A Learning Process

The Santa Cruz crit was Sunday and it was one helluva race. I really like this race. A fast course with a 180º turn at the top and a deceivingly difficult uphill finish.

There were 8 MIB, a formidable squad. But, AMD and CVC and Stanley Morgan and the Strawberry Boys showed up in force as well. El Jeffe jumped at the start and set a blistering pace that never let down. We averaged about 24.5 mph for the 20 lap race with a 180º turn and a hill. OUCH. At least two of us averaged a higher HR than at any race yet this year. Yeah, it was one of those. I think less than half the starters finished.

A two man break got away with AMDs Laberge. I bridged up to it. We got caught. A counter went...I jumped on the back. The pace stayed high and it was easier to be at the front. I learned this the hard way as I dropped back to rest, then dropped back a little farther, then a little farther. All the sudden I was killing myself to close gaps after the 180 and fighting Max and Stanley for DFL.


With 7 to go I almost bailed but gave just a little bit extra and got back on. The pace must have slowed some because I worked my way forward (or at least in my head I was moving forward) but anyhow, I was still in it...close that gap. (lesson 1)

We had 4 guys on the front

3 more not far behind with 3 to go.

We saw 2 to go...
there was a small crash in the 180,
Andrew was out.


El Jeffe was right there with me and I probably could have used my last bit of strength and gotten him closer to the front where he could have been a factor. I didn't....there is always something you can do to help the team. (lesson 2)


Hutch jumped
MM went with him.
Taz and PT and CW were all right there
for the counter...
or to cheer on MM for the win,

but,

AMD chased it down.


I think this is about the time I became a cheerleader.


I wasn't on the front and didn't think I could get there and probably wouldn't have been much help if I did get up there.

Never give up...never (lesson 3)!

Taz went crazy and set the Wireman up but that hill is deceivingly difficult. He ran out of gas and couldn't hang on for the win...he got fifth. Probably because it was like his fourth race day in a row with Snotter and all.

Not a bad finish but MIB are never satisfied with anything but the win.

Wente...here we come (but not me 'cause I have to go do the military thing...damn).

Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw

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Just for you oV!

Copperopolis

Copperopolis Road Race
April 7, 2007
Riders: Michael Hernandez (1) , Chris Wire (2) , Ronald Reade (8), Daniel Martin (10), Kyle Glerum, Andrew Nevitt, Jeff Poulsen, Reed Maxwell, Patrick Tafoya

On the Saturday before Easter, with no races scheduled on Sunday, there was only one place for Northern California Racers to be, Copperopolis. That might explain the presence of Levi Leipheimer and 600 other visitors to this little town of just 2400 residents. For Team Safeway there was no place we would rather be than trying to improve on our 1st and 3rd place finishes last year.

The race takes place in the hills of Calaveras County mined by Hiram Hughes and his son William Napoleon Bonaparte Hughes for its gold and silver, but famous for its "iron rust". Copperopolis, originally known as Copper Canyon, was founded in 1860 and grew to support the copper miners. It prospered during the Civil War as tremendous amounts of copper were needed for shells and bullets. When the war ended, the price of copper went down and the mining cost went up, the mines went idle and the boom times ended. But, once a year, this quiet town opens its bumpy hilly roads to cyclists with strong legs, strong lungs, and strong wheels.

Copperopolis Road Race is a three lap race of 61 miles. Each lap consists of the main climb up to the plateau. Once on the plateau riders are subject to strong winds and rolling roads. A smaller but steeper climb sets up the fast, twisty, bone jarring descent to the short but deceivingly difficult 400m uphill finish. On lap one the usual flats and mechanicals took a significant portion of the field out of the race. A small break got away on the plateau. Kyle Glerum jumped across to them. The field chased as Safeway sat comfortably awaiting the catch. The break's resolve waned with an AMD rider just along for the ride and the field closed the gap by the small climb. The field was strung out single file down the hill and all the way through the feed zone. Up the main climb again. At the front the SAG for another field disrupted the lead climbers and caused a crash which split the field again. An acceleration over the top prevented many from rejoining the race. A break of four got off the front including our own Michael Hernandez, an AMD, a Spine, and a Morgan Stanley. Spine dropped off almost immediately and the MS rider dropped not too much later on the backside climb. Down to the finish, a lap to go, through the feed zone and AMD was starting to suffer. He held on to Michael's wheel for a long time but as the road turned up he continued to lose ground. Near the top, on a steeper section of the climb, Daniel Martin shot across the gap in a huge solo effort reminiscent of his winning move from last year. He and Michael did a two man time trial around the upper plains and to the base of the final climb. The field chased but could not close the gap. Michael charged up the climb and descended the rough twisty roads like nobody else can to maintain the lead and take the win. Behind him, with AMD leading the charge, the field chased. Approaching the "1 km" sign Ronald Reade and Chris Wire sat ready for the sprint. Ronald jumped first at about 500m. The pack chased. Chris found a wheel and with perfect timing jumped for the line to take the field sprint and second place. Ronald hung on for 8th and Daniel for 10th.

It was another great day of racing. The field was strong, but the team rode well and earned its one-two finish! Hiram and William may have had to settle for "iron rust" but Team Safeway left Copperopolis with both Gold and Silver.

Guess Where I Am?

More Phone Pictures

Phanny and Tucker on the way home from Hanford.

Someone was supposed to stay awake and keep me company...

Inukshuk?

This is from Pulgus Ridge but we saw one made of ice in Whistler as well.

Water Dog Park...too bad I don't have a water dog!

Fork this!

I thought this was funny?

Hanford Crit

Watch the video...the last shot is priceless!

Forget to blink?

I remember this happening to me last year as well. I get done with a crit and a couple minutes later my eyes feel all dry and start to tear up and they hurt so bad I cannot see.

Is it possible I am concentrating so hard and trying to see everything and trying not to get in a crash that I simply don't blink?

This last incident happened at the Ronde Van Brisbeen Masters Race. It was sunny and windy and cool. We raced 50 minutes. Chris got off the front in a group of five. He got second in the crit but won the Omnium! In the field I had worked hard. I took both the pack primes. Rested and worked my way back up to the front. I was sitting third wheel behind Roemer then my teammate Michael Ma. Someone rolled a tire in the 180 on the next to last lap. We got through with about 8 others. Roemer pulled to the finish straight but started to slow (he had been up there a while). I pulled out, yelled "Mike let's go", and buried my head into the wind. I tried to slowly wind it up so that I could keep accelerating all the way to the 180. I think I did OK. I got through the 180 first, Mike came around me with a confident, "I've got it". And I jumped on the third wheel to come by me. Almost straggled in for 10th but put a little extra effort to it for 9th (BAT Points baby). 2 minutes later I couldn't see. I couldn't even see well enough to ride my bike back to my car, or to drive home.

Now it is two days later and my eyes are still irritated. My eyeballs actually HURT. Maybe I need to get a pair of these. Will someone see if Adidas wants to sponsor us next year?

Bizarre isn't it? And last year, it just quit happening.



One of the websites I was researching says:

Avoid wind
Avoid heat
Avoid using air conditioning in a house.
Avoid turning on the air conditioning or heater in a car
Take a bath
Avoid too much caffeine. Limit yourself to one or two cups of coffee

I was taking notes until the last one. Not gonna happen! I will not give up my Peet's. But, maybe, how big a cup?