T-Town Bonanza

The Cat 5 races on the schedule for today were:
2 KM Scratch race
3 Km Point-a-Lap race
Unknown Distance race

2 KM (6 laps) Scratch
This race went fine. I found out that I'm in too small of a gear (48x15) when I felt like I was spinning too fast, as confirmed by Kim who showed up to watch the race. Anyways, I was towards the front for most of the race, but at the end when everyone started sprinting, I just couldn't match up to them because of my small gearing. It also just wasn't a good day fitness-wise.

3 KM (9 laps) Point-a-Lap
I remember doing these in the training classes I've done the last two summers, but I think it was in a different format. For today, one point would go to the first rider to past the finish line on each lap, and the final lap would go 3-2-1 points for the top three finishers, respectfully. After our free lap and the bell went off, I gunned it with another rider, and we got a bit of a gap from the field. I was thinking about whether I should pass him on the 3rd and 4th turn to go for the single point, or let him have it and go for the second lap's point. I let him have the first lap and on the back stretch he slowed down a bit so I gunned it passed him just before the 3rd turn, and coming out of the 4th turn I thought I was by myself. Another rider somehow caught up to us whenever and he beat me to the finish line on the second lap. I was so disappointed. After another lap I took myself out of the race when I was felt like I was running on empty and felt I should reserve myself fro the last race. Kim, who is my coach, wanted to yell at me but she said it was taking every fiber in her body not to flip out. I guess I made the wrong choice........

Unknown Distance Race
I don't know how many laps we did, but it was between 10 and 15 laps I think. I stayed with the field for most of the race, and felt pretty good. However, because of my hearing-impairment I could not hear the bell ringing, thus I didn't know when we were on the last lap. Until I realized we were by everyone sprinting like crazy, it was too late for me. In the future, for these kind of races, I'm going to ask the officials to use the gun to signal the last lap, or if they could do some sort of visual method for letting me know the last lap.

So, my first track racing experience didn't go too bad. I just wish I got some more training on the track in the last month or so, but I was too focused on the collegiate cycling (which you can't blame me for).

I can't race next Saturday's races as I'm going to a referee clinic, but I definitely am planning on making June 6th. That gives me two weeks, so I hope starting Monday I can get some serious training in, probably 2 or 3 times a week. Build my leg and fitness up a bit before the next race I can make. Road bike is still at Trek which sucks... I'm actually fixing my MTB just to get out on the road again soon!

Track Racing begins TOMORROW!

The moment is here. I have been waiting a long time for this! I officially make my debut to track racing tomorrow at about 12:00. The Rookies and Masters race series for the 2009 summer season begins in less than 24 hours at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center (formally Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, PA!

I don't feel in my best fitness at the moment (due to my road bike still being in the shop) but I was on the track several times in the last few weeks and am ready regardless of my fitness level. I'm nervous of course, since I do not know what to expect as to the experience and level of the other riders in my field. I'm starting out at Cat 5, but I believe after this weekend, unless I do extremely bad, that I will be upgrading to Cat 4 due to my past experiences on the track.

So, since I do not know the itinerary for tomorrow since I won't see it until I get there, I cannot come up with a game plan. So I'm just going to leave this post as it is. Expect a post-race report tomorrow night or Sunday.

Masters and Rookies series race schedule:
http://www.thevelodrome.com/mastersandrookies.php

Until next time...

One chapter ends, another begins

This past Saturday was the 2009 DeSales University graduation. I completed my required courses and internship credits, and got to walk and officially GRADUATE!

While I will miss my friends, especially the many of those that I'll never see again, the professors and staff, the security guards I made friends with and always hung out with... I will especially miss more than anything the cycling team. While I will still help out with the club/team in the future, I will never race and represent DeSales University again. It was the cycling team that made me the person I am today, and it has hit me recently that this is real, I will never race with them again.

I don't think it's really going to hit me until the winter time, when the ECCC season will be posted and I will have to look at it, knowing I won't be racing any of them collegiately. It's going to suck, but I will stay involved with ECCC one way or another.

Coming up, my first track race on Saturday (May 23). I was on the track early sunday with some teammates, and I didn't feel like a track racer anymore. I'm going to do a quick-boost kind of thing this week, going to the track 2 or 3 more times before Saturday. More on this later in the week. Thanks for reading!

unintentional 4+ weeks break

Yesterday, I noticed my brake wasn't setting properly, kept shifting position and rubbing my wheel. After trying to fix it several times, I took it to the bike shop. Turns out there was a problem with the allen screw that holds the brake in place. because of corrosion or whatever, it bonded with the metal piece, that is welded/glued to the carbon frame. So, in order to get it loose, the bike shop guys had to drill it out. Since that did not work, they ended up having to take the whole metal piece (that is "glued" to the frame) out by tapping it, breaking it, and then drilling it out. After my buddy Chip, the mechanic who has worked on my bike earlier today, called Trek to see what to do next, turns out Trek is not authorizing them to do any more work, and required them to ship the frame only to their factory.

So, Chip has to strip the frame of any parts and components, and then ship it to Trek. Trek will then inspect it, make sure it is still good, and fix it. There is a chance it is not safe to ride it, even if they put in the new metal piece. If that's the case, I'm screwed big time. Even if they can fix it and it'll be safe to ride, I'm still going to be screwed somewhat since I'm looking at about $400 of parts, labor, and other fees (i.e. shipping).

So, now I need to figure out how to get some training in, without having to go to the track (about 30-40 minutes drive) up to 5 times a week, to further prepare myself for the track season that starts on May 23. It's just not economical for me since I'm soon to graduate (on Saturday) and I still don't have a job lined up yet.

FML!

Love?

Ok, if you read my previous post up until today, then I have to apologize for the:

Love,
Zach

at the end.

What happened is that I often make the same exact posts in two places: 1) here and 2) on my family's yahoo group. As you may have just guessed, I made this post first on my family's group, and then copy-and-pasted it onto here and forgot to take those last two lines out. Not that I don't believe in genuine posts, it's just that sometimes I am time strapped and can only write one thing. I do sometimes post originally on here, and then copy-and-paste it into my family's group. Other times, I make two completely different posts, since you readers know more about cycling than my family does, and I can talk in cyclist-language more. I hope all of this makes sense, and please accept my apology for that. Those last two lines are gone now, so don't think I all of the sudden started loving on you guys, whom I've never met in person yet!

COMING SOON: a few-parts post on my looking back to collegiate cycling, since I will be graduating in exactly a week (WHOOHOO!), and how it made me the person I am today. The good, the bad, the everything!

Penn State Criterium Report

BEST RACE EVER!

So, the night before and the morning of the race, I kept reminding Kim and Taylor how I'm going to grab at least one preme point, to end my collegiate cycling career on a good note. I need to motivate myself like this more often! And was I MOTIVATED to NO END!

Got to the start line right in the front, so I was already in a good position. Taking off on the whistle, I couldn't clip into my pedal on the first try but got in on the second try. Went hard with a sprint and got into a good position, around top-10 into the first corner. I rode harder than I ever have, knowing I needed to end with at least one point. We went through about 3 or 4 laps, and I was getting anxious waiting for the bell to ring to announce a preme lap. Finally, I believe on the 4th or 5th lap, they rang the bell and I pushed harder. Still about top 10 (according to Kim) I got on the left side of the field since all but one turns were a right turn. I wanted to be on the outside to sling-shot past the riders when they would hit their brakes. Coming out of the chicane (spelling?) S-turn (left then immediate right turn) I sling-shot past everyone, and was in second position for the last two turns. I got passed by two more riders and when I looked back, we had a slight lead. After almost getting caught by a UNH or Penn State (blue jersey) I crossed the finish line in 4th position on that sprint lap to earn 2 points!!!!!!!!! I was so excited that I forgot I was still racing (haha) and with everyone starting to attack I dropped back a little, but still in a good position (top-15 or so).

I stayed in about the same position for a little (2 or 3 laps I think). Then it happened... I went down solo out of the right turn of the chicane, scraping up my right leg, butt and elbow. I quickly got up, went to the pit to fix my bike (dropped chain and brake needed to be realigned) and take my free lap. When the leading field (where I was) came around, I got back in. Two laps later, I crashed again and was hurting too much to get back into the race. I went to find Kim, left my bike with her and went to the ambulance to get checked out.

I'm a little disappointed, but not as much as I would be if I didn't grab those points. I wish I could have finished the race, I think I could have done very well, but like I said, I was hurting too much to ride anymore.

This was by far my best race ever. Even better than the Philly race that I actually finished every lap. Two points! Not a lot, but it's the first two points I got on my own. I'm so proud of myself.

Kim sent out an email to Taylor and me this morning and said this was the best collegiate season with DeSales University, in terms of determination and commitment. Taylor even did pretty well after upgrading to Women's B last weekend, just missing the last placing for points by one place. She looked good out there this weekend, and I have no doubt she'll be a Women's A rider next year or the following.

I've decided earlier today I'm going to write a long (but divided into several) posts about my ECCC experience the last three years. Be on the look out for that this week sometimes when I find time.

Road Race

Just as I had expected, my performance was poor on the climb. However, my expectation for the whole race was below par...

I first had a bad start because I didn't hear them call all Men's D riders to staging, so I was towards the back of the group. At the start of the race, I was feeling good, and working my way up to probably the first 20-30 riders. Then I don't know what happened but my legs just tanked out and I went back to the field again, eventually dropping off the back. I was, at one point I believe, in last place. I did catch a few riders, they passed me again, and back and forth until the 5 mile climb. I pretty much kept my placing for this except for one guy, I believe from Steven's IT, who passed me. I had my focus on this Penn State guy in front of me trying to catch up, and I did get close by about 20 meters or so, but then he just pulled away on the last bit of the climbing when my legs were tanking out again. I passed another Penn State rider, my good buddy Felix, and finished 4th to last. I know I said I didn't expect to do well, but I didn't think the bottom 5.

Tomorrow is the Criterium. Just found out a few hours ago we are going in the opposite direction of last year's same course, which means I avoid the power climb in the counter-clockwise direction, and can use that to build up speed for the last stretch of each lap. Gonna be awesome, I'm looking to grab a few preme points and hopefully finishing good.

Crit report tomorrow (if I remember this time). I'm sure going to miss racing ECCC after I graduate!

Penn State weekend

Today between 2 and 2:30, we will be heading for Penn State University for a fun-filled race weekend. The only thing different this year is that instead of an Individual Time Trial, Penn State changed it to a Team TT.

Road Race:
I don't expect much for this. I'm just going to do my best to stay with the field until the 5 mile straight up hill climb. After that, we'll see.

Criterium:
Last year this was one of my best criterium results during the season. My only fear is the power climb, as I'm usually attacking them too hard, have to take a short break while everyone gets away from me, and then get dropped like a bomb. I'm going to have to find that medium of power, yet conservation of energy. I'm going for a few preme points as well, and hope to place top 15.

Weather Report:
Rain all weekend. I usually hate rain in all other events/sports/etc., but I'm going to really be thankful of the rain this weekend for cycling. It slows everyone else down, while I still race at nearly the same pace/effort. Just like the Philly Phlyer weekend, I'm hoping to kick some butt!

Race reports to follow the next few days!