Ohio State RR Championships

This was a great race. I have never ridden Malabar Farms so I did not know what to expect. The first thing I noticed was they killed my chances at victory right off the bat. The finish was a sprint. Being 5'4 114 pounds of pure wuss makes me quite the sprinter. I was told that the finish was usually at the top of the climb which I floated up today. I felt great and actually was in the first break of the day which lasted a majority of the first lap. The field would not let any one go though so we were realed back in. We were moving so fast that we caught the field in front of us in the first eight miles. I just decided to stay out of trouble and in the front of the race the whole day so that is exactly what I did. Going into the final lap we hit the final climb which was at the beginning of the course pretty hard but no one was dropped. There was still at least 20 riders left out of a 40+ field. I knew I had to stay up front for the last turn and the final sprint. So I did exactly that I stay up front through the final turn and was in perfect position second wheel back. I was beat by a half a bike. They had to got to the camera for our results. I really wanted this victory but bronze is nothing to be ashamed of. Its just the second loser.

I enjoyed this race. It was the first time I have ridden on any climbs as long as that first climb. I was suffering for the first few miles of the first lap. I stopped suffering about 5 miles into the first lap and i was having fun for the rest of the race. I was ill prepared for the first climb, i should have done a longer warmup. This was a great race, and I have no complaints. I will do it again next year.

This was an excellent way to end the season. I always like racing on this course. It is one of my favorites. Thanks Joe and Mike for talking me into racing (yet again).

This was one of the tougher races on this course I can remember. The Kraynicks boys set a blistering pace on the climbs. Then it was just a plain slugfest through the rollers with everyone attacking each other. I love that kind of racing - especially when I have the fitness to participate :) All the attacks whittled the field down pretty quickly and I was happy to make the final selection. I've been really feeling burned out on racing lately and this was just the kind of race I needed to get me excited about racing again next year.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

First race on this course as well. It's a beauty. I rode up Starner road and cantwell cliffs for the proper psycological conditioning the week before so the big climb didn't feel so bad (pain is soooo relative).

Any way the first two laps were fairly quiet. Just like at Zoar everyone seemed pretty evenly matched in the climbing department so the pack got strung out a little but no big breaks. A few people poked the peloton a bit on the rollers and took breif flyers onthe flats but that never lasted. The big move took place over the top of the third climb when two allied decal guys tried to get away over the rollers. I was in the lead group over the top and decide not to risk nuking myself by attempting to go with them. Everyone at the lead of the peloton watched them slowly pull away over the rollers. The we hit the downhill section and intermediate climbs and the chase was on. It wasn't till a ways past the corner into hte valley stretch that we finally caught them. The last lap was much like the first two only a bit faster and we pass withthe cat 3 field with less than 1 mile to go.

Finally we come barreling up to the last turn and I'm sitting in third position just waiting for the next inevitable jump. And then Stark Velo leads a whole train by at eye popping speed. Me and the guy in front of me attempt to jump and the next thing I know I'm shreding a spoke on his back skewer (After the race someone said a guy actually bumped me over but I was breathing too hard to tell). This slows me down long enough to pop open my brake open and then we hit the turn and it was too late to do anything except maintain my place in the pack sprint. I suppose I was anywhere from 15-20th.

Whoopi another frustrating finish.

I really don't like this course, though it is a beautiful place to ride - just not much fun to race. The field agreed to neutralize the race the first time up the climb to avoid catching the 1-2s (yea right!). Second time up was brutally fast and I got gapped near the top. Took most of the second lap to chase down the pack with two other riders. Third time up the climb I knew I was toast, so I but it in first gear and cruised up with my tail between my legs. The rest of the "race" is a blur, involving a short ride with the Cat 4 field, lots of cramps, and a lot of lonely miles. Steep climbs are my biggest weakness and this course is great for exploiting that weakness. I guess I have something to work on for next season.

Hard race. Three or four young boys in Orange from Pennsylvania, all the size of my twelve year old and with similar youthful faces, tore things up quite a bit. Nice race for Will, he looked smooth up to the forty mile mark, where I lost contact for good.

Great turn out today and the course was in great condition. Tym had the last corner swept and all the other turns were even better. I have never seen that big of a turn out for Ohio so I hope that the same come out on a regular basis. How about Sept 3 Ohio State Crit ? I will be there and I hope to see more come out to the crit.

Today we had 20 in our field of 1-2's. I did as little as possible till there were 2 roadhouse up the road and some other team. I joined them with Busa in pull. With 3 Texas up the road with me and the field in sight no way I was going to work. So I got attacked, and was hoping they would tow me instead. I did what was right and made Busa work to stay in the break. He didn't want to tow me so we joined the field again. After that the hill came way to soon for me and I couldn't hang on. after 11 miles I was chasing already and that lasted another 5 miles until they were out of sight. They had 2min and 14 sec lead on me already after 1 lap so I rode hard knowing the 3's would catch me.

27 miles later, I had to get off my bike twice taking 2 and a half mins. That was due to me not shifting properly on a hill and bending my rear derailer also my chain came completely out of the jockey wheels so I had to bend that a little as well. Fun stuff but I was hoping to just have a mechanical today, or a flat as the race started. It all worked out as the 3's break came by so I jumped on and rode with them the next two laps on there wheel not working at all. I still cramped up at 47 miles but not bad.

Great to see Fisher at a race again! I felt bad cause he finished and I didn't, I think he even did 7 laps? I hope this coming weekend of crits will help me feel better about racing? I love road races as I have mentioned before, I just can't do them cause I am 200 pounds 20 of that being fat, which = no good.

Lord thank you for the opportunity to ride again. I pray for so many of those who are in need of miracles right now Lord please be with all of those on my pray list. Thank you Jesus! Love Ya! Amen.