Long Beach Criterium july 23rd 2006

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Long Beach Criterium

In Los Angeles temperatures throughout the weekend were really high. Valleys saw triple digits, with inland city’s and coastal areas feeling temperatures in the high 90’s. This made for a very hot crit out in the Long Beach area presented by Los Angeles Wings bicycle club.

This has always been one of my favorite courses to race on. My very first criterium happen at this very course when I was only 13 years old.
I arrived at the race just 30 minutes before the start and that was actually perfect timing because it was so hot, I really didn’t need to warm up.

At the start it was pretty funny, No one was at the start line. Every one was hiding in the shade trying to save as much energy as possible. And were off…Adam Livingston (successful living) attacks and hurts everyone for the first lap. Well, at least I was hurt.

Attacks would go and come back, lap after lap. 30 minutes in, Kyle Gritters (Health Net) road the front for two laps bringing back a break and when he sat up, I went across to a break that looked really promising. I was super motivated to make it work even though guys who had teammates in the break outnumbered me. We opened up a good gap, but soon after, only a few guys wanted to work and we went back to the field.

After that effort, my legs felt really bad and they never came around. I really got into the “hurt box” when I went to drink my second bottle of water and it taste like sh*$. I guess I didn’t clean it well and the water was so bad I couldn’t drink it, so I just used that bottle to cool my body off by dumping it on my head.

With 10 minutes to go the field split because of an attack by Neil Shirley (Jittery Joe’s) and Gordon McCauley (successful living) who road pretty strong throughout the day including riders like Josh Webster, Kayle Leogrande and a few others.
With 5 to go, that group had another split that took 5 guys up the road. I refused to chase and everyone is just looking at one another until Kayle Gritters took a lap pull with one to go to bring the group back just before the last turn.

I came out of turn four 8th wheel and started to sprint down the long 500m straightaway. Two guys from the break had a bit of a gap on me but I was closing very fast. I see the SDBC rider to my far left and I’m closing really fast but I ran out of room and Aaron Quesnell. (SDBC) won the race and me taking second.

I was happy with my sprint because I had the speed. When I cross the line, my power tap said 39.7 mph so that’s pretty fast to have bad legs.

This weeks training will be hard until about next Thursday then ill relax and get ready for Charlotte BofA crit.

Hat Trick?? Super week day 5

. I cant believe they let Mike Freidman go up the road again. Yes it happen again. Friedman hit hard in one of the turns and boom, they had a gap. I so wanted to chase it down but I just thought if I did I would kill the break and Mike is riding to well to kill the break.

Yesterdays race was so weird, the city allowed us to race but only gave us like 2 city blocks. So it was a figure eight course that went through a parking lot, up a driveway, down a drive way, and one really sharp off camber right hand turn into the start finish which were 100m from the turn. Oh yeah, there were no primes because the finish line was in the corner.

After Mike’s group got away (6 riders) Brad and I once again controlled the front and just toyed with everyone else. I mean we shut everything down. Curtis Gunn (successful living) attacked and took 2 guys with him and I see this so Brad and I come flying up on the right hand side yelling “you cant let the gun slinger go, you cant let the gun slinger go”. Everyone is looking around wondering who the hell is the “gun slinger” and before I knew it I had a gap on the field, so I drilled it and found myself in a nice group that would stay away. The group I was in had a Milan guy, Curtis and a local guy. I didn’t feel comfortable taking the Milran guy with me to lapping the field because once there, he would have 5 other strong euros that would try and set him up for the win. Verses our 3, so I had the luxury of sitting on.

After a while the Milran guy became annoyed with me and started to play games. He also told me that I could not sprint if I sat on. I told him “ if you don’t want me to sprint, drop me”. He tried and was not able to. I even made him look stupid by rolling next to him while his trying to drop me and saying “ your good, but not that good and you cant drop me on my worst day”. I know this my sound a little cocky but trust me, those guys think they are the best thing that has happen to super week sense slice bread.

On the last lap, going into the last 2 corners, I pull next to the Milran guy and I say “ ready set go” and we drag race the 250m stretch to see final turn. I left him like he was standing still. I was going straight to the finish line and he was just getting in the corner


So now I’m looking for Mike to repeat his day before performance and he gets second.
He wasn’t the first guy to the corner and that’s the only reason why he lost. There was no room to sprint after you come out of that last corner.

Between Brad, Mike and I we were really excited in what we accomplished through the five races. After looking back, we truly felt that we could have won all 5 races we entered. Now that our confidence and faith in each other have grown, we are looking forward to killing it in these next few races in the Midwest.

Two for Two at Super Week 2006

After yesterdays race, I wasn’t sure if I was going to race today because my legs felt really bad.
Again, I couldn’t fall right to sleep and finally closing my eyes at around 2am. I did my usual 1-2hr ride in the morning and my legs felt a hole lot better so I decided to race.

Good thing I did because we had the best teamwork thus far between the 3 of us. Mike goes into an early break and as there lead grew, it was evident that they would lap the field.

With 20 laps to go, Sierra Nevada got on the front and just started to drill it and I was pretty confused why. We (tiaa-cref) don’t have race radios like most teams here so we have to do a lot of communicating by yelling or just guessing.

They were chasing because there teammate had already lap the field and Mike (tiaa-cref) was just about 10 seconds of the back of the field trying to also gain a lap.
So… Sierra Nevada is on the front while Brad and I wait for Mike to get on.

He makes it and immediately after Brad and myself got on the front with 10 to go and set tempo because 4 other guys were still trying to lap. Ha-ha, we held them off. With one to go, I drilled it and I got a gap on the field with 4 turns to go. I hear Mike yelling, go go go Rahsaan so I just put my head down and came across the line for 7th place while looking back to see Mike out sprint everyone for the win.

3 NRC wins for the team and this is the first time at super week, one team has won back to back.

Now its my turn. I win tomorrow and its a hat trick.

Super Week day 3

Tables Turn…Well sort off!!!

Today’s race is known to be one of the toughest races at super week. Mike, Brad and myself road to the race and we all suffered really badly, but Brad got into a 6-man group that lapped the field.

With 20 laps to go, the same team that took my front wheel out in yesterday’s crit, did the same thing today but it was the back wheel. Now I have no race wheels.

10 to go, I’m looking for Brad and he is no where to be found. 5 to go, still no Brad. 2 to go, brad pops up and I just tell him to hold on to me and ill get him up the hill.
It worked out; I hit it hard up the hill, over taking Sierra Nevada’s train and dropped Brad off with just over a half a lap to go in 5th position.

As we turned the last corner, I set up to see the sprint and it was clear…Brad wins by a whole lot.

So, we get a win. 2nd NRC win for Cref this year.

First National Championship

Just thought you all should know this...

In the finals of the junior men’s 17-18 keirin, Justin Williams (Los Angeles, Calif./Major Motion) claimed a national title in the six-up sprint ahead of runner-up David Engwis and third-place finisher Matthew Fox (Highland Park, Ill./Hays on Track).

Winning Legs

Yesterday we race our second race here at Super Week and it was a fun one. The race was held just about 2 miles from out host house family so really were all excited and wanted to show them "we are the real deal".

After completing the first 3 laps, I knew I would have a good day. My legs felt really fresh and I had the acceleration that I was missing the race before. However I still had back problems. Lap after lap, they gave out primes and people where going crazy for the. So many guys are taking mad risk to get to the front. After Mike Friedman got into a 3 man break, Brad and myself controlled the field. Yes just the three of us pretty much ran the race. We collected together about 7 primes. On one lap, I beat all the fast guys for a $100 prime and one lap later I was going for a $75 prime and as I started to sprint, this Canadian guy came over the top of me and took my wheel out. I thought for sure I was crashing but I held up. I destroyed the wheel and had to get in the wheel pit for a front wheel.

After getting back in, the guy whom did it ask if I was okay and he said sorry.

Coming down to the end, the plain was to have Mike, Brad and I just sprint down the back side that getting all three of us into the last turn in the front.

With 8 laps to go, Brad Huff told me he didn’t feel well and that I should follow Mike. No problem! So I hook up with mike and I’m sitting well just waiting for the last lap. With 2 to go, Huff gets back to the front and now all three of us are in the right spot. With one to go, I’m on the wheel and I’m telling them what to do, I’m yelling GO, GO but no go. We had perfect position to hit it on the back side when Kodak was doing there lead out because they really wasn’t going that fast.

I got to the last corner maybe 10 and finished 7 and Brad Huff was 5th. I feel that I need to trust myself more and take more risk for myself.

The main reason for us three coming to super week is to train and get comfortable racing together so we can learn how to do lead outs for the last 4 major crits coming up, Downers Grove being one of them.

Today it’s a hard race with a big stupid hill in it. When I was 17 I came here alone and won 2k in primes. Lets hope I could have that same day.

Winning Legs

Yesterday we race our second race here at Super Week and it was a fun one. The race was held just about 2 miles from out host house family so really were all excited and wanted to show them "we are the real deal".

After completing the first 3 laps, I knew I would have a good day. My legs felt really fresh and I had the acceleration that I was missing the race before. However I still had back problems. Lap after lap, they gave out primes and people where going crazy for the. So many guys are taking mad risk to get to the front. After Mike Friedman got into a 3 man break, Brad and myself controlled the field. Yes just the three of us pretty much ran the race. We collected together about 7 primes. On one lap, I beat all the fast guys for a $100 prime and one lap later I was going for a $75 prime and as I started to sprint, this Canadian guy came over the top of me and took my wheel out. I thought for sure I was crashing but I held up. I destroyed the wheel and had to get in the wheel pit for a front wheel.

After getting back in, the guy whom did it ask if I was okay and he said sorry.

Coming down to the end, the plain was to have Mike, Brad and I just sprint down the back side that getting all three of us into the last turn in the front.

With 8 laps to go, Brad Huff told me he didn’t feel well and that I should follow Mike. No problem! So I hook up with mike and I’m sitting well just waiting for the last lap. With 2 to go, Huff gets back to the front and now all three of us are in the right spot. With one to go, I’m on the wheel and I’m telling them what to do, I’m yelling GO, GO but no go. We had perfect position to hit it on the back side when Kodak was doing there lead out because they really wasn’t going that fast.

I got to the last corner maybe 10 and finished 7 and Brad Huff was 5th. I feel that I need to trust myself more and take more risk for myself.

The main reason for us three coming to super week is to train and get comfortable racing together so we can learn how to do lead outs for the last 4 major crits coming up, Downers Grove being one of them.

Today it’s a hard race with a big stupid hill in it. When I was 17 I came here alone and won 2k in primes. Lets hope I could have that same day.

Whitnall Park Road Race

Super Week Whitnall Park Road Race

In the past, I have had good legs at this race and have always placed myself in the top ten at the finish.
This year I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, been fresh off from traveling and not riding because of my lost luggage I knew my legs would be really bad. Brad and Mike were a little better off than me because they have already ridden their bikes twice.

Brad started the race really aggressive, he attacked and attacked until he got away with 3 other riders and we never saw them again. I was happy he got away and no one was going to chase because my legs felt really bad and my back started to bother me at about 45 minutes in. This course had a bit of a hill in it and two rollers that just slow your momentum down.

With 7 laps to go, I went from the front, after bringing back Karl Menzies (HealthNet) straight to the back. I road dead last for 5 laps, (it was really easy back there) and with two to go, I was moving up to sprint for the finish and mike told me they only pay 5 deep and not to risk going for that because it’s a crazy finish. So I road in the front but not really contesting the sprint, I just road near the front to stay out of trouble. I rolled in 13th and come to find out, they paid 35 deep. Haha, so if I had really tried I could have made some decent money.

O yeah Brad finished 3rd place.

Tomorrow is a crit in Shorewood, which if 1 mile from our host house so we must win.

Whats the Deal?

What is Going On?

Yesterday I left my home in Los Angeles at 4:30am to get a 6am flight out of LAX. I checked in my bike and duffle bag at 5:15am

When I arrived at my final destination in Milwaukee, Wisconsin my bike came but not my bag. To make a long story short, they have NO idea where my bag is and all they can tell me is that “my tag was deleted”. Not sure what that means, but I have no race clothes, shoes, helmet, or anything. No toothbrush, clean clothes, nothing.

I usually travel with my helmet and shoes in my backpack, but this time, I decided to just put them in my luggage.

Today I am schedule to race and I haven’t road my bike now going on two days.

July 9th 2006

After all the bad luck I had down at Fitchburg, I got home and started to just heal myself. Now that I feel healthy, I'm starting to have back problems again. I did a local race yesterday and I was in a group of 5 and after about 1hr f racing, my back went out and I had to stop. It hurts so bad.

Well, not sure what to do about it but I have to leave tomorrow for super week and those races for sure will make your back hurt.

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Stage 2 Fitchburg

I have to say that I was not motivated to race yesterday. With being under the weather and having my phone stolen was just a downer for me.
It really made me frustrated because the hotel has surveillance and he wouldn’t let me look at it.

Anyways, we arrived to the race 45 minutes before the start of the 86-mile race, however the women started 30 minutes behind so we had tons of time to kill.

From the start some weirdo attacked and hurt the whole field in the first 2 miles of the race. After making the first lap up the hill, I didn’t think I would ride well because I was in serious difficulty.

After a few laps went by, my legs started to come around and I felt great. Not 100% but good enough to go with attacks on and over the climb, which I did almost every lap.
I even got into a few break that look good for me in the middle of the race but all to come back by Priority Health who’s partaking the race lead. With 4 to go a huge attack went over the climb and I followed, we were going really hard and I started to cramp a little bit but that went away when I told myself its only 3 more times up the hill. We were caught going up the hill on the next lap.

So now for sure it’s going to be a field sprint and I just did my thing to ride safe and get to the final lap with some legs. Going into the last lap things got really hairy as Navigators started their lead-out. Will (my teammate) was riding right behind them but I didn’t hold his wheel because I thought I would sit two guys back just to avoid the swarm. A mental era by me because Will is very experienced and knows how to give a lead out. With 2k to go, the swarm happens but not just from one side, it came from both and I got lost in the shuffle. I went into the last corner maybe 20th and finished 13th. That hill hurts a lot more when your going 100%.

I’m not to disappointed giving the circumstances. Now for the road race, ill just ride it and make it to the crit and when that on Sunday.
The road race is pretty rolling with some rough climbs, finishing on top of a ski resort. The last time I did this race, when I made it to the top, the official’s stand was being broken down…let’s hope that’s not the case this year.