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

Guess Where I Am?

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?

Oh what fun...

...it is to ride!

yeah that song about
sleighs and all
goes on way too long.

It should just end right there.

Oh what fun it is to ride!

Especially if you are riding with the MIB. I just cannot even start to tell you how much fun I had this weekend.

I knew I would be as useless as tits on a bull if I went down to Orosi so instead I went up to Santa Rosa for a little critaction. Unbelievably my first of the season. They had a 2/3 race and a P/1/2/3 race. I started both...finished the first in OK fashion. A break of 4 got off early and not surprisingly there was no worthwhile chase to catch them. 30 seconds gap all day. A foreseeable crash in turn one of the last lap gapped the field and allowed about twenty of us to ride to the finish for 5th-25th. I was somewhere in the middle. Not overly impressive but for my first (and an intended conservative) crit of the year...not bad. The prosey race, sans pros (except one Kodak from what I could tell), started fast and lots of gaps opened. I tried to come around and close but found myself less than motivated and thinking more about racing with the boys the next day. So, I justified the bail in order to save some for the Hanford. OK really, I just was tired and didn't feel like fighting the wind and I was a wimp...there, admitted.

Hanford, I like that course. Though as another MIB pointed out, there was no draft. It was like the wind was coming right over the rider in front and no matter how low and aero you got you were still getting blasted. With 8 MIB we were ready, willing and more than able. Olaf slayed'em in the break and CW wound up the field to catapult Jeff to the line for the field sprint.

The prosey race, though longer, somehow seemed easier. Maybe it was smoother. Maybe I was just so damn tired my legs were failing to register pain due to exhaustion or just plain old conservation of energy. Either which way it was good to get out and spin'em up. I just wish I had been more capable of countering and closing. It will come. It is quite apparent that I am not going to be an early season stand-out. I hope I have something to show later!

Well, it was great to be on the bike and racing with the team. Even the kids enjoyed it. Big hugs to Aunt Soni for dog-sitting during the race. Phanny can't wait to see her new boyfriend Migo next weekend.

Whistler while you ski

We had a really good time in Whistler. The condo wasn't great, the weather wasn't great (mostly overcast cold windy), but good snow, food and company.

The first wipe out!

A clear minute...one of the few.

Lunch at Christine's...having fun.

One of the gladed runs.

Leigh posing in front of an ice inukshuk

Slippery when wet!

Edgewood exit off 280 yesterday evening...ouch.

Almost to Marathon

I didn't make it to Marathon (would have had to cross the 7 mile bridge...yikes)

but I did ride over three marathons!

From Mile 0 to 40 and back to 0.

I was actually way motivated to go ride today. But, it was raining...which is OK....and the wind was gusting to 30mph. Not really my idea of acceptable riding conditions. I waited out the rain and eventually got out for an hour in the wind. Should be nicer tomorrow and warmer, 70s! Thinking about riding to Marathon and back. Did I mention that I am in Key West? During Mardi Gras?

Be Afraid...

...be very afraid

For the next four days the sky will not be safe as I will once again be operating one of these babies.

Royal/Cole Coffee Ride

What a great time!




6 MIB,

3 EBVC,


1 Kodak/Sierra Nevada,


1 Cheerwine








5.5 hours,
90 miles,
plenty of climbing,
lots of sunshine.

Oh yeah, and a big ole burrito to finish it off.


Yeppa, yeppa, andeley, andeley, arriba, arriba!

Thanks for the Toys (from Phanny)

I love all my toys...and Mom and Dad like that I have something to chew on other than shoes and furniture!

















Tucker may win these days but I am putting on weight fast. I am up to almost 80#.

Safeway Star: Secret Revealed

Safeway Star: Secret Revealed
by Stanley Morgan (Reprinted with permission from the Dallas Star)


The latest powerhouse in Northern California's over 35 cycling scene, Safeway Team Cycling, is being questioned for possible unfair practices. It is well known that Team Safeway dominated the NCNCA throughout the 2006 season. It was originally believed that unparalleled training regimens practiced by superior cyclists and their precision teamwork were the secrets behind their successes.

Many of their opponents, however, hinted toward the possibility of unfair and possibly illegal practices. A well known pro rider from the District (who asked to remain anonymous) said, "no team has been so dominant since I led the McNugget Pro Cycling (name changed) team in 2004 and well, we all know how I won. I got caught and so will they. We know they are using something, we just don't know what."

One rider on Safeway has shown the most dramatic improvement. The Canadian, and former Olympic calibre rower Daniel Martin, underwent an incredible transformation over the winter "training" season. His personal achievements in 2006 were nothing short of miraculous.

Though many allegations have been tossed about, it wasn't until today that any proof was provided that might explain Safeway's and Daniel Martin's exceptional performance. The Star received the below photo and now we know...it must be Divine intervention.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful...

Bedtime Story

The pink stuff gets pushed through these pipes.

It pushes on this thing.

Then it moves this thing.

But if it doesn't get pushed hard enough then the same thing can be moved by this blue stuff.

But the blue stuff doesn't really move it.

Really the blue stuff pushes the pink stuff which still moves the thing.

But, if the pink stuff leaks out then you can't move the thing.

Except some things can be moved by stored pink stuff and some things can be moved by either blue or pink stuff.

Lots of blue and pink stuff runs through the plane.

Lots of stuff moves. There are lots of ways to move lots of stuff.

The end.

A Couple Halloween Pix

Got my replacement
camera today so I
was able to download
the two pictures I took
before it got dropped.

This is Captain Underpants.

The Lady in Red.

I am still trying to get pictures
from the others with cameras.

Grit Man

Play with your food!

The BIG D

Depressing? Daunting?

Dejecting? Dull?

Drive? Discouraging?

Disheartening? Dismal?

Dank? Dispiriting? Dreary?

Ditch? Decumbent?

Drag? Deflated? Dingy?

Doleful? Downcast? Drab?

Desolate? Done? Dumbass?

The Working Man

I have
officially
rejoined
the ranks
of the
working
man...






I am back in Dallas
to relearn the proper
techniques for driving
the sky bus,
the work horse of our company,
the lovable Super 80

"Luxury Jet"

(actually they have taken the
luxury jet thingy off of them
...and for good reason).

I spent a little time in
study hall today.

Whoa!
Not much of that going on.

Mostly watching bad computer
graphics remind me of all the
things I forgot I was supposed
to remember about these flying
behemoths. You know, I am not
supposed to fly them
upside down?

What gives?

Ooooops

Well, I was going to have lots of fun pictures from the Halloween party. But, the camera got dropped with the lens out and it is done.

So, you'll just have to imagine me dressed as a Cereal Killer and Leigh was Red.

Not really the same as a picture?

Maybe someone else took a picture and I can get a copy of it.

Off to ATL.