Saturday Party!!!

What's up ya'll?
Well Saturday is going to be kickin (that is my slang for the day). There will be a reception for Shannon to congratulate her on the two national titles she earned this past week in Park City. There will also be a grand opening celebration for MAD DUCK ADVENTURE SPORTS. I ask that you guys come out and support the shop, because they have gone out of their way to help and support the team in our traveling and racing for the 2005 season.

Matt

heatwave

Today on my ride towards the end I began to have a mental flash back Waynes World style (doo la loo, doo la loo, doo la loo etc.) about the cool weather in Utah. The reason why I was having this episode was because today I went for a 3 1/2 hour ride. For those who know me pretty well you know this is a shorter ride for myself so normally no problems. Well, being in Utah for about 3 weeks and acclimated to the cooler weather I had a little bit of a problem with the TEXAS HEAT. In the 3-1/2 hrs. I had to consume 7 bottles and a sprite just to attempt to keep up with my hydration needs. This was crazy.
Also on today's ride I came past a carwash/detail business where there was giant blowup rhino, with straps holding it down. Due to the strong winds, it seemed to be alive and trying to break free from the restraints (remember it was very hot when I was riding).
I am glad to be back. O yea, I forgot today was the first day I had a chance to ride because the airlines had lost my bike for about two days. Yea this was a real stresser ( maybe not even a word).

overview

Now I am back in Texas and the air feels like soup it is so thick! I want to Congratulate Shannon on some reallying good racing. I had a chance to drive the surburban throughout the road race course while the race was going on. Evertime she and the other girls would come past Shannon would be on the front pulling the other riders around. The finish was fun to watch when she made her final jump and Kim was not able to react. Putting Shannon across the line first.

Go check out the various pictures from the races on cyclingnews.com, www.actionpic9.com along with other various sights.

Matt

Elite National results

Well I had my two races yesterday and today. Yesterday was the time trial (35Km). I got there with plenty of time to get warmed up and this is exactly what I did. I was feeling pretty good rolling to the start get on the starting ramp and I a off. I get upto speed pretty quickly and try to settle in. For some reason I just could not find that rhythm I usually feel when doing a TT. But that is ok, I will just keep going and see what I can do on the way back from the turn around. At the beginning of the second half I am moving along at about 30mph and starting to feel better. He speed would vary for the rest of the ride but stayed at high as I could hold it. On the day I ended up 30th. I would have enjoyed a higher placing but it just was not meant to be.
Today was the road race (130miles). I woke up about 5am and got going on my morning routine. Which is eat and get dressed with a shower in there, before taking off for the race start. The warmup was minimal due to the length of the race. I do however ride around just encase someone gets the idea of taking of from the gun. Trust me guys do this sort of thing. Because I have tried it before. Ok back to the race. Everything stayed together except that a 14 man break got up the road and was eventually caught about 2 hours later. Early on I saw my chance to try and bridge the gap and tried but to no avail. I tried a move or two more and decided I was doing too much work and needed to just rest the legs a little bit but stay very attentive incase someone decided to try and make a move and I could follow the across. No this did not happen. After spending about 90 miles in the valley it was time to start heading back to town, which meant more climbing. Usually I am all for this because I can hang with these guys and still be able to fight it out closer to the line. In the beginning this was true over the first climb, but then on the second climb and final one before we hit town and do some smaller climbs. On this final bigger climb I looked to my right and I could see this very large monkey come running out of the bushed right toward our group. I thought to myself I hope he is not headed for me, because my legs still feel ok and he real hard stuff is almost over. Sure enough before we get most of the climb done he jumps on my back and will not let go. So I am officially off and trying to fight my way back. I finished the race and left everything I had on the road. This was not to most difficult course I have done this year but this was a pretty difficult race.
I might not have had my most stellar two days of racing but I can definitely say that I have learned a lot these past two days of racing. Both about myself and racing in and of itself.
I would like to thank everyone for there support. I just wish I had better results to share with you.

Matt

morning

Well we are about 4 days away from getting started. The weather has finally turned around for the past few days and is getting warmer. Not a whole lot has happened since my last update. I have been out to the TT course again to go over the course and figure out the gearing that I will be using the produce the fasted time I can. Yestarday Nate, Shannon and I took a ride around and through town. Stopping for a bite to eat on the way back. The eatery was kinda cool there where to big wall that were covered in old beer can from all over the world and going back many years. It more of and art piece than a collection of drink recepticles. I have to throw a bigger word or two in there just to keep mom proud.
I am now about to go out the door to meet Nate for a ride and maybe something will occur that will be entertaining and I can share you you guys.

Matt

quickset

I title today entry the way I did because on my way to meet up with Nate and Shannon for the ride. I am on the side walk just outside their door and on the phone. I look forward and see the ground looks a little wet but do not really have time to react and sure enough the wetness was because some workpeople had just laid some fresh concrete. well my wheel sinks about 4 inches. I hang up tell my coaches wife I have to go. roll into the grass and take my wheel off and proceed to wipe the concrete off as fast as I could. LUCKLY it all comes off and no one was the wise till now! Except for that rather large hole the siz of a bicycle tire in fresh contrete. I would have smoothed it back out but the only thing I could think of that would work is my arm and no that was not an option. Other than that my day was really good. I had a chance to ride the road course again. The climbing was much better today.

Day off

These past couple of days have been nice. I had a chance to ride out to the race course on saturday and just become more familiar with the first few larger hills before you end up in the valley. Everything is really pretty here. You have to remember that a Corpus Christi mountain is better known as a Sand Dune. The air is begining to get a little thicker for me. Today is a rest day for me so I think I will catch the bus into Park City and see the sights.

Interesting facts

Back during the Roman era, the Romans believed that hippopotamus sweated blood. The scientific world has disproved this theory. By showing that their sweet contains two separate pigments wich act as a type of sunscreen
I will be trying to put more facts up as the year goes on.

snow man

I forgot to mention i made a snowman and a snow angle today. My snowman fell off the porch.

Utah

Sorry for the gap in my updates, I have been away from a computer for a little while. I am now in Utah and it is snowing. Yes that is right, I am writting this during the second week of June!! Well I have been here for about 5 days or so. The riding has been pretty good. Wait! before I talk about that stuff. I should say why I am in Utah. Elite Road Nationals. Ok, now with the stories. I am in park city for the most part. Ok not exactly in, more on the outskirts ( 8miles away). On my rides I end up passing by the 2002 olympic park with the ski jump etc. The town is pretty cool. The climbing is pretty good also. Seeing as the house where I am staying currently is about 6500 - 6800 ft in elevation and that is at the base of a small mountain. Yestarday after spending two hours in the garage on the trainer finally all the snow melted off the roads and dried up. So I ventured out and up the mountain. This was pretty cool. On part of one of the climbs my front wheel kept trying to come off the ground and I was pushing my 39 x 27 pretty hard. In the process of getting up the hill there were alot of switch backs, my fovorate kind of climbing. Later today Nathan and Shannon will be arriving here. I am looking forward to more teammates around.

Until next time
Matt

Track Cup

I do not have a lot stories to tell on this installment. Due to the fact that on the Track I am a Cat4. So I really could only do the 4K pursuit. Which is good because TT is what I know, having been a professional triathlete at one time. Ok enough of that let me let me give the run down.
I did my usual warmup well most of it. I did not get to finish because, they decided to swap the race directly infront of the 4k and start our race earlier. Not a big deal, because I had done the important stuff already. So I go the the line and get set. 5 - 4 - 3 - 1 - whistle sound. I am off, ok no I am not there was a false start. This actually worked in my favor because I got a chance to check with Nathan on whether my start was fast enough and if the line I chose was good. Yes, Nathan is alot of help on the track. Because I had never done a pursuit before. Ok well the second start was good and I am off. Pedaling as hard as I can. Trying not to think of anything but keeping pressure on my pedals and staying ontop of the black line. Everytime I came past the bleechers on the front side of the track I could hear the cheers. So I would like to thank all the club members to being there and helping on my way. When it was all said and Done I posted the second fasted time of the night, for this event. I was happy. I now have alot that I would change in how ride this event.
I saw some people taking pictures so I will post some as soon as I find them.

Matt

Joe Martin II

The TT was up a climb for 2.5 miles. That sounds like a piece of cake with lots of frosting, but NO! the first 200 meters was fast. I got into my big ring from the begining and then was in my small ring the rest of the way and breathing like a vaccum, you know the sound. I ended up somewhere in the top 40. Satuday road race prior to the TT was a 93 mile road race where you rode 11 miles to a loop did the loop 3 time and then road back to the finish line which was the first 11 miles. This course was good in that the climbs were gradual and not nearly as long as fridays climbs. The main feedzone climb was super steep and pretty much you would not overshoot your feeder, because you are moving slow in relation to the rest of the race. I almost forgot the one long descent that had a 90 degree turn at the bottom and had a strong odor of carbon fiber and breakpads everytime we came through.
The Crit on Sunday was hard. No, not just hard but can I have a new set of legs hard and we are only halfway through the race. I gave everthing I had. There was a climb that lasted about four blocks and kicked up for the final 200 meters before the finish line. Just then you think the hill is over you turn left and the road give you one more kick for good luck.

Joe Martin Stage Race was deffinately one race that I am looking forward to doing next year. Now that I have sat down and reviewed my notes and know how to better approach the race from a stretegy standpoint.

Matt

Joe Martin

Sorry for the delay on my update of what happeneded over this last weekend.
Well the weekend started out ok until our bikes flew off the roof of the car while still attached to the roof rack!! Exactly what I was thinking. Once we squeezed all the bikes in the car with the luggage and people back inside we only had about an hour of driving left. The only problem there was no room for all of that stuff inside the car, some how we were able to not leave anything on the side of the road. We ended up having to overnight a bunch of parts seeing as how most all the parts that move on the bikes were shot. Nate came to the rescue and was able to get all the bikes back into order so we could toe the line the next afternoon.
Friday: This race was 115 miles for the pro men and the pro women did 68miles. For the women's race report I will have to refer you to shunning blog. Just because I was not able to partake in the women's race. Our race went smooth until some guy thought it would be a good idea to stop looking forward and look at the trees and birds on the side of the road, then fall down taking me and Nate with him. I jumped back on my bike and soft peddled until Nate started to come my way. Now he is on my wheel and I am trying to pull him back on the group we come upto Thomas and he gives a helping hand. We made it back to the caravan and begin to work out way back on the tail end of the peleton and we are on. Ok that hurt!! About this time we are rolling upt to the first feedzone and almost instantaneously a guy falls down informs of me again, but I am able to avoid this one. Make it through the feedzone but was not able to find the guys feeding us. So I tell myself don't panic you still have two more bottles you will be fine until the next feedzone. Well shortly after I make it into a break with 2 HeatlhNet riders. 2 jellybelly riders, some eandeavour riders and an aerospace engineering rider. This was good, one because I am in a break with some strong riders and there is all the neutral feeding a rider could ever want going on around us. All I had to do was stick my hand out and a bottle would be put in it. This was good because were climbing a 13 mile long hill along with other long climbs while in the break. Once the break was swallowed up by the main peleton, because HealthNet chased us down. I found out there was more neutral feeding going on at the back of our pack so I went back and saw Nate and I knew he did not have enough fluids on him so I went and gathered as many bottles as I could get and hand him some water and then proceeded back to the front quarter of the peleton. Once Nate told me to go on and not worry about him. The race came into downtown and I finished with the main group for the most part. This was hot day!!
stay tooned for the next update.
Also if you are out at the track on Thursday or this weekend I will be glad to elaborate on the details and fill in holes.

Matt

final days

Day three of gila.
today was the shortest day of the week besides the Crit. This was a 80 mile road race with most of the climbing taking place in the first 20 miles or so. everthing pretty much stayed together through the first long climbs and the long switch backs that we descended down not until the valley and when we got to the final feed zone where the final climbing starte (60 miles into the race) did things begin to start to split up and the screws began to turn. I was able to hold on and finish with the main group and not really loose and time to GC and hold onto my third place.
the fourth day of racing was the Crit. this was not your average TX crit. Due to the fact that there was about 3,000 feet of climbing over the whole distance that is 90 feet per lap with 30 laps. This did not really cause a problem because the group did not really attack going up the climb. So I just moved around the group just to stay active and not get to complacent just in case someone did put on an attack and I needed to respond. Coming into the final turn I just kept good position so as to make sure a gap did not open up and I would not loose time on GC.

fun training

Today was a good day in training, because I got a chance to put a show on for some school kids. I was on my way back home on the bike and came to a red light now turning green with a school bus in front of me so I thought "free ride" or draft for a while. so I jumped in the draft and was riding along as I looked up and saw these kids looking back over their seat watching me in amazement that I was going the same speed as their bus. I began to think to myself "I will ride this bus for a while just to give these kids something to watch for a while" as I was thinking this I realized that hot air on my face was the exaust which just happen to be right at chest to chin level, so I pulled off at the next traffic light, and had to finish my ride into the wind.

Day Two

Day two, first road stage. well this was pretty much a flat to rolling stage for the first 88 miles or so. then the real climbing began. I say real climbing because the last 7 miles was category 1 climb. Yes, I even used my 27 tooth cog in the rear with a 39 in the front. This stage had a very strong cross wind with everyone fighting for position the whole race. Troy wanted to make sure nothing got up the road so he went up the road with one other rider and stayed there for about 30 miles just to make sure no one was out there that could cause a threat to my 2nd place in GC. Eventually he came back just shortly after the climb was to begin. Whe the climbing began the field started to split so I moved myself to the front in anticipation to this result. making the front break I was off and in the running. I told myself just sit on the back of the group and let them just pull you up. This was working then there was a jump in the pace so I stood up and went. we are all still together, then another jump here a little bit of a gap opens. I dont panic just keep the pressure on the pedals and keep an eye on the guys in front I bridge up to two guys coming off the back of that group that is only about 10 yards ahead of me, but we are moving so slow that that is still a good gap. when catch those two guys, one othem has a mechanical and breaks a rear shifter cable. so me and the one other guy keep the intensity high and try to close the gap. This is not working so I attack a couple times and try to bring the fews guys up the road back. In the end I was not able to bring the group I started climbing with back but did finish 7th on the day and was the only guy who had one of the top TT time still high in GC. So I was pleased with the day.

Gila TT

whats up?
Well I will break up the race into different parts since this was a five day race and would be a long entry to read all at once. The TT was 16 miles and some change. Hilly with some more hills. Wednesday morning (day of the TT). Troy and I were in the backyard of the house where we would be staying for the week. Trying to get my Bottom Bracket (which showed up in the mail and hour earlier) in my TT bike. We get the bike together using the bottom bracket and crankset off my road bike. Everthing turned out ok and fit. A little later in the day we drove to the TT course and got setup. Troy decided to ride there for his warmup. Once I was warm and ready to go. I made my way to the starting line and proceeded to be told by every official there that I had folded my number too much and should not do this again. I was think "come on guys, I want to be aero." Luckly I did not get any penalty for this, because most other guys were doing the same thing. before I knew it I was hearing 3-2-1 GO!
I was off and telling myself, this is what you know (Time trialing that is) so catch everyone you can until you hit the finish line. I ended up catching alot of guys upto my 3 minute man. coming on the way back on the final down hill I had spun my 53 x 11 out at about 50mph. I knew I had given everthing I had, but was not sure where I would fall at the end of the day. This is because I could not get my 56 chainring to work and ran a 53, when I knew most guys were running a 56. So that evening after getting back to the house and having dinner I went down the street to see the results and I was second on the day only 40 seconds back. This was good. I now have a good start for the next 4 days of racing and climbing and we will also be climbing.
Stay tuned and I will have the Mogollon (day 2) results up tomorrow.

Gila

Well, we are back from Gila. I will be signing back on tonight to give the play by play. I do want to thak everyone for the support.

Fort Davis

We (Thomas, Troy and myself) rolled in the Fort Davis on Friday around 4 o'clock. Unloaded our things and headed packet pickup and take a spin on the hill climb course and see just what we were in for. Well, we were in for a pretty good climb. The best part was that were were quite a few turns over the whole length so you could get our of sight possibly. That evening the whole team got together and at the Cabin we were staying in. In order to get to the cabin you had to drive down a dirt road with sharp turns and small rollers, which gave Troy a chance to try out his rally car driving skills.
Saturday morning was a TT (16 miles). I ended up sitting in 5th overall after this stage. I ended up having a slow leak in my rear tubular. Yet I do not feel that had much of a factor in my final time, because I did not feel in until about 500 meters after the finish. That afternoon we all went back to the cabing got some lunch and took naps for the rest of the day and around 2pm we began to get ready for the "Hill Climb". The was a point to point race to the top of the Mc Donald observatory. All I have to say is Crazy!! The race was going well we had a plan to try and get my to the top first. A small break went early and the field was leting them just dangle out in front the a gap opened up even more. when we got the the first section of the climb, the pace picked up and I went whith the guys to try and close the gap. after about 1/2 mile I looked over my shoulder and saw that the field had shattered and there were only about 10 of us chasing. About 500 meter later there was only 5 in our group. This is when the attacking started and went on until the last 1/2 miles when is was just a matter of keeping the bike moving up the hill and not loosing ground. I rolled across in 9th for the day. I was happy with this stage.
Sunday the 76 miles road stage. This was going to be fun because we get to come down 90% of the climbs we went up yestarday. The group stayed together for the most part until around mile 45 or so. I am not realy sure, because my magnet moved on my and my computer stopped. Then there was an attack and I jumped in. There were small surges up the climbs and I kept on the right wheel. Then a small attack went and I did not have the snap in time. About 30 seconds later I tried again and started to bridge up to the break and was within 10 seconds of them and the gap stagnated. I got a few other guys to work with me, then they just stopped pulling through. So I decided I was not going to pull these guys up there so I knew I would have to attack a couple time before I broke free of my anchor. Sure enought after my second small yet abrupt surge I was free. Then a Solar Eclipse rider and Will Ross got on my wheel and we worked toghether for the last bit of the race together. Chasing the break down we were making time on them and just ran out of road. I believe my placing was 7th on the day, 4th for final GC.

The was a good race to prepare myself for Gila in the next couple of days. Stay tuned for updates on Gila.

Matt

Fort Davis/Gila

We are begining our trip to Fort Davis and Gila today. Look for race reports on my blog and other riders blogs.

Matt