I don't know why I think I'm a climber, I always get my ass kicked. Same old story, got popped on the climb and chased the rest of the way. Got in a group of about 8 or so, but unlike last year didn't make up any time on the group ahead of us. Some guy kept giving us time split to the group in front of us... 1 minute you can catch them. 1:30, go!. 2:00. ouch. 3:00, thanks, I didn't need to know that. Hey, there go the 5's! At leats there was a tailwind, I averaged over 25mph :). I won the "sprint" of our small group, but that was only good for about 30th :(. Here is the data (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5073129), pics to follow later.

Hi,

Wow! That kind o average speed must have really meant a wicked tailwind.

You finished and you learned something and hopefully you had fun. Nice job! :)

Great race! I'm worked, my whole head and body just feel torqued. Almost made the break, and spent the rest of the race hopping around chase groups. 80 miles in 3:05 :eek: I think I was good for about 20th?? Nice to meet you, UMD :)

Ill post a full report later. Right now I'm spent and am going to take a nap. Short version: In a break from basically mile 1, ended up in 3rd overall.

UMD- Don't worry, your time will come.

That was a fun ride. And relentless. With the exception of about 8 miles in the middle, the whole thing felt like time trial mode. Weather could not have been better, which is why I was so surprised to find rain once I got back down this way. A couple mental mistakes, but I guess that's to be expected for a noob. Came in about ~24.5mph (as noted above, thanks to some favorable conditions).

Thanks to JP and his crew for the SAG support and ride back. Good to see him, and WCD (who was in top form), and Vireo. And I finally got to meet Steve and his lovely wife, Kimberly. Oh yea, and Merckx, but didn't get a chance to chat with him.

Cleave -- the Bun Boy is a cross between a dorm room and a prison cell. But since I was only in it for about 6 hours, I won't hold it against you. ;)

i'm trashed... I just missed the front group on the climb and traded pulls with one guy pretty much the rest of the way. Finished 13. Averaged 26.1 mph. My max HR is 197 and on the climb I spent 24 min w/ a 183 bpm ave. and then after that 175 bpm ave. for 1 hr and 23 mins. (averaged almost 28 mph over the 40 miles). Good threshold training!

crash for cash should be interesting tomorrow...

i'm trashed... I just missed the front group on the climb and traded pulls with one guy pretty much the rest of the way. Finished 13. Averaged 26.1 mph. My max HR is 197 and on the climb I spent 24 min w/ a 183 bpm ave. and then after that 175 bpm ave. for 1 hr and 23 mins. (averaged almost 28 mph over the 40 miles). Good threshold training!

crash for cash should be interesting tomorrow...

What team are you on??
I ask, because I spent a lot of time trading pulls and sucking wheel off a Citrus Valley/Health Net rider (I was in a Motor Tabs kit). How did you get results?

What team are you on??
I ask, because I spent a lot of time trading pulls and sucking wheel off a Citrus Valley/Health Net rider (I was in a Motor Tabs kit). How did you get results?


Team Bearclaw (the guys with the sexy kits). Got results from the guy at the finish after the 5s were done. The guy working with me was from Platinum (dude worked his butt off...) and one other guy helped after a while too.

Team Bearclaw (the guys with the sexy kits). Got results from the guy at the finish after the 5s were done. The guy working with me was from Platinum (dude worked his butt off...) and one other guy helped after a while too.

Thats Bobby. He and his dad are some kind of crazy cyclocross studs.

sounds like a fun day! great job, guys. wish i'd had the foresight to register and be ready for that race, but that drive....

Congrats to all. Definitely need to put this on my race calendar for next year.

A bunch of Fast Friday
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2228.jpg

Bobby
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2231.jpg

Me
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2234.jpg

Some BF'ers in this shot
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2236.jpg

More here
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2239.jpg

There was one woman there too
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2240.jpg

There's whiteCarbonDude
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2243.jpg

Caravan
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2246.jpg

num num num
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2254.jpg

More Feed zone
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2257.jpg

More Fast Friday
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2259.jpg

I remember this guy last year
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2260.jpg

Bobby again
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2262.jpg

me again
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2264.jpg

WCD's friend
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2265.jpg

OC Roadie
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2268.jpg
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2269.jpg

This guy looks uncomfortable
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2270.jpg

A big group
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2271.jpg

Hamming it up
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2273.jpg

Smile
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2274.jpg

Having fun yet?
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2275.jpg
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2276.jpg

Tattoo guy
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2277.jpg

The breakaway group in the 5s. They passed us a few miles from the finish.
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2279.jpg

Almost done
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2282.jpg

Sprint for *cough*30something*cough* Note that I "won" this "sprint". If you notice that my fingers are on the brake levers, it is because some doofus was crossing the road just past the finish line and I was getting ready to brake after it. I beat the guy to my right (image left) by about a bike length..
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2283.jpg

Some kind of crash well after the finish line
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2285.jpg

Kim said people were drafting off of this truck & RV
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2286.jpg

awesome pics. was it as hot as it looked?

that's OC Roadie in the motortabs kit(pat).

Sounds like fun, but I think you stole all our tail winds!

It sure beat the ride we had today on the other side of the mountains: Adventure Corps Death Valley Spring Century.

It wouold only be considered "fun" if you consider head winds for more than 50 miles out of 105 to be "fun". Beats me how there can headwinds in BOTH directions on an out and back ride. I averaged 13.5 mph. :(

Beautiful place, Death Valley. I think I enjoyed the drive in and out through the "back way" more than the riding.

Congrats on all the placings, guys!

It wasn't hot at all, the temperature was perfect, although we had some crosswinds.

Sounds like fun, but I think you stole all out tail winds!

It sure beat the ride we had today on the other side of the mountains. Adventure Corps Death Valley Spring Century.

It was only be considered "fun" if you consider head winds for more than 50 miles out of 105 to be "fun". Beats me how there can headwinds in BOTH directions on an out and back ride. I averaged 13.5 mph. :(

Beautiful place, Death Valley. I think I enjoyed the drive in and out through the "back way" more than the riding.

We saw the double riders stopping in Shoshone when we were on our way back.

I don't know why I think I'm a climber, I always get my ass kicked. Same old story, got popped on the climb and chased the rest of the way. Got in a group of about 8 or so, but unlike last year didn't make up any time on the group ahead of us. Some guy kept giving us time split to the group in front of us... 1 minute you can catch them. 1:30, go!. 2:00. ouch. 3:00, thanks, I didn't need to know that. Hey, there go the 5's! At leats there was a tailwind, I averaged over 25mph :). I won the "sprint" of our small group, but that was only good for about 30th :(. Here is the data (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5073129), pics to follow later.

:beer: You did just fine, Steve. 30th is respectable, period. Good job!

Here’s my quick and dirty report…

Rolled out with the 4s, feeling fine, started having some shoulder issues when we were approaching the climb, and I was thinking about DNF’ing at to point. Was right at the back on the climb, passed a few riders, but ended up about 4-5 minutes back by the end of the climb.

I decided to keep going, however I spent most of the remaining 40 miles either riding solo, or riding with another rider here and there, but not really working together. I have no idea what I finished at, but I think I was about 4 minutes behind UMD based on my moving time.

Ultimately, I had a good time and will be at Crash for Cash tomorrow if it looks dry.

Nice pics!

The 2nd one (with yellow wristband) in the breakaway 5's pic is merckx89.

There was one woman there too
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2240.jpg



Okay, none of you will be surprised to say that I had to excuse myself for a few minutes looking at the pics of all the gorgeous men out there. :p

But in all seriousness, this pic is my favorite and not for any dirty joke, but because she is a beautiful, strong woman out there representing! Amazing - the only woman. Something I could never do, and I do respect the gals out there racing.

Great pictures

Here’s my quick and dirty report…

Rolled out with the 4s, feeling fine, started having some shoulder issues when we were approaching the climb, and I was thinking about DNF’ing at to point. Was right at the back on the climb, passed a few riders, but ended up about 4-5 minutes back by the end of the climb.

I decided to keep going, however I spent most of the remaining 40 miles either riding solo, or riding with another rider here and there, but not really working together. I have no idea what I finished at, but I think I was about 4 minutes behind UMD based on my moving time.

Ultimately, I had a good time and will be at Crash for Cash tomorrow if it looks dry.

:beer: to you to, John!!! :)

You guys may or may not be judging the time and all that, but I'm truly impressed by your efforts. Congrats to each and every one of you!

:beer: to you to, John!!! :)

You guys may or may not be judging the time and all that, but I'm truly impressed by your efforts. Congrats to each and every one of you!

I'm happy with where I ended up. I haven't done much this year, I've only ridden Montrose once or twice and this was my first race. If I could pick up my climbing speed I would've been able to stick near the front, but unlike last year when I was able to get into a good group after the climb, this time I spent 95% of the time in the wind.

OK race report:
The 5's started out with about 40 or so people, from what i could see. Nice easy rolling start (like 15). One guy goes of the front almost at the gun and another two are just up the road, not really pulling away, trying to warm up i guess. About a mile in I end up on the front and i figure that instead of pulling, i may as well bridge up to the "break" of two, 30 seconds or so later there was three. We continue just rolling along, picking up the pace just slightly to about 20 (remember tailwind) and just figured we would jump in with the pack when they caught us. Well about 5 miles down the road we look back and see we have about 1 minute maybe a little more on the field, they were still coasting basically. We kinda looked at each other and decided to start to actually put some work in. 10 miles later the official comes up from behind and tells us we have a 2 minute gap on the field. There is still the one guy ahead of us by about 1:30 though. Now we really start working, taking pulls at 30-32. A few miles later i look back and see a teammate trying to bridge up, so I drop back a little and pace him up the the break knowing that I'm going to need him at some point today.
We continue trading pulls until the climb, when our pack of 4 drops to three, not for long though. About 300 yards later we pick up the guy who went on the first solo break. He stays with us for most of the climb, but cracks near the top. It's down to three again, but as we roll through the feed zone and slow down to get some goodies, a chase pack comes out of nowhere and all of a sudden our pack of 3 in now about 7.
We get to the bottom of the hill and realize that its rollers and false flat all the way to the finish. The guy that was in the break ( wess, who i later learned is a Pro mountain biker, and Allen who is a Elite marathoner)with us from the beginning starts attacking trying to wittle down the group. Finally one sticks, but I lose my teammate and its down to four of us. Were about 65 miles in at this point and im starting to cramp. I cut my work down a little at the front and seem to recover but i know i have to be cautious at this point because i dont want to bonk.
With about 5 miles to go wess attacks again, because no one wanted to seem to work. The three of us who are left try to organize a chase, but the one guy, who name i didnt get was dying and would pull to the front and wouldnt pull off, just slow down. That allowed wess to get a little more time on us. Allen and i managed to finally drop the other guy, but realize we are really going to have to work if were going to catch wess. We start hammering, and right after i take a pull, allen attacks, and it's just enough to gap me by about 5 yards, which just happens to be just enough to hold me off at the line. We roll through about 15 seconds behind each other for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Overall it was a great race. Probably the most fun I've ever had racing. The tailwinds definitely helped and we averaged something like just over 26mph. I finished with nothing left in the tank and felt Extremely sorry for the people that looked like they were riding back. We stopped and asked a few if they wanted a ride, but were turned down. Im also very glad we finished early, because on the way home the winds were just brutal. I stepped out of the car to stretch at like 1ish and was almost blown over. They must have been twice as strong as when we were riding.

I'm happy with where I ended up. I haven't done much this year, I've only ridden Montrose once or twice and this was my first race. If I could pick up my climbing speed I would've been able to stick near the front, but unlike last year when I was able to get into a good group after the climb, this time I spent 95% of the time in the wind.

Um...didn't you leave out that little separated shoulder thing?...:rolleyes::p

Um...didn't you leave out that little separated shoulder thing?...:rolleyes::p

Yeah, there's that, but it's gotten better.

OK race report:
The 5's started out with about 40 or so people, from what i could see. Nice easy rolling start (like 15). One guy goes of the front almost at the gun and another two are just up the road, not really pulling away, trying to warm up i guess. About a mile in I end up on the front and i figure that instead of pulling, i may as well bridge up to the "break" of two, 30 seconds or so later there was three. We continue just rolling along, picking up the pace just slightly to about 20 (remember tailwind) and just figured we would jump in with the pack when they caught us. Well about 5 miles down the road we look back and see we have about 1 minute maybe a little more on the field, they were still coasting basically. We kinda looked at each other and decided to start to actually put some work in. 10 miles later the official comes up from behind and tells us we have a 2 minute gap on the field. There is still the one guy ahead of us by about 1:30 though. Now we really start working, taking pulls at 30-32. A few miles later i look back and see a teammate trying to bridge up, so I drop back a little and pace him up the the break knowing that I'm going to need him at some point today.
We continue trading pulls until the climb, when our pack of 4 drops to three, not for long though. About 300 yards later we pick up the guy who went on the first solo break. He stays with us for most of the climb, but cracks near the top. It's down to three again, but as we roll through the feed zone and slow down to get some goodies, a chase pack comes out of nowhere and all of a sudden our pack of 3 in now about 7.
We get to the bottom of the hill and realize that its rollers and false flat all the way to the finish. The guy that was in the break ( wess, who i later learned is a Pro mountain biker, and Allen who is a Elite marathoner)with us from the beginning starts attacking trying to wittle down the group. Finally one sticks, but I lose my teammate and its down to four of us. Were about 65 miles in at this point and im starting to cramp. I cut my work down a little at the front and seem to recover but i know i have to be cautious at this point because i dont want to bonk.
With about 5 miles to go wess attacks again, because no one wanted to seem to work. The three of us who are left try to organize a chase, but the one guy, who name i didnt get was dying and would pull to the front and wouldnt pull off, just slow down. That allowed wess to get a little more time on us. Allen and i managed to finally drop the other guy, but realize we are really going to have to work if were going to catch wess. We start hammering, and right after i take a pull, allen attacks, and it's just enough to gap me by about 5 yards, which just happens to be just enough to hold me off at the line. We roll through about 15 seconds behind each other for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Overall it was a great race. Probably the most fun I've ever had racing. The tailwinds definitely helped and we averaged something like just over 26mph. I finished with nothing left in the tank and felt Extremely sorry for the people that looked like they were riding back. We stopped and asked a few if they wanted a ride, but were turned down. Im also very glad we finished early, because on the way home the winds were just brutal. I stepped out of the car to stretch at like 1ish and was almost blown over. They must have been twice as strong as when we were riding.

nice report. great job, man. again, sounds like it was a blast. let me know what your schedule is going to look like when you get to 4's so i can avoid the events you enter.

UMD did you get any photo's of the 1\2\3 race ?

UMD- Great photos, I guess the credit goes to your wife :) Now I finally have a good shot for the "Suffering Photo" thread, over in the racing forum.

OK race report:
The 5's started out with about 40 or so people, from what i could see. Nice easy rolling start (like 15).

Yeah, that was a little frustrating. They held the warm-up pace for a little too long, I think. At one point, my patience grew thin, and I jumped out, one guy followed and we thought about trying to bridge you guys. Then, 10 seconds later, we thought better of it. I think the pack tried making up for that slow stretch by really tearing it up at 38mph for several miles before the climb. I could have done without that.

5 miles down the road we look back and see we have about 1 minute maybe a little more on the field, they were still coasting basically. We kinda looked at each other and decided to start to actually put some work in.

Well played my friend. We didn't think you guys would last out there but boy were we wrong.

My stats:

Mileage was off because I forgot to start my computer at the start. My average speed was better than I thought.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/shellenbarger/010308.jpg

Had an "ok" day, my knee started giving me trouble around mile 70 so I backed off. Fortunately the group I was in tore apart and I stayed with the front so I basically came in 20ish place.

I was good seeing Vance and JPconrad, oh and Vireo too (what happened to you???). UMD's wife Kim did great at the feed zone handing me my bottles. Thank you very much.

UMD did you get any photo's of the 1\2\3 race ?

I got a few, but not very many since my wife was following the 4s. I didn't post everything, what was your kit?

helens...
was a good race seems like everyone enjoyed it... the rate we went after the climb was fast making it hard to believe it was slightly uphill !

helens...
was a good race seems like everyone enjoyed it... the rate we went after the climb was fast making it hard to believe it was slightly uphill !

I'll look this afternoon. I'm off to Dash For Cash as soon as I can wake my wife up :eek:

I'll look this afternoon. I'm off to Dash For Cash as soon as I can wake my wife up :eek:

Good luck, Steve, and all the rest of you riding it.

WCD's friend
http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2265.jpg


I worked with this guy for the last 30 miles or so. He was rolling like a truck and great to work with. We had a small group and tried to get to the bigger pack. It didn't happen, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.

I worked with this guy for the last 30 miles or so. He was rolling like a truck and great to work with. We had a small group and tried to get to the bigger pack. It didn't happen, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.

Were you in the Arroyo jersey or the other guy (last one we picked up)?

Were you in the Arroyo jersey or the other guy (last one we picked up)?

The other guy. After the feed zone, I was busting downhill with a group of three trying to catch the bigger group (who were drafting off a freakin' motorhome I might add!). We had a mis-cue and I ended up doing some serious off-roading at 30+ mph. I was very lucky to stay upright. Anyway, I didn't have enough oomph to catch back up with the guys that I was chasing with and I ended up by myself for a while. The sight of you guys coming up on me was a God-send.

I felt OK when we first hooked up and at the end I was OK, but there was a chunk of time there in the middle where I was just holding on. The 3 of you really kept me alive.

What a great race, though, huh?

I felt OK when we first hooked up and at the end I was OK, but there was a chunk of time there in the middle where I was just holding on. The 3 of you really kept me alive.

What a great race, though, huh?

Yes, I can not recommend it highly enough. I wish I had known that was you.

And we were all pretty fried during that stretch. It worked out fairly well, though, I think as we seemed to each have surges of rejuvenation to pull through for a few minutes. A couple more miles, and I think we would have caught that group.

merckx, great report, you sound like a freaking announcer

Sounds like fun, but I think you stole all our tail winds!

It sure beat the ride we had today on the other side of the mountains: Adventure Corps Death Valley Spring Century.

It wouold only be considered "fun" if you consider head winds for more than 50 miles out of 105 to be "fun". Beats me how there can headwinds in BOTH directions on an out and back ride. I averaged 13.5 mph. :(

Beautiful place, Death Valley. I think I enjoyed the drive in and out through the "back way" more than the riding.

Congrats on all the placings, guys!

The headwinds were even more for the double.

, I was busting downhill with a group of three trying to catch the bigger group (who were drafting off a freakin' motorhome I might add!). We had a mis-cue and I ended up doing some serious off-roading at 30+ mph. I was very lucky to stay upright.
What a great race, though, huh?

Was that you? We were working with an OC Velo guy and you were on his wheel and he swerved and you were in the shoulder. I was yelling at you to keep it strait till you slow down. I was on the white carbon Token.

helens...
was a good race seems like everyone enjoyed it... the rate we went after the climb was fast making it hard to believe it was slightly uphill !

There were two pictures of Helen's, but they were both out of focus, sorry. One with yellow visor, one without.

My stats:


I was good seeing Vance and JPconrad, oh and Vireo too (what happened to you???). UMD's wife Kim did great at the feed zone handing me my bottles. Thank you very much.

it's called getting dropped....ever have that sinking feeling that you're alone? Yep 40 mile time trial to the finish

it's called getting dropped....ever have that sinking feeling that you're alone? Yep 40 mile time trial to the finish

Bummer, at least it was mostly a tail wind. I kept waiting for you to pass me on the climb over Ibex. I looked back and you were gone. How were the cross winds with those Zipps? I was leaning into the wind with my 30mm rims:eek:

Was that you? We were working with an OC Velo guy and you were on his wheel and he swerved and you were in the shoulder. I was yelling at you to keep it strait till you slow down. I was on the white carbon Token.

Yep, that was me. The OC Velo guy's rear wheel hit my front and it jumped sideways about 12-18". The first 3 seconds of that were very interesting. Having the rear of the bike slide around is concerning, but I washed the front tire first one way and then the other. I don't know why I didn't go down. Even after it straightened up there were 2 shallow ditches to get across that were no picnic. I just had to take it real easy until I could get back on the pavement.

I hope it looked cool!

Too bad I couldn't have stayed hooked up with you, we were making some time there for a while. There was just no way to chase you down after the agricultural work. You were going too fast and had too much of a lead.