Road Cycling Season: Week 1, 2009

Well, I had a pretty good start to the 2009 cycling season. The year started with the annual New Year's Day ride around Round Mountain. I estimate we had over one hundred riders at the start at Beach Park. Lots of glad-handing and well wishing. Even my missing teammate Leo H. was on the bike. The parade on the bike path was gentlemanly, but by the time we hit Gordon's Ferry the pace was getting serious. At the base of the climb I laid down a pretty mean tempo. Halfway up a few guys went up the road a bit which started more fireworks. I was just able to make the top 5 also-rans by out-sprinting my training buddy, Richard Picarelli, and local Scott Laurent. It was cold at the top so we had some hot cocoa at the Kern Wheelmen rest stop and a group of us harder-core cyclists headed down the other side. An exploratory escape led by my buddy Curt Pierce went up the road but friend Scott "Drop the Hammer" Thor and I set pretty good tempo and squashed it. Noone wanted to come around so we chatted and pulled the entire back side to the climb out of Poso Creek. Scott looks like he's riding well. The last climb was another hard tempo set by me to keep the attacks from happening. Big TTer Bill Elrich. threw down an attack that we closed by the second rise, and it was all together by the third rise. A bunch came around me as we to hit the big corner, and I thought I was done, but I just was able to latch on and recover for rise number 4. Scott L. came around the bunch and I followed, and he set a mad tempo that I could just barely hold. As we headed for the final 200 meters, some guys started the sprint, and I pulled around Scott but got nipped by Richard--touche'. It was a great training ride to start the year.

Debbie, Savannah and I hit a couple of NYD parties afterwards to re-fill the tank. Friday was a bust with rain.

The weekend came and that brought the SoCal Cyclocross Cross Fever series to town. Hart Park is the premier cycling venue for cross in SoCal, and this year's course was the hardest one I think we've ever had. At the heart of the difficulty was a three run-up section all within a 1/4 mile. You can actually ride the first run-up but Sam stuck two barriers at the base to ensure it's un-ride-ability. The next run-up was short but followed a tricky descent and off-camber. The final was a super steep, muddy and slick ascent: 30 steps of hell followed by a short rise. Ouch! The rest of the course was a good combination of dirt, grass and pavement.

I planned to race a couple of events, at least the 45s and the 35s. And if I felt good enough, I'd tap the Elites. It was really cold for my 10:30 start. I suited up in my District Champion gear, spent 15 minutes on the trainer and then headed to the start line. It was a small group, maybe 10 total in the 45/55s. My buddy Larry V-Z was there, local master George F., and handful of SCNCA-district jerseys with Jonathan L., Lee H. and another in the 55+. I started on the second row. At the whistle Larry took off, and I followed wheels through the first couple of corners. I passed a couple guys, felt a wheel rub on one of the corners, and bridged up to Larry. Larry and I traded pace for the first lap and a half. Larry wasn't holding to the pace so I figured he wanted to take it easy and save it for the 123s. I kept the pace up without going into the red and built up a pretty solid lead, but the Three Ugly Sisters were really hurting my legs. My HR wasn't that high but the cold usually makes my legs feel like wood. I took the win. Larry took second but had a scare from a Fresno guy who took third. Hey, what a way to start the year: a double-ewe while in the District Champ duds.

Next up my buddy Richard rangled my Ritchey for his first cross race. He looked pretty good until he tweaked my rear wheel, and then we had the longest wheel change ever. He appeared to be enjoying himself--always smiling when I saw him... or was that a grimace? Anyway, I think I have a cross convert. The results: new cross racer = 1. Tubular wheel: toast.

By the time Richard was done with his race, I was cold and decided against another date with the ugly sisters.

The kids race featured several kids including my Kurious Kenyan and Surly Savannah. Kenyan started the race in her tallest gear and forgot how to shift. She had the lead but dropped to third on the last uphill corner as she struggled with the gear-inches. Savannah ended up somewhere toward the back as she avoided a first corner crash. She looks like a natural on a bike. I love those girls!

Next week, some goal setting for the 2009 road season.