Crit Natz

National Championship
Sunday was a picture perfect day for crit racing. Blue skies with some scattered clouds and the temperature was in the low 70’s.
The strategy was for everyone to help Brad Huff win. My job was to play low key for the first 50k then start to be active for the remainder of the race.

Late in the race a group of 15 got off the front and there were no Cref guys in the group. I wish we could record and publish what some team managers say to motivate their team because Voughters was giving us an ear full.
When the break got closer, Brian Smith was on the front bringing down the gap and I said in the radio, “Brian sit up in 5 seconds” right as he set up, I went across to the break very easily, however that created a huge reaction from the field and a half a lap later the group was all back together.

With 5 to go I’m there, visualizing what I have to do each lap. I’m feeling really good and fresh. With 4 to go, no difficulty what so ever and feeling really confident. 3 to go, I flatted.

Game over. Really disappointed. I had to win that race.

Pro-Am, Downers Grove

Pro-Am Bike Race
Downers Groove, il

The Pro-Am race is usually just a warm up for the big day on Sunday. This year I didn’t fly in the day before so my legs and body felt normal.
In the race I didn’t do much but stay out of trouble and at the end I just tested my legs and balls for tomorrow National Championship.

Indiana Bike Riding

I'm still here in Indiana and it has turned out to be a great decision to come down here. The weather is great, the riding is good and there are very minimal detractions.

Today is my easy day, just 2hrs and tomorrow ill motor pace again and leave Friday to pick up my Wife from OHD then down to Downers.

If something exciting happens ill let you know, but stay logged on because I'm doing a Video blog for the TBBR.

New Team

Okay for the record, I did not sign anything with any team. Not sure who started this, but the emails have been rolling in none stop about me signing for Discovery. There is no truth in that what so ever.

This pic was found all over the Internet and new papers last Friday. Its not me, its Tarrel Owens (pro football) player making fun of Lance and cycling. I know I have huge arms like this guy, but my money is not large like his.

His out with an injury and he rides the bike everyday while at practice. He called it the "tour de oxnard" because there training camp is located in Oxnard, Ca.

Okay enough schooling...

BofA Crit 2006

BofA Crit

Saturday night in down town Charlotte, Bank of America Innovational Criterium was underway just after 7pm. The 100k crit started quick because the race had lots of primes to give away.

I got an opportunity to start in the front because I got a call up and surprisingly; I had some people cheering for me. I didn’t bother to warm up so in the beginning I wanted to take some pulls and maybe go with some attacks so my legs can open up quickly.

About 30min in, I found myself in a group of 6-7 riders. I thought it was a group that should roll it but no one was working. In the group was Gord Frasher (HealthNet) Kayle Gritters( HealthNet) Shawn Milne(Navigators) Jackson Stewart (Kodak Sierra Nevada) and a few more and I cant remember. After looking back and seeing a gap, I tried verbally motivating the group to roll it but there was no luck, so I attack the group riding 1 full lap solo until Jackson Stewart( Sierra Nevada) Came across later followed by Shawn Milne (Navigators)

As time went by, the gap grew and at one point we had over a minute. Out of the three I was for sure the winner, however Jackson and Milne were really strong and I didn’t want to try and match their pulls.

Later in the race, it started to rain and this is when I started to ride very nervously. Earlier in the race, I broke a spoke and needed a spare wheel and what ever rear tire I had was not good in the rain and I was sliding all over the place, making my ride just a bit harder for me because I was 3-4 bikes lengths off the wheels going into every turn for my own safety.

With 5 laps to go it was pretty evident that we would stay clear and I was thinking about how great this would be for my season and the team. Going into turn one with 2 laps to go, Shawn hit the rain gutter, slid a little bit and that caused me to alter my line and I hit the barricades headfirst.

Race over. Lying there on the ground had to be the most embarrassing moments in my life and also frustrating moments. I gave all that effort and I had nothing to show for it at the end.

I won the most aggressive rider award however when people look at the results they will only care about the top three.

Well, I’m back home now with neck and back pains and very little road rash. I am blessed that I didn’t have a season ending injury.

What happen?

Something happen to me and I'm trying to figure out what it is. My legs have been really bad over the last few weeks and I didn't change my training. Allan Lim told me what to do and I stuck to it. But over the last 3 days...wow, I'm really going fast. Tonight at a training race, I did a one lap pull at 30mph and still opened up a sprint and did it at 39mph. It was a feeling I cant even explain.

Tomorrow I leave for the Bank of America Crit in North Carolina and I sure hope I feel the speed there because its over 100k in prize money.

ill also be doing another Video blog for thebroadbandracer.com, so stay tuned and see what happen.

chow.

Buy my sprint manual...its good, you will be happy. Go to my website. www.bahatiracing.com and order one.