Working on a new July century route

What do you all think of this proposed route?

-Tom

Stuff

Hey,
I just fixed the dead link to the team picture album. If you have pictures I would be happy to post them. Also I am starting to compile the race results for this year. So check out the results page and if something should be added let me know and I will take care of it.

Oswald Bling

Race #2 CHAAAAAA-CHING

Jinxed

Bikers are a superstitious group by nature. I am no exception. I am not sure if it is riding with Jesse and Tom, or the ghosts of fallbrook. I am beginning to think that maybe Armedia Mountain has something in for me. I first flatted out there about 4 years ago. In fact I double flatted, patched up, then promptly flatted again with no more patches to bail me out. The next event came when Tom and Eric and I rode up on the mountain and picked up a stray pooch that literally followed us for hours, what a fiasco that was. The next incident happened while on my way to Fallbrook, I hit a dog with my cross bike. Then Tom and Jesse and I were riding on the mountain this spring and I pinch flatted. I hardly ever get flats, even when I hit a dog. Then tonight I flat out on the mountain in the most bizarre way. I was just riding along when suddenly a stick gets lodged between the two spokes where the valve stem sits. The stick snapped the valve stem right off. What are the chances of that happening? I think the next time I go up there I will wear full body armor, you know, just in case I end up hitting a bear or end up riding into an abandoned mine shaft or something. sheesh

A Great Start

Eric, Tom, and Jesse

To kick off the 2008 racing season, Eric Franck, Jesse Suders and I headed up to the inaugural Ramble Around Prattsburgh. If the rest of the season turns out to be anything like this first race, then we are going to be wearing permanent grins until November. What a great event. Prattsburgh NY is a neat little town, and the crew of Pedaling Productions and all of the other volunteers did a superb job putting everything together.

The race started at the traditional town square. A motorcycle led 77 of us out of town, down a rutted dirt track, and then back through town for a pleasant, chatty, controlled start. I guess this was the “ramble” part. Then he took us back out of town again and turned us loose on a paved road that quickly turned to dirt and climbed up into the hills. Ramble: over. Race: on!

Jesse and I planned to stick together as much as we could, but you know how bike racing and plans go together. Yup, pretty much like Campagnolo cassettes and Shimano freehubs – not at all. As I watched about a dozen tough guys open an ever-widening gap in front of me, I also took a few glances behind to see where Jesse was. No sign of him. Turns out he got hung up in some traffic at the start. Near the top of the climb I could see that we were going to turn onto a ridgeline and head into the wind. I put in an extra hard kick to jump up to a big guy on a ‘cross bike just before we crested. Sorry, Jesse, but a little guy me has to jump on a gravy train like that every chance he gets.

Eric's Cross Pro served him well (thanks, Fuji!)

We swapped pulls a few times, then a couple of other guys caught us. The four of us started working pretty well together, then dang!, the big guy got a flat. And just before the fast paved section too. So the three of us rolled it down the pavement lickety-split and stuck together on the second big climb. A quick round of introductions at the top, then Bruce, Gordon and I kept on truckin’. We worked together ‘til the next fast, rutty descent, where Bruce’s mountain bike proved to be superior to Gordon’s and my skinny cyclocross treads. He dropped us and kept going.

On the third climb, just when my morale was crumbling as Gordon pulled away and I had to unclip to walk up the last pitch, I heard a voice – “Tom, I’m right behind you.” It was Jesse, clawing his way back. Awesome! We got together, hooked up with Gordon, and flew down the last hill. The three of us hit the pavement and did a few rotations, trying to reel in a solo mountain bike ahead of us. We skirted around an onion field with soil that was impossibly black, and a smell so pungent I briefly considered disgorging my Hammer Gel. A tractor path, then a little more pavement. Then a muddy 4-wheeler track dotted with a few spectators – the end must be near!

Jesse gets bogged down in the mud and dismounts. I hit the gas and plow right up the middle. Then a gravel track with two tiny hillocks that nearly stop me dead. I finally make the main road and sneak a quick look back. I have a little gap! Big ring, hands in the drops, head down. Go! Not much left in the tank. Another look back. Here comes Jesse. Man, he’s getting strong. We zigzag through some neighborhood streets and are approaching the town square. Jesse starts ramping it up and I dig deep, but can’t hang. He finishes a few seconds ahead. We both feel great.

After the nausea subsided, we found Heather (Jesse’s fiancé) and cheered Eric on as he finished. Then we all had a good meal at The Robbins Nest. And the re-hydration was extra delicious (thanks, Eric). As for the results, Jesse finished 12th and was 3rd in his age group, I was 13th and 3rd in my age group, and Eric was 5th in his age group. It was an excellent race on a gorgeous spring day shared with the best of company. I can’t imagine a better way to start the
season.

Jesse, thumbs up on the podium

P-Burgh shuffle

Look what I found! Jesse, THE man. Great job boys!!

Interval training

I went out for a quick interval workout tonight. Here is the heart rate data. I did 2 x 10 min Sub LT(lactate threshold) intervals with 10 min rest between. Take notice at the interval part. The key is to maintain your HR(heart rate) or Power for the entire interval just below Lactate Threshold(you have to know yours first). These are a necessity if you want to get faster. These intervals are designed to push your Lactate Threshold closer to your maximum HR. Translation, You can ride harder(faster) longer the closer your lactate threshold is to your max HR. Also these are totally individual, meaning that my LT could be way different than someone elses. Never do intervals based on someone elses HR.

Eric and I took a ride in Asaph yesterday and here is the map from a cool little tool I have been working on. The trails over there are in rough shape. They are dry but littered with limbs and trees from the ice storm I assume. We rode for about 2:30:oo and only got in 16 miles. Great start to the MTB riding though!

Thanksgiving

A couple of weeks ago a 49 year old gentleman suffered from a massive stroke. I have known him for many years. We trained for our black belts together along with his three boys. The last couple of years he has taken up running and completed a couple of marathons. His big goal this next summer was to participate in some triathlons. He had been saving for a bike and his wife was going to get him one for Christmas. At this point the bike has taken a back seat to other concerns as he travels the long road to recovery. I am trying to get a bike together for him for Christmas anyway. I have most of the parts I need. However, I am looking for a road frame about 56cm. If anyone has a frame that they have retired and are looking to get out of the garage the family and I would appreciate a donation. Thank you for your consideration.

Updates

It's been awhile since anyone has made any new posts so here it goes. If the folks on the team could check the race results link on the right to make sure all their results are up to date I would appreciate it. Also the banging new team kits are in and better looking then before if you can believe that. It looks like the last race of the year was the Iron Cross race. Jared finished first out of the team then Tom about ten minutes back or so then me about ten minutes after that and Jesse about ten minutes back from that approximately, if my memory serves me correctly.

Doughnut Derby

Here are some shots from the Doughnut Derby. Ted, Jennie and Eric were tops in doughnut consumption with 7 each (that's 1260 calories!). Josh completed the course the quickest, but Ted came up with the best combination of fast riding and excessive eating to take the overall victory. Mmmm, victory. Sweet, sticky victory.
















The start

Jennie stole the show with her superior balloon carrying.

This guy clearly has had too much sugar.

Jared demonstrates the bandolier carrying style.

I can't think of a caption for this one.

Ted "the Doughnut King" Fuller wins!
The prize? A dozen doughnuts.

Tour de Shunk

Yesterday I did the tour de shunk for the second time. I did 103 miles solo in a time of 5:43 including rest stops and.... uhhh rest stops. I felt better doing this century then I have doing any other previous. I can only credit that feeling to the torture the Shenandoah put me through. Next on my list of events is the Wheel Around the Hub in Smethport next weekend.

SM100

Hey folks here is the Shenandoah report. It's a little long so if you want to check it out click on the link below.

Race Report

sm 100

HOLY CRAP!!!

A more informative race report coming soon!

Wilderness 101 (The photographers' story)

We had a blast at the wilderness 101. The weekend was full of unexpected happenings, good and bad. Our first night there most of the racers turned in around 9:30 pm, so we thought it best to take off for a bit, so as not to disturb anyone. We needed to find our way to the tunnel in Poe Paddy State Park, to take pictures there during the race, so we headed over the mountain. On our way we noticed a man walking down the road and we stopped to ask him for directions. He offered to show us in person if we would take him home afterward. We agreed so he hopped in the back and we continued on our way. On the way we learned a lot about our guide. His name was Jack and he is a retired biology professor from Eureka, CA. He spends his summers here in an old CC camp that has been in his family for many years. After finding the tunnel (which is very cool to see at night, and a little creepy) we took Jack home and he invited us in for a beer. Jack showed us around his camp pointing out the flying squirrel he has in a hamster cage. He explained to us that he accidentally caught the flying squirrel in a trap while trying to catch red squirrels. We had a great time hanging out with Jack; he was a really cool guy. It was getting pretty late so we made our way back to Coburn Park and called it a night.

The next morning we told Jay Heverly and John Majors about the little adventure we had the night before, and our wish to free the flying squirrel. Then we started preparing to get some great shots of the race. We made our way around to some of the best parts of the course to get our shots, and saw the awesome technical skills of the top riders. At the first tunnel we wanted to get shots of Jay and John. We waited for a while and started to wonder if something happened to Jay. The last time we saw him he was doing extremely well and should have come through already. When John came through we asked if he had seen Jay, and he informed us that Jay’s frame had broken.

We went to the finish line to find Jay, watch the rest of the racers come in, and see the awards. Jeremiah Bishop came in first with a time of 6:52:07 setting a new record, followed by Harlan Price in second, and Tinker Juarez in third. John Majors took first in the Men’s Masters clenching the endurance series title. After the awards we decided we had one more mission this weekend and that was to buy the squirrel’s freedom. We gained the support of John and Jay and went into town to buy a six-pack, hoping that Jack would accept it as trade for the squirrel’s freedom, and journeyed over to Jack’s. We pulled into the driveway only to find that Jack was not home, so we went back to Coburn Park. Disappointed by our failed mission we all went to bed. Overall the weekend was a success we got some great shots, and although we didn’t free the squirrel we have faith that Jack will release it before he ventures back to California. To see more pictures of the of The Wilderness 101 and also Ole Bull Midnight Madness visit www.serenafranck.com. Race report written by Eric and Serena Franck

Matt Tomb's first road race

Saturday, August 11 I raced in my first road bike race. I raced in the Mansfield Campus Criterium race. It was an awesome day for racing. Although not too many riders came out to the race, it was still a fun day.

I was feeling a little nervous about the race because a few of the corners on it were pretty sharp. After pre-riding it a dozen times I lined up on the line feeling pretty good. After everybody wished each other good luck we were off.

I went off the front at the start, not really knowing what I was doing. It only stayed that way for about a lap then the lead pack caught me and Josh Beals gave me a quick word of advice. He told me to try to stay out of the wind. But I wasn't able to keep with the lead pack. They were just too fast. I was just able to keep them in sight on the long downhill. Slowly they started getting farther and farther ahead. I would see Tom every lap and he would tell me that they weren't that far ahead and that I could catch them. This just made me work a little bit harder.

I never could quite catch then but I was able to finish 4th over all and 1st in my age group. Josh was the winner of the B-race, only winning by 5/100ths of a second. I had a lot of fun at this race, it was the most fun race that I’ve ever done. I really hope to do it again next year.

- Matt Tomb

Race Reports

I have been slacking the last week or so and I am just getting my race reports up. You can check them out using the following links if you want.

Mansfield Campus Crit
Kinzua Classic
Ole Bull

Course Preview

Here's a cool little video preview of the course for the upcoming Mansfield Campus Criterium. Camera work by Tom D'Angelo, fine driving by Jimmy G, super-fast pedaling by Josh and Tom, and editing by Fletch.



Saturday, August 11 - don't miss it.
More info here: http://www.twistedspokes.org/events.php

Lake Effect 150 mile road ride this Sunday!

If you are interested in testing your limits, Show up at my house on Sunday July 22nd for the Lake Effect 150. We leave my house at 8:00am and should take in the neighborhood of 8 hours. My dad will be trailing the group in his car with water,your own food and anything else you would like to bring to keep your flying weight down. My house is located just over the NY/PA border on RT. 328(1812 Pennsylvania ave. is the address) Hope to see you there.

Sunday Ride

Tom, Eric, and I are going to be riding some cool roads this sunday leaving from my apartment in Bloss at 9:00. All are welcome to join in.
Map URL: http://runningahead.com/maps/711dee3c192d42a985b71bf32d9e573b