Yearly Archives: 2014

Leaving Austin – Racing in Dallas/Garland

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We’re driving up to Garland to do the Matrix Challenge this afternoon. I had a great time in Austin this past week and am glad I got to visit so long. Austin is sort of a ying yang thing for me. It has a lot of attraction, but there is the traffic. And it’s bad. Plus the heat that comes and stays pretty soon.

I don’t think I’ve raced in Garland since it really was a different town than Dallas, not just a suburb. I drove down to Garland for a Junior Olympic Developement race when I was 17. I got kicked out of the race, after I’d rode the whole day off the front by myself, for riding hard through a neutral zone of gravel. Of course, I was was already a minute ahead before Tom Boyden came up to the field and told them that the race was neutral. Hopefully this race will be better.

Trudi seems to be getting back on US time. She got up and did crossfit with Ann on Wednesday. 5:30 am exercise with kettle bells. She is past that and sleeping until 7 now. Bromont doesn’t even get out of bed when she gets up, which is very unlike him. She has another couple weeks to herself before she has to take off for the Tour of California.

I can’t believe that Joe Martin, Hillsboro Roubaix and the Iowa City Criterium are all next weekend. Man, is that a jacked schedule. I like all three races and can’t believe that someone wouldn’t take the time to look at the scheduling and figure that out. Seems like such a bad thing for the sport not being able to schedule these races on different weekends.

Just got a picture from the training ride yesterday back home. Looks like the burning is in full gear. Maybe this weekend will be perfect for it and they’ll get a lot of it done before I get back on Sunday night. I doubt it. They have extended the permits all the way into May as far as I can figure. Their thinking, just sort of horrible air for a longer period, not terrible air for a shorter period. Great.

Okay, we need to get moving, it’s 3 hours up to Garland.

Trudi didn't have her shoes or bike with her, so she just used Ann's dual suspension MTB bike for the past few days.

Trudi didn’t have her shoes or bike with her, so she just used Ann’s dual suspension MTB bike for the past few days.

Trudi brought me back a Paris-Roubaix directional sign from the race, for the garage.

Trudi brought me back a Paris-Roubaix directional sign from the race, for the garage.

Bill and I rode a new bike path out by the Driveway race, but it just stopped a few miles north. It will be pretty great once it is finished.

Bill and I rode a new bike path out by the Driveway race, but it just stopped a few miles north. It will be pretty great once it is finished.

We got these in Dripping Springs. Everything for $3.75. Quite a deal.

We got these in Dripping Springs. Everything for $3.75. Quite a deal.

This is some of the best ice cream I've ever had. I think it is seasonal.

This is some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. I think it is seasonal.

Bromont is going to miss Ann and Lulu. (And I know Ann, not your best photo ever.)

Bromont is going to miss Ann and Lulu. (And I know Ann, not your best photo ever.)

This is a nightly deal with Bromont. He always hogs my side and then acts like he is asleep and won't move when I want to go to bed.

This is a nightly deal with Bromont. He always hogs my side and then acts like he is asleep and won’t move when I want to go to bed.

What I have to look forward to when I get back to Topeka.

What I have to look forward to when I get back to Topeka.

Matrix Challenge Day 2 – Easter Sunday

This entry was posted in Racing on by .

I wrote a post a couple years ago about why there aren’t any bike races on Easter Sunday. Today I get to race a criterium in Garland. And today was Amstel Gold. (Man, Gilbert has that finish down.) I’m a little short of time today. I’m going to ride the 30 miles over to the race. Yesteday I only got in 7 miles of riding before the start and after a 3 hour drive and I was stale, not feeling good to about 5 laps to go, which was good.

Yesterday the race was hard. It is really pretty much a parking lot criterium. Not a typical parking lot crit, the whole course lined with cones, but a partial. And it was windy, so you tended to be hugging the edges more than was comfortable.

I’ll do a play by play tommorrow, since I’m late, but the race was pretty hard and it all split up the last 20 minutes. I can sense that it was going to explode, so I stayed near the front. Bill and I both made the front group of 12 or so, but a few more guys caught on when we started dicking around.

It came down to a field sprint of maybe 20 guys. It was a good finish for me, but I really didn’t ride it properly and didn’t have the kick at the end. I ended up 5th, a few bikes lengths back. Bret Crosby won. I gave up a little too early or maybe could have finished a place better. Whatever, I’m good with it. I really need the speed work. I am really under raced and need to get some top end, which I was lacking the first hour of the race yesterday.

We’re racing and then driving the 500 miles back home tonight. The last time I did that drive, I totalled Isuzu, so I hope to have a pretty day than that.

Okay, we’re staying down by Whiterock Lake with some old friends from Topeka. It is great. I’ll post more tomorrow.

A small group of 5 of us separated on the last small hill during the sprint.

A small group of 5 of us separated on the last small hill during the sprint.

Results.

Results.

The race was pretty strung out the whole day.

The race was pretty strung out the whole day.

These are a couple friends that has relocated to the Dallas area. Rod Lake on the left and Mark Winkleman and his wife on the right. It was nice catching up. I stayed with Rod and went by Mark's house to check out his bike, and car, collect. It deserves its own post.

These are a couple friends that has relocated to the Dallas area. Rod Lake on the left and Mark Winkleman and his wife on the right. It was nice catching up. I stayed with Rod and went by Mark’s house to check out his bike, and car, collect. It deserves its own post.


This is Charlene Lake. She out did herself last night and this morning, foodwise. Plus, her wine pour is more of a cascade. I had to talk a night time walk last night.

This is Charlene Lake. She out did herself last night and this morning, foodwise. Plus, her wine pour is more of a cascade. I had to talk a night time walk last night.

Breakfast this morning. I wanted to sleep in, but the smells were too good.

Breakfast this morning. I wanted to sleep in, but the smells were too good.