2009 - I stepped it UP - A Year in Review

With no kids, dogs, cats, bunnies in our home, I made the jump from semi-crazed bike racer and rider to crazed-obsessed bike racer and rider in 2009. It was a banner year for riding and saddle time.

I purchased a PowerTap SL (plus) hub and built up a lightweight wheel, early in 2009 and logged some great time and great numbers for my first year of owning one. I didn't get hung up on the details too much or spend hours slaving over watts numbers. I had a few surprising days and some surprising watts at a given time here and there throughout the year. It's nice to see after a ride / workout to come home and look and compare how I felt with what the strain gauges had to say. I did one road race with the wheel on, just to see what the data looked like, an interesting view of effort, watts and energy.

I managed to dial in to some serious hours for the year - a new record for me. Thank you BWE (Best Wife Ever®). I pretty much worked out or rode my bike 6 days a week from January 15 I think to December 22. I took a week off or so, sometime in the summer, I took a week or so off, maybe two from Summer to reset the engine for cyclocross season. But overall, I think doubled the hours from 2007. It showed.


Road/Crit
I had almost a full road racing season in early 2009 finishing in the top 10 of the CAT 4 races and top 10 overall in the series. Six total. I maybe missed out on two of the races I think. I was actually ranked 7th in the State out of 84 results - not bad for an old fat guy.

I managed to sneak into a few critieriums, Troy, Garrett Wonders, Germantown and a few others. I had good result at Troy in the CAT 3/4 race beating quite a few 'fast' guys from around our area.

Mountain Biking
The mountain bike treated me well in '09. I had three top-5 finishes in the Sport Category of the OMBC.net series, no wins, but good legs, good fun and a little bit of money in my pocket. I had a great time at the Mohican 100k finishing in less than 7 hours at 6:46. I know I had more speed in me and a better time, but I rode somewhat cautious and conservative and still finished in the top 40 of I think about 150 total. A bunch of us hit up the Iceman again, which is always fun with more people and had a great time. I bested my fasted time by 15 minutes on a 26" hardtail. I was a minority on my 'little bike' at the Expert Start-line, but still had a blast ripping along and feeling great at 20 mph big ring style.

Cyclocross -
Wow, it looks like close to 20 cross races. That is sick. No wonder I was tired at Christmas. I raced in two series, the OVCX and the Cap City Cross Series. OVCX covers, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and the Cap City is basically a regional series, but still very tough.
I got in one Michigan Cross race, which was the day after the Iceman. I got 3rd! My other best finish all year in a cross race - podium material. The day after a almost 30 mile Point to Point mtb race. Third is good motivation.

I had one other third place at Smith Farms in the CapCity series, where I battled back from 10th place in the first few laps and picked off people one by one for another Podium.

I missed only one of the Cap City Races (on purpose) and still managed to finish with a 9th Place overall. In the more "game face" series, OVCX I hung in for a strong 13th Place, but several of those ahead of me moved up into the 2/3 Field/class just before the last two races. So, in my mind I finished Top 10 with some super super fast guys and youngsters. Rodkey, Dillman, Johnson, etc....guys I never saw after the starts during my races - good solid racing by these guys and others. Cross certainly ranks high on my list of fun and enjoyment of pain.

Summary
A great year overall. I was happy with the results versus the effort and all the work I put in. I think there is more in the tank for 2010. I have a birthday next month and am not getting any younger. It was a good year, knowing I had a bulls-eye on my back for quite a few of these races, which means I was on someone's radar at one point or another during the racing season, I don't mind that at all, it makes racing that much more interesting.
I managed to race and ride bikes with some great and amazing people this past year.

Some Best Of:

• Best Win: Ice Cross, Traverse City, MI
  
• Best Team Win: Garrett Wonders CAT 1/2 race - so cool to watch it work.
• Best Comeback: Cap City Cross - Smith Farms- 10th to 3rd place
  
• Favorite Race: Mohican 100k
  
• Favorite CX course: John Bryan
• Favorite Crit: Troy
• Favorite Bikes 2009: Specialized Tarmac Expert & 2010 Ridley Crosswind
• Biggest Heartbreaker: MTB @ OMBC/Lake Hope - from 1st place to next to last (double flats)
• Favorite Bike Products of 2009: Quoleum Embrocation, Chamois Butt'r, Garmin 705, Ergon Grips, Nuun, Shimano 6700 shifters, Selle Gel Flow Saddle, Specialized S-works MTB and Road shoes, Planet X carbon tubie wheels, 34mm Griffo cross tires, Ridley cross bike geometry, Wobble-Naught bike fits.
  

For you geeks out there:

• Best CP 30: 282w
• Best CP 20: 304w
• Best CP 12: 404w
• Best CP 5: 1038 w
• Best CP 1: 1090w
• Most Calories in one-week: 9500

Asheville North Carolina - Training Trip

Asheville - Highlights and ride graphs.
We were short this year of our miles from years past. This was more or less because as the week dragged on, we all became very tired of riding in the rain and in the path of wheel/tire spit. My bike clothes, even after two washes still have sparkly bits in them from the granite in the road burrowing into my socks, knee warmers, bibs and rain jacket. The rain itself was not an issue, the temperature was in the high 50's or low/mid 60's most of the days, which made the riding less painful in the wet. We started out Wed, with a group of 17 riders to Marshall. Thursday rolled around, 15 riders. Friday was about 12, Saturday about 8 or so and Sunday a meek 5. I went to go ride, no matter the conditions. There were some disappointments of last minute cancellations, but no skin off my back really, their loss, next year I am getting deposits I think from everyone interested in going. Many of us burned through at least one set of front and rear brake pads, which was quite amazing, considering all the downhill we did in the rain. I can't believe how fast that rubber burns up in the rain on downhills at 45 miles per hour. We did have some new additions to the group this year. A few more women. Laura, Amy, Ginger, Alicia, Cara. Rock star awards go to Ginger and Laura and Alicia for making the climb up Mt. Psgiah (151). Super Rock star award to Alicia for being the only woman to continue on & join us on the hatelful / hurtful day to Hot Springs and back. Ben B., Ben A, Layne, Tim S., the OSU Wood Bros., Danimal, Glen G., and Marty, rounded out the boys. We all rode very well as a big group on Wednesday. I was impressed with everyone and their fitness. We all got on very well and didn't have too many issues. We did run into a few bumps waiting on some people and some mis-communication and lack of acurate people counts when we stopped at one point Friday. The weather was not nice, it was cold and windy and frustrating for some that turned around and went back to the warm and toasty hotel.
The hotel was amazing, perfect and super swanky. They treated all like rock stars and even got cleaning towels out and a hose for us to clean our bikes every day.

Miles - 215 Climbing - about 20,000 feet Total Rides - 5 Total Rides in the rain - 4 Near Accidents - 1 (a shoe slipped out, while rider was near the yellow and an on coming car). Flat tires - 3 My total Calories Burned (kj) - 19,514
Group sets of Brake pads burned through - 8

Sunday at the 7:30 a.m. wake up call, the sun was creeping into our room. Wow, it was like I just got transported to the beach. We could see the beautiful mountains in all their glory and beauty - finally. It was going to be a good ride. We had 5 show up in the lobby for the last official ride. Tim and I decided to re-route the ride and hit up Elk Mountain Road, to the BlueRidge Parkway, to Town Mountain Road for the superfast finish back into town. It was a great hurtful 5 miles of climbing after our short warm up out of town.

Thank You - 2008

While thinking about or starting to put together my year-end summary, race, ride, miles counts of all my road, crit and mountain bike races, I thought it would be premature, since I just finished my last race of the year on Nov. 23, making my 2008 season complete.

When I think back to all the races, all the riding, I almost have a little memory of each one.
Our success’s can be defined by the people we choose to have in our lives. One’s success can be defined by the ability to make personal change. When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs. Change your beliefs, you change your expectations. Expectations change your attitude. Change your Attitude you change your behavior. Change your Behavior - change your performance, and finally change your performance you can change your life. I would certainly say, in 2008 I changed my life.

One of the things to inspire this post, was a public shout out to those that inspired, helped, motivated, challenged me in 2008. Hence ‘ Thank you ‘2008.

The largest humble Thank You to my wife. She supported (let me) take my cycling this year to a new commitment level, with more investment, more work, and more hours than any year prior. She knew it meant more ‘quality’ hours and less time ‘noodling’ for hours on the bike. She also put up with me not being home for a few hours after work and time on the weekends training and training. We did however get to spend some quality time together at the Gym working out together for the first four months of 2008. When time permitted she traveled along to race after race, in the car, listening to sometime hours of bike talk, to as many of my races as possible, took photos, waited around, handed me bottles, yelled, screamed and shouted at me like a rabid orange fan on Alpe du’ez. And I cannot forget the hundreds of photos she took at my races. Oh, she let me take my road bike on our 5-year wedding anniversary vacation, to the beach. I can’t believe she still likes me. I hope to run and workout more with her in ’09 and take hundreds of photos of her when she runs her next 5k, 10k or marathon. I need her there so I can finish in the top 10.

RG - Joe Friel - Andy A.- Velo/A2 – Thank you for the inspiration, for listening, the motivation, the insight, the resources, the time and making me a better athlete at my ripe age. Hats off to not looking back – but forward with another year ahead of us and some dartfish.

Scott Moro – Thanks for letting me be involved with the team/club all these years, for cheering me on when your not at my races, for all the bike love and for being the biggest hubbard ever.

LP - Thanks dude! You've been a bit of a bike mentor for me when it comes to many things bike. Always around for bike talk, training talk, rides and more rides. Always pushing me to achieve more and keeping me in check for all things we have in common and not. LP: Thanks for keeping me pointed in the right direction (sometimes literally) and for putting up with me in the car. There are only so many nut bags in life that are willing to go out and ride in 30 mph winds on Ohio flatlands when it’s 40 degrees. Thanks for all the miles. After you kicking my ass this cross season, I am sure I had no role in motivating you at all this year! Props on one of your best racing seasons - thanks for always pushing and pulling with two wheels.

Tim – thanks for being a great brother in law first, for joining the ranks of the bike-racing world. I know you could go pro. Cheers to getting married and thanks for letting me sit on your wheel, since you will always be faster than me in the woods.

Andy Johnson – for bringing more cross racing to the Columbus area. For putting on a great racing series and giving up so much time for the sport. I still remember Andy showing up at the Tuesday Night Crits talking about putting on some cross practices – now look where you are!

Ben Bonney – A formal thank you for being a carrot and my “arch nemesis’’ this year and last year. You are a great competitor and I guess a better cross racer than I [we all have a few good days]. It was great having you and your wife at the races this year and certainly, what makes racing so fun. Lets get to those 100-mile mountain bike race’s in 09!

Rish and Jon - http://crossbus.blogspot.com
Mason said it best, “props, high-fives, handshakes and beverages” to you guys for putting these well-attended ORGANIZED practices every week. I know I was not the only one to look forward to the social aspect, new courses, and workouts and training. I couldn’t wait to get off work and pedal to practice.

Thank You – BikeSource and Specialized and Ridley – I love my new 2008 Tarmac. I love my new 2009 Ridley Crosswind. It would be nice to have a power tap, Garmin 705 and a carbon cross bike late in ’09 for moi? Who’s giving them away?
Special Thanks to BikeSource and all those employees that had to ring me up, listen to me yak about whatever, help me with parts, and see me in the shop sometimes weekly. Thank you Ryan Callahan, Mark (owner), Frank, Joe, Kurtis, Dan, Mike, Scott and anyone that helped me this year.

Asheville, NC - To everyone who went with me on my Annual trip in March to Asheville this year – thanks. It was one of the biggest turnouts in 4 years. BA, LP and TS thanks for getting us going each day and keeping us going in the right direction – my sense of direction stinks. Joe thanks for talking so much, Anthony, thanks for calling us fat and old, Dan, thanks for showing me how to play Wii tennis. Jillian, thanks for bringing balance to the group. Tom D., Jason M., Jon W., Gary W., thanks for gutting it out. And big thanks to Rachel Horn, for coming to our hotel and treating us to amazing massage’s. Lets get it going for 2009: http://ashvillecyclingcamp.blogspot.com

I am sure I forgot to thank someone - Thanks everyone.