So, last week I didn't do a blog. I'll tell you why: Jake had a bad race and was very upset about it. At Schooly Mill Jake went hard to win for the first 80% of the race, going off the front, but some mistakes in fueling and drinking, and the hard efforts caught up to him and he cracked bad on the last lap. He was very unhappy about it, very upset. But we talked about as a learning experience.
And Saturday we tried making the Rice Cakes from Allen Lim's "Feed Zone" cookbook. He had 2 before the race today.
Well, during the week I had to fly to California on Wednesday and home on Friday, for my 3rd week in a row of travel. Not good for me. But Rockburn is a great course for me. I've done well there, and this year's course was another perfect blend of speed and flow and technical demands. I got a decent start in the Elite 45+. Some chaos in the sand left most of us behind the front 10, but they are the Cat 1s and 2s. I was near George and Shawn Downey and Jon Hicks so I was doing ok. I was a little off that group fighing the wind on the 1st lap, but got up to them mid race and was able to go by them at some point. For the last lap I was battling with John Rogers, who has been riding really well this year. We went into the final U-Turns before the pavement finish, but when I tried to shift into the big ring to sprint (a mistake) the shift didn't happen and so I never had a chance to sprint. But I was 12th, which was good. I was happy with the guys I battled and beat, who have been beating me all year.
So then it was time for Jake to get ready. I told him a few things about the course and we talked about him riding smart.
Jake got a good start and sure enough jumped off the front pretty much immediately.
By the barriers and then climb mid lap he had a 50 meter gap. (you can watch a larger version of any of these videos by clicking on "YouTube" in the lower corner)
But when he came back out of the woods he was in 8th. He had crashed on some loose gravel.
He made his way forward through that group and got together with Jay Dove and another guy.
They had a sizeable gap on the rest of the field after 2 laps and were taking turns at the front.
Sand on Lap 3
Some photos by Doug Graham
Here's the end of the lap on the technical U-Turns before the pavement
Jake made his move, attacking just after the pavement right after this.
photo by Doug Graham
After the sand, which was about 1/4 of the way into the lap he had a big gap (that's Neil Shirmer going to tell him too). I'm not much of a fan of "heckling" but listen to the end of this clip:
The game was on. He had 2 laps to go and was off the front. What I didn't know was that his front tire had lost air. It only had 18psi when he was done so he was having to be careful in the corners (and he said he tried to put it in cruise a little to make it to the end)
Jay Dove put in a hard chase and ultimately closed to within 10 seconds. Here Jake gets the bell for the final lap. Jake had about 15 seconds with Jay chasing hard.
Jay was sliding around corners try to close, but Jake was clear for the win:
Doug got this great shot (we should get this done life size):
Photo by Doug
Photo by Doug
It was awesome. I'm so proud of him for coming back from the bad race last week. Thanks to his sponsors and supporters, like Bicycle Outfitters, Van Dessel bikes, Doug Graham, and Coach Sue Hefler. And thanks to AVC for the great prizes including a beer preme that I gladly accepted on his behalf (and am drinking now), although he did get a taste. Thanks to the guys in the Cat 3 races, like Jay and Larry who have been so great
This was his 2nd win as a Cat 3, which under USA Cycling rules means an automatic upgrade to Cat 2. He also has 25 points and needs only 10 to upgrade, so this evening we submitted his upgrade request. He is one of only 9 15-16 year old boys in the country who are Cat 2s. His goal for the season met. From now on, he races the Elite races, which are 60 Minutes (ouch).
Well, this weekend turned weird. We had never thought we were going to race the Patapsco CX race in Mount Airy, MD. I had to fly to California on Thursday for hearing on Friday and then fly home, scheduled to arrive around Midnight. So we were going to skip the Saturday race so that Jake would have fresh legs for the NCVC Sander Cyclocross race at Lily Ponds, a course that Jake should be able to crush.
But then Superstorm Sandy dumped too much water on Lily Ponds, literally 2 feet of standing water, so NCVC had to postpone the race, rescheduled to December 18. So we made the last minute decision to get our race in on Saturday at Patapsco. I would have crap legs, but it would let me get some points in the 45+ Cat 3/4 series in the Sportif Cup series.
I got to California and my email immediately informed me that the court had postponed the hearing until 11/15 and so my trip was pointless. But I got to fly back a little earlier, still arriving around 6pm on Friday.
It was pretty cold and the sky was gray, when me Jake and Liam got up early for the 1 hour drive. Temps were around 40, but then the wind came up big time and the wind chill got pretty cold. It seemed like December. I will note, as Soigneur Dad, that we have really got our car packing routine down pretty solid.
the view of the mountains from Mt. Airy
The course was hilly and challenging with a small sand pit just before the final 100 meters of pavement to the finish line.
Liam got a good start, but didn't have a great race, I thought.
Unfortunately, he had a bobble on a tricky uphill off-camber turn and his right shift lever hit a little tree, bending it. it worked but not properly.
He rode the sand the final lap, which was really good
He ended up 7th out of 10.
Following last week's lead, I did not warm up on the trainer, instead just used the laps of the course I did. Plus the wind was picking up and it was cold. I was shivering at the starting line. Based on series results I was on the front row. I started and just down the pavement didn't think we were going hard enough so I went hard on the front. This got me through the potential pinch points cleanly, but probably was too hard. I stayed with the top 5 for most of the first lap but that was probably too agressive. I started to loose pace and places. George Schultz and Kosta caught up to me but I couldn't stay on their wheel. This was a problem because I know George is 45+. Then I botched the Sand 2 laps and lost a place to another 45+ guy. The wind was tough. I felt like I was able to start going fast again for the last 1.5-2 laps, and caught one guy and was closing on George, but it was too late. I was 3rd in the 45+ and 14th overall. Not good. I blame the travel and the foolish start. Kosta finished 9th. Wish I could have stayed with him.
I quickly shifted into Jake mode as his race started immediately after mine. He also was on the front row. Crossresult.com had predicted that Jake would be second behind Andrew Weber of Wooden Wheels who is from Pennsylvania (and who it turns out won both races up there last weekend). He's the same guy who caught Jake on the last lap at Winchester.
Jake was about 3rd off the pavement.
But Jake immediately went to the front on the hill after the pavement and quickly had about a 20 yard gap on the field; Here's a photo by Tanner's Dad, Bill Browne, of Jake taking the front at the top of that climb, Tanner hot on his wheel (Bill had said to me at the end of the last year that Jake and Tanner would be on the podium of Cat 3 races this year, and he was right)*.
Photo by Bill Browne (thanks Bill)
By the second hill, Jake had a 30 yard gap, and then the guy in 2nd bobbled creating and even bigger gap. I was worried that he had gone too early. Jake won the Preme they had for first to the sand pit. By the time he came back into the mid lap it was him and....Andrew Weber off the front with Tanner Browne and one of his Bike Doctor teammates about 7 seconds back. Jake and Andrew worked together a bit and Tanner and his teammate were working hard to try and catch them. But after 2 or so laps the gap was solidly at 15 seconds. Andrew created a little gap after the 2nd lap, and the fight was then to close that gap. Jake and Andrew both botched the sand at one point. Which let the chasers get a little closer, but they opened it back up to 15 seconds.
here are a series of videos about "the gap" (and some you can see the gap to the chasers)
He was very close with 1 lap to go. Here are some coverage:
Mid lap final lap
the downhill heading back to the final half lap
Photo from Andy Fleming
Here he is just 4 seconds behind going into the last minute
And the final time through the sand.. jake was closing
But not to be. Jake was 2nd (and Andrew Weber 1st, just as crossresults.com predicted (damn them)
The pain of not winning (I wish I were good enough to suffer this)
After fighting off a late surge by others, Tanner's teammate took 3rd and Tanner fought well for 4th. Larry Miller made his way up to 5th after hovering around 7th much of the race.
We need to get him a Team Kit jacket so he can get out of his skinsuit
Still, a good race. It gives him plenty of points to upgrade to Cat 2, which he will do for the races in December (unless he wins before that and gets the "mandatory" upgrade under the rules). So, yeah, watch it guys in the 123 race, you've been warned, he's coming ;-)
Luke Klausen had a good race in the Cat 4 race, battling for the win also, but just coming up short for 2nd. Poor Andy Fleming destroyed his rear derailleur somehow (his great comment on FaceBook "My (dad's) wallet suffered DNFing")
After the race we went up to Patapsco Bike & Sport, which had sponsored the race, and used the Preme gift certificate to buy Jake some nice mid-weight gloves that would have been good for today's race (he wore heavy gloves and his hands were very sweaty). Thanks to the shop for the sponsorship.
*Jake & Tanner are two of the top 15 ranked 15-16 year olds in the country, but neither are going to Nationals, fyi, USA Cycling.
Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic. Forecasts were dire. Rain, wind, end of days. So, we loaded the CR-V up with all the foul weather gear. Rain pants, boots, even a bucket and bottles to wash bikes in the pits. I had been coordinating with Mark Skubis and Jeff Fleming about getting the tents to the parking lot. Jake, Liam, and I packed up the car at 7:15 to head to Anne Arundel County, just on the east side of the beltway, with no rain falling, but the radar showed a hug swath of rain just on the edge of Annapolis.
This is a new race, part of the Sportif Cup series. There was a very steep hill that was just rideable for me and Jake but many others were running. It was a bumpy course, a lot like the old Tacchino courses at Ida Lee park, with nice rolling terrain. At first in warm up I wasn't loving the course, but I will say that it rode with a better flow at race speed.
It was a pretty setting
Panarama shot with the iphone chopped this poor guy off
Liam went off first. Group of about 25 10-14 juniors. He got a terrible start and was stuck behind a bunch of people. The climbing and bumps don't work great for him (I noticed his saddle probably needs to go up too). He really settled into a position. He finished up 12th, not bad but not a super day for him. He can do better. (some photos by Iain Banks)
Liam in traffic at the start
Liam through the dip in the woods (by Iain Banks)
I did the 3/4 35+/45+ immediately after Liam. My main
goal was to beat Pete Lindeman for the 45+ win. I was on the second row and got a decent start but then was slowed by some bad traffic in the first
minute.
That's me getting off my bike in the melee (photo by Iain Banks)
added Monday AM: You can see me in 19th-20th by my count at bottom of hill (there shouldn't still be that stand still at that corner 200 meters after the start)
I was in top 20 but maybe 15-19th. Pete Lindeman was up
ahead. I was feeling ok and able to move forward; I passed some guys and
followed some wheels trying to pull toward Pete. I was passing at strategic
times to leap frog forward.
I passed these dudes (I think they're lapped 55+ traffic) (photo by Iain Banks)
At one point Patrick Dolan joined me and I followed
him a bit to try and get up to Pete. I was feeling ok. It became clear that my
advantage was on the hill. Mid race I had caught up to Pete and was close to
top 10 or just inside top 10. we had a small group of me and Pete and Patrick
and another or two. (as an aside, maybe someday Joe Jefferson will learn my name; I talk to him practically every weekend at this point, but I'm still just "Squadra Coppi" during races).With 3 laps to go I rode the hill as I had each lap and
created a small gap but Pete and Patrick caught back up after 3/4 of the lap. With 2 to go, same thing and this
time the gap was bigger and I held them behind me the whole lap.
On the move (by Iain Banks)
I knew if I
could get to the hill that would be the end. I did and it put a very big gap on
Pete. In fact, I had caught up with the group of 3 ahead of me; I got to the
back of them but couldn't get passed. I finished 7th
overall and won the 45+ subgroup by beating Pete. It was good to feel pretty decent the whole race.
Immediately after me, Jake lined up in the Men's Category 3/4. He was on the 2nd row as well. I didn't see it because I ran to the car to get his pit bike, but he finally got a decent start.
Jake tops the climb at the start (by Iain Banks)
When I got back he was in the second group and easily and quickly moved across to the front group. So he was in a group of 3 with Tanner Browne and another guy I don't know. They were off the front, but looking at each other a bit and a group was chasing so I yelled that they needed to stay on the gas. Jake applied some pressure and it hurt the 3rd guy. Going up the hill with 4 laps to go (so mid race) the 3rd guy clearly nearly stalled and Jake and Tanner were gone off the front. They were riding well. Not sure when but Jake opened a bit of a gap and Tanner had to change bikes as his rear tire was losing air. At that point Jake had 20 seconds. He extended it to 45 seconds with 2 laps to go, and he held it.
He came across for the win (I didn't get a great photo)
Jay Dove had fought his way up and got 2nd, with a guy from Winchester Wheelmen 3rd and Tanner 4th
It was incredible. I'm thrilled and proud. Jake now has the points to upgrade to Cat 2, which was his goal. He'll do some more Cat 3 races. If he wins again, it will be a mandatory upgrade.
At the same time as jake's race, Luke and Andy raced the 15-18. Luke won and Andy got 3rd after a tight sprint. So more HPC junior podium action
DCCX is the biggest race (in numbers) of the Super 8. I've done it every year since its inception. This year it was fast and flowing, but hard with seemingly no recovery.
Loren was out of the town since Friday so it was just us boys. On Saturday we went up and pre-rode the course. I was horrible for several laps but finally dialed my tire pressure and lines. Liam was running the steep off camber U-Turns but I convinced him to ride it to show him he could. Jake was going so fast that I had a hard time following (Jake said "did you do any hot laps?" and I said "yeah that one just following you" Jake responds "I wasn't going that hard" -- yeah, great, damn kids)
this morning we were running a bit late, but already had our numbers from Saturday so we were ok. Dan Klausen was just in front of us and we threw up the Coppi tent next to my car in the parking lot, which was nice.
Dan & Liam early
Liam before his race
It was a big group of 10-14 and Liam got a decent start, but someone crashed in front of him on the back side of the course which made him lose some spots. He came into the U-Turns looking good
But his front wheel slid out so he had to run (video by Jake's iphone). The Second lap (they only did 2) was ok. Liam was battling with Marc Klien's son and another boy from NCVC, but they were on mountain bikes so he was faster in some sections but they were good on the turns. Here he gets the ride the U-Turns on the second lap
He ended up 16th out of 30, so not as good as the past few weeks, but not horrible.
My race started well, perhaps too well, with me slotting into 5th or so in the prologue, but it was all backwards from there as I leaked power at an alarming rate. I got passed by 2 guys in national champion jerseys (both who started 1 minute behind me) Paul Curly, a living legend, and Fred Wittwer another legend. I ended up 19th. Yuck. We won't speak of it again.
Liam and I had some BBQ while the other races were on the course
Then it was time for Jake's race at 2pm. After missing Hyattsville with his injury he slipped to the 2nd row for the grid. It was fast and chaotic. I told him he had to get to the first turn by the pits in the top 5 or he'd get stuck.
Here they come off the pavement:
Ok, he wasn't bad. But then they came back around to the stair about 1 minute later and he'd slipped back to 16th. Not good
By the time they came off the backside of the course, Jake had moved up and was using the road hill to make time. But still was battling traffic at the U-Turns; a group of 5 was off the front already
By the time they came back around jake was in 7th. He came up the road hill with 3 guys on his wheel, and he just rode away from them.
At that point he was in pursuit mode. He had ridden laps 2 & 3 significantly faster than the leaders simply to get to where he was but the lead group of 5 was still ahead of him by maybe 15 seconds (I don't remember when he moved into 6th, but I think it was on the 3rd lap.
With 2.5 laps to go Jake caught up to Jay Dove (who won at Seneca last week) and they were 3rd and 4th (someone had dropped out of the lead group).
Jake and Jay went back and forth
I thought that Jake had the advantage on the climbs
With about 1 and a quarter laps to go Jake took John on the hill and gapped him in the soft grass leading into the U-Turn hill He was in 3rd and closing on 2nd (and I was going nuts; I was furiously live-tweeting and sending text messages to Loren who was driving home from NY)
Coming into the pits on the last lap, Jake was closing on the guy in 2nd.
At the right turn around the tree just past the pits, the guy in 2nd went down. He got back up but jake passed him on a little rise going toward the stairs. He was in 2nd with 1/2 a lap to go. No more video but by the U-Turns (which were immediately before the pavement finish) Jake had closed on Justin Matajasic who was in 1st and had won Rocktown last Sunday. Jake finished 2nd just 7 seconds behind 1st. Incredible. What a ride. If he had a better start and didn't have to spend so much energy catching he could have won (or if it was 1 lap longer). Jake was kinda plegmy afterward
Sinking in just after the race
Going hard is phlegmy work
Podium Boy is Back!
It was a beautiful two days. A big crowd. It was a great party. And what a huge result for Jake. A win has to be coming soon.
this poor guy caught his bike on a tree branch
Fall colors over the Armed Forces Retirement Home Cemetery
