Category Archives: Comments about Cycling

It Comes in 3’s???

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I think that is the saying? That is never good when it applies to crashing. That would apply to training here in Topeka the last week. First, I crashed in the rain, got pegged by Bill and broke a bunch of ribs.

Wednesday, we were coming back to Topeka, rotating pretty quickly and had an problem at a intersection. The end result was that Bill was laying on the ground once again. Then yesterday, we were out West of Dover, turning a corner with new chip and seal and next thing you know, Catherine’s front wheel is sliding out and she is doing the same. Man, it isn’t a good thing falling on new chip and seal.

It seems like the evening training rides here have been going pretty fast the last couple weeks. When Bill fell the 2nd time, we had a 22.5 mph average at the sprint at 40 miles. That is pretty quick considering how slow it is getting out of town. It is so funny that during the cyclo-x season, there is at least one race and usually two races a weekend and now during the road season, it is slim pickings. Maybe promoting a cyclo-x is just that much easier, I don’t know.

Leadville is today. My team mate, Brian Jensen is racing it as I type here. Brian is new to MTB racing, but Leadville isn’t much of a true MTB race. But, there is enough descending to make it tough from Brian to ride with the leaders. I’m predicting a 10-25 place finish for him, but he could prove me wrong, he has it in his ability. Hopefully on the good side. I can’t readily find a live tracking site, so if anyone knows of one, please leave a comment to a link. I’m thinking Todd will win again this year. I think I read somewhere that he was training for it again, so if he did his high altitude stuff he did a couple years ago I think he’ll have a leg up on Sauser and Lakata.

Okay, I’m thinking about racing tomorrow in Jefferson City Missouri. It is the Missouri State Criterium Championships and it is around the State Capitol Building, just like the East Village Criterium last weekend. That would be 3 criteriums that I’ve done this year circling Capitols, including the National Criterium Championships around the Capitol Building in Madison. Maybe 3 will be my lucky number in this regard.

Brian at the start this morning in Leadville.  Looks chilly.

Brian at the start this morning in Leadville. Looks chilly.

Just some of the damage on Catherine.  It's her birthday today, so it was lucky she fell yesterday and got it out of the way.

Just some of the damage on Catherine. It’s her birthday today, so it was lucky she fell yesterday and got it out of the way.

This is the corner she fell on.  Pretty sketchy.

This is the corner she fell on. Pretty sketchy.

Busy Day – Missouri State Criterium Championships

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Okay, this is going to be a short one. Last night around 10, I convinced only Bill to drive over to Jefferson City and do the Missouri State Criterium Championships with me today. I’m a little tired from riding 3 1/2 hours yesterday, but need the speed work. The course is around the Missouri State Capitol and has some elevation change. Nothing like the race last weekend in Des Moines, but it is a more technical course with a climb in it. We’re gonna race both the Master’s race and Pro 1/2 race again, so a little over 2 hours of criterium racing is in store. It’s supposed to be near 90 this afternoon.

Yesterday, my team mate, Brian Jensen, had a pretty good ride in the Leadville 100. He finished 12th, which was pretty stellar considering. He self admittedly said that he figured he lost close to 30 minutes to the guys in front of him on the descents. He was nearly an hour behind the Christoph Sauser and only lost 2 1/2 minutes to him on Columbine according to the Strava Challenge. Anyway, not bad for a “flat lander”. And how about Sally Bingham winning the women’s race. She finished 26th overall, right ahead of my buddy Nick Frey, Mr. Boo Cycles. Scroll down here to check it out.

Chris Horner backed up his talk with a victory yesterday at the Tour of Utah. I guess all he has to do is stay with Tom Danielson and make sure Tom doesn’t win and he has the race wrapped up today. Not bad for not racing for 5 months. Tom must be feeling silly doing all those race days of the Giro and the Tour. Good motivation for Chris for The Tour of Spain I’d guess.

Alright, that’s about all the time I have. Better pack up the van and go get Bill.

Michelle, Brian's wife, feeding him at the last feed zone yesterday.

Michelle, Brian’s wife, feeding him at the last feed zone yesterday.

And she is still going.

And she is still going.

The podium from yesterday's Tour of Utah with Chris Horner at the top.

The podium from yesterday’s Tour of Utah with Chris Horner at the top.

20130811-100518.jpgBrian and his Leadville belt buckle.

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