More photos from High Point Crits 5-29-2010

Click on images to enlarge them.

High Point Cat 3 Race, 5-29-10

High Point Cat 3 Crit. 5-29-2010. Photos by Charley McArthur. Click on phtos to enlarge them.

Peanut Butter Wrench?

Click on photos to enlarge them.The Campagnolo "Peanut Butter Wrench" was originally intended as a 15 millimeter wrench to be used to loosen and tighten crank bolts. In the 1970s it became known as the "Peanut Butter Wrench" when touring cyclists and cyclists on a tight budget used the handle to spread peanut butter. Today it's most popular use is on the the axle bolts of fixed gear and track bikes as in the photo below. It also works on the axle bolts of BMX bicycles as shown in the bottom photo. The old world craftsmanship of this made in Italy tool shines through as soon as this wrench is picked up.

Bob Marler ride from Lewisville

A good easy 62 mile ride from Lewisville today. 5-16-2010

Scott Morris wins at the North Wilkesboro Speedway

Scott wins at the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Chad and Gracie at the "City Ride" 5-2-2010

Dixie Race report 4/27/2010

I didn’t even want to race Dixie tonight. After Tour de Moore, I felt like taking a break, maybe do a little Lewisville ride or a 2x20. But Jim, whose day job involves getting people to say “yes,” got me to say yes.

But that’s enough about me (for now). The winner tonight -- indeed, the team's first winner this season -- was Richard Carver. On the Bell Lap of the 4/5 race, the man started dishing out some pain on the backstretch. Meanwhile, Jim and I, watching from the restroom area, pooh-poohed the tactic. “Oh no – too soon,” we said almost simultaneously. But Carver proved the cytomax-sipping spandex pundits wrong. He and a wheel sucker got separation from the pack, increased the lead around the final turn, and then Carver turned on the rockets, flicking Mr. Wheel Sucker and powering solo across the finish line. Chris Gibby topped things off by finishing strong in the pack.

In the ¾ race, the familiar faces were there: Ben, John T., and Joe H. It was a small field of maybe fifteen, and it was windy. A few minutes in, Ben and I tried to break away a few times. We had done it three races ago and figured it might work again. But, unfortunately, nobody wanted to work with us. The pack was intent on riding defensively. Each attack was chased, each acceleration matched. So it all came down to the final laps. The pack was orderly, as if there was an understanding that the wind would not allow anyone to sneak away and that accounts would be settled with a sprint.

This is when having teammates makes racing fun. With three to go, Jim got on the front and set a vicious pace. I mean vicious. It was so authoritative that nobody even thought about trying to bolt off. Meanwhile, I was behind Kevin, who was taking care of business, slotted about four wheels from the front, keeping things together. Cruising into the final turn, we turned the speed up to about 30. Heart pumping. Feeling good. Coming out of the turn, the race dogs bolted out of their cages and gears started popping like distant scatter fire. I poured everything – all those intervals – into my pedals. In a flash, side by side, Ben and I, with no one else in sight, formed the tip of the sword. In another flash, on the line, my bike followed his. Just like that. So close. Yet another second place. But that’s OK. I still got enough prize money for my next entry fee – and a six pack.

Regards,
Bert

PS: The attached photo of tonight's race was sent to me by our esteemed former teammate, Big E. Thanks, E.

Fun Sunday Afternoon Team Ride

A fun Sunday afternoon "Team" ride in Davidson County in April. Jim, Pat, Chad and Bert in this photo all lined up in their team kits.

Polar Bear

Anyone doing this ride? I'm thinkin' 'bout it...

Hendersonville Cross Recap

This weekend was the UCI sanctioned NC Grand Prix in Hendersonville, NC. The course was at Jackson Park. The course was challenging with a barrier section, a run-up with steps/barriers, single-track style hill with leaves all over it, and the "wall." The "WALL" is a steep hill right out of a corner and off a paved parking lot that is rideable with a lot of speed.

Sirena and I both raced at 10:45AM and Saturday's weather was picture perfect. Sirena's race was a women's CX3-4 and the competition was ramped up for this. I had 61people in my race. I think Sirena had 25+. I got a bad start and had trouble getting clipped in. I had a good opening lap. On the second lap I over-cooked a muddy corner and went down. I regrouped and on the third lap I was passing a junior and called out "on your right." Once I was close to the junior he swerved sideways into me and we both went down on the gravel road. I did a split and the junior landed on my left knee. Needless to say I was hurting. I finished 29th. Sirena hung tough and finished 18th. She had a stacked field and did well.

Sunday's (today's) weather was nasty in Hendersonville. It was cold, rainy, and the course was getting muddy. I was out with my left leg hurting and my knee swollen. Sirena per-rode the course and decided to opt out. She said she didn't have it in her and we packed up and headed for W-S. I think she is somewhat burned out. I have never seen her quit a race before.

Anyway, the last cross race of the fall series is in W-S at Tanglewood Dec 6th.

Chancey

Matt Gfeller Memorial 5K Doughnut Run

Matt was a freshman at RJR high school who died during his first football game as a Demon. In addition to many other events organized to remember Matt, a 5K seemed a good way to highlight Matt's love of sport and...Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Jill and I live a stones-throw from RJR High School, and even though I am a Mt. Tabor Spartan through-and-through, we feel a certain attachment to the school in the neighborhood. When we heard of this 5K, we knew we'd do it. To our surprise, the race had a hitch: runners had the option of entering as "challengers" or as "casual." Challengers were required to eat 6 hot'n'nows at the halfway point, then run to the finish. Casual runners were under no such burden.

Jill and I both decided to enter as casual, because as good as KK doughnuts are the first time they pass your lips, we had no interest in seeing if they were as good or better the second time around. This actually happened to MANY who entered as challengers.

To the race: The sun was out, with temps in the upper 50s to low 60s by the start. At the gun, the racers - differentiated only by RED or BLACK numbers on their bibs - took off. With most of the climbing in the first mile, I knew this was where most of the race would be decided. The throngs surged ahead however, and I was pacing well to stay in the top 40.

At the halfway point, every single person ahead of me veered to the left toward the doughnut tables - all challengers. As a casual runner, I could opt for 0 - 5 doughnuts. The challengers started squishing KKs and shoving them in their mouths while chugging water. Before I realized it, I made the turn and was heading back to the start/finish...in 1st place and with no doughnuts in my stomach (or tucked between my gums and cheeks).

This is one of the great thrills of sport, to be in first, even if for only a moment. It is almost confusing, because most of the time we are playing our position off of those around us: listening to breathing, for shifts of gears, for the whoosh-whoosh of someone with carbon wheels standing to pedal...

This glory was short-lived, as by mile 2.5 I was passed by two runners: young whippersnappers who were barely even trying. No one else came by, and when I looked back at mile 3 no one was there.

Coming to the finishing straight, my friend Kristin snapped a shot and it's below. I landed 3rd overall, but as a casual runner, I don't command the respect or admiration (rightly so) of those who slammed down 6 hot doughnuts and ran it on home. The first challenger was only about 1 minute behind me. Impressive!

Memorial RIde from High Point

How can a 70 degree day in Mid November get any better? Well, how about 2 & riding for an awesome cause as to remember a fallen cyclist. Today, Chad, Jimmy, Dave, Richard & I participated in the Memorial ride in HP for the Dave who was killed by a motorist in GSO less than a month ago.

I was under the impression it was going to be a "recovery" ride, but when >500 people showed, it quickly apparent that some of the big boys had come to play & show off their Mid-Nov form. (Bert, we needed you!!)

I took my video camera thinking I would be able to practice my skills. I got 2 clips before we left & 1 on the bike (below) before that dang thing became weight I didn't need to be dragging around.

I will never be able to give this ride the credit it deserves nor wax as poetically as Professor Bert, so I'll leave it as this. Here's the video before my eyes started bleeding....

Pilot Mountain Team Training Ride

Saturday, November 14 was an epic day.

First, when does one get a 70 degree day in Mid-Nov?

Secondly, how often does one have sag support for a team training ride? (Thanks Lisa)

Bert, CHad, Kevin, Jimmy, John O'Leary & myself had all of the above & more yesterday. It was awesome. As Bert has stated in the post ride email, I had one of my best days ever. (losing 17ish lbs makes a difference going up any hill, much less trying to stay on O'Leary's wheel) Bert's new power meter is helping him go to new heights(no pun intended) but it's not helping his calves any. Jimmy had been hooked up to an IV just 24hrs prior to the ride & made it. (Jimmy, you know the pro's have stuff put INTO them, not taken out) Chad's diesel was firing on all cylinders & Kevin never seems to have a lull in his riding. Kev, thanks for the encourgement.

Good weather, good friends & a safe ride, what could be better?

Lisa took a couple of videos from the car & I'm attempting to attach.

Salisbury Cross Report

Today was the cross race at Salisbury Community Park. It was HOT! The course was fast and roadie-friendly. Team members Charlie, Danny, Sirena, and myself raced. The course was relatively flat and two woods sections and two barrier sections.

Charlie raced the master's race and did well. He rode strong and his Waterford Steel Cross bike looked fantastic. Danny raced the men's CX3 race and did well. Danny did ~100+ miles yesterday and then raced cross today...impressive.



Sirena raced the women's CX4 race and had 15+ in her group. She got a good start and was 4-5th after one lap. She had a tough second lap but regrouped after that. She begab reeling people in and in typical Sirena-style was mashing on the pedals in the bigring. With two laps to go she was 4th. With one to go she was in sight of 3rd. She closed in on 3rd but ran out of time at the line. Sirena finished a strong 4th and is riding well.

I did the men's CX4 race. There were 50 racers in my group. It was HOT and I started near the back. I got a good start and was midpack after one lap. I had moved up to the top 20 after two laps. My side-stitch flared up again and was troublesome the last two laps. With one lap to go I was ~15th (per Sirena). On a nasty 180-degree off-camber corner I lost it and hit the deck. I lost two spots but remounted quickly. On the last lap I caught a few more people and finished 13th.

It was painful and fun!

Boone Cross Report

The third race of the NC Cyclocross Fall Series was this Sunday in Boone, NC at Hawsnest Ski Resort. Literally, it is at an old golf course and you are racing on the side of the moutain. It was typical Boone weather...cold, misty, foggy, and there was MUD EVERYWHERE. It had rained for two straight days and I have never seen anything as muddy as this. Picture any video clip of the Oregon cross scene and you would have this race. The course was very challening and then throw in the mud and you have a race of survival. The course had long straights with deep mud and standing water. There were a lot of short step hills, an off-camber hill that was not really rideable, and a run-up that was very muddy and slick. There was one barriers section, a sand pit, and lots of fans screaming at you when you didn't make it up the hill.

Sirena raced the women's CX4 race and had around 15 racers (I think). She got the hole shot and held it to the barriers. However, she came into the barriers with too much speed and hit the deck dismounting. She regrouped and was 8th after the first lap. She reeled in racers and had moved up to 4th entering the last lap. Sirena was able to ride many of the muddy areas others weren't. The course was very much a power course. On the final run-up she had moved to 3rd. Coming down the final straight she could see 2nd but the ugly, thick mud reared up and snagged her. She crossed the line 4th!

I raced the men's CX4 and we went last. The course was torn up by then and the mud was getting worse. There were around 35+ racers in my group. I lined up near the back and got a bad start. A couple of racers went down in front of me and I had to dismount and run the first straight. I had a good opening lap and had moved up to around 20th. On the second lap I began to notice mud collecting on my brakes/wheels/tires. I had really bad tires for muddy conditions. They are knobby and collect mud. At the start of the final lap I had to stop twice to clean off mud from my wheels. Entering the final lap I had moved up to 15th. I had to stop again and 3-5 racers passed me. I was having a real hard time getting clipped in as well. Coming down the last straight my bike LOCKED UP! I could not pedal it. I had to get off my bike and run/walk to the finish line. Travis from Clemmons Bike Shop passed me! We have good battles in cross and he got me today. I have never ridden in anything like that!

Next weekend is Charlotte/Salisbury.

Chancey

Cyclocross Weekend

This past weekend saw Sirena and myself participate in the opening weekend of the Fall NC Cyclocross races in the Raleigh area. Saturday's race was in Cary, NC at Bond Park and Sunday's race was in Raleigh at Lions Park.
Saturday's course was technical and had a crazy off-camber hill in which you rode halfway down, had a 90-degree uphill turn and dismount to run-up this steep hill. At the top of the hill there was a 180-degree turn to the right and you had to remount your bike while descending down this steep hill. The bottom of the hill had a 90-degree left-hand turn...you had to SLOW DOWN to make it. Well, the rain held off until my race...more on that later. Sirena raced the women's CX4 race and took home 4th! She was super-strong and stayed up except for one crash at the nasty hill (oh, she did crash and do a split in warm-ups though). My race (the men's CX4) saw 60+ racers line up and the the sky opened up. It began raining at the start line and did not let up until after the race. It was muddy, nasty, and downright scary. The race was shortened due to lightning. That retarded hill saw me crash over and over. I crashed a total of 6 times during that race. A dude's front-wheel got caught in-between my chainring and fork. Needless to say I finished midpack or worse:(

Sunday's race was much more roadie-friendly and had lots of turns and long stretches. The entire backside was uphill. Sirena finished a strong 6th out of 15+ women. She stayed up the entire time and rode well. My race had 60+ again and I got lined up at the back of the group at the start line...a no-no in cyclocross. After an uphill start it went into a woods section that was single-file. The leaders were gone after the start! I started at the back and worked my way up to the front third by the end. I had a much better race and stayed up. I think I might adopt the strategy of starting at the back and seeing how many people I can pass...a lot more fun than the craziness of being at the front of a cross race.

Anyway...next weekend is Boone!

Chancey

New Digs

All CLMers are invited to come and see the new digs. The new townhouse is located at 117 Chrisfield...directly across from Calvary Baptist Church on Peacehaven Rd. Hopefully the move-in process starts Tuesday, with the heavy lifting occurring Wednesday. Feel free to come by Tuesday afternoon/night. Anyone with decorating skills is hugely needed.
Oh, anyone with extra furniture feel free to share!!

Later!
Chancey

Salem Lake 10K Race Report

Salem Lake 10K Race Report - September 26, 2009

Well, it was a fun day in the wet at Salem Lake. This race is a combination 10K/30K, depending on your preferred level of suffering. The 10K course, completed by Amy, Jill, Chris Gibby, and me is essentially 90% of 1 lap around the lake. The hard-packed dirt course is mostly flat, but tosses in one hill and a few rollers to keep you on your toes. The weather was perfect for a longer run - temps in the mid to low 60s with a mist and little wind.

Chris has been training all summer for a half-ironman, so his form is quite good. Jill and Amy have done this distance a few times before, so their preparation was also looking strong. I, on the other hand, had not run this distance in 2009 and honestly, I think it has been since 2007 or so since I raced at the 10K distance. I did manage to run the course with Chris on Wednesday, but I was still sore from that. Moving on...

At the start, Chris and I discuss a 7:30/mi pace, moving to 7:15 or 7 at the 3 mi mark. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we didn't do that at all. Caught up in the speed at the start, we cleared the 3 mi mark at 20:28, so were a few minutes ahead of scheduled pace. Not insignificantly, I took a misstep over a rock around mile 1 and inverted my ankle. I didn't fall, but definitely stumbled. It twinged for a few minutes, then I felt no more pain (until later...).

At mile 3, Chris starts to hold a slightly quicker pace, about 101% of my capability. Our small pack of runners (6-8) had now thinned to 3...one guy was simply using us to pace his run (he later told us his goal was 6:40/mi and we were close to that). Around mile 5, I accepted the fact that I could not hold this pace all the way in. We were already way ahead of our projections, so I was happy with that. I encouraged Chris to go on, and he moved ahead of me by about 20 seconds.

At the finish, one guy came out of nowhere and slipped between Gibby and me, but no matter - we were both very happy to run right at 42 minutes. I believe Chris was 42:11 and I was probably 15-20 seconds off that. This was a surprisingly fast time for us, landing Chris 3rd in his age group and me 2nd in mine.

The girls were racing well also. Jill's last run on this course was around 72 minutes, and I heard her mumble a few things about a PR today. She likes running the mist/rain and especially when it is cool, so you never know. In her post-race interview, she admitted a little left knee pain that may have slowed her down, but she and Amy also kept watch over a fellow runner who was feeling faint in the last half-mile. Kudos to them for improving on their time (around 67 minutes this year) and keeping watch over their fellow runner!

Now at home, I realize my ankle is sprained, maybe Grade III but definitely Grade II. I'm glad I didn't feel it until the end, because that was a wonderful race and a great experience with a strong racing companion - Chris. Check out the pics below...

Walnut Cove Reports and Pictures

The weather was beautiful today in Walnut Cove. Despite being busy the whole time I was able to take a couple of pictures.

Danny raced a tough cat 3 race and finished in the top ten. Ritchey Nance ended up winning this race. Danny's second race of the day was the Men's 35+ race.

Beverly finished 3rd in a hard women's 3/4 race.

I didn't get a picture of Michael Berry who raced a tough 50+ race. I thought the guy that won was a cat 2 or a cat 1.

Our friend Ben Swaim made a great attack during the cat 3 race.

Congratulations to our team mates and friends racing so well today in Walnut Cove.