Tulsa Tough 2015

What a weekend!  Summary if you don't want to read all of the below.

Fri: 37th
Sat: 48th
Sunday:31st and I didn't get pulled.....

To start it off, I almost didn't get to make the trip this year.  The Cat 3 men sold out around the end of April and I only got a spot for Sunday (cry baby hill).  Luckily I was able to buy entry spots from a teammate who could not make it. SCORE!

Then on the Friday I am supposed to leave, I realized that the rattle and noise coming from my car was actually my exhaust system trying to fall off.......Had to ask Carrie who was at work if I could take her car.  Quick car swap and then on the road about 1h behind the "easy driving time."  Got gas and was on the road.......6:18 minutes NON-STOP to Tulsa puts me there at 5:07pm.  Races start at 6:15..... [Side bar...The VW TDI got 46 mpg on this trip]  [Luckily my car survived the weekend local trips Carrie made around town]

IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!! Like 95 degrees and humid.  Time to "warm-up"

Got in a good warm up and used ice socks for the first time.  I totally recommend them to help keep just a bit cooler when it is that hot. 

Got warmed up and to the start line.  They call us to the line and I am about 3 rows back.  Not where I want to be, but not bad. During my normal pre-race nervous habits, I checked my rear tire pressure with my thumb......And it was low....not yet flat but on the way....SHIT.   I jump out of line as they are doing the National Anthem and head to the neutral pit.  Luckily I get a rear wheel and make it back to the line just as they are counting down from 5.......Not a good way to start.  The race starts fast and it took me a bit to settle in.  Friday is often a hard course for me to move up on.  In the first 20 minutes I make the easy move ups (basically slotting into spaces and then defending the constant shuffle).  The race was pretty uneventful from where I was at.  With 8 to go, I knew I needed to get going toward the front.  I put in a few pretty big efforts and got up to about 40 - 50 th of 111 starters with about 3 to go.   Still WAY back.  It was hot and I was feeling OK, but not too powerful from that heat.  In corner 7 with just over 1 to go, the first crash that impacted me (and a lot of the field) happened.  I had to grab a ton of brake and just made it through a hole.  But it took a pretty big effort to get back up to the group with 1 to go.........

I was moving up a bit the whole time, but could tell that a top 20 was not an option.  One more crash on the back side slowed us up just a tad........

I didn't give it a full gas sprint, but kept pace to ride in for 37th out of 84 finishers.  http://www.usacycling.org/results/?compid=275221

The full race online here:   https://vimeo.com/130904831

After the race I rode a cool down lap and then got my flat tire back.  Then off to the car to drink chocolate milk and take a "camp" shower......

Watching the Olathe Subaru Team in the 1,2 race was fun.  They are having a phenomenal year!

Saturday at the Brady Arts District is usually my race to do well in....I got there early and got in a good warm up.  It was a bit cooler, but the ice socks were still a welcome addition to the pre-race and race kit.  Lined up early (20 minutes) but was still a bit back. 

This course used to be wide open but some construction narrowed the start finish area into corner 1, and being a bit toward the back made that corner suck.  Tons of slinky effect.  In retrospect, I should have railed the inside line more often here because, while a bit risky occasionally, it was a fast line.  I typically took the outside line which was a long way around and still caused you to loose some speed.  Again, pretty uneventful race for me.  I again was having a bit of trouble moving up in the field.  However, I did move up quite a few times....From near 70 back to about 30-40 back.  BUT.....every time I got up there, I was a bit gassed and would slide on back.

With 4 to go it was time to move up.  I am pretty sure that the pace was high as there were two guys off the front making moving up a bit harder.  A couple a crashed in the last few minorly messed up the flow, but not really.  I just didn't have the legs or the mindset to get to the front.  Road it in for 48th out of again 110 starter (on paper).

Full race here:  https://vimeo.com/130904850

Again shower and watch the other races.  Met some fun people from Iowa and sat with some of the VeloTek crew by cain's Ballroom.

[Sidebar:  Had a #3 Jalapeno Cheeseburger and fries with coke from Braum's on the way home.  It was some of the best fast food I have ever had for some reason!]

Sunday is Cry Baby Hill.  The race that I hate to Love.

Again got there early but parking was crazy.  Tons of racers and spectators already EVERYWHERE!

Got in a good warmup and got to line up 30 minutes before the start.  This was a KEY to my success this year.  I lined up in the third row on the right and with the start fell in about 20 riders back.  That was my plan.  Stay near the front and hopefully go for the first prime....After that it was whatever happens.  While it wasn't as hot as it had been the last two days nor in the past, the fans were told not to spray the riders which is good and bad.  The bike stays cleaner and you don't get water in the eye....BUT it was a nice way to cool down every time up the hill.

I was moving up a bit more at about 12 minutes in on the left side of the hill when somebody in front of me rear ended Connor  Rainey.  The guy went down and I jumped onto the curb and into the grass....Almost stayed up but hit a pot hole or lost too much momentum and took a tumble in the grass.  Dropped my chain too....

I didn't stress and road over to the pit to get my free lap.  The head official didn't believe me that I crashed.  I explained that I crashed in the grass on the hill and finally convinced her that I should get my lap.  Got back in there and got right back at it.

It was getting HOT and HARD at 30 minutes in.  With about 7 to go I was at the back of what was left of the pack and doubting my ability to hang on.  It took quite a bit to convince myself to suffer on and continue.  I remember hearing "turn down for What!" and "Nuttin's but a G'Thang" on the hill.......Nice distractions.

Fast forward to 3 to go and I feel better.  I think the pace slowed just a tad as well.  On the last lap, I figured I would get most of my money's worth and give it a go for moving up.  I moved up on the home stretch.  I moved up on the hill.  [I actually saw Austin Gomes (top ten) make his move from right in front of me on that hill]

Got to the apex in about 31st and thought..."this will do"  Because the final turn is HARD and I was GASSED. 

Peddled in hard for 31st. 

Full video here:   https://vimeo.com/130904860

It is truly amazing how hard that hill is once the race is over.  Limped up the hill to the ROAR of the crowd and got handed a bud lite lime....TASTY!!!  at least at this point of the day + heat + race

Headed over the start finish line and thanked the officials then hung out and watched Olathe Subaru do their thing. 

Got back to the car just before the down pour.

Key for next year is to line up early.  Real Early.  Key number 2 is get to the front and go for broke.  I am either going to blow up trying or succeed. 


Here are a few videos of what it looks like from the inside. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmQ3Mn31Vkw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gemDl96qR-o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjy3z9Nb1eQ

Riding in Kirksville

I guess that I should start by saying that today was a VERY interesting ride.

Riding in town in Kirksville (KV) is almost always interesting.  It seems that everyone in town is either ignorant of the rules of the road, negligent of the rules of the road, or just down right stupid.  It's not uncommon for at least one person in a car do something stupid while either leaving town or returning to town on my rides.  Tonight was a good one.

So I roll out on to Hwy 63 which is right in near my place.  I pull up to the stopped traffic at the light and the guy behind me in the pick-up truck is honking at me.  I guess he was ignorant of the fact that I am traffic when riding in the road.......No big deal I get to the right and he passes as he should (with at least 3 feet).

On Osteopathy, I get passed by a TRASHY mini van with the back door wagging in the wind.  I see that they pull over about 1/2 mile up the road to fix the door and I pass them back as they are pulled over.  So about 1/4 mile further down the road they buzz me (~1 foot to the mirror) for no reason.  I give the obliged hand signal indicating that by law, I get 3 feet and that they are dumb.  I catch the guy at the stop sign and attempt to ask him what the rush is and if he knows the rules of the road (politely I might add).  He yells something (couldn't hear it) as he peels out (yes in the shitty mini van) and down the road.  Alright, 2 idiots tonight. 

So now I am rolling down Boundary which is a good route to get out of town to the South.  I am on the white line and I head check to see a truck coming up behind me and a large car approaching from the south in the oncoming lane.  I signal that I am taking the lane to "encourage" the driver behind not to pass as we would go 3 wide.  Well, he didn't get it and goes even further left causing the oncoming car to brake hard even though he should have only let off the gas to slow and then pass instead of gassing it for the pass.  Again the obliged WTF and hand signal about space.  Again, I catch up to the offender at a stop sign.  He is getting out.  I think "good" polite discussion time.  He is Pissed that he almost hit the oncoming car.  I try to explain to him that I am a car and he made an illegal pass and any ill fated occurrences would have been his fault.  He claims "you think you own the road" to which I politely respond that I do not think that and would be willing to explain my stance (and the rules of the road) in the gas station parking lot to our right.  He is still just pissed and yelling.  Oh well.

Anyone have any advice how to best tell/inform these ignorant and dangerous drivers how to drive so that they do not endanger my life, the lives of others (the oncoming car), and even their own (even though that would be a clear message if something did happen to them)?

That's not the end of the events.

Part 4 was an encounter with a horse and buggy.  South of town, they are always out all over the road.  I try to not make any sudden moves and get all the way right when passing them when they are traveling the opposite direction. Well again today, the horse of the buggy driven by a 16-18yr/old girl was spooked and went off the road.  Luckily it was not the steep ditch right there.  I stopped to make sure she (and the horse) were OK.  And asked how to avoid that in the future.  She didn't have any advice and said I did everything I could.

Any of you in internet land have any adivce?  Stamper?  Mr. Nature boy.......


I will post a CX early season race report from Herman and Buffalo Bills some time in the near future.

Tests and the Happs

Back when I was teaching B-Nut (basic nutrition) at KSU, I always hated giving the test. Was it too hard? Where the students “getting it?” How do we keep the better students tuned in while not losing the one who need more coaxing…… (that will always be something teachers deal with).  Students bombed them for no good reason?


Well I gave my first test in Sports Nutrition today. The class all got B’s or better with most getting an “A” and it was not an easy test.  Much harder than the KSU ones.

On to the highlight though:

So, I had a question on the exam today which was asking what happens to absorption of carbohydrates and fat when you take an enzyme inhibitor (carb blocker) or Alli (the fat blocker). Part two was what happens in the large intestine.

So I have a student reply to the second part “Bacteria in your large intestine love you for providing them an excellent meal of carbs and in return produce methane gas ensuring that you remain single and lose all of your friends even though you are likely taking the drug to improve your body image and dating prospects”.

I then had them explain the glucose -  insulin -  GLUT4 response using the door bell analogy I used in class. I asked them to also tell me what the name of the disease is when insulin keeps ringing the doorbell with no answer. This same student aptly put Type II diabetes, but went on to say tht "Jehova’s Witnesses do the same thing and are often more persistent than insulin".

I was truly laughing out loud at that one.

I was also told that students memorize what you tell them. I did at one time tell them that Bacteria have a “field day” when we give them too much fiber. I read that on 80% of the tests I graded. I will have to ask if they know what they mean, Or what I meant when I said that…….

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I wish I would have gotten a picture this morning, but the campus plumbers drive a gator with two plungers holding the tail gate shut. …..

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This weekend is the First CX race of the season. I am heading down to Columbia and then to Hermann to race Sat night and Sunday afternoon. Race report (pics???) to come.

We have an AWESOME CX course set up at a local park. Flagged and marked. We had 5 guys on Tuesday and they seem to be hooked. And this is KV. Our course is way better than the Manhattan one, but not as cool as the one Stamper took me to in Omaha. There is talk of starting a Truman cycling team as well!

In other news, I had a crazy dream last night about building a house on a Budget. It was a $300K house that we did for $150K. Instead of paint, they used colored construction paper stappled to the walls. The fire place tiles were that cheap kitchen linoleum. And there were gaps in the floor that were just covered with carpet and pad. But on a positive note, it was about 4000 square feet……..

At least I wasn’t saving people in a Waste Management Garbage can???????

The Good with the Bad

Today was a day filled with the Good and the Bad. That is often the story of my life.

The good: It's cross season
The bad: I can't for the life of me get my new Michlin Mud 2 mounted on my rear Ritchey wheel. And my bike STILL has a lot of dirt on it from last season.

The good: The weather is here and it IS Beautiful. Today was CX practice #1
The bad: I STILL cant get the tire mounted, SO I ran my road power tap wheel. A 23 smooth..

The good: I have power data from CX now. Pretty interesting to look at.
The bad: Road tires SUCK for CX, but I didn't crash. Although the steeps are tough on grass.

The good: CX Practice 1 followed by rice and bean tacos and a Single Wide IPA. MM'MM
The bad: CX is not CX (at least for me) with out BLOOD. I am bleeding from my left knee and right hamstring from........sloppy remounts. No crash though. Not sure what caused the blood. I almost have more scars from CX than road and the CAR

Another bad with a slight 'ok.' A cyclist was hit by a van last evening. He is in bad shape, but is responsive. The driver stopped, and it was a sun and terrain related crash. We all hope he recovers.

Now for real life.

The good is that life at Truman State is great. Great faculty and awesome students. I have an Ex phys class of 90% Rock Stars. I am challenging them hard and they are asking the "what next" applied questions. It totally Rocks.

I have a student who came in today to talk about her research idea and it is graduate level work. She had almost all the details worked out already. I am really excited to mentor her and get this study rolling this spring!

The bad. Carrie and the kids are back in Manhattan and I miss them dearly.

At least I get to Skype and or talk to them which makes it somewhat better.

All in all, life is pretty good.

I hope to update this more often now and add pictures and such.

Thanks for reading.

ToL

Tour of Lawrence Race report.......

Friday. Open street sprints (AKA race the pro's)

It was a 200m slight down hill held start drag race. 4 up per round. 1st round was for seeding, then each after was keep top 2.

I used the first round just to get the timing down as I have the power to do really well, just not the strategy. Took second with ease. Next round was keep top 2. I got a good start and just followed #1 in for second. Round 3 I had to hit it a little harder, but did not yet go all out and took the #1 spot. Round 4 was for the winner and loser bracket (top 10). I got a good start but miss-shifted/didn't accelerate well for ~1 sec and that's all it took for me to be just off second to get third.

I did set new power records with 1788 watts for 1 sec and 1651 for 5 seconds.

Saturday was a hilly circuit race. It was HOT. I was feeling OK in warmup, but not too excited to race. Rolling up to the start on the last row as they are giving instructions didn't help either. So now I am at the back of a very hilly (350 ft per 4 miles) with turns at the base of most of the realtively steep hills. I move up a bit on the first lap and settle in to 'pack slide' on the long hill back to the start finish. I slide just off the back at the top and begin to chase back on.

At this point I was contemplating quiting the race. It was hot, the course does not suit my abilities, and the Sunday race is one of my favorites of the year. I put in one pseudo effort and pulled the plug. Rode a lap on the tops just seeing the sights. I went back to the hill to cheer/give hand ups.

Sunday was an 8 turn FAST crit with almost no change in elevation. This is my cup of tea. I start in the second row and just settle in. The legs feel great. There are some attacks early, but nothing is going to stick on this course. I basically just made sure that I could move around at will and stayed in the first third. It was a relativley fast race at 26.5 avg, but not that hard. Until............4 to go.

I was up in the first 10-15 when the swarm and attacks started again and again. As well as the crashes. A guy went down right in front of me in corner 5 which cost me a few spots with 4 to go. Then on the home stretch, it swarmed on the right. I was right there and went with it. then the back stretch, I'm on the right and were slowing. Attack goes left, and we all go too. The pack is wide and someone crosses up. Takes out about 6 on the left. I'm still good sitting near the front. 2 to go, just covering/conserving my spot at about 8-10 back.

1 to go on the home stretch. The pack swells and I am on the right, when the left attacks. Sh!t, my side is not moving!!!! I'm stuck. I jumped hard through corner 1 and 2 to make up 4-5 spots. Tuck in and rail corner 3. Jump hard again to get into 12 back. Corner 5....corner 6.....

Move up 3 more spots.....corner 7 .....no time....corner 8 (hey buddy hold that wheel)...... hit the GAS.

Pass the remaining 3 that I could get for 6th. In retrospect, I should have gone all out after corner 6 (through 7 and 8). That or gone to the 3 -4 spot before corner 5. It didn't help that there was a gap between the top 2 and then behind guy 5 after corner 7.

I took 8th last year as a 4, so 6th as a 3 is not bad.

First Post

Welcome to anyone who cares to read about the life, travels, and stupidities that occur with the Snyders.

Carrie and I will try to update this page weekly with the happs in our lives.