Thompson Raceway GP

Its that time again....

Another day and another race down....

So no riding this morning, just took pretty easy, the races were set pretty late as the Pro race was scheduled for 7pm. So we had a nice IHOP breakfast, then nap... then I did some work, packed my stuff and boom off to Connecticut.

So a little course description for this race... It was a 1.1 mile Nascar oval. Sounds like it would be pretty stupid to go around in a circle for that long, but this was actually one of the coolest damn crits I have done.

We had a smaller field, only 65 guys, some usual gangsters there for the week, Rite Aid was there in full force, Justin Spinelli, Ward Soler and the LG Crocs Cycling team from Quebec...

Down to race time, it goes from the gun, with in 10 minutes there are 5 groups split across the course, our whole team made the split and we began helping Rite Aid drive the pace. Eventually, the race came back together as the weak were shelled and a LG crocs rider took a massive flyer and was 3/4 of a lap ahead of us before Rite Aid decided it was their race. We sent two guys to help pull the move back and it came together with 9 to go.

At some point I was feeling super good and took a prime for the overall points standing. Our DS was amped since our name got called out.

We countered and it stayed away until three to go, then the sprint actually started then. I was fighting for wheels, I knew Clayton Burrows is a fast finisher and the fight was on, I ended up on Chris Scott's wheel which I didn't think was a good one, but held on, he opened up the sprint in the middle of the two lead out trains of Rite Aid and LG Crocs. I swerved off his wheel and got in the crocs train and sprinted their guys out.

Chris Scott somehow took us by surprise and won, I managed 7th and holy smokes I learned to sprint. I was the best placed finisher from our team

As soon as I head back to the trailer, our DS told me to stay suited up as I was to race the immediate next race, Catagory 2, not really my plan... But you can't say no when you are fighting for a team spot.

So back to back races...

I ended up in the break for the first half of the race then I stayed at the front marking attacks and moves for a teammate I set up the road. I spent 5 laps going across after some gomer decided to take me halfway for free, but I didn't have enough gas in the tank. We dominated the race and finished 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th(me).

So all in all, two races and two top 10's

Nothing wrong with that. I may take tomorrow off to get prepared for Fitchburg, but we'll play it by ear after I get my morning massage and adjustment.

Thanks for stoping by again... Hope this is as fun to read as it is for me to be here.

Thanks again for all of your support! If I had a million dollars, I might buy you all cheesy tourist-esque gifts from beantown.

Boloco Heartbreak Hill GP

First off lets avoid some up coming confusion from yesterdays race.

This is the first year in USA cycling that their are NO CATAGORY 2 Riders allowed in NRC events.

So I did race in the Catagory 2 race...

I know this will all break your hearts, but hey this blog is purely informative. I have no desire to build my ego. If i need to do that I would post 78 times a day on Windermereroadies.com

So now that we have built that bridge and moved on, lets get on to today and its race...

Started out with more clothing, then a nice 1.5 hour ride, then some Subway.

Then down the road right into Boston... I got to see Fenway Park as we got lost and Logan Airport.

We eventually got to the race and to my surprise I had been issued a set of Bora wheels for the rest of the races as I had "put my nuts against the wall" as our DS John Freisen so eloquently put the night before. This juiced me up some as I have not yet ridden Bora's. Moving to the race


Which was all business. 50 miles all down and dirty... They didn't call it Heart Break Hill for nothing.

I started the day by taking a huge flyer the first time up the climb which made it easy for Kyle Wamsley to establish himself into the next move (even though we are technically racing on seperate squads.. I am on the developement team) so mini victory there....

Go team! everyone rode super strong until 4 laps to go where the sky turned black and opened its eyes and dumped the worst rain I have raced in 2 years.
with 2 laps to go my position was looking good for another top 20 finish and then I completely melted down. It was just one too many times up that hill at 24mph. I put my head down and tried to stay on Tim Johnson's wheel and next thing I knew I was by myself in the 50mph downhill section. I stuck it out and rode tempo passing those with less heart, payed off...

No official results posted but my team DS thinks I was definately top 30. Thanks to all you supporters and everyone thats helped me move this far in this racing career. You're all special snowflakes

Tomorrow is a Race Track Crit at night... I love Night CRITS!@@#@!

NOT

At least it really will be Nascar style with no Corners and some lights...

Keep Reading and Keep Riding or Not working when you should be

Cox Charities and Long Waits

So yesterday was a long day, the team director got lost coming to the Providence Airport... All in all I sat waiting in the port on my labtop for 7 hours.

I had my share of $10 airport entrees and moved to the vending machines for some gatoraid and pretzles to hold me over.

He picked me up in due time, we ate at a small pizza joint and I had a great sub and then it was to the hotel.

I woke up and went immediately got my bike dialed in, got my kits and helmet and then some lovely Odwalla Juice (Its the Jam) and went for an opening ride and some lunch.

Steve, my roommate for the next two days opted for Ihop, but there was a huge wait, so we went to the local burrito joint and got our grub on... Only to be interrupted by the team DS letting us know we had 25 minutes to get back to the hotel for the race... Great planning on our part

So we get to the race no problems, and great no parking...

Good thing we have bikes...

My warm up was not quite up to par as we had team meetings and had to work out radio issues. But no worries, I was planning on attacking early anyway.

The course was sick, 1 mile loop with a great climb. This thing was like the kicker going up Buckhill rd. on the Sunday Windermere Ride.

So going up to the line, I had a crap spot again! This time it only took me two laps before I was off the front.

Then boom, I came around the 4th corner way too hot and blew out a tyre. Somehow I managed to stay upright, as a crash insued behind me.

As my luck continued a turn for the worse, a break got established during my free lap.

I get back into the race and make my mark, I did not sit anywhere past the 10th wheel the rest of the day. I made sure I was top 5 up the climb every lap. This set me up great for the field sprint, but I was bottlenecked a bit a came across for 17th.

Not a bad day even with some mishaps. The scandium bike I am riding is wicked stiff, so if blow the rest of the week its not the bikes fault.

One final note, as I promised you all I would forget something, it became apparent in the morning when I had tooth paste, but no TOOTH BRUSH!!!

Tomorrow is the Heart Break Hill GP, so hopefully I can show up again...

Coffee, Planes, Sleep and Bad Airport Food

So this flash in the pan trip has started...

Boom 5am rolls around, I make sure to drink a lot, let me repeat a lot of coffee. Make sure I didn't forget anything, like a jacket or my pedals or toothbrush...

The verdict is still out on that since I still here in the airport.

I get to the MCO and find out that apparently to fly you must slice your left or right nut off to get any bags on the plane. I can carry two on, but I can only check one? Great plan airlines! Made it through security in a breeze and move on to a morning of emails and work until I had to board.

Flight One: (MCO to Philly)

I was awake long enough to get my free drink, pee and give my empty glass back...

Great flight, bad landing

I got off and had to stretch the legs, walked around the philly port, grabbed a $10 chicken salad and then made my way into a 45min short flight.

I cashed in some karma points by letting some guy have my seat so he could sit with his wife and then proceeded to past out as we started to taxi.

I woke up just in time to see the bays of Providence... Looked awesome from the plane.

So now I check my email and was not quite sure when I am racing, but just got email confirmation that TOMORROW is the first day, not sure if that is the NRC race or if its the next day, but should prove fun after being in a plane all day. Also waiting for the Colavita bus to get into town... Could be a long day.

Keep checking back all week I will have great stories and reports from the whole race week.

I am new to this, so if it sucks you are just going to have to surf windermereroadies.com or something else...