Thater

So I've been on an antibiotic and antifungal for the last week and I thought it wasn't affecting me until I raced Thater this morning. I found myself getting dizzy through the turns, which I decided was probably a good indicator that I should drop anchor and save my body for the rest of the season...like Univest.

Don't need to dig myself a massive ditch right now. Should be off the meds mid week.

Real bummer, the legs felt really great.

RIP M3

So, last night I was in an accident and I'm pretty sure the M3 is totaled. All the body panels are screwed, the front wheels point different directions, etc. I don't feel like rehashing the details here since I've told the story so much already today, but no - I did not wrap it around a tree going 150 like most people thought it would meet its demise.

Sucks so bad. I might never find another E36 M3 Sedan that clean. Ever. Without spending $25k for one that sat in a garage with 15k miles on it. And I only got to drive it for a few weeks.

Yay Infected Road Rash!

So my road rash on my hip from hitting the deck at nationals has gotten infected. It looks nasty and boy does it hurt. It might explain a little why I felt like such crap at Mengoni. Probably the worst I have felt on the bike all year.

I was still able to put myself in all the moves I wanted to be in, and chose to not go with the last move that finally stuck. Figured we'd drag it back right at the line, and it nearly happened. A crash in the final 500 meters put the brakes on that plan. Literally. Anyway, chocked back a 14th place. Good prize money, though, for a race that size - $70 for 14th.

So if you want to see the nasty infected road rash on my hip, CLICK HERE.

I'm on antibiotics. We'll see how it feels for Thater Sunday. Planning to still race it. Hope I can - it's an awesome race for a good cause.

Crit Nats Report

Well, it could have gone better, but I can't be too mad.

I was sitting mid pack, then about 10 laps in the skies opened and it Monsooned on us. Realized the danger of that course when it was wet I floated my way through the pack to the front of the race and held top 10-15th the rest of the race. Every couple laps I would hear dudes hitting the deck in turn 7 behind me. A small break went later in the race with Mike Margarite from Empire (he got 3rd, so mad props to him!), which I am really perturbed that I didn't go after because my legs told me to and my brain for some reason figured it would come back.

Anyway, I was sitting pretty for the sprint, about 10th wheel when with 5 laps to go, my front tire decided it couldn't grip turn 7 anymore and I slide across the ground like Raggady Andy. I managed to get to the pit in time and got placed back in at the front, but as the adrenaline left my body and I got cold, I just couldn't put the power out in those final laps.

After the race I noticed a crack in my front carbon tubular I was racing on. I thought I had heard crack down in NC at the crossroads series one night when I attacked in the gutter, but had not found the crack till after Nats. Wonder if the cracked rim could have cause the rim to deform enough under cornering load to have contributed to me wiping out....?

Cool race. Awesome atmosphere. Anxiety producing course. Geronimo rode a great race and placed 7th.

Up on tap:
Chris Thater
Phillipsburg Crit
PA State RR Championships (in my backyard!)
Basking Ridge
UNIVEST!!

Plus maybe a Tuesday night Madison next week??

Downers Grove Pro/Am

Quick race report. Cliff notes version.

Felt good. Course had some sketch spots where the tar repairs made it feel like your rear tire was flat and washing out. That took a Jelly Belly guy out in front of me before turn 2 half way into the race.

About that same time I heard Pat Raines's voice saying, "race every race with all you got, it'll make you stronger later." So I started to really position myself and I really started to have fun. Again, I did too much work, but felt good. Last lap, I was a few wheels behind Wiswell and really happy with my position for the sprint (there were a couple groups up the road).

At the top of the hill, Wiswell got chopped in the turn starting a chain reaction which caused a major position reshuffling behind which I got caught in. My fault for being too far back at that point of the race, but I also didn't want to take a dive in the last couple turns on the last lap before tomorrow.

Good sensations for tomorrow!

Downers Grove Day 1

Just got back from riding to the course and Trade Joes to get some groceries for the weekend. My hotel is about 4 miles from the course, the Marriott Downers Grove, so I'll be riding to the races each day. Stopped by the Trek of Downers Grove on the way back to pick up some stuff and put some air in my tires since I didn't have space to pack a pump! Good guys, they were very interested in helping me get ready for my races since they were surprised I flew out here by myself with no knowledge of the area. I told them an iPhone and common sense were all you need.

The flight was good, as any flight that touches down in one piece is a good flight. Pilot was definitely a Navy pilot as he hooked real hard looking to catch that cable as if on a carrier.

But, someone on the flight felt it was a good place to evacuate some noxious gases....THE ENTIRE FLIGHT! The flight attendants kept walking by the area of suspected offended with a pained look on their face while trying their best to discretely spray air freshener. At one point it got so bad I walked to the back. They asked me if I needed anything and I replied "fresh air." We all had a good laugh and I stayed back there for a while so they fed me all I could handle of wheat thins and peanuts.


Tonight is the Pro/Am race. Its just a race for money, not for the title. I'm doing it primarily to get a feel for the course so I am as prepared as possible for the real race tomorrow - US Elite Criterium Nationals!

Crossroads, Mt Khakis, Learning

Went down to NC to race the Crossroads Crit series and Hanes Park this past week. I stayed with the Mt. Khakis team. They were kind enough to take me under their wing and teach me a thing or two. Racing with those guys actually taught me more about racing in a week than I learned in the past few years of racing.

The racing was really good. Tuesday through Friday were night crits on really cool courses. The one course was .4 miles and we did sub 40 second laps all night I think. Adam Myerson really paid attention to what I was doing during the race and gave me some really great constructive criticism and really made me think about what I was doing and why.

Pat Raines gave me a lot of super solid advice before the races which was great in combo with Big Willy Elliston there to give me the heads up on how stuff would go down and generally make me chill out. Friday was great because I got to ride a lap with Kincaid before the start which really helped my positioning once the defecation hit the rotary oscillator.

I made the break in Saturday's race to advance my overall position to 9th in the omnium for Crossroads. Room for improvement, but not too shabby. Issac Howe really had some breakthrough performances getting into the winning breakaways in two of the races and placing second in each then cinching up 2nd overall. Barlevav pulled of the overall victory.

Gabe Lloyd rode really really well. I was impressed, but poor dude had some unfortunate mishaps and hit the deck twice. But he soldiered on like he always does.

Sunday was Hanes Park Pro/1 NRC race. I felt the best all week at this race and followed some moves. It was the first race all week I actually felt like I had some snap. I was sitting pretty coming into the last lap right behind the Mt. Khaki train when a rider towards the very front ate tarmac in turn 1 on the bell lap. So I had to come nearly to a stand still and restart. Frustrating, but incredibly encouraging that I felt like I could go with almost anything during the rest of the race.

Next up - Crit Nats!!

Mocksville

First night done. Half-mile 4 corner crit, slight rise between turns 3 and 4. Parts of the course were incredibly dark. Race started at 8:45pm. Word is I might have finished in the money. Like last spot. So, we'll see.

I gotta work on floating in the pack a little more smoothly. 5 more nights to do that.

My bi-weekly update

Down here in Winston-Salem with the Mt Kahkis crew for the Crossroads Classic crit series. Plus Haynes Park on Sunday. 6 nights of crit racing. The races during the week start at 8:45 PM and are pretty crazy little short courses. Hopefully I'll be able to get in on the action Saturday night at the Charlotte Criterium, but its invite only and haven't found a composite team yet.

I'll try to update on the action as the week goes on, but you know how good I am at that.