Tuesday, April 21, 2009
knee/ iowa
I haven't ridden in 3 days due to a pain on my inner right knee. I have been icing and stretching it though in hopes to be able to race this weekend in Iowa. Padfield, Aspen and I will be driving there friday and racing a 52 mile RR on saturday followed by a 25 lap crit on sunday. A report to follow...
Monday, April 6, 2009
hillsboro roubaix 2009
The one time a year when the midwesterner gets to try their hand at a spring classic of their own. This was my first crack at Hillsboro Roubaix and the race didn't disappoint. With massive fields (100+), a great course and weather, and organized race directing there was nothing more i could have asked for... except for maybe 1 thing, but i'll get to that in a minute. The cat 3 race was three 22 mile laps on a mostly open, flat and narrow course until the last mile or two of each lap which consisted of 2 hills and brick pavement.
My plan was to stay up because I had heard it was a hard course to move up in the field and with the winds you didnt want to be "stuck" when the field split. I don't remember exactly when but roughly half way through the first lap a break was attempted with about 10 guys, unfortunately no get a grip representation. As the group was riding, up the road stood an official with his palm up telling the field to stop. "This is your last warning" he said, "no one over the yellow line." There was no yellow line and the road was 10 feet ride so this made the rule hard to enforce. The important thing is that with the officials decision he essentially solidified the break that was a few seconds up the road to one that was now 30 seconds or more ahead. This happened two more times for two different reasons, passing the masters field and a truck and trailer sitting at a stop sign on our side of the road.
I got into two failed break attempts and wore myself out pretty good. On the third lap Aspen got away with Luke (XxX)and another guy (???) and managed to put a lot of time into the leaders in a short time even catching some stragglers from the break but nonetheless coming up about a half of minute behind at the finish line, he took 9th. So yeah the thing i could have asked for is if just one of those "official stops" had not occured with the break still rolling at full speed maybe Aspen would have had a chance at the overall, oh well what can you do. Padfield spent 15 minutes on lap 2 (the fastest lap) catching back on after a mechanical... absolutely insane! Even after all that work he put in some hard digs on the final lap. Uwe also finished the race, something that judging by the results was hard enough on its own. Coming into the final hills I stayed on the left to move up the hill fast and stay with the front group. Going over the cobbles and on the finishing straight I got lucky and picked some good wheels and took the field sprint for 12th place. Even though we had only 1 top 10, overall I would call the race a success as it was our first time racing together.
oh one more thing, caad frames are crazy stiff. my ass still hurts from that thing (no jokes... its too easy)
My plan was to stay up because I had heard it was a hard course to move up in the field and with the winds you didnt want to be "stuck" when the field split. I don't remember exactly when but roughly half way through the first lap a break was attempted with about 10 guys, unfortunately no get a grip representation. As the group was riding, up the road stood an official with his palm up telling the field to stop. "This is your last warning" he said, "no one over the yellow line." There was no yellow line and the road was 10 feet ride so this made the rule hard to enforce. The important thing is that with the officials decision he essentially solidified the break that was a few seconds up the road to one that was now 30 seconds or more ahead. This happened two more times for two different reasons, passing the masters field and a truck and trailer sitting at a stop sign on our side of the road.
I got into two failed break attempts and wore myself out pretty good. On the third lap Aspen got away with Luke (XxX)and another guy (???) and managed to put a lot of time into the leaders in a short time even catching some stragglers from the break but nonetheless coming up about a half of minute behind at the finish line, he took 9th. So yeah the thing i could have asked for is if just one of those "official stops" had not occured with the break still rolling at full speed maybe Aspen would have had a chance at the overall, oh well what can you do. Padfield spent 15 minutes on lap 2 (the fastest lap) catching back on after a mechanical... absolutely insane! Even after all that work he put in some hard digs on the final lap. Uwe also finished the race, something that judging by the results was hard enough on its own. Coming into the final hills I stayed on the left to move up the hill fast and stay with the front group. Going over the cobbles and on the finishing straight I got lucky and picked some good wheels and took the field sprint for 12th place. Even though we had only 1 top 10, overall I would call the race a success as it was our first time racing together.
oh one more thing, caad frames are crazy stiff. my ass still hurts from that thing (no jokes... its too easy)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Arizona
Well, AZ is almost over and I'm not totally sure I'm ready to come back. I've had the chance to ride lots, hang out with a bunch of my cousins who came down for spring break, and meet some pretty cool people at work.
The training is coming along quite well and I got a good test this morning at the Superior race, a 62 mile out and back road race with lots of rollers and one long hill that we hit on the way out and again on the way back. The first half was really slow but the 2nd half the pace picked up and people started getting dropped. When the group was down to about 10 guys we were part way up the big climb on the way back. It was a pretty hard pace but I felt ok, then... I dropped my chain.
I didnt blink and got off to put it back on and try to chase back. I managed to catch a few stragglers who were falling off the pace but never caught back with that front group. Three of us crested together and worked to catch those guys but we didnt make it. Another joined and four went into the line, I took 2nd of that group but wasnt happy with that since I had more sprint but wasnt clear on where the line was.
Anyways it was a training race and was really happy that my fitness was not a limiter in my performance and I managed to learn a couple of things. One, make sure my bike shifts better, dropping that chain probably cost me a couple spots and also know where the finish line is, going for it when you dont even know where 'it' is, isnt a good move.
The town of Superior was so beautiful I wish I had my camera. There were HUUUUGE mountain cliffs surrounding the entire town.
Wednesday, I start the journey back to Chi and friday (hopefuly I'm there by then) I get my Cannondale built up!!
The training is coming along quite well and I got a good test this morning at the Superior race, a 62 mile out and back road race with lots of rollers and one long hill that we hit on the way out and again on the way back. The first half was really slow but the 2nd half the pace picked up and people started getting dropped. When the group was down to about 10 guys we were part way up the big climb on the way back. It was a pretty hard pace but I felt ok, then... I dropped my chain.
I didnt blink and got off to put it back on and try to chase back. I managed to catch a few stragglers who were falling off the pace but never caught back with that front group. Three of us crested together and worked to catch those guys but we didnt make it. Another joined and four went into the line, I took 2nd of that group but wasnt happy with that since I had more sprint but wasnt clear on where the line was.
Anyways it was a training race and was really happy that my fitness was not a limiter in my performance and I managed to learn a couple of things. One, make sure my bike shifts better, dropping that chain probably cost me a couple spots and also know where the finish line is, going for it when you dont even know where 'it' is, isnt a good move.
The town of Superior was so beautiful I wish I had my camera. There were HUUUUGE mountain cliffs surrounding the entire town.
Wednesday, I start the journey back to Chi and friday (hopefuly I'm there by then) I get my Cannondale built up!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
a new world...
twitter! subscribe to me so i can tell you more than you wanted to know http://twitter.com/benlaforce
this means you: g-force, topher, the real mccoy, langer, blu, and anyone else who reads this!
this means you: g-force, topher, the real mccoy, langer, blu, and anyone else who reads this!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hors Category - Mt. Palomar
Some shots from watching the final stage of the tour 200 meters from the KOM summit on Mount Palomar...
elk man leading the peloton
hamilton sittin in the pack
LA
Me on the climb and Nacho Libre running up Palomar
elk man leading the peloton
hamilton sittin in the pack
LA
Me on the climb and Nacho Libre running up Palomar
Sunday, February 15, 2009
AZ straight thru
Drove to AZ straight through with the pops, including fill up time it took 28 hours and lots of red bull.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Judson and more
This about sums up my ride saturday:
I knew having a long drive to arizona the next couple of days meant I had to get a good ride in. It started with a drive down to winnetka for the Judson ride. They start off quick so I planned on going early to get a warm up in. I got there at 7:50 and still wasnt dressed... damn no warmup. The day was beautiful. Weather was mid 50s and the sun was out, the ride turnout was upwards of 40 people... wait let me correct that 40 fast people. It did rain the day before and there was plenty of standing water on the roads. So the ride gets off and I get caught in one of the front groups off the main pack... on my cyclocross bike! It was totally nuts and I wanted to cry for most of the ride. Fearing my masculinity would be questioned I held in the tears and kept riding. After about 45 minutes of all out drilling it I couldnt hold it anymore and got dropped. Damn, I didn't know the route and didnt see any of the other riders behind. About 5 minutes later I see my dad riding to his group ride which started at 9. Perfect, I joined on that for another 45 miles. This was gonna be easy... a bunch of old guys. Nope, more pain starting the 2nd half of this ride. By the time we finally made it back to the park I was shot. Unfortunately I had another 10+ miles south to winnetka. Those were awfully slow. I got the big ride in I wanted... off to az!
.
I knew having a long drive to arizona the next couple of days meant I had to get a good ride in. It started with a drive down to winnetka for the Judson ride. They start off quick so I planned on going early to get a warm up in. I got there at 7:50 and still wasnt dressed... damn no warmup. The day was beautiful. Weather was mid 50s and the sun was out, the ride turnout was upwards of 40 people... wait let me correct that 40 fast people. It did rain the day before and there was plenty of standing water on the roads. So the ride gets off and I get caught in one of the front groups off the main pack... on my cyclocross bike! It was totally nuts and I wanted to cry for most of the ride. Fearing my masculinity would be questioned I held in the tears and kept riding. After about 45 minutes of all out drilling it I couldnt hold it anymore and got dropped. Damn, I didn't know the route and didnt see any of the other riders behind. About 5 minutes later I see my dad riding to his group ride which started at 9. Perfect, I joined on that for another 45 miles. This was gonna be easy... a bunch of old guys. Nope, more pain starting the 2nd half of this ride. By the time we finally made it back to the park I was shot. Unfortunately I had another 10+ miles south to winnetka. Those were awfully slow. I got the big ride in I wanted... off to az!
.
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