Eric Knight...... VICTORY!

Cat 4&5-45+ Well for the last race of the season I thought I would try to ride smart and see what happens.

The weather could not have been better. Low 60's starting off and high 70' to low 80's at the end of the second lap for a total of 47 miles.

The first lap was uneventful as I concentrated on eating and drinking while staying in the middle to the back of the tightly bunch field of 50 riders. At the start of the second lap I went up front to see if I could help pick up the pace a little and thin things out and to my surprise it worked.

The field split with around 18 riders dropping the rest behind. Nobody else was really willing to work very hard so I went back to the rear to eat, drink and rest some more.

With about 10 miles to go I thought I would try again to break things up some more but had no luck. Everybody was willing to sit in and wait for a sprint finish. Not being much of a sprinter I was hoping for anything else.

As we approached the last 1/2mile things really bunched up. I was in the back looking for a place to slide up the outside on the left.. So were a lot of others. So I looked at going up the inside on the right but that looked pretty crowded as well which left me bumping elbows and shoulders up the middle.

As I quickly squirted through I realized there was only one more set of wheels in front of me. I hung on tight and as we rounded the final tight turn the guy in front took a bad line and I shot into the lead. Probably earlier than I wanted but I was in front so I got out of the saddle and hammered for that white line across the asphalt.

Well my legs were about to explode so I had to sit back down. I continued to give it all I had including a lot of grunting and then it happened. I crossed that beautiful white line in first place. I won!. What a great feeling.

A special thanks goes out to all of you that have been training me this past year by letting me suck off your faster wheels. Its been a lot of fun and looking forward to much more.
Eric Knight

Granny Gear "Part Deux"

If you are keeping up you know I am slow and out of shape, but I did get up OSM and Painted Cave last weekend as I was being haunted by a pancake breakfast.

This weekend I decided to see if my granny gear would get me to La Cumbre Peak via Gibralter. "Boy, that pavement sucks at the top"

Just like last week, I skipped the group ride and left the Mesa mid morning. There was a pretty nice cloud cover which let me believe that it might be a cooler ride up the Gib.

In getting to those infamous mailboxes I had forgotten just how much climbing there is. I had a good mental game going trying to convince myself the I felt pretty good. I didn't have any pancakes calling me and I knew barring something major I would have no real excuse to turn around. I was thinking, maybe I'll just got to East Camino Cielo. How will that mind game play out?

I stopped at the mail box, downed a Gu, adjusted my music, sucked down some water and off I went. I wasn't actually at the mailboxes, but took cover under the shade of the bushes just past them. The sun had come out, lucky me. I did have a rider on a mountain bike pass me while I was hanging out there. I thought to myself, I have to at least pass him somewhere up the road. I guess even when you are as slow as I am you need to figure out how to feed your ego.

The lower portion of the ride didn't feel all that bad. I did pass the mountain biker before the hairpin and was able to feel o.k. about getting there in about 22 minutes. I know it isn't fast, but you folks need your ego fed as well. ;o)

I didn't see many riders, but about a mile before Flores Flats I came across 3 older guys just enjoying pedalin up the hill. I hope I can keep up riding this hill when I reach that age. I remember having a goal once of being able to make it to La Cumbre Peak in 50 minutes when I'm 50. I better start training hard for a couple of years, because I'm miles away from that number.

My drunken sailor routine began on the steepness which Flores Flats is famous for. I told myself, I just have to get past this and I'll be able to get to East Camino Cielo. My goal was to reach La Cumbre Peak, but I was already compromising with myself. I did get past that hill and road proudly to East Camino Cielo. Time; 1 hr. 6 min. There were a couple of signs on each side of the road towards La Cumbre Peak saying, road closed. I forged on.

I made it to La Cumbre Peak and enjoyed looking out over the valley and hearing the breeze blow through the trees on the way to the top. I do still however really hate that darn piece of asphalt where the climb begins. The craters just seem to keep getting bigger.

I made La Cumbre Peak in a total of 1hr. 21 min. Not even close to my best time from back in the glory days. Just glad to be out on the bike. As sick as it is I've been enjoying struggling up these hills.

The way down, was kinda fun as well. I struggled down the cratered section and was headed up the short climb to get to East Camino Cielo. I saw another rider coming up The Gib, and my first thought was that person is going much faster than I was at that point. This was for good reason, it was Mr. Lance Armstrong. He had just reached the top and was looking down to see his time when I rode by him. I gave him a wave and he returned it. If I had forgone La Cumbre Peak, I probably would have flown by him on the downill and never even recognized him.

After thinking about it, I did recognize his pedaling style but there weren't a few hundred thousand folks lining the climb and he didn't have his arms raised in the air as he made it to the top. That's usually how I see him hit the top of a hill. Fun Stuff, Enjoy The Ride!

Is This Secret Training?

I ran across what would appear to be some B Teamers who were enjoying nite moves this week.

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=848&pic=nite_moves_W16-5270&event=niteMoves16

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=848&pic=nite_moves_W16-5268&event=niteMoves16#lowTop

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=848&pic=nite_moves_W16-5725&event=niteMoves16

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=848&pic=nite_moves_W16-5710&event=niteMoves16#lowTop

I Love Granny!

It's been a bit slow this week on the race report front, so I thought I would share some thoughts I had Saturday.

I got out of bed and decided I didn't feel like doing the group ride, but did feel like going up a hill somewhere.

Let's see should I do my driveway, nah that's just not long enough. I know I'll go do OSM. Well, that isn't quite long enough either. I decided after my bowl of raisin bran to do OSM Painted Cave.

This was a major committment, since it had probably been a couple of months since I had climbed anything that long and steep. What the heck!

The ride from the mesa through the westside to the bike path and out to OSM was uneventful, but it was a beautiful day. I headed up OSM and stopped at the driveway just passed the bridge and took off my vest and sunglasses and turned on my music. If I'm going to suffer, I might as well try and hum a few tunes.

The trek up OSM was pretty typical for me these days. It took me around 26 minutes or so and I still had a gear or 2 left at the very top. Not bad I thought!

I downed some water and headed up Painted Cave. Of course I had to switch in to good ole granny on the first steep section, that is par for the course for me. What I didn't realize was I would never use any other gear the rest of the climb.

I just could not get my legs to do anything but grind it out in the granny gear. I know there are some climbers in town that make the trip up Painted Cave look like a walk in the park, well I'm not one of them. My trip up painted cave was more like a drunken sailor on a weekend bender.

To make things worse I was wanting to meet my family at a pancake breakfast taking place at Tucker's Grove. The thought of turning around early to partake in the pancakes and syrup almost got to me. I still can't believe I didn't give in to the temptation. I just kept grinding it out.

I think the pain turned my attention from the pancakes to more serious thoughts like; is now the time in my life to buy the triple chain ring? It's been about 4 years that I've been riding this campy record stuff, maybe they have come out with a triple. Hmmmmmmm!

Now, as I start to get to the area where there are a few shade trees and a couple of dirt turnouts, I start thinking this would be a great place for a picnic bench. It that were the case, maybe next time I could bring a meal and make a stop at this mirage of a table I'm dreaming about.

Finally, as I'm getting past the painted caves and struggling through the crappy pavement I start to think, I might just make it to the painted cave sign that usually marks my turn around.

When I do make it will I have the nerve to look at my watch and figure out how many hours of climbing I've been doing? If I do look will I share the information with anyone? I don't think so! 

I did look and I was really pretty surprised! It took 58 minutes from the driveway just past the bridge to the painted cave sign. So for all of you granny gear loving climbers out there, that's my benchmark for ya. For all you undernourished, epo sucking climbing machines I hope this makes you feel good. ;o)

I fell in love with my granny gear last weekend, and maybe I'll do it again this weekend! I just hope their won't be a pancake breakfast haunting me.

Aaron in Brazil

Hey Chickens,

 

Here's a podium shot of the State Championships I raced in Brazil last week (3rd place M40+)...sorry out of uniform...winner was Nat'l champ (green/yellow armbands)

Best, Aaron

Bells, Bells, Bells!

This photo says it all. ;o) Mountain Bikers Beware!

Fiesta Ride Observations

My Family and I thought we would head out to Campus Point for the afternoon on Sunday. We packed up our SPF 50 (we are a bit on the pale side) towels, & boogie boards and headed for the surf.

We arrived at the parking lot sometime around 1 or 1:30 and unloaded all the gear and began the short walk down to the beach. Well, our timing couldn't have been more perfect. The Fiesta Cruiser Ride was headed down the same road we were on to get to the beach.

This group of rebels was yelling and screaming, as well as honking their air horns, and of course riding like no group ride I've ever been on. Many of them were able to do this while holding their Bud Light in one hand. I could see how someone might end up hospitalized.

This group headed around the lagoon and then god knows where. I was looking for Ken Doyle, but he may not have made it that far. I don't blame him.

When I got to my office this morning I was reading one of the local electronic news sources about the ride and I clicked on a link. To my amazement the link was to a blog done by someone many of us know well, Jim Brewer. Check out Mr. Brewer!

He does mention his hospital stay and jaw being wired shut from one of these rides a few years ago.