The crits were pretty fun yesterday... once they actually STARTED! There were two bad crashes in the W123 field and by the time the 35+ race started we were 1.5 hrs late.
It was pretty hot, and I took an earlier flyer with Chris from Lombardi which hurt a lot more than it should have. They cut the race short to 40 min and it wasn't even that I don't think, so not much of a chance for games.
Brian got away with two Specialized, Bubba?, and some others, but strangely Specialized were the ones trying to chase it down with a little bit of MS help. Tim bridged up to an intermediate group for a while, but that came back. I sat at second and third wheel feeling pretty decent. The Special guys started to get tired of pulling when big Ken Carpenter came up for the last big pull to finally catch the break with about a lap to go.
I was that Hernandez and Bubba still were off the front a bit. Innes was trying to get to them and I got on his wheel with a half lap to go (don't forget these are big laps). He sat up before he got there, and I burned a match to get there myself. Perhaps not the best move cause Bubba died after the last turn, and then Larry comes burning down the straight with some Special guys in tow. He also had Briggs and Brian though. Briggs attacked, but Brian was able to come around him for the win.
Good to get the win with the small team!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
kumbayaa my ass
I can be a grouch.
We're doing 'teambuilding' today in Monterey. My idea of building a team is 'get ur ass to work and be proud of the result'. I'm going along with the feelgood version for today tho. Actually I have to.
We're doing 'teambuilding' today in Monterey. My idea of building a team is 'get ur ass to work and be proud of the result'. I'm going along with the feelgood version for today tho. Actually I have to.
John took umbrage with my entry yesterday where it appeared that I blamed him for drinking too much beer. Well if the shoe fits, as they say, John.
He suggested I dig out the text messages, suggesting that they would support his side of the story, which is that *I* instigate the pitcher buying. I've done so and will post them later. Rest assured, I have always been dragged to the bar.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sun shining through the wire boat
Really liked this pic of the Sunday crew working. The morning light shining through the hull. They plaster this weekend and hope to stop by after Wente RR to see them work on it. The plasterers are pros that are usually working on houses I assume, and this job must be something new for them, no? no right angles, all flowing curves.
One door closes and another opens
Not sure that's the right analogy, but what I'm trying to say is that Mr Science leaves the 3's just as Cozza enters them.
(Maury, I can't link to your nonexistent blog, get with the program, your kids would be impressed. I mean they would make of fun of you to begin with, but would ultimately get used to it, like the spandex.)
Both of these guys will be happy with the transition. Maury finally gets to climb with guys equal to him (for now). Hoping he'll try some crits though. How old are you again Maury? I'm sure I've asked before but want to know if I'll finally get to race with you.
Mr Science gets to be in crits with attacks that go on and on, and then ultimately stick.
Good luck guys!
(Maury, I can't link to your nonexistent blog, get with the program, your kids would be impressed. I mean they would make of fun of you to begin with, but would ultimately get used to it, like the spandex.)
Both of these guys will be happy with the transition. Maury finally gets to climb with guys equal to him (for now). Hoping he'll try some crits though. How old are you again Maury? I'm sure I've asked before but want to know if I'll finally get to race with you.
Mr Science gets to be in crits with attacks that go on and on, and then ultimately stick.
Good luck guys!
Another thing I do every year!
Which is think I can ignore climbing hills and doing lots of miles. Go into the season and do 140,543 crits and 2 RRs. Skip doing a bunch of climbs on the weekends for said criteriums. All this leads to going into Wente RR feeling like a fatty.
Oh, and then there are those beers that I love. Been trying to keep the number down, but then John wants to go get a beer, or post Port we go to Cantaro's (spanish for 'I love Bohemia').
I swear I'll be down for Pescadero, which I find to be the best RR around.
One last thought on Wente. Can you name this dude who I know really loves this race? Nice face!
Oh, and then there are those beers that I love. Been trying to keep the number down, but then John wants to go get a beer, or post Port we go to Cantaro's (spanish for 'I love Bohemia').
I swear I'll be down for Pescadero, which I find to be the best RR around.
One last thought on Wente. Can you name this dude who I know really loves this race? Nice face!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Morgan territories
Went to Lanesplitters after. Damn that Cask Hop Rye was good!
Lagier boatbuilders
So background on yesterday's posts: in my good friend Robert Lagier's family, boatbuilding and sailing goes back three generations. His dad has built 34 boats and his grandad was a boatbuilder in WWII (big ships in this case), and both were in construction. During their lives they are always building something, usually a house or a boat.
The boats that they do for themselves are 30 to 50 sailboats. Wood, steel, or ferro-cement for material, and never, ever fiberglass. Fiberglass is considered a dilettante for these guys: just wrong. 'Like a floating bathtub' is how they describe the sterile material. But then everything about these guys says that they prefer an older age: hard work, beautful workmanship, self reliance, anti consumers.
Paul, Robert's dad, is also an almond farmer in Ripon (don't forget to pronouce it ăm'ənd), and that's where he builds his boats. They are later hauled to Stockton to be christened.
They are also sailors of course. Robert has single handed his grandad's 1962 wood boat, the Ave Del Mar, to Tahiti. Paul regularly sails his handiwork to Baja and Hawaii, the current vessel being a 40 foot steel boat: Dolce Vita (wife Erlene is Italian-American and very proud of it).
They inspired me to five years of wood boat ownership myself. I owned a 27 foot 1962Herschoff called Sona Maraudh, which while very fun to sail and very beautiful to look at, overwelmed me with work. I was spending all weekend, every weekend to get it ready for the sailing season. Had some amazing times sailing her. I think I need to become a millionaire before getting my next so I can have a crew working on it. Also realized: I just don't have that farmer ethic that the Lagiers display. IE, I'm lazy!
The boats that they do for themselves are 30 to 50 sailboats. Wood, steel, or ferro-cement for material, and never, ever fiberglass. Fiberglass is considered a dilettante for these guys: just wrong. 'Like a floating bathtub' is how they describe the sterile material. But then everything about these guys says that they prefer an older age: hard work, beautful workmanship, self reliance, anti consumers.
Paul, Robert's dad, is also an almond farmer in Ripon (don't forget to pronouce it ăm'ənd), and that's where he builds his boats. They are later hauled to Stockton to be christened.
They are also sailors of course. Robert has single handed his grandad's 1962 wood boat, the Ave Del Mar, to Tahiti. Paul regularly sails his handiwork to Baja and Hawaii, the current vessel being a 40 foot steel boat: Dolce Vita (wife Erlene is Italian-American and very proud of it).
They inspired me to five years of wood boat ownership myself. I owned a 27 foot 1962Herschoff called Sona Maraudh, which while very fun to sail and very beautiful to look at, overwelmed me with work. I was spending all weekend, every weekend to get it ready for the sailing season. Had some amazing times sailing her. I think I need to become a millionaire before getting my next so I can have a crew working on it. Also realized: I just don't have that farmer ethic that the Lagiers display. IE, I'm lazy!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Ferro cement boatbuilding
Boom!
This pic didn't come out well, but it's of the Manteca Sports Club, which is a shooting range.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Saturday Plans
I've decided tomorrow I will ride out to my friend's house in Ripon (out by Modesto). If anyone has some good routes through Valley from Patterson Pass to Ripon, let me have it...
It's taken me most of the week to recover from that 85 mile break on Sunday, I'm just wiped out. The Port ride didn't help either, should have sat in!
Was nice to see the Port get some reportage in Beth's interview of Karla, by the by. This last week we saw some new characters come out. I'm thinking the summer out at the POO is going to be rippin'.
It's taken me most of the week to recover from that 85 mile break on Sunday, I'm just wiped out. The Port ride didn't help either, should have sat in!
Was nice to see the Port get some reportage in Beth's interview of Karla, by the by. This last week we saw some new characters come out. I'm thinking the summer out at the POO is going to be rippin'.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
spirit of the Coyote
when I saw the coyote run across the road after a lap of the Madera RR on Sunday, I knew the break would stick. they let me roll off the front a mile in, I didn't take it anymore seriously than they did. I figured I could help Vinnie by making it interesting.
we started with four riders, then three. three laps in, and two to go, we only had thirty seconds. the third rider gave up and I told tim farlane (sic?) we should still keep it up. I could see the pack attacking each other and Vinnie and galvin (bmc) were able to bridge across. off we went with Vinnie and pulling really hard, tim pulling, and galvin... not pulling.
I used myself up to try and get Vinnie more time. managed to stay in front of pack and Vince got third, moving up two spots in gc to 4th, 9 seconds out of 3rd. Matthis and Hunt stayed 1-2, Willinger in 3rd.
good fun all around.
we started with four riders, then three. three laps in, and two to go, we only had thirty seconds. the third rider gave up and I told tim farlane (sic?) we should still keep it up. I could see the pack attacking each other and Vinnie and galvin (bmc) were able to bridge across. off we went with Vinnie and pulling really hard, tim pulling, and galvin... not pulling.
I used myself up to try and get Vinnie more time. managed to stay in front of pack and Vince got third, moving up two spots in gc to 4th, 9 seconds out of 3rd. Matthis and Hunt stayed 1-2, Willinger in 3rd.
good fun all around.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Most Endearing Race Award
This award goes to the Classic Santa Cruz Criterium. It's got it all:
-Santa Cruz style irregular course (industrial park this ain't)
-That little pothole after the hairpin that they never fix year after year
-Beautiful little descent
-First bump
-Second bump
-False flat that really hurts as everyone speeds up, better grab a wheel!
And hell: it's in Santa Cruz. Bunch of funny characters wandering around, the beach...
You can stay the night in the middle of the course in El View (Spanish for The View), roll out of bed watch some races out the back window, roll up to the Start.
Never been able to win a Tshirt in all these years of my favorite race. Now I have t
wo!
-Santa Cruz style irregular course (industrial park this ain't)
-That little pothole after the hairpin that they never fix year after year
-Beautiful little descent
-First bump
-Second bump
-False flat that really hurts as everyone speeds up, better grab a wheel!
And hell: it's in Santa Cruz. Bunch of funny characters wandering around, the beach...You can stay the night in the middle of the course in El View (Spanish for The View), roll out of bed watch some races out the back window, roll up to the Start.
Never been able to win a Tshirt in all these years of my favorite race. Now I have t
wo!
Martinez P/1/2 mayhem
Look at Brian in picture from last post. Tranquilly contemplating his 35+ win. While the p1/2 had less crashes than the 35+ (I think I heard at least four there), they made up for it with how spectacular the final lap was.
To set it up: a five man break was up the road for the last 20 minutes or so with two Rocks, Bissel, Reaney, and Justin (BPG). They weren't coming back, though we did bring it down to 15 seconds or so. Last lap CalGiant sets up a train which derailed into turn two. Sounds like Dibble went down first, taking out two teammates or so, Bosch, Henning (broken collarbone), McCook (broken wrist). Kind of blew up all the guys racing for the last twenty money spots (25th was still good for $65!). John held on for 15th. I had to brake some for the crash but got 22nd.
Eric got that last $65 spot. Those three spots were stil worth almost $300 combined. Great to have a payday race like that once in a while. Shell giving back some of that money I've spent driving to the Central Valley for the last two months.
Anyway, Brian isn't doing too bad: more skin gone, and no more bikes to ride, but looks to be back for Madera.
To set it up: a five man break was up the road for the last 20 minutes or so with two Rocks, Bissel, Reaney, and Justin (BPG). They weren't coming back, though we did bring it down to 15 seconds or so. Last lap CalGiant sets up a train which derailed into turn two. Sounds like Dibble went down first, taking out two teammates or so, Bosch, Henning (broken collarbone), McCook (broken wrist). Kind of blew up all the guys racing for the last twenty money spots (25th was still good for $65!). John held on for 15th. I had to brake some for the crash but got 22nd.
Eric got that last $65 spot. Those three spots were stil worth almost $300 combined. Great to have a payday race like that once in a while. Shell giving back some of that money I've spent driving to the Central Valley for the last two months.
Anyway, Brian isn't doing too bad: more skin gone, and no more bikes to ride, but looks to be back for Madera.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
martinez
There were breaks throughout the race but nothing stuck for long until Phipps and I got off with 10 to go. We got a pretty good gap but were caught with 1/2 lap to go. The line was pretty stretched out though, so it wasn't like the whole field caught us, it was more that Bosch, Hutch, and Scott D caught us. I let the gap open a bit while keeping speed up, in case anyone else wanted to chase them. No one did and I sprinted in for fifth. Bosch took those other two guys in the sprint for first.
Eric would have gotten top ten too I think, but caught up in crash with two turns to go.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Hanford fun
Brian couldn't resist the money and staggered into this race all bandaged up and hurting from earlier 35 race. That gave us Brian,Eric, Tim and me.
The race started fast with the Symetrics rider (Canadian national champ) pulling hard at the front. it didn't take long for him to get away with Hansen, ajm, and bjm. they disappeared all too quickly, withOzzie and Copeland covering all our attempts to chase or break.
Finally, with around 25 min to go I got away with Fraga, Hernendez,and Copeland, who was now willing to work since we weren't a threat to the guys up the road. We quickly got a big gap and we just rolled tilthe last lap.Justin clipped his pedal in the lst turn and I was on his wheel so hadto pull up. Copeland had attacked just before and got 5th, I couldn'tmake up any more spots and got 8th. the whole team was in the money tho, 20 deep. only 22 finishers!
The race started fast with the Symetrics rider (Canadian national champ) pulling hard at the front. it didn't take long for him to get away with Hansen, ajm, and bjm. they disappeared all too quickly, withOzzie and Copeland covering all our attempts to chase or break.
Finally, with around 25 min to go I got away with Fraga, Hernendez,and Copeland, who was now willing to work since we weren't a threat to the guys up the road. We quickly got a big gap and we just rolled tilthe last lap.Justin clipped his pedal in the lst turn and I was on his wheel so hadto pull up. Copeland had attacked just before and got 5th, I couldn'tmake up any more spots and got 8th. the whole team was in the money tho, 20 deep. only 22 finishers!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
BMC comes to town
not sure why these guys descended on the Ronde this weekend sure made
it fun. more interesting cause was first time w a p1/2 field.
I thought the race was a death march. lots of wind. single file. we
finished with 25 out of 75.
once the break was gone I wanted to help phipps, uthman, christian at
working but I felt awful, just wanted to go home. john worked some
too.
last lap , got enough energy to take john to the front then lead him
to the last turn. by his own admission he waited little too long and
usa scratch champ jumped us with reaney in tow. john got on their
wheel for 3rd in pack sprint, 8th overall. his first top ten and nice
work.
it fun. more interesting cause was first time w a p1/2 field.
I thought the race was a death march. lots of wind. single file. we
finished with 25 out of 75.
once the break was gone I wanted to help phipps, uthman, christian at
working but I felt awful, just wanted to go home. john worked some
too.
last lap , got enough energy to take john to the front then lead him
to the last turn. by his own admission he waited little too long and
usa scratch champ jumped us with reaney in tow. john got on their
wheel for 3rd in pack sprint, 8th overall. his first top ten and nice
work.
i'm going to say much about masters race, it was a sorry display on
many people's part: except for phipps (solo winner) and reaney ( solo
chaser ). sorry steve, jusy didn't have it that day.
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