Monthly Archives: April 2012

Matrix Challenge Dallas – Day 1

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Yesterday was the first criterium I’ve done in the last 8 months. I was figuring, backwards, when the last crit I had ridden and came up with Labor Day last fall. Man, that is incredible. And let me tell you, it seemed like I hadn’t done one forever.

I can’t really tell you if the race was easy or hard, fast or slow. I wasn’t having a good day. Not even close. I only felt within myself a few times, luckily that was towards the end of the race.

There were 80 guys at the start for the PRO 1-2 start. I guess the racing was agressive. It slowed down some a few times, but it was usually going pretty good at the front. There was $1000 in cash primes, so that kept it active at the front. I never contested a prime. I didn’t have it within my ability. Actually, I did have it in my ability, but I would have been history if I did it. And it was much more important getting some speed work into my legs than mess around trying to collect some $$$.

Heath Blackgrove, Elbowz, rode away with about 10 laps to go with some other guy and it was going to be a race for 3rd. Heath was riding off the front last weekend in Charlotte, so he wasn’t going to have much trouble here.

The funny thing is that when it got down to laps being counted from time, 6 to go, it was much easier for me, even though it was faster. I feel better sometimes when the pace is closer to 30 mph than when it is just a little slower. That is, of course, as long as I’m behind somebody. I don’t have a 30 mph pace, by myself, in my body at this moment.

I kept pretty good position the last few laps, usually in the top 10 and slotted in 4 or 5 guys back on the last lap. The normal masses were moving up in the corners, but I was still okay with 3 corners to go. The Elbowz guys were kind of doing a leadout, but were not trying to catch Brent Crosby, who was hanging just off the front with 1/2 a lap to go. Jason Waddell and Chad Cagle, both Tulsa Tough, came blowing by me on the last long stretch before the last couple corners. I had nothing left and ended up 6th in the field, which put me 8th for the day.

Like I said above, I have no idea what that result means. Not much to me. I hate being in races where I have no control of my destiny. That was definitely the case here. I was at the mercy of the field. It is humbling and painful.

Today is a do over race I think. The same course at the same time. I don’t like those races much. It doesn’t happen too many times during the season, but when it does, I seem to lack motivation because of boredom. Hopefully that won’t be the case today.

Results - Click on the photo twice to enlarge.

The race was in a historic area just outside downtown Dallas. This is a picture I took of the women's field. I think Stefan Rothe's wife, Sheri won the race.

Matrix Criterium – Day 2

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Yesterday was the 2nd day or do-over race here in Dallas at the Matrix Challenge. It was the exact same course run at the exact same time, just a day later. The day was different though. It was 15 degrees warmer, mid to upper 80’s, and more windy. That made a huge difference to a lot of the riders in the race.

The wind made the course much harder. And the heat, even though it wasn’t scorching, increased the attrition rate dramatically. All around, it was a pretty hard day, especially for me.

It doesn’t matter what you do for training, there is no way you can replicate the efforts put out in the first criteriums of the season. Or any criterium for that matter. It is impossible. I know some of you might think that is wrong, but let me tell you, it isn’t. We probably rode 50-60 laps of this course. The were always two corners you had to jump out of at nearly 100%. And at least 2 more out of the 8 that you usually had to jump out of pretty hard. So that is a minimum of 200 full out efforts in 90 minutes. And it could be as many as 250 +. Can you imagine saying you going to go out and do a speed workout and do some jumps and think, I should do around 200? I think not. You might do 10-20, but no way 200.

Anyway, the race was hard. At least for me. I felt better most of the race than the day before, but not good enough to participate really. I just rode around mildly gassed the whole day. I had some good moments, but mainly I was hurt. I don’t know how many riders out of the 80 finished, but it was pretty small compared to the day before.

They had some pretty good primes both days. Heath Blackgrove won $400 for a small points series over 3 laps in the middle of the race. There were lots of $100 and $150 primes. I didn’t contest one.

It looked like it was going to come down to a field sprint when they switched from time to laps. There were 5 laps to go, which meant less than 8 minutes the speed we were going, but finally a Mexican guy and a Elbowz guy rolled off the front. Elbowz had at least 3 more riders at the front and it was done. The last couple laps, they tried to let more guys go, but it was pretty much all together on the last lap, other than the 2 that were away.

I was in pretty good position with 1/2 a lap to go. I got into a little bit of an intimidation spate with Jason Waddell with 2/3 a lap to go. I came up on Jason’s inside before a corner and he was going to loose the Elbowz leadout, so he decided to push me on my hip from behind. I’m not sure if Jason realizes that isn’t a good position to be in. The guy ahead has way more ability to control the situation than the rider behind. It wasn’t a big deal, but I am absolutely against riders touching each other on purpose for any reason in a bike race, so I threw an elbow his way and just kept going.

The next long stretch, I had got up to maybe 5 or 6 guys back, but was in the wind. I somehow got into the middle of the Elbowz leadout, bumping Tyler Jewel off Heath I think. Tyler told me to move and give them a little respect. It is amazing to me that a guy might think that with 300 meters to go in a criterium, with 4 tight corners before the finish, that there might be some form of bike racing etiquette to allow a rider to have a team mates wheel. Maybe he was just nervous or something, but it is a free-for-all at that point and there isn’t anything close to that etiquette there. But, I was out in the wind too much the last 200 meters and could barely get to the line after blowing a couple corners. I came in 8th in the field sprint, which was 10th in the race.

I was pretty happy to be finished with the weekend. I hope I got some kind of form out of the races. I don’t know. I can’t be too displeased because I wasn’t really concentrating on the races as much as some other things, but it is painful racing that way. I’m heading back up to Kansas for a day before heading back South to Joe Martin. It is going to be a busy week I think.

Results- Click twice to enlarge.

Dave Wenger and me at the start. I got this off Facebook from Lee McDaniel.

Here's a up close of Dave and his National Criterium Jersey. It was designed to incorporate the star of Texas, plus something from the Ohio flag, where Dave is from, plus the Stars and Stripes. He looks pretty good.

Another Lee McDaniel shot. There were lots of efforts during the race.

Sue, Jimmy Hoyt and Bromont. Jimmy just flew back from The Sea Otter to take in the last day of the race he sponsors.