Tune-Up

This past weekend was a great chance for me to relax, enjoy, and tune-up for the Epic this coming weekend. Rest, relaxing, and stress free situations are under appreciated so anytime when I can combine all into a weekend its good all the way around.  I traveled with Erin down to Green Bay where we met up with my family Saturday morning to enjoy Packer Family Weekend. The event completely amazes me that 60,000 people come out to sit at a stadium and watch others practice their sport. The infatuation with these athletes and teams are incredible. It all starts at a young age too. The looks on my nephews faces when they walked into Lambeau was priceless.

Before we joined up for Family Night Erin and I pedaled our way around Green Bay over to the East side bike path through DePere. It was very busy being a beautiful Saturday morning but it made a great route to spin the legs, enjoy a ride and get a couple efforts in before a night of family fun and the next days WORS race. The best part was Erin's alertness when she spotted a coffee house downtown GB. We spun back around at the end of our ride and enjoyed incredible coffee and pastries that didn't blow you away with sweetness. The coffee and pastry combo was near perfection. 

In the past, the WORS Kewaskum Sunburst Showdown can be a bit of a bore. Held at a ski hill that runs you up and down and through open field single track it didn't really appeal to the true mountain biker. But this year they aimed to impress and they did a great job with a course redesign. Not knowing the course and coming in a little fatigued my goal was to conserve and stay top 10. The lead-out line was quite long and going into the first single track we were still a good size group. A bobble by a lead rider ahead placed a gap between the front 5 or so and back. Not wanting to dig too deep I decided not to chase back on. I felt like maybe I could have but stuck to the conservative plan I went in with. Approaching lap 2 my bike had a some ghost shifting which was caused by a loose rear skewer. A quick stop and I chased back onto Isaac and Justin.

Most of the race I allowed them to do the pace making and stayed comfortable. Justin put in an awesome lap 3/4 effort and he pulled back Corey. We rode the 3 of us until the final lap. We were also joined by Ted H. Between the 3 they put in a couple subtle final lap moves where I was content to just stay steady. I fought for the final piece of single track and popped in 3rd. Rode that to the finish for 9th place. 

All in all it was a good ride, race, and effort. I stuck to my plan, conserved energy for the up coming week, and felt good doing it. Now that the work is truly done it will be a lot of bike prep and body prep leading to my favorite weekend of the year. Until then :)  

Season Overload

Time is thin. Or is time is short. Either way... I need more of it. Time is precious and it always seems like we
could all use a few extra hours in a day. Whether that be used for rest or to jam a few more things in our already busy lives. I was quite aware that this "season overload" was going to happen. It is a point in the season when training and racing reach a peak. A point where rest days are used to do everything else in a normal life rather than used for resting legs, cleaning bikes, and writing blogs. Sometimes cleaning the house, cutting the grass, and tending to family becomes more important. At this point we become more than professional cyclists. We also become professional time managers.

Here is a little run down since the Keweenaw Chain Drive back on June 15th. 

• WORS #5 - Red Flint Firecracker: 9th overall. Had a good start, almost too good. I put in an effort 1/2 way through the 1st lap and paid for my effort after a counter effort from another rider. I hung with the lead group of 8 for the first 2 laps but small yo-yo efforts put me in a hole and I moved back fast. 
• WORS #6 - Pro XCT Subaru Cup: 29th in the Cross Country and 18th in the Short Track. I entered this weekend with no expectations other than racing within myself after blowing up the week prior at the Red Flint. I felt like I had good legs and better yet I rode my race. The results are not stellar but sometimes its more about the ride rather than the race.
• USA Cycling MTB Nationals: 34th in the Cross Country and 35th in the Short Track. Once again, these are not the results I was looking for. I wanted to go top 20 in both events but things didn't shake out. I did have good legs but some other things didn't fall into place. I got a 32nd call up in the XC and wasn't aggressive on the start which shot me back to about the last 10 riders for the start. After a 30 sec stand still into the single track it was all make up efforts from there. My chase was good considering a hard over the bars crash on lap 1. I chased back up from the high 40's into 34th. It was almost the same deal for the Short Track. 40th something call up out of 55 and then got caught behind a broken chain. Worked my way but up to the 30's before getting pulled. The positive note was I was feeling good working my way back up. I'll take it as another experience in the book considering I know I can finish higher with the previous weekends national results.

That leads us up to this weekend where I'll be in Green Bay for Packers family weekend with my wife and family and then onto WORS #7 Sunburst for Sunday. This time of year is my favorite. The Ore to Shore is in the air and you can always feel the buzz around the community. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world for the next 2 weeks.  Although, ask me yesterday after training in rain and 48 degrees and I might of said otherwise. But as always I survived and I'm here to train another day.

Gadget Update: I purchased a Jawbone while out in PA for Nationals. It's an interesting little gadget you wear on your wrist. It marks your steps and motion for the day but the reason I purchased it is because it supposedly tracks your sleep/rest. As stated above, time is very thin and one thing that I sacrifice sometimes is rest/sleep which is a huge "no-no" as a endurance athlete. I'm hoping this will help me appreciate and pay attention to my rest at night. So far through the first 7 days I'm averaging 6:40 of sleep a night but it is kind of screwed being I only got 3 hours the night I traveled back form MTB Nationals. Most nights I'm getting close to 8 which is my goal. The data also shows how much of that is light sleep vs. deep sleep. Cool stuff!

Keweenaw Chain Drive

Courtesy of XMATIC

The Keweenaw Chain Drive has done a spectacular job creating a mountain bike event. Combined with a great town and awesome trails the race is set up for sure success. It has become one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

Erin and I were adopted by the Peariso family and the Adventure 212 crew for the weekend. Along with the McFaddens (Chain Drive regulars), my teammate Ron Williams, and our new friend Ann we had incredible company for the weekend. We all met up on Friday and pre-ride the course, more goofing around, on Aunt Flow and the River Trail. We did have enough of an attention span to realize the course was running backwards this year and also picked out a few spots to one up Brian M. from his forever reign of the top step here.

Courtesy of XMATIC

As mentioned, the race was run backwards. For the most part you would never know because it was just as fun always keeping us smiling. Not many trails can be run both ways and have as much flow as the KCD trails. The event organizers did an incredible job with the changes. Oh the race, we did race. But another great feature I love about the KCD is I never feel like I'm racing. It hurts, we go fast, we compete, but I enjoy the ride just as much as the race. It was almost an identical replay of last year on the start but this time around it was Brian that pushed the start pace rather than me. I wanted the cemetery KOM but did not match the jump the others had. I went into the single track 4th wheel behind Jordan W. and Pete K. Jordan dropped a chain and soon after I went around Pete to bridge to Brian. Brian and I tempo'd the first few miles and created a gap but soon after Pete bridged back with a great effort and then Jordan and Chris bridged just as the single track started. Things became quite uneventful for awhile as I rode on the front just allowing the trails to be enjoyed.

Courtesy of XMATIC

Just over Midway Brian switched to the front and added some juice to the pace. Jordan and I stuck for the 20 plus minute attack!! I told him that 2 minutes more and he would have had me ;) He mellowed again until 3 miles left. Just as we crossed the river Brian made another jump and off he went not to be seen again. I didn't make much attempt to chase it knowing I couldn't. I allowed Jordan to come around and figured I'd stay steady maybe to slowly bring it back during the last 2 mile climb. It was not in the cards and I stayed in my 3rd spot to the finish. Cooked but not fried. It was so much fun this year and I'm so glad I'm learning to smile during races and have fun. The KCD keeps the grassroots in all of us and that is where we all started.

"Single Speed" - WORS #3 Wausau

I've never been tempted to ride a single speed despite hearing that once you ride one you will want one. My gears are good to me and I like them. I'm not sure the last time a single speeder won a big race showing me that gears are worth it for the big shows. Well, besides Lalonde at the Cheq 40! But lets not get crazy here and compare anyone to that single speed phenom. He is a rare exception to speed without gears. He may be faster with no gears than he is with gears. Even his win at a Triple Crown doesn't draw my interest but last weekends race I felt as if I experienced my first single speed and I don't like it.

The Red Eye Rendezvous was giving us our 3rd weekend in a row of WORS action. A good city, a great course, and better company makes it easy to gear up 3 weekends in a row. We had a full team on hand and it is a nice treat when we can all pre-ride together, have dinner, and enjoy the other half of the sport.....Comradery. The weather even treated us to a near perfect day of sunshine and 60's.

I was a bit off from the beginning on race day when I lost my number plate, started my warm up late, and ate my bar too close to competition. My prep is as important as my race so it was not a good start for me even though I did fine my number and warm-up was had just not at the level I prefer. The start was good. I grabbed the whole shot into the first few turns without a problem. I settled until the single track and made my way to the top 5 for the first section. The course favors aggression as we do so much two track between single track it pays off at the end of the day to be upfront as much as you can. I did this well on the first lap but wasn't so successful on lap 2. I yo-yo ed a bit and was worked over catching back on. Not having a lot in reserve on the day these little efforts were crucial.

Lap 3 we pulled around in one big lead group with about 7 guys. Nobody really played much ball on the two track and we all battled for the single track. That was until Tristan had seen enough and hammered the pace on the front side climb. He hit it and I didn't react.. My mind was made up at that point from other efforts I wasn't going to burn another match. I figured steady would pull me along the rest of the day. That is when my bike felt like a single speed. No fast gears and no slow gears. Just 1 "go steady" gear. This wasn't a terrible thing but for the final 2 laps I had what I had. There was no go under and no going over just as I believe a single speed would feel like... Then again I've never ridden one so how would I know. :)

All in all, a good day for riding a physical and mental single speed. I rolled in 7th place at 2 1/2 minutes behind the leaders. All was made happy when I found out my teammate, Cooper Dendel, took her first WORS and pro win. What a huge accomplishment for her, our team, and the UP!! Here is to much more success Coop! We all celebrated appropriately with celebratory burritos.

   

"3 Up" - WORS #2 Rhinelander

It is a good day when you wake up in your own bed, the sun is shining, and the morning temps comfortable. It wasn't even 10 am yet and as I was packing the bikes it was already a great day. A few days before Sunday I had decided to travel the morning of WORS #2 Rhinelander. I do not get to do it often and there is something extra motivating and special about preparing a meal the night before and sleeping in your own house before a race. Pre-riding for a race course is one way to prepare but the other is taking care of your body and mind. 

The lead out and lead lap was good. I was positioned well in the start and was comfortable up to the hole shot. I didn't get in exactly where I preferred but sitting 4th wasn't a bad place to be. Nathan G. pounded out a great first lap. A few times making me question my effort as the dust filled my mouth creating a cotton ball on the dry course. A fairly uneventful first lap and we wrapped around for lap 2 in no hurry on the 2 track leading back out and our 4 became 5. Back into the single track and once again I rode 4th wheel. About a 1/4 way into the lap the unthinkable happened. I dropped a chain. XX1 has been solid I didn't believe it was possible to drop a front chain but it had happened. I tried to finesse it back on but nothing going. A stick had found it sway in-between the ring and chain causing it to come off. In the end, not result of the incredibly solid XX1. A fast stop and I patiently worked it back onto the ring. Any panic in this situation and I find it is takes longer than just staying calm and taking your time. The 3 rode away quick and Justin P then passed. I had been feeling pretty good so without panic I was in chase mode. Hitting every hill and punching every corner I slowly bridged the gap. It took about 5 or so minutes of high effort but I was back on. I took a moment to recover on the back and we rolled around for lap 3 in a group of 4.

Once again, we were in no hurry on the 2 track leading back to the single track which lead to a bit of impatience by me. Also, panic of Big D's teammate, the pedaling "Wicked Witch" - Chris P, steadying his way back to us. I took the front and a higher pace into the single track. I slowly gained speed taking my attack at the front. It did enough to bring the lead group down to Nathan, Big D, and me. The legs were good after the attack and in hindsight I should have just kept going until something happened with me or the group but I seen this as mistake #1 of a couple I made in the last lap. It is a hard decision to make in battle when the guys that tag your wheel are as solid as they come in single track. A rider better be on their game to ride Nathan or Big D of their wheel in tech sections.

Lap 4 went down the same as 3. I lead the entire lap but instead kept a pace to keep people from catching instead of a pace to drop riders. The 3 of us knew it was going to come down to a sprint so in my mind any wasted energy during the final lap was a loss. The final 1/2 mile is a 2 track perfect for cat and mouse games. Nathan came to the front and I came by his side blocking any chance for Big D to take a jump. The fear of Big D and his power is quite daunting and forced me into mistake another mistake. A childhood rule, "He who hesitates has loss." A coach use to yell that at me all the time and sure enough 20 years later here it was. Nathan jumped and I responded. I thought it was a perfect set up for Big D to come off of my wheel and around both of us but instead I led him array. A big mind lapse and thinking the finish line was where we started I made a small turn towards the wrong way. It was quickly fixed but it left no time to catch Nathan and no time for Darrin to come around me.

Not often you get into a 3 up sprint for the win. A blast it was and a lot learned. A victory so close, .9 seconds, it is hard to enjoy 2nd immediately but after a good CD you realize that any podium position at a WORS event is a good day. Thanks to Darrin and Nathan for a competitive day of racing.

Legs Say "Go" - WORS #1 Iola

It is not very often in racing when your legs are screaming "go" and your body yells back "no." It is most always the other way around. I suppose if you start to do this racing thing long enough your bodily experiences will find a new way to surprise you more often than not.

The site of Iola is always a good one. It is site of a new day, new opportunity, new goals, but the re-resurrection of  MTB fun. Training and racing accumulates a bucket full of pain and frustrations but bring everyone's same struggles to one venue and all becomes worth it. The unique thing about knobby tire bikes is we all share the same passion and love for the sport and no matter what ones experience in the past days or weeks WORS brings us together. Ahh yes, it is good to be back.

We were welcomed with a humid and hot 85 degree day. The sun was hiding but it didn't decrease the intensity factor of the heat. I do not usually mention the heat and can fair well in it but bring a Upper Peninsula boy down from his unseasonable 40-60 degree breezy climate into 85 degrees of humidity and the body may react. I came in feeling good and not all that nervous about the challenge in front of me. I had a lot of excitement to analyze the fitness and skill. Although my analysis is not exactly what I expected I'm happy with what came from the first effort.

As most expected the lead out was tight and competitive. The elite field has a mass of riders that can stick the start effort making positioning a battle. The change to the Iola lead out extended this battle and the front group stuck together a lot longer than usual. I lost some aggression at the start but managed to jump on the lead group in about 8th/9th. Cole was off the front and Tristan lead the chase the majority of the first lap. The group winded around the smooth single track still in tact back to the start/lap position. The 2nd time up the start climb I made the decision to ease up on my effort to keep in site the finish that was still 1:20 minutes away. The group rode away and I my objective became "Peariso" power. Known to others as "steady" or "old man" power. Even at that, my legs felt the need to go but no response from the energy stores to allow them.

Chris getting the edge in the last corner

My red line effort on the first lap altered my decision making and started to show in my line choices. The start of the 3rd lap I recovered as Justin P. approached. I jumped onto his wheel forcing myself to choose a better line and bring my alertness back. He rode well and I felt like we gained some of the time back I lost on a slow lap 2. Most of lap 4 of spent solo and all of lap 5 until the last 500 meters. The last 1/2 mile of the course I allowed my guard to drop and didn't take notice of 2 chasing riders. In no hurry I approached Michelle P. and she kindly gave me room to pass where I declined knowing 2 track approached. I sprinted the 2 track and felt someone on my wheel not knowing who. We went onto the last section of 2 track and out of nowhere the other Peariso contended me for hole shot into the last piece of single track to the finish. We ran it right to the last moment and he nabbed it. 9th to 10th in the last 500 m.

A number is a number but a result is not always the result. It was good to be back and to get a picture of the year. The late start to the WORS season leaves us with 3 straight weeks of racing. Saddle up, it's going to be a fast one.

2013 RASTA Rally

We have waited, waited and have waited some more. For the mountain bike season that is. The Northern part of Wisconsin and all of the Upper Peninsula have been buried by late season snow and lingering fall weather. The inclement weather has prolonged the off season or the fat bike season, depending on how you look at. The mountain bike season has traditional come by this time of year and yet very few riders could claim any race results or effort as of May 11^th. The RASTA Rally held in Rhinelander, WI was the first for many to seal up their tubeless knobby tires and feel the single track dirt beneath them.

The RASTA is one of the few races in the North Country that could claim their original date. Even with that, Mother Nature did it’s best to keep us away. Driving through snow from Ishpeming to past Iron River things were not looking promising but as I inched closer to Rhinelander the snow slowly vanished. As the snow vanished the temps fell along with it.  A brisk 31 degrees at arrival made it tough to get into the mid-summer MTB mindset. Ole’ man winter fought but Susie sunshine fought back. The sun slipped through the clouds giving each of us a small hope of rising temps.

With a small crowd on hand the start line was scattered. This was a surprise as I thought people would flock to the first opportunity to ride single track this far North. A relaxed countdown and the first “go” of the season was released. With an absence of race efforts my intention was to mock a high effort start as we see in the WORS season week in and week out to acclimate to the brutishness both mentally and physically. With no care of who was around or on my wheel my eyes stayed forward. Around the first bend Justin Piontek, the other pro on hand, took his turn applying the same start effort I had attempted. After the 1 mile lead-out I took the hole shot into the single track. With no concern of energy for the 2 hours to come I pounced at each hill and turn. Justin glued to my wheel we extended our 2 man lead. My effort felt hard and fast but what wouldn’t feel hard after 5 months of no MTB racing. 1/3 way into the lap Justin takes control. He applied the pressure and now my turn to keep glued. I let a small gap open as I allowed my early efforts to replenish. The hills of Rhinelander smoothed out to flowing single-track. This allowed me to creep closer until we popped back out a 2 track climb. Taking back to the front I settled into an effort. As the terrain went up again I slowly opened a gap. Prior to this my single-track skill was far from being envied. A 5 month layoff of dirt was showing its way with me. The slowly forming gap allowed my mind to relax and I allowed my Trek SF100 do its job. I pointed the 29” wheels and the Maxxis Icon gripped.

The first lap had been completed in 1:02. Not knowing the 2^nd lap was shortened from the first I managed my effort for the next 20 minutes until I noticed I approached a section closer to the end. Figuring I either missed a turn or they cut a section off I picked up my pace tapping the pedals to the finish.  The sun had now started to come out in which I figured was perfect timing so it could shine down on my smile from completing my first MTB race effort of the year. To a course that I figure not to be my specialty Rhinelander has always been good to me. A win in the legs but more importantly it was a race effort long overdue waiting for ole’ man winter to give way to the sun shine of spring.          

2012 Iceman Cometh

This is by far one of my most favorite races of the year.  One of the most challenging too.  The challenge is not the nature of the course but instead the late season training, competitive field, and aggressive start.  When your season starts in February the months of October and November can be come mentally challenging.  Especially when the UP turns to rain and 30's.  The Iceman has become a National level race with some of our top riders in the Midwest, America, and in the past the world.  The start! Most way say, "You can't win the race in the start but you can loose it."  This doesn't stand more true than in this race.

I got to Traverse City early this year.  I arrived on the Tuesday prior to the race.  I wanted the the week to be a full time bike racer.  Train, eat, and rest.  I wanted to give myself no excuses when my season ended Saturday afternoon.  All planned perfectly but sometimes things you just cannot control.  Tuesday I arrived at my condo and unpacked in just enough time to stock up on food and supplies.  When I rested my head that night I felt the first sign of the common cold, a soar throat.  I woke up Wednesday dry and stuffed.  The plan was to do course recon and intervals on Wednesday but between the sideways rain outside and the start of the my cold I made the decision to ride the trainer indoors to help along the recovery process.  For the whole day I consumed water, vitaman C, Zicam, and cough drops as if if were my dietary plan.  On Thursday the weather got a bit better but the cold did not.  I needed to ride and needed recon so I rode from Williamsburg Road to the finish.  The course was packed and fast but the better part is felt open on the bike.  Friday I woke up more dry and stuff than the day before but the body wasn't too bad.  I did my traditional out to 7K and back openers and then it was back to the condo for rest.

The Race
Temps were cool but not too bad.  The worse part was the start line waiting for the gun as the chill ate to the bone.  As USA cycling does it, the gun went off in an anticlimactic way.  Within 30 seconds I had made my way to the front. The very front.  Iceman is one of the most aggressive starts I have every taken part in.  The battle at the front is ruthless and the first couple of turns and bottlenecks will make or break your race. So I found myself leading it out into the first corner and I was fine with that effort.  Down the straight stretch I stayed in front until a few moved around.  This happened to be right before the bottleneck and I got shuffled into the middle.  The challenge of riding at the front is fighting off the surges you can't see coming from behind.  Just as we reached the dirt I was farther back than I fought to be and wanted to be.  I had to be 25-30 back.  With the single track coming earlier this year I was not in good position.

Into the first critical single track the race was one very large line.  I got stuck behind 2 riders that allowed that line to get away and I could not find a free and open spot to make a move to join it.  On the first set of two track and I was now digging to attach to the group.  I bridged up to the back of the group but had noticed that their was a front group already starting to form and to get away.  I missed it!  This was about the time I knew my legs were good, my body was fine despite my cold, and my mind was in gear.  So to miss my opportunity in the first 10 min of the race was a huge let down.  I jumped to the front of the chase group and worked with a few to bring back the lead group but we never could catch them.  2 groups were formed which made the rest of the race quite predictable   The front guys were 10-11 strong so they rotated and kept the pace high.  We were also 10-11 strong but only a few did the work.

Eventually our group was whittled down a bit as the course had a lot more single track than years prior.  This pushed the true roadies out the back.  Skill was more important this year.  With about 10k remaining I was still feeling good and had high hopes of finishing at the front of the group.  The problem was so were the other guys I was with.  Tristan made a pretty good move up the final hill before the single track and I went into last in my group.  It spit us out into another hill and before I knew it I was disconnected.  I pounded each of the last hills dropping 1 guy along the way and finished on my own in 19th.

I had a good day.  I couldn't use my cold as excuse.  My legs were strong, my body was good, my bike perfect, and my mind in line.  In a race that you need a good start I did not have one.  Despite my finish outside my race goal I was pleased with my performance.  Sometimes we have to look at the overall picture rather than the finish #.  The season is long and the effort is hard to dwell on a number.  The race is incredibly fun and the atmosphere is like no other.  It is tough to be disappointed when you are involved in such an great event.                

WORS Overall Standings

A couple weekends ago was the Wisconsin Off Road Series banquet.  This is held as a wrap to the season to acknowledge a seasons worth of accomplishments for the overall finishers.  This year my goal at the beginning of the season was a top 5.  I reached my goal finishing 4th so I attended the banquet to celebrate the accomplishment.

Even though the banquet signifies the end of a season I was still not done.  So before I could celebrate I joined up with Chris P. in Amherst to pedal out some intervals on the rail trail in preparation for Iceman.  At this time Chris was in full off/beer season swing but he loves his bike enough to suffer with me one last time.  Crazy old man.  We had a great workout and now it was onward towards celebration and fun.

My goal was a top 5 overall finish for the series.  With the the week in and week out competition that shows up at any given WORS race I knew it would be a tough goal to achieve.  My final position of either 3rd or 4th came down to the last race in a battle with Darrin B. from Adventure 212.  He got the better of me in the final race and pushed me back to 4th overall but this was still within my goal.  In just 3 short years I was able to go 12th, 7th, and now 4th overall.  I'm blessed to have such a great team, coach, and support crew to keep me healthy throughout the 12 races.  Not only do you have to be good on the bike but luck and support have to be on your side.

National Story here.

Video Interview

2012 Mud Bowl - WORS #12 Sheboygan

What would a 12 race mountain bike series be without an annual mud race?  A 12 race mountain bike series!  The WORS series seems to have an epic mud race every year and this year did not disappoint.  Ironically, we had one of our driest riding seasons we have had in a few years but raced in the rain more this year than prior.   4 of the 12 races were raced in the rain this year, Iola, Rhinelander, Suamico, and the most recent Sheboygan.  As any champion would it saved its best for last and WORS did that with WORS #12.

The weather watching started early in the week after rumors of cold and rain emerged on the iPhone, iPad, and even the iMac, each device spreading the same rumor.  In the 4 hour drive down south on Saturday it never stopped raining, rumors confirmed.  The next morning we woke up to sideways rain and a 30 minute rain delay which would do nothing but allow the course to be stirred and mixed with each drop of precipitation. 

We sprinted out on pavement for 100 yards shooting into grass and that is where the challenge started.  The first blade grass sucked your wheel in as if we were fighting dropping into a black hole.  We were around the first few corners and the bike, kits, and bodies were covered in mud.  Sliding down the first single track I was in 5^th position and the literally slid into 4^th when Nathan G. was forced into a line that threw him and his bike overboard.  It didn’t take each of us long to realize that bike handling would be overshined by any fitness a rider displayed.  Each section had its own and new type of challenge.  Off camber mud slides, uphill tire slips, buried roots, flooded trail, brakeless log jumps, and river crossings that were quickly turning into lakes.  I will allow the enclosed pictures to tell the story rather than making up descriptive words that don’t do the conditions justice.

With each mile of trail the more skilled riders took ownership and rode a race of their own.  There wasn’t much more you could do than just race what you could manage.  Cole H. was immediately up the trail alone and Marko L. was close behind.  The way they were displaying riding skill they were sure to stay away the rest of the race.  Darrin B. and I were behind.  Not so much in chase but riding what could be managed.  Darrin would put small gaps on me in the more technical sections but I allowed my patience to stay intact on the first lap and would bridge them back.  Starting the 2^nd lap I allowed my race management and my patience to disappear.  I attempted to put a move in on a drier part of the trail and pushed my pace.  My chosen pace put me outside of my technical limit and soon thereafter I was sliding, slipping, and falling.  I slid into a tree and caught my hand the wrong way causing an instant throb.  From that moment I lost patience, confidence, and enjoyment.  All huge “no noes” in XC racing.  I knew better but with each wheel rotation the course got worse and I was exposed each time.  By the end lap 2 Darrin had put a gap on that put him out of reach. I was joined by Nathan as he made his way up from his 1^st lap fall.  He too put a gap on me that put him out of reach.  With ½ lap remaining I had another racer ride up and it was Mike P.  We switched spots a few times but he took control in the last ¼ mile as I allowed my mind to beat me ruthlessly. 

I came in 6^th place after riding in 3^rd and 4^th for most of it.  It was disappointing to drop a few spots but after having time to reflect I’m the only one to blame.  Not my fitness, not my skill, but me.  At first I wanted to blame the weather as anyone could blame the weather and conditions for a poor ride but I was exposed just as every other rider was.  I allowed my biggest competitor beat me, my mind.    

The beautiful thing about WORS racing, even in the midst of a Midwest monsoon, is the people involved.  As I allowed my mind to beat me Darrin was yelling encouragement to me the whole time.  My competitor, the one I was racing against to claim a 3^rd overall series spot with was yelling for me to keep going, to keep with it, to stay focused.  I am grateful for what we have even if I’m still cleaning mud from out of my ears. 

WORS #11 Bear Paw

The WORS season is quickly approaching its final races.  As sad as it is to see the season and year reaching its end it is always a great day to be at the final 2 WORS events.  They are 2 of the best courses we do all year and timed perfectly with the best time of year, fall.

White Lake, WI was the race site for this past Sunday and only being 2 1/2 hours from home I was able to sleep in my own bed the night before which is always an advantage.  The ride down south was one of the brightest I've seen in quite awhile.  The yellow on the leaves were vibrant and the air temperature perfect creating a must smile attitude.  Perfect before lining up.


My legs were good in warm up but I didn't know what to expect coming off of my worst week of the year 2 weeks prior.  I had a good week of training and some longer base miles to get my legs back under me.  The first climb came and I settled at the front until Cole took off.  I was happy to see this and knew I could respond.  At the top the attack took 4 of us with including myself, Mike P. and Nathan.  I enjoyed the pace up the climb which set confidence knowing my legs should be good. After the first single track  I let a little gap to to Mike and Cole.  On the next flat I passed Nathan and eventually by the end of the lap attached to Mike but Cole had another 10 seconds on Mike.  I always had them in sight but it took a full lap to get back on.  The course is technical and their skill kept them just out of reach until the two track.  At the end of lap 1 Mike clipped a pedal and was forced off the bike and I was chasing Cole alone.  The start of lap 2 I was with him.  He took the lead in all the single track and I did some work on the 2 track.  Each technical section he would take small lead but nothing I couldn't bring back on a hill or two track.  Although I believe this is where he noticed his advantage  On lap 3 he gave me the lead into some single track.  This ended up being my worst lap and I just couldn't find a rhythm on the bike.  By mid lap Cole took advantage of that and was off the front.  Ending lap 3 I noticed Nathan was coming up behind me with the momentum of a Porsche on a back country road.  He had found his engine and looked on fire.  We were together for a half a lap and I did work on the 2 track as he would shoot in front on the single track.  Eventually his skill rode away from me and left me back in 3rd.  I finished with a descent lap and felt good at the end.

I was happy to come away with 3rd place and some good points towards the overall series.  I wasn't completely satisfied though as I had the legs to win the race but not the skill.  On a course where skill outshines fitness it just wasn't my day up against some smooth riders.  The win would have granted by true wish so I could bring Copper up on the top step with me for his first ever podium visit.  Sunday was one of Coppers last days with us as cancer took the better of him.  I wanted badly to to win for him and show him off on the top step but in true Copper fashion he was just as happy on the 3rd step as he would have been on the top.

National Article

UPCX Iron Cross

This is always a great time of the year, UPCX comes back.  The UP has a growing following which has allowed the series to bring 9 races to the UP this year.  9! CX races in the Upper Peninsula.  The organizers and volunteers have really done a great job bringing this to us.  The best part of it might be that it is only $10 and you still get all the dirt, sand, mud, grass, pavement, and barriers that any other cross race offers.  

I won't be able to make a majority of the races because of my MTB schedule but I'm taking advantage of everyone I can when I can.  The first was this past weekend at Al Quaal.  It sure is nice to be able to roll out your back door and be at the race venue in 2 1/2 minutes.  Makes for a special and enjoyable race experience.  

I didn't have much of a goal going in other than to stay safe and up right so that I could race another day.  Especially that I had WORS #11 the next day in White Lake.  I kept the up right portion of the deal but gambled with the safe part in the 2nd corner.  Only doing 1 warm up lap and not knowing the speed into the 2nd corner I overshot it with Colby just ahead of me.  I ground his rear cable in my spokes which might be the only thing that kept us upright.  The crash averted I was back on the attack.  I quickly moved out front and by the top of the first run up I had a small gap.  I hit the first lap and second lap at top speed giving myself some breathing room for the ramainder of the race.  I put it in cruise control until the last lap where I challenged myself to put out my best lap time.  My first lap was 5:59 and my final lap was 5:53.  I came away with the win but I was just as happy that my effort was still solid by the 10th and final lap.  

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival

Courtesy and Rights: skinnyski.com

I love amusement parks.  Better yet, I love amusement parks with fast roller coasters that have big climbs and huge drops.  The ones that give you a permanent smile as you fly up, down and around.  It sounds like I’m talking about Great American but this past weekend it was the Cheq 40.

My first attempt at the coveted Cheq 40 was this past weekend.  I have heard about the event for years.  How could you not?  It is a staple in the Midwest cycling scene and part of the Midwest Triple Crown.   I’ve tried in the past to get an entry into the race but I have gotten drawn.  This year I earned an entry from the director himself, Gary Crandall, after winning the Cable Classic earlier in the year.  I was happy to get the win in the Cable Classic but the personal invite from Mr. Crandall was a highlight of that weekend.  It was an invite into the largest mass start race with the strongest riders from the country.  I’m in!

I pre-rode the last 13 miles of the course on Friday with the eventual 2^nd place finisher Mike Anderson and 4^th place finisher Mike Phillips to get familiar with the infamous Fire tire climb and the Birkie rollers.  They were not so scary in the warm-up but I could tell they would both bust your legs and pound your heart after 30 miles of racing.  My next recon session was the morning of the race as I rode across Rosie’s field and over the first couple of climbs.  All of the advice led to the conclusion that you needed to be in the right spot here or you won’t be in the right spot later.

Courtesy and Rights: skinnyski.com

The rollout was good for me.  I started 1^st row and stayed in the front for the first left and right hand turn.  Rolling onto Highway 77 I got shuffled around a bit but for the most part was always in the top 20.  Rolling into Rosie’s field I got sucked down in the spongy grass which moved me back just a bit.  Not too panicked as I was still on the defending champion’s wheel.  Entering the climbs I was amazed at the amount of riders fighting for the front group.  There had to be 30 or more fighting for wheels.  Just as the course turns downwards I was slightly disconnected and this is where my first tactical error and lack of course knowledge hurt me.  I figured the downhill would bring be back to them but the hard tempo by two world class road riders kept me off the back.  Rather than risking a redline effort and a possible blowout later in the race I decided to establish with the 2^nd group on the trail. 

The 2^nd group was about 10-12 riders including the strong Eppen tandem.  Funny thing, I ate dinner with them the night before and joked how I didn’t like to ride their wheel because of the power they put into the bike and here I was 4 miles into the race sitting on their wheel.  The lead group was only about 20 seconds up and the Eppen's and I wanted to dig to catch.  We put in our efforts but the others in the group either didn’t have it or did want it because a real effort was never combined to catch back.  The Eppen’s and I continued to pull and push the pace for most of the 1^st half.  Eventually the strong climbing and the Eppen’s extreme fast descending broke the group down little by little and every so often we would catch a rider or two that was disconnected from the blistering pace of the lead group.  The significant catch for me was when we caught Isaac Neff and Matias Perret.   A move was attempted with Isaac to split the group right before Fire tower but was unsuccessful but it showed me that Isaac wanted nothing to do with the large group as I was also starting to get uncomfortable in it.  We started fire tower and Isaac and Gregg Brandt pulled away.  The horror stories of the Birkie rollers to come kept my pace below what I was capable of, tactical error #2.  Reaching the top I realized I should have went with those two and pushed hard over the top.  I dropped the group in my effort but was not connected to the 2 wheels I wanted and was now sitting in no man’s land.  I put in a huge effort to catch them but never did catch back on.  In my effort I realized I was keeping a good gap to the chasing group.  Whether they would catch me or not, I was not going to make it easy because I didn’t want to pull around a group anymore.  I attacked by myself just as the Birkie rollers began.  Eventually during the relentless climbing I was joined by Pat Lemieux.  This is also where my permanent grin was developed.  Even during a time when each hill was tearing my legs apart I found time to smile as the each up and down felt like an amusement ride.  Approaching the last 3 miles I put my head down and kept forward knowing that the Eppen train could possibly roll towards us.  At 2 to go they did.  I caught the wheel and figured I would get them on the few hills that remained but both the Eppen’s and Lemieux rode away as the Birkie rollers and the tempo that followed proved to do me in.  I took the time to enjoy my entry into the spectacle that the Cheq 40 has created.  I was riding in 15^th place and gave one last dig to delight the massive crowds that you only see at a few races around the country.

I had goals for a bit better result but for my first attempt I am very pleased.  The course, the race, and the hype all stood up to what I had been told.  I enjoyed every moment of my Chequamegon experience.  The changing colors during the ride west, the pre-ride hand waves to familiar faces, the early morning rise to race prep, the rollout, the race, the hills, and the finish.  It all made up one of the greatest race experiences of my career.  Gary Crandall has truly started and continued an event that is made for everyone.  For us professionals all way down to the mom’s and dad’s introducing their child to their first race.  A must attend.  Is it September 2013 yet?

Tyler Gauthier

Professional Mountain Biker

Culvers Racing p/b Meyer Family Vision

www.letsbikemqt.com and www.culversracing.blogspot.com

UP...ing the fun - Riding a low

My days feels like seconds, my weeks like minutes, and my months like hours.  Even more than true in the months of August and September.  It seems that my weekends are stringed together with no time in between. By the time I unpack and wash and service my bike its all back in the truck ready for another weekend of racing.  Since the Ore to Shore I'm on my 6th straight weekend of racing and 3 of them included back to back Saturday/Sunday racing.  It may be the reason for the "low" in the title.

I love racing my bike....so this is a great time of year, but I also enjoy my training. Even though my training has went steady I don't feel like I've had a solid training week in awhile.  It gets jumbled up when you are racing so much and trying to recover from the weekends efforts.

UP...ing the Fun
In order to split the hectic race schedule I opted to join my 212 friends in Copper Harbor this year for the Fat Tire Festival.  Chris dragged me up there last year and showed me how to laugh while racing my bike.  Ever since then I knew going back year after year wasn't going to be a hard decision.

The normal culprits of Chris and Brian were there.  Along this year was the returning Fat Tire stud, Big D (Darrin B.).  He is the only 180# rider I know that can sing to you while going up hill at race pace!  Damn him.

As I expected, the 4 of us were off the front after descending the Flow trail and heading back up hill to the lodge.  Along with us was a Canadian rider that could rip downhill.  Chris only knows 2 big downhill rippers that can climb and one was with us, Big D.  He pounded the pedals and sure enough it was back down to the 4 of us.  Wait.. that was until the bottom of the red trail when the Canadian downhill ripper was back with us.  Dang, this guy could descend.  Thiss time I noticed my teammate Pete K. coming back to us.  I was on the front and slowed the pace a bit to let him back on.  I was stoked to have one of our Jr's in the front group.  Climbing back up to the lodge I felt the need to race... yup race.  I think I broke the rules with that, racing in Copper Harbor.  Anyways, once again it cut the group down to the 4 of us.  Descending the Red Trail to the finish Darrin and I created a gap but lapped riders kept bringing us back together.  Chris made the right move and called it truths until we were off the Red Trail.  It was the right call, it was getting dangerous with lapped riders.  We popped out on the road and Big D went.  I bridged, countered, sprinted, and crashed.  A hard right hand off camber turn to the finish sucked me down as Chris took the perfect line to the finish.  Down and bruised but not out.  I got up and finished 4th.

Riding a low
This past weekend I was back in Munising.  I say back but it has been 4 years since I raced the Tour da Woods.  It has always conflicted with other racing in the Midwest.  I came back and others came for the first time.  I figured they would.  4 of the 6 top 6 finishers were on the start line for the Tour da Woods!! Dang.  Add the eventual winner of the 2012 Tour, Mike Anderson, and we have whats called a stacked field.

We started fast, it got faster, got faster again, and then I popped.  I guess there is no easy way around it.  The pace was too high for me.  Mike Anderson made the first move. The way he rides I figured he would be gone off the front and not coming back so a good one to follow.  I bridged up, using a huge effort.  Got to his wheel and along came Cole and Brian.  Cole countered as soon as I bridged.  I pounded on the back to stay on.  Over some steep climbs I got disconnected a bit.  Jordan W. worked his way back and passed me.  Just before the single track I was back on the group.  The single track was twisty and Mike A. hit each twist with power.  I was at my limit from the effort to get back on so the power out of each corner was too much. 5 fee became 10 and 10 became 20.  I was off the back.  Onto the gravel road I was gaped by 40 seconds.  Right before entering the woods I had it down to 20 seconds but never closer.  Nearing the end did what I never do and regret, I gave in.  I rolled solo and slow the last few miles and finished 5th.  Quite disappointing to me.

A less than stellar result left me with 2 decisions for Sunday.  Stay home to train or drive to Geneva for some racing revenge.  Being a racer, I opted for the race.  3 hours down to Cole's house, a quick nights stay, and 3 more hours the next morning and I was sitting on the start line for WORS #10 Lake Geneva.  Standing on the start line might have been the fasted I moved all day.  Immediately during the start I knew power was not coming from my legs.  The lead pulled away like I had a string attached to my post pulling me backwards.  I went into defense mode the whole race.  Darrin chauffeured me for a lap until I caught Isaac and then he acted as my chauffeur.  I was passed in the last 1/4 mile and finished 11th.  My worst result of the year and broke my goal of not wanting to finish out of the top 10 in 2012.

The only thing to do. Take your humble pill and move onto the next week.  Realizing that the racing is taking a toll on me I took 2 days off in order to find my legs for a race this weekend.  Oh... its only the largest race in the Midwest. Cheq 40!  Stay tuned.  

  

WORS #9 Reforestation Ramble

I am in the dead center of a hot bed of racing.  Time fly's this time of year and with every passing weekend I cannot believe it is the next.  Quality training comes early in the week in hopes to be rested for the weekend and before I know it its Monday and I'm still without a race report, from 2 races ago!  Along with training and racing life still moves around you so the hustle of life keeps any free moment occupied.

Two weekends ago or the day after my victory at the MTU Ronde I took the line in Green Bay at WORS #9 Reforestation.  Unlike the beautiful weather we were dealt the day before the rain greeted us all morning creating a slippery mess for the first part of the race  This may be the rainiest year I've experienced for racing and the ironic thing is we are having a dry summer.  3 of the 9 races have been a muddy mess.  Anticipating the rain I made a front tire change the night before.  It paid off because our first lap was about staying upright.  The succeeding 2nd and 3rd lap were great as the the rain stopped and firmed up the sandy course allowing my semi wet tread tire to grip into every turn.

The race started fast as Cole H. had the idea of a solo race from the beginning.  A lead group of 7 broke into the single track and surprisingly stayed together for awhile as we twisted through the woods.  This course will usually break the group fairly soon because of the snake like turns.  The course turns so much it is tough to concentrate on the wheel in front of you much less 6 guys in front of you.  Mentioned because, as I floated on the back Cole broke away and was up the trail with a 45 second gap.  This explained our crazy fast pace at every opportunity, we were chasing.  I tried to move my way up the group before each piece of single track but didn't have it and got stuck on the back each time so every time we exited on to 2 track I was forced into red line to bridge the gap.  In a 2 hour race you can only burn so many matches before the legs tell you "No" if you want to survive.  A lap and half into the 3 lap race I let go of the group.  I spun into a short recovery and hooked up with Corey S. for the remainder of the race.  Nearing a 1/2 lap left I was recovered enough and riding smoothly to put in a last dig to the finish.  I was able to secure a 5th place with the effort.

I was pleased with my weekend of racing and happy to nab another WORS podium.  Things are going better than the goals that were put into place in the early season.  The racing season starts to get long this time of year so resting in training becomes more important each day.  I hope to keep finding the correct formula as I finish up this 6 week stretch of racing that started with the O2S.  I'll finish it up with the Cheq 40 in 2 weeks.  I'll follow that up with a short break and prep the body for the last 2 WORS races and some UPCX.    

         

Clean sweep at MTU Ronde for Culver's Racing

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

Houghton, MI 
Tyler Gauthier of Ishpeming and Cooper Dendel of Marquette captured the men's and women's editions of the 2012 Michigan Tech MTB Rondevous this weekend. Contested on the hilly and technical Michigan Tech Trails under hot and humid conditions, there was no place to hide. Downhills taxed nerves, uphills seared the lungs and the wide open fields in the lower reaches captured the sun's midday rays like a giant solar collector, delivering it's payload of photons onto the lycra clad bodies of the two-wheeled competitors.

An elite selection of three went clear early in the first of the two 12-mile laps. Pete Karinen (Atlantic Mine) set pace for fellow Culver's rider and team captian Tyler Gauthier. Also in the mix was defending champion Tom Carpenter of Marquette. The deck was shuffled several times before Gauthier made his move and set off for victory on his own early in second lap. Riding solo, Gauthier put over four minutes on his nearest competitor, Pete Karinen. Tom Carpenter finished third, just over three minutes down on Karinen. Jeff Squires, riding singlespeed, took fourth and is sure to be a factor in the singlespeed divison of this weekend's Bells's Beer Copper Harbor Trails Festival.

In the one-lap 12-mile race, it was Red Jacket rider Tim Kostner of Dodgeville who took the win. Michael Brothers of Houghton took second with Ken Wikgren rounding out the podium. Cooper Dendel of Marquette, riding for Culver's Cycling, made it 2 for 2 after her win in the Great Deer Chase with another victory. Second place in the women's division went to Kate Waring.

Story Courtesy of www.bikethekeweenaw.com

Tyler's Race Report

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

With most of the team on the line for the MTU Ronde it was my goal to include as many blue jerseys at the front as we could.  This was perfect day to throw the Jr's and woman's team to the front to gain some experience.

Our outstanding Jr. Pete K. and rising Jr. Cody M. were on the line.  I told them follow me and we will get to the front.  I also told Cooper, our knar shredding woman, to work hard to be with us.  Pete took the challenge serious and led the lead out for quite awhile.  I jumped in front to give his hard effort a break and then right before the single track Tom C. took the lead.  This stretched the group out a bit and Pete K. and I were the only ones of the team to make the break.   

Pete dug deep to stay with us but by the end of the 1st lap he was leading us through the single track.  It was an incredible feeling to see one of my Jr's at the front and wonderful to race with a teammate.  Starting lap 2 I went to the front to do some work for my guy and slowly noticed a gap was forming.  This was a good setup as it allowed Pete to learn how to race at the front with a teammate and then create a race of his own when a teammate has developed a lead.

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

On the 2nd lap I found a good groove and rode to a victory.  The win was good but I waited patiently at the finish line to see if Pete could make a race of his own.  Sure enough a few minutes later Pete rolled in by himself to secure 2nd place.

A perfect day! 

WORS #8 - Subaru Cup

It has been a week since Subaru Cup. We even had another WORS race since. That is the month of August for mountain biking in the Midwest though. It heats up and goes fast with racing every weekend.

Subaru Cup is quite the event. A large National Series race combined with the largest state series. It brings in a lot of local riders but because of the National tag brings most of the National guys too. It is also one of the only races we do in a year where the separate just us Pro's to duke it out on a mountain.

Another unique feature of the weekend is it is 2 days of racing. Cross Country on Saturday and Short Track on Sunday.




Cross Country
Coming off a good Ore to Shore and having good fitness for it I figure I might be able to carry over a ride into the Subaru Cup. What I didn't expect is my mind and body to tell me you put me through too much the last 8 weeks and I'm not coming today. Ore to Shore was such a target of mine I put a lot of physical and mental preparation into it and I suffered an Ore to Shore hangover duruing the XC race.

I had a decent call up for not having any UCI points. Somewhere around 20th out of 50 riders. My start wasn't too bad but I wasn't all that aggressive as I didn't want to burn the first match before the start climb. At the top of the climb the race was one long line of riders from 1st all the way back. I must have been around 20-25, not too bad. We stayed in the line and I followed TJ Woodruff and Mike P. for the entirety of the first lap. I didn't want to let a wheel go because that meant a several guys coming by. I had to ride outside of my comfort level too many times and the 1st lap zapped the little I had. Lap 2 was a decline, lap 3 was a disaster, and lap 4 was recovery. I had last quite a few spots up to that point but I continued to dig for what I had. Finally I lap 5 I found some juice and was able to get a decent final 2 laps. My middle laps dropped me down to 30th. At the end I was happy to make the cut and not get pulled. This was a small victory in the end as I had day where you battle "how good can you be when your bad."

Short Track
With little motivation from yesterdays blow up and tender legs I didn't know what to expect in the Short Track. The good thing is no matter how my legs feel after a hard effort I'm usually pretty strong on day 2. Because of my finish on day 1 my call up for the STXC was near the back. Immediately after the gun a pile up happened near the front. This is one time that being near the back was beneficial. It allowed me to react to the pile up and go around. I was instantly shot into the top 15 on Chris P. wheel. Chris had felt good the day before so I figured he was a great wheel to hold onto. Slowly the strong riders from the pile up started to make up ground. As they were coming around I was feeling pretty good but was close to my limit. I was tempted to go but figured I better ride my race for the first 1/2. Chris jumped one of the wheels to give it a shot at moving up and I had to let it go. A good decision on my part because as the race continued on I got a bit stronger. The final few laps Isac N. caught me and pulled me around for several laps. With 2 to go I sold my legs to failure and went for it. I gained 3 spots on the last lap making it up to 21st.


The best part of the weekend was the company that was kept. I stayed with great people over the weekend. I could have finished DFL both days and the weekend would have been just as fun because of them all. Thank you to the Peariso's and the Adventure 212 crew for making me a part of the team and family for 3 days. A crew that knows how to make hard racing fun.

Ore to Shore Recap

The month of August is always a big one.  Not only for me but the Midwest. In other places where the cycling season is rolling to an end ours in the Midwest is hitting its stride.  The sprint starts with Ore to Shore which happens to be my home race and a target for the year.  Those of you who know me or have talked mountain biking with me know that this race is always on my radar, right in the center.

The 2011 edition was contested between 13 guys for 38 out of the 48 miles until it was finally broken down to 5.  Last year is last year but I mention it because 2011 had a part in the 2012 edition.  It made this years competitors anxious and aggressive.  It seemed as if we were on the gas for 48 miles with a lot of attempts to split at every mile.

The group went over Lucy Hill and immediately we were back on the gas over the top.  We probably had a group of 20 or so.  Typically down the snowmobile trail the pace comes back but Brian had the idea from the beginning to keep the pace high.  Coming up to Snyders I found a good line through the tracks and then Mike Anderson kept the pressure down to the power line.  The power line proved to be the breaking point for most this year.  Whether it was a mechanical or fatigue most got split off from the brutal pace of Tristan and Brian.  Their pace created a 2 man split that at the time I figured to be very dangerous.

The power line took its prisoners and spit out 4 of us to chase Tristan and Brian.  Mike P. and I took the work as we slowly pulled them back.  We were a group of 7 with the above mentioned, Cole House, Jordan W. and Christian T. for the remainder of the race.

Misery Hill

Even though we had a decent 7 man split the attacks came for most of the day trying to make it smaller.  Brian and Tristan deserve the most aggressive rider awards because they went off the front attempting a break most of the race but the strong head wind and complacency of others made it tough to make it stick.  There was an attack by Tristan I figured was going to work.  As he was off the front I noticed others were leaving wheels go as we rolled to the Noque trail.  I bridged up to Tristan taking Mike P. with me.  When I got to Tristan I went to the front trying to make it stick but Brian is to savvy to allow that to happen and he was back on our wheels.    

The final punch came at Lucy Hill.  Cole went hard over the top and created a small gap.  Tristan bobbled the climb and I cramped.  Tristan and I chased but Cole went hard over the next climb too and neither of us had the legs to pull it back.  A 20 sec gap was created with 2 miles to go.  It was myself, Tristan, and Jordan.  We gave one last attempt down the pavement but couldn't close.  Jordan nipped me at the finish and I rolled in 6th place.