Entries Tagged 'Around the Shop' ↓

If you’re still interested in attempting a gravel grinder this year, head over to the PCL blog for info on getting registered. Saturday will bring 149 miles of gravel, dirt, and minimum maintenance roads, 11,400 feet of climbing, stops in small towns, and fun with riders from 14 states.

GRAVEL WORLDS 2010 from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Brought to you by the Pirate Cycling League, this 150-mile gravel grinder in Lincoln, NE, launches at 6 AM on August 21, 2010. Music by the DK’d Willies.

Arrived in Kearney Friday afternoon, checked in & headed to the Thunderhead Brewery, our usual Kearney stop, for pre-race steamed mussels, pizza & beer. Brought the cooler along to tote a lovely growler of IPA back to Lincoln. I had never heard of the Nebraska Senior Games before, and didn’t know what to expect. Although limited to the 50+ crowd, that still encompasses some tough folks, and I was a bit surprised to find many of the usual culprits from the local USAC races present, as well as some folks from CO, KS, ND, WY & MO. Anyhow, a much tougher field than I had expected.

Sunday AM was refreshingly cool, a sensation almost forgotten, with some off & on spits of rain. The TT’s were both out & back around a cone; in the case of the 10k, around 2 cones, as you just did the 5k course twice – dead flat, and (almost) arrow-straight. Got off a decent 5k, 7:35, and an even better 10k, 15:05. Do the math, & you’ll see the 10k was actually a hair faster, and included a negative split, always a good thing in a TT. Both efforts were good enough for 1st in the 60-64 group.

Headed off a couple miles south of town for the 20k “Road Race”. Note to self: never again enter a road race designed as an out & back around a cone! My intent was to start up front, try to get something going & string out the field, hoping to get the big boys (Fred Galata & some other tough younger guys) to come along & help out, getting us all clear of any havoc & then sorting it out along the way. However, at the gun I Schlecked my chain, eventually having to dismount & get it on again as the field rode away. Had a nice solo chase for about 5 min to get back on, but now was caught in the back with the whole bunch content to roll along 3-abreast with no safe or legal way to move up more than a couple places. At the cone the predictable chaos ensued; the first half got around, others started to hit the pavement & I was unclipped & in the grass, upright but once again last of all the still-mounted riders. And by the way, the same thing happened with the second group on the road; Facebook followers have already likely seen the damage sustained by Nancy Brown.

At least I got a good 10k TT effort in on the way back, picking up riders by ones & twos & still managing a 4th amongst the 60+, but it was still frustrating. Overall though, 2 out of 3 isn’t too bad, and a decent end (at least, I think this is the end) of the 2010 road season for me.

I just got back from Keystone. More news about all the cool stuff later.