Who cares??
The point is that I'm BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!
After a couple of cautious test rides, I was able to actually put some power down on the pedals! Nothing too crazy, mind you - but the good news is that I didn't feel ripping, tearing, popping or anything I shouldn't have. Just my legs burning and heart feeling like it would leap from my chest.
Nothing to write home about - but worthy of writhing about....here. Nearly 2 months to recover from my Bailey-the-dog vs Steve-on-the-bike incident.
Proud to share my puny numbers:
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Could it be??
Wow - two days in a row of being on the bike? Yes - it's indoors and on the trainer, but I'm pedaling. Feels eerily familiar, but still a LONG way from normal.
After Bailey the dog took me out, which resulted in busted, this - torn that, I've spent the last month doing.... Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Between the torn hip flexor and hamstring - this is by far the toughest injury I've had to contend with. Yesterday was just 20 minutes to see if something would detach, break or whatever. Today I did a bit more time and power just to break a sweat. I'm SO out of shape, but happy to be spinning again.
I'm hoping to actually make it out on the road next weekend.
You can see that I didn't get at all carried away today. No way do I want to aggravate this injury.
After Bailey the dog took me out, which resulted in busted, this - torn that, I've spent the last month doing.... Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Between the torn hip flexor and hamstring - this is by far the toughest injury I've had to contend with. Yesterday was just 20 minutes to see if something would detach, break or whatever. Today I did a bit more time and power just to break a sweat. I'm SO out of shape, but happy to be spinning again.
I'm hoping to actually make it out on the road next weekend.
You can see that I didn't get at all carried away today. No way do I want to aggravate this injury.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Busted Ass
Never let it be said that I don't bust my ass! The second xray of my pelvis reveals that I did, indeed bust my ass in the Bailey the dog vs Me on the bike, spill. The area circled is called the ischial - in other words; sit bone. For a cyclist, this is a bummer, as that's the exact spot that carries the majority of the pressure, or at least it should be!
The fracture is really secondary to the torn hip flexor and hamstring. Now THAT is painful.
So yeah - while I finish my physical therapy on the newly reconstructed knee, I get a fresh round to treat the muscle tears. Is there an end to this?
The weather in Middle Tennessee is as good as it gets, and boy do I miss riding my bike. At the same time, I'm in no rush to put this recovery into jeopardy.
The fracture is really secondary to the torn hip flexor and hamstring. Now THAT is painful.
So yeah - while I finish my physical therapy on the newly reconstructed knee, I get a fresh round to treat the muscle tears. Is there an end to this?
The weather in Middle Tennessee is as good as it gets, and boy do I miss riding my bike. At the same time, I'm in no rush to put this recovery into jeopardy.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Bummer
Well, the Lance bashers will have a hey-day with the news that Lance Armstrong, 7 time Tour de France 'champion' will stop fighting arbitration with USADA(US andi-doping agency), which will almost certainly lead to the stripping of his 7 TDF championships, as well as other victories within a defined time period.
Bummer.
So much time and energy has gone into this seemingly endless attack on Lance. It's not over, either. Surely there will be civil suits.
Can't we just move forward? The sport of professional cycling has certainly moved past the doping as the 'norm' in the peloton, I think. Now this will dominate the news for..how long?
We should be talking about Jens Voigt's solo break and stage victory, Tom Danielson's gutsy ride - all in the high altitude of Colorado.
I had the incredible good fortune to ride with Lance Armstrong one fine day in middle Tennessee. We chatted about the same stuff that happens on any ride. A bona fide bad ass for sure - now soon to be relegated to the doping scrap heap. One of the few good shots I found of Lance and I from that super-cool day.
Bummer.
So much time and energy has gone into this seemingly endless attack on Lance. It's not over, either. Surely there will be civil suits.
Can't we just move forward? The sport of professional cycling has certainly moved past the doping as the 'norm' in the peloton, I think. Now this will dominate the news for..how long?
We should be talking about Jens Voigt's solo break and stage victory, Tom Danielson's gutsy ride - all in the high altitude of Colorado.
I had the incredible good fortune to ride with Lance Armstrong one fine day in middle Tennessee. We chatted about the same stuff that happens on any ride. A bona fide bad ass for sure - now soon to be relegated to the doping scrap heap. One of the few good shots I found of Lance and I from that super-cool day.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Creepy Crawlies
Hooray! I've been cleared by the doc to get back on the bike - which I of course, have! I've had two successful 'easy' rides on Saturday and Sunday, with really no swelling or weird pains.
I can't wait to start hitting it hard, and get a hard workout under the belt. You know - the kind that leaves your muscles contracting (not cramping) for a while post-ride. Like this!
I can't wait to start hitting it hard, and get a hard workout under the belt. You know - the kind that leaves your muscles contracting (not cramping) for a while post-ride. Like this!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Rusty Hinge
Alas!
What an interesting spring/summer it's been.
I lead a pretty boring life today, thankfully. Ok, maybe not boring per se, but a life pretty free from drama and pettiness; and I like that. It sure beats the alternative.
Some folks subscribe to the idea that the Universe sends signals, that some unseen power guides and directs them in some manner, or that circumstances happen at the behest of whatever it is they identify with. Not sure I'm on board with all of that, but certainly find it all interesting to consider. After getting laid off, having a car wipe me out, nearly coming to blows with another car that tried to take me out - I did find myself asking, 'WTF???' Did I piss "somebody" off??
The most recent installment is that, again, I blew out my right knee. Some suggest that I damaged it in the fall when the car wiped me out before the Tuesday night 'world championships'. Possible. None the less, it's toast. Medial meniscus bucket handle tear, and the ACL is again torn.
The 'Taste of the Carolina's' 1,200km brevet is definitely off.
Surgery and rehab are 'on'. Maybe I can post some cool video or pictures of the procedure??
Monday, June 4, 2012
TN 600k brevet - The Score Is Even
I've quit one ride, ever. That was the 2008 Natchez Trace brevet. Okay, there was that time I was 12, and my mom had to come and pick me up, but that doesn't count, does it? I can still remember how angry she was with me! After all, it was SO FAR AWAY, driving to the neighboring town all of 5 miles away. I've mentioned the abandoned ride here and there in this blog, as well as an entire write up in the original blog. So yeah, it's been on my mind for a while. I've heard many times that we learn more from our failures than our successes, and that definitely is the case from my failed attempt at that particular ride in '08.
The stage was set for drama about a month ago, when I suffered a bit of a tumble off the bike, getting banged up a bit. The skin loss was nearly non-existent, but I had enough bruises, sprains and strains to last a while. Time spent on the bike in the weeks leading up to this ride was less than ideal, not to mention the lingering doubt about my injuries being healed to allow a big chunk of mileage all at once.
There were nineteen that started this ride, with three riders quitting along the way. I suspect the oppressive heat, which was well over 100 degrees on the road at its hottest, had something to do with it, or perhaps these folks were lulled into some sort of Natchez Trace Trance by the eternal same-ness of this route?
Initially, there were about 6 or 8 of us together in a pack for the first 30 miles or so. I felt fantastic, and spent more than my share of time on the front of the pack, riding well within my means, but knew the pack would ultimately split up as the laws of physics applied themselves to bigger riders like myself.
Hey! What's he doing? Hitching a ride up the hill? Pushing? Nah, he's turning of the tail light of the rider next to him. A direct contrast to the crowd I race with. When we have a number pinned to our jersey, with keen eye we look out for our any sign of weakness in our competitor, and then work to exploit that to our advantage. The spirit of Randonneuring is to help your riding partners. There are no 'competitors' in a brevet.
Below is Jeff Bauer and I believe Taylor Kruse
Former pro racer Andy Albershardt and Anthony Watts. Both will complete their first Super Randonneur series at the end of this ride. A 'series' is comprised of a 200, 300, 400 and 600k brevets within the same year.
Thomas Trinidad and Taylor Kruse - Thomas looks like he really means business! Both rode straight thru, avoiding the heat of the 2nd day.
Crossing the Tennessee River again. This section is actually within Alabama.
While crossing the river, there were so many of these birds looking for a handout! I think they're a variety of swallow, which seemed unusual. I'll have to ass my teammate and Orinthologist, Scott Somershoe about this.
Approaching the 'Ten-Tom waterway'. A manmade waterway that most of its length is within Mississippi. It was the largest earthmoving project in history. Expensive. Controversial. Part of the TVA, it was designed to connect the Tombigee water system with the mid-gulf.
After crossing the Ten-Tom, I began to realize that my fitness was lacking from time off the bike, and the heat was really doing a number on me. I had been exchanging texts with one of my teammates, whom was the pillar of support and encouragement. It was around this time of day that I was beginning to inventory my fitness, will and ability to get this ride done.
I decided to to make no decisions until I got to Tupelo, MS and some food in my belly. The route had a designates sleep stop at Tishomingo State Park, which was about 50 miles after the turnaround point in Tupelo. The farther I got into Mississippi, the more I realized that the heat had really sucked the life out of me, and I needed some time to get my shit together. About 20 miles out from Tupelo, I decided two things. 1. I would have to be hauled out on a stretcher, as no way in hell would I quit this ride. 2. I would find a room in Tupelo and get some food and a few hours of rest.
I stopped at a gas station to get my brevet card signed and relax for a minute. When I asked the friendly fella behind the counter about a hotel in the area, he asked how far I had come. When I told him Nashville, his response was.... uh.. TENNESSEE? Yup. It is a long way away, but I'll make it back, I thought. After a few minutes there, I made my way to one of the seediest hotels I've ever stayed in. I didn't care. On my way there, while waiting for a light to change so I could turn left, some kids in a car next to me were eyeballing me in a big way. One of the kids was just grinning from ear to ear, with his gold teeth and embedded gemstones - I nodded and gave them a 'hey'. Curious, he asked how far I had ridden that day. When he heard the answer, I think he wanted to kick my ass either for playing him to be a fool, or lying to him. hahaha He could see I was serious and asked if he could help me in any way. Ahh, the surprises.
So, some pizza from Dominoes, shower and makeshift laundry in the sink, I laid down for a what turned out to be about 2 or 3 hours of sleep. I set my alarm for 11:45 PM and made everything ready to head out after some cold pizza and a couple of cokes for my 'morning' caffeine. I made my way back out at 12:10 AM.
The ride back to Tishomingo was slow, but with that bit of sleep and 'food', I felt renewed. I eased into a better pace to take advantage of the cooler temps (still in the 70's overnight), and hoped to catch up to a few riders. I actually did come across two riders, Dave Buzzee and Maria Cabal as they slept on the shoulder of the road. I could see the tail lights still lit on their bike as I slowly coasted up to them, my freewheel clicking enough to wake them up. After making sure all was well, I eased on down the road.
Reaching Tishomingo, I began to feel better and better. I changed clothes, refilled my bottles and camelbak (which I thankfully listened to Jeff Bauer and bought one specifically for this hot ride) and then teamed up with Dave Penegar to make our way north. After 90 minutes or so, Dave let me know he was going to slow up a bit, so I was free to ride at whatever pace I chose (slow).
Riding in the dawn twilight is one of my favorite times. As the skies brightened, we were treated to a misty, heavy fog of north east Mississippi.
The Natchez Trace northern terminus is at mile marker 444. I couldn't help but to stop and prop up the bike at 'tree fiddy'. Being a fan of South Park, Mike Kamenish and I used to kill the miles by reciting the below scene from South Park. I got a good laugh out of doing a solo rendition for old times' sake.
.... I need about tree fiddy.
So yeah - the temps on Sunday were toasty. Maybe not quite as hot as Saturday? I dunno. It was damn hot, though. Andy Albershardt's wife, Andrea was nicknamed the Angel Of Mercy for her ebullient demeanor, and always-on-time delivery of ICE and cold water. I'm sure her efforts prevented more riders from abandoning than did.
At one of the last rest stops I caught up with Dan Driscoll, Pam Wright, and Craig Matthews - all from Texas. They were a playful and strong group that helped me bring my pace back up to something more respectable. Ultimately they would regroup to shepherd in one of the riders that was struggling in the heat. In no mood to dilly dally, I made my way to the the finish, which was nicely situated atop the climb we just call McCrory. Not too long, but with a bit of steepness to it. After 385 miles, it's a bit tedious.
I think I snapped this picture while crossing "Marsha's Bridge". Teammate Marsha hates this bridge due to the typical crosswind on it.
Well, I made it to the finish! Thanks to some encouragement from a teammate, a flexible strategy, and the uplift from tree fiddy. haha The score with the Natchez Trace 600k is now even. For you data geeks, I somehow got my Garmin file split into two - so sorry for that.
The stage was set for drama about a month ago, when I suffered a bit of a tumble off the bike, getting banged up a bit. The skin loss was nearly non-existent, but I had enough bruises, sprains and strains to last a while. Time spent on the bike in the weeks leading up to this ride was less than ideal, not to mention the lingering doubt about my injuries being healed to allow a big chunk of mileage all at once.
There were nineteen that started this ride, with three riders quitting along the way. I suspect the oppressive heat, which was well over 100 degrees on the road at its hottest, had something to do with it, or perhaps these folks were lulled into some sort of Natchez Trace Trance by the eternal same-ness of this route?
Initially, there were about 6 or 8 of us together in a pack for the first 30 miles or so. I felt fantastic, and spent more than my share of time on the front of the pack, riding well within my means, but knew the pack would ultimately split up as the laws of physics applied themselves to bigger riders like myself.
Hey! What's he doing? Hitching a ride up the hill? Pushing? Nah, he's turning of the tail light of the rider next to him. A direct contrast to the crowd I race with. When we have a number pinned to our jersey, with keen eye we look out for our any sign of weakness in our competitor, and then work to exploit that to our advantage. The spirit of Randonneuring is to help your riding partners. There are no 'competitors' in a brevet.
Below is Jeff Bauer and I believe Taylor Kruse
Former pro racer Andy Albershardt and Anthony Watts. Both will complete their first Super Randonneur series at the end of this ride. A 'series' is comprised of a 200, 300, 400 and 600k brevets within the same year.
Thomas Trinidad and Taylor Kruse - Thomas looks like he really means business! Both rode straight thru, avoiding the heat of the 2nd day.
Crossing the Tennessee River again. This section is actually within Alabama.
While crossing the river, there were so many of these birds looking for a handout! I think they're a variety of swallow, which seemed unusual. I'll have to ass my teammate and Orinthologist, Scott Somershoe about this.
Approaching the 'Ten-Tom waterway'. A manmade waterway that most of its length is within Mississippi. It was the largest earthmoving project in history. Expensive. Controversial. Part of the TVA, it was designed to connect the Tombigee water system with the mid-gulf.
After crossing the Ten-Tom, I began to realize that my fitness was lacking from time off the bike, and the heat was really doing a number on me. I had been exchanging texts with one of my teammates, whom was the pillar of support and encouragement. It was around this time of day that I was beginning to inventory my fitness, will and ability to get this ride done.
I decided to to make no decisions until I got to Tupelo, MS and some food in my belly. The route had a designates sleep stop at Tishomingo State Park, which was about 50 miles after the turnaround point in Tupelo. The farther I got into Mississippi, the more I realized that the heat had really sucked the life out of me, and I needed some time to get my shit together. About 20 miles out from Tupelo, I decided two things. 1. I would have to be hauled out on a stretcher, as no way in hell would I quit this ride. 2. I would find a room in Tupelo and get some food and a few hours of rest.
I stopped at a gas station to get my brevet card signed and relax for a minute. When I asked the friendly fella behind the counter about a hotel in the area, he asked how far I had come. When I told him Nashville, his response was.... uh.. TENNESSEE? Yup. It is a long way away, but I'll make it back, I thought. After a few minutes there, I made my way to one of the seediest hotels I've ever stayed in. I didn't care. On my way there, while waiting for a light to change so I could turn left, some kids in a car next to me were eyeballing me in a big way. One of the kids was just grinning from ear to ear, with his gold teeth and embedded gemstones - I nodded and gave them a 'hey'. Curious, he asked how far I had ridden that day. When he heard the answer, I think he wanted to kick my ass either for playing him to be a fool, or lying to him. hahaha He could see I was serious and asked if he could help me in any way. Ahh, the surprises.
So, some pizza from Dominoes, shower and makeshift laundry in the sink, I laid down for a what turned out to be about 2 or 3 hours of sleep. I set my alarm for 11:45 PM and made everything ready to head out after some cold pizza and a couple of cokes for my 'morning' caffeine. I made my way back out at 12:10 AM.
The ride back to Tishomingo was slow, but with that bit of sleep and 'food', I felt renewed. I eased into a better pace to take advantage of the cooler temps (still in the 70's overnight), and hoped to catch up to a few riders. I actually did come across two riders, Dave Buzzee and Maria Cabal as they slept on the shoulder of the road. I could see the tail lights still lit on their bike as I slowly coasted up to them, my freewheel clicking enough to wake them up. After making sure all was well, I eased on down the road.
Reaching Tishomingo, I began to feel better and better. I changed clothes, refilled my bottles and camelbak (which I thankfully listened to Jeff Bauer and bought one specifically for this hot ride) and then teamed up with Dave Penegar to make our way north. After 90 minutes or so, Dave let me know he was going to slow up a bit, so I was free to ride at whatever pace I chose (slow).
Riding in the dawn twilight is one of my favorite times. As the skies brightened, we were treated to a misty, heavy fog of north east Mississippi.
The Natchez Trace northern terminus is at mile marker 444. I couldn't help but to stop and prop up the bike at 'tree fiddy'. Being a fan of South Park, Mike Kamenish and I used to kill the miles by reciting the below scene from South Park. I got a good laugh out of doing a solo rendition for old times' sake.
.... I need about tree fiddy.
So yeah - the temps on Sunday were toasty. Maybe not quite as hot as Saturday? I dunno. It was damn hot, though. Andy Albershardt's wife, Andrea was nicknamed the Angel Of Mercy for her ebullient demeanor, and always-on-time delivery of ICE and cold water. I'm sure her efforts prevented more riders from abandoning than did.
At one of the last rest stops I caught up with Dan Driscoll, Pam Wright, and Craig Matthews - all from Texas. They were a playful and strong group that helped me bring my pace back up to something more respectable. Ultimately they would regroup to shepherd in one of the riders that was struggling in the heat. In no mood to dilly dally, I made my way to the the finish, which was nicely situated atop the climb we just call McCrory. Not too long, but with a bit of steepness to it. After 385 miles, it's a bit tedious.
I think I snapped this picture while crossing "Marsha's Bridge". Teammate Marsha hates this bridge due to the typical crosswind on it.
Well, I made it to the finish! Thanks to some encouragement from a teammate, a flexible strategy, and the uplift from tree fiddy. haha The score with the Natchez Trace 600k is now even. For you data geeks, I somehow got my Garmin file split into two - so sorry for that.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
TN 600k - the prep
Memorial Day weekend. Seems to be notorious for having scorching hot weather during that weekend. I have sat in the stands for many an Indy 500, getting positively baked in the sun.
This weekend, the temps will be deep into the 90's, and while riding the Tennesse 600k brevet, if not well over 100 on the road. Ugh...
I've capitulated on doing this ride since I was taken out by a car a few weeks ago. My fitness has declined due to a lack of mileage since the TN 400k, and my leg still isn't fully healed from whatever happened to it during the crash. Still though, I may still ride a 1,200k brevet this year, and if that happens, a 600k is needed to qualify for the event.
As mentioned in a previous post, I've abandoned only one brevet, and that was - guess what - the TN 600k on the Natchez Trace in 2008! The stage is set for the epic battle of karmic retribution... hopefully.
This weekend, the temps will be deep into the 90's, and while riding the Tennesse 600k brevet, if not well over 100 on the road. Ugh...
I've capitulated on doing this ride since I was taken out by a car a few weeks ago. My fitness has declined due to a lack of mileage since the TN 400k, and my leg still isn't fully healed from whatever happened to it during the crash. Still though, I may still ride a 1,200k brevet this year, and if that happens, a 600k is needed to qualify for the event.
As mentioned in a previous post, I've abandoned only one brevet, and that was - guess what - the TN 600k on the Natchez Trace in 2008! The stage is set for the epic battle of karmic retribution... hopefully.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
TN 400k brevet - actual ride report
Don't you hate it when you forget to save a draft??
A 400k, while doable for any cyclist that's in decent form with some experience in riding some centuries, is still what I consider to be 'big boy distance'. Any time I'm going to be in the saddle for 200+ miles I need to be prepared for more than just a flat or needing an extra gel.
There was a good showing of about 14 people for this ride, which included the shorter 200 and 300k distance options. I think there were 2 additional riders that chose to do only the 200k distance. Typically there would be more, but Kentucky was holding their 400k on that same day. Today's ride was a simple out and back route on the Natchez Trace, which makes it nearly impossible to get lost, but mind numbing in the eternal 'sameness' that is the visual stimulation on the Trace. I like to say that I would rather yank out my fingernails with pliers than to spend all day riding the Natchez Trace. Still though, I willingly signed up for this ride even though the Kentucky folks had their 400k going on the same day. And since I'm on a spending lockdown right now, I chose not to invest in the fuel to drive to KY and back.
Weather. Hmph. Hard for it to not be a factor on a 250 mile bike ride. There was rain before the start, and some light showers for the first 40 or 50 miles. I finally remembered to bring a camera and actually USE it on the ride. Here is a poor shot of the pre-ride wetness. Exciting, right? Ready to ride? It's dark, about as warm as it will be all day (right about 50 degrees), and we'll have a headwind the whole way home, but don't worry - it'll be great!
Some of the usual cast of characters were here for this ride. Bob Hess, was riding fixed gear and sticking to the 200k route. Dave Penegar, making it clear he had no interest in riding 'hard' for 18-20 hours. Jeff Bauer, working to reclaim his form which was stolen by a busy work schedule. Noticeably absent was George Hiscox, which really bummed me out. I needed some of the comedic relief guaranteed to be offered by the simple presence of George.
The ride started with Jeff Sammons' usual, 'okay, go on' - which it seemed we all were just too excited to get out to the Trace. /sarcasm
For clothing, I opted for a simple short sleeve baselayer, arm warmers, vest, knee warmers and thought that maybe I would need a lightweight wind jacket later at night. I was all geared up, with the Shimano dynohub and Pedalpower+ charging unit to give the Garmin unit a shot of juice later in the day. I like my gizmos to be able to work, and typically my GPS unit will last just to the end of a 400k, but ya never know if something may come up, delaying me on the road.
I spent the first 10-15 miles chatting with Jeff Bauer but due to the nature of sticking to our own comfortable pace, found myself bridging up to Bob Hess whom was spinning away nicely on his fixie. Bob and I chatted for the next 15 or 20 miles, but soon the wind was at my back, and with a nice downhill I was off the front riding solo into the drizzle and dreariness.
After this point, there isn't really too much of interest to report. I realized there was nobody in front of me, and I was fine with that. I felt pretty good on the bike and figured I would get caught on the return trip by some riders that were working together in the headwind, which while wasn't the most vicious, was enough to kinda piss me off, especially when fatigue becomes a factor. I hoped, however that I would be able to finish the ride solo, at the front of the pack since I had never done that before. I have been with the first pack of riders to finish a brevet, but never solo.
Let me get this straight: A brevet is NOT a race. What I'm talking about is a simple game I play in my own head to make things interesting and stay motivated. Had folks like Bauer and others thought for a second it was a 'race' of any sort - I would have been ground up and spit out the back of the pack like usual.
I did snap a couple of pics while passing over the Tennessee River:
My first experience with the Tennessee River came with this crazy attempt at a 600k with very little in the way of 'form' for riding the way I did. I still have a bone to pick with the Trace, and maybe that's one of the things that lends to this foul taste in my mouth when folks mention riding on it?
OK - so, temps never really warmed, even though the rain stopped. I saw my shadow only once the whole day. After the turnaround, I was able to gauge the gaps I had on the rest of the riders, and offered words of encouragement to each as I passed them. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, and there was one large group sticking together, most likely to the end. I felt bad for some of the folks that would be out on the course well over 20-24 hours. I knew the temps were going to drop more than expected since it never warmed to the upper 50's as promised. At the last control (checkpoint) I bought a pair of jersey gloves in preparation of it getting even chillier. I had set out some gloves, but in my pre-ride haste, decided I wouldn't need any gloves on this day. (wrong) As I prepared to roll out of the control, Jeff Bauer and his riding partner pulled in, and he was concerned with the falling temps as well. I pay close attention to what Jeff has to say, as he's a highly accomplished and respected randonneur.
"The Perpetual Fifty" is what I called the last 50 miles of this ride. Hilly enough to tax the legs after 200 miles, a bit of headwind... a tad chilly.. It was easy to get just a bit ticked off from fatigue and the desire to just get this ride 'in the can' and get a warm shower and some sleep. The only meaningful event was an armadillo darting in front of me, as much as an armadillo can 'dart'. A quick hop and I was up and over the obstacle.
Critter count:
LOTS of dead armadillos
1 live armadillo
1 'cat' of some sort - and not the domestic type
4 deer
3 dogs that appeared to have been dumped on the Trace
2 possum
Haiku's written:
None. I wasn't in a haiku mood on that day.
Mechanical issues:
Not a one.
Stat folks - here ya go:
A 400k, while doable for any cyclist that's in decent form with some experience in riding some centuries, is still what I consider to be 'big boy distance'. Any time I'm going to be in the saddle for 200+ miles I need to be prepared for more than just a flat or needing an extra gel.
There was a good showing of about 14 people for this ride, which included the shorter 200 and 300k distance options. I think there were 2 additional riders that chose to do only the 200k distance. Typically there would be more, but Kentucky was holding their 400k on that same day. Today's ride was a simple out and back route on the Natchez Trace, which makes it nearly impossible to get lost, but mind numbing in the eternal 'sameness' that is the visual stimulation on the Trace. I like to say that I would rather yank out my fingernails with pliers than to spend all day riding the Natchez Trace. Still though, I willingly signed up for this ride even though the Kentucky folks had their 400k going on the same day. And since I'm on a spending lockdown right now, I chose not to invest in the fuel to drive to KY and back.
Weather. Hmph. Hard for it to not be a factor on a 250 mile bike ride. There was rain before the start, and some light showers for the first 40 or 50 miles. I finally remembered to bring a camera and actually USE it on the ride. Here is a poor shot of the pre-ride wetness. Exciting, right? Ready to ride? It's dark, about as warm as it will be all day (right about 50 degrees), and we'll have a headwind the whole way home, but don't worry - it'll be great!
Some of the usual cast of characters were here for this ride. Bob Hess, was riding fixed gear and sticking to the 200k route. Dave Penegar, making it clear he had no interest in riding 'hard' for 18-20 hours. Jeff Bauer, working to reclaim his form which was stolen by a busy work schedule. Noticeably absent was George Hiscox, which really bummed me out. I needed some of the comedic relief guaranteed to be offered by the simple presence of George.
The ride started with Jeff Sammons' usual, 'okay, go on' - which it seemed we all were just too excited to get out to the Trace. /sarcasm
For clothing, I opted for a simple short sleeve baselayer, arm warmers, vest, knee warmers and thought that maybe I would need a lightweight wind jacket later at night. I was all geared up, with the Shimano dynohub and Pedalpower+ charging unit to give the Garmin unit a shot of juice later in the day. I like my gizmos to be able to work, and typically my GPS unit will last just to the end of a 400k, but ya never know if something may come up, delaying me on the road.
I spent the first 10-15 miles chatting with Jeff Bauer but due to the nature of sticking to our own comfortable pace, found myself bridging up to Bob Hess whom was spinning away nicely on his fixie. Bob and I chatted for the next 15 or 20 miles, but soon the wind was at my back, and with a nice downhill I was off the front riding solo into the drizzle and dreariness.
After this point, there isn't really too much of interest to report. I realized there was nobody in front of me, and I was fine with that. I felt pretty good on the bike and figured I would get caught on the return trip by some riders that were working together in the headwind, which while wasn't the most vicious, was enough to kinda piss me off, especially when fatigue becomes a factor. I hoped, however that I would be able to finish the ride solo, at the front of the pack since I had never done that before. I have been with the first pack of riders to finish a brevet, but never solo.
Let me get this straight: A brevet is NOT a race. What I'm talking about is a simple game I play in my own head to make things interesting and stay motivated. Had folks like Bauer and others thought for a second it was a 'race' of any sort - I would have been ground up and spit out the back of the pack like usual.
I did snap a couple of pics while passing over the Tennessee River:
My first experience with the Tennessee River came with this crazy attempt at a 600k with very little in the way of 'form' for riding the way I did. I still have a bone to pick with the Trace, and maybe that's one of the things that lends to this foul taste in my mouth when folks mention riding on it?
OK - so, temps never really warmed, even though the rain stopped. I saw my shadow only once the whole day. After the turnaround, I was able to gauge the gaps I had on the rest of the riders, and offered words of encouragement to each as I passed them. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, and there was one large group sticking together, most likely to the end. I felt bad for some of the folks that would be out on the course well over 20-24 hours. I knew the temps were going to drop more than expected since it never warmed to the upper 50's as promised. At the last control (checkpoint) I bought a pair of jersey gloves in preparation of it getting even chillier. I had set out some gloves, but in my pre-ride haste, decided I wouldn't need any gloves on this day. (wrong) As I prepared to roll out of the control, Jeff Bauer and his riding partner pulled in, and he was concerned with the falling temps as well. I pay close attention to what Jeff has to say, as he's a highly accomplished and respected randonneur.
"The Perpetual Fifty" is what I called the last 50 miles of this ride. Hilly enough to tax the legs after 200 miles, a bit of headwind... a tad chilly.. It was easy to get just a bit ticked off from fatigue and the desire to just get this ride 'in the can' and get a warm shower and some sleep. The only meaningful event was an armadillo darting in front of me, as much as an armadillo can 'dart'. A quick hop and I was up and over the obstacle.
Critter count:
LOTS of dead armadillos
1 live armadillo
1 'cat' of some sort - and not the domestic type
4 deer
3 dogs that appeared to have been dumped on the Trace
2 possum
Haiku's written:
None. I wasn't in a haiku mood on that day.
Mechanical issues:
Not a one.
Stat folks - here ya go:
Friday, April 20, 2012
Natchez Trace 400k - PREP
Pre-ride prep is done. Just need to get things loaded and make the trip over to Brentwood for the start of this ride. One of the great things about living in TN, rather than Indiana, like I was last year is that I don't have to drive a minimum of two and a half hours to join a brevet in either Kentucky or 5 hours to Tennessee!
This will be my second ride with any meaningful time using my new Shimano dynohub and Supernova E3 Pro light. I'll give some feedback on that combo in the post-ride report. I did a couple of minor adjustments to the Brooks saddle as well, by moving it slightly forward and a very, very slight height adjustment. I don't think the height will be a big change, as I swap seatposts between the 'racing' seat/seatpost and the brevet post/seat, so the height changes regularly.
While the Natchez Trace isn't my most favorite road to ride, it will be good time to just chill intellectually and emotionally, after the recent upheavals with work and such. I do look forward to the mind-numbing monotony of the Trace in that regard. Hey - maybe I'll download War And Peace and listen to that on the ipod?
........... now to get the ride on!
This will be my second ride with any meaningful time using my new Shimano dynohub and Supernova E3 Pro light. I'll give some feedback on that combo in the post-ride report. I did a couple of minor adjustments to the Brooks saddle as well, by moving it slightly forward and a very, very slight height adjustment. I don't think the height will be a big change, as I swap seatposts between the 'racing' seat/seatpost and the brevet post/seat, so the height changes regularly.
While the Natchez Trace isn't my most favorite road to ride, it will be good time to just chill intellectually and emotionally, after the recent upheavals with work and such. I do look forward to the mind-numbing monotony of the Trace in that regard. Hey - maybe I'll download War And Peace and listen to that on the ipod?
........... now to get the ride on!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Movin' on UP! The dueling 300's
Hell, the 400k is this weekend, so I had better get something posted before I forget all the details of the TN and KY 300k's ridden recently. Since I've not yet taken any pictures during the rides this year, it's not as easy to keep track of all of the events, but both of these 300's had some pretty memorable events that I'll not soon forget.
The TN 300k:
I've ridden this route before - actually last year (2011). It was after that ride last year that I concluded that my heart just wasn't into pursuing another full brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600k rides), let alone another 1,200. I was totally shattered after finishing that ride last year.
Coming into this ride, I had already survived the AL 200, improved on my TN 200k time from the last time I did that route, and had a good ride on the KY 200, even though the wind was an issue for Steve Rice and I. I felt like I had pretty good legs, and mentally was feeling pretty tough. I think that Alabama ride was what helped in the confidence boost.
I was bummed to hear Steve Phillips report that his day was over, even before leaving the parking lot! He had a pedal that was busted. I suggested that it would then be a good opportunity to do one-leg drills for the day, but he didn't see it that way. I was looking forward to riding with him. Dave Penegar was there, and let me know pretty quick that he was going much easier than we did the TN 200 a few weeks prior. First time randonneur Bob Butsch was there. He's the fiancee of fellow Indy transplant and teammate, Chrysa Malosh. We swapped a number of emails prior to this ride. He is a really strong rider and actually finished just ahead of me. No - a brevet is NOT a race, but I do like to try to improve on my previous times. One of these days I'll learn to not put that pressure on myself. Jeff Bauer was in attendance as well, which was nice. His business has taken big chunks of riding time away, so his form is well below what this 'legend' is capable of.
OH - how can I forget George. George Hiscox is always good for a laugh, and this time was no exception.
For the most part, this is a 'flat' route, with the exception of the big climb up the plateau to Sewanee. On paper, it doesn't look so bad, but this climb seems to really take it out of me. The ride down was nondescript, and had the riders in the lead group sticking together pretty well down to the George Dickell distillery. It was on this climb that Jeff decided to back down the effort, and Bob dropped me to go on ahead with the other, skinny guys that can go uphill better than me. When I finished the climb up to Sewanee, I decided to not have a sit-down lunch and just get my brevet card signed and move on. I could hear thunder, and knew weather could be an issue (it was later on), so decided to move on out. I passed George as he was on his way out, looking to finish solo.
I felt much better than I did at the turnaround last year, and was looking forward to seeing if I could finish ahead of the weather.
With about 100k left in the ride, Bob and another rider caught up to me. They had a nice lunch up in Sewanee but really made good time on the way back. I just couldn't keep up with them in the rolling terrain, so let them ride off ahead.
When making my way by the Dickell distillery on the return trip, I saw a bike saddle laying in the road. My first thought was, "oh dear, someone has been hit by a car!" I rode back and forth along the ditch, and when convinced that wasn't the case, set my sights on getting back to Nashville. After riding about 20 miles or so, I saw a rider up in the distance.. it looked like George (it was).. it looked like he was standing and pedaling (he was).. Oh damn. That was his saddle that was laying in the road! What other rider would willingly ride 100k with NO saddle? George Hiscox, that's who! I couldn't wait to get up to him and needle him about it and hear the story. For those that don't ride much, standing and pedaling isn't a big deal for a while. But for 60 miles? NO friggin' way would I do that. At one of the last controls I tried to convince him to at least buy a roll of paper towels to somehow rig up to give him some relive and sit - even if for a few moments here and there. No dice. It's George, after all. The looks he got from the locals when trying to explain not only what we were doing, but why he didn't have a seat on his bike.
With about 40 to go, I could see storm clouds behind me. Then lightning. LOTS of lightning! I put the hammer down as much as I could at that point, but no luck. With about 20 miles to go, it rained.. HARD. Great big fat rain. As I was nearing the Brentwood area, Wilson Pike was closed due to a vehicle smacking a utility pole. I sought refuge under the awning of a church with two other riders. After the rain passed, we rode in together.
For the data geeks, below is the Strava info. Click and enjoy!
The KY 300k:
OK - to keep this post to a respectable length, I'll not belabor the details of this ride. A couple of things to note, though.
Fellow randonneur Todd Willams and Alex Meade were out ahead of all of us (like usual), in the predawn light. Todd was hit from behind by a vehicle going about 60mph - and he then took Alex out. I'm grateful that my good friend Micah wasn't with them, as he may not be with US anymore.
The car:
OH - forgot to mention that this driver, after hitting Todd and leaving him laying for dead in the middle of the road. TOOK OFF. About 15 minutes later he decided it would be a good idea to come back to the scene.
A bike wheel should be round, right? Here is the rear wheel post-impact:
Todd is back on the bike, albeit with a broken back, and the lingering possibility of losing a kidney. Alex stayed at the scene until the police officer on the scene took Todd back to the start. That put him about 45 minutes behind me and my riding partner on that day, Mark Rougeux - yeah, being the bona fide badass that he is, Alex, after nearly being killed in an accident got back on the bike and actually caught up with Mark and I about 30 miles after the halfway point. Insane! Ultimately, I rode the rest of the ride with Alex, and we had great conversation about all things biking and non-biking. I typically see Alex only for a few minutes before a ride starts and he and the really fast guys take off like a shot. It's amazing that he even could ride after that, but was really feeling sore by the end of the ride.
Thank god Micah wasn't with them. Also am so grateful that Todd survived and will be okay. The kicker? The driver, after nearly killing a man, leaving the scene (but coming back... assuming it was him that was driving) - was cited for 'INATTENTION'. That's just obscene. Come on Kentucky - get it right!
The TN 300k:
I've ridden this route before - actually last year (2011). It was after that ride last year that I concluded that my heart just wasn't into pursuing another full brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600k rides), let alone another 1,200. I was totally shattered after finishing that ride last year.
Coming into this ride, I had already survived the AL 200, improved on my TN 200k time from the last time I did that route, and had a good ride on the KY 200, even though the wind was an issue for Steve Rice and I. I felt like I had pretty good legs, and mentally was feeling pretty tough. I think that Alabama ride was what helped in the confidence boost.
I was bummed to hear Steve Phillips report that his day was over, even before leaving the parking lot! He had a pedal that was busted. I suggested that it would then be a good opportunity to do one-leg drills for the day, but he didn't see it that way. I was looking forward to riding with him. Dave Penegar was there, and let me know pretty quick that he was going much easier than we did the TN 200 a few weeks prior. First time randonneur Bob Butsch was there. He's the fiancee of fellow Indy transplant and teammate, Chrysa Malosh. We swapped a number of emails prior to this ride. He is a really strong rider and actually finished just ahead of me. No - a brevet is NOT a race, but I do like to try to improve on my previous times. One of these days I'll learn to not put that pressure on myself. Jeff Bauer was in attendance as well, which was nice. His business has taken big chunks of riding time away, so his form is well below what this 'legend' is capable of.
OH - how can I forget George. George Hiscox is always good for a laugh, and this time was no exception.
For the most part, this is a 'flat' route, with the exception of the big climb up the plateau to Sewanee. On paper, it doesn't look so bad, but this climb seems to really take it out of me. The ride down was nondescript, and had the riders in the lead group sticking together pretty well down to the George Dickell distillery. It was on this climb that Jeff decided to back down the effort, and Bob dropped me to go on ahead with the other, skinny guys that can go uphill better than me. When I finished the climb up to Sewanee, I decided to not have a sit-down lunch and just get my brevet card signed and move on. I could hear thunder, and knew weather could be an issue (it was later on), so decided to move on out. I passed George as he was on his way out, looking to finish solo.
I felt much better than I did at the turnaround last year, and was looking forward to seeing if I could finish ahead of the weather.
With about 100k left in the ride, Bob and another rider caught up to me. They had a nice lunch up in Sewanee but really made good time on the way back. I just couldn't keep up with them in the rolling terrain, so let them ride off ahead.
When making my way by the Dickell distillery on the return trip, I saw a bike saddle laying in the road. My first thought was, "oh dear, someone has been hit by a car!" I rode back and forth along the ditch, and when convinced that wasn't the case, set my sights on getting back to Nashville. After riding about 20 miles or so, I saw a rider up in the distance.. it looked like George (it was).. it looked like he was standing and pedaling (he was).. Oh damn. That was his saddle that was laying in the road! What other rider would willingly ride 100k with NO saddle? George Hiscox, that's who! I couldn't wait to get up to him and needle him about it and hear the story. For those that don't ride much, standing and pedaling isn't a big deal for a while. But for 60 miles? NO friggin' way would I do that. At one of the last controls I tried to convince him to at least buy a roll of paper towels to somehow rig up to give him some relive and sit - even if for a few moments here and there. No dice. It's George, after all. The looks he got from the locals when trying to explain not only what we were doing, but why he didn't have a seat on his bike.
With about 40 to go, I could see storm clouds behind me. Then lightning. LOTS of lightning! I put the hammer down as much as I could at that point, but no luck. With about 20 miles to go, it rained.. HARD. Great big fat rain. As I was nearing the Brentwood area, Wilson Pike was closed due to a vehicle smacking a utility pole. I sought refuge under the awning of a church with two other riders. After the rain passed, we rode in together.
For the data geeks, below is the Strava info. Click and enjoy!
The KY 300k:
OK - to keep this post to a respectable length, I'll not belabor the details of this ride. A couple of things to note, though.
Fellow randonneur Todd Willams and Alex Meade were out ahead of all of us (like usual), in the predawn light. Todd was hit from behind by a vehicle going about 60mph - and he then took Alex out. I'm grateful that my good friend Micah wasn't with them, as he may not be with US anymore.
The car:
OH - forgot to mention that this driver, after hitting Todd and leaving him laying for dead in the middle of the road. TOOK OFF. About 15 minutes later he decided it would be a good idea to come back to the scene.
A bike wheel should be round, right? Here is the rear wheel post-impact:
Todd is back on the bike, albeit with a broken back, and the lingering possibility of losing a kidney. Alex stayed at the scene until the police officer on the scene took Todd back to the start. That put him about 45 minutes behind me and my riding partner on that day, Mark Rougeux - yeah, being the bona fide badass that he is, Alex, after nearly being killed in an accident got back on the bike and actually caught up with Mark and I about 30 miles after the halfway point. Insane! Ultimately, I rode the rest of the ride with Alex, and we had great conversation about all things biking and non-biking. I typically see Alex only for a few minutes before a ride starts and he and the really fast guys take off like a shot. It's amazing that he even could ride after that, but was really feeling sore by the end of the ride.
Thank god Micah wasn't with them. Also am so grateful that Todd survived and will be okay. The kicker? The driver, after nearly killing a man, leaving the scene (but coming back... assuming it was him that was driving) - was cited for 'INATTENTION'. That's just obscene. Come on Kentucky - get it right!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
3 X 200k Report
Welcome to the new spot! I need to spruce things up around here, but more than likely will post my ride reports here going forward. I have also had some people recommend some posts on gear that I use and abuse.
For those that may be interested, previous posts can be found here.
I've been tossing around the idea the past couple of years, of doing another brevet series and perhaps even committing to doing another 1,200km ride. Passe for some, but I remember vividly how taxing that was on my body and mind. Maybe it was more the DOUBLE series I did leading up to the 1,200, than the 1,200 itself? Who knows. I do know that I had more seat time that year than ever before.
In 2011, the plan was to test the waters and see if I wanted to commit. I tested. I did not commit. Same plan coming into 2012 - ride a few long ones and see how the mind responded. Since I knew the body would rebel, I decided to not listen to the legs. (Jens Voigt says, "shut up, legs!")
No plan, really other than to just ride at least a couple of 200's and see. The 2nd or 3rd 200k in my area was the Mountain Music 200k, which is a relatively new series put on by RBA and friend, Steve Phillips. I'll not belabor the details, but when I committed to doing this ride, the forecast called for temps in the mid 50's and light winds. At the time we left Fort Payne, it was barely above freezing, and a steady 15-20mph wind. OH - and we had sideways snow going up to the top of lookout mountain where it was a balmy 19 degrees at the top. Yeah - I was bummed.
This was a ride of survival, literally. I kept thinking, 'just get me halfway' and I'll have no choice but to do the whole ride.
Between freezing water bottles, frigid temps, and battling darkness for which I was ill prepared (major Randonneur faux paux) I discovered the mind and heart was pretty well ready to slug it out with the 'quitter' demons. Those little voices that try to tell you it's okay to bail on a ride. I didn't. It was perhaps the hardest last 50 miles I've ever ridden due to the wind. Take a look:
Mountain Music 200k
OK - so after the confidence boost of gutting out a pretty tough first 100+ mile ride in over 7 months, I decided to grab another - this one closer to home.
It was a great ride in cooler temps. I shared the day with Dave Penegar and Bob Hess - both from Knoxville. It was a great contrast to have fun conversation and fellow humans for the day, instead of a cold howling wind and freezing water bottles in Alabama. I spent the majority of the time on the front, where oddly I would rather be on these rides. I don't know why that is - but I struggle to even stay with a pack when on the back. Dave and Bob didn't seem to mind me towing them around most of the day, shielding them from the wind. haha
Kingston Springs 200k
Starting to feel like my interest was there for some more long stuff, it was time to visit with my Kentucky peeps, whom are responsible for shepherding me around my first century rides, and introducing me to Randonneuring. Another breezy day, and a bit chilly but not too bad. I had a great day riding with KY RBA Steve Rice, and later Dave King joined in with us. We also had a patient Ted ?? from Columbus, OH who was obviously significantly stronger than us, but seemed more interested in being with others, than hammering off the front. Even with the bonus miles, I felt pretty good at the end of this one. Actually eager to move up to a 300k. A very positive sign considering the suffering I went thru last year on that 300.
KY 200k
The TN 300 goes down to Sewanee, up the hill to University Of The South and back. Not quite as hilly as the previous rides, but more exposed, so wind could be a bigger factor. I'm hoping to cut a nice chunk of time of off last year's ride. We'll see how that all goes!
Still not commitment as to how deep I'll go into the distance stuff. I ride for the enjoyment - period. I race for the enjoyment and fun - period. I feel lucky to have the two vastly different styles and disciplines to keep things interesting. At some point this spring, I'll need to start some really intense training so I don't embarrass myself OR my team when it's time to begin criterium racing.
For those that may be interested, previous posts can be found here.
I've been tossing around the idea the past couple of years, of doing another brevet series and perhaps even committing to doing another 1,200km ride. Passe for some, but I remember vividly how taxing that was on my body and mind. Maybe it was more the DOUBLE series I did leading up to the 1,200, than the 1,200 itself? Who knows. I do know that I had more seat time that year than ever before.
In 2011, the plan was to test the waters and see if I wanted to commit. I tested. I did not commit. Same plan coming into 2012 - ride a few long ones and see how the mind responded. Since I knew the body would rebel, I decided to not listen to the legs. (Jens Voigt says, "shut up, legs!")
No plan, really other than to just ride at least a couple of 200's and see. The 2nd or 3rd 200k in my area was the Mountain Music 200k, which is a relatively new series put on by RBA and friend, Steve Phillips. I'll not belabor the details, but when I committed to doing this ride, the forecast called for temps in the mid 50's and light winds. At the time we left Fort Payne, it was barely above freezing, and a steady 15-20mph wind. OH - and we had sideways snow going up to the top of lookout mountain where it was a balmy 19 degrees at the top. Yeah - I was bummed.
This was a ride of survival, literally. I kept thinking, 'just get me halfway' and I'll have no choice but to do the whole ride.
Between freezing water bottles, frigid temps, and battling darkness for which I was ill prepared (major Randonneur faux paux) I discovered the mind and heart was pretty well ready to slug it out with the 'quitter' demons. Those little voices that try to tell you it's okay to bail on a ride. I didn't. It was perhaps the hardest last 50 miles I've ever ridden due to the wind. Take a look:
Mountain Music 200k
OK - so after the confidence boost of gutting out a pretty tough first 100+ mile ride in over 7 months, I decided to grab another - this one closer to home.
It was a great ride in cooler temps. I shared the day with Dave Penegar and Bob Hess - both from Knoxville. It was a great contrast to have fun conversation and fellow humans for the day, instead of a cold howling wind and freezing water bottles in Alabama. I spent the majority of the time on the front, where oddly I would rather be on these rides. I don't know why that is - but I struggle to even stay with a pack when on the back. Dave and Bob didn't seem to mind me towing them around most of the day, shielding them from the wind. haha
Kingston Springs 200k
Starting to feel like my interest was there for some more long stuff, it was time to visit with my Kentucky peeps, whom are responsible for shepherding me around my first century rides, and introducing me to Randonneuring. Another breezy day, and a bit chilly but not too bad. I had a great day riding with KY RBA Steve Rice, and later Dave King joined in with us. We also had a patient Ted ?? from Columbus, OH who was obviously significantly stronger than us, but seemed more interested in being with others, than hammering off the front. Even with the bonus miles, I felt pretty good at the end of this one. Actually eager to move up to a 300k. A very positive sign considering the suffering I went thru last year on that 300.
KY 200k
The TN 300 goes down to Sewanee, up the hill to University Of The South and back. Not quite as hilly as the previous rides, but more exposed, so wind could be a bigger factor. I'm hoping to cut a nice chunk of time of off last year's ride. We'll see how that all goes!
Still not commitment as to how deep I'll go into the distance stuff. I ride for the enjoyment - period. I race for the enjoyment and fun - period. I feel lucky to have the two vastly different styles and disciplines to keep things interesting. At some point this spring, I'll need to start some really intense training so I don't embarrass myself OR my team when it's time to begin criterium racing.
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