Pro Tour Round 1

http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2009/mar09/usproxct_1_09/usproxct_1_095

30th place today - 111 starters - pretty solid start to the real race season...

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234765-us-pro-xct-1-fontana-city-national/166426-pro-mens-race-fontana-ca-us-pro-xct-1

Fontucky

Friday afternoon before the first pro tour (aka national) of the year and i imagine things are starting to buzz a little at the race site. Of course i'm spending the day at the office, so i won't be in race weekend mode until tomorrow when I head out for a little pre-ride. Some 8-5 office time isnt the worst way to phsyically take it easy 2 days before a big race.

It looks like cycling dirt will have some cool coverage of happenings at the race - http://www.cyclingdirt.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234765-us-pro-xct-1-fontana-city-national/164905-fontana-intro

San Dimas Stage Race

Time trial - 15:15 for 30th place in the 100 rider cat 2 field. It was a good effort for me and just the training I need right now to get into top racing form. We'll see if there's any good opportunities to shake things up in the road race this afternoon.

Road Race - the roads were way bumpier than i remember. Felt my handlebar move a little in the stem about 5min into the race. About 20 min in it was suddenly completely loose. Fell back to the follow car and managed to tighten it while riding. This was still so early in the race the pace was high and aggressive and I couldn't get back to the group = dropped. Rode hard for about an hour and then sat up, got in my car and went to Chipotle.

Crit - couldn't race and road my mountain bike in the rain and wind instead. I was soaked 15min into the ride, rode through whiting ranch but got pretty muddy and had to stick to the roads from there. Still felt some strength in the legs and pounded out some tempo climbs before heading home to see the sun come out the rest of the afternoon. Sometimes things just don't go as planned. Thanks to Beth for keeping me from getting too worked up about it.

Time trial results - how exciting!

This guy from the Tri Beth did makes me feel better about my road bike issues. How much time can a $10,000 time trial bike and aero helmet save you when you have to stop and spend a minute putting your shoes on at the start of the bike course?

Time to hit the road

This afternoon I head inland for the San Dimas Stage Race - http://www.scvelo.com/san-dimas-stage-race. Time for some good roadie training, 4mi time trial up Glendora mtn road today, road race tomorrow, and crit Sunday. This is the biggest race in SoCal with almost all the fields selling out. There is a cat 2 only race with 100 guys in it! Should be fun!

Now I know how nice Beth has it on Fridays. Sleeping in a little, making some pancakes, putting air in my bike tires, then surfing the web is not a bad way to spend a morning. If it wasnt for the fog I would be chilling in Laguna right now.

Here's a cool video of the Bonelli US Cup - http://www.channelmtb.com/

For God's Glory

The other day I was thinking about how blessed I am and was reminded how much I enjoyed this article on Ryan Hall...

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-239-473--12789-1-1X2X3X4X5X6-6,00.html

This was written after he won the Olympic Trials Marathon and before the actual Olympics.

Also check out this video if you have the chance (Ryan training for the trials) - his running is amazing

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e593f8eba239bada1a0c

Transition Week

Daylight savings time is awesome, now I can ride after work instead of the crack of dawn!! This week I was reminded that there are some other challenges that go along with training after the 8-5 though. Being at work at 8am, spending 8-9 hours focusing on work, sitting all day, then trying to ride well from 5-7pm can be pretty tough. I start by riding to work in the morning so I can leave from work and start my training right at 5. The morning spin usually feels good and ends up being nicer than driving almost every time. The next important preparation would be a relaxing lunch break. This only happens for me maybe half of the time. Other times I’m working through and getting my brain even slightly more tired before the end of the day. A good snack around 3pm is probably the most important thing for having a good evening ride. PB&J, or yogurt and some sort of bar, pretzels and maybe some tea or coke for caffeine. Lastly, it takes some patience during the first 30min of the ride when I feel sluggish almost every time. Last Wednesday I went out on the mtn bike right after work, felt lame, couldn’t get my heart rate up, was thinking about how I may need a rest day, maybe even a rest week, and then on the first good climb 30min into the ride I all of a sudden I felt better and my body just turned on and did a good workout…

This weekend will be another learning experience as I do the San Dimas Stage race. I cant remember the last time I’ve done a real road race, as it’s been only parking lot crits for training for me the last couple years…

To the victors go the spoils

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mountain-down-bike-2329777-very-trail

Manny got a full page, front page article on the Outdoors section of the OC Register today - right on! Too bad they didn't print any finishing times from the VQ...

Vision Quest

Saturday was an amazing day of mountain biking for 340 of SoCals most hardcore riders. I felt great on the initial climbs and pushed the pace with Manny for the first 3rd of the course. After the Maple Springs feed I settled down from race pace to more of a tempo pace since there was a good 3.5hrs of riding to go. I felt blessed to be riding well on such an awesome day and didn't have to start pushing myself mentally until the final loop out to the West Horsethief and Trabuco trails. My fueling was good and there was no bonking, but my legs and back were super tight, my concentration wondering some, and those 2 trails are of course the hardest of the day. After a flat on Trabuco my final time was 5:28 - beating my goal of 5:30 and within 15 min of Manny, one of the top endurance racers in N America. Today is busy at work so I'll have to write more later... Havent seen finishing times posted yet either...

Finishing the VQ feels sooo good

Manny and I cresting the towers above Beeks Place

There were a few ice chutes on the back of the peak

Happy Beth after a great Desert Triathlon Sunday

US Cup Bonelli Park

Sunday was a beautiful day of racing here in SoCal. A few guys were way faster than everyone else, and I had a decent ride within a few minutes of the top CA riders. It was the first race of the year for me which is always a little tough. My endurance is solid, my high end power is a little low, and I'm still not 100% sure about my fitness in between. The next test is only a couple days off though - the vision quest Saturday morning at 5:30am. With work and errands my rest week hasn't been very restful yet - so it's time to get back after it - so I have time to relax and watch Biggest Loser tonight.

US Cup Round 1 - http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2009/mar09/bonellipark09

Our photos from Bonelli weren't as good as the few on cyclingnews - so heres a couple random ones instead.

Saturday my "pre-ride" was a nice loop by the coast with Beth

Sweet mailbox style self feed set-up at Bonelli