Great Caesars Ghost

May 26 2009

2010-11-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

May 26th 2009...the last time I blogged...sad. Sooo much has happened. Raced, divorced, suffered, married, raced...So much to say so little time. So lets consider this a fresh start on life, the training, the blogging.
As I go day by day, I seem to put little peices of my past together to help me get through. I think Ive learned a lot. A lot about me, a lot about people. It takes all kinds to make this world go around.
thought of the day..my thought of the day:
Whether we realize it or not we're all products of how we were raised, we deal with life based on the examples and memories from growing up. How we give and receive love, show anger or passion, treat our ‘loved’ ones, and our priorities in life. I’ve painfully learned this first hand in my life. To those realizing this too...my heart goes out to you.

W e all struggle from time to time....some of us are on a longer more painful road than others. So have love and respect for one another, because we never know whats going on behind closed doors.

as far as training goes...it goes. i've been "running" some and lifting. I'm ready for November to be done so I can get back on the bike. I'm itchin....

Vulture's Knob

2009-05-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Wow...honestly the last time I RACED a mountain bike was October of '05 out in Moab. The only time on trails since was last fall where I got in three trail rides. Soo....I decided this winter/spring I wanted to do the Mohican 100k. Which equals 62 and some change miles of craziness.
The way things worked out, my only trail time so far this year and what looks to be the only trail time before Mohican, was the race at Vulture's Knob this weekend. With little technical skills left, I decided it was best to ride the sport class. That was a wise choice, the bad choice was trying to "race" it. I was fine until I lost my water bottle less than half way into the first lap. Bad thing on a 85 degree plus day. I faded fast...it was 1st to 4th then I ended up 6th. But I felt like I was standing still out there. I actually took time to pick up my lost bottle on the second lap. But the technical skills are coming back and I atleast have the confidence I can ride for 62+ miles this weekend. The weather for this weekend looks awesome. Mid 70's and sunny. I won't complain. We're (my wife Mel, my son Easton, and my mother-in-law Kathy) are camping down there. It should be epic.

RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!

2009-04-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Nah..those aren't chants out of the famed movie about the Notre Dame football player...those are chants for the awesome Rudy Sroka. He's the guy you stand around the watercooler and refer to as "the man". He was involved in a nasty crash at RATL this past weekend...He has some complicated breaks in his forearm and wrist and could be in a cast for 2-3 months. Hopefully this is one of those cases where the docs are being ultra conservative and underestimate Rudy's healing time. I'm not sure what he's planning on doing about riding for the next couple of months..but he should be fresh for cyclocross season...I wish him the best and a very speedy recovery!!!!

Covered Bridge Race #2..as I saw it

2009-04-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

I guess I missed a lot of the race. How..I dunno. I felt like I was a part of it more than anything. I spent the first lap getting the cobb webbs and the first race of the season gitters out. Near the end of the first lap a gap had formed and Spin and Stark Velo were sitting on the front setting tempo. So I thought I'd take my chance to see if i could bridge the gap...so at 1 1/2 laps into the race I started my run at it. I was able to bridge the gap about a quarter of the way through the 2nd lap. Mind you...there are 7 laps, 5 miles each, total. So their was 4 of us in the break...and I guess a couple more up the road a little farther whom we never saw again. We passed the start/finish line with 4 laps to go when we we realized Paul Martin and Sean Adams (my teammate) had started to bridge across to us. I felt ok at this point, but when Paul took a pull at 37 mph...I had my worries...I lasted a little more than a full lap after that point...leaving less than 3 laps to go...So I sat up and waited for the peloton...which in short order caught up to me. So I sat in and endured, even having to stop for the lovely train...I finished the race dangling off the back of the spread out peloton; which never really reformed after the train. I felt I had a great...hard workout and a good race. Next week should prove to be easier.

I'm not really sure how things in the Peloton played out while I was up the road in the break away. I heard my teammates did a lot of work and chasing. Which awesome. As a team we didn't so well, so hopefully this week we can be more organized in our attemptes.

Whats up??? The Tempeture!!!

2009-04-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Dang it got hot. In a freagin hurry too. At the early part of last week (on our way home from Boston) it was 40 something degrees. By fiday it was close to 80 and was 86 yesterday...ouch! This weekend was my first taste of racing for the '09 season. I'm happy with my effort. i bridged up to the break away which took roughly 2 1/2 miles to do...by myself. After 10 to 12 miles Paul Martin and Sean Adams bridged up to us. I knew I was in trouble when Paul took a pull at 37 mph near the church....I hung in there for about 5 miles before my legs cried uncle and said its better to live to ride another day. I'm happy with how hard I was able to go, knowing everyone else already has race milage in. Good signs!
I want to wish Rudy a fast recovery from his crash at RATL. He has a broken bone in his forearm and one in his wrist. We'll miss him on the road and will be looking forward to his return to the peloton.

hmmm..Team Columbus...

2009-03-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

So...my good friend Patrick sent me this link (posted below) this morning about the infamous Tym Tyler and his Team Columbus now known as TacoRacing or something like that. I have been very out spoken about Tym Tyler and his races...he never pays out what he is suppose to..err...ummm what he says he's going to and a laundry list of other unsafe practices and do I mention his constant race date changes??

I'm still mixed about going to another one of his events. I don't want to penalize the sport...only the bad apple that is taking advantage of it. He allowed us to race knowing there was no insurance for the race..isn't that the main reason we pay entry fees? He then did not pay out his advertised payouts...again, entry fee? WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO??

I only have one of his races on my calendar this year....other than that I'm not going to race his events. Why should I? I'd rather support a responsible race promoter.

39x12andcounting

3-23-09...original huh?

2009-03-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend included some great riding....I got in some race pace efforts which not only hurt but classicly felt good at the same time...the irony of cycling. We had our TLE training clinic on Saturday, and then a team ride on Sunday.

I was a bit worried though because of my knee..oh yes my knee. Last weekend it was nice out and my son Easton and I were out playing kickball...well one thing led to another and before I knew it I had "damaged" my patellor tendon. I rode the next 3 days...in pain. It felt like it was on fire. Then I took Wed and Thursday off completely and then rode Friday after work, it was just an easy ride, but my knee was pretty much pain free. So I'm ready to roll!!??

Today's the only day its really "bothered" me sense, it doesn't hurt, but just feels annoyed. What to do?? I'll see how tomorrow goes, if it bothers me, I'll take Wednesday off, maybe. I just don't want this to linger around all season...

(i stole the pic from Bill Marut)

Lake Effect colors run deep

2009-03-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since I've posted...nothing much going on except the day to day grind. I've been getting in some great miles and most have been outside. Yeah! Four days straight outside! Which leads me to my posting today.

The red and black of Team Lake Effect. In my mind as a racer, ever since I started racing, these colors have always brought butterflies to my stomach. Even while on opposing teams I know we always counted the LE riders in the peloton and kept a watchful eye...whether we could do anything about them or not.

Now that I am on TLE, for year 2, I still get those butterflies. Its different though. Its about expectations and the idea of knowing what goes through the other riders minds when they see us wheel the line. Its also the respect the colors give us as individuals. I'm not a great rider compared to some on the team, but I have had my moments. I see myself as one of those riders that nobody counts as a threat and that none of the cat 1 riders see me as significant...but I have a purpose in the peloton. Somehow...

But my experience last night on my ride made me a believer in the power of the Red and Black. Two words...Paul Martin. I was riding on the Parkway and he was going the other way sporting his old Texas Road House kit...but we exchanged waves and a nod. In general this is nothing big. To me, coming from Paul, this was in recignition of the colors I was wearing and representing, not so much me as the rider. I'm sure he has no idea who I am. But he knew the LE colors. I'm proud to be wearing this uinform. It has a long tradition of greatness. I hope to be a valuable member of my team.

oh yeah...
Here is my race calendar!

April:
4th Malabar Farms
25th RATL
26th CVCRTS – (covered bridge race)

May:
2rd RATL
3rd CVCRTS – (covered bridge race)
9th RATL
10th Chippewa
30th Mohican 100 MTB (tentative)

June:
14th State Road Race
21st State TT (tentative)
27th Raccoon Rally – Salamanca NY

July:
Westlake

August:
15th Shreve RR
29th – Valley City RR

Lake Effect hits Brecksville!

2009-02-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first chance to ride with some the other Lake Effect guys in '09. I'm not sure how far we road as a group. There were 7 of us total. Mike V, Bill and Tony Marut, Rudy and Robert Sroka, Matt Weeks and myself. Tony and Robert are the youngest on the team...and they rock! Its so great to see young blood out there having fun on a bike and challengeing themselves and us...well, ok, the older guys.

I ended up with 67 miles on the day, just under 4 hrs. We only averaged 16.5 mph for the ride. Buts its great saddle time. We got to share some stories and just get to know each other which is nice. Like now I know Matt has a problem having to do with blood and his chamois. I won't go into detail here...but its not pretty. I also didn't know that Matt raced mountain bikes. We got to hear how Rudy met Paul Martin...It all goes towards helping us ride better together when the season comes. I can't wait to start racing..but I'm still working on getting down to race weight. I'll be there..hopefully sooner than later!

Thanks to Bill Marut for the picture...thus he's not in it. But going left to right we have Mike V. Robert Sroka, Tony Marut, me, Rudy Sroke and Matt Weeks peaking his around the back of Rudy.

East-Side represents!

2009-02-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

So the first official ride in the east side indoor training series held at Team Energetics off of Wilson Mills road went off without a hitch last night. Janet and Tim...um..he has no last name...did a great job at finding a sweet venue. There were 12 that showed up to ride. We got in a kick ass 2 hour strength and endurance workout. I think most everyone that was there were CTC members. But everyone is welcome to head out and ride...just go to the CTC website for info. I'm glad to be apart of this thing representing Bike Authority and Team Lake Effect.

On a personal note...my training got stepped up another notch this week. I'm feeling it a bit in the legs today. But its all good! So I guess the State championship race is in June this year...guess where! you got it! Caesars Creek....hmmmmmph....

Team Lake Effect

2009-01-27T05:43:00.000-08:00

So we had our '09 season kick off meeting last night hosted by Bike Authority. It was great to see everyone without a helmet and shades on and see their faces rather than their spandex'd up ass. We have a broader team this season. With my plans of doing more Westlake races and well, more races in general, this should be a great season. I've been kicking around the idea of doing the Mohican 100k. Just kickin right now...but I may just do it.
I'm also teaming up with Janet Edwards, a fellow TLE rider and CTC member, for her indoor training rides on the east side on Tuesday nights. (if you need more info, just ask). This will be great exposure for the team and for BA.
On a training note...things are going well. I have another power test this week and I'm looking forward to see if and how much I've improved. until then...the Ghost is out!

its been a while...

2009-01-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while since I've posted anything important. I've been riding...despite moving and being sick all since the start of the year. I'm just now beginning to feel close to normal energy levels. I feel I've been riding strong and the weight I gained in the down time is starting to drop off...slowly. It just doesn't fall off like it use to.

It's nice to be in house again. I know with the added responsibilities...shoveling snow, yard work and the such, I'll have a little more stress on my body and time. But its all worth it. I can't wait to see how the new location effects my ride destinations this summer. I've already been riding more to the east of Rt. 8...away from the valley. maybe i can head more north into the Chagrin Valley for some rides. It should be fun. Al I know, is that I have to ride harder than ever.

Big Target

2009-01-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

I’m standing in line…next in line, so I had just put my DD coffee and powerbar protein bars down on the belt…the lady in front of my was fishing around in her wallet for correct change…the cute cashier girl was just standing there looking out side and noted out loud that it had just started to snow. This took the attention of everyone in the two open checkout lines to the doors…enter the Target employee that was bringing in the carts from the parking lot. Just as someone in the line at the register next to mine commented on “how its better to have snow than the ice we had last night”, the cart lady walks out from behind all of the carts and begins to walk in front of us all towards the employee door next to the Starbucks…as she does this, she unzips her coat.

Now this fine specimen of a woman…weighing in at about 350 pounds and roughly 5’-6” in height changed my life forever. As most horizontally challenged women are she was well endowed. And as a good Target employee she had on her company issue red T-shirt…a t-shirt that was, well…about 8” too short. This put in full site the glow of her stomach roll from the top of her pants up past her black hole of a naval to the shadows cast by her large sagging breasts. But this woman paid no mind to the free show she was giving everyone. Not too mention the cold rush of winter air that had rushed in behind her and the carts she no doubt had to feel on her open acreage of skin.

So out of respect for the, well…the fat, everyone in the two checkout lines quickly looked away and continued on with what they were doing. The mood had changed; the room was ready to burst. You can now taste the uneasiness. It’s a train wreck and you can’t stop what is unfolding in front you…Though I try, I can’t take my eyes of the glowing whiteness of what appears to be one of several abdominal areas…I’m a deer in caught in head lights and the silence is deafening…As the handful of customers and Target employees that surround me recover from the horror we just witnessed the woman makes her way closer to the employees only area.

So without thinking I said….”They make bigger shirts, right?” and evidently, this wasn’t to myself…I’ve never heard the tension snap in a room so fast and so loud….The cashiers were on the floor laughing, the lady in front of me was bright red with her face buried in her purse, and the store manager was running at full sprint after the spectacle to get her off the floor as fast as possible…

That’s my story….i will laugh about that for years…

08- the rebuilding year!

2008-12-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

I've spent sometime here looking backwards at this past year, well and the the year before. In '07 I barely rode 2000 miles. I didn't do any races. I ran more than I ever have. I really needed to get off the bike to enjoy it again. In 08 I will be close to 8000 miles on the bike. Not a record by any means, but descent. In 09 I hope to get over 12K miles.
The first couple of races I did this season I got dropped. The first was within the first 7 miles of the race. I regained my fitness pretty well, actually getting a win up in New York at the raccoon rally. All my other races I was active for the team, so I never really had great results. Next year I want to be in better shape than this year, so even if I get spent working for the team during a race, I'll still have enough left in the tank to be a lot closer at the finish. Their are a lot of really strong riders on Lake Effect. I love racing with them and being apart of the team. I'll be able to race at westlake in 09, so I'll have more ride time with them. I'm looking forward to next year. it should be fun.

FTP test

2008-11-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

When the Boogieman goes to sleep at night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris!

So I took a threshold power test this morning. I averaged 255 watts for the 20 TT minute effort. I'm not sure if thats good or bad for my weight. While I was doing the test I felt like I was at my limit, but once I was done, I had the feeling I could have gone a little harder. So I gave myself the precieved exertion rating of 18-19 out of 20. I get the next couple of days off officially, but I'm sure I'll end up riding. I feel better when I ride everyday, even if my "off" days are just light, easy rides. I re-arranged my riding room just recently. So that makes it a little better to get up in early a.m. to ride. Just because it's different, it makes it a mental difference, it's the little things in life that make you happy. Right? Watch out for Chuck!

...a dish best served cold.

2008-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Chuck Norris does not own a stove, oven, or microwave , because revenge is a dish best served cold.
I was surfing the web this morning and I came across all these crazy Chuck Norris sayings. They're freaking too funny. I just liked this one about revenge. I'm always looking for a a new form of motivation. I once had a year I called "year of the kill Dave". I was PO'd at this guy and I was devoted to crushing him in every race I could. It led to me having a great season. I won 3 straight road races and had a crazy amount of top 5 finishes including a a second place in a 6hr mountain bike race.
Since I have no one I wish to go Chuck Norris on next season, perhaps revenge on the Caesar's Ghost will have to be motivation enough. I may or not actually race there in '09, but I can pounce on every race like it was my last and take out my eggression on all the others. Perhaps I can make up for it in quantity rather than actually racing on that specific course.
I use to have unlimited confidence in my riding ability. But not so much any more. Its amazing what you can do on a bike when you're in a zone and peak condition. One of the things I need to "minus" this winter is about 15 pounds. It sucks to get old. Can I find motivation there? But there is my problem, ice cream, like revenge, is also a dish best served cold. That's a weakness! Shhh...don't tell anyone!
So here's to a year with out a true motivation. maybe I'll find one beyond just wanting to be faster over all.

I also had to share this video...

Let it snow!

2008-11-17T06:47:00.000-08:00

I had some "longer" riders this weekend. I did 2 hours inside on Saturday (it was cold and raining) and then I did 3 hours of endurance on my mountain bike outside on Sunday. It was the first time this fall/winter I've gotten to ride in snow. It was about 35 degree's, so not too cold, but after a while your feet get wet and really cold and man can that start to hurt! Winter time riding presents all sorts of new challenges. Your fluid can freeze along with your eyelashes and nose hairs. The key is layers and good wicking base layers. Personally I can tollerate riding outside when the temps get down into the low twenties as long as it's dry. I wont ride in rain below 50 degrees. I'd rather sit inside on my computrainer than suffer through that.
I'll have to start carrying a camera for my long winter rides. I saw some really cool stuff. Without the leaves on the trees. there is definitly a lot more stuff you can see. I don't know how many times yesterday I said to myself "Wow, I didn't know that was there".
I had thought about racing cross this season, but I decided not too. I felt that I needed some down time in October so that thru cross out the window. My coach Sean has a FTP test planned for me next week so I'm excited to do that and get some results. I feel like I'm riding well and have a good idea of what I need and would like to work on. Hopefully my next season can have more mountain biking involved in it. For the variety and the fact its just fun.
I had a one of those "man...this sucks" moments this morning. As I got into my main set my rear tire blew out and I got a flat...ON MY TRAINER! So I had to hurry up and change wheels and finish up my ride. There's always something.
So let it snow! Lets get this winter started now so it'll be over in march like it should be, not in late April like it has been the past few years.

The "OFF" season

2008-11-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

So in cycling there is no true "off" season. I'm well aware of that fact. If you want, you can go from spring to fall and race pretty much non stop around here. Whether its road bike, mountain or cyclocross, you can do it. The key is trying to balance training, racing, and life so as not to get burned out.
I ended up training all of last year for the State Championship race in Caesar Creek, Ohio. It was suppose to be in June, then it got bumped to September, then it got moved to October. Ok, seriously who can train for such a thing like that? I'm telling you its the GHOST! The first bump was ok, I had enough time to rest and then rebuild. But the second move was just bad. The wheels pretty much came off. My biggest mistake race day was using a new mixture of stuff in my water. It screwed up my stomach with THE worst cramps I've ever had. Sadly the break I was in, despite feeling like I had gotten punched square in the gut, got chased down by a team who had a guy in the break. Go figure! He wasn't the guy they were working for. So my misfortune there too. What's funny is, this team that chased us down, didn't even get anyone in the top 3. Karma! (or ghost?)

So now I attempt to refocus on next season. I'd love to be able to get my cat 2 upgrade. So we'll see how that goes. My coach Sean Gilbert from Bike Authority did a fine job this past summer getting me in shape. So I know it can happen again. I'm not sure if I want to focus on one big race again or just try to be as fast as possible and ride as much as possible.

So again, there is no "off" season. I've gone right from racing to a little down time this past couple of weeks right back into 2009 training.

The beginning of November

2008-11-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

With this being my first official post, I'll keep it short. This is the story of my good time on and off the bike. i will use this to track my riding, races and the stories of my life. It boils down to my struggles at the Caesars Creek course. I've raced there 4 or 5 times and I have never done well. From hitting a mail box to just having stomach problems. It haunts me like a ghost I can't get off my back. This is my story...