AzTallRider

That's a generous offer, and I may take you up on it. I'll know more about my options tomorrow. Thanks!

nacler22

Racer Ex 

I left the camera off the bike. Don't think it would have shown much though, when I heard the noises start I was eyeballing things pretty hard and all I saw was two guys down to my right when I went by.

If you did crack anything it's probably pretty "minor". I've had both snapped and cracked ribs and the snapped ones have you making interesting sounds when you move, both internally and externally.

AzTallRider

The CT is on hold, pending Cigna's review of the X-Rays. I just love our healthcare system. Having cracked ribs before (once cycling, and once in a different sport) I think I have some minor rib damage, but nothing serious. I can feel some "movement" in the primary impact area when I move a certain way, but nothing dramatic. Still planning on racing a TT Sunday - only concern is that my breathing is affected. But it's part of the buildup for VOS, so it's doing the race that matters.

I can replace the frame with the 2013 Madone (their aero road frame) for 80% of dealer cost plus $100. That's the most likely route, since my updated survey of road frames shows only 3 that will fit: Trek, Cervelo and Cannondale. A 22cm HT is about as small as I can realistically go.

AzTallRider

So I take it the other guy got back up and rode on? Nobody else was there by the time I could look around, so I was thinking it was only me.

revchuck 

If the Roubaix would work for you, that'd be another possibility - 245mm HT in 61cm. If it were me, I'd go with the Trek just for the price.

Racer Ex 

Yeah, I think that was the case.

nacler22

Don't forget about Ridley. Not sure how you feel about the Helium or Noah, but they should fit you with regards to HT and saddle to BB length, as well as reach.

AzTallRider

Hmm... thanks again.

The Red Devil

Yesterday was my first race since April 2012, 55min circuit race that I've done a few times in the past and where I got my first podium finish. I love this course and the weather was unusually warm so although I'm 5lbs heavier than last year and my power numbers are -20% across the board I was looking forward to pinning on a number again. Modestly sized field of 45 with few of the fast masters guys thrown in. I lined up with two teammates, Pat and Mike, both are coming off of a bad patch and are just getting fit again. Regardless of our lack of fitness the Joe's boys came to play and we were active throughout the race. About 15min in John "College" Koreoth and PJ Rabisi took off and my teammate Mike went with them. Three others joined them and soon they had a substantial break going and I figured that was that. They were out of site within two laps and figured the race had been decided. Then slowly but surely guys were filtering back to the group. With 4 laps go to we caught the remaining two, John and PJ and then things went from a 40+ masters race to a cat 4 race. Suddenly everyone thought they could win and the race became very sketchy. Guys were swerving all over the place, getting bumped into the dirt (we were on a very wide road with no yellow line) it as getting stupid. Last lap and I'm on the wheel of a former teammate and eventual 4th place finisher. I'm not feeling super good but I figure if I follow Edwin I can possibly snag a top ten. As we come over the last roller about 2k from the finish a guy decides he needs to get his guy to front and pushes me off into the dirt. I loose Edwins wheel but I am able to get back on course and I drill it to the top of the roller. Low and behold there is mister roller derby with his teammate totally gassed and sitting up. After a few not so nice words from me and not so veiled threat I take off after the group that now includes my teammate Mike and Edwin along with PJ and Richard Lamb one of the better finishers in the masters here. I get close but not close enough and finish 22nd in the group of the winners (all very close together). Not great placing but I got my racing chops back and am looking forward to this afternoon's 60mi RR. It's very hilly so some of those big strong sprinter types can take a good hard look at my skinny ass for a change!

sarals 

Strong work, Red! It sounds like you haven't lost much if anything in the down time. Great report!

shovelhd

Great to see you back into it. Stay in touch.

The Red Devil

Thanks all. Today was harrrrrrdddddd! Since Jan 1 I've only done a couple of rides longer than todays race and not at this kind of pace. The course was two laps of a very hilly and windy road course from the start we hit roller after roller then turn into a block head wind for more rollers. Good times. After a few week attacks Kurt Joseph a very strong young guy (he's only 41) from Austin Bikes takes a flyer...I go with him and we are joined by another guy and start to work a little break. Sadly this is where my lack of fitness is really showing, I had the gas to bridge and take few hard pulls but not to really contribute and I pulled the plug and drifted back to the group. Two guys were never going to stay away long into that head wind so they were caught. Kurt was persistant though and kept attacking but this race was destined to be contested on the finishing hill. About 1h45min in I started to fell a bit fatigued and found yesterdays winner mid pack and sucked his wheel for the next 30min. About 10mi from the finish my teammate Pat gets a good gap with a rider from OK. I get to the front and sit 2nd wheel while several guys attempt to close the gap. With me in the way it's fairly inconsistent and the gap opens to the point that on several sections of the road Pat and Mr OK are out of sight. I'm thinking Pats bagged a podium at this point. Just about 2k out from the finish there is steep nasty up hill left and that's where PJ lit it up, I just didn't have the legs to with him but several other guys did. I scramble back to the end of the line and we catch Pat with 400m to go, he's gassed. Mr OK hangs on for the win and I do my best to stay with the PJ's group but they gap really opened up and I was cooked. Had a great time and looking forward to Wallburg and Pace Bend in three weeks!

Cleave

TRD, sounds like two tough races and two gritty rides. Glad you're back in the saddle (so to speak).

Cleave

20 Km TT on a familiar course with a new bike. Mediocre result. Position is workable but not quite right. Wish I could adjust height of arm pads independent of height of extensions. Next stop, Valley of the Sun Stage Race.

The Red Devil

Cleave was it Toms Farm?

Hermes

TRD. Congrats on some great racing.

Cleave

Piru

The Red Devil

That can be a pretty challenging course. Was it windy?

Cleave

Interestingly the wind was coming from the east instead of the west. I had my fastest time ever to the turnaround and one of my slowest times back. I'd rather have the normal prevailing winds so that you aren't battling headwinds while going uphill.

sarals 

Racer Ex 

The extension mounts and pads are flat, so if you had some spacers and longer bolts around this should be easy. All my spare parts along those lines are at the other house right now but I'd bet I have something that would work.

The Red Devil

Great? LOL...well I was happy to see that my best 2min/5min/10min numbers all came at the end of the race on Sunday. I also rode with a bit more confidence Sunday, not letting guys bump off wheels and just riding with a bit more positive aggression. Hoping to see some more gains over the next 3 weeks and get myself a top 5 in the next two races which have actual 50+ fields. Looking over the start list from both days this weekend I was one of the top 50+ guys in the field again very positive results for being so woefully out shape!

Cleave

BTW, TRD, Tom's Farm is no more. They put in a traffic light between the start and finish and they can't control the intersection for the race. Organizers found another course in Hesperia which Racer Ex and sarals did two weekends ago. The Hesperia and Piru courses are about equidistant from my house but Hesperia is only 8 miles long. Too short for a 75 mile drive. Heck 20 Km is almost too short for that long a drive.

The only close, recurring TT is now Santiago Canyon. Might have to look into have my club (me?) start promoting a local TT if we can find a course. We are already looking at promoting a hill climb TT this coming fall -- GMR up to the shack.

Cleave

I was going to try to find the right bolts and spacers to do that. A little worried about bending strength of the bolts / spacers since the bolts are rather small in diameter. The only saving grace is that I don't think I need to raise the pads very much; maybe 1/2 inch.