Scott's Right Of Way

Cyclocross Season 2009 -- Finale and Round Up

Today was the Capital Cross Classic at Lake Fairfax. Yesterday we got 2-4 inches of wet snow, and the temps dropped below freezing.  Jake wanted to try the Men's "C" race instead of the junior race, so I had registered him for it earlier in the week.  There were 110 pre-registered racers in his race.

Riding on snow can be fun, but when we got there it was VERY icy.  After one lap Jake was saying he did not want to race.  He was not alone, as I heard others say the same.  It looked like this:

I did another 1/2 lap and things were getting better.  I went back to the car and with 10 minutes before Jake's race he said he was racing so I pinned his number on real quick and we rush over to the big pack of people who were already lined up.  Jake headed to the back.  I was very nervous for/about him.  He started conservatively, riding with the people at the back.  This picture gives a very minor sense of the massive crowd he was in 

The deep snow was taking some power, which wouldn't be his strength at only 12.  I watched a bit when I should have been warming up.  He was holding his own among the last group of guys.  Clearly riding a bit gently, but everyone was.  I tried to watch a bit while I rode my trainer.  It looked like he was staying with the same guys.  He apparently crashed on some ice on the first lap.  I was worried about him, but I had to warm up for my race (that didn't happen very much).  But he finished in one piece, and he said he had passed some people!  We didn't see full results for his race until later in the afternoon.  He was 73rd out of 79 finishers (and another dozen or so "did not finish" behind that).  So he beat at least 6 adults!  Awesome.  I was and am really proud of him for even trying and overcoming his fear before the race.

It's hard to tell, but he is the 3rd racer on the road in this picture. 

My teammate Jordon Cross scored a solid 2nd (he needs to move to the 3/4 races next year)

My race was weird.  First, I was very burned out for the past 2 weeks.  Work and life and 14 cross races had just worn me out.  My motivation to fight today was not high.  I was having thoughts about not racing last night.  Never good.  Second, my warm up was poor.  But I lined up on the front row thanks to a fast registration finger, sandwiched between Jay Morali and Steve Robinson.  There was some bumping in the start but I slotted into 6th or so.  Between the ice and the mud that was developing as the snow melted, there were lots of places where there was only one rideable line, for example the pavement across the dam was sheet ice.  I had to ride that ice to pass 2 guys on the first lap to stay with the front group, but I was with that front 6 until 2/3 through the first lap when deep mud threw me into a course stake.  It didn't brake and then suddenly my leg is literally wrapped in the tape and I'm screwed.  I lost half dozen or so places with that stupidity.  I didn't feel like I was cornering too badly, everyone was having to creep around the corners, and anyone that tried to go too fast crashed.  But I felt ok, even strong in the places where I could pedal.    (photo by Jordon Cross)

The comedy of errors however just continued.  My shoes were clogging with ice during the run up so I couldn't clip into the pedals for too long, so I would lose space, but then make it up once I was clipped in.  Andreas of NCVC came by at one point.  I could have should have stayed with him but I got trapped behind someone slow on the dam crossing as Andreas motored away.  I didn't want to try the icy ride to pass again.  With 2 laps to go I was riding with Bill Scheiken of "In the Crosshairs" fame (www.cxhairs.com), who has become quite the specialist in bad conditions.  He passed me in some deep mud, but I was able to fairly easily catch and pass him on the road as we took the bell.  We went up the run up together (he was walking and I wasn't going any faster despite "running").  On the downhill, he suddenly unclipped his left foot and dropped down the hill like nuts (he showed me later that he had a broken brake cable...no brakes).  I used my brakes and a gap was created.  on the next downhill I tried to let it loose to catch him, but again I went into the course tape and got stuck.  As a result I lost 4 f'ing places.  Just obscene. I ended up 20th.  Steve Robinson apparently rode away from the field, only to suffer a dropped chain mechanical 700 meters from the finish.  He got it fixed and came in 2nd.  God that sucks.

Me, I'm embarrassed by my performance.  I can rationalize that work has gone nuts over the past month and I'm just suffering the consequences (even if not physical, then mentally tired). But that doesn't help when you have certain expectations based on your past performances.  The repeated trips into the tape were unacceptable.  I need to learn to drive my bike in thick conditions.  And I need to work on the running because the long run up was really hurting me.  

Jake and I went home and got Liam and went back.  Liam brought the sled and had some fun (I took a few runs too)
While we were there Lindsey rode to a dominant win in the women's B race
Things got even more messy by then. 

Got home and watched the Redskins lose

Seasonal Wrap Up:

I could do a long rambling wrap up, but I'll try to sum it up:

1. Super proud of the Coppis.  From the first race to the last, Coppis were in the mix in the front.  Steve Robinson, Andrew Welsh (can't say enough), Lindsey Hillsheim, Jean Woodrow, Kevin Burke, Jordan.  The list could go on.  Practices went to a whole new level (I told Ken at one point that we had gone to the heady land of big ring the entire lap).

2. I'm also very proud of Jake.  He won some smaller races, but he really stepped it up as the season went on.  Guys like Noah Bell were not riding away from him.  He still wasn't riding during the week (although he did hit the trainer on Thursday), so imagine if he actually "trained."  Next year.  But he was having fun, and we had fun travelling together.  Today he said that he was sad that cross season was over.

3. My season was a mix of highs and lows.  A few weeks ago I was delirious.  If I had stopped then I would have called the season a complete success.  After a slow start, a build up of races around the top 10, to 7th at DCCX, then my first podium with 4th at the Tacchino.  Work started to really drag me down, but another podium 5th at Rockburn after 10th at Schooly Mill (where I struggled) was super.  The start was a low, and the last 2 races were a real disappointment.

But there were a lot of good memories.  I really enjoyed Winchester and Hyattesville as cool new races.  I look forward to them again.  I just need to try and focus on the good times.  There were lots of them.  I just wish I hadn't let myself and everyone else down at the end.

4. Jake finished 2nd in the MABRA Series.  I finished 7th in the stacked 35+ 3/4 series, which was an improvement over last year, despite having skipped Urban Cross in Charlottesville (when I was flying).

5.  Cross season is really hard.  It's really hard on my family, particularly my wife, who suffers from our selfish disappearances every single weekend.  It's hard mentally to focus on training and getting all packed up and leaving every sunday for long hours.  I appreciate Loren's patience, even if it is patience that is stretched thin and threadbare by the end.

So, that's the end this year.  Next year we'll do it again.  Which category I will do is up in the air.  I'll be 45+ for cyclocross purposes.  Unfortunately, all those old bastards are really fast too ;-)

Photos from Rockburn and Taneytown

Two very cool photos of Jake taken by Bruce Buckley.  This one is "The Face."  Taken at Rockburn as Jake dug deep to try and close the gap to Noah Bell. 

The next one is of Jake at Taneytown.  With the particular angle, Jake looks much older and very "Pro" as he handles the off camber. 

Last Cross Practice of 2009

Sunrise over the W&OD trail on the way to Blumont for the final Cyclocross practice of 2009.

A little dark and a little cold when we first got there.  But no snow this year, and not even any freezing temps.

The trees are now bare, the ground was pretty soggy and wet, but Jean is still a blur

a good turn out, even though some regulars were not there.

The group shot

Compare to one of the first practices of this season

And to the frigid last practice of 2007

Fun times.  Good year.  Thanks to all

Basketball with the President

Last night I was looking at tickets to either the Georgetown v. LaFayette game or the George Washington v. Oregon State game.  Georgetown was going to be like $130 for me and the boys and we would have been in the second tier in a corner.  GW would be $30 for the 3 of us in an end behind a backboard, where we've sat before.  I opted for the GW game, but didn't buy the tickets on line.  I figured it was Oregon state, we could easily get tickets at the game, maybe sit in the student section like at the GW v. Harvard game last year.  We went over there a little before 1pm for the 2pm game.  We were able to park for free right on the street 100 yards from the Smith Center.  But there were cops everywhere and a line to get tickets.  The manager of the arena was out front and all nervous.  There were metal detectors after the entrance.  The woman in front of us in line told me that Michelle Obama's brother is the coach of Oregon State.  Ah ha!

So we got tickets, basically the same place as I looked at the night before, at one end a little behind the back board.  Down behind the team seats there were several seats with "reserved" signs.  Sure enough, President Obama, the First Lady, her mom and the daughters all showed up about 15 minutes before game time.  They were only 50 feet away.  The president was looking around a little and I was standing up at our seats.  I caught his eye and waved and he waved back.  Very cool.

My cell phone camera doesn't have a zoom, so these were the best photos I could get:

that's him shaking hands with someone.  
Him standing turned slightly away

GW's guards played like crap in the first half, but they came back to within 2 points with 30-ish seconds left, so that was exciting.  but they lost.  We had fun.

Thanks

Thanksgiving 2009 was very low key.  Because of the MABRACross series championships being on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we aren't really going to travel anywhere for thanksgiving.  This year it was just us 4.  I remember Thanksgivings when I was a kid when we would sometimes just have dinner with me and my mom, sister, and dad.  So, not totally unusual.

Last night we went for our traditional night-before Thanksgiving dinner at Austin Grill in Old Town Alexandria.

Today I went for a ride in the morning.  It's been seemingly endless drizzle here for days.  Loren had ordered a 16 pound turkey but when she picked it up it was actually 20 pounds.  We ate at 5-ish.  Liam's a notoriously picky eater, not even liking turkey (and really, remember when we were kids, it was harshly dry), but we had a little breakthrough when I suggested to him that the gravy was really salty and he might like it.  He tried it and liked it.  Minor victories.  The boys and I did the cleaning, and were rewarded with Loren's "chocolate cheese pie" -- rich chocolate goodness.

Liam kept asking when we would say what we're thankful for.  So here's my list:

 1. Loren -- Oh, sure, we have our little differences; we wouldn't be married if we didn't.  And someone might say that we tend to have different hobbies.  But I don't need to knit and she doesn't need to ride her bike or play golf for us to have a strong relationship.  She's beautiful and sexy, but our connection is much deeper.  We share common values and thoughts.  We're intellectual equals and travel on the same level mentally.  I'm thankful for her tolerance of my obsessions and of my hours, absences, and distractions.  I couldn't do it without her.

 2. Jake and Liam -- this is also sort of simple.  I'm so lucky that the boys are healthy and doing well.  So many potentially bad things could happen; we're lucky.  I'm also thankful that I'm able to have such fun times with them, playing golf, going fishing, going to movies, basketball games, just being the boys.

 

 3.  I'm thankful for the health of my parents, who are, you know, getting up there in age.  My dad had some tough times this year but again seems to be battling back.  I'm a bad son and I know it.  But I'm no worse a son than I am a father or husband, so at least I'm consistent.  I'm a pretty crappy brother, but think I'm improving a little in that respect.

4. I'm thankful for my clients that trust in me and give me their business. I'm happy to get to work with and for such good people.

 5. I'm thankful for all my friends and colleagues.  The family of Squadra Coppi and the Azzuri Sporca.  My brothers in the cyclocross community. And the good people I work with every day.

Ok, next time we'll be back to the usually expected content with positive reports from the MABRACross Championships.  I'll have a nice positive cross season round up as well, and a report on the newly approved and announced Coppi Junior Cross Clinic for 2010.

Howard County Double Cross (Schooley Mill and Rockburn) Clash with Summary Judgment And Work

I don't have time for this, so it will be uncharacteristically short.  Work exploded, with summary judgment motion due Monday and various other filings I've been under significant stress at work.  So I've been beat, and it showed at cross practice Wednesday morning.  The effects of stress on physical performance, even when you are otherwise in great shape, can be crushing.

So, we have the "Howard County Double Cross" -- two races by the same promoter, a new one on Saturday "Schooley Mill" and then Rockburn on Sunday.  I was beat going into Saturday.  I figured red bull and a good warm up were my only hope.  I got a good start, and was in the front, in fact going off the front for a while on the back side of the first lap.  But the course was very wet and it was sucking mud and grass...not my strength (not from a handling stand point but from a pure power stand point).  I stuck with the front 5 on the second lap but then started to fade.  Faded all the way back to 10th.  Which given the run up days, I would accept.

Jake had a great race.  Tanner Brown wasn't there but Noah Bell was.  Jake got gapped at the start, but really hung on.  Noah could not extend the gap and Jake pulled back close after some of the more muddy sections.  He did a great job of keeping Noah from getting away, but Noah was too strong on the final hill and the 20-30 yard gap was just too great for Jake to close.  I was proud.  Noah was riding away from him earlier in the year.   Photo by Bill Scheiken of www.cxhairs.com  

Liam was scheduled to come but he had a big project for school that he hadn't done so had to stay home, much to Loren's significant displeasure

Today Jake and I got up at 6;15 again, loaded the car up again, and headed to Rockburn Park, just south of Baltimore.  They were running late so I got to ride the course for a full hour to warm up.  I felt better than the day before.  The course suited me much more and I felt faster (I loved to big ring it through the single track in the woods).  Another decent start on a long road start and I slotted into the top 5-8.  Moved forward some and got hooked onto the front group.  I heard it was up to 7 or 8 people at times, with Bruce Buckley hanging on the back.  It was Neil Sapp, Scott Stahl, Jon Seibold, Ken Morris and a guy from Bike Doctor who decided to do the masters 3/4 instead of his regular race.  There were some adventurous times ona semi-slippery but fast course.  There was an acceleration when Neil Sapp attacked (or so Bruce said afterward) and that left just 6 of us, then Ken went into the tape on the last lap, sort of gapping me; I closed the gap and should have tried to go through some of the guys then, but shoulda woulda is easy in hind sight.  I ended up 5th.  A good result, certainly. 

Jake's race was a carbon copy of the day before.  They started the boys with the Cat 4 women.  This screwed Jake because he kept getting taken out by women who couldn't handle their bikes in places where he was technical and faster.  That blocked him from making time on Noah at least 3 times.  But again he fought hard and kept clawing back to within 20 yards of Noah, but just couldn't close it.  But he has Noah looking over his shoulder now worrying about Jake catching him, so that's impressive.  He's frustrated because he wants to catch him, and he thought today he could with the more technical course.  It was a nice day.   This is a nice picture that Bill took today.

Some classic quotes from Jake today:

- I'm lining up, he asks if I need anything, I say no, so he says "I'll be out around the course to identify your mistakes"

- driving home Jake says he needs to go to the bathroom, I offer to pull over while we're still up there, he says no.  By the time we're pulling off I-66 near home he's really squirming and we hit a few bumps, which makes him say "that's not helping."  Then we hit a few more little bumps, basically cracks in the road and he says "does this car just not have ANY suspension"  hahahahaha

Now back to work

Squadra Coppi Tacchino Cyclocross 2009 -- Vincere Insieme

This weekend was the big Tacchino Cyclocross race, presented by Squadra Coppi.  This is a lengthy entry, but it will have photos, podiums, and inside dirt.

First, the dirty little secret is that the Tacchino CX was a hair's breath from not happening this year.  The fine folks at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg informed us that they weren't interested in our having our event there this year, and we were having a hellava time finding a new venue.  Then Jim McNeely stepped up, big.  Jim single handedly brought victory from the jaws of bitter defeat.  Jim did serious work to develop a relationship with the folks at Rosaryville State Park, which is a well known mountain bike destination (remember Jake and I went on New Years Day this year).  Jim also stepped into the position of "promoter" which means, he's in charge.  He did a super job of laying out the course with Ken (I couldn't get out of work to go help them) and really put his heart into developing an "Event."  He got some teams with tents to set up around the course; he scored a band and Belgian-esque food vending.  So we're were back in business. 

So, Saturday I went out there and helped set up.  The course was clearly "Classic Tacchino" -- fast, swoopy, with fast turns that dare you to not touch your brakes, while testing your fitness.  It's really interesting how the same set of people end up creating the same basic "type" of cyclocross course regardless of where they are.  Very cool.

We had a record number of registrants.  Last year we were in the upper 200s, this year we had nearly 350 preregistered, and that's with an unknown course.

As usual, the club as a whole stepped up.  For those of us who live for cyclocross to get the support of our teammates who are no so enlightened ;-) is a beautiful thing.
The officials had some last-minute changes for our course, so we're making changes as the Cat 4 race starts.  Causing Jim some headaches.

Ok, so my race, the 3/4 35+.  First of all, it was hot, damn hot for November.  Luckily, I had my short sleeve skinsuit stashed in my "race bag" because by 10am the sun was STRONG.  Unfortunately, someone was seriously injured (broken ankle) in the 9am race, so our race was delayed by 30 minutes (and I was the one who arranged for the EMT so I was running around a little making sure he was there).  But we lined up, 100+ strong (these photos by Joe Metro). with my series points I got a front row call up.  After DCCX I felt like I could stay with the front group if I could get a good start, and so I did.  I jumped off the line and slotted into 2nd behind series leader Jay Morali. I stayed on Jay's wheel for the entire first lap, much to the surprise of the announcers, I think. as a result I won a "Preme" for 2nd on the first lap...Ommegang beer (which I'm enjoying now; it's very good) thanks to them for the sponsorship  .  We had a pretty nice gap developing.

I was comfortable and felt like I could go faster but it was too soon to do so.  On the second lap I went to the front on the uphill on the "Back 40" and led for a little but then sat up on the gravel road to let someone else pull.  This was very "Euro" cyclocross, with real group racing at the front.

From them on it was a group of 6 or 8 but I tried to stay in the top 4 or 5 for positioning.
  We weren't given a lap card until 1 to go, which candidly took us a bit by surprise I think because the hammer dropped hard then.  Jay was driving it hard. 
I was in 5th behind Jeff Anderson and Scott Stahl.  
  After the barriers Stahl let a gap open to Morali and Sapp.  Jeff and I needed to close then but it was a bad place.  Instead, after the down/up in the back woods, Jeff accelerated by Stahl and I knew it was time to go.  I followed Jeff and shouldered past Stahl.  Essentially the first one to the maze by the pavilion would get to the line first, but Jeff was going all out and short of an all out sprint up the grass toward the pit I wasn't going around him.  I threw it in the big ring just before we hit the last turn.  I tried to launch down the hill but as I had predicted yesterday during set up, the first guy around that corner pretty much was guaranteed the sprint. 

So I was 4th, a bike length from 3d and 5 seconds from 1st.  My highest result in a MABRA 3/4 masters race.  I hate to miss the 3rd, but Jeff is a good friend and a tough, smart racer.  
 
My plan from the beginning of the season was to sacrifice Charm City and Sander to be strong at the end of October and November. So far that is coming around nicely.  At DCCX I got 7th, but felt like if I could have been in the front 5 at the start I would have stayed with them.  Today I feel like I proved that.  Podiums are fun.        

Now, for the rest of the day.  Loren brought Liam after Sunday school.  It was nice of her and great to have her there.  

We had some sausages and listened to the band before the Lil Belgians.  

JAKE'S RACE

Jake also had a great race.  His usual competitors, Noah Bell (who's dad races for NCVC) and Tanner Brown (his dad Bill Brown was a cat 2 master for Bike Doctor, good guy) were there.  Noah (13) jumped out to the lead, with Tanner about 50 meters back and Jake another 50 meters behind him.  When they got to the barriers on lap 1 Jake got close 
but lost ground on the grind back toward the pavilion (although passed lots of women)
  He was solidly 100 meters behind at the end of lap 1.  Tanner connected with Noah at the finish and I thought that was the end.  But when they came back out of the woods, Jake had closed the gap and passed Tanner, moving into 2nd and was moving fast.  Noah is a year older and always beats Jake and Tanner, but Jake had the bit between his teeth. 
Coming out of the woods from the back, Jon Seibold noted that Jake appeared to be closing the gap to Noah,   (that's Tanner down the end of the field behind Jake). But they were all balls out at that point so it wasn't to be.  So Jake was 2nd with a very impressive ride.  All 3 of them were flying and lots of people noted how fast they're going.  Expect to see them in a Cat 4 race near you soon.  (I'm not sure what the hats are).  Jake and Loren after, note Jake's helmet hair and the fact that he is damn near as tall as she is!!!!!


A nice day.

Halloween 2009

A rainy night on and off; we carved pumpkins inside so we could watch Florida beat Georgia.  We started out with Charlie and Mike Schiavo then continued on just me and Liam and Jake.

Jake carved his own

Liam's costume (which he picked in the store) is identical to the one that Jake picked when he was 8 (or 9)

  Jake's last-minute costume (a "Mortgage Collector" -- scary)

Candy must be sorted, audited, and accounted

my costume: Scottish Highlander? Soccer Hooligan?

DCCX 2009

Before the Racing, on Saturday a few shots of Liam's soccer game; they didn't win and he didn't score, but they played hard. 

Sunday, DCCX 2009, always the same day as the Marine Corps Marathon, which means road closings in DC.  I convinced Loren to let Liam skip Sunday School and come with me and Jake.

10 AM Cat 3/4 35+ race: 125 starters! This was my first race on the new Blue Norcross that I just got on Tuesday night.

I got a so-so start from the second row, but was in the top 15 mid lap (need to get through the damn traffic).  I put in some efforts to get across some gaps to move to the front-ish group.  Pete Lindeman surged on the road into the wind on the first lap and I had to cover the gap.  I was moving forward ok.  On the second lap again Pete surged on the road but I would lead heading back into the technical bits on the back side.  We were in a group with Scott Cernich and Bruce, who had been in the front 5 but crashed.  The front 5 were not far ahead.  Maybe 10-15 seconds. I surged ahead of my group for 3/4 of a lap; Jonathon Seibold and Scott Stahl were just ahead and I could tell Jon was struggling.  The announcer said they were fighting for 5th and 6th, so the podium was very close to my reach and last year riding with Jon had done me well.  I came within 30 yards of closing the gap but found myself on the long road section into the wind alone.  I had to ease off and let the group behind come up so I wouldn't burn myself up.  It was Bruce and a guy from Evolution that I don't know.  Still Jon and Stahl were ever so close.  We were hammering around the place.  With one to go the Evo guy surged a little and Bruce let a small gap open.  He closed it as we hit the road.  I let the Evo guy pull out the road and as soon as we got to the turn around point, I threw it in the big ring and hammered hard down the left side where the ground was firmer.  This is where I had opened the gap earlier in the race.  I got a gap on Bruce.  It was all or nothing now.  I almost lost it when I got caught up with a lapped rider and nearly crashed, having to unclip and put a foot down to push on a little hill.  I thought Bruce would get me then.  I think he got much closer.  I was killing myself for the next 3 minutes.  I got very close to Jon and Stahl, but finished 7th.

So, last year, 11th at BCA, this year 11th at BCA.  Last year 7th at DCCX, this year 7th at DCCX.  Can we just give me the placings and not force me to suffer ;-)

Liam's race was at 1pm, so we were haning around a lot.  They had people from the Belgian Embassy making Frites and little pancakes.  Liam, Dustin, and Charlie waiting for the Lil Belgians race.  
 
Dustin was 2nd, Liam was 3rd, and Charlie was 5th....We're grooming the next set of Coppi CX juniors.   Jake's race.  The "kid" closest was too old.  Sad but he got DQ'd (after beating the entire B women's field in just 2 laps).  Strong kid, hopefully he will do the 15-18 juniors at another race.  Jake and Tanner Brown lined up together.  They've been going at it for 3 years now.  Jake got a poor start and had to get around a few people to get up to Tanner.  Tanner lead pretty much the whole race.
  In the Cat 4 women, Meg Schiffman did well after crashing in her first few races   On the last lap, Tanner had opened a nearly 10 second lead on Jake with ony 1/2 lap to go.  It didn't look good.

But Jake closed this gap on the back side, even though he says he crashed.  Great effort.  In the final turns leading to the finish he had a small gap, maybe 20 yards.  But Tanner dug in and surged to catch and pass Jake just before the final turn.  I guess Jake had burned himself up closing the gap on the back side and couldn't respond, so Tanner beat him.  It was a very close race and both boys rode really well.  They colapsed in a heap from the effort   Because the older boy was dq'd, Tanner won and Jake was second.  They both are talking about trying a Cat 4 race.  Maybe at the Tacchino.

So, a nice day had by all.  Andrew Welch did well in the 3/4 race (6th I think) and Lindsey podiumed in the Women's elite race (I think).  Crammed car.

Fall in DC is looking pretty and we played a little football in the yard after we got home:

 

Photos from Ken and Jean show opening laps

Here are some quick photos taken by Ken Woodrow that show the first few laps of my race yesterday (described in the full post below). 

Me, Judd, Steve jump at the start  then me and Judd leading in the first lap   then later the gap me and Chris McGill had gets closed by Steve   at start of second lap Steve has a gap but Ron Hubner is about to try and get him while McGill and I sit on him   later I'm chasing
  this is on the last lap I think