Dartmouth Road Race

The Men's D category went off a few minutes late. I was doing pretty well for about 12 miles, keeping with the field. Everyone was together but that was because the first lap we weren't going anymore than 15 miles average, which I was getting impatient. However, I couldn't do anything because I was near the back of the field. I kept trying to work my way up to the front, but there were too many riders, and the yellow-line rule was in effect of course.

Then, unexpectedly, when we were just starting the second lap the field started speeding up, and I was caught offguard by that and before I realized fully what was happening I was already 10-15 seconds behind with no chance to catch up. I kept focusing on this one guy ahead of me that was dropped shortly after me, but couldn't catch up to him for a while. So I just rode on my own for a while.

The Women's B category, which started about 10 minutes after the Men's D, caught up to me, with a leader pack of 4, and a chase group of 10 or so that my teammate Christina was in. They passed me, and a girl who was trying to chase the first chase group caught up to me, and I rode with her. Then it just kept adding on, more girls caught up, we caught up to more girls, etc. at one point when it was like 5 or 6 of us, I saw two riders ahead of me and I was just hoping they were Men's D, so I broke away from the Women's group I was with and caught up to them. It turned out to be a Men's D rider and a Women's B rider. So I stayed with them until the group I was in caught up, and I told them that we should catch on to the back. Well, they dropped right away and so I kept up with the girls I was with previously. After that, the pack kept growing, and it got up to 10 or so of us working a pace line. I actually did pretty well, keeping up with them for the rest of the race and working with them. Then, when there was 5 miles left I just stayed a few bike lengths behind them because I didn't know if there were still places left for points, and didn't know when one of the girls would make a break for it, or when the sprinting would start. I didn't want to get in anyone's way.

I got 54th out of 55 that finished (63 started), my worse placing of the season, but still one of my best performances. I say this because I actually learned to ride in a pack of riders, even though it wasn't with riders in my own field.

This was the last weekend of the ECCC Conference. Overall DeSales University is in 8th place for Division 2. We were 10th before this weekend which is AWESOME!

After next week (Finals week) I'm going to really get down on my training, avoid the cars, and come back stronger and better next year.

Dartmouth Criterium

The criterium course was very technical... so technical that riders were over-using their brakes being psyched out by the 4th turn that was a sharp left turn at the base of a short climb.

I was feeling fine before the race, I was on the trainer for 10-20 minutes, then rode around for a little. We also got to take a lap around the course before lining up at the start/finish line. Before the start I was starting to feel a little sick, and thought it was just the nervous butterflies. I was wrong... I just kept getting worse during the race and after the first lap I was behind. I did 4 or 5 laps with 2 other guys that kept using their brakes, and I had very little opportunities to pass them except on the hill, which I would do but then I'd be dead for a few seconds, enough for them to catch up to me. We eventually were out of contention and the officials dropped us out. I did get placed though, 32 out of 35 that finished, atleast 40 that started.

I started to feel a little better, but still had the puke-y feeling for a bit. Then, before Scott's race Kim, Christiana and I went to Boloco for something to eat... the food kind of helped but I still wasn't feeling too much better. After Scott's race I went back to the van, changed out of my uniform and slept for a bit. I was feeling better, but still had a headache. I still have it now as I type, so I'm about to go take a nap before I do some school work.

Tomorrow is the Road Race. We're leaving the motel at 5:45, do the one hour drive to the road race location, and then give myself atleast an hour before my race at 8:00. 36 miles, 3 loops with a climb. I hope to finish in 1:45 or less.

I won't be getting back until REALLY late tomorrow night, so no post until Monday most likely.

Dartmouth Weekend

The four of us, Kim, Christina, Scott and myself, just arrived at a Motel 8 in Vermont, about 10 minutes from our criterium location tomorrow morning. This weekend, there is a Team Time Trial, Criterium and Road Race. The TTT and Criterium are tomorrow. Due to lack of riders in same category, we are not doing the TTT. The first Criterium race is mine, at 11:05, which is nice for a change since now we don't have to get up until later. I believe we're planing to leave at like 9:15 or so, so we can be sure I have enough time to get ready for my race.

The course is 3/4 mile long per lap, and my race will be going for 30 minutes. Some technical turns as mentioned in the race flier, but no mention of any hills or flats, so I'm hoping to get there early enough to take a few laps before the first race at 10:25 goes off. My plan, just stick with the peloton, hopefully finish top 20. As of now, only 29 confirmed racers, but I'm expecting it to be more as usual, since some do not register until day-of race.

I will talk more about the Road Race tomorrow night, when I post about the criterium results and my opinions...

Last note, please pray for my friend's son, 14 years old, who was hit by a car yesterday. He was life-lifted by helicopter, and according to local papers was still in the Emergency Room at 9 P.M. last night. I haven't heard anymore about it. My prayers and love go out to the family who I have known for a long time.

New Uniform pictures

Here are two pictures of my uniform, which I have a large jersey, medium jersey and two medium shorts for each. The first one is my Large shirt with Medium shorts.


This next one is me in my Medium jersey and the same Medium shorts.


I know my head was "chopped" off by the camera... I have yet to master the art of timing-pictures of myself.

Dartmouth this weekend, I can't wait. Will post about that Wednesday or Thursday night when I have time!

Retired

No, I didn't retire from cycling, I've only just started!

I've retired my first DeSales University uniform from racing, after doing a training race in T-Town on Thursday. Our new uniforms (jersey and shorts set) have finally come in this past week and I got both of mine that I ordered on Friday. I'm very excited now to finally look like a pro when racing, since my last uniform was in a crash last year at about this time in the same training race, and I had to race in the torn up, falling apart jersey since then because I didn't think to order a second set.

I will still train/ride in my original jersey and shorts if I manage to go through all of my other jerseys and shorts between wash cycle. I'm still waiting on my Team Vortex uniform (including a jacket!), which is actually not expected until end of June, early July because of backed-up orders at Verge... HURRY IT UP VERGE!

Pictures will come, if anyone is interested...

Boston Beanpot Classic, Part 2

I wanted to post last night, but when I got back to the campus I was too tired I went to sleep right away.

The criterium course... 6 turns, a left, left, left, right, left and left series with a power climb prior to the last turn. there's 2 blocks of a stretch between the last turn and the first turn of the next lap. The second turn was the bad, since it was a 90-degree left turn after a downhill. Also, you were going from a larger street to a little-bit-narrower street. Dangerous, especially when it rained for an hour or so.

So the race... I started too far back in the field. I was in the 3rd or 4th row when the official blew his whistle, and I tried to get up close to the front before the first turn. Wasn't successful, but I kept with the field for a few laps before getting dropped off the back with several other riders. The pack pretty much blew up. Anyways, out-of-contention riders were getting pulled and I got pulled 5 or 6 laps in, but I was given a place because where I got pulled I was pretty much in a steady place, even though I know I could've caught up and passed several other riders. Anyways, I got 48th out of 50 that "finished", 59 started the race.

Overall, I did better this year than last year. I'd like to go to Boston again next year in hope to finish stronger than I did this past weekend. Kim got 5th in the Road Race and 7th in the Criterium. I wish I could produce good results like her!

No race for DeSales University next year, we don't want to drive to UVM. The following weekend is the last weekend for the conference, the ECCC finals, at Dartmouth. Next two weeks are going to be very bust for me with school work, training, ref'ing, and finding time to hang out with friends, even for 10 minutes or so.

Several posts in the next 2 weeks probably, I will be doing the training crit if I have time and could write about that. Tomorrow will be a training ride with the team, the first of its kind that is actually SCHEDULED by the team! I can't wait cause I'm sick of riding by myself, I don't get as motivated! Anyways, I'm off to the library shortly, thanks for reading!

Boston Beanpot Classic, Part 1

Today was a weird day...

At about 10:45 we were ready to head off for the 26 miles Road Race. I had my leg and arm warmers on, and an under armour shirt. It was in the 30s, maybe 40s. About halfway through the first lap (13 miles per lap), the temperature shot up to, I would say, the 70s! And it wasn't like it went from 40-something to 50-something, and so on... it literally went from cold to hot in a matter of minutes! I was ripping my arm-warmers and gloves off, and roasting in the under armour and leg-warmers. oh yeah, I also had my toe-warmers on over my shoes, which was affecting me!

Anyways, the start was weird... the pace car kept speeding up, then slowing down, repeatedly. it was confusing everyone. Also, some of the riders still don't know how to ride in a pack, there was constant breaking, shifting of the bikes from side to side, etc.

I kept up with the whole field pretty well. A few riders have dropped every now and then but I stayed with the pack for the first, I'd say, 7-9 miles. Then I just started dropping back slowly with a few other riders. I've got to learn to increase my pain tolerance, because one thing I know is that once I get over the initial pains that I feel towards the beginning of the races, I'm good for the rest of the race. I noticed that the hill climbs were a lot easier the second time around... is it just me or does this go for many people?

Anyways, so I get dropped and I'm constantly picking several people off to chase after and then pass. I caught up to a guy from Yale towards the end of the first lap, I pretty much rode with him the whole second lap. We kept together, working to catch several riders, and then usually they were going too slow so we would just draft off of them for a few minutes and then take off after the next guy. We did pretty well. However, Yale got tired or something on the one climb that I was going too fast for him, so "oh well" I thought and proceeded on my own after the next guy. Caught up to him with about 3-4 miles left before the finish, and Yale caught up to us on a downhill. I rode with these two guys until about a mile left, when I was leading the line of the three of us. I was leading and at about a mile left, I looked back to see they weren't with me anymore, so I just took off making sure they weren't catching me. At the finish I almost got hit by a car because the idiot cop/traffic-director had no clue what to do. He let this car, that I was about to pass, go ahead of me, so he cuts me off to get around this car that was turning left at the final intersection before the finish, and I shout out to the cop "what the heck, I'm trying to finish" then I thought "IDIOT!" to myself (not me, the cop is an idiot).

I finished 73 out of 79 that finished, 88 that started. I know I usually have complaints, or I start pointing the finger at people and/or things that happen, but this time, the finger's pointing at me. I should have tried to fight through the pain to keep with the peloton. Nothing else happened that made me drop off the pack. Other than that, this was one of my best road race performances. When I got back to the car after the race, there were no helmet thrown, no bike being shoved into the ground or anything like that... I just got back, put my bike on the trainer, and did my cooldown with a smile. Yeah, my results weren't impressive, but I felt really good at the finish, because I had a personal best.

Tomorrow is the Crit, results when I get back to school tomorrow night! Thanks for reading!

Inspirational

Yesterday when I was at the school's library, I went to check my email and found an email from my mom. She "subscribes" to dailythoughts.org which obviously sends you THOUGHTS in your email DAILY. Anyways, the DailyThought for yesterday she felt like I would like it, and she was right.

This is the first time I've seen this quote from Lance Armstrong, as I've been trying to keep up with all of his because he is my idol. I called my mom and told her that this has motivated me more for the Boston Beanpot Classic this weekend, which I am about to eat my power breakfast for after this post.

Thanks Mom!

False sense of Spring

I got my wish from the post several days, Spring has visited us for the past two days... however the next 2-4 days are supposed to be pretty crappy with rain and all... hopefully after that Spring will make its full appearance.

Today was a great day to be sunny and warm. Nearing the 70s, there was a training crit today that is held every Thursday from Spring to Fall. Last week was the first week but I did not get a chance to go. I made myself go today though because of the nice weather. I also got my wish of not only racing without leg-warmers, but I also raced with nothing covering my arms and fingerless gloves! Great day for riding!

Not much to say about the training crit though... since I didn't go all out. I was leading the first lap until the final turn when a few guys attacked... I kept up with the increasing speed for a bit but my main purpose for today was to train (hence a training crit) for the Boston weekend. Some of the guys take it too seriously, and the only prize is at the end of the month a free pizza from Pizza Hut or something like that to the highest point-maker. I got lapped twice, the second time was just at the end of the final lap, as expected, again because I didn't go all out. I could've done a lot better but I just wanted to ride in a racing setting to prepare for Boston.

Dear Spring,

Thanks for showing up finally, I hope you show up for good until Summer after the next few days of rain! Also, be good to me in the Boston area this weekend.

Yours Truly,
Zach

Boston Beanpot Classic

This weekend I have waited for all season. The Boston Beanpot Classic in Massachusetts, I can't wait!

Only two of us are going, Kim and myself. So I'm going to have to really step it up this weekend to try and help Kim bring in points, even though we're already guaranteed a lot of points with her racing (knock on wood).

On Saturday are the Team Time Trial and Road Race. Obviously with just two of us there will be no TTT for us this weekend so I won't say anything about that. Last year I didn't get to finish the Road Race because of a flat tire about half way through the race.

The Road Race; 13 mile loop, a gradual climb near in the first half of the course, a steep climb at the 8th mile... gonna be somewhat challenging but I'm going to try my best to stay with the peloton or leaders. Men's D-2 does 2 loops for 26 miles, I'm shooting for under 1:45. We go off at about 10:45 so I'll be able to get a decent night of sleep. Kim goes off at 2:10 for 4 laps. Gonna be a long day for just the two of us.

On Sunday is the Criterium. I liked this crit course last year, long, flat start/finish stretch with a challenging climb. I feel confident in this one, since I know my climbing is better than some others in the Men's D field. Men's D-2 goes at 8:45 for 18 laps. Kim's Women's A race goes off at 1:45 for 35 laps, another long day for just the two of us.

Results and Comments on Saturday for the Road Race and Sunday for the Crit.

Dear Spring,

It's April and I'm still wearing my leg-warmers not able to break a sweat. Please come visit soon.

Yours truly,
Zach

West Point = Beautiful, Race Results = NOT

This was a bad weekend for DeSales University. Jon, Sean and I just were not feeling it today. However, I must say West Point is very beautiful and I wish I had my camera with me to take some pictures!

Team Time Trial
We had a good start, and were rotating very well. I just couldn't hack the climbs though, and Jon and Sean kept pulling away from me. Then we learn from a UVM group that only 2 need to finish, so Jon and Sean took off without me. I'd like to make a request... ECCC NEEDS TO GET THEIR RULES STRAIGHT! I read on Thursday in the rulebook online that 3 needs to finish for the TTT. Then I went to the race official after the TTT to see what the rules were and they said only 2 needed to finish up to Men's A, which needs 3 to finish. Contradicting facts people!

Circuit Race
Men's Intro for Sean, he had a great start after the two "coached" laps. Then coming up to the climb as leader at the end of the first lap his shifter breaks or something while in a larger gear, so he was pushing a heavier gear up the hill, dropping behind and just disqualified himself. Jon and I didn't have much better fate. Right off the start of the race we were doing ok keeping with the main group, and then on the one road the pace car was going like 12-15 mph, slowing everyone down which I can't understand why. Then we made the right turn up the short, steep climb and there was a crash right in the middle that Jon and I were behind. I lost my momentum as did a few others, and a lot of us fell behind. I didn't know that Jon was in front of me, also behind the crash, and he dropped out after this crash because it took a lot of us out of contention and the officials were going to drop anyone too far behind because of the narrow roads and stuff. I ended up being in last place so I dropped out as well after coming around to the parking lot. We were all very pissed and disappointed that we just packed up our stuff, and left.

Someone please explain to me how do you freakin' crash on a climb going like 5-10 mph! Then I saw one of the guys' wheel was popped off when passing him. Did he not check the skewer before the race or something? Is there any other way the wheel could pop off in a race besides not tightening the skewer enough?

Then I get a speeding ticket in New Jersey, which I have no idea how I'm going to drive back to Mahwah, NJ to appear in court for it. As if I wasn't already having a bad day, cops gotta piss me off now to make it worse!

Boston next week people, I'm training hard early this week for that. Post later this week...

Army Weekend

This Saturday, Jon, Sean and I will be heading to West Point (in New York) for a team time trial and circuit race. I was the only rider that would have been able to go to West Point on Sunday, and I decided I wasn't going by myself.

The Team Time Trial, I have no idea if we're doing Men's D or Intros. Jon and I are D, Sean is intro, so since the majority of us is D I would say we're doing D. Sean is a strong rider so I'm sure we'll do good in D, but if we want to guarantee to bring points back to the team I say we do intro since there probably will only be 2 or 3 teams and I'm sure we could do first.

The Course is 7.5 miles on Route 293 with one turnaround, we should be able to get a good time.

The circuit race, later in the day, should be fun. Intros start at 9:30 for Sean, and then Men's D are right after for Jon and me. We should be done with the day by 10:45, which would mean we could be back at DeSales University by 1. Another short day like Columbia, I can't wait!!

The circuit race course is 2.07 miles long loop, rolling terrains with a short but steep climb "to test the warrior within" (as described in race flier). Will be interesting to see this climb!

Results and my comments saturday night, watch out for them!