or 7.
Just wait.
It’s coming…
Just have to get caught up at home/school…
::SAdamson
Monthly Archive for October, 2009
Thanks mom! I’ve been saying that a lot these last few days…
I had an interesting week leading up to this trip out east. Finalizing logistics, studying, working on bikes, recovering from nationals, eating turkey…
But with the help of my amazing parents, my wonderful coach, and other wonderful people; namely, Juventus Cycling Club, Transcend Coffee, United Cycle, Soigneur Race Services, Chris and Kylah, Mr. Ward, I hope I’m not forgetting anyone…
But Mack and I did make it to Toronto on Thursday night. Got settled in the hotel, had a nice long sleep, then went in search of food. On foot, we made it to Tim Horton’s, with the grocery store too far for my wimpy feet…
With the bikes built, the only left to do was go preride the course. It was all set up by the early afternoon and was definitely going to be a hard day.
I was having trouble dialing in my tyre pressures and just riding my bike. But, what can you do? I had a decent start, holding wheels, but I went down on the second lap just after passing a guy. My brake was rubbing, so I switched bikes at the pit. The next lap I jammed my chain in my 46-27 at the top of the climb. It took me forever to get it out. I almost packed it in…
It was just not my day. I knew that I wanted to follow the leaders’ wheels when they lapped me and follow their lines. But I couldn’t even hold their wheels at that point. Oh boy!
Sunday’s course seemed way better for me. I was having more fun preriding. I was more comfortable. I had another decent start, again just holding wheels. I don’t think I could even tell you when things started going bad. But they did go bad. I have absolutely no excuses for Sunday’s ride. I’m sorry.
So, pack up, get the heck out of here. With some bikes going with Nathaniel to New York and me and the rest of my stuff going to Buffalo with Chris and Kylah, we were off.
A good dinner, a floor to sleep on, pancakes for breakfast… things were looking better already! No problems at the airport, Adam picked me up, I built my bike, then we went out for some food to Tavolo with Janice.
I told him to send my parents a picture of me with a drink in each hand… oops…
Now I’ve found my spot on the chair, with my sweatpants and my computer on my lap.
Looking forward to a good week and a good weekend! Now I really need that UCI point…
::SAdamson
Felt a little more relaxed this morning. Not too sore or anything. Felt a little more rush at the race, but definitely had enough time. The course had way more traction and the lines were almost dry. It was feeling warmer during my warmup, but when it came to start, the wind had picked up and the flurries started.
I had #22 on the call up, but got a good spot behind Larson. He got off quick and was really aggressive, I think I was easily in the top 8 by the second corner. I knew I just needed to be on that group.
I was going good, but just started getting gapped a little bit here and there. The guys in front of me were also opening gaps. I was making up time on the steep climbs and some of the more technical sections. I was feeling super strong on the straights today too. I was really just trying to hold wheels. But I would eventually get gapped.
I bobbled on the off camber switchback with a couple laps to go and slipped on the ice by the bike path with 2 to go. That opened up the gap to Hewitt and Fisher, and I wouldn’t close it back up. I rode the last couple laps pretty gingerly and held onto 13th place. Definitely not a terrible ride!
I realized after that my front tire had started coming off… maybe on one of my bobbles… that could have been bad!
Oh boy. I can’t believe I just wrote two blog posts in a row with the exact same title?!?!?
But today is another day. Another day with great Canadian weather and a great bike race put on by Juventus. Thanks again!
I definitely felt a little more relaxed this morning. I actually got some studying done…
The course today had way more traction and the lines were almost dry. It was feeling warmer during my warmup, but when it came to start, the wind had picked up and the flurries started.
I had #22 on the call up, but got a good spot behind Larson. He got off quick and was really aggressive picking up spots; I think I was easily in the top 8 by the second corner. I knew I just needed to be on that group.
I was going good, but just started getting gapped a little bit here and there. The guys in front of me were also opening gaps. I was making up time on the steep climbs and some of the more technical sections. I was feeling super strong on the straights today too. I was really just trying to hold wheels, but I would eventually get gapped.
I bobbled on the off camber switchback with a couple laps to go and slipped on the ice by the bike path with 2 to go. That opened up the gap to Hewitt and Fisher, and I wouldn’t close it back up. I rode the last couple laps pretty gingerly and held onto 13th place. Definitely not a terrible ride!
I realized after that my front tire had started coming off… maybe on one of my bobbles… that could have been bad!
Thanks again to everybody who made this day possible: the organizers, the volunteers, the commissaires, the fans, the racers, the sponsors.
Happy Thanksgiving!
::SAdamson
Had a good, long sleep, but I was pretty anxious all morning. Felt good as I was heading over to the course. Got in a couple good laps, confident in my tyres and pressure. Had time to change and chill for a bit. Started my warmup, figured out my clothing (perfect! skinsuit, long sleeve undershirt, leg warmers, wool socks, skull cap, buff, shimano gloves). Felt good going to the start, got a good spot behind Kabush. They started us really quickly, good!
Kabush was a little slow down the straight, but I was still sitting top 10-ish. No crashes in the first corner (there was in lots of other races…). Sitting good. Derrick was opening gaps, but I couldn’t get around him. Mostly just rode wheels. Ran the first runup on the first lap as there was a bit of congestion (in hindsight, didn’t really need to). Just rode well. Felt like I was cornering really well. “Take it easy, stay upright.”
I was actually having fun! Getting lots of cheers. I was chasing Bunnin with a couple other guys. Got gapped a couple times, Garrigan was having issues. But when he came by me with 3 laps to go, he took Hewitt with him and was gone! Oh man!
Those last few laps were tough. Nobody to chase, nobody hot on my tail. I was hurting. A little timid with some ice coming through. “Keep it up.”
Ended up rolling in 9th. Pretty good. Lots and lots of compliments after the race. Pretty happy. Rode well. 8th would have been better, but it just wasn’t in the books today…
Another nationals, done. It was good times riding around in the cold snow today.
And I almost called the podium… my picks were Kabush, Garrigan, then Derrick or Schooler. If Garrigan hadn’t had troubles early, it just might have been. I have to give it up for everyone who organized, volunteered, raced, or just came out to watch today! It was cold. But we couldn’t have done it without you!
However, I wanted to give special props to Bunnin. He rode well today. He has a real job. He sometimes pulls sketchy moves, but he rides well and definitely rode well today! Props man!
I had a good long sleep last night, but from the moment I was woke up I was unbelievably anxious for today! I tried to study this morning, but it just wasn’t going to work…
I started feeling better as I was heading over to the course. Got in a couple good laps, confident in my tyres and pressure. Had time to change and sit around for a bit. I started my warmup, figured out my clothing. Felt good going to the start, got a good spot behind Kabush. They started us really quickly, good!
Kabush seemed to start somewhat gingerly, but looking at the pictures now he was right up there; I must have been sleeping and let a bunch of people in front of me. But I was still sitting top 10-ish. No crashes in the first corner (there was in lots of other races…). I was sitting good. I was mostly just riding wheels for the first bit. Ran the first runup on the first lap as there was a bit of congestion (in hindsight, didn’t really need to). Just rode well. Felt like I was cornering really well. “Take it easy, stay upright, accelerate!”
I was actually having fun! Getting lots of cheers. I was chasing Bunnin with a couple other guys. Got gapped a couple times, Garrigan was having issues. But when he came by me with 3 laps to go, he took Hewitt with him and was gone! Oh man!
Those last few laps were tough. Nobody to chase, nobody hot on my tail. I was hurting. A little timid with some ice coming through on some sections. “Keep it up.”
Ended up rolling in 9th. Pretty good. Lots and lots of compliments after the race. Pretty happy. Rode well. 8th would have been better, but it just wasn’t in the books today…
Tomorrow’s another day, another bike race.
::SAdamson
It’s almost like a real veldrijden season out there now! Cold, rain, wind! I thought I was in Belgium today…
My brain shut down at 2:00 today after I finished my anatomy exams… what a relief!
I picked up my fan cards this afternoon. Man, do they look good!
It was the last Tuesday night cross race today. Thanks again to Cory, all the other volunteers, and United Cycle! I crashed hard on the way there, but I’m ok. The race still ran and there was still a decent showing.
I wasn’t feeling it tonight though… my power was good, but I crashed again, couldn’t ride technically, couldn’t get things flowing. I just wasn’t feeling it.
Hopefully those were the bugs and I’ll be good for this weekend.
Nationals in 4 days!!!!
::SAdamson
