Stony Creek TT

This weekend I said my farewell to Robert Linden and the Tailwind circuit in my last race in Michigan for a while and my last Tailwind race probably for a long time.

I had hopes of making it on the podium for my exit, but midway through the race I remembered that endurance sports require a little more planning than a couple weeks in advance to get results. So, it was the usual deal where people pass me and I don't pass anyone back. Christian Tanguy started 3.5 minutes after me and passed me 8 miles in (out of 13). He ended up finishing with the winning time of 46 minutes, 6 minutes up on me.

The course was actually pretty tough with some challenging stream crossings and mud bogs at the end, where I actually dabbed three times, which really frustrated me. I ended up in 10th place out of 12, so I am still not getting DFL, which makes me happy enough.

Here is yet another stolen (but pretty cool) picture from Andrea Tucker:
Kelly broke her winning streak with a second place finish, but she had a great race and actually fared better than I did through the stream crossing near the end. And no bee stings this weekend, so all is well. She is still producing the best results for Team BCB and is improving like crazy.

Even though I didn't win, I was the only racer to track stand during my 30 second countdown on the line, so at least I am able to look cool while being slow. That is, after all, the most important part of bike racing- looking cool.

Big M XC

This past weekend, Kelly, Cory, and I went up to Manistee National Forest to race Big M.

We left around 11 on Saturday and drove the four hours up and over, with a little stop at Taco Bell on the way. Then we set up camp and pre-rode the trail. The trail was a six mile loop of pretty wide open trail. There was really only one technical descent. Since it was pre-ride pace, I didn't really notice the long gradual hill that lasted for about a mile and half halfway through the trail. I would the next day.

After the pre-ride, we walked around the town of Manistee and realized that there really isn't anything to do there. But we had a good dinner followed by good ice cream at House of Flavors. Sleeping on the ground was interesting. I always said I would never want to do that for a race, but it actually worked out really well, and $5 for the night is a pretty good deal.

The race was really, really, really fast. At least it was as long as I was able to hold on to the leaders, which was about 4.5 miles. When I was riding with the choo-choo train, we were cruising at 22-24 on the flats and about 18 up the long gradual hill that was much more noticeable this time. When we got to some steeper climbs and I wasn't able to keep up the crazy pace anymore, I fell off. Within ten seconds, they were out of my sight. That is how fast they were going.

Since I was pushing myself a little harder than I should have been, I blew up and about 5 more guys passed me. I held this position for the rest of the race (with the exception of passing Christian when he was on the side of the trail with a flat tire on the second lap and the subsequent pass-back with a mile left in the race). I ended up 14th out of 17.

Overall, I had a lot of fun, and I am feeling a little faster. With some training this fall at altitude, maybe I can make up for all these low placings with a good finish at Iceman in November.

Kelly fought through a bee sting on her eye in the first couple miles to finish and still beat her 14 y/o competitor. So she is still sitting on top of the Tailwind USAC series in her age/class. She's pretty tough for fighting through it all, a fight which her body objected to afterward, which required Benadryl to fix.

Cory had a large group to go up against in the Expert 19-29 category, where he placed 8th.

Sorry for no pictures.

Stony Creek Marathon XC

Sunday I did one of my favorite races of the year. At least it was one of my favorites before this year. This year I'm not in as good of shape, so it took me 40 minutes longer than last year. Granted the fastest time was also 22 minutes slower, but 40 minutes is about one whole lap of my last year's times.

After fighting myself throughout the whole race, I did finish and actually didn't get last. I was 12 out of 14 finishers and 18 starters. I was on the bike for 4 hours and 54 minutes.

There isn't too much to report, just the same old suffering (perhaps more this year). I had planned, during lap four, that this would actually be a "quitting biking for a while" post (I had the whole post already written up in my head), but obviously I am addicted to hurting myself for hours on end, so that won't be happening.

On a very positive note, Kelly has continued her winning ways, making her 4 for 4 on the season. She toughed out her longest race or ride by 17 miles in good fashion, finishing 42 miles in 4 hours 24 minutes. She was the third place sport woman out of 8. If she keeps this up, she will win a free entry to Iceman this November.

Here is a picture of me appearing to go fast...I love that pictures can never tell what place I'm in.

Ruby Campground

So I've been reading a lot of posts about the race this past Sunday and it reminded me that I haven't posted in a while.

First of all, yes, the river was high, but not as high as everyone wants to tell you. I was 5 for 10 on the crossings. I just couldn't make the first one, though I was close by the end of the race.Second of all, I am slow right now. Really slow. I didn't do this race last year, but my lap times this year were anywhere from 1 to 4 minutes slower from 2 years ago!

Third, my bike frame's design really sucks when it the conditions are nasty- literally. I had fatal chain suck throughout the race, which forced me to walk up a lot of hills, which was frustrating. [This is not an excuse, just something else that happened in the race- I admit I am slow]

I got 11th out of 12. I previously thought I got DFL, but it turns out one guy didn't finish, so that's a plus (though he was definitely on his way to beating me).

Team BCB had a pretty good showing, despite my last place finish. Kelly won her class, giving her her third win of the year in three races, and Steve posted a 5th place in Expert/Elite SS.
It was actually the most fun I have ever had at Ruby Campground, especially when I got lots of cheers for riding across the river since everyone else was running. We went to a graduation party afterwards and Kelly said "We should all wear our medals...[pause]...oh, sorry Nick."

24 Hours of Boyne!

Once again, we all chose to inflict pain on ourselves for 24 hours straight. It was awesome.

Team Sofa King Fast once again prevailed, winning by one lap in a hard fought and very close battle. Nice job to Cory, Sean, Neal, and John for coming in second. Don't feel bad, Sofa King Fast is just the reigning champions at 24 HOB.
This year included the key addition of Kelly. She got some good training in the couple weeks before the race and rose to the challenge. Her fastest lap was 1 hour and 2 minutes, which is 28 minutes faster than she rode it just a week before. Her speed also proved helpful in that it has pushed Mr. B to speed his laps up in a little competition between the two of them. His fastest was 1 hour 3 minutes, much improved from his lap times last year.

Having a fourth team member was very luxurious and it gave Mike and me the ability to produce more consistent and faster laps. Mike's fastest was a 41 (officially 42) and my fastest was a 43. We were both able to beat our times from last year by about 2-3 minutes. Looks like next year Mr. B and Kelly will be pulling out 50 or sub- 50 laps and Mike and I might dip under the 40 mark.

Mike toughed out 11 laps, I managed 9 and Mr. B and Kelly both killed 4 to give us a total of 28 laps, which ties our total from last year.

Even though all of us had our usual doubts and gastrointestinal problems in the pre-dawn hours, it was a very enjoyable experience and (I can't believe I'm saying this already) I can't wait for next year.

Congratulations also to Steve for winning the solo single speed class with 17 laps. He did the most laps of any individual (but not really, according to the race promoter). Steve was back on form and able to have a great race because he had the tatoo sleeve again.

And of course, a big thank you goes to our always awesome pit crew Caroline, Mrs. B, and Melissa for staying up all night and feeding us and waking us up, and listening to us complain.

First Race of the Year

Sunday, Steve and I were up in Plainwell, MI for a nice MTB TT at Yankee Springs. Luckily, I wasn't expecting much from myself because of my new training plan. I have not done really intensity work yet this year so I can build a proper base in order to not die in the fall.

So, I felt good, but not fast. First of all, they started us every ten seconds, which is absurd for an Elite TT, but whatever. I got passed in the first couple miles by my ten second guy. Then my 20 second guy came, then 30 second guy, and so on. I got passed by a lot of people.

I ended up getting 22nd out 27. Pretty bad but oh well. I was ten minutes down on the leader. It just means I have plenty of work to do before Boyne next month.

But the real reason I did the race can be seen below...
Got the free pint glass!

March

Eh.

That's kind of what March was to me. There was some good riding, but there was also some boring riding. I was able to get out on the trails once in March, so that was nice, but all the road riding is starting to get to me.

Overall, I logged 38 hours and 564 miles over March. Fairly respectable. Not awesome.

I did the two home races (circuit and ITT), but it was more just for fun. I know everyone says that, but for those of you who know me, my legs were not shaven, so that will tell you how serious I was about the race.

Right now, with snow on the ground, the trails will be another week or so before they are rideable again, so I have a little more drudging to do on the road bike to be ready for Yankee Springs in a week and a half.