Sunday, September 27, 2009

Squeezer 2009

Time: 1:17:36 (+8:54) Pos: 18 Overall; 5 (Mens 16-19)

Couldn't have asked for a better day, everything just went so smooth and despite all the rain everything was rideable. It was unbelievable to be lined up with Adam Morka in front of me, Zandstra, Mark & Emily Batty and Stu Alp not too far away. Right off the start I knew that it was going to be a good race. The pace was pretty relaxed and no one was launching any early attacks. I got into the first set of trails in around 20th spot, I was fealing good through the whole first set of singletrack and somehow managed to keep rubber-side down. To make things even better, who better than to be right on your wheel than one of the (and soon to be the) world's best female cyclist Emily Batty. She was extremely motivating the whole time and pulled me back to a group whenever I got dropped off (thank you !). We ended passing that whole group on Hogsback climb because Emily took a sick line that allowed us to ride the whole climb. She ended up dropping me in the descent and the slick singletrack that followed. I ended up catching back up at the bottom of the second decew climb, at the top I caught a glimpse of Brandon Etzl and Emily was keeping a crazy good pace through Driftwood that I couldn't hold.

On Wiley Rd. she asked me if I was going for top 15, I was too tired but she was like ''why not, it's right there" so I went for it and ended up catching up to that train that had positions 14-18 in it. Lost them but managed to stay with Etzl who took me at the final climb and managed to put 6 seconds on me ! Looking forward to next year's race already.

After the race was just as good talking with Adam and Emily who are as good of people off the bike as they are on. Adam, who lives right here in fonthill, even asked me to email him to go for a ride someday! Just a sick day.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

University Cup #3 Boler Mountain

Time: 1:10:01 (+9:05) Pos:15

Even though I didn't train at all since Monday I think the late season rest ended up helping me alot today. I started off nice and easy and was picking people off one by one until I got to a point where no one was visible at all in front or behind me. I was checking the bottom of the switchbacks while I was at the top... nobody! Checked the top when I was at the bottom... nobody! I ended up getting caught by two guys and tried to hold their pace and I did, for a lap. They dropped my at the end of the second lap, going into the last lap I felt strong so I chassed the whole time and ended up making some good ground on one of them but couldn't pass him in the downhill finish. Perfect conditions, as we were leaving it started to downpour so we couldn't have been any luckier.

I was told that it was not raining at all in Welland so I had high hopes for a dry Squeezer tomorow but we brought the rain back with us and now it is just miserable outside. It's going to be a good time either way and it's going to be unreal to line up with racers like Mark and Emily Batty and Adam Morka. Now I've got to sleep for a couple hours to get a good recovery for tomorow's mud fest

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Rest Day

I've got three classes today and I'm feeling kinda tired so today is a rest day for me. Tomorow I plan on pre-riding the Squeezer loop at somewhat race pace.

Monday, September 21, 2009

STCCC Youth MTB Last Ride

Today was the last ride of the season with the st catharines cycling club youth mountain bike crew. It was a really fun season with those guys because I love to see the new kids start to get really pumped about the sport and guys like Jeff Lemon and Kirbie really have alot to teach you. I'll be back riding with them again next year even though I'll be 18 because it's a prefect ride to have after some good training over the weekend.

Even with the rain, the guys still managed to figure out a fun course for our little ITT. Really looking forward to the off-season so that I can get a good race season organised and stick to my schedule so that I don't get burnt out by this time next year and hopefully have enough left in me for a decent cross season.

University Cup #2 Hardwood Hills

Time: 1.09.50 (-11:41) Pos: 17 (Mens A)

This race had a much bigger group at the start line then U-Cup #1 and I was feeling pretty good so I lined up at the front. Right off the start I took off really fast... too fast. I was sitting in about 4th after the first climb and going into the first set of singletrack I got dropped to 6th. When the trail opened up again I got dropped by that group and eventually got caught and dropped by another 3 or so guys. I was hurting really bad after the first lap but felt strong after the second lap. I started taking it easy and just enjoying the course, the third and fourth lap went by pretty quick. Especially since 3k before the end of the last lap some guy popped out of the B course because he had made a wrong turn and I decided to chase him down. I caught him before the last doubletrack and just kept a strong pace to the end. No crashes and only one dismount on a steep climb in the first lap, I was way too tired to do it. Fun course, all in all a good day.

I can't say I didn't expect a slow pace because, like a replay of last year, all my fitness is lost by September because of the lack of base miles in the off-season and poor race-season planning. This is why I've decided to make the U-Cup #4 my last race for the season to start preparing for next season properly. I got enough points in O-Cup this year to move to expert and by the end of next year I want to go Senior Elite so I've got to make sure I don't burn out. The winter races are going to be strictly for fitness testing and, of course, fun.