter and Donuts were very active at the front going for primes and attacking off the front or riding up to groups. Andrew looked good riding in the top twenty and making himself available to help out any way he could. My legs felt particularly flat as my ride down earlier in the day foretold. I'm not sure if it was the heat, amount of racing this year or what but I just didn't have a good feeling about my race. Regardless I tried to stay near the front and involved in moves. I gave up on the prime hunt as I didn't feel I had the matches to burn.
The race yo-yo'd back and forth with no serious threats. At two to go I hit the gas on the homestraight to keep it strung out and then Pavel Prchal gave it a shot which I liked since it would offer a carrot to the field to keep it lined out. Last lap in the first corner came the inevitable swell which caused me to immediately go to twenty deep, but Donuts was up front which was good. On the backside a gap opened up on the right and Andrew punched it up to help me gain some positions. This helped out tremendously and going into a half lap to go Donuts was about fifth wheel and I was about tenth. At this point I thought he had a good shot to win. Somewhere on the last lap Jeff Perrin took a flyer and was dangling in front of the group. I'm not sure when we caught him but coming out of the second to last turn I was eight deep and knew I needed to be about fifth wheel in the last right hander. I punched it up the left and took the outside line on the last turn and opened up for the tape. As I hit that last turn I knew I had a good chance to win and went full tilt. I think I could literally feel people breathing down my neck and in the last fifty meters I realized that I was paying for my jump up the hill to get better position. I got that feeling of being mired in quicksand and not being able to move my legs fast enough Sure enough right at the line Michael Walthall, a fomer Louisville Cyclery rider, came by me on the left. I knew he had won it and thought he had me by half a wheel. He was ecstatic and later after seeing the finish photo told me that he got me by about four inches. Donuts cranked it out for sixth place after some leaning on other riders which is another story and thankfully I didn't get to play a role in. Andrew Bagnato came in a respectable 17th, with Peter in 26th after riding a hell of a hard race and attacking a ton animating the action. Good job Peter. Brandon rode about half the race before his legs came unglued riding his second race of the day and Eric unfortunately got caught in a pileup with two to go but still got up and finished the race. I told Eric that he looked really good and was in good position during much of the race. He looked at me and said, "Well, I just decided to follow you the whole race".
The team rode well and all season long with the lone exception of Hugo we've ridden hard, smart and aggressively. Seeing Kit and Martins upgrade to Category 2 and now having Eric and Brandon upgrade to Category 3 is a great thing to witness. At the ripe old age of 45 it's great to see the talent on this team develop. Come next season it will be a lot of the same faces but in different categories for 2011. Great job and congratulations to everyone on the Feedback Sports p/b Raining Faith Massage team.
Bannock Street Criterium is a race with more history than I can tell you about. I know it's been going on for a long time and may have been part of the Coors Classic but I can't be sure. I love this race because it's spectator friendly, there are cool little cafes and bars lining the home straight and with eight turns in a mile it is great to race.
The 3's squad consisted of Matt Duncan (Donuts), Peter Dunlap, Andrew Bagnato and our newest upgraded riders Eric Steele and Brandon Mitchell. In fact, Brandon had gotten 3rd in the SM 4 race earlier in the day and got an upgrade in between races. I rounded out the squad that hit the line with 68 other racers for the day.
The race was fairly quick with eleven primes on the line. We were doing 50 mns as opposed to the normal 60 for a 3's race. The Feedback squad looked great with the exception of Andrew Bagnato who had a fashion faux pas of racing without socks. Andrew, I'm not sure if I've ever had anybody ask me if I had an pair of extra socks while I was sitting on the start line!
Seriously, I was stoked to see Brandon and Eric sitting top ten and twenty for most of the race. So much of this sport has to do with mental fortitude and morale. I constantly tell riders that they need to believe that they deserve to be in the race and fighting for position and wheels.
Peter and Donuts were very active at the front going for primes and attacking off the front or riding up to groups. Andrew looked good riding in the top twenty and making himself available to help out any way he could. My legs felt particularly flat as my ride down earlier in the day foretold. I'm not sure if it was the heat, amount of racing this year or what but I just didn't have a good feeling about my race. Regardless I tried to stay near the front and involved in moves. I gave up on the prime hunt as I didn't feel I had the matches to burn.
The race yo-yo'd back and forth with no serious threats. At two to go I hit the gas on the homestraight to keep it strung out and then Pavel Prchal gave it a shot which I liked since it would offer a carrot to the field to keep it lined out. Last lap in the first corner came the inevitable swell which caused me to immediately go to twenty deep, but Donuts was up front which was good. On the backside a gap opened up on the right and Andrew punched it up to help me gain some positions. This helped out tremendously and going into a half lap to go Donuts was about fifth wheel and I was about tenth. At this point I thought he had a good shot to win. Somewhere on the last lap Jeff Perrin took a flyer and was dangling in front of the group. I'm not sure when we caught him but coming out of the second to last turn I was eight deep and knew I needed to be about fifth wheel in the last right hander. I punched it up the left and took the outside line on the last turn and opened up for the tape. As I hit that last turn I knew I had a good chance to win and went full tilt. I think I could literally feel people breathing down my neck and in the last fifty meters I realized that I was paying for my jump up the hill to get better position. I got that feeling of being mired in quicksand and not being able to move my legs fast enough Sure enough right at the line Michael Walthall, a fomer Louisville Cyclery rider, came by me on the left. I knew he had won it and thought he had me by half a wheel. He was ecstatic and later after seeing the finish photo told me that he got me by about four inches. Donuts cranked it out for sixth place after some leaning on other riders which is another story and thankfully I didn't get to play a role in. Andrew Bagnato came in a respectable 17th, with Peter in 26th after riding a hell of a hard race and attacking a ton animating the action. Good job Peter. Brandon rode about half the race before his legs came unglued riding his second race of the day and Eric unfortunately got caught in a pileup with two to go but still got up and finished the race. I told Eric that he looked really good and was in good position during much of the race. He looked at me and said, "Well, I just decided to follow you the whole race".
The team rode well and all season long with the lone exception of Hugo we've ridden hard, smart and aggressively. Seeing Kit and Martins upgrade to Category 2 and now having Eric and Brandon upgrade to Category 3 is a great thing to witness. At the ripe old age of 45 it's great to see the talent on this team develop. Come next season it will be a lot of the same faces but in different categories for 2011. Great job and congratulations to everyone on the Feedback Sports p/b Raining Faith Massage team.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Movin On Up!
Congratulations to Kit Recca, Eric Steele, and James Hammond for their recent category upgrades!
Kit Recca - now a cat 2!
Eric Steele - now a 3!
James Hammond - now a 3!
(Picture from 303cycling.com)
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