Gateway Cup 2009

This is going to be a long post with tons of grammatical mistakes so get over it. I just got finished scarfing down an entire Imos Pizza! My Gateway Cup goal: Finish. Congrats to Cat 4's Michael P and myself - signed up for four and completed four! I finished every race, didn't fall off once, and although suffered, had a great weekend. I wished I could had been more effective with teamwork, I wished I would have placed in one race - but for me - this weekend was a success and a good way to end my season. There, you have it in a nutshell!

Race 1: Lafayette Square - 92 riders - Hub: Marc M, Bill, Lendell, Michael P, Bryan S, Peter, and Tom
Question - What do you get when you take 92 Cat4's and race them down the start/finish straight-away at 30 plus mph? This!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf1v3AR3zBE
(I have no idea how to upload a video!)
The biggest crash I have ever been in - a conservative guess, 40-50 went down, including me, hard. I was feeling great during the race. I was sitting in a perfect place, using no energy, waiting for my turn at the front when I was to lead out The Hub train with Marc as our man. I had the game plan all ready, I was going to go and the second to last lap on the back side, right before turn three, take it wide and lead us into the straight-away and turn one before I was gassed. I actually said to Bill right before the crash that the race was getting dicey at the front! So anyway, into the straight-away and a guy at the front in the middle went down, don't ask me much. I was on the far right by the fence, I would guess my speed at around 32 mph, and down I went. All I remember was seeing a guys wheel sticking straight up and my mouth slamming right into it. The next thing I remember was lying on the ground clutching my bleeding knee and Andy helping me up. I slammed my knee hard and think I was balling for a minute. The entire race was neutralized and I lined up at the pit for a quick bike fix. The only thing that pissed me off was the way they restarted - the sent the guys from the line and when they were passing, sent us. Those guys hit thirty by the pit and then we were supposed to go! Bullshit! I took me almost 3/4 of a lap to catch the field - I was smoked. I turned to a guy next to me and I was like - that was tough - and I think he had the same look I did and he was spent. I tried to rest to execute our plan, but the race had changed for me and I called out to Bill that I was out. I finished in the 50's - After all that I was happy. I had fun hanging out afterwards - a good time.

St. Louis Hills - 87 riders - Hub: Michael P, Bill, Peter, Robert
Showed up and my knee was hurting but I was determined to go. This was a great course. It seamed like you just sailed along the whole way. The weather cleared up and it was a great day of racing. The only problem was the sewers - especially on turn three. With the way I was feeling the Gateway Cup was going to become a weekend of survival. This race was a notch faster than Lafayette and yet, it felt really fun. We came into the second to last lap and Robert almost crashed out, somehow saved it, and dropped back. I came into the final turn of the last lap with a full head of steam and this Big Shark guy flew across my path and almost took me out, causing me to break into the turn and I lost a lot of momentum and several places. All said and done, I finished strong and, for me, it was a good race - no pics.

The Giro de Italia (The Hill)- 95 riders- Hub: Michael P, Bill, Lendell, Bryan
This was the race I feared. I knew this was going to be hard - and for Bill - My ASS is fat too! That hill takes it out of you. The first lap, you know its there, the 15th lap...FUCK! I was determined to finish.
My first goal was to get a good start position. This is one of those races where it is non-stop speed and tight corners which makes moving position difficult and will punish you - First goal - failed. Shitty start position - near the back. The race started and guys spazzed going into the first corner and I was forced to brake, losing further ground - AHHH. Oh well, I was mid pack and the race was on. At one point I found myself near the back as I passed Judy in turn 3 and all I thought was "not this race!" I quickly moved up to mid pack and was determined. In the last lap, our main guy Lendell got caught in a crash, which I avoided on the opposite side of the rode and I rode in with the pack. Success for me. Afterwards guys said this was there hardest race of the year. The speed was extreme up that hill - over 30 at times. The best part:

Downtown, Tour of Missouri - 105 riders - Hub: Michael P, Lendell, Peter
This race looked easy, but man was this a cave of pain. I do not know how many fresh legs were in the pack, but the speed was insane for me. The course had a long gradual hill, into a tight turn, with sprinklers on, a straight, and a 110 degree turn (which I never felt good with) a long straight that was bumpy as hell, into a tight turn which was a sprint into the final turn onto the straight. This whole race was a tough it out - that hill turned into a painful experience. Usually during a race, when I start to hurt, I check the time, which usually gives me a pick-up, yo u know, only a couple of min. left, etc. I looked at the time - 16 min. AHHHH only 45 to go! I stayed tough, was never able to do much but survive, and avoid the crashes. The last lap, turn two, crash fast. I saw a ZIPP rear wheel sticking up in my path and I just blasted through it. I saw Tom Valvo after the race and I saw him crash in turn three and I said, "nice baseball slide" He said he crashed twice in the race! When I finished, man did it fell good - Corona time!

Tour of Missouri - Stage 1 Hub - Nobody (Haha!)
After my race, it was cool - went back to all their team trucks with their bikes and stuff. It was really cool - man do they have some equipment! While we were walking through, I had my bike and we passed the Liquigas crew and this Italian mechanic looked my bike up and down with disgust! I was like hey man, I'm poor - back off! It was pretty funny. Judy met Christain Vandervelde and I almost lost her (thank God Cavendish wasn't there, I would have needed a bucket and mop to wipe up all the drool)!
We hung out on Broadway and Lynch which was a great spot because we saw them coming up Broadway and then 2 min. later, turning on Broadway from Lynch. We camped out in the middle of the road and they got so close to us, one time Bella, standing on the curb, fell backwards!
It was funny. Pretty cool to see the pros.

A long post and a good weekend. Now I'm going to bed. Looking forward to Cross - Sept. 19 - Hermann Night Cross - bring it!

By the way - The mechanic who does the Pit for Sram - ponytail guy - he is a tool.

The Night Before

Ok - here it is - the night before Gateway!
Am I ready? You know, I think so. We will have to wait and see.

A good week - I couldn't commute on Monday - I was really bummed

Tuesday - rode after work with Michael and Jeff. I set it up that Michael would attack a few times - each time he did, I reacted well. I felt really good.

Wednesday - I commuted to work - felt great to ride. I must admit, Forest Park was very disappointing - chilly weather.

Today - Well... I pulled my messenger bag off my desk during class and my laptop fell out and as it was headed for the floor, the corner landed right in the middle of my foot! Man, this laptop is heavy. Luckily, the laptop was saved but my foot is killing me. Just the luck! I'm sure it will be OK for tomorrow. I rode after work on a nice, easy ride.Felt nice to spin! Tomorrow is Lafayette! Bring it on! The Green Machine will roll!

One Week to Go!

Well - going into the one week to Gateway - Am I ready?Fuck No - I'm a suck-ass, but it is what it is.


Monday - commuted to Harris Stowe - nice ride and I saw Bill H on the cross bike! The commute is nice - especially through Forest Park (you know it!)

Tuesday - Started the Tour de Ladue - was fun, I had a lot of gas in the tank. Should of raced, but it was the only night I would see the kids. Later that night I dropped Loren's Monster bike off at his house, and while driving back, I saw Ron working late at the shop, so I stopped by. He was in a state as he was trying to put adult training wheels on a bike - no shitting - adult training wheels. This was a two man job, so I stayed and helped - they are the funniest things I have seen on a bike! Of course we had to ride it around the shop.

Wednesday - commuted to Harris Stowe - nice ride and I saw Bill H in the same spot, on the cross bike! Missed The Hub team meeting.

Thursday - rode after work - once again, I had a good amount of gas.

Friday - went to the Cardinals game with Ron, Kevin and Andy.We had a blast! What more could you want, front row parking, great seats (in the Red Bird Club), and walk off home-run by Albert Pujoles and beer. Unfortunately, too much beer (2 before the game, 4 at the game, 3 at Venice Cafe and 4 at Tower Pub) I think you get the story for Saturday - I thought I would take the day off! Props the Ron and Kevin for making The Hub ride - I was "praying" a little in the morning. I'm in Gateway training! I think the training bible said this is what great riders do the week before a big 4 day race!

Sunday - Rode Knucklehead with Mark, Kevin, and Bill. Felt great - did a monster pull through the valley that kind of smoked me, but I recovered and got on the front a bunch more times. The pace was fast, but not ballbusting. The group ended with 12-15 guys at the end. Later that day I rode with Judy and had a really nice ride. It's nice to ride with Judy.

THE HUB BITCHES RULE - 11th Place!

Monday was the first day of school - I was really smoked this week - going back to work when you have the summer off is like winning the lottery and having somebody take it away! Oh yeah - Judy and I made STLTODAY - and yes, everybody at work saw it - AHHHHH!

Tuesday - rode after work by myself for an easy 20 miles - felt really good. That night was Tuesday Night Worlds - I felt pretty good going into it. We had a large HUB crew unlike last week. My goal this year, as said repeatedly, is to go off the front as much as I can. This time I went off the front three times! The race started really sketchy. Into the second turn at the bottom of the hill, three guys crashed into each other - luckily I had my buddy Bryan pushing me into it! - just joking. After the crash I said to this dude next to me - "here we go" knowing the guys on the front would hammer - and they did. Things never settled down - the pace was super fast - not allowing for any breaks on the front. My first time off the front I soloed a whole lap by myself - I went across the start finish line and took into the downhill turns - when I reached the base of the hill, I looked back and I had a quarter of a lap - so I jammed it up the hill and slowed up to recover. The second time - a huge break occurred off the front - One group of four and a second group. I saw Mark go and I jumped too. I was able to close on the group which felt great. The break fell apart right after I got there and we were gobbled up. I went off the front a third time up the hill, but never really got anywhere. By the end of the race I was gassed, but finished with the pack.

Afterward a large group went to TACO TUESDAY at the Tower Pub. A great time. I think there was eight of us and I think we had eight pitchers of beer! Luckily we all made our way home without a BWI (Biking while drunk).

Wednesday Night Throwdown was my last of the year - and it sucked the big dick. Everything was going great - I was near the front and the pace was hammer fast. When we hit Mason going to Conway, I covered two gaps - out of saddle type shit, and by the time we hit Conway, I was smoked. I can't believe I couldn't close that small gap - but I was officially gassed. I rode in with a small group and that was that.

Out t-shirts came in! the look great! Now Chris Miller isn;t the only one with a Hub racing shirtYou hear that Chris Miller - Now I have a t-shirt too - yeah, that's right!

Thursday - I commuted to Harris Stowe - good times!

Friday - The Hub Bitches Ruled. Went to Team Seagal's Non-Race #2 at Lost Valley. A great time and a great spoke card. This is only my third time Mountain Biking and my first time at night. We had a four man relay and copious amounts of beer. Our team: THE HUB BITCHES was made up of Ron, Andy and Devin. Team Seagal always puts on a rockin' event and this was fantastic. I only crashed three times - once into a tree - and I think I consumed 9 Coronas! No matter, I didn't get home until 12:30 and was feeling good! A big thank you to Loren Cavano and his 29'er Kona Unit and lights - I felt like a monster truck on this thing!

Saturday Hub ride - I hung back and rode with the slow group - I even took my cross bike planning for a laid back ride. A lot of people were there and it was a nice ride. I was going to do Knucklehead but Judy and I went out Sat. Night and I was tired and slept in. It was nice to rest.

I Finally Won Something - and turned 38

The Week: A great week - full of commuting. I'll tell you, there is something about commuting that makes so much sense. When I get to work, I feel good, awake, refreshed. Commuting is a major key to biking. I was sick of using my messenger with one strap. I know tons of guys who love these things, but they just piss me off, always shift when I ride, and they seem heavy. I wanted the backpack kind - so I checked on ebay and found a mint condition Red Chrome Dually (reg. $140) going for $26 bucks - so I bid and won! Kick Ass!

Monday - Can't remember - it was the last day of daddy day camp - so I think I did no riding.

Tuesday - Commuted to work and drop off Judy's car and...
Tuesday Night Crits - An OK race - didn't do much, just hung in there. The Hub was in low attendance for the race. Pretty much it was me and Mark representing the Cat 4's. I was in the race and finished with the pack. My problem during the race was every time I tried to move my position up, like take to the outside and expend the energy, I would tuck back in and be exactly were I started. I could not advance my position so I finished where I started.

Wed. Commuted to work and to pick up Judy's car. I was unable to ride the Hub ride due to baby sitting issues. I heard it was the Wed. Night record - 22.4 mph - up from 22.1 (which I was a part of!)

Thursday - a big commuting day - rode to St. John's for a stress test - than to work - than to Harris Stowe and than home. The stress test went fine - resting heart rate-57

Friday - took the day off - It was my Birthday!!!! 38 years old!

Saturday - Woke up late for The Hub ride - so I rode the ride backwards and met up with the group. I felt really tired so it was a perfect ride. That night was The Naked Bike Ride: My thoughts - I did not do this (my job and shit like that) but he's the reality - what in the hell are these people protesting. I mean - half these fucks can barely ride a bike. Alright -this chick is hot(one reason to go) but how much commuting or bike riding do these fucks do? Any excuse to ride bikes and go naked is a plus for me - but drop the protest shit unless you really do it!
Support Team Wonderbike!

Sunday: New Belgium Urban Assault - or as I like to call it - MY KNEE HURTS Ride My teammate was Judy - Team: Which way do we go George!
This was a great time - teams dressed up and rode around the city to the City Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden, Tower Grove Park - to name a few places. Challenges included big wheels races, throwing wet sponges at Judy and of course drinkingnaughty girl scout - but always prepared! So what did we win? Best Costume - The Scouts! We got a ton of quality shit for winning - A Timbuktu bike bag, hat, t-shirts, boxes of Cliff Bars, etc. and - who hasn't had a girl scout fantasy!

Prairie Doggin' It

The title says it all. What a weak week - not a lot of training.

Monday - no go.

Tuesday Night Crits. Fast and a small Hub crew - in attendance was Bryan, Kevin, Mark, Robert and Tom Laury doing his first B race - with a super strong finish!The race was fine - I was sitting in - about 15 or min. into the race I felt I needed to do some work so I moved up near the front as we came across the line when a prime lap was announced - as I came around the back corner - everything opened up in front of me so I went for it. I shouted to Tom as I came by - and took off on Mark's wheel. As we came around the to the start-finish line, two Gateway guys launched a major sprint and took the prime - I came across in fourth behind Mark - two other guys were there also. We had a huge gap on the pack, a good quarter of a lap as we came around the backside - a few tried to get something organized, but I was smoked - I mean really gassed. I pulled to the side and let the pack pass and moved in near the back to relax, but no good. After about two more laps, I fell off the back - AHHHH! I fell back in on the back and rode the rest of the race out.

Wednesday - could it get more sucky. I was doing fine until we hit that back circle around Babler. I fell off the back and that was it. I really tried to put it into gear and make up some ground. I came about 30 seconds to catching them at Litzsinger but missed them. I do not know why I suck on this ride? I should be stronger but I am weak. After the ride we went with Team Revolution to Llywelyn's Pub - me and 20 chicks - OK.

Thursday and Friday - no go (Wow, I wonder why I am weak!)

Saturday - My Wedding Anniversary! (11 years) What better way to celebrate than 100 miles! The Prairie Dog Century. 100 hilly miles in 100 degree heat. Could it get any better. Judy did a great job! This ride was hilly and many people vaged out. At the last rest stop, two guys called contracted pussitiss and called it quits while Judy got and rode on. While we were coming in, we saw another guy knock off the last five miles and cheat. Judy did the whole thing! Four down, one to go.

Into August

A fairly good week of riding - can't comment much on eating.

Monday - can't remember what the hell I did - but I think I took the day off
Tuesday - I was planning on riding Tuesday Night Crits but it got rained out.

Wednesday Night Throwdown - Fast (21.6) but I held on fine and dandy, even keeping up on Conway and I was in the sprint but finished at the back - it was nice to be there.

Thursday - went with Judy and Rich Witt over to O'Fallon, IL for a Metro East Cycling no-drop group ride. It was 30 miles on the backroads, very nice. The pace was brisker than I thought, 18 mph for the country on a relatively flat/moderate hilly no drop ride - they said it was the fastest they have gone all year. Afterwards we went back to Rich's pad and drank! I could get used to going over there!

Friday - No riding

Saturday - The Hub ride was painful - I was not feeling well - Judy came home sick Friday and I guess I picked a little something up. The whole ride was painful for me. It started on the first big effort up Geyer and continued until I got shelled. The whole 35 miles sucked. No fucking pictures here.

Sunday - Knucklehead. I felt much better. Rode with Kevin and Mark. The ride out is always slow and then the jets were turned on when we hit Strucker Road. Myself, Kevin and this guy Pierre pulled through the bottoms and through the hills shelling most of the group. When we hit Clayton, there were about 12 guys (didn't shell enough). I was taking a drink at the intersection when the light turned so I was on the back, not happy. By this point I was feeling great and wanted up front. I pulled out and passed to the top people, and this one prick would not let me in. This guy is a douchebag and has been yelled at by others on the ride. I was like, listen fuck, this isn;t a race and I have been doing 1/3 of the work. So I got pissed and took off and passed Kevin (not like a break, just came quickly around him) on the front. I jammed a pull and all of sudden this douche rode up along side and passed me. Than I was super pissed - so I hung his wheel and looked for the slightest let up - when we hit half way up a hill (nothing big) I came around him with force, Kevin on my wheel and we pushed him out (this was racing mode!) It would have been cooler if we did not not get stopped at a light. Oh well. I hate fucks like this. This guy is the same guy that one Big Shark racer, nice guy, can't remember name, yelled at a couple weeks ago for not knowing how to ride with a group. When we hit that super tough incline by Principia School, Kevin and I lit it up going way off the front - nice. The group rejoined at Ballas and that was the ride.

I really wanted to ride the State Crit this weekend on Sunday - I think I might have done OK - but my sister's son was being baptized - so that was out. I was kindof siked for doing the Maters 35 plus category - Oh well.