Thursday August 28th Training Ride: The Wheelsucker Report

The overcast sky and forecast of rain reduced the turnout, and the start was delayed while Sue Estes and Lance Lacy handed out our new team helmets. These look WAAY COOL with the team colors and "Latitude" and "ABRT" stickers on them. AWESOME! I put mine on and wore if for the ride. Thanks very much to Sue Estes, Lance and Lance's sister for putting the deal together and getting team stickers on the helmets.

Invincible Nat (Nat Thompson) was back from Colorado and wearing Latitude kit. There was some confusion and delay while Nat selected which bike to ride (the choices were a CAAD9 or a Scott Addict, the old Raleigh is no longer a good option). Team Cyclelife rider (and past ABRT/Latitude president) Wendy Ulmer was also out for the ride, as was the amazing Amanda Wu (1st, crash, 2nd in her first three races).

The wheelsucker was supposed to be doing intervals as per his coach. But it was more fun to start with the ride and use the first part as a warm up. Or at least that's the wheelsucker's story and he is sticking to it! To be honest, I'm not sure what attacking on the second hill (still well before 214) and rolling off the front has to do with warming up. Too bad the wheelsucker missed the last of the green light by just a few seconds and the pack easily caught him while he waited for the light to change back to green.

For some reason, the Doetsch was taking long pulls. The wheelsucker saw some gaps opening as second wheel could not stay with Doetsch on the climbs (eg Harwood hill), but as every decent wheelsucker knows, why close a gap yourself if you can get someone else to close it by just waiting. So the wheelsucker waited at the back of the chase group for somone else to make the effort and bring the chase back to Doetsch. And it worked every time!

By the time the peleton reached route 2, there were riders off the back and the wheelsucker needed to start his intervals (six five-minute VO2 max power range intervals, with five minutes rest) or else he would run out of time and course, so he dropped off the back, waved on Nat, Keith and Wendy as they worked to catch back on, rested for five minutes and started his intervals.

After skipping the South Polling House turn to stay on flatter roads (easier to maintain steady power numbers) and then backtracking on Bayard back to the circle to get more time and distance, the wheelsucker skipped the South Polling House turn for a second time, and was doing the rest interval after the second VO2Max interval, when he saw the group ahead of him on Bayard as he approached the Polling House intersection.

He waited for the rest interval to end, waited a few more seconds so as to start the interval AFTER the turn onto Sands, and then did a hard five minute VO2Max interval. To the wheelsucker's GREAT satisfaction his pace was enough to catch the peleton from some distance back, ride up along it, and then roll off the front by himself. See ya later!

Aaron Canale didn't realize the wheelsucker was doing intervals, and thought this was an attack! So Aaron jumped and bridged up to the wheelsucker, catching him must seconds before the interval ended and the wheelsucker sat up, and waved as the peleton rolled by. Sorry Aaron! Better luck next time!

That was the last the wheelsucker saw of the peleton -- they were long gone by the end of the badly-needed five minute rest interval -- so no report on who won the sprint. But the wheelsucker's money would be on Nat, with Amanda contending. Sorry Doetsh, sorry Keith.

Calling Poets and Songwriters...

I think we need a Latitude team song... and I having trouble getting Queen's "We will rock you" (read, we will DROP you!) out of my mind.

So the contest is.... write bicycle racing lyrics to the tune. Keep it simple so we can remember some of the words after drinking heavily.

Hint? See
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/q/queen/we+will+rock+you_20112546.html

John Ver Bryke Spotted?

A rider in Latitude kit was spotted on the Monday Annapolis Bike Doctor Ride. The rider resembles John Ver Bryke, albeit disguised by the appearance of carrying a few more pounds. This rider was riding a Giant TCR with weight weenie parts that looked identical to JVB's Giant. Whether this was John in disguise or not, he was a strong rider, and easily dropped most of the peleton on the hills.

Chris Thater Memorial 2008

Team Latitude/ABRT went to Binghamton, NY and competed in 4 races over 2 days. The races were extremely well organized and the people of Binghamton were amazing and super friendly!!!

Representing the team- Chris Harshman, Lance Lacey, Keith Reeder, Back from the Rockies- Nat Thompson, and me, Chip Hoover. Lance, Chris and I traveled up late Friday night. We should have gotten there a bit earlier but Chris and I waited around for Lance to catch some fox with a trap stuck to his leg. Seriously! Reeder and Nat traveled up saturday.

Race #1 was the 30+ masters race. All but Nat were racing. The race started with me attacking and getting a good gap. Mark Warno bridged up to me and I worked with him for a few laps, then I decided, due to a lack of confidence in being able to stay in a break the whole race, that I would drop back to the field (mistake #1). Ramon from Artemis then put in a few attacks but never was able to get away early on thanks to Lance, Chris and Reeder covering his every move. Reeder then countered one of Ramon's attacks and got away with one other rider.

Now there were 3 guys up the road a quarter in to the race. A few others try and get away including Ramon but all covered nicely by Team Latitude. I then attacked the field on the one climb on the course and manged to gain a nice gap. I was quickly joined by Ramon and we began to work to catch the chase group.

Speed up to 10 laps or so to go and we reach Keith alone along the start/finish stretch. I began a solid pull prior to the first turn and climb once we reach Keith (major mistake #2). Ramon then attcks us and I am not able to go with him. So now it's Keith and me in the chase group racing for 4th and 5th. Ramon reaches the lead group and they began to pull away from us. That was the race. I ended up 4th and Keith 5th!

40+ Race- Keith did this one and landed another impressive top 10 with 8th place. Ramon and Jamie Carney lapped the field. Carney Won.

3/4 Race- Chris and Lance suited up for their 2nd race of the day and represented well. They put in multiple attacks but were counted, then they worked hard to bring them back. Eventually 2 guys got up the road. With about 5 to go Chris put in a huge effort to bring back the break but other teams were content with racing for 3rd and did nothing to help. With 2 laps to go Lance put in a huge attack and managed to get about 8-10 seconds on the field. Keith and I were screaming at him to stick it. With one to go he had about 10 seconds but was caught on the last corner with about 300 meters to go. Great Move- Lance would have stuck it if had fresh legs- No doubt!

Cat 2/3 Race Sunday- All of us raced! Strategy was to, quote Keith, "race positive". And that's exactly what we did! Lance went from the gun just liked we discussed and that triggered a number of attacks with Nat finally sticking one solo. Here's Chris Harshman's recap of the Cat 2/3 Race prior to the Men's Pro Race!

"After cramping up on lap 3, getting caught behind a crash on lap 4 and sucking a@@ at the back of the race for the next 10 or so laps in the Cat 2/3 race, I went into photog mode for the remainder of the day. When you scroll through the photo's, notice Nat is getting a neutral bike from Mavic. Not only did Nat get a bike, but at some point Keith also required a neutral support bike.

"Nat was in the 5 man break that he started after countering Lance's initial attack from the very start of the race up the climb. He and another rider got clear but were joined by Chip and two other riders a few laps later. With about 6 laps to go Nat's chain broke about half way around the course and he had to run to the pit plus get there before 4 laps to go before the free lap rule went away. Nat made it in time as was set up the bike and was able to rejoin the break which still consisted of the 4 other original riders. They went on to lap the main field just before one to go making things a bit difficult to sort out for the finish. Nat attacked immediately after the start finish to try and draw out the riders from the break but it stayed together for a bunch sprint with the field. Keith was in the 8 man chase group when his chain broke but rejoined the group and eventually attacked solo out of the group to get 8th."

"Lance was The Man this weekend. After doubling up Saturday riding two strong races in the 30+ and the 3/4, the later of which he was so close to holding a two lap solo effort to take 3rd behind a 2 man break but was reeled back in just before the finish, he still had the legs to attack the 2/3 field after turn 1 up the hill to set up Nat for the counter which resulted in the winning break from lap 1 of a 25 lap race. Lance continued to work in the field disrupting attempts to bring back either the break of the chase group including Keith."

"What a great weekend of racing. It was great to go to a race out of state where no one knows who you are and hearing the announcers call out your team and rider names the entire race and making your mark there. 6 top 10s on the weekend, representing in 4 different races with just 5 riders. Incredible! Great job guys."

During the final lap there were multiple attacks by the breakaway guys. Nat ended up 3rd and I ended up 2nd.

It was a great weekend of racing and I believe we all learned a little more about each other and our capabilities on the bike! I look forward to more of these type weekends in the future!

Thanks for reading!

Highway to Heaven Pantani Style

Before we get to the fun stuff, congratulations to all of the Team Latitude riders who rocked the Highway to Heaven time trial, notably Ali Meller (2nd 50+), Ken McDowell (1st 30+), Dave Bradshaw (3rd Cat3), Tom Mackay and Aaron Canale (1st/3rd Jr 18) and Chris Harshman (2nd Fixed Gear).

Full Results
Pictures

Now for the fun stuff...

The most expressive faces:




Climbing Pantani Style:

Tuesday August 12th Training Ride: The Wheelsucker Report

Another LARGE group started at the Park & Ride. The wheelsucker missed a lot of the action (Mr. Wu's front wheel washing out on a curve on South Polling House, and the resulting crash), as he was trying to get his average power numbers a little higher than usual, and decided to do this by going off the front early rather than the usual wheelsucking at the back while watching the strong guys intently waiting for them to move....

So the wheelsucker rolls off the front at Governor Bridge Road, but finds Steve Owens, Matt Albanese and Super Sue Estes on his wheel a little while later. OK, why not? We go with the four "man" TTT, except Super Sue is nowhere to be seen when we cross 214 ON AN OLD GREEN LIGHT, so we're doing the 3TTT.

In case you're thinking, "this could work!", let me point out the main pack included: Ace, Doetsch, young Tom, Ryan, Lance "tutu" Lacy and several other notables, so it was NOT lacking in firepower. But the 3TT group continued to roll fast, hoping they were opening up a gap, but not really believing it. Except... everytime we looked back there was no one there. We could not see a chase on route 2 or Bayard, could not see a chase on Polling House or on South Polling House. After the fat man's sprint and the climb up the hill, the wheelsucker started to think the 3TT might have a real gap. After the turn back onto Bayard he looked back across the corn field trying to see if anyone was coming up the hill, but the view was blocked by late summer corn stands. He thought no one was there!

The wheelsucker had pushed hard up the hill to avoid the embarassment of Matt or Steve rolling by him on the climb, but gratefully pulled off at the top to let someone else pull, only to hear Steve ask for the pace to slow down for a little. Fair enough, Matt pulled easily on the flat-slightly-down section on Bayard with Steve and the wheelsucker resting... Matt pulled off after the turn onto Sands, and the wheelsucker did his usual reasonably fast short-to-medium pull, accelerating the 3TT up to 26 or 27 mph. The wheelsucker had finished his pull and was about to pull off to the left when to his shock, surprise, dissapointment and fear, an evily grinning Doetsch led the chase pack by at 3-4 mph more. All the wheelsucker could do was exclaim, "Oh Sch##$&(%TTT!!!! as a large chase went by, shedding people off the back. The wheelucker jumped for a wheel, but could not get it. Matt and Steve had slightly more warning, and were slightly more rested and made it. But within seconds, the wheelsucker was out of range, out of breath, out of ideas and starting to accept the idea that he had been dropped.

Just like that, from hero to zero!

A couple of riders, Will and John, dropped by the chase's acceleration were still trying to catch back on. The wheelsucker gratefully grabbed their wheels, but just as quickly realized they were losing ground. Then Ryan Guttridge, who had apparently just finished a monster pull to set Doetsch up for the pass and then could not get back on when Doetsch jumped, started an "I'm going to make it up to them or die trying" move, and the wheelsucker abandoned his erstwhile friends and made it onto Ryan's wheel. The trouble was that Doetsch was still trying to keep his group of 10-15 going at warp 11, and a tired -- and tiring fast -- Ryan was only gaining on them slowly and then stopped gaining. Finally even the wheelsucker realized he was going to have to take a pull, and suggested Ryan grab his wheel. Ryan was nearly dead and declined. Realizing he was going to have to try and bridge the last bit by himself, the wheelsucker put his head down, shifted into a higher gear and went into his best I-can-hold-400-watts-for-a-few-seconds mode and somehow made it onto the back wheel of the lead pack. Ryan was nowhere to be seen. Gasping for air the wheelucker continued to let people in in front of him until he felt strong enough to rotate to the front and pull off immediately. Unfortunately for the wheelsucker, Doetsch was watching, and was unimpressed by the wheelsucker's non-pull, and pointed this out to the entire group. The wheelsucker was doing his best to ignore Doetsch when Doetsch changed tactics and started commenting on the wheelucker's ass. Working too hard to think, and breathing to hard to speak, the wheelsucker was unable to reply. Humiliated, he drifted to the back of the group to do what he does best, wheelsuck!

That was that. The group stayed together to the finish, with Matt doing the last pull and leadout. The wheelsucker was second wheel, and jumped to go around Matt, but was only going about 0.0001 mph faster and only JUST got his wheel in front of Matt's by the finish, while those who really could sprint went around Matt AND the wheelsucker and fought it out. The wheelsucker was so far behind, he could not tell who crossed first.