Maddog Update

Team Maddog83 scored big at the Tucson Bicycle Claasic this past weekend.  Randall won the overall......winning the opening ITT by 18 seconds, then fighting back in the road race to protect his lead, and then riding at the front of the final circuit race taking 4th in the bunch sprint to secure first place in the GC for 65+.

Teenie came back as the defending champion after sweeping the race last year in the  women's 55+, but that also meant being a "marked" rider.  This year the competition was raised a notch with several past National Champions in the mix.  Teenie improved on her ITT time from last year but came up short taking 3rd.  On Saturday, she got in a brake and fought a tough battle taking second, earning bonus seconds moving her up to second place overall.  The final circuit race was hard fought ending in a sprint with Teenie taking 4th, and a 3rd place overall, on the podium behind two great riders.

Congratulations to Randall and Teenie and Team Maddog83.

My first race of 2014

I signed up for the Green Gobbler 6 hour solo Mt. bike race.  I can't say I was in any kind of shape to start the season with a 6 hour race but something had to start off the season.  It's been a long winter with very few rides.  I tried to take what I learned from Tsali, slow and steady will make it possible to finish the race.  I started 2/3 of the way back in the pack and worked my way through on the first lap. Everything felt good but its a long day.

I entered the woods to start the second lap.  Flying down the first descent.  I went to sit down on the saddle and it was gone.  Racers coming by said, your saddle is back on the trail.  Well that was a short race I thought.  I picked up my saddle and started to walk.  It didn't take me long to decide I didn't feel like walking that far.  I jumped back on the bike and started cranking.  People said things like "that sucks!" "Dude that will build some leg power."  I kept pedaling and even started passing some people.  You don't realize how much you use your saddle descending until it's gone.  Lap 2 done.

I pull the seat post out of the bike. I decide that since I'm out here, I might as well make it a training ride and a challenge and go for one more lap.  The people in the pits say I'm crazy to keep going but they cheer me on.  I enter back into the trails for my 3rd and final lap.  To my surprise I keep catching riders and rarely get passed.  Now the people who both catch me and the ones I pass, start saying things "you're a f%$*ing animal...dude you rock."  This gives me a little boost of energy. Lap 3 goes by and I'm ready to sit down.  I cross the finish line and head back to the pits.

People in the pits can't believe I'm back already.  My legs are tired so I get out some food and do a little stretching.  I know I have more gas in the tank even though my legs and arms are getting tired.  It's a nice day so I go for another lap.  My arms are fatiguing making the descents harder.  I tried to keep my calves against the chain stay to help control the bike.  Finally back to the pits -4 laps done.  I have now ridden 24 miles without sitting down.  Lower back is fried, triceps don't want to hold me up anymore, my palms are starting to bruise.

Now as I enter the pits everyone is looking at me and encouraging me.  I do more stretching and go for another.  My legs feel better when I'm pedaling uphill vs. coasting downhill.  When I stop pedaling my legs want to cramp up.  I've been in the big chain ring for the whole race.  There is no such thing as spinning your legs when standing.  The only thing that feels good now is the steep long climbs.  This is when I can get relief for my arms, hands, and shoulders.  Finally, I can see the opening to finish the lap.  I'm starving, my body is shaking, and the cramping is relentless.  5 laps down and I can't believe I made it back.  I cross the finish line and there is 96 minutes left in the race. I have been averaging about 55 minutes a lap.  I think about this while heading to the pit.

I have lost my mind.  I tell myself that I can do one more lap really slow.  I get back on the bike and my body is refusing to pedal.  My hands can't get comfortable.  What was I thinking?  My arms are completely seized and my legs feel like I'm riding through quick sand.  I turn to a higher power and the words of all the people cheering me on and just take stroke by stroke.  My calves don't want to be on the pedals anymore and my arms don't want to hit one more pump.  The legs don't want to burst up over any more piles of roots or logs.  Some how I finish the lap with a pretty good time.  The race director says I have 45 minutes. I know I can't complete another lap.  Race is done. I can't believe I just rode 40 miles of single track without sitting down.  My body starts to shut down as soon as I sit on the truck.  I eat and drink the food that I have left.  I want to check out the standings but it hurts to stand.  I finally get enough energy to walk over to the table and see that I finished 2nd in my category. I can't believe it.  Today, persistence overcame a great obstacle and proved the old saying. 'Just keep moving.'  This race will go down as the hardest race I have done to date. I'm not looking for anymore challenges like this until next time.

The Beast! (courtesy of bird).

Bird and Hoffmeisters score! Tom Dula's Revenge

Update:  Bird took 2nd and Jim took 3rd AG (older than dirt), and Beth was 4th women's overall in Tom Dula's Revenge north of Lenoir,NC. 49 mi, 3500 ft climbing with 11.0 miles of gravel, and the last 1.5 miles consisting of 3 stream crossings, 11% grades! moss! rocks! sticks! Great results!!!!!

Tom Dula's Revenge is the first race in Le Serie Du Trois Roubaix along with
Love Valley Roubaix 3/23 and Boone-Roubaix 3/30

Dula's Revenge.. an awesome day, an awesome venue, and just a great event... Jim, Beth, and I all rode our rode bikes with 25mm tires.  About 2/3's were on Cross Bikes, and about 10 or so mountain bikes.... which would have been handy for that last 1.5 miles.  I could not hang with my Asheville friend, Tom Ratajczak, but as you will see below, I am at a great disadvantage..... Oh, and Jim was the oldest, and Beth lost out to the National Cross champion, and 2 other ladies 20 years her junior.

Jim and I will be heading up to Love Valley this weekend to continue our "Belgium Classic Spring" this weekend.   Beth will join us for the Boone Roubaix at the end of the month.

If any of you read Maddog's blog on weight, you might find that I am totally out of luck in beating Tom on any kind of hilly course...But hey, I am still going for that cheeseburger and beer....

Here is Tom and I on the podium at Dula's Revenge (Jim was absent as they had mistakenly placed a rider ahead of him who had registered incorrectly).