ToTG Day 4 - 1st Goal Met

Day 4/5. Downtown Silver City Tour of the Gila criterium!

Pinos Altos is a town north of Silver City (where tomorrow's Stage 5 ends) and a street in Silver City. I cannot understand why outsiders cannot say Pinos Altos without giggling, each and every time.

I am ready to give it a go at the crit. Notice the new trick Bike Race Number mount off the seat tube Foxy, Ydays and I got going this trip.

Big Jim of the Peloton on the crit course. Hanging tough. It was cold - about 48 degrees at race time.

Turk on the prowl near some typical Southwestern motif fancy steps.

BV and Ydays. Lovers on the steps.

Over the top of the short steep climb is a streets of San Francisco type descent. Notice the large dark figure of Big Jim of the Peleton midway back on the right side. I could coast for about a half lap from this point, even move up some while regaining my breath to begin the hammer again.

Foxy hammering it up the short steep hill closing in on George and Tom.

Big Jim figures keeping near Bain is always a good idea.

The crit course. Innocuous looking. Safe, fast, spectacularly spectator friendly. Downtown Silver.

Nasty little bump each lap makes it tough.

Turk and Ydays got to take in some of the best roads Silver has to offer today - thru the Gila Forest out and back to Silver City.

Nice climbing effort for them.

Crit was successful today. I didn't get pulled and Foxy and I stayed near the front and out of trouble. The first 2-3 laps were pretty fast and its always tough getting your breathing under control out of the start house. We did 21 1.1mi laps, each with a short, steep 100' climb. I got to the point where I could spin up the climb, hit the top with momentum then not pedal for nearly 1/2 lap while advancing somewhat as it was mostly downhill. Hammer single file thru the 0.3 mile start finish straight, then head back uphill and repeat.

The pro race was fun to watch - Lance was at the front for the first 90%, after which his Livestrong babies took turns attacking. Highlight was when Floyd threw his water bottle on the last lap and Terri got it. Like the bridesmaids bouquet!! Terri asked Floyd whether he wanted it back as he rolled around after the sprint, he said no.

Wonderful Spaghetti feast at the Wasmunds complete with homemade tortilla chips and homemade cheesecake. Dave and Pat Wasmund live outside of Silver, on the race course, and in the always a small world department Matt used to race with their son Steve, and their daughter Sarah used to race on the MTB Bicycle-Heaven Racing Team run by Bill and Jacque Payne. Steve Betton, 60+ racer (with a sub 10 lb bike) from West Texas stays with the Wasmunds each year (they are part of Warm Showers) Steve Betton and I became friendly during past Tours of The Gila and Steve spearheaded the local money groundswell which kept the Tour alive just enough that when Lance signed up last year and SRAM came in and took over the race is now bigger and better than ever before. Sorry, too much background info!!

Last stage in am - the Gila Monster. Tough race for us 40+, super tough race for the Cat 2's and Pro's. Turk and Ydays have another good ride planned tomorrow also.

Until then.

ToTG Day 3 - Bad Decision

Stage 3/5. 16 mile out and back (N->S->N)nTT. Always looks not so bad from birds eye view.

Ahh, and then the profile. Ouchie.

Chief Soigneur Beautiful Vernette graces some Southwest art.

As does our favorite feathered bird, the Turk.

There are two things in life which create problems or stress. 1. Procrastination 2. Bad Decisions. Yesterday we saw an example of procrastination causing problems. Kevin Barton never got around to upgrading to 10 speed, and couldn't find a wheel when he flatted at the start of the stage, forcing him out of the Gila. Today we saw an example of a bad decision, when despite Lance and Wes advising against a deep dish front wheel I used one in the TT.

The day started nicely - got to sleep in til 9am, breakfast, nap, then TT start at 1:20. Very cold today - high during the TT was about 50. I rode around the parking lot going thru my gears, didn't really think much of the rain and I was ready to go. Long Sleeved skin suit, Defeet gloves and shoe covers. TT helmet. Comfortable. Felt TT bike working great, HED Tri-Spoke front and rear wheels chosen for speed.

Start was good. Tried not to go too hard for first couple of miles (first 4.5 miles uphill.) After 1/2 mile breathing way too hard, took it back a notch and let my breath catch up to my body. Goal HR for first 2 miles was 165, 160 seemed to work better. Interestingly I never got my HR over 170 for the whole 16 miles - avg HR was 162, last year I averaged 173. I'm a little fitter this year, but I think yesterday was so hard that my body was a little more tired.

After 2 miles, breathing sorted out and I pushed a little harder, heart rate could only go to 168ish comfortably, breathing seemed to be the real limiter today. Over the Summit of the first climb - screaming downhill. On the aerobars after a half mile a big gust caught me and I realized how much of a "disc" the front tri-spoke acts like. Put my hands on the cowhorns and near the bottom started high speed front wheel wobble. I am amazed I didn't crash. Mentally all you can picture is the wobble increasing until it gets out of control and you wreck. Slowed with the back break, got it under control and it happened two more times, more mildly before the bottom of the descent.

Needless to say my TT was "over" at that point. I can't remember the last time I was scared. That scared me. I have no idea why I didn't crash. Out to the turn around and back of the rollers, afraid anytime I'd get over 30mph. Even on a small descent into the steep final 1.5 mile climb I felt unsteady and grabbed brake. I did a nice steady effort up the climb. But was very worried about the descent. The wind was a cross wind over the right shoulder on the way out, over the left shoulder on the way in, but it seemed like a head wind in both directions, so I was worried about its effect on the front wheel during the 4.5 mile descent to the finish.

I coasted 3+ miles in the last 4.5 miles. Never felt comfortable pedaling, nervous any time a gust caught me. I passed two riders and even that was terrifying. Anyways, time not to bad 47:11, lost a minute or two because of bad decision to use a disc-like front wheel. Finished 40/60, maybe should have been 30th. Foxy felt tired out there, put about 45 seconds into me. I'm interested in talking with George tomorrow - he was running 4 spoke Spinergys, I wonder how that front wheel felt.

I had a low profile rim EDGE wheel at the start line, should have made the decision to put it on. Cost me a couple of minutes and cheated me of measuring where I truly stand. Most importantly my bad decision might have resulted in serious injury, crashing at 50 miles per hour. I won't make that mistake again.

On a positive note - I've been watching the daily stages of the Tour de Romandie on Cycling.tv. Yesterday after our super windy road race stage, while watching stage 2 of Romandie the British announcer related that he had heard that the "Bayard road stage at the Tour of the Gila (pronounced with hard "G")" was "exceptionally windy." We're on the international cycling map! Oh, yeah and the Belgian though it was really windy too, which says something.

Another positive note - great meal tonight at Foxy's motorhome - spaghetti and meatsauce! Tracy's Killer Brownies. Foxy's mom spoils us on the road - she takes care of us every year at Ft. Davis. And I'm having the best time at the Gila, in my 8 trips here, because Turk came with me for the first time!

Pictures don't want to upload tonight, for some reason. I'll try again in the am - only have a few from today.

Tomorrow is the crit. I have been pulled the last 2 years, hopefully not this year!

Not sure if this is the last blog post or not - our Blogging service - Blogger.com says it is shutting down as of May 1, which is now. Stay tuned (or not!)

ToTG Day 2 - It's Always A Good Idea When You're Signing Up...

Stage 2. Ft. Bayard aka "inner loop." Clockwise. Innocuous as a birds eye view.

The profile says it all. All groups except Mens 4/5, womens 3/4 do the same course today. This is the hardest stage for the Women, Cat 3 and 40+ men. The last day is the hardest stage for the Pro men and the Cat 2 men.

My goal was to get over the first climb - 6 mile climb 5 mile into the race. You can see by my heart rate data I gave it a shot. Didn't make it, but didn't overdo it like I did last year where I cracked during the last 25 miles... Ended up with 7000 feet climbing for the 80 miles.

The most beautiful race thru the Gila forest. This is why riding in Silver City is my favorite.

Across the valley towards the Continental Divide is Lake Roberts.

We crossed the continental divide twice today - at miles 12 and 44.

There are loose Cougars in the forest!!

Tough day. Our group (and all others) hit the first climb, at mile 5 really hard. The pace coupled with a tail wind took me out the back after the 1st of 6 miles. Foxy made the 2nd group, and I hung with the Bain/Heagart 3rd group until 1 mile from the top and just couldn't keep the pace.

After the top of the first climb we drop into the Gila forest and spend then next 20 miles in shady pine forest. Lots of climbing and descending. The descents are technical and there are always crashes. I ended up with a group of 4, including a large dude from Belgian. He had a pointy nose and I didn't know his name so I referred to him as Jens. On the final descent, around a hairpin, I was happy to see the Turk taking photos. She had started the ride before us and was enjoying the day.

After we leave the forest we ride across the Mimbres valley. 15 miles false flat uphill and 15 miles false flat downhill to and fro from the Continental Divide. We picked up a guy from London who had flatted - he had finished 12th the day before so I knew he was strong. I noticed that the wheel he had picked up had a 12-21 cassette on - I didn't have the heart to say anything to him but I felt sorry for him going into the last climb!

Jens and I mostly sat on on the false flat uphill towards the divide, then did a bit of work leaving it. With about five miles to go across the valley the trees were gone and we got our first taste of the days wind. 30mph with gusts to 60. We had grown to a group of 7 across the valley. 1 guy blew off the road.

We made the turn to start the final big climb to the feed into a full block head wind. 30 mph with gusts to 60. Our group split up. The strong guy with the 21 went up the road - I think because he had to push that big gear as a certain speed. Jens and I actually dropped the rest of our group, I think because they were scared of the wind. Foxy's dad and BV were in the feed and I picked up a couple of bottles. That last climb was long and about 6 miles per hour with the grade and wind. Halfway up a guy said it gets "really windy at the top." I laughed cuz it is "really windy right here." But he was right. We almost came to a standstill and I contemplated walking my bike as it would have been safer and might have been faster.

The last 25 miles into that wind were brutal. Jens was really hurting and kept dropping off. I shared some Bonk Breaker with him, to no avail. I passed a few more guys in my group, including the strong Englishman, I think my weight had some benefit into the wind - finally!! It was disheartening one time when I made mistake of looking at my Garmin and I was on a 5% downhill, going 15.6mph in the small chainring.

I finished the day, Foxy was waiting at the finish line for me - he had come in 15 minutes ahead with Bain and Heagarty. I had been thinking during the last miles of how nice the Oakley Jawbones are. I wear contacts and was having no eye issues, even with all that wind blowing. When I stopped to talk with Foxy and Kevin Barton I took them off and instantly my eyes filled up with dirt and crap and I was miserable.

This day was so hard. It claimed Ydays at the 2nd feed. I finished 47 minutes down, there were guys in my group nearly 2 hours down (6 1/2 hours riding for them.) We started 75, 67 finished. I place 49th. Foxy and my running joke this year has been that "It always seems like a good idea when you're signing up" for a race. Yeah it is so damn easy to sign up for races. But they are all hard and this one was exceptional.

Ironic story of the day. Our friend Kevin Barton and Foxy were talking before the stage about gears. Turns out Kevin runs 9 speed whereas everyone else who races runs 10 speed. Kevin flatted 10 minutes before the start and they couldn't find his spare wheel in the wheel truck. He tried to change his flat quickly and pinched the tube, so he couldn't take the start today. I think that will push Kevin over the edge and we'll see him on 10 speed soon.

Today is the TT. 1/10th the time of yesterday's stage. 10x the pain. Thanx for reading.

ToTG Day 1 - Progress

Hotel parking lot is behive of cycling activity, morning and evening.

Our chief soigneur, BV, gets her pump on.

This is the first race I have been in with George that he didn't flat in. That's because he flatted before the race. Smart thinking, George!

Ladies field coming thru the 2nd feed.

My stats on the day. I really can't complain. The final climb took me 48 minutes. Last year it took me 56 and the year before 1:01. I got farther than I had with the group. I lost 17 minutes - last year 30 and the previous year 45. Marginal improvement is all someone with limited talent needs to keep'em coming back.

The route to Mogollon.

Just so you don't think the Turk is goofing off, here is her route for the day. She had planned to ride to the top of Mogollon. Decided to turn around when Doug and I passed her descending at about mile three. I think she was the smart one.

Her profile. It is interesting that the latest version of Ascent is giving us power data - since she doesn't have a power meter on her bike, and mine doesn't have a battery! I'll have to read the latest about this. The program knows our weight heart rate zones, and the Garmin collects speed, gradient and heart rate. The program must use some formula to estimate power. Interesting.

Funny story of the day. We had breakfast when Tom Danielson ate, and rode up in the elevator with him. He asked us what time we raced and wished us good luck. He said "The final climb is really really hard!!" Anyways, he got 2nd to Levi - pretty darn good. My final climb was 48 minutes, his probably 28 minutes. And it was probably just as hard for each of us. As Greg Lemond said "It never gets easier, you just go faster." Hearing that probably played a factor into the Turk turning around 3 miles into the climb, you know how much she loves to hear the truth!!

Day 1 is in the bag and I think we got a little lucky. The wind stayed relatively calm (gonna be 30 mph most of the rest of the race.) Our group mostly stayed together to the final 7 mile climb. Foxy and I got popped near the top of the 2nd feed due to straggling at the back a bit when a few guys jumped and took the group with them. Almost made my goal of reaching the final climb with the group - we were 2 miles from it!

Our group of 6 rode hard trying to get back on - we ended up about 30 seconds behind going into the climb. Not bad. The effort cost, however - I stayed with our small group for 2 miles, then when the hill began to get steep I knew I had to ride my own tempo.

Yday's first time racing to Mogollon. He got popped in the first feed zone. I think he did really well to get there - the first 25 miles was much tougher this year than in the past. He rode his own pace from there to the climb. Unfortunately he found out just how hard Mogollon is. 2 years ago when I really cracked I almost turned around with 150 meters to go and rode back down the hill without finishing the stage. Until today Ydays never believed that I was being serious, apparently he face similar demons on the way to the top today.

At least tomorrow's stage is harder...

ToTG 2010 - Again so soon?

Sorry for such a long break between posts (or your welcome if you needed a break....)

Well we are in Silver City for the next week to once again try to figure out how to ride bikes uphill with ex-pros and skinny amateurs in the Master's 40+ race. 2010 SRAM Tour of the Gila

Ydays, Foxy and I are racing together, for the first time at this race, should be interesting. The race itself has grown - recall it arose like Lazarus last year when local contributions, SRAM headline sponsorship and Lance Armstrong racing snatched it from near extinction. This year the race is 50% bigger than I recall, with over 700 racers in all categories. Our category, the 40+ masters, has 85 registered to race, I don't recall more than 45 in a previous field. The Pro/1 category has 200 racers, including top international pros Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Dave Zabriskie. It is gonna be a mad house at the starts and especially at the finishes this year.

I've done a little training - a bit of local racing and a couple of stage races including the climbing race at Ft Davis 2 weeks ago. My weight is still my weakness (besides my age and general lack of talent) so it will be interesting to see if I can meet any of my interim goals - the same as last year. 1. Make it to the final climb on Day 1. 2. Get over the first climb with the group on Day 2. 3. Finish the crit. 4. Make it over the first climb with the group on Day 5. Last year I only met goal 4, and that was because the top guys stopped and peed at the side of the road near the top of the first climb.

I have done a little specific training for Gila. For climbing I have done the Watertower climb in Timberwood. Over a period of a couple months I started with 3 climbs and finished with 9 climbs. The climb there is 1k, takes me around 3 minute, and the recovery side of it makes the complete loop around 5:30.

Ah, the infamous Timberwood watertower. Ideal for 3 minutes of cyclical self inflicted suffering.

Pretty consistent efforts. 2:58 to 3:08. My SRM needs a new battery, so I'm not reading power. During earlier weeks when I set my goal power to 350 and stayed at it the intervals were even more consistent.

The excitement of training! Doing the same "intervals" over and over. This is my course profile and heart rate profile from the Watertower Climb loops.

It helps you go uphill a little faster when you have a Cougar on your tail!!

Foxy and I also did a little bit of TT prep for the Gila - out and back on 211 from 471 to 16 works nicely (albeit painfully.)

Mostly up hill headwind for the first half, opportunity to use the easy gears (I run a 39/28 at Gila,) mostly down hill tailwind for the second half opportunity to spin out the big gears (I run 56/11 at the Gila.)

Here's what the actual TT looks like at the Gila - my data from last year. Forecast currently is for a 20-30 mile cross wind out and back . Ouch.

ToTG tradition #1 accomplished. Running out of gas 1 mile from Ft. Stockton. Turk made this sign and stood outside. Actually got a ride from a couple of dudes (and they brought her back, shockingly) and got some gas to get us into Ft. Stockton!!

Stay tuned.

ToNB 2010. Prediction? PAIN!!

Innocuous enough looking course map.

Not so threatening looking course profile.

Got a chance to knock out 2 laps of this Saturday's ToNB RR course. Dickerson, Foxy, Park and I took an easy first lap with the Schleck bros, Turk and Moe. 2nd lap was anything but docile.

The race will play out a bit differently than today's ride - there probably won't be a steady 25mph wind out of the West!!

Some notes from the course.

16 miles with lots of turns, narrow roads and enough rollers. Near 1000 feet of climbing per lap. It will be interesting to see 50-100 man groups getting it on in the first road race of the season.

Turn #3 (Right off of St. Hedwig onto Zigmont) Watch out. Downhill approach, narrow road, >90 degree off camber turn will catch the unawares off guard and there will be a wreck in some of the races. Don't be in it. Ease up and treat this turn with respect.

Turn #5. 200m after this turn onto Stuart there is a 10' section of road under repair. Loose dirt. Leave a little extra room going into this and watch for sudden moves and a touch of wheels going in front of you. Don't be involved in a pileup here.

Do not go off the road on this course. There is barbed wire a'plenty lining this course.

When you make your last left turn onto Real Rd, there is 1.5 miles to go. It is a looong 1.5 miles. Expect people to jump to soon for the finish and blow here. There is a leftward sweeper with 1 mile to go which starts about a 1/3 mile uphill section. This is where it gets really tough with continued false flat to the finish.

Our "Hot Lap" today took 45 minutes. Expect lap times in the neighborhood of 40 minutes on saturday.

Kudos to Rob for a brilliant course. Should be a barn burner.

If you haven't yet volunteered, please do. Contact Rob directly (email.rob.kane@gmail.com)

Hope to see you out there.

2010 Mini Camp - Rain Foreshortened

Day 1. Boerne, Welfare, 473, Kendalia, Edge Falls. Ice on the falls (see photo down below.)

Day 1 Profile. 93 miles. 5000 feet climbing. Our flatlander sisters from Dallas who joined us enjoyed the hilly terrain.

Day 2. Garden Ridge, 3009, Cranes Mill, Startzville, Sattler, River Road, Gruene, Landa Park, Krueger Canyon.

Day 2 profile. 99 miles, another 5000 feet climbing.

Day 3. Down South. Out and back the Missions and Mission Trail along the San Antonio river. Rolling around the farmland (in the cold and rain!!)

Alot less hilly down south and out east. 80 miles with 1000 feet climbing.

Edge Falls had water this year (no water for the past 2 years, until 3 months ago!) Unusually, there was ice formation.

Group photo. Monday we had out largest group with pals GG and John Lampe, B-H riders Matt and Bentley, Tom Bain and Kim Ciolli, George Thomas, the Dallas ladies, and Lara and yours truly on tandem.

Down south we generally stop at Jacks corner mid ride. Cold and rainy. All smiles, nonetheless.

"Southern" Philosophy.

Annual photo shoot at the Alamo. Lara and I on tandem, Kim holding her own in the middle. Matt and George on the right.

Muddy day. Rob is generally not freckled.

Well, we only got 3 days, but it was worth it. Several of our favorite rides, great company and outstanding training.

Monday we had our biggest group - around 12 riders - pictured above at Edge Falls.

Tuesday we did an new twist on an old ride and really nailed it. Great ride. Terri and Craig joined Lara, George, Kim, John Lampe and I. Terri had the ride of the day, earned the "game ball" and acquired a new nickname "Turktani" coming out of River Road. That is what, 8 nicknames for her??

Wednesday we met in Alamo Heights. It was raining and 50 degrees and a few who showed bailed, but there were enough of us not saying no so we saddled up and went forth. We rode in the rain the first 30 and last 30 minutes, in the middle it was just fine. Thanks to Rob's leadership we got a great ride in and salvaged the week!!

Enjoy the rain the next couple of days. See you on Saturday's shop ride. Ink in January 10-14 2011 and we'll do it again. Next year we should see alot of new faces as George is growing his Hill Country 600 race (again this year in March) and offering our rides as a intro/training camp for potential racers.

Check out Georges races at Race Across Oregon particularly the local Hill Country 600k race set for March 13-14 this year.