Thursday, December 06, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Sweet Home Alabama Cross
Last Sunday, the wife (Carrie), the friend (Adam Newman) & I drove from Destin, FL to Montgomery for the AL State CX champs. We arrived at Fain Park to find a hill, lots of 180's, some mud and two run-ups.
Adam raced first in the B's and did much better than the previous day in Tally. After a few laps I handed off the pit responsibilities to my dad, who came down from the Ham to watch and help, so that I could get ready. Here's where I made my first mistake. Always pre-ride the course! Here's why.
The first lap of my race was fine. I was in contact with the first group and sitting in about 4th or 5th comfortably, which was my plan. On the second lap, I was approaching the mud pit and decided to take, what I thought, was a more conservative line. I was very wrong. As I cut across the mud, my rear wheel caught one of the ruts and put me down on my left side. Normally in cross, you expect to go down a couple of times, so I got up and went to remount my bike. The rear wheel wouldn't move at all. Also, my right brake wouldn't move. So I released the quick release on the brake and rode to the pit with only a front brake. I lost at least 1 or 2 minutes trying to get going. I grabbed my spare bike and went on hopping to get my main bike back after Adam and my dad got it working. Well this never happened.
Turns out the rear right seat stay failed going through some ruts in the mud and I went down! It really sucks because I really loved that bike. Fortunately none of my support crew told me this during the race b/c they knew I'd be pissed. After several bike exchanges, including one onto Adams bike (which has the brakes switched), I finally realized that I was MINUTES off the next guy and I was dead last! My crew was able to accommodate my request for a beer while riding and this became my secret weapon.
I caught three guys in the last two laps and ended up 5th place. Photo's are to come
Adam raced first in the B's and did much better than the previous day in Tally. After a few laps I handed off the pit responsibilities to my dad, who came down from the Ham to watch and help, so that I could get ready. Here's where I made my first mistake. Always pre-ride the course! Here's why.
The first lap of my race was fine. I was in contact with the first group and sitting in about 4th or 5th comfortably, which was my plan. On the second lap, I was approaching the mud pit and decided to take, what I thought, was a more conservative line. I was very wrong. As I cut across the mud, my rear wheel caught one of the ruts and put me down on my left side. Normally in cross, you expect to go down a couple of times, so I got up and went to remount my bike. The rear wheel wouldn't move at all. Also, my right brake wouldn't move. So I released the quick release on the brake and rode to the pit with only a front brake. I lost at least 1 or 2 minutes trying to get going. I grabbed my spare bike and went on hopping to get my main bike back after Adam and my dad got it working. Well this never happened.
Turns out the rear right seat stay failed going through some ruts in the mud and I went down! It really sucks because I really loved that bike. Fortunately none of my support crew told me this during the race b/c they knew I'd be pissed. After several bike exchanges, including one onto Adams bike (which has the brakes switched), I finally realized that I was MINUTES off the next guy and I was dead last! My crew was able to accommodate my request for a beer while riding and this became my secret weapon.
I caught three guys in the last two laps and ended up 5th place. Photo's are to come
Monday, December 03, 2007
1100 miles, no waffles, some mud & tons o fun!
this past weekend we (me, Carrie & our pal Adam) drove to Tallahassee for the second stop on the Florida state cyclocross series. We drove up Friday night and stayed at the well used la quinta inn. We vetured our way to the race venue on Saturday morning and found all the usual cross suspects were there. Adam & I gota good look at the course and understood that it was going to be a tuffy. It had many wonderful elements including; a paved uphill start/ finish, some great single track sections, some stairs to run-up, an off camber turn, super fast descents, a sand pit, and more!
My race went pretty well. I had a decent start and didn't get caught be hind any real mess ups in the first lap. I was with a couple of guys for the first two or so, and then on the third I had a slight gap on the doods behind me. Paul Kavan, who is an absolute monster was right ahead of me and I was feeling ok. I was told at be halfway, that I was in third. I knew that I didn't have a lot of ability to move up at that point but I still needed to ride clean to hold third. In the last lap, someone told me that Paul had a flat. I inmediatly gassed it to try and catch him. Well, karma kicked in, and I crashed hard into the barriers with 300 meters to go. When I went to remount, my rear wheel wouldn't move! I had the shoulder the bike and run for dear life!
Paul too was running and it became an uphill footrace to the line. Paul got in just ahead of me and then fourth place came screemin' in just behind me. It was a finish for the ages.
I'll right about our trip up to montgomery tomorrow.
My race went pretty well. I had a decent start and didn't get caught be hind any real mess ups in the first lap. I was with a couple of guys for the first two or so, and then on the third I had a slight gap on the doods behind me. Paul Kavan, who is an absolute monster was right ahead of me and I was feeling ok. I was told at be halfway, that I was in third. I knew that I didn't have a lot of ability to move up at that point but I still needed to ride clean to hold third. In the last lap, someone told me that Paul had a flat. I inmediatly gassed it to try and catch him. Well, karma kicked in, and I crashed hard into the barriers with 300 meters to go. When I went to remount, my rear wheel wouldn't move! I had the shoulder the bike and run for dear life!
Paul too was running and it became an uphill footrace to the line. Paul got in just ahead of me and then fourth place came screemin' in just behind me. It was a finish for the ages.
I'll right about our trip up to montgomery tomorrow.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Livin' Large this weekend
Me (Hank), Carrie and Adam G. Newman are headed to Tallahasee for the second stop on the Florida Cyclocross Series. It should be a good race given the terrain of the area. Hopefully it will rain, sleet, snow, be windy and humid for our races, you know, to make it cross worthy!
After the race we're headed to Destin to see my mom, sister and the kids. Hopefully Adam and I will get a chance to hit McGuire's Irish Pub on Saturday night! It's always a delight to show a new person that place.
On Sunday, we head up to Montgomery, AL for the Alabama State Cyclocross Championships. I hope I'll be able to race well aginst my cx bretheren from the old country, but we'll see. I'll post some photos and updates as they come
After the race we're headed to Destin to see my mom, sister and the kids. Hopefully Adam and I will get a chance to hit McGuire's Irish Pub on Saturday night! It's always a delight to show a new person that place.
On Sunday, we head up to Montgomery, AL for the Alabama State Cyclocross Championships. I hope I'll be able to race well aginst my cx bretheren from the old country, but we'll see. I'll post some photos and updates as they come
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
More to come
I know I've said it a million times but this time is different. I'm going to be better about updatng my blog. So feel free to criticize me if I don't follow through.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Sum Up 2007...... Thus Far!
Well, I got married to Carrie Pratt on March 31st in Tampa Florida. It was an awesome time. All of my best friends were there with a few exceptions. I was married in traditional Scottish attire. The Prince Charlie complete with family Kilt! My father was my best man, and my closest mates were grromsmen (also in Kilts!). Carrie and I had more fun at our wedding than anything else we had ever done. We only wished it could have lasted longer. The photo slideshow is below
http://robertburgephotography.com/show/hankcarrie/
I also started working at a new bike shop. Florida Bicycle Sports. It's a great shop that specializes in performance cycling and triathlon gear and services. Check us out!
The racing scene has been slow due to the Life/job change. I am still training, but lighter than usual. I have been holding off due to our 3 week honeymoon in France and Scotland that is in July/August. The next post will be a whole story and photos from that trip.
http://robertburgephotography.com/show/hankcarrie/
I also started working at a new bike shop. Florida Bicycle Sports. It's a great shop that specializes in performance cycling and triathlon gear and services. Check us out!
The racing scene has been slow due to the Life/job change. I am still training, but lighter than usual. I have been holding off due to our 3 week honeymoon in France and Scotland that is in July/August. The next post will be a whole story and photos from that trip.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
New Years Crit in Orlando
team Chainwheel Drive pulled out another 1-2 in Orlando yesterday. Brant Speed and I drove over after each having rung in the new year, on Sundsay night. We decided to race in the Category 4-5 race in order to score points towards our Cat. 3 upgrade that we are going after this year. The race started out relativly normal with your usual yahoo's in the race that are sketchy in turns and do not know proper race etiquette. There was no real strategy being played out by anyone, and our gameplan was to try and make a break with 5 laps to go in the 15 lap race. Well..... on lap 4 or 5, the race announcer said that their would be a prize for whoever won the next lap. Halfway through the 3/4 of a mile lap, Brant Speed (BS) said to me, "Do you want to go after the preeme?" To which I responded with, "Why not!"
I surged to the front and took the prize and then found that their were only 3 of us at the front of the group. The guy with BS and I said, "Do you guys want to keep working?" "Nah, it's too early," I said. Then BS said, "Ok let's go". SO we took off. We then dropped the other guy within the next half lap and we were on our own the whole rest of the way. In the last lap we decided to just go side by side to see who would have the best drag race to the finish. Well, it was BS who did and I took second on the road once again.
I will have my revenge though. Cyclocross season is upon us in Florida ans I know that I've got sweet skills!!
Here's the link to the photos
http://www.yourpictures.biz/gallery/2300286/16/120265217
check this one out
I surged to the front and took the prize and then found that their were only 3 of us at the front of the group. The guy with BS and I said, "Do you guys want to keep working?" "Nah, it's too early," I said. Then BS said, "Ok let's go". SO we took off. We then dropped the other guy within the next half lap and we were on our own the whole rest of the way. In the last lap we decided to just go side by side to see who would have the best drag race to the finish. Well, it was BS who did and I took second on the road once again.
I will have my revenge though. Cyclocross season is upon us in Florida ans I know that I've got sweet skills!!
Here's the link to the photos
http://www.yourpictures.biz/gallery/2300286/16/120265217
check this one out
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