Baby Heads, Good Friends, One Day, The Following Weeks, and Staring at the Rear Hub of Life Just Hanging On...(and long titles)

The Blogosphere. For most I assume it's basically overwritten and under read semi-personal blah blah blah thrown into the wind. Well, fine.

Full Moon

Not so full

Attempting to put the round and round production 24 hour race into a short paragraph...tough, very tough... The Arrivee/Pilgrim's Market team of 5 consisted of Mark, Roger, Toad Carrier, Greg Welton, and Me, Cris..not to forget our all important volunteer Miss Erin. What an excellent and unique event. A 24 hour relay race on Mountain Bikes..in the dark and light...over jagged and rounded rocks(terribly called "baby heads"), smooth riverside single track, steep uphills and down for 15 mile loops....Our whole team rode hard and had fun with no injuries or major mechanicals...we were able to turn 21 laps! We had hoped for 18 or 19. Teams of all levels and many camping partying spectators. The moon was almost full and we escaped the rain for pretty awesome weather...a little cold at night but could have been worse. Next time will really try to get more sleep. 10 minutes is not enough. How we managed to not get a full team photo beats me :(

It was a few weeks before I really went for another ride and not because I didn't want to but damn life gets busy. ...focussed on trying to hang on to the wheel of life in front of you. My best rides might have been with Lola in the trailer, to the mailbox and to the pond and back...she sings in the trailer. She's cute.

Last night was the first Twilight Series race I was able to make since the rainout of the Williams Lake RR...I like Road Races. Why do I like that which hurts so much? This particular race was maybe the best B Pack race I've been a part of. The Chapman Lake Long Course of 33 miles in a fierce wind... Side wind almost forcing riders over the centerline...echeloning or trying to but the guy in front is riding the centerline...wind from the right...5 minutes into the race and SRV's Royce makes his 3rd attempted breakaway...this guy is rad...and a strong rider, so, I said what the heck and sprinted off after him determined to not look back...about 5 minutes after we had set into a lopsided(Royce heavy) dual pace line I finally looked back and saw nothing. They had let us go...I knew it was only for the time being...I'm not capable of holding off a pack for 25 odd miles mostly into cross and headwinds...Royce was not either as we both eventually got swallowed up by the pack.

I don't think there was anyone who didn't work hard today...the palouse rollers...the wind...then something happened that I really haven't seen in a B Pack race yet....5 dudes took off, Pat was one of them,...and they stayed off, except for one, Pat,...but then Pat joined the chase group which whittled down to about 12...so there was some serious selections in this little race! Everyone got a workout. The chase 1 group was hitting 40mph on the downwind stretch home trying to catch the 4 leaders..to no avail. I think Royce had made a total of 8 break attempts and succeeded 3 times.(that's good by the way) ..but eventually, together, the 12 of us with a charging Stephen Garvin, of the host club Baddlands(thank you!), sprinted in behind the leaders. Who knows how many were straggling in after us but I say yay for Tuesday nights! Maybe one of these times I will be a bit more strategic...maybe one day I will WIN! ...I mean take first place. It's been about 23 years since I won a race.

We've been missing Mark out there but life gets crazy...Pat and I have had some fun racing this season and I expect there will be more before the road cycling season bids it's early goodbye and we crackle off into the fall...but shit, It's not even summer yet. Let's GO!

I've been thinking about cycling lately.

Let's admit, things haven't exactly been sunshine and bubbles for the higher end of our athletic endeavor. Just this morning, two riders were busted for what appears to be the newest drugs, something like #24601 (wait, that's the Les Miserables prisoner number... drama teacher reference) or something like that...

I can hear the collective rumbling of sponsors, in the distance, running away.

Unless pharmaceutical companies pony up, things aren't exactly looking bright for the sport right now.

Until I rode last night's training race.

Now, I'm no math wizard, but I could swear I saw a good 40 riders in the B pack last night. Not to mention a good 25 plus for the C, and 15-20 for the A's. That's not bad for a Tuesday night. Not to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure an impressive junior won our race.

Hey, shut up. The kid was fast. And aggressive.

Add to that wonderment the concept that the Wednesday Night Mountain Bike Series last week debuted with over 150 riders. Not too shabby considering a $20 entry fee and $30 parking pass (for the whole year, that is).

My son, to add compliment to healing (get it?), is even racing tonight.

Life might just be perfect.

So, I guess my point is that maybe the pros aren't our solution. Maybe the good old grass roots, get together and bust your ass, finish with a beer kind of racing is where it's at. Cycling is about having fun, coughing up a lung, and sharing stories about it. It's not about drug #59838592301 or any jackhole who takes it.

Let's just keep our races going, support the clubs and shops who put them on, and keep attacking.

Now if I could just get everyone to collectively agree to NEVER yell "hup hup" when someone attacks, that would be great.

I know, wishful thinking.

-Pat

Staring Down The Barrel Of Your Own Gun

Tuesday night again and a successful workout was had on a bike at Spokane County Raceway thanks to The Baddlands Cyling Club and all who took part.

After last week it seemed like a handful of folks may have happened upon my fired up blog post "The More Things Change..." because tonight's race sure seemed faster and strung out a lot.

...of course that could have had a little to do with my kamikaze turbo click in and first lap hammer fest which turned into the River City Red's second lap mega pull and with a laps worth of "recovery" there was the team point sprint which I went for like I was on the Champs Elysees...only to get beat a few bike lengths before the line by a few other guys and then pretty much spend the rest of the race hanging onto the tail end of the pack... Sheesh...

Props to all who raced and raced hard...Teammate Pat pulled out a great sprint finish for 3rd after a valiant yet failed Starbucks prime lap flyer...good to see the old boy flying the flag at the finish... Strong showing by River City Red AND Vertical Earth...lots of red out there...Royce on SRV took a threatening flyer but today was a bit fast for anyone to get away on that course

Steve Garvin of Baddlands miraculous recovery and save from an unfortunate mishap on the final lap that left a few fellows with some road rash, a flat, and a broken derailleur..

I got caught up just outside of the fracas and pedaled the last half lap alone and across the line...

...what a difference a week makes! Things are changing in our B pack and the races will get better...Some fellows are bumping up to A Pack where I think they can race well if they get a little aggressive...meanwhile, the workouts continue...I'm wiped...thanks everyone...and thanks for reading...Williams Lake Wall next week huh? fun. fun? fun.. ;)

The More Things Change.....

...two weddings, three new babies, a few injuries and medical issues later...We are back.

Today I had a rough day. Wrestling with the starter on the '78 VW bus, chunks of skin off my knuckles and bald head...Wrestling with budgeting time... But, like Mondays in the fall have MNF, Tuesdays in Spring/Summer have The Twilight Series. My best workout of the week because riding on the windy North Idaho Prairies alone, is, boring. I'm on a time budget...it takes almost an hour to ride to Hayden Lake...Newman Lake...anywhere the better riding is...

Thank You Baddlands for keeping the Twilight flame alive! It helps me stay in shape the best way I know how,...competition.

The difference in the local peloton from 2010 until now is amazing. So many more racers! ..and the "B" pack is really huge...40-ish every week! Excellent! New teams, new faces, old teams, new kits, old guys, young guys, fast women... ;) Always good competition.

I also want to thank Baddlands for adopting a new rule for category placement. Because of this I was allowed to return to the "B" Pack from the "A" Pack. (Driving two hours RT and paying $15 to get dropped in the first 5 miles of any race other than SRP made my weekly workouts no fun, and eventually, I stopped coming...now, it's right, and fun again.

When you work for something there should be a feeling of pride. These are "Training races". I believe that they are designed to make the local peloton faster and us local amateur racers show better in the bigger weekend races both locally and regional...but most of all it's about health and fitness yeah? ...no pain no gain?

Well, What I saw in tonight's race was perfection. Let's say there were 30 in our pack?... I saw one guy in particular, chase down or take part in chasing down EVERY move, repeatedly detonate his heart and lungs, only to beat the other "series points leaders" in the final sprint after they magically appeared from their little safe spot somewhere in the back 3rd of the pack in the fins lap. I saw the one woman in the race attack at least 3 times and hold it..(sorry, Jess, it was mostly me who reeled you guys in on that first lap.)..but you rocked today.

For some reason the start confused a few folks, me included as I was a good 200 yards back when the pack started...caught them, wondered, asked "is this the B pack?" The answer was yes....then, where are most of the River City Red guys?? Well, they missed the start much worse than I...and even though I didn't see it, I must take my hat off to them for their TTT effort which brought them up to the pack eventually....Way to get an unexpected work out. I am POSITIVE this training race turned out for the better for all of you.(if any of you guys are reading, please allow me to suggest something? I have noticed a habit that runs through your ranks and that is to veer off of a pull at the front fast and wide...you do see the pros do it especially in cat and mouse tactics, and it's "cool" but personally, i think it's a bit risky in a pack of 4/5 racers? please consider smoothing out your line for safety reasons..I like to see new teams and I know you're all good fellows...just a request to take or leave)

I saw one of the "series points leaders" the only time I let myself drift to the back of the pack...I couldn't believe that he was barking out orders to the 25 guys in front of him and told him that maybe he should command his pack from a little farther up...I don't imagine that I influenced his immediate and brief visit to the front...but he DID go do SOMETHING for a few minutes. ;)

I saw Joe from VE make a few bold moves like he ALWAYS does....a guy named Bob from Baddlands threatened to hold off a couple attacks..one with Royce of SRV...Steve Garvin of Baddlands was right up there pulling and working(I wonder where these guys are in the "series points totals"?)

I saw the former Forza flag flying, Shaun from Bike Hub riding strong...

Forgive me as I don't know everyone, but I did see a consistent small group of racers at least up there near the front a lot...you know who you are and good job. Everyone stayed upright. A few close calls...but nobody is trying to cause a crash...

I had a rough day and I was a bit wound up...so, I did WAY more work than I ever thought I could. I almost single handedly reeled in several breaks...and I actually felt really good...even though my average HR was 190...Ya see, this is where I try to get better...faster...and I need to.

Everyone had their own view of this particular race...some had good days, some might have been feeling under the weather, some maybe intimidated, and some just learning the ropes..these are cat 4/5 races and old guys like me, 42, and older...I want to let everyone have their race, their "work out"

...but I tell you what, there was no one who deserved that win more than Two Wheeler Dealer's Jeff Yates...

If you want to be a guy that sits in the back of a training race until the last lap and then pounces in for the sprint and 2nd or 3rd place then be that guy...the girl in the race ain't gonna be that guy,..some people like to work hard because it brings a sense of pride...

I think I got about 15th place tonight...then again, there is a silent point system and those who are leading the silent point system category know who you are and so does everyone else. I'm proud of EVERYONE for showing up, however, and hopefully there will be more contribution from some who want to be a part of the whole race and not just the last lap or final 200m...this is the Twilight Series, really, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. ...if you can play the game well AND win? Now you're talking,...Mr Yates.

If you've read this far then, DAMN, amazing, thank you for the effort...I am long winded at times.

I look forward to racing with and meeting more of you...

Thanks for the work out!

if you're interested in what it looks like when I race my little white ass off at the front of the pack...

go here:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/309511542

Later

Cris

Go To The Dinner Party Cris! She Loves You.

On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 10:55 AM, mr. cristopher Lucas wrote:

i rebelled against the "dinner party" and to prove a point that riding time is important to me(and release some angst) I set out from Forker Rd. i rode to the snowmobile parking lot of wicked Mt. Spokane...the road to the top was still snowed over so, i turned around and started my descent....that's when it started to rain....and then little sharp pieces of hail...and then black brake spray and then i wished i was at the "dinner party" or the Mtn Bike Race or my shower.


Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 11:00:12 -0700

you rode in that storm? Holy shit. I could barely drive in the aftermath. But let it be known, you will ride...rain, snow, sleet, snowmobile parking lot...you will ride. Did you make it home or did someone have to rescue you with a life raft?

On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 11:13 AM, mr. cristopher Lucas wrote:

i knew the possibilities of weather and it was perfect all the way up...warm too....just as i saw the snow on the road to the top it started....i had to stop twice and hide under trees and hide in the outhouse by the gate because the hail hurt so bad....in my times hiding i thought of calling someone or stabbing myself in the neck with a tire lever and how cold it would be when i started out again and how i almost wore my water proof booties and my shoes were fish tanks...then i rode as fast as i could see to stay warm through the run off valley and over the hill...almost stopped at the random bar but made it to my car and stripped naked and turned up the heat and drove home shaking, parked my car on my lawn, ran in and took a hot long shower and literally sat on my fire place till i went to sleep....then woke up early this morning and listed all of my bikes, tools, bike clothes and helmet, glasses, cycling magazines, third place ribbons, left over sport beans and tri flow on ebay.


Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 11:17:12

That sounds like a song. But I have not quite figured out the chorus.

Good think you parked at Inland Power...I thought you rode from home. Yikes.

I have descended that mountain in rain before...cold and wet...and it's miserable. When you stop, it almost makes it worse.

What's your ebay user name...I ma looking for a few things :)

WHY

WHY is it that I ALWAYS have something going on for race day?

WHY is it that I can't find training time?

WHY is it that when I do get on the bike, it is either raining or some other form of natural disaster?

WHY... um... WHY... I mean... why am I complaining about this?

Why don't I just get out and ride my bike? When I can? With my friends?

Why do I care about where I place?

Why do I care about the 60 Minutes interview?

Think I'll just go for a ride.

Anybody?

My Knees

My Knees
Somewhere beneath the incessantly whistling wind
Are These
Connectors of my hips and shins
So please
While rolling through the Palouse
Don't sneeze
Or you might miss them near the top of a hill
My knees

...inspired by the 2nd Annual Ronde Van Palouse
wonderful...i know

Geeks

Wikipedia defines a Geek as: a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to be overly intellectual." I am not a computer expert, nor do I perform in carnivals, and I hope I am not a dislikable person...so I searched further...

• A derogatory reference to a person obsessed with intellectual pursuits for their own sake, who is also deficient in most other human attributes so as to impair the person's smooth operation within society.

• A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest. This definition is very broad but because many of these interests have mainstream endorsement and acceptance, the inclusion of some genres as "geeky" is heavily debated.

I think those pretty much sum it up. Essentially, a person whose passion for something exceeds what would be considered "normal" and who often does not heed social norms when talking about the subject or participating in it.

That said, I think we are all Geeks in some for or another. Some of us have many Geek hats. Now, a Geek is not to be confused with a Nerd, who is defined as intelligent but socially and physically awkward. A Nerd seems to be more of a character. A Geek seems to be more relevant to subject matter. Okay, enough on that.

I have to say that I am a Bike Geek. I have enjoyed seeing the changes that have happened over the last few decades. I love the smell of solvents because it means something is clean. If they made a cologne called "Tri Flow" I would probably wear it.

I love seeing shorts with more than 6 panels.
Just the word Assos gives me a chill.
6 speed brings back memories of the great cyclists of the 80s.
Retrofriction I still hope makes a comeback.
A 42 chainring should ALWAYS be the smallest on a road bike.
A straightblock tells me it's time trial time.
Benotto ribbon wrapped well, was sleek...but Cinelli cork was plush.
A two button Avocet is still all you really need.
Deep drop has nothing to do with women.
A-Head, quill,...they both do the same, yet define an era.
Lugs did once exist on frames.
28 hole wheels were light weight TT wheels.
Bladed spokes meant you had to drill a hub.
Aero rims were 4 cm max.
Hairnets were not what food service women wore.
Leather chamois were commonplace.
Oakley Factory Pilot...all the others can thank them for creating the market.
LOOK was primarily a ski binding company.
You used to actually grease bearings.
25 pounds was pretty light.
Aluminum meant "big tubes."
Frame pumps were not for airing up frames, and there was a difference in the heads.
Clips and straps had nothing to do with bondage.
High flange we will probably never say again away from a track.
36 hole wheels were standard, and 32 meant race ready.
Rim cement was just that...cement. And when applying it, if you did not ruin what you were wearing in the process, you probably did not use enough.
Solar anything on a road bike? Ya right.
If you could still use your waterbottle after 1 month, it meant you rarely used it, or are drinking mold, or you have a mom that bleaches bottles. The tops did not lend themselves to cleaning.
V1 Pro? Nice try at a hairnet Bell...but a big miss.
If the word WINNING means more than 1st place, that meant you ran to the mailbox once a month...and the only running a cyclist would ever do.
Results were found in the paper, or rare weekend CBS Sports coverage, which left a week's worth of hypothesizing who the winners would be and how the races would unfold in Europe.
There is so much more that can be said, but I will end with two last words... Detto Pietro.
**Sad thing, I typed this list in about 5 minutes**

The point here, the machines are magnificent. If you walk into a bike shop and immediately assess the mechanic's aptitude by the crispness of the return of a brake lever...you are probably a Bike Geek. If you can admire a new bike that is $500 for what it is, and the budgeted quality it possesses, you are a Geek. If you walk in a shop and you can immediately locate the most expensive bike there, and not because it's on display, you are a bike Geeks. Bike Geeks like all types of bikes and respect what they represent.

The Happs

It's been a long time since our last post. Thought I would give you an update on some happs.

Training has been coming along quite well for most of us. The weather here in Spokane has been eventful. We started out with snow, snow, and more snow. People must have purchased all the snowblowers in the area, because soon after, the snow stopped and we have not received much more. We have actually been getting quite a bit of rain. Now, it's just cold...cold and clear. I can't complain much because it has lent itself to some riding outdoors...for some people. I have not ridden outside in some time. Maybe as long ago as the first week in November. At bout that time, I blew out my soleus/gastroc running. Ya, I can hear you all now, "Why were you running?" I ask myself that question ever time I put on my running shoes. But somehow, I am still able to get out the door and run. With that injury, I took 3 weeks off of everything. Then, after the 3 week break, I went for a little run and the same thing happened. CRAP! But fortunately I came upon a secret device that solves most of my over use muscle problems. That is the Compex Muscle Stimulator.
I threw that bad boy on for a treatment and I was so much better. I have used it quite a bit since then and truly believe there are some pretty slick devices for recovery. As I am going to be 40 this year, I have to have more than asprin in my back pocket. I am a HUGE recovery freak and this is just another tool in the box. One supplement I think is amazing, while on the topic, is Recover Ease.
It's a pill, hence, simple. I have been using this since 2005 and totally believe in it. No such thing as over training...just under recovering. Recover Ease helps with that.

What else you ask? Well, Contador is a druggie, and we will hopefully find out about Lance here soon to. But since Lance is moving to be a triathlete, it probably will not matter too much. If you have thoughts or opinions on this, make sure to tune into packfiller.com podcast on Thursdays and air your gripes and Pat and Mark will give their views as well.



Ride on,
Roger

Some Fun for the Holidays

Thought you would get a kick out of these.

Can't post.

Too busy eating. Ugh.

In response to the response to the sigh...

May we finish many races and seasons....
But never finish this "ride"



...still having fun


Thanks to all who made 2010 more funner!

In response to the "sigh..."

There is no doubt that this season has been one that no one could have anticipated. It started with a idea, or suggestion, that in most cases would not have amounted to anything. But with this group, it's different. When the gauntlet is put down, people don't avoid, the jump in. Love that. I cannot say that I could have even come close to painting what this season would have looked like. No doubt it was fun, we knew that, but what was accomplished was so much more. I think we may have been the catalyst for Alexi Grewal.

There is no doubt that we have a great platform and are ready to move forward. I am excited for some long spring rides up epic climbs on muddy, wet roads. Bring the wind, the flats (tires), the broken wheels, and the occasional dog chase. This year was too much fun to move away from, rather move towards.

I am looking forward to all the new stories, friends, and races we go to. Going to be epic.

As for time, there is always time, you just have to decide if you value training more than sleep. I have been at the pool at midnight, and I have been on the road running at 4:30 am. And the indoor trainer, anytime. I have headlamps for late night rides on the trail or the road. Heavy jackets and hand/toe warmers for cold days, and a washing machine for dirty ones. So if it is important, you can make it happen. We all have to make that decision for ourselves. For every reason a person has for how they can't, I have twice as many for how they can.

Ride on fellas!
R

Sigh...

You can tell the 'regular' season has come to a close. All is quiet on the Arrivee front.

Except for Cris' exploits on the cyclocross front, that is. Oh, and Roger's probably putting in more miles than all of the rest of us combined.

Me, I'm sizing up the plans. Trying to think about what worked this past season, and what desperately needs help. I tweeted the other day that if I were to grow a beard, I'd look like Sergei Belov (if you don't get the reference, sorry). That means my main priority is to slim down a bit in order to not only make it to the finish of the harder races, but actually fit into my jersey so as to not appear as I am in a skinsuit.

Roger's the TT/all rounder. Cris the animal who can be up there in just about anything. Mark is the die hard.

We're missing a sprinter. Guess it's time for the big guy to suffer over the winter. Weights, check. Speedwork plans, check. Time? Not so much...

The original plan was to simply ride the Time Crunched Plan from Chris Carmichael. Then bigger aspirations came into play while suffering on four hour death marches behind RT's constant pace.

If anyone has any thoughts on how to fit in a proper training program while working, family, and (insert other time excuse here), I'd love to hear.

Until then, I promise Pilgrim's a slimmer version of Phat Pat next year. ;-)



Oh, and by the way, I have the best team in the world. Thanks to Pilgrim's, The Insurance Guys, "Packfiller", and all the guys. Great to have ACC back in buisness.

State Stage Race Champs

Things were going fast for a while.
We were all putting in the miles in order to catch up. Get faster or just get fast....
This has been an epic summer for me(Cris) personally and all of us as a team. I have been fortunate enough to not have too many schedule conflicts so It's been nice to feel and see the results of that.

The Road Trip
Bellingham Stage Race
WSBA Stage Race Championships
Cat 4

This trip would include Roger, Mark and myself along with our support crew of Jessi and Emma. Our sage and president Pat had business to take care of in the Chelan area. We missed him.
Stage races are our favorite. Roadtrips are fun. We like to sing along to songs such as "We Are The World" and some Bobby Brown and such....you know, the usual....anyway, We made it into Bellingham which I describe the trip as Seattle with an extra stomp to the face at the tail end....

Forecast, beautiful.

Stage 1
8 mile TT

A quick TT down by the bay with the salty sea air. Mostly flat with a deceiving head wind on the way back.
There were 62 registered racers for our category. A real field!

There was pain as there should be in a TT. Mark felt the pain that coincides with an overtime career work schedule, I felt the pain of trying to prove that I belong in the top half of the cat 4's and Roger felt the pain that put him into 1st place by 44 seconds with a time of 17:32.5
I found myself in 21st place about a minute out of the top 5. Ratio-wise this was turning out very similar to Whitefish.






with a little help from Master Yoda and Darth Vader we made it back to the hotel to chow and rest and prepare to almost miss the start of the criterium.

Stage 2
Sedro-Wooley Crit

I liked this course in small town Sedro-Wooley. Basic 4 corner but it had some character....I was able to get a 1989 start and said see ya later poleshot bye bye...you'll see me soon when I blow up...I'm still off the front after a few laps, Mark and Rog are at the front, but fading fast hello pack keep it going fast Roger's riding the front what's that noise? Hello Mark! I got a flat, get to the pit, get a wheel...the only 7 speed wheel there is mine push me back in...avoid almost crash, slowly work my way up, bell lap Rog on opposite side, we have to move up to avoid the crash if there is one...he does...I try to...final turn sprint past some guys Rog holds off for 2nd and I get a 10th and we stayed upright! Sweet.



..i liked that tire. a lot.


So, time to go recover and try to sleep whilst telling all sorts of jokes and giggling. Emma is a world class bed jumper and so good at stopping right at the time limit. She's gotta be, like, the best little big kid ever. ...not sure how she got that way with such goofbags for parents...he he. :)
Mark and Cris Lucas-Hodgson continued to crack jokes until the wee hours....idk, maybe 11pm? ..party animals

Stage 3
Road Race

Well, the stage was set. Someone...we didn't keep track...but SOMEONE was only 44 seconds behind Roger so the goal was to make sure no one got 44 second away off the front. Not so sure why we didn't mark the guy but...hey...whatever.

The race was a 4 lap circuit with some good climbing, a plateau and then a long descent down to the lake...I liked the course. We all noted that the neutral roll out was quite fast for a neutral roll out. ..pretty sure a few guys got dropped before the race even started...Pretty uneventful first lap and a half...I had to work my way up the large field but finally made it up to the front where Roger and I started in on our song..."There comes a time, when we heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one......(USA for Africa...duh)...of course the peloton thought we were geeks...we are...so, one guy decides to go and he gets off the front maybe 25 seconds or more...well, this can't happen so it's time to actually do some work. I popped up and drove the chase with two almost consecutive and pretty monsterous pulls up the gradual climb to the plateau and through the most technical corner of the course at a speed that almost sent me off the road...Roger was right behind me and as he pulled through he said something like, "that was cool.." while grinning ear to ear...I sure felt cool and there that guy was off the front about 10 seconds....we let him hang there for a bit. Some guy in a white jersey decided to attack about 3 feet over the center line...we all decided to let him go and make sure he was DQ'd....it didn't matter...we caught him on the last big hill, whizzed around the final turn, positioned ourselves for the finish....oops, I'm on the opposite side as Rog again...hope I picked the right wheel for the steep hill finish....ooops, the guy in front of me just shifted down into his small chainring going 30mph.....HEY Roger won the sprint!! We're the Washington State Stage Race Champions!! ...it's a team sport, right?

neutral my butt

We Are The World(happening right here)

I. Am. A. Monster. ...i like to think so



this guy crossed the centerline about 9 times. speaky engrish?

the REAL state Champion...of bed jumping..and picture taking!







It was another awesome experience for me/us. It's all about fun and fitness and pushing personal boundaries....In the end I was able to bump up to 16th overall. This racing season has been exactly what I had hoped for. The road racing is coming to a close soon but Cyclocross is right around the corner!


We want to thank Pilgrim's Market in CDA for partnering with us for our first season back and more. If you haven't been to the Market and Wellness center do go. It's a wonderful place to get everything from food to vitamins to workshops on health related topics and great beer and wine...which is very healthy....especially if you drink way way too much cause it cleans out your whole system by way of barf o rama and puke athons....no really though CHECK IT and our other sponsors:
Pilgrims Market and Wellness Center
and Organic Valley
and The Insurance Guys

Have a great late Summer. See you on the roads and in the mud.

To B or not to B

Ok, last night was a mini nightmare, and I mean MINI.

The twilight series transferred ownership for a day from the Baddlands club to Spokane Rocket Velo. First of all, thanks to BOTH of these clubs. Racing exists in this community largely from the efforts of these groups.

The course promised something I love, few hills. Rolling terrain was used many times in description. "Pat," I thought to myself, "this is something you would do pretty well at." (I know, I ended a sentence with a preposition, but heck, it's my inner voice...


So I drove out to the race, paid my thirteen bucks, and got ready to roll with the A pack.


Herein lies the first problem. The A pack. I'm coming back to cycling from a MULTIPLE year layoff. Fitness is coming, but not quite there yet. My teammates, RT in particular, were 'upgraded' to the A pack the day of my birthday. Did they/we win a lot of races, forcing us to move up? Nope. Sure, RT won some, but not in a dominating style. CL managed some placings, but at the expense of his complete energy reserves. B pack racing was fun, competitive, and I was able to participate in the action of the race.


Last night, not so much. I basically paid $2 for every mile I was in the pack. Yep. That's just over six miles. These guys were flying. It's as if we had all stolen something, and were being chased. My heart rate was anaerobic in the friggin' NEUTRAL start! After turning around (no way I was going to ride 23 miles alone in 90+ degree heat), I pedaled back to my car, packed up, and drove home in self produced shame. I probably looked like a kid who got picked last for dodgeball. I had thought about using the Pat Cam for the race, but thankfully didn't as the footage would have been basically of the Palouse countryside. No other racers in the picture...


The fitness is not there, yet, but I'm racing with my teammates. Sure wish there was a way to keep the team in the time machine of one month ago, at least for a few more weeks...sigh.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining. I know this is bike racing, and fitness must be earned.

I just wanna earn it faster, with very little effort on my part required.

The art of sitting in?

Not all things change with time…

So, I’m another year older. The day of my birth has come and gone, and, compared to last year, (the meeting of a new decade), somewhat mellow. I raced my bike with my great ‘new’ team.

You see, these guys have been cyclists all of their lives, wether or not they were racing bikes. We all started in our wee years, with bony knees, dink marks from the chain (see my earlier post) on our legs, and appetites that could, and should have, put any steady income earning family into the poor house.

We’ve all decided to come back to this element of racing (we all have ridden, some) at the same time, and thought, heck, let’s get the old team together. Kind of like the Blues Brothers’ getting the band together, but with more colorful clothing and shaved legs. The racing has been hard, but always fun after the fact when we’ve held on, been up there, and most importantly, involved in the race.

That’s where I have some concern. You see, even after YEARS away from the sport, some things haven’t changed. Some for the better, some not so much. I’m talking about non-aggressive racing. Sitting in. Sucking wheel and sprinting.

This so called ‘tactic’ is, and always will be, an unfortunate element of bike racing. It’s very specific to cycling, as I can’t think of another sport where a person of less strength can simply use others for the benefit of a high placing. Sure, in running there is some draft, but you are still working pretty stinking hard. Cycling provides a good 40% less effort when sitting in the pack, snug as a snail in the dirt.

It’s not a bad way to get placed in the top of a race. Think about it, hold on in the comfort of the pack, sprint for 500 meters, take home prizes.

But let’s put this into perspective here…

What is at stake in a local race? Are careers on the line? Pro contracts waiting for the victor of a small club race? Don’t think so. Aren’t we paying for the chance to compete? So then, why not COMPETE with some effort? Sitting in simply doesn’t make better bike racers. It is a way to do little to the overall event, and makes for some pretty good grumblings along the way from your fellow competitors.

Do yourself a favor, try the front. If you’re going to die a quick death (like I did last night) time your efforts, but make an effort just the same. I’ve always felt that to attack and go down in a blaze of lactic fueled glory is far better than a pack sprint for tenth place. Or even first place, for that matter.

Friends don’t let friends suck.

FAB FOUR +

I just wanted to say that I love my teammates. This is the best time I've had in years and rivals the best times of lives.

*Pat. Your racing mind overrides all. When the rest of you catches up it's going to be scary.

*Mark. There's fire coming out your ears because you want to be out there so bad and when you are..well,...there's FIRE coming out your ears!

*Rog. Way to make us all HAVE to work our lungs and burn our legs and detonate our aortas. I'm not talking about during the race even...the pre-race plans that hurt to imagine. ...but that's why we're here.

And to the local teams, officials and volunteers a HUGE thank you.
ACC/Pilgrim's Market have every intention to become more and more involved with our local racing scene. We really never expected to be racing together this season until early March...so we are a bit behind in our event planning but I promise, we promise to create some memorable events in our near future.

so, in closing....goodnight. :)

cris

Whitefish Stage 1 Video

Just like Roger, nothing to say, but here's video from the Great Northern Stage Race in Whitefish, MT, stage 1 criterium.

Arrivee/Pilgrim's - Another victory!

Oh, and Cris, whenever you're ready to get into soundtracks, let me know. The music is cheesy...

Whitefish Pics

Nothing to say...just pictures from the criterium, Time Trial and Road Race.