Team training camp

Reflection

Season ended with the Brentwood Gran Prix about three weeks ago.
Overall it was super. Met three goals: did not crash, reached a high level of fitness and was a key player in helping my team. Not quite sure what the off season will look like in terms of training.

Time to get the shoulder stronger. Do some cross training to strengthen the core and bones. Maybe some swimming and hiking.

!?!

San Marcos Circuit Race

Mates Brian and Brian got 10th and 11th. Tony did some blocking during the final lap. I was oblivious to it all. Early efforts were my demise and I started to fade towards the end. Figured race was wrapped up as a group of 7 was a minute up the road.

Fun fast 1.7 mi. course with a small hill and another gradual rise.

Finished with Mont Ventoux

It all comes down to this...

Mud castle

remember making these at the beach?

Look ma' I've raced a bit.

Went to my one year check up today. According to the CT scan it looks like bone is holding the clavicle together as opposed to a "fibrous bridge." That's good. Still there's work to be done to get things fully functional. Glad my current profession doesn't require heavy lifting or overhead work.

Not nearly as many races as last year...but hey...
2-28 North End Classic
Stage 1. Criterium , Stage 2. Road Race.
3-29 LA Circuit Race
4-4 Golden Acorn Road Race
4-5 Dominguez Hill Criterium
4-18 Devil’s Punchbowl Road Race
4-26 Dana Point Gran Prix
5-3 San Luis Rey Road Race
5-16 Ventura County Stage Race
Stage1TT , Stage 2 Criterium , Stage 3 Road Race
5-25 Long Beach Criterium
30+, P1,2
6-7 So.Cal. Champs Road Race
6-14 Dominguez Hill Crit.
30+, P1,2
Camp San Luis Road Race
SLO Criterium Classic

Race report for SLO 4th of July Weekend races:
RR: Interesting parcourse on the oldest original national guard
facility in California. Up, down, left and right. Seldom straight and
flat. Throw in front, side and tailwinds. Don't forget fork snapping
cattle guards. After the first two laps the almost 2/3 of the field
disappeared. Credit Strawberry, Liquid, A.Olson (Telekom, Saunier Duval,
Bissel, who's he riding for now?) and N.Shirley for setting an
untouchable pace up the climb. Many of these culprits would eventually
drop out after the butchering was complete. Decided it was way too fast
if I had any hopes of finishing. Cut my losses and rode within my
abilities. Funny, I just came up with about five excuses for letting
myself drop off the back. Finished 23rd.

Camped out under the stars at El Chorro campground. Ear plugs and an
eye pillow allowed me to sleep in total oblivion to the developing scene
(11hrs of zzz's) around me. Awoke to what could only be described as a
post apocalyptic America. Massive trailers, campers, trucks...basically
tons of horsepower.

Crit: After getting a look at the course I checked my pants for the
cojones that were locked in the car. Totally psyched myself out for
this race. Started at the back and stayed there until the finish. Once
things got moving it turned out to be a very smooth and safe. Once again
supporting the idea that slow crit: bad, fast crit: good. Finished
feeling a bit unsatisfied as I never really had reason to put out a real
effort. Entertained the idea of moving up at times but the field was
strung out the length of the block. Super fun course. Semi-technical
with a short momentum climb, long gradual climb, wide corners, barriers
for length of the course and a very enthusiastic crowd and MC. Finished
somewhere in there.

An all around good weekend. Mark it on your race calendar. Well worth
the drive.

Side note: Be on guard and watch out for drivers with smoking brakes
rolling through stop signs. Still counting my lucky stars :)

Pictures are worth a thousand words:

Style

Talk about confidence. The final turn was tight and no more that 250 meters from the finish. Rahsaan Bahati has won every race he's entered for the last four weekends. Not bad. In fact he's been winning since his days at Major Motion back in the late 90's. Within the last 24hrs. he won the SLO criterium to take the California State Criterium Championships.

More or less my route (minus a few error on the map) in 95 deg. heat. Took a counter clock wise direction.

Manhattan Beach Gran Prix- one year out.

Today is the 2009 Manhattan Beach Gran Prix. One year ago today (actually tomorrow the 29th) I crashed hard 20 meters before the final turn just before the 5 laps to go bell rang. For a variety of reasons, which were beyond my control, it would have been wise not to race that day. No regrets though. Remnants of my injuries still linger. "Time heals all wounds"...but scars remain pretty much sums it up.

In no way do I feel better off for this experience. I must say though, I've gained some insight and empathy along the way.

Reached the one year mark and have been riding, racing, and loving every minute of it.

Races to date

2-28 North End Classic Stage 1. Criterium, Stage 2. Road Race.
3-29 LA Circuit Race
4-4 Golden Acorn Road Race
4-5 Dominguez Hill Criterium
4-18 Devil’s Punchbowl Road Race
4-26 Dana Point Gran Prix
5-3 San Luis Rey Road Race
5-16 Ventura County Stage Race
5-25 Long Beach Criterium

Started to feel something that resembles "fitness" during the last two races. After Dana Point it was time for a bit of reflection and planning. Posted my objectives or targets in writing (on the wall) and made some changes to my diet. Just cut out the empty calories. Trimmed some blubber and maybe added some lean mass. Feeling much better.

:)

View Larger Map
had that feeling i've not had in quite some time. kept wondering what was around the next corner...how much farther until i turn back? one of the most scenic and inspiring rides in a long time?

races

racing has been fun. just kind of rolling with the pack.
back on track now. kind of got lost during mid-March to mid-April.

random post

did some races two weeks ago...san diego omnium (same course as boulevard RR) and a local crit. my team mates did a fine job in the RR. top ten, top 15, top 20. i finished towards 18-20th. the crit was fun. tony cruz was there. can't believe he rolled the dice at local crits before heading off to pari-roubaix? when you're pro your're pro i guess? i had a few off the fronts and pulls in the final laps but nothing special in terms of results. after all these years i lack the eyes for the key moves. something got away with 7 laps to go. race radios? i could use them. keeping the faith though. i will get on form and it will all come together. eli is racing every weekend and is full on at the moment. i was like that last year until my crash...and in 2004-...

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TANK VIDS: i'd like to fall asleep to this every night.


THIS COULD REPAIR CELLULAR DAMAGE WHILE I SLEEP: sleep should do this on it's own 8-10 hrs. for very active types...in an ideal world.


HAL voice:

LAX Circuit Race

Frank Shleck rounding the last turn with 300meters to go until victory in the final stage of the Tour of California.

"Conquer your demons." A team mate suggested this when I let him in the circumstances that contributed to my plan of starting but not finishing the LAX Circuit Race.

There's a first time for everything. Sat at the back for the entire "race." Finished and felt good about it. Heart rate never got any where near race pace. Felt like an easy group ride...which I guess it was given my position. Quite the contrast to last year when it was yours truly and Tyler Hamilton swinging into the last turn. A break went at some point and all of the Helen's guys missed the boat. The masters team had a good showing and top results.

bummer

I've only participated in two races. At this time last year I was at 13...a lucky number :)

a black cat ran across the road during my last local weekday/"training" ride. i laughed at it.

no worries, there's still a whole lifetime ahead.
(not my tank)

talent

we all have something we're good at.
sometimes it looks efforless
you've got to appreciate his fluidity.
especially in the transitions at about 1:20 minutes.



fit on the new bike thanks to helen's
the new shimano dura-ace is spot on all around.
they really did make a good thing better.

the trek madone feels like a knife through butter.
is it the carbon lay up? frame geometry?
i dunno?

got to get the perspective straight and get back in the game.
it will become effortless and fluid again...
how can you not be changed after many broken bones and long-term recovery?
it's all in the head...
me likes them monkeys.

bici

got the new bike today:)
happi about that.
alguien estaba aqui desde santander?
escribe algo.

Mondayzzz

i almost forgot what monday was like after a weekend spent racing and driving (to and from). it's great!! too tired to care or worry. just ride it out.

racing again...

after a nine month hiatus. back at the races.

"North End Classic" in Yuma, AZ was the venue. great drive out. never saw the Salton Sea before. the desert communities are...interesting. i just want to know how they survive summer.

Crit. had about 5 left turns and 5 right turns. i started at the back at the back and was happy to stay there for reasons A.B.&C. also happy to see my team mate survived a wreck. highest placed was eli@ 8th-ish.

Road race. flat and easy. perfect for a return to racing. 3 laps for a total of 87 mi. went for a break between laps one and two with the hopes of a group bridging up to the two of us. not much depth in the field so no go.seemed like we were just putting our "feelers" out there. still lot of fun and highest placed guy was greg at 4th.

rode around for about an hour after to check out the farm land and single-wide trailers. again, how to they survive out there in the dead heat of summer?

good times all around...and this is just the start:)


Ms. Cleo assessing how the pros do it.

The MC was playing this at the start of the RR.


and this at the end...

Tour of California Stage 9

Hamilton: 5 min. before roll out.



electro shimano on zabriskie's bike.



goldfish

Racing weekend

my team mate, eli richbourg, got 11th at devil's punchbowl. guess they dropped around 2/3 of the field. temps. never got above 45 degrees for the day. i choose not to race. another crit is on today, Roger Millikan Memorial Criterium. got three guys going out. again, i choose not to go. under normal circumstances there would be no question...as a come back race...eh?

THC 'er the Tour of California is well underway. Should be a great race. I'm looking to watch the last two stages in person. Other randomness. Lucas Euser scores 7th on the CG at Langkawi! nice.

happy to have a 4 day holiday from work. training in the morning blows doors on doing it in the dark after work.

the rain in spain

it's been a bit wet in southern cali. so i broke out the classic plastic jacket (clear plastic rain jacket). never used one before. kind of a dated contraption but it keeps you dry...or kind of tropical when you start to heat up. another dusting of snow on the mountains. very nice to look at.

the rain in spain...spent one year in cantabria back in '97. got an autograph from abraham olano. saw the tour of spain when rominger, zulle, etc. were going at it. i think indurain retired that year.

Cantabria, Espana.


Galicia, Espana.


forma de vida...

Team Helen's Bro-ha-ha

Team Helen's Training Camp in Carpinteria was perfect.

PSA (public service announcement). you can never be too careful. keep that in mind my friends. we are fragile creatures in spite of what we think.

2009 Cycling Season

(2004 or 05 Boulevard RR. I'm somewhere mid-field. Notice Aram D. catching on after a flat.)

The 2009 Southern California Cycling season has begun. Normally I'd be itching to get out there and mix it up in spite of my fitness...compared to guys that don't have full time jobs and limited training / recovery. It's kind of different now. After getting totally jacked this summer, I'm willing to ease back and not hurry things. Besides the field will be loaded with elite level talent. So...if some of my team mates are up for the flogging, I might be persuaded.

We've got a training camp this weekend in Carpinteria. The venue is awsome. good times will be had. pics to come.

Sporting Life

Wresting is a really hard sport.
My weight category was 152lbs. back in the day / circa 1990.
Got back down to that in undergrad / circa 1994.
Back again in 1999.

Now, 10 years later...I've got some work to do to get back to fighting weight.


Looked at my x-rays again last night (clavicle). My physical therapist had some great insight. "You really did a number on your shoulder." wisdom abounds.

Ano Nuevo

whew...the last 6 months of 2008 put my family to the test. all things considered the storm was weathered quite well. 2009 is off to a good start and the updated team kit just came in. the splash of color is a great addition in my opinion. we're on another great american made bike for 2009. again my sponsor HELEN'S BIKES came up with an unreal sponsorship package. I've never pedaled a TREK.

hooked up with some guys over the past two weekends for some sweet training rides in the local hills around Redlands. very nice. a former Jelly Belly pro: Norm Carter lead up the climbs. i had no idea who he was at the time. proves that these guys have something special even years after their hey day.



Six months out from THE crash. This has gone on long enough. If you ever break your clavicle... hope for the best. Most of the time you'll heal fine. If not the technology is there for operative treatment. Locking plates and screws plus bone "stimulator's" work in the right hands. Mine feels fine I guess. No problem yet under the stress of climbing and easy sprinting. i could go on for days on this topic...just ask those close to me.

got a proper stand for the fish tank. the three amigos are getting big.













a friend sent me this photo of a surf trip from back around 1992. ah...california dreaming. after a long hike we had this spot all to ourselves. camped out for a few nights. a bit unnerving due to it's isolation and sharky waters. i imagine my shoulder will be strong enough to surf by this time next year.













liked this vid so much i put it up again.

dark days

yesterday was the shortest day of the year in terms of sunlight.
did not notice. it appeared very bright to me.
the best training day yet.
think i have reached the end of a block.

out of darkness comes the light :)

cold days

i've been really cold before.
sledding as a kid. we'd stay out till real late at night. warm our boots at a fire made from sticks and trash. melt the boots. no curfew.

remember coming home one night. it was really really cold. my hands. they were so cold. really really cold. biting cold. thought running them under warm water would help. big mistake. made it even worse. ahh. lesson learned. best to wait it out a bit.

it's been cold. nothing like that though.
layering the clothing on the bike.
weekdays are about 2hrs. 4x per week.
weekends are about 5hrs. 2x per week. :) :) :0

getting older

honestly getting older.
honesty is good.

big week

BIGgest week yet. a whopping 23hrs. nothing feels as good as an early wake up, coffee, grub and a 5 hour jaunt in the sunshine. Yesterday was perfect. all sun and no wind.

shoulder feels better out of the saddle. better not perfect. but i'll take it.

feels good to finally explore the terrain in my area. although i must say i think the counties east of LA proper don't have the proper shoulder requirements on roads. the world ends on the white line. tarmac meets tierra. gggggsssssssssssshhhhhhhhh. scary in spots.

all right...

Barbara Walters interviews Obama. We get the see the family man.
We got a dog. I got a job. Legs feel good on the bike...shoulder is tagging along.
With gracious caution I feel like the tides have turned in a positive direction.

OCD

Funny until you realize you do pretty much the same thing everyday for your entire adult life.

It's dark and I'm not riding & 17 weeks from crash

Got a job which means no time to ride during the day.
No riding in the dark for me. Not yet.
Since I got back on the bike about three weeks ago I have yet to ride in the dark. Even though the Nigthrider MiNewt keeps things bright I don't feel ready to venture out past sunset. Partially because of my new residence and seemingly lack of night friendly roads.

One thing I've learned is that decent riding exists anywhere. It just takes time to scope things out. So I'll gradually find some safe nocturnal rides. I'll be lucky to find night rides similar to those in West LA. During the past four years I managed to rack up many miles in the dark.

Went to the doc yesterday and got more X-rays. Looks like there's some bone knitting and signs of "healing." Not definitive if there will be a bony union as opposed to a fibrous bridge. I'll leave it at that and hope for the best outcome.