Pedaling For Sixty-Five Roses

Cycle for Life-San Diego

cfrider — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:55:37 +0000

Howdy and thanks for visiting my blog. This coming Saturday, October 23rd, I am heading out to San Diego where my sister lives with her to kids, Ashton and Lola who have Cystic Fibrosis to ride in a fund raiser bike ride called Cycle for Life taking place October 30th. Cycle for Life is a 66 mile road ride to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research. I am traveling to San Diego in style with my parents in their huge motor coach. I will be taking my road bike with me and hopefully the weather is good and I can get a few rides in on the way down there. I am looking forward to going to California since I have never been there before, and also to see my niece and nephew. Check out the link to the right to get to know a little about them and what they have to deal with every day, and check out the link to Team CF. On the right at the bottom is the link to donate, no amount is too small…or too large, every little bit makes a difference.

Thank you.

Been a While

cfrider — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:40:32 +0000

So it has been a while since I have written anything. Back in early August, I competed in the Colorado State Road Championships at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. It was a 3 lap course, 9 miles per lap with a long gradual climb on the back side and long flat road to the finish with some decent wind, headwind to the finish. We all pretty much stayed together until the third lap when a group of myself and 4 others got off of the front on the back climb. I realize now that we all should have communicated better and decided to work together to stay away, but we did not. I got up front a few times to try to set a strong pace and do my part but then when I pulled off, not wanting to wear myself out for the final sprint which I was worried about, no one else really made any effort to do their part so I would just sit back in. One of the guys made a comment on the final straight-a -way of about 2 miles that we should just settle it on the line and everyone just seemed to set up. It was at this point that the chasing group of about 25 guys caught us and then it was a real duke out session for position for the sprint. It was my first real experience bumping elbows and bodies in a big group like that. Quite stressful but also an adrenaline rush at the same time. I though for sure I would end up in the back of the pack in the sprint but I was able to hold on for 7th. I suppose I am pleased with my placing but I do think that if we had one more lap, we would have gotten a bigger gap and maybe a 4-5 man sprint instead of 30. I certainly learn something every race I am in. I am a bit more comfortable in the bunch sprint and I really need to try to get guys to work together when we are off the front.

So anyway, it is Fall here in Salida. The best time of the year, except for the impending doom of winter around the corner. The weather has been just spectacular as well as the riding. I have been doing some long aspen grove tours and really trying to soak up the last of the warm sun and the fall colors. I am looking forward to going to San Diego for a Cystic Fibrosis Cycle For Life fundraiser ride with my sister. I will be heading down there with my folks in the big Motor Coach and hopefully get some riding in on the way down there.

Salida Omnium Road Race

cfrider — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:46:14 +0000

The Road Race was today and I was really hoping to be able to perform well today. The race was supposed to be 40 miles (7 laps) but was shortened just before the start to 6 laps and about 35 miles with about 500 feet of climbing per lap. So we get around the first lap and about 10 of us get split off of the pack and a few guys tried to get some organization going but a few of the guys were going to do no work at the front at all, pretty frustrating when a guy is riding second or third wheel and the front guy pulls off and second wheel guy just stays behind the front guy and does no turn at the front and when we get him in the front he just slows way down and waits for someone take up the pace making and then cusses and yells at you when you try to get back in in front of him. Seems to be it is just not good sportsmanship, but whatever. So schmucky dude is slowing the pace down and I decide (against my decided upon plan of sitting in for this race and not getting up front for long periods) to make a break on the third lap and no one comes with me. I almost just headed back to the group but was kinda pissed at that guy so I kept up my pace. I was getting split times from the moto and the gap was increasing. I had over a minute on the chasing group of 5 or 6 for 2 solid laps and the last lap, one guy made a move about 1/3 though the lap and caught me with about 3/4 miles to go. We rode together for about a half mile and then turned for the slight uphill 1/4 mile to the finish. I tried to sprint and he caught me and beat me by about a bike length. So I ended up 2nd place. Good result but it is tough being so close and not being able to finish it off, especially since I spent so long out front by myself. I really need to practice on my sprint finishes. So with my good placing today, I ended up 4th overall in the Omnium. Not a true gauge since the time trail was canceled, I am sure I would have lost time in the time trial, but then again, maybe not. Still disappointed about the time trial being canceled. Fun weekend of racing. Not sure what is next for me as far as racing goes. Just found out about a 92 mile roubaix style race (pavement/graded dirt road) up near Winter Park, CO on September 11. Sound like my style of race, we’ll see.

coming through the 5th out of 6 laps still out front, can’t even see the second place guy behind me. He caught me in about 5 miles and out sprinted me. so close…

Salida Omnium

cfrider — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:26:59 +0000

The Salida Omnium consists of 3 races: an individual time trial, a downtown criterium and a road race. The time trial was canceled do to lightning and heavy rain. I was pretty disappointed. I was all warmed up and already riding in the heavy rain. I have been practicing riding on the course and had just bought some time trial bars for my bike and was looking forward to putting them to use. I lost alot of time in the time trail down at the Tour of the Gila so I have been working on my TT skills and wanting to see how I would do compared to the other guys. Oh well. So the criterium was today. I felt good the entire ride except for the second to last lap my calf cramped up so bad I had to take my foot out of the pedal and shake it out. I was able to quickly catch back up but just did not quite have it and finished middle of the pack at best. I pretty much led the entire race or no farther back than third wheel. I need to learn to sit in and just draft off of other guys. I know that I am not a strong sprinter so I thought my only way of doing well was to be in a break and I thought I could make that break happen. Not so. I am learning that if you are willing to be in the front, guys will suck your wheel as long as you are willing to stay there. No one will voluntarily help you out. One guy told me straight up that he was not going to help and that I was doing a great job. I did get a handfull of compliments of how hard I was working, there was just no reason for me to be up there. I have come across this issue in the last few races I have done, but I think now that it has really sunk in for me. I just keep thinking that I can cause a split in the group, it is just hard to make happen, especially on a flat course. I did have fun, and being in the front is a safe place to be in a criterium an I really did not want to take chances with crashing. So after the first crit which was 45 minutes plus a lap, I had 2 hours til my nest crit which was a single speed crit. 6 guys signed up and I got 4th. The three guys that beat me were in a higher category than be and certainly more experienced than me. None of the three guys had raced yet that day and were fresh. I was able to hang in there most of the race but the really turned it on the last lap. I could feel the previous race in my legs and well as the grease bomb egg sandwich I ate just 45 minutes prior. There is always an excuse. Overall I did have fun and learned a thing or two. Tomorrow is the road race. 40 miles, 7 laps of a 5.7 mile course with 500 feet of climbing each lap. I know the course well and I hope my leg does not cramp up. I am making a goal of not being in the front. I will sit behind someone and go their pace, see how I feel, but not try to make any moves. I seemed to get burned every time I try. I feel I can stay with the leaders if I am smart about it and let them do the work. I will let you know how that goes. gotta get some sleep

pictures of me out front in the criterium for no good reason

4th of July-June 26

cfrider — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:44:14 +0000

So it had been a while since I wrote anything. On the 4th of July, a group of us get together every year and meet at 4:30 am at our friend/mentor/bike builder Don’s house for a big mountain bike lap. Don has been doing this ride for going on about 20 years now. We start from his house in Salida and ride up to the top of Monarch Pass via dirt roads/old railroad grade and single track. We then get on the Crest Trail and ride to the Silver Creek Trail then to the Rainbow Trail and back to town. It is about 90 miles with about 45 miles of the best single track around (really) and a whole bunch of climbing. It is always and awesome ride although a bit painful. This year about 50 riders showed up at Don’s with alot of them riding one of Don’s handmade bikes (single speeds). So there was that, and a handful of other cool rides. One of which a few of us rode the pavement over Monarch Pass to almost Gunnison and turned on Hwy 114, over North Pass to Saguache and then over Poncha Pass back to Salida with a total of about 170 miles. It was an amazing ride on some very remote paved roads with very little traffic and spectacular scenery. I have been on the road quite a bit lately because I have been trying to do what I can to get ready for the Salida Omnium this next weekend which is a three day race event consisting of a Time Trial, Criterium and a Road Race. I have been working on my time trialing since I pretty much suck at that. I got me some clamp on time trial bars and that seems to help I guess. So I will keep all of the one or two folks that read this updated this weekend to let you know how the race is going. Until then I just have to say that I LOVE SUMMER.

Dirty Kanza

cfrider — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:16:36 +0000

Well, it has been a couple of days since I rode the Dirty Kanza, a 205 mile gravel road race in the Flint Hills of Kansas. I think, even after a few days of recovery, that this race was the hardest day on a bike I have ever had. Coming from the mountains of central Colorado and going for rides that have thousands of feet of elevation gain, I really did not think that Kansas could hurt so bad, even if it was 200 miles. The temps got close to, if not, over 100 degrees with 80% humidity. Something I am not used to. There were flat sections of road, but it was mostly quite hilly and rugged. Some sections one would need a jeep to drive. I heard that there was over 12, 000 feet of climbing. I rode my Lemond Cross bike and it was the perfect bike for the event. I started out the ride getting a flat within 100 yards after turning onto the gravel. So I spent the first 65 miles chasing to the first checkpoint. I definitely used alot of energy catching up in the stiff headwind by myself. My folks were there with their motor coach as my support crew which was very helpful, having an air conditioner and freezer. I just kept passing other riders along the route. After the last checkpoint, with 65 miles to go, and very hot, there were times that I thought I could not continue. Throughout most of the race, I had cramping issues, I believe due to the heat. I knew there was a gas station at about 40 miles to go. My goal was at least to get there and see how I felt. I made it and bought a bag of ice and had some cold water and it seemed to revive me. There were alot of guys there that I think quit at that point. When I left that gas station, I was told by another rider that there were maybe 5 guys ahead of me. I had no idea that I was that far ahead. I passed a pair of riders within a few miles and found a couple more lying in the ditch under a tree. I tried pushing it to the finish to beat the daylight. The last 30 miles, I think I was feeling better but they were long miles, the odometer just wouldn’t turn over fast enough. With the sun starting to set, the temps seemed to cool slightly, maybe to 90. I made it to the finish at 9:15pm. It was just dark when I finished. I was then told that I was 4th place. Quite surprised and very happy to be done. 6 am start and finish at 9:15. Long hot ride. There were 217 riders signed up and I heard 187 started and maybe 60 finished. Give me a few more days and I will start thinking about next year.

This pic is just before the start, 6 am, not that hot yet.

Here is a picture of the podium, they actually had a 4th place spot. The second place guy was at the hospital getting re hydrated.

Independence Pass

cfrider — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:15:21 +0000

We rode from the town of Twin Lakes over Independence Pass to Aspen and back today. Perfect weather, sunny, light winds (compared to what we have been having) and warm temps. Independence Pass is one of, if not the highest paves pass in the country. It is closed all winter and was scheduled to open today at 2:00 pm. We made it over and back without any vehicle traffic. Had a $9 sandwich in Aspen and headed back over. Sure is nice having the whole road to your self. Spectacular scenery. Over 9000 feet of climbing in 77 miles.

Salida to Colorado Springs

cfrider — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:05:46 +0000

Last Sunday (May 23) a couple of friends and myself rode to Colorado Springs from Salida on the dirt. We climbed up Ute Trail to Guffy, CO and then to Cripple Creek, CO and then along Gold Camp Road to Colorado Springs. A total of 120 miles with quite a bit of climbing. It was a nice day and a real pleasure to be out. Just one of those rides in preparation for the Dirty Kanza.

Prize Money!!

cfrider — Fri, 14 May 2010 22:29:02 +0000

I just received two checks in the mail today from the Tour of the Gila. One $10 check for 7th place in the Cat4 35+Overall and one $10 check for 4th place in Stage 4 (The Gila Monster). What a surprise. I actually won money in a bike race. Whoo Hoo!!

Thank You Stella and Norman

cfrider — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:55:26 +0000

I would just like to thank my hosts for the time I spent in Silver City, NM at the Tour of the Gila. Stella and Norman were part of a host housing program organized my the Tour of the Gila. They were very welcoming and supportive and it was a real pleasure getting to know them. I would hope to see them again. Thank you Stella and Norman.