Grants Ranch

This was an opportunity race, my chance to finally hold the coveted leaders jersey. Been 4 years that I have been racing in the high school mountain bike league and I have yet to don that jersey...time is running out. It was the perfect opportunity. A race that suited me, more of a road race then a mountain bike. I had gotten 2nd at the race last year in a sprint, and if I beat Nate Byrom, the current leader, by 2 spots then I would hold the jersey.

It was not exactly the perfect run up of a week into the race. I had a sore, inflamed hip that had been messed up in a time trial on the 15th of march and further damaged during a hard copperopolis road race. A massage on the monday led to easy rides and rest days. Saturday was the first day that I got to open up the legs a little and it felt good. I was optimistic. This would be my race.

It was an early start to the day. Luckily I had an awesome father willing to chaffeur me to the race while I slept lounge chair style sitting on two pillows and resting my head against another. I got to the race and went for a pre-ride of the course. The grass was still wet and the chill in the air was not to my liking, as the early devoured food burned my throat. Not exactly a comfortable pre-ride, but I continued with optimism. We were at the race site at around 8 and my race was not until 1, so I had a lot of time. I returned to the car for a nice nap, followed by some bread and nutella, a banana and some clif bloks- the perfect pre race food. A good warm up and some sprints with teammates led to the starting line.

We began and finished on a stretch of bumpy grass. It was not an enjoyable ride on this section and this year it was even more than last year. Last year the finishing stretch had a chicane, but this year it was a dead straight sprint. I had utilized the chicane last year to make my move, but this year I had to make it earlier.

With all of these thoughts on my mind, we were off. I got the hole shot so to say. We went into the climb, with Nate and I riding the front. He seemed content to ride slow and I didnt have many other ideas for the first lap. So we rode, it was like no mountain bike race that I had ridden before. Slow on the climb and then even slower on the flats. Finally, a rider from Marin Academy, by the name of Daniel Boyes, took charge and drilled it for the remainder of the flat section. We hit the hill and I went to the front and drilled it. At the top of the climb I was with 1 other rider with 3 at about 15 seconds back. I asked the rider if he wanted to work together. He declined with a defiant NO! So I sat up and sat back at the edge of the pack as I wondered if my legs would begin to feel better. Now, as I sit here, I wish that I had just gone for it then and tried to solo it. At least it would have been more of a race. This race was just getting boring.

Once again we rolled along the flats and then we hit the hill and I went to the front. This time I didnt drill it as hard, but mixed in some harder jumps, its not very easy to jump on a mountain bike, at least its not the same as a road bike jump, but nonetheless it was fun and I got the group down to about 5 again, as many other riders had caught back on along the flats.

Then we hit the hill for the last time. I hit it hard at the beginning of the hill and then a rider from San Rafael, Will Curtis, continued to drill it. My legs began to die at that point, but as I looked behind me I could see the leader fading. We were dropping him. This was my shot. I gave it my all and surged at the front. I paid for it at the steep rollers that were still left, but I made it over them all. I sat in the back of the pack,trying to regroup for the sprint. Then Nate caught back on and it became apparent that I would need to win the sprint. My attacks on the climb were what I had planned, but with no one else willing to play they did not break up the pack as much as I had hoped.

Along the flats a los gatos rider drilled it and I was suffering near the back, chilling in the draft. Then I realized that we were getting close to the end and I needed to get up to 2nd wheel at least. So I went for it on the left of Nate. He was having none of it and decided to shove me into a gate and I fearing the gate, gave him a shove right back. Then we were riding in a ditch. He was out first and then I, trying to regain speed in a my big ring. Then it was over. The closest rider behind me was about a minute. So I rolled across the line devastated. The Jersey would not be mine today. After a quick spin I felt content. I raced hard, I gave it my all and then at the end it was just bike race. TBR. There were a few choices that I made that could have been different and maybe going solo was a choice I could have gone for. I doubt that I would have made it, but at least it would have made for a more exciting race. The way that my legs were feeling though, I think that I made the right choices. Another day, another dream. Wards Ferry road race and then Madera Stage Race followed by Sea Otter. A world of races to come and then, a category 2 upgrade. Things are looking up.

tb

Copperopolis

Elite 3 ~ 5th Place

The Copperopolis Road Race is one of my favorites on the calendar. It is in the absolute middle of no where and I love it. It is always pretty early in the season and near the end of the season I tend to look back and think, wow it has been a long time since copper, a long season. At this point I get to sit up and enjoy the ride to come and the season that is just beginning.

Copper was my first road race of the season and I went into the race feeling content and ready. I have been feeling good on the bike and excited about my overall fitness. However, after my time trial last week in Visalia, which I was quite successful in, my hip got tight and messed up. I rode through it for the next week. Then on Friday, the day before copper, doing my pre-race ride I could tell that there was something wrong. I felt good, but then the last 10 miles of the ride my hamstring got tight and I just couldn’t push. That was not a great way to get the psychological/mental confidence in the right place.

I ignored it though and felt confident that it would work itself out by the morning. With a lot of stretching and a hot tub run it would all be back to normal I hoped. We awoke in the dark and I fixed myself two eggs and some toast. Not exactly having a huge appetite at 4 in the morning, but still needing to stuff some protein and carbs down. Luckily my awesome father drove me to the race so I got to sleep most of the way to the race, only waking up once as my dad stopped to take a picture of the still present, almost full moon.

We got to the race and after standing in line after line, I was able to get my number and use the restroom. Ryan and I went for a short spin and then we were off. We planned to take it easy on the first lap and so that’s what we did. I sat in the top 5 on the climb, just taking it easy and not pushing the pace. I talked to some friends during the climb while I some other people were suffering. I like to talk with people when I am feeling good, it’s good to mess with the others psychologically as they start thinking, “he is not even working and I am suffering, he is just sitting there talking!” So Ryan and I rode to the top of the first big climb in the front and then when we got the flats at the top I told Ryan to drift back into the field. He had sort of a confused look on his face like; “why would you ever do that!” but he came back with me. So we sat in the pack and just relaxed. We moved up at the end of the lap for the sketchy descent and then stayed near the front as we hit the climb again.

I started the climb and I noticed that my computer had been broken during the descent and it was dangling rather close to my wheel. So I went to the front and drilled it while trying to pull off my computer. When we got to the smooth section of the pavement Ryan attacked and then when he got a decent gap I made a hard jump that nobody followed and I bridged up to him. We rode together at a tempo pace hoping that some more guys would come up to us, but no one came so we let them catch us before the flats, because we were sure that we would not make it alone with another 2.5 laps to go.

Once again we took it easy on the flats and I was beginning to feel my hip problem. For the most part it was not too hard along the flats except for a few hard bursts. I tried to stay safe without having to do any work because I was not feeling too good. I knew that the race wouldn’t be won on the flats, but it could be lost there.

The third time up the climb I was suffering more, but I still sat in the top 5. Near the top of the climb two Z-team guys attacked and I tried to follow with a Webcor rider, but I was never able to get on their wheel. When I got to the flats the group was only about 10 seconds behind me and I thought that I would have a better chance of catching the Z-team riders if I was in the group. I tried to get a pace line going, but no one would work. The first half of the lap there were some attacks and one good one that I was in that got a little pace line going, but nothing worked. I went back mid-pack and searched for Ryan and could not see him anywhere. I figured that he had not gotten dropped on the climb, but it had looked like he was suffering, turns out that he stayed with the front group to the top of the climb with a flat wheel…impressive.

Then there was the last time up the climb and I was feeling as if I needed to just hang in there. I was able to sit top 10, but I was not feeling great. One rider attacked, but no one followed, and he was gone. I thought that we would catch him on the long flats to the finish, but that would not be the case.

Most of the last lap I just sat and watched. The pace was pretty vicious along the flats, but we did not bring anyone back. We got to the descent before the finish and it was pure mayhem. I sat about 5th wheel, so that I was out of the wind, but also out of danger.

The last few miles were fast, as would be expected, and I just tried to stay protected in the front. We hit the 1k sign and one rider attacked, but that did not last long. I knew that it was a long sprint and that a lot of people would go too early. So as we began the sprint I just followed wheels until I felt that everyone was beginning to die and then I punched it and made my move with about 200 meters. It was awesome to be able to handle those big guys this time as I did not have the gearing disadvantage with the uphill sprint. I won the field sprint, which was good enough for 5th place. I felt good, definitely was one of the best sprints that I have ever had. I even got an awesome Velo-Promo T-shirt!
Some cool pictures of the sprint to come...

Thanks for reading,
-tb

Visalia

At the turnaround

shimano pose

TT podium (too bad the winner was too cool to wait)

Glynis yoga during the crit

The new Shimano car

Cherry Pie Criterium

Me lining out the Elite 3's

Ryan and I out front of the junior field

Junior 17-18 ~ 4th Place

The first race of the season, there is always so much anticipation. Having trained hard throughout the winter months and the countless hours spent trudging through wind and rain seem to culminate into one afternoon, one test. Or rather for the juniors it is always a brisk morning of expectation. Of course there is a whole year of racing to follow, but it seems that the first race of the season sets some sort of tone. Every ‘big name rider’ from the juniors tends to show up to the first big race and it is some sort of trial. We all see each other and wonder who has really gone out and rode their bikes day in and day out from November until now. The butterflies build on the starting line and it seems that we stand there for an eternity. Then bang, another season begins, the butterflies are gone and once again were on the road. I love that aching in my legs and the loss of breath, the crashes, the attacks and the final sprint. There is no other sport that can compare to a bicycle race.

My season began at Cherry Pie Criterium in Napa. My race started at a cruel 8:30 in the morning, but that is just the way it is for the juniors races. It was exciting to see so many riders from Team Swift at the race and it was great to get everyone together to warm up and get ready for the race. I got to the starting line ready to go and then we were off. I was first through the first corner and ready to pound up the tempo. The first few laps of the race were an absolute blast. Ethan, Ryan and I tore it up on the front and had some fun attacking and countering. It was then about time to settle down and get ready for the real moves to go. Prime lap, Ethan attacked at the bottom of the hill, he looked good. I sat and watched the sprint for the prime and then bang that was the break. Immediately I was chasing it down. Should have gotten into it instead of watching them go. My mistake. The next few laps were a strong chase. Not many teams felt like working though. Swift on the front not wanting to let the race go. Then they were gone. It was a sprint for 4th. Ethan started the final lap on the front in an attempt to lead out Ryan for the win in the 15-16. Not all worked to plan, but it was a fun race. I sprinted hard at the end, but was dissatisfied to get beat by some 15-16’s in the sprint.

I feel like as a whole Swift rode very strong. We passed the test and everyone rode very well. Some tactical mishaps led to a no win outing, but that can be fixed. It was great to see that we were all on form. The first few laps of the race I could see that we are going to have an exciting year.


Elite 3 ~ 4th Place

The second race of the year. The sun came out. It was the beginning of a magnificent day. We hit the line with a good warm up in the legs after a hard junior’s race. Once again I was first off the line, but I sat up a little so that I would not have to pull. I jumped in about 5th wheel. My own little sweet spot. The race was mostly a blur for the greater part of it. As the laps began to count down I got into good position for a prime. A few other AMD juniors set out a great lead out for the prime and I sat on and Ryan and I sprinted in for the prime, which I won over my teammate with a bike throw. Once again I found my sweet spot and just settled in for the race. It was not much of a blistering pace, but the hill hurt. I did not remember it being such a big hill. It can wear you down. The last few laps there were some crashes on the backside. That got the adrenaline going. There’s nothing like the chance of hit the floor any moment. For me the key is knowing that you’re not going to be the one that goes down. No matter what happens, I am going to stay upright is how I like to think. I know that is not always the case as I have in fact crashed before, but I feel that being strong mentally through the nail biting parts of races is the means by which you can stay upright.

So I made it through the last few laps and I got pushed back a ways with 2 to go. I began to make my way back up to the front and I was into good position as we hit the hill for the final time. Of course we were spread across the entirety of the road so it was difficult to move through, but I managed to squeeze through the field. I like going through the middle of the field, it seems to save a lot of the energy wasted that involves going out on the outside and fighting the wind. I was there for the sprint and I gave it a good kick. I felt good and I think that if I could have found some more room then I could have pulled it off, but alas I did not. I almost got into 3rd and earned a pie, but another 4th was the final answer. Two races, 0 pies. 1 place higher in each and I would have gotten one. I guess if I don’t eat too much pie then I won’t get that unwanted weight, so the less pie the better I suppose. I felt good though and it was exciting to see that I still matched up with everyone and all of the work that I put in during the winter was successful. Now I need to improve my tactics and get that badly needed/wanted win. I am done with the top 5’s and as in the words of Ricky Bobby “If your not first, your last” and then there are the words of Vince Lombardi; “If you lose, your out of the family” So it is time to get that win!

Ethan, me and Ryan on the front of the Juniors race

Discussing the race

Thanks for reading,

tb

More TOC

My grandma was wondering where my picture with the champ was, levi, so here is the best picture I got asking him to have his autograph

Half of Scott Nydam, the KOM!

Standing with Thomas Voeckler - (In 2004 he held onto yellow for 10 days in the Tour, very impressive riding and probably the best part of it was watching him suffer like no other to hold onto the jersey, a rider that I have always respected)

Fast Freddie, he has been an awesome leadout man for years in the pro peleton, better yet he is an awesome guy who has been willing to help juniors and be a part of the Team Swift ride with champions multiple times, a great guy, im not so sure about the move to rock racing, but he is a very respectable rider and hopefully he is ok after a couple of falls in the TOC

My dad and I with Jens Voight ("life is good" - Jens) or "im in the first line, im gonna get goiiinnnggg" - hes a funny dude and awesome racer, just had his 5th kid in fact

My dad and I with Steve Cozza, sportin his stache, that thing needs to go

Floyd Landis and I, my controversial pic of the night I suppose


Tommy D. signing our poster

My dad and I with Ekimov - He has finished 15 TDF's....Impressive!

Dave Towle and I, the great anouncer

My dad and I with the Specialized Angel

Crazy Night at the TOC

Can you even imagine hanging out with all of your heroes in one night, I don't know if it is possible to even imagine, but it did happen for me tonight. Of course the best part was hanging out with BMC's Scott Nydam, but here are some other people that you might recognize....

Pinch me, standing with the World Champ Paolo

Paolo signing my poster


Standing with Tom Boonen, need I say more?

Bobby Julich, one of the great Americans

With David Millar, the new, clean, argyle wearing machine

Standing with Big George, repping his new High Road colors

Standing with Mark Cavendish - 11 wins in his rookie season....(I asked him to take a picture and just then George walks up and he was like HEY its George, are you sure you want a picture with me) of course I still did

Hanging with Paolo

Trying to take a picture with the Lion King - Super Mario
It very tough to get a picture with him if your not a woman

Boonen hanging out

Robin Williams can even make Paolo laugh


Did I mention that the day started at the Team High Road Presentation,

this is Ryan hanging out in front

More to come with some details...also more pics including Thomas Voeckler, Fast Freddie Rodriguez, Floyd Landis and my all time favorite JENS VOIGT
-tb

Is it raining yet?

On Friday it was raining. Wait does that give justice enough to the rain. It was pouring. The sky was dropping absurd amounts of water. The streets were filled with that water. Perhaps it was not a good day to ride a bicycle. Or was it? The proper clothing was the only way to go. Sickness is not an option for cyclists. A cyclist can not even fake being sick to miss school because that would mean that one would not be able to ride their bike after school! Maybe the rain was needed. The creeks had been relatively low for this time of year. Even Lake Nicasio was at the lowest limits that I had seen in a while. It was looking more like a field than a lake. Why did it have to come today though? I guess it was just meant to be. Saturday I was planning on riding Skagg's with my Team Swift Elite teammates. It would have been awesome. Alas, six hours in this weather was not an option, even for a bunch of fools like us.

I got home from school around 1, but I pouted over the rain for a few hours before I became hardcore enough to put on my clothes and jump into it. As I got dressed it was only drizzling and that angered me. If i was going to ride in this junk I wanted a hurricane. This needed to be epic. Of course I was going to go ride the mountain bike, it was way to nasty for the road, what with the gray skies, fogged windows and crazy drivers. The trail was the place for me. Heck, is anyone else crazy enough to go ride on the trail today? No, can't be anyone that stupid. The trails would be all mine.

I headed out the door and jumped upon my MTB beast. Now it was storming. That is what I am talking about. I let out a scream for a joy (or insanity?) and wheelied that bad boy out the driveway. I was well equipped and ready to roll. I was even sweating I was so perfectly warm.

I stole my dads waterproof gloves. They are amazing. Seriously, they are absolutely unbelievabele. I think that they are for kayaking or something, but no water, well extremely few amounts seeped into my gloves during my two hours of riding through an absolute perfect storm.

I got to the neighborhoods near the trail entrance and the streets were flooded. I had to follows cars through the water. They would part the water for me and I would race through the streets before I got engulfed. I made it to the dirt, my kingdom. Not a soul for miles. I felt good today. I was cruising through the thick mud. The rain pounding. Drops pounding on my rain jacket. I was thundering through the forest. It was a good day to climb. Climb I did. Ten miles of climbing to the top of Mount Tam. The trail was a river. Then as I neared the top of the mountain another man descended past me. He looked exactly like me. All dressed up in an ugly bike rain jacket and massive amounts of lycra. We are like ugly ballerinas. Well as I saw this guy in the distance he was laughing, and he continued to toss out that laughter all the way down the trail as he passed me. Was he laughing for joy? (I think that he was hypothermic or something!) Oh well, I felt great as I cruised up the trail. I passed through multiple waterfalls crossing the river that I was riding through. It was getting windy. It was ridiculously foggy. Could I see that tree 10 feet away. Nope. I caromed my way to the top. Oops, not much time left to get back down this mountain. Oh, no worries, I can get down this mountain in probably five minutes.

Have you ever tried descending through a river? Wow, it is not easy. One may in fact say that it is difficult. Did I mention that every corner of Tam looks exactly the same when it is ridiculously foggy. I think that it was harder descending then climbing. One might even claim that it was scary.

I reached the bottom and had to follow some more cars through the flooding. I thought that the one that I was following was going to die as I heard the engine sputter in the water. Luckily, it made it through, and so did I.

The best part of the ride was while I was navigating my way through one of these flooded streets. There were two boys of five years in their full on yellow rain gear standing with their mother and dog. As they spotted me they yelled to their mom "That kid is riding a bike!"

I continued home and I ended up on a street that was closed with a banner blocking my side. Oh, this couldn't be much of a problem after what I have been through. I rode about 500 ft before I saw the biggest puddle of my life. The street could no longer be considered a road, it was river. The water was gushing across the hillside on one side and into the river on the other side. It was at least as deep as my wheels. I turned back and managed to pull into my home before it was too dark. Another adventure in the books.

I am that kid riding a bike.

tb

One of the many sweet waterfalls on Mount Tam