Category Archives: Race stories

Rain & Glueing Tires

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I’ve been in rain for the past two weeks. I haven’t ridden much at all. Plus, I’ve been driving across the country. I hardly ride inside at all, so I had to ride some in the rain. I don’t ride too far wet if I don’t have to. But, I don’t mind riding in the rain if it’s not too cold out. I usually only ride by myself if it’s raining. Road spray is bad enough from my own wheels, let alone someone else’s. Rain has been good for the garden. It’s doing pretty good.

Leaving to go to Arkansas for Joe Martin Stage Race NRC. I glued a tire onto a super light wheel that I’m going to use for the hill climb TT. I’m getting sort of anal about glueing tubulars onto carbon rims. It is kind of weird how many rolled tires I see. Especially in cyclocross. But, on the road too. I’ve gotten to the point that if I’m home, I’ve been using a ratcheting tie-down to strap around the tire until the glue dries. It is overkill in my estimation, but it doesn’t take much extra time and it’s better to be safe than sorry I guess.

To tie the above two subjects together, the best tires by far to race in the rain are Vittoria tubulars. I’m not so concerned about the tread pattern. The rubber is so much better than other brands that the tread pattern is nearly irrelevant. If you are looking for a specific tread, then the KX or CG pattern would probably be the best for a wet criterium. The new CX , 320 thread count, would work great too. In a 23mm size would be best. But, any Vittoria is better than any other tubular tire. And any tubular tire is usually better than most clinchers. If you’re riding clinchers, I’d use Michelin PRO Grip in the rain. I’ve ridden one wet criterium with these tires and they worked 90% as good as Vittoria sewups. I wasn’t big on riding carbon rims that day, but I’ve gotten past that with SwissStop yellow pads. And, don’t ride high pressure. 90 psi or less.

Update from Joe Martin later this week.

Tire strapping method.

Tire strapping method.

Vegetable garden is appreciating the moisture.

Vegetable garden is appreciating the moisture. Bromont in the background treeing a squirrel.

Joe Martin Stage 2 – 110 mile loop

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Another field sprint at Joe Martin. I might be wrong here, but I think I’m not. Anyway, for the past 5 years, both road races and the criterium have been field sprints (that is 3 stages X 5 years = 15 field sprints). So the race is decided on a 2.5 mile hillclimb and time bonuses. Doesn’t seem quite right for some reason.

Todays course is hard, but it wasn’t windy. Super muggy. Full on sweat right after they blew the gun off. The major difficulty of the race is a 10 mile climb at 80 miles. It really isn’t a 10 mile climb. It’s a mile and a half climb and then stair steps for the remaining miles.

2 guys got away after 30 miles or so. I took off for no reason other than boredom at 50 miles. I rode by myself for 15 miles or so and was eventually caught by Bryce Mead, Jelly Belly and Jake Hollenbach, CRCA Empire. We rode together for a few miles before the climb and hit the bottom with maybe a 30 second lead. What a waste. Jake and I made it to the top of the first pitch before we were caught by the mass of the field. Bissell hadn’t started really started tempoing yet, but they got organized. Once, half way up the climb, a few guys attacked, but the climb was pretty tame. Bissell sat at the front the last 25 miles until the finish.

One thing that I’ve noticed and don’t understand is the Pro teams line up all their riders 20 miles out. And they fight for this position. I don’t get it. Why fight for position when there isn’t anything to fight for? And why ride in line up at the front behind Bissell when it’s way easier riding 40 guys back in the mass? Can anyone tell me a reason? I’d be interesting in hearing even a stupid explaination.

I was talking to Floyd about it 10 miles out when his team mate gave him a Redbull. He said that it was the highlight of his week. I told him that he was hanging out with the wrong people if that was true. He gave me the last half of the Redbull and it was really good. Super cold and refreshing.

Anyway, every “Pro Team” tried some sort of leadout. The finish is hard. A big four lane road to a left/right corner combination to a narrow road a mile out. Then a couple steep hill and finally a 90 degree left corner 400 meter out to a uphill finish.

The police decided to leave a car in the middle of the road about 50 meters from the first left. The field had to split around it. And then they didn’t have a corner marshall at the right corner 30 meters later, so the front of the field was a little mixed up. I got around the corners OK and up the hills, but by the time I got to the last corner I was pretty done. I sat up on the final straight and finished around 20th or so. They usually put time gaps in on this stage, so you can’t just ride in. Not that my GC is a priority.

I like this afternoon racing. Tomorrows stage doesn’t start until 3pm. It didn’t rain at all during the race today. Tomorrow it is supposed to again. We’ll see.

Results.

Joe Martin Memorial Road Race 110 miles

Pl Bib Name Team Time Behind
1 22 HAEDO, Lucas Sebasti Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt 5:20:24 15 @ 0
2 1 SUTHERLAND, Rory Ouch Presented By Maxxis ” 10 ”
3 163 MILNE, Shawn Team Type 1 ” 5 ”
4 166 LILL, Darren Team Type 1 ” ”
5 81 SANDERSON, Nic Rock Racing ” ”
6 26 CANTWELL, Jonathan Fly V Australia ” ”
7 141 CAGLE, Chad Texas Tough ” ”
8 40 RICE, Matty Jelly Belly ” ”
9 3 MURPHY, John Ouch Presented By Maxxis ” ”
10 71 GILBERT, Martin Planet Energy ” ”
11 89 SCHILDGE, Eric Bikereg.Com/Cannondale ” ”
12 94 FALCON, Yosvany Champion Porsche P/B Race Edge ” ”
13 63 NORTHEY, Mike Land Rover-Orbea ” ”
14 28 ZAJICEK, Phil Fly V Australia ” ”
15 162 JONES, Chris Team Type 1 ” ”
16 65 HOFFARTH, Will Mountain Khakis ” ”
17 84 GRAJALES, Cesar Rock Racing ” ”
18 12 OBEE, Kirk Bissell Pro Cycling ” ”
19 147 TILFORD, Steve Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores ” ”
20 14 VENNELL, Jeremy Bissell Pro Cycling ” ”
21 9 JACQUES-MAYNES, Ben Bissell Pro Cycling ” ”
22 19 BORRAJO, Anibal Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt ” ”
23 46 SHIRLEY, Neil Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
24 119 CAMPBELL, Daniel Panther/RGF pb Felt Bicycles ” ”
25 136 COLLIER, Corey Team Rio Grande ” ”
26 107 ZMOLIK, Daniel CRCA/Empire Cycling Northwave ” ”
27 86 DILLON, Josh Bikereg.Com/Cannondale ” ”
28 85 BALDWIN, Chris Rock Racing ” ”
29 7 MCCARTY, Patrick Ouch Presented By Maxxis ” ”
30 50 RYTLEWSKI, Jake Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Spinergy ” ”
31 21 FRATTINI, Davide Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt ” ”
32 39 REISTAD, Nick Jelly Belly ” ”
33 17 AMARAN, Luis Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt ” ”
34 33 CLARK, Jonny Jelly Belly ” ”
35 32 SULZBERGER, Bernard Fly V Australia ” ”
36 13 PIPP, Frank Bissell Pro Cycling ” ”
37 24 WREN, Tyler Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt ” ”
38 38 POWERS, Jeremy Jelly Belly ” ”
39 78 CREED, Mike Rock Racing ” ”
40 45 MUMFORD, Jonathan Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
41 140 STEWART, Scott Team Waste Management ” ”
42 100 HAGMAN, Alex Ciclismo Racing ” ”
43 43 ERKER, Jacob Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
44 149 JENSEN, Brian Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores ” ”
45 25 BROOKS, Hayden Fly V Australia ” ”
46 23 WAMSLEY, Kyle Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt ” ”
47 15 ZIRBEL, Tom Bissell Pro Cycling ” ”
48 20 COLBY, Anthony Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt ” ”
49 106 MINUTRN, John CRCA/Empire Cycling Northwave ” ”
50 93 TRAVIESO, Frank Champion Porsche P/B Race Edge ” ”
51 161 MACGREGOR, Ian Team Type 1 5:20:39 @ 15
52 126 STEMPER, James Team Geargrinder ” ”
53 108 SINGER, Noah Competitive Cyclist ” ”
54 142 ANKNEY, Mat Texas Tough ” ”
55 60 VAN UDEN, Roman Land Rover-Orbea ” ”
56 156 SHERER, Mike Alderfer Bergen Cycling ” ”
57 134 WINSTEAD, Matt Team Inferno Pro Cycling ” ”
58 122 ROBA, Tomas Rocky Mountain Bicycles Elite ” ”
59 42 BOWMAN, Daniel Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
60 110 STOLTE, Bill HRRC/Trek/Shimano ” ”
61 105 MATHIS, Michael CRCA/Empire Cycling Northwave ” ”
62 151 MCVEY, Bryan Vision Quest ” ”
63 68 RAMSEY, Daniel Mountain Khakis ” ”
64 144 ROTHE, Stefan Texas Tough ” ”
65 27 DAVIS, Scott Fly V Australia ” ”
66 121 CHRISTIAN, Gregory Panther/RGF pb Felt Bicycles ” ”
67 66 MARZOT, Charles Mountain Khakis ” ”
68 16 SCHMITT, Morgan Bissell Pro Cycling ” ”
69 4 MENZIES, Karl Ouch Presented By Maxxis ” ”
70 64 SOLADAY, Thomas Mountain Khakis ” ”
71 49 STANFIELD, Ty Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Spinergy ” ”
72 55 PARRISH, Jonathan Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Spinergy ” ”
73 102 HOLLENBACH, Jake CRCA/Empire Cycling Northwave ” ”
74 59 TUCKERMAN, Aaron Land Rover-Orbea ” ”
75 164 CALABRIA, Fabio Team Type 1 ” ”
76 8 LANDIS, Floyd Ouch Presented By Maxxis ” ”
77 146 WELCH, Alex Texas Tough ” ”
78 139 MAZICH, Sean Team Waste Management ” ”
79 62 MILLER, Carson Land Rover-Orbea ” ”
80 148 COIL, Nicholas Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores ” ”
81 44 MUFRET, Clay Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
82 88 LINDINE, Justin Bikereg.Com/Cannondale ” ”
83 92 WHITE, Matt Bikereg.Com/Cannondale ” ”
84 34 CRANE, Matt Jelly Belly ” ”
85 135 GAREY, Logan Team Rio Grande ” ”
86 6 JOHNSON, Tim Ouch Presented By Maxxis 5:20:55 @ 31
87 114 BOWERS, Bryson Jet Fuel Coffee ” ”
88 167 ALDAPE, Moises Team Type 1 ” ”
89 113 HAZZARD, Kevin Jet Fuel Coffee ” ”
90 76 ROTH, Ryan Planet Energy ” ”
91 153 HAGNER, Travis Warp9Bikes.Com/Tristar ” ”
92 103 MARGARITE, Michael CRCA/Empire Cycling Northwave ” ”
93 117 SULLIVAN, Ryan Myogenesis.Com/United Healthcr ” ”
94 30 GUNN, Curtis Fly V Australia ” ”
95 155 HENDERSON, David CBC ” ”
96 133 WHERRY, Chris Team Hotel San Jose ” ”
97 90 TIMMERMAN, Dan Bikereg.Com/Cannondale ” ”
98 91 WELLER, Steve Bikereg.Com/Cannondale ” ”
99 41 BUSCHE, Matthew Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
100 57 CAMUT, Jim Land Rover-Orbea ” ”
101 48 HOAG, Cheyne Kelly Benefit Strategies ” ”
102 101 KNELLER, Ben Ciclismo Racing ” ”
103 10 JACQUES-MAYNES, Andy Bissell Pro Cycling 5:21:04 @ 40
104 129 BLACKGROVE, Heath Team Hotel San Jose ” ”
105 168 KOBZARENKO, Valery Team Type 1 ” ”
106 138 WENZEL, Scott Team Rio Grande ” ”
107 124 WELLS, Troy Team Clif Bar ” ”
108 99 BERGER, Jarred Ciclismo Racing ” ”
109 36 HUFF, Brad Jelly Belly ” ”
110 5 LEA, Bobby Ouch Presented By Maxxis 5:21:09 @ 45
111 18 BORRAJO, Alejandro Colavita Sutter Hm/Cooking Lt 5:21:13 @ 49
112 72 LACOMBE, Keven Planet Energy 5:21:15 @ 51
113 2 PINFOLD, Andrew Ouch Presented By Maxxis 5:21:23 @ 59
114 111 NEFF, Isaac Alderfer Bergen Cycling 5:21:33 @ 1:09
115 95 HANSLEY, Seth Champion Porsche P/B Race Edge 5:21:37 @ 1:13
116 35 GAIMON, Phil Jelly Belly 5:21:39 @ 1:15
117 58 ELKEN, Evan Land Rover-Orbea ” ”
118 11 LATHAM, Peter Bissell Pro Cycling 5:21:46 @ 1:22
119 37 MEAD, Bryce Jelly Belly 5:21:51 @ 1:27
120 80 HERNANDEZ, Sergio Rock Racing ” ”
121 31 KEMP, David Fly V Australia 5:21:59 @ 1:35
122 47 VEILLEUX, David Kelly Benefit Strategies 5:22:13 @ 1:49
123 165 WILSON, Matt Team Type 1 5:22:18 @ 1:54
124 73 LANGLOIS, Bruno Planet Energy 5:22:37 @ 2:13
125 75 RANDELL, Andrew Planet Energy ” ”
126 70 BOILY, Eric Planet Energy 5:23:08 @ 2:44
127 74 PARISIEN, Francois Planet Energy ” ”
128 56 BARTLETT, Joshua Land Rover-Orbea 5:41:14 @ 20:50
129 123 WINKLER, Jeff St. John’S Powerful Medicine 5:48:09 @ 27:45
130 29 GEORGE, Steve Fly V Australia 5:50:10 @ 29:46
131 83 FINNERAN, Danny Rock Racing 5:20:24 @ 0