Firecracker with Single-tracker

First off, huge props to Troy Meives and Jim Chapman on designing a stellar course at WORS #6.  The course was primarily fast and flowing single-track.  It was some of the most fun single-track I've been on all year.  It's hard packed, smooth, and used the natural flow of the earth.  Although extremely flat it was a lung burning fiesta.

Did I mention it was dry and dusty!

I had contemplated skipping this race because I was not up for the 5 1/2 hour drive but decided to trek on because I did not want to lose my spot in the top 10 overall standings.  Being in the top 10 with the competition that shows up to the WORS events is a huge accomplishment for me and I in no way want to be knocked out because I didn't feel like going so onward I went.

I'm coming of a pretty hard training week after a rest week so I wasn't expecting great legs but I did feel OK.  My performance fell off a bit at the end, mostly because of heat, which was to be expected.  The race started on two track to spread things out and I found myself sitting about 10th.  I struggle with this because I know I can be in a higher position but for some reason I don't feel like I belong yet.  I just need to through feelings aside and race!  Anyhow, we entered single track and as always it yo-yoed back spreading the field.  I found myself just off the back from the chase group.  A group of pro's formed a lead group and a bunch of others chase.  After the 1st lap I trailed a chase group of 10 by about 10 sec but had no one behind me for over 30 seconds.  I was truly in no man's land.  I gave every ounce of effort to catch that group but a group of 10 is so much stronger than a single rider.  They never pulled away I just could not make ground.  Single track would come and still no success at attaching.  After the 2nd lap I had given so much energy to catch them that the 3rd lap really became a struggle.  I was caught by a few and then by a chasing group of 5 or so.  I attached to this group until at the end of the 3rd lap 3 pulled off leaving us in a group of 5.  On the final lap I would not let myself lose this group as much as my body begged to let go.  It paid off because I won the group sprint placing me 14th overall and taking the last payout/podium spot.

Thank you to my mother for traveling with me this weekend you make all things possible.  Also to Ann Niemi for keeping her company.  My races would not be possible without team support and my sponsors.

Pictures courtesy of Troy Meives

First, Middle, and Last

After a subpar performance at the Subaru Cup 2 weekends ago I had to reevaluate my training plan.  My training had been going awesome up to that point and I was feeling good.  I was pleased with my results and progress.  I had successfully moved up to Cat 1 after some dominant races in Cat 2 and even managed a top 10 and a top 20 finish in my first Pro/Elite races.  That progression came to a crashing halt last week.  I even tried to ignore it and attended the Tuesday Night Ride to mix up the training and have some fun but when my legs suffered sitting in the group I knew it was time, time for rest.

I'm not sure why but I struggle with the word "rest" implemented into my training program.  As nice as it sounds to do nothing for a few days I'm not one to sit around.  I like to be active and know that I'm progressing in something.  I know I need it  it's just making myself do it.  I reviewed my training log and realized that in my 13 weeks of training, with exception to rest before races and a slight lighter week 6 weeks ago, I have not taken a rest week yet.  Yup, it was time and most likely overdue.

I took 4 days completely off the bike last week through the 4th of July holiday.  I didn't look at my bikes or even think about them.  I made myself take a training vacation.  It has paid off as I felt better with each day of rest and was motivated to begin training again.  I've now broken my season down to 3 sections first, middle, and last.  Each section has a significant race and will keep my on a schedule for rest.  Bring on the middle.      

Culvers Racing Gains National Experience - Subaru Cup

The Subaru Cup/Pro XCT Series was everything it was talked up to be an awesome venue, gnarly course and sick competition.  Unfortunately this past weekend was the end of the beginning for me.  What do I mean? I'm calling it the end of my first training session, as many of you know the body plateaus and even decreases without proper rest and failure can come awful fast at that point.  I reached that point and it came on one of my target weekends.


The weekend had two races, a cross country on Saturday and a short track on Sunday.  Saturday's course proved to be difficult even on the best of days.  It had punchy climbs, extended climbs, tight single track, rock gardens, and fast descents.  This was a course you really had to be on your game.  It pounded your legs on the ups and then gave you a rest on the way down but you had to always be alert because with the technicality of it a mistake was always lurking.  I had a second row start which I felt good about because there were no call ups.  The gun was sounded and it took me all of 3 minutes to figure out that something was not right.  I could not draw energy or power out of my body.  I stayed with it as long as I could thinking I might come around.  That was until the 2nd out of 4 laps and being passed by 15 or so riders when I decided to slow down and see if I could reserve enough for tomorrow's race.  This didn't last long, a rider I have met through the series came by me and shouted a word of encouragement and I had to at least attempt a restart.  I decided to let him pull me through the next 2 laps and I stuck his wheel for the next hour until the final descent where I washed out and he finished just ahead of me.  At this point I was OK with that being it wasn't about a place at that time but about finishing.  Losing 2 spots with my fall I finished 27th overall out of 139 in Category 1.


Sundays was approximately a 1 mile loop with a twisty climb, a punchy climb, followed by a fast and soggy track leading back to the hills.  We were scheduled for 16 minutes plus 2 laps.  I figured if I was feeling good the course should work out into my favor.  I was fortunate to get a call up and started 2nd row again.  This is extremely important because those of you who have not seen a MTB short track it's all about the start and your race can be over within seconds if you get yo yoed off the lead group.  The race is so fast and tight that passing is limited and attacks are tough with the pace being so high for the duration of the race.  My start was good but not spectacular.  I got spit back to about 15th when the guy in front had a slight slip of the pedal.  It didn't matter all that much because I was once again in energy deprivation.  This time though I felt slightly better throughout the race and my dad timed my laps and said they got better throughout the race.  He even mentioned that after mid way point the gap between me and the leaders stayed the same.  I finished 17th overall so this news was good to me.  It helped me know with a better start I would have possibly challenged the front group. 


Even though the results were not quite what I was looking for on this weekend I'm coming away with some crucial experience.  It helped knowing that I had two days of racing and still finished in top 25% both days.  The optimist in me can only believe I would be with the top guys if my body was running well.  I also took away that the talent pool is huge and that it's going to take a lot of hard work in the next few years to achieve my goals.  It was also a good weekend of learning how to race both XC and ST.  I have to become more aggressive on the single track and downhill's and I need to have a little bit more fight in me to gain position in the ST.


After a weekend like this my first instinct is to get back on my bike and train harder but if this weekend told me anything it told me I need rest.  I'm going to do the hardest thing in my training program this week and that is rest with time off the bike.  Maybe a joy ride here or there but I'm forcing mandatory down time.  As hard as it is for me I know with a few days rest I can start Chapter 2 of the 2010 race season.  Stay tuned, it's going to be a damn good one.  


PICTURES TO FOLLOW                         

Culvers Racing claims Michigan State Champion

Tom Carpenter, rider for Culvers Racing, claimed his first road victory of his career Saturday and it was a significant one.  The Superior Bike Fest in Marquette, MI has claimed the Michigan Road State Championship two years running.  Tom grabbed the championship by a slim margin of .29 seconds by ending the 55 mile course on a sprint.  With the course slightly changed this year Marquette Mountain came a bit sooner into the race but it didn't stop the high pace as a 9 man break away was established immedietaly.  Culvers Racing was represented in the break by Tom Carpenter and the group worked perfectly together to stay away for the entire 55 miles.

Congratulations to Tom Carpenter, Category 4 Michigan Road Racing Champion!

Picture courtesy of Chris Schmidt/XMATIC

  

6/21/10 PRESS RELEASE

5 members of Culvers Racing stayed on U.P. turf this weekend for the Keweenaw Chain Drive.  The Keweenaw Chain Drive has grown over the past few years and has become a premier event for the North, known for its spectacular single track.  So spectacular it grabbed the attention of 3 professional riders.  It’s a 32 mile point to point race with over 75% single track.

The team, consisting of Tyler Gauthier, Tom Carpenter, Justin Weber, Glen Lerlie, and Danny Hill, worked hard to put 1 rider in the top 10 and 3 riders in the top 20 with a field full of elite riders.  The final overall results on the day were Tyler Gauthier 6^th, Top Carpenter 12^th, Justin Weber 17^th, Glen Lerlie 22^nd, and Danny Hill 52^nd.  

Keweenaw Chain Drive - Tyler's Race Report

The Chain Drive has become quite the event.  Best known for its miles of single track in a point to point race it is now becoming known for its elite field.  Looking down the start line this year was some sight.  This race always brings out the better riders in the UP but it has now drawn the attention of the Midwest's best riders including 3 professionals.  You know when Brian Matter, Mike Anderson, and Chris Peariso line up its going to be a different and faster race than years prior.

For the first time in 4 years that I've been doing the Chain Drive the race did not start as a sprint.  I think with the presence of 3 pros and a hefty head wind no one wanted to lead out to cemetery hill.  That changed when we got to cemetery hill.  Like last year I wanted to be one of the first up the hill and into the single track.  I wanted to hang with the Matter, Anderson, and Peariso as long as I could getting a feel for their pace in the single track.  Peariso launched a small burst at the bottom of the climb and Anderson kept the tempo high.  I hooked Matters wheel and I didn't leave it.  I made it up the 15-18% grade hill 3rd right behind Anderson and Matter, at the last second Wells came around.  Running 4th into the single track, I felt great about this position, but that feeling didn't last too long.  Following Wells wheel and neglected to see a 1 inch branch sticking out and it grabbed me and threw me as if a 300 pound man was standing in the trail.  I was on the ground and water bottles scattered I frantically tried to reposition but had lost about 10 seconds.  Not quite in full panic mode yet I got back on pace and kept an eye on the front 3 guys.  Now behind another rider I felt like I had to put a small attack to get back on but could not with a rider in front.  I yelled up, "I gotta go." and the guy was polite about it and said next section.  He yelled, "OK" and I attempted a left side pass.  I was quickly on the ground again as our handle bars tangled and we were a caught in a web of bikes.  On the ground and water bottles scattered again I was now in full panic mode.  I remounted and settled in with Todd McFadden.  I was so disappointed at this time knowing that any chance I had to stay with the pros was gone.

I stepped down to race reality and worked with what I had.  McFadden, Swanson and I slowly worked our way up to 2 riders, which I didn't know where Jesse Bell and Tom Carpenter at the time, and formed a small group.  I was happy to see my team mate.  I knew Tom could put on an awesome temp on the single track and maybe make up some small time to the 5 guys ahead.  Right before a long section of single track I jumped 2nd wheel to Tom with McFadden, Bell, and then Swanson to follow.  Tom was so fast and smooth I noticed that the 3 behind were yo-yoing quote a bit.  I told Tom to up the tempo to see if we could make them work on the back just to stay on.  We didn't quite shed them but I believe it put enough pressure on them that when we came out of single track and approached a hill it drained them just enough.  I came around Tom to do my job and add tempo to the hills.  As I approached the top I noticed I had put a small gap of maybe 10-15 feet.  I had to quickly decide if wanted to try and keep the gap or if it was smarter to rejoin.  I said hell with it, if they catch me then I ride with them but if they don't I'm by myself.  I put in a hard effort at the top of the hill and stayed steady through the single track.  I knew we were close to an open field and figured if I can get through the field without them seeing me they might forget about me.  I attacked the field and right as I entered back into the woods I peaked back and seen no one.  This might have been my best move of the race and it was confirmed by Todd McFadden after the race when he said when they couldn't see me in that field it deflated the group.

Now on my own and with about 20 miles to go I was presented with, what pace do I ride?  Enough to stay way? Try to catch the guy in front? Or enough not to bonk with a mile to go like I did last year?  So I figured I would stay comfortable on the single track and attack every open section and uphill.  This seemed to work as I consistency put time on the group behind, confirmed by a spectator that was nice enough to give me a time check, and felt I was racing within my fitness.  The race from that point was pretty uneventful as I rode over half the course by myself.

After finding out the guy in front was 4 minutes ahead I gave up any chance of catching him. My next obstacle was climbing out of the creek with about 3 miles to go.  They drop you down into a creek and it slowly makes its way back up never really flattening until the finish.  The first accent really hurt me and I felt a small cramp so I told myself I'm better off slowing then stopping with a cramp.  I made it up and found somewhat of a second wind and finished out with a steady pace.

I finished about 1 minute ahead of the closest chaser and about 2 minutes ahead of the group I was with.  So my last 1/3 of the race was a bit slower than I wanted it and I needed the 2 minutes I put on the guys in the middle as Todd McFadden gained back over a minute on me in about 8 miles.  I had a respectable finish and was happy with the result after the small hiccups I had in the start, 6th overall.

Pictures courtesy of Straight A Photography.  (More pictures to come on Culvers blog and Straight A Photography blog.)

      

WORS #4/Sunburst Showdown - Tyler's Race Report

The course description on paper said a lot climbing and fast descending.  We pulled up Saturday to a ski hill and that description was confirmed by our eyes.  Not a terribly big ski hill but it offered its fair share of climbing.  Not much single track which is a bit unusual for a WORS event but they still managed to add some fun with the downhills.  The course went up the hill 3 times, each time switch backing up the hill.  The worst of the climbs was the 1st about 1/2 mile into the course.  It switch backed 4 times before entering the woods into a straight up leg kicker.  It entered a the only wooded single track back down and then ran us through some cedars back and forth about 4 times before climbing and descending again, for the most part a pretty boring course but tough.  

With my two prior Comp finishes and my 10th in Pro/Elite in Wausau it was enough points for a call up.  This was the highlight of my weekend and I was truly honored to be called up with such great riders such as Tristan Shouten, Brian Matter, Nathan Guerra, Darrin Braun, Chris Peariso, and Barry Wicks.  These are pro's at the highest level and I earned my way to the same front line they had their wheels on.  I took the last spot on the front line and Tristan was called up after me.  As much as I wanted to stay there I took a step back and offered my spot to Tristan as he has eared that spot a lot more than I have.  I was happy to do that as I know my day will come to be on that front line.  I was surprising calm after that and my HR was an amazing 30 beats lower than my first Pro/Elite race.  I managed to keep in between 110-120.  My nerves were calming and I was ready to hear the infamous, "GOOOOO."

The race quickly funneled to a 4 foot wide trail and huge train was formed up the first climb.  I can only imagine what it looked like to a spectator with 4 switchbacks of riders linked wheel for wheel.  It only took about 3 minutes for the 6 pros to make a group and the next group yo-yoed behind.  I was in the 2nd group about 10-15th going up the first climb.  Tyler Jenema and I were together in between two groups for most of the 1st and 2nd lap with a few guys passing us catching up to the group ahead.  On the third lap we were combined into a group of 5 and Tyler and I led this group for most of the 3rd lap.  On the start of the 4th a rider made a steady move up the 1st hill and left us down to 4.  Somewhere in the middle the two other guys slowly pulled away but I was OK with it, confident that if I stayed steady and didn't overdue it I could pull them back in on the last lap.  Beginning the final lap I upped the tempo just a bit and committed myself to working hard on all the up hills on the final lap.  This worked and I slowly put time on the guys behind me and more importantly pulled in guys in front of me.  A strong tempo and some small attacks on the final lap enabled me to pass 3 riders pushing me up to 17th overall.  

I didn't feel spectacular and I didn't have as much power as usual but I felt good.  Having a small conversation with my mom at the end helped me put this race into perspective.  She had mentioned in my past races that I've felt really good and the bike has been amazing.  The bike was once again amazing but I was not 100%, but it's OK as I'm learning and coming to accept you can't be on all the time.  

This was a great weekend.  I was humbled by both my call up (to know that I have a lot of hard work ahead to be with the best) and my conversation with my mom (realizing that I'm blessed to be in my position and have had great luck to this point.)  Bike racing is full of ups and downs both literally and figuratively.