This year Team CFC decided to end their season with a road race located in Springville, NY – Springville Road Race October 3rd, 2010. It’s going to be our first official road race of the season having only trained individually along with racing with our local GVCC club on Thursday nights. So far we have a good group going which includes Shannon, Braeger, Rich along with myself. We are looking to get more experience with road races along with having fun together as a group. Next season we are planning on riding at least 5 road races, training with the GVCC and our team along with including our overall mission of raising a good amount of money for the LiveStrong Challenge 2011 in Philly, PA. So far we have 4 members entered for this race: Springville Registration
Today Shannon and I rode with Dwight around the Chili area. We ended up riding 51 miles, which was mostly in the rain. Typically I do not ride in the rain and when we first arrived to Dwight’s it was cloudy but not raining. The stinking rain fooled us. It began to rain about 30 minutes into our ride and didn’t stop until we ended the ride. To top things off – CodeMonkey flatted with about 5 miles left to the ride. Other than the rain, it was great! Dwight brought us to a three courses that we actually ride with the GVCC. We were also able to gain some more knowledge from Dwight about racing and the sport. It’s always great riding with Dwight because he seems to bring everyones level to the top. My legs felt great and after getting used to water being everywhere I was really enjoying the ride. When I got home my wheels actually had water between the wheel and tube along with my clothes and shoes being absolutely soaked. Here’s my Garmin information from today:
Today we were finally able to get in our Skaneateles Lake ride (according to Braeger it is spelled as: skinny atlas lake)! As we were driving towards our destination the sky looked as if it was going to rain. Thankfully we were able to miss all the of the rain and enjoy a day of cool weather with overcast. The ride was quite challenging due to a variety of elevation grades. There was one point during the ride when I looked down and my Garmin read 12%. We rode a total of 43.84 with an elevation gain of 2,680.
Our small but growing team CFC was also able to ride with some new cyclists. The Skaneateles newspaper published a small blurb saying that we were going to ride around the lake and a rider actually came out to ride with us – Mike. He was a very nice and has had a lot of experience riding this lake. Shannon also brought a GVCC member Rich whom we met through the club. We talked Braeger and Western into coming out with us along with my girl Sarah. This was the first time that all three rode around this lake. I was quite impressed with all three, but I was especially impressed with Dan. This was only his fourth time cycling! Not only did he ride all 43 miles, he rode some great elevation grades. He’s new to the sport and I understand how he might have felt as he went up some of those hills. During some of my first rides I wanted to throw my bike in the lake and call it quits. There’s something about cycling that keeps you coming back and I do hope that we didn’t frustrate him. He should be proud of this accomplishment! and we’ll be nicer next time
Of course Sarah and Braeger did well too. Both showed strength powering up those hills. Shannon showed his form and rode extremely well around the lake. Sarah did get stung by a bee but I was able to pull out the stinger and she was able to ride on without anything swelling – thankfully! Dan the man also came prepared with a first aid kit.
Like I’ve said before – I have enjoyed every part of the GVCC and I have enjoyed trying something new but there’s nothing like riding with our team CFC and friends. It’s fun riding with friends, challenging others, watching them grow and being part of something that is open to anyone who enjoys the sport of cycling. Below are some pics from the day and some Garmin information. More pics are in the photos section. Great Job today Dan, Sarah, Braeger, Shannon, Mike and Rich!
Tonight was a night that Shannon and I experienced the Fishers Criterium. It’s a .6 of a mile loop racing for 20 minutes and then 5 additional laps. This was my first true Crit experience and it showed me a totally different type of racing. During the beginning of the Crit we learned the proper way of leaning into turns along with strategizing and location. With each road race I have felt that I have gained experience and improved. I felt great during the last race in Wheatland which made me feel good about my progress. Tonight was totally different – It was a full out sprint right from the beginning. I wasn’t able to finish with the group but I am proud that I finished my first Criterium – challenges have been good for me. Racing has brought cycling to a whole new level. Here’s a quick video of the b4′s.
Tonight I think Team CFC gained another member to our growing group – Dan “the man” Western. At first Dan was interested in mountain biking – I think that the shorts might have thrown him and actually he built a phenomenal mountain bike from beginning to end (totally amazing). After some thought and when the right bike came along he purchased a road bike – Raleigh 2007. With Dan being new to the sport I was expecting that we would have to keep our ride around 10-12 miles and then have to head back. During our ride tonight Dan kept up with our group and we rode around 18 miles total. I was quite impressed with his first ride. It’s always exciting to get more people involved with the sport of cycling especially good friends. We’ll get him out on a couple of more rides and then head out to Skaneateles. I have no doubt that he’ll be able to ride the entire lake with us and it’s a pretty tough lake.
Braeger (aka: Lilbud) rode really strong tonight. It’s my hope that he continues to like the sport and will eventually come out to race with Shannon and myself. It’ll be great if we can get a mini team for the GVCC next season. It’s been fun racing and learning more in regards to the sport of cycling but it’s always fun just riding with friends. Sarah (aka: spitfire) has also impressed me this year. She’s improved so much within the last year and a half. There is no doubt in my mind now that she can do as much, if not more than anyone in the group and has shown that she’s an extremely strong rider. It’s even more enjoyable that she’s willing to ride with me and that we can enjoy this together. Here’s a pic of tonight’s group:
Even though Lance didn’t win another Tour, he brought great awareness towards the fight of cancer. The riders of RadioShack will wear the number 28 today to recognize that there are 28 million people living with cancer. Everyone knows someone that was or is affected with cancer. Continue to support causes such as LiveStrong so hopefully we can find a cure. Update:
During the start of the last stage of the Tour De France, TeamRadio Shack came out with their cool and sleek new jerseys honoring those who are affected with cancer – 28 million. The tour officials made TeamRadio Shack change into their original jersey because of not being approved before the start of the race. If the riders chose not to wear their original jersey they would be eliminated from the tour and lose their 1st place finish. I understand that rules are rules but the reason for wearing the newly designed jersey was to bring awareness to cancer and the 28 million affected. Quite disappointing by the UCF but I thought was a really impressive move by TeamRadio Shack and Lance Armstrong – bring recognition to this cause on the cycling worlds biggest event. Even more reason to raise money towards a great cause – Look for team CFC in LiveStrong Philly 2011.
Here’s an image taken from the RadioShack facebook page:
Tonight Shannon and I raced the Wheatland course with the GVCC. I felt extremely good for this ride, probably the best that I have felt. It’s been a great learning experience to listen to Dwight Roth through emails and rides. He’s been extremely helpful and it’s greatly appreciated. Whenever I get to ride with him my confidence goes through the roof. He actually showed up tonight and my confidence rose quite a bit.
I also appreciate the advice that Mike Minerva gives during the GVCC races. Tonight he kept saying attack, attack, now is the time to attack. During the past few races I have sorta stayed within the group, just making sure that I finished. Tonight I listened to Mike and I attacked 3 times. I felt good during all three attacks but no one else followed so the group eventually caught up to me. Mike also kept saying that when the group swells, this means that people are tired and at this moment it is a great time to attack. I did this during my last attack. It seemed like the group stayed together until the final half lap. It was kind of frustrating because there wasn’t that big burst of Dylan there. He was absent again and that intense rush just wasn’t there.
I ended up losing the group with 3/4 of a lap left. My legs felt great and I was able to catch up with some stragglers. If I didn’t attack those three times and stayed in the middle of the group I know that I could have placed.
It’s been a learning experience and I appreciate everyones help throughout. I’m hoping that I get in another road race before the big day I know that there is a crit. next week followed by a couple of TT’s. Hopefully I can still be in shape after the honeymoon Stats are to the left: CFC is riding Skaneateles Lake this Sunday – if interested feel free to comment.
Today Shannon and I were able to head out with a group of cyclists on a Saturday Latte Ride, which starts in Pittsford at the CanalTown Coffee Roasters. I have heard of this ride for a while and Dwight Roth speaks highly of it. He says that this ride is a great way of preparing for races during the week. He’s right. The day started off picking up Code Monkey and heading out to get some breakfast. He ordered a “Turbo” coffee – he’s too much! I’m also quite proud of what he did today. He was able to stay with the group throughout Mendon Ponds and then fell off at the tail end of the park – this was an extremely hard section with a lot of speed and climbs. His confidence is gaining with every ride. After Mendon Pond, Dwight pulled the group at an amazing and intense speed. I was able to stay with the entire group up to this point and throughout the majority of one of the major speed sections of the course called Five Points. This is when Brendan Housler took off – an amazing and if not top area cyclist! It was amazing how he pulled the group and the speed that they were going. I hooked up with some other riders that were dropped and waited for the rest of the group. This is where Dwight (Minerva Design Team) took the lead – he lead us through a great speed section and we were just pounding the pavement. I haven’t felt this great in a while. A friend (Brett Long) from one of my administration classes also came out. He typically trains hardcore for triathlons, so this really wasn’t his cup of tea. He did say that he enjoyed this though – I am glad that he came out to get the experience. We finished around 10 a.m. and then headed home. It was a great experience and I am glad that I was able to ride the ever famous Latte Ride. Check out the stats below:
It was another hot night but I felt good. The course was a mixture of some hills and a decent rolling descent. The group was missing Gavin along with Dylan and I thought that the night was much less intense. Mike Minerva kept vocalizing to attack and to choose moments that you need to use to your advantage. It was interesting to see the guys who went for a sprint and then those who kept in the group. I stayed with the group for the majority of the ride and then blew up on the big hill having one lap left for the finish. I’m happy with my progress and I think that I’m doing well having joined mid year and not really understanding anything about the club. I need to continue to work on intervals along with sprinting around a corner and blasting up a hill. My heart rate reached a max of 195, burning 2,032 calories and riding a total of 41.47 miles. It was another fun night. Stats are to the left. The GVCC is a great club!
This upcoming Saturday I’m going to try out the Latte Ride which starts at the CanalTown Coffee Roasters in Pittsford starting at 7:30 a.m.. It’s a fast past group which does not wait for anyone. I’ve heard a lot about this ride and if I want to keep up with some of the top riders and continue to progress in the area of racing I’m going to have to attempt to keep up with this group. It’s a bit farther and faster than I typically ride so I’ll be interested in how I do this Saturday. If anything I’ll use DROID to get me back to my beginning destination.
This is a week where there are a lot of nice rides and I will be able to accumulate more miles. Monday, Sarah and I are riding with the Wellness Group which is a great group of cancer survivors whose main belief is to keep active – they are totally amazing!!! Thursday night Shannon and I are going to ride with the GVCC and race in Victor. Saturday will be the Latte Ride. I am also hoping that I get out Wednesday to do some intervals and light spinning. Wednesday is also a night when the ladies set out on their own ride. It’ll be a busy week – below is a map of the Latte Ride in Pittsford:
09-07-10 4:38PM
31.74 mi (13.7 mph)
HR 149 bpm - Burned 1,561 C
Cadence 56 rpm